Which nations disappear at Armageddon?

 

Revelation chapters 19 and 20 will reveal some significant details about the war of Armageddon and what will happen afterward.
These details will include two major changes to the understanding of Jehovah's Witnesses, and just as happened with the identity of Babylon the Great, this "change of vision" will be a real stumbling block for many.
These chapters will be examined in a future article but, having to face such a serious change of understanding for two other subjects, it was decided to treat them separately in the light of all Scripture.

First we must realize that Revelation speaks of the resurrection at the end of the millennium and not during the millennium .

This will be covered in detail in due course. For the moment... accept this possibility only to make the theme of this article understandable, which must answer the question, precisely, "which nations actually disappear at Armageddon?".

It is clear that here we return to the usual "problem" whether the book was written in chronological order or not but in the meantime we have seen that the 7 seals are sequential, the 7 trumpets must be sequential (the Revelation, in addition to saying "the first angel sounded his trumpet", "the second angel blew his trumpet" and so on, the apostle Paul calls the seventh trumpet just "the last trumpet") and so also the seven vials of God's wrath.

If all of this is sequential... is it coherent to think that the last few chapters aren't?

Let's try to read all of chapter 20 of Revelation and follow the order of events.

Satan is released from his prison, so he misleads the nations that are in the corners of the earth, they surround the camp of the saints and then they are killed by the fire that descends from heaven.

After this event death and hades restore the dead that are in them - Revelation 20:11-13

In fact , the scripture at Revelation 20:4 says that the rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were over. Let us read again: the rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were over.

" Until" means "until the time" and not "during" and this would suggest that in these thousand years the elect would reign over the survivors of Armageddon and their families, if any, but not over the resurrected ones.

The same term, "until," used in Matthew 1:25, we have always used to show that Joseph did not have intercourse with his wife Mary until the birth of the child . 

This should be sufficient to show that the resurrection will occur after the end of the millennium , a concept reaffirmed in verses 12 and 13.

We will dive deeper into these verses but now let's focus on these "rebels" who attack God's people.

Who are they and where did they come from?

Now as soon as the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison, and he will go out to mislead those nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to rally them to war. The number of these is like the sand of the sea. And they advanced over the extent of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. And the Devil that was misleading them was hurled into the lake of fire and brimstone, where [already were] the wild beast and the false prophet; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever - Revelation 20:7-10

At the end of the thousand years Satan is loosed to "mislead those nations which are in the four corners of the earth" and rally them to war.

It seems really incredible that such a thing happens!

Is it possible that in the new world people are still organizing themselves into political nations, creating divisions and even attacking the part of that people who remained faithful?

This is roughly the current understanding of the Witnesses.

Before you think it's nonsense... is it possible to hypothesize that during the war of Armageddon a part of the earth is spared also to allow the survival of God's people?

In several parts of the Bible it is said that during the time of judgment his faithful people escape by finding shelter in Edom, Moab and Ammon (which by the way are also the cities spared from the world war) - Compare for example Daniel 11:41 with Isaiah 16:4; Psalm 108:8-10 with Jeremiah 40:10, 11

These three nations (Edom, Moab and Ammon) were mountainous/hilly which is reminiscent of the words Jesus spoke to his disciples - Matthew 24:15, 16

Indeed, if the destruction of Babylon the Great triggered Armageddon (as we saw in a previous article) and not the great tribulation, it stands to reason that there is still the possibility of "fleeing from it", somewhere, and that would mean that Jehovah spares, by force of circumstances, at least a part of the world.

Is it possible to assume that Jehovah will lead his people somewhere before Armageddon?

Anyone wishing to do so, after reading this article, will certainly find the article entitled "Next stop, Israel" interesting.

It would not be the first time that Jehovah, in his love and mercy, has avoided destroying a certain people because of his servants.

According to the account at Genesis 19:21, 22, Jehovah's angels avoid destroying Zoar out of consideration for Lot yet, from what one understands by reading the entire account, that “little city” was part of Sodom or Gomorrah and therefore was to be destroyed.

The war of Armageddon effectively destroys the satanic system made up of the wild beast, the false prophet and his supporters. All those nations who are united in fighting against the Lamb also fall.

The vast majority of people die in this war because they are blinded and branded by the wild beast but will all those who are not Christians die?

The Philadelphia congregation is told that it " would be preserved from the proof which is to come upon the whole inhabited earth" and for this to happen it is at least conceivable that some Christians would find refuge in a free zone - Revelation 3:10

If we can hypothesize this, then the nations that decide to attack God's people at the end of the millennium could be born from these surviving strains. Why, in fact, would a distinction be made between them and "the field of saints"?

Are not all the inhabitants of the new world holy?

Will there be a "field of saints" and a "field of non-saints" in the new world?

Another confirmation could come from the very protection of the Jerusalem above; it is said to "fly into the desert" away from the face of the serpent.

When Satan tries to drown her "the earth comes to her aid" and this means that at least until the last moment of divine judgment there is still a "stable" part of the world - Revelation 12:15

This may also explain why the resurrection does not occur during this millennium; simply because we are not yet in that new world that we imagine even if it will already be a new world and we will already have many reasons to be happy .

We should probably make a distinction between the "millennial kingdom" (which will bring many blessings to faithful humanity) and the "new world" which will begin after the resurrection, when Christ returns the kingdom to his God and Father.

This period may simply be a transitional period during which human beings will be able to live in peace without the influence of Satan and under the guidance of divine teaching for all who wish to obey.

Indeed one of the questions that Satan raised in the Garden of Eden was whether man was able to govern himself but man, with the interference of Satan, has never really governed himself.

Can man direct his steps without God and without Satan? This too must be answered

This ties back to the words of Revelation 20:3. Satan is bound " so that he no longer misleads the nations" and this is necessary to give a definitive answer to the question raised in Eden.

However if all the nations were destroyed at Armageddon...how could it mislead them?

Would it make sense to say that Satan is bound so as not to mislead the nations that no longer exist?

Possible nations in the four corners of the earth, born from this spared stock, could demonstrate whether man is really able to govern himself under favorable conditions, that is, without the influence of Satan.

After this last human rebellion, who will have consciously demonstrated that they prefer Satan's rule to that of Jehovah, both Satan and disobedient mankind will be eliminated forever.

Only after the resurrection of the dead and after their judgment "death and Hades will be hurled into the lake of fire" and therefore should we assume that, throughout the millennium, despite having favorable conditions, people will continue to age and die?

It is unthinkable because the anointed rulers will fulfill their priestly functions by atoning for the sin of mankind and thus preventing the death of their subjects.

Death which, however, will always be lurking and not yet definitively eliminated until the end of the millennium.

It will be "the last enemy" to be eliminated in fact, if at the end of the millennium there are still "enemies to be eliminated" (the nations surrounding the holy field), this should demonstrate that the resurrection, and therefore the definitive elimination of death, will come only after that event – ​​I Corinthians 15:26

In this regard, the scripture at 1 Corinthians 15:24, 25, if read carefully, seems to specify the order of events, namely, Jesus Christ will hand over the Kingdom to his God and Father when he has brought to nothing "all government and all authority and power".

Obviously if every government and every authority and power were reduced to nothing during the war of Armageddon, He (Jesus Christ) would have to hand over the government right then and that is as soon as he takes power.

So how long would the Kingdom of Christ last? A thousand years or a couple of days? Let's re-read these last six lines and try to understand their meaning even if "this meaning" clamorously collides with our most deeply rooted beliefs.

Verse 25 says… “ For he shall reign until [God] has put all enemies under his feet.”

This makes us understand that during the millennial reign there will still be enemies (which are, in fact, the "nations" in the four corners of the earth who will organize themselves at the end of the millennium).

So the Kingdom under Christ will be a temporary provision to the praise of Jehovah to restore mankind to perfect condition and this may also include the destruction of the last governments, authorities and powers, which will refuse to submit to the end – Revelation 20 : 8

In Ezekiel chapter 38 the verses starting from 8 onwards it is said that attention will be paid to Gog of Magog after "many days" implying that these had been left out i.e. not taken into consideration or spared during the judgment.

Does it not seem counterintuitive for Gog of Magog to exist at the end of the satanic system of things and to exist again in the new world at the end of the millennium ?

Does it not reflect that this "coalition of nations" always has the same name and indeed, in Ezekiel's description, the subject does not change at all?

If Gog of Magog is a coalition of nations, does it not seem strange that nations form under the reign of Christ?

It is a nonsense only if we take it for granted that all governments and all people are really destroyed at Armageddon.

Evidently Gog of Magog does not exist again but still exists (i.e. never ceased to exist).

If attention is paid to him after many days it means that it is still them and the "many days" are all the years of the millennial kingdom.

Gog of Magog always has the same name because it is always the same subject.

The people who "accumulate riches and property" are obviously God's people (the "camp of saints" according to Revelation) and this indicates the many blessings that God's people will have during the millennial reign as well as the contrast with other peoples (why specify that there is a people that accumulates wealth if everyone accumulates the same wealth?).

Blessings that, apparently, Gog of Magog will not have otherwise there would not be this contrast and there would be no reason to feel envy – Ezekiel 38:12; compare Proverbs 10:22

Why, moreover, would there be this contrast with those who "do not even have bars and doors" if we are all in a new world of peace, without thieves or other criminals? - Ezekiel 38:11

If read simply for what it is, the scripture really seems to indicate that, during the thousand-year reign of Christ , there still exist some peoples who have bars and doors and they are evidently those who have never cared about God's will for which they must put " bars and doors" and be careful of their own brothers.

The events relating to Gog of Magog, described in chapters 38 and 39 of Ezekiel , are full of interesting details but one of the things that stands out immediately is the distinction between them and Israel.

It therefore seems that Israel, or the holy people of God, will coexist for a thousand years with these other peoples. The article titled "Who is Gog of Magog?" deals with Ezekiel chapter 38 in more detail and may be of interest to the reader.  

At this point the scripture at Isaiah 2:2-4 takes on special significance.

Thus far we have applied this scripture to people who, by accepting the truth today , change their ways and “beat their swords into plowshares” to become peaceable people.

We have also applied it to the education that will be given to resurrected ones in the New World but let us now try to re-read it by accepting the possibility of what we have just described.

Isaiah 2:2-4: “ And it must occur in the final part of the days [that] the mountain of the house of Jehovah will be firmly established above the top of the mountains, and it will certainly be lifted up above the hills; and to it all nations must stream. And many peoples will certainly go and say: “Come, you people, and let us go up to the mountain of Jehovah, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will instruct us about the ways of him, and we will certainly walk in his paths.” For out of Zion will go forth [the] law, and the word of Jehovah out of Jerusalem. And he will certainly render judgment among the nations and set matters straight respecting many peoples. And they will have to beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning shears. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, neither will they learn war anymore."

The mountain of the house of Jehovah will be firmly established and lifted up. When?

Evidently when Satan's system is eliminated and it will be clear that Jehovah's way of ruling is the best ever.

“ To it all nations must stream”, in what sense and which nations?

So far we have applied this scripture to the preaching work of Jehovah's Witnesses, yet is it possible that, at the end of Armageddon, people of the nations who have escaped God's judgment (the peoples from the four corners of the earth) decide to stream to Jehovah's mountain ?

After the incredible events of Armageddon, by now it should be clear who is the True God and what are His people .

In this way too Jehovah sanctifies himself in the midst of the nations.

Many peoples flock in and say “Come, you people, and let us go up to the mountain of Jehovah, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will instruct us about the ways of him, and we will certainly walk in the paths of him ”hence he describes himself as their initiative and not as someone who has been persuaded thanks to the preaching of the good news. Indeed, it is they themselves who say “ he will instruct us in his ways”.

We can imagine that many survivors will stream to Jehovah's mountain once they see the great signs of Armageddon, abandoning their old nation and making the necessary changes to be accepted by God - Compare Revelation 11:13 and Joshua 9:8-11

However, it is easy enough to imagine that despite these unmistakable signs of Jehovah's blessing upon His people, not all will decide to join.

So many people will continue to remain in their nations, with their governments, refusing to hasten to the mountain of Jehovah.

Seen in this light, it is no longer so incredible to imagine that, at the end of the millennium, when God's people have amassed endless riches and blessings, these nations organize themselves to "take much spoil" - Ezekiel 38:10-12

The scripture at Daniel 2:44 should also make you think.

The scripture says “ And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be brought to ruin. And the kingdom itself will not pass to any other people. It will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, and it itself will stand to times indefinite . "

What kingdoms is Daniel talking about?

If we read the previous verses we understand that we are talking about the kingdoms that make up the image of a man with a head of gold, chest and arms of silver, belly and thighs of copper, legs of iron and feet of iron and clay .

We know very well that these kingdoms are respectively Babylonia, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome and the last king of the north.

The same powers, always in the book of Daniel, are described as the lion with the wings of an eagle (i.e. Babylon described in Daniel 7:4), the ravenous bear with three ribs between its teeth (Media-Persia described in Daniel 7: 5), the leopard with four heads and four wings (the Macedonian or Greek empire described in Daniel 7:6) and the frightening and terrible beast with iron teeth and ten horns (Rome and therefore the last power described in Daniel 7:7, 8, 19).

Why are the same kingdoms or domains viewed in two different ways?

This is interesting because the beast that John sees "ascending out of the sea" has characteristics of all these beasts - Revelation 13:1, 2

It is in fact similar to a leopard, has the feet of a bear, the mouth of a lion and the ten horns of the last beast seen by Daniel.

These are the kings that are destroyed by Jesus Christ and his elect at Armageddon, that is, the kingdoms that will unite in the final battle.

Of course it also includes the false prophet – Revelation 19:19, 20

It includes all who have participated in warfare, directly or indirectly, and all who have persecuted or wronged God's people - Revelation 19:21; Zechariah 2:8

Surely a large part of mankind will be killed in this war because the ruler of the world will make sure he has as many people of his own as possible, but will that mean that all kingdoms and all people except Christians will be destroyed ?

Even those insignificant, small kingdoms?

Even those isolated from the rest of the world, such as islands or small ethnic groups, including those people who, living in religion-restrictive or other-religious nations, have never had the opportunity to learn the wonderful truths of God's word?

These are questions to think about.

It is true that the "good news" was preached throughout the inhabited earth before the end of the satanic system...but did this really include all people and did everyone really have equal opportunities?

Beyond any human hypothesis, the words that should make us think more are those reported at Daniel 7:11, 12.

The scripture says… “I kept looking then, because of the sound of the great words that the horn spake; I kept watching until the beast was killed and his body was destroyed and was given to the blazing fire.  But as for the rest of the beasts, their dominions were taken away, and an extension of life was granted them for a time and a season.”

What does this mean and how long is “a time and a season”?

Meanwhile, from the context we see that the horn that utters great things refers to the "frightful and terrible beast" that is the last beast of Daniel's vision.

It speaks of the period in which "thrones are set up" and "the Ancient of days" sits to judge and therefore can only refer to the time in which Jehovah and Christ take power - Revelation 11:15-18

The beast is said to be killed and its body given to the blazing fire - Compare Revelation 19:19, 20

It is evident that the scripture is referring to the wild beast of Revelation at the time of his judgment at Armageddon yet, after specifying that the beast is given to the blazing fire (hence destroyed), verse 12 says… ” But as for the rest of the beasts, their dominions were taken away, and an extension of life was granted them for a time and a season” .

This very clearly specifies that the other domains are not destroyed but are allowed to continue in existence for some time after the judgment of Armageddon .

Let's try to stop for a moment and carefully re-read these last four lines by comparing the cited scriptures.

In fact if we read Revelation 19:19-21 carefully we see that the wild beast, the kings of the earth and their armies gather to make war against Jesus Christ and his army but who is destroyed among all these?

The scripture says that the wild beast and the false prophet are taken and thrown into the lake of fire.

Then, verse 21 says “the rest were killed with the long sword of the one sitting on the horse, which [sword] came out of his mouth.”

The rest who?

The subjects involved are two: the kings of the earth and their armies .

By “the remainder” does the vision refer to kings, their armies, or both?

Even if he were referring to both, Daniel's scripture specifies that the domains of these kings are simply taken away , not destroyed.

Surely those who are in that position die (armies, any generals or kings) in fact the writing says that "they are killed" but it is not said that they end up in the lake of fire.

We know that the lake of fire means the second death and that is a place from which there is no return so we have the assurance that the wild beast will be destroyed never to return but the "remaining" are not uprooted from the earth. Not yet.

Those who are making war against the Lamb at that moment are killed but evidently something of their kingdoms will remain, that is, the nations belonging to these "remaining" who have been granted an extension for a time and a season.

These will have a thousand years to recover and at least some of them, quite numerous according to the words of Revelation 20:8, will attack God's people at the end of the millennium.

Gog of Magog existed before Armageddon and will exist after.

Finally, as we have seen, after the destruction of these enemies there is still "one last enemy" to be eliminated: death - See 1 Corinthians 15:26

This confirms the sequence of events of Revelation Originally written on 6/8/2017

Posted 30th November 2018 by beware of the prophecy