We're talking about Revelation chapter 19 this evening, Armageddon and the Marriage Supper. Revelation 19 declares the victory of Jesus over evil and the coming of Jesus as king of the earth. The heavens and all the saints will praise him. At last, there will be peace on earth with the establishment of Christ's kingdom. As Revelation chapter 11, 15 announces, And the seventh angel sounded, and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever. The final judgment of evil is described in detail in Revelation chapter 16. where it's revealed that the kings of the earth will gather for the battle of Armageddon. The kings on earth will gather at Armageddon after the pouring out of the sixth vial. Once again, the seventh vial will be poured out. I should say, and by the way, hi guys. I'll just say hi. Once gathered, the seventh vial will be poured out and a great voice out of the temple of heaven will announce, it is done. Revelation chapters 17 and 18 identify and describe the destruction of evil in Babylon on earth. In one day, Immediately after the seven years of great tribulation, God will judge the earth. In one hour on that day, he will judge the great city of Babylon, the capital of the Antichrist. The world population will be plagued with noisome, painful sores. All of the waters in the oceans, lakes, and rivers will be turned to blood. The heat from the sun will scorch everything it shines on. The kingdom of the beast will plunge into thick darkness and people will gnaw their tongues due to their pain and agony. The kings on earth will gather their armies to challenge Christ and be destroyed with huge hailstones from the sky. As an earthquake shakes the earth, the city will be divided into three parts. The armies of 10 kings will turn on Babylon and destroy her with fire. Now that's utter chaos and destruction going on in the world. Babylon, the great whore, will fall and come to a violent and fiery end. There's no alternative but a violent end. And why is that? the coexistence of good and evil is not possible. Evil will always seek to destroy good. Evil will not give up willingly. The only way to end evil is to destroy it. Revelation chapter 19, verses one through four, opens with a glorious scene of rejoicing and praising, saying this, And after these things, I heard a great voice of much people in heaven saying, Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power unto the Lord our God, for true and righteous are his judgments. For he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. And again they said, Alleluia! And her smoke rose up forever and ever. and the four and 20 elders and the four beasts fell down and worshiped God that sat on the throne saying, amen, hallelujah. With the fall of Babylon, as described in chapter 18, righteousness will reign on earth just as it did when Adam and Eve were first created. Babylon's wickedness and her persecution of the saints will come to an end. Evil will be destroyed and never harm God's people again. Satan, the beast, the false prophet, Babylon, and all those who follow after them are worthy of judgment for their stubborn refusal to repent of their rebellion and evil. Their preference for wickedness pollutes God's creation with misery and death. They're a blight on creation that seeks to destroy all the good that God intends for his creation. Romans 8, verse 22 says, for we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. Sin and rebellion robbed the world of peace and joy. It's been endured in the world for a long time and will continue until every opportunity to escape the misery has been made possible. With the coming of Christ, it will be time to bring closure to the pain and sorrow caused by evil and the unrepentant. Eliminating pain, sorrow, and death is something to rejoice about. And that's exactly what we see in the scene of heaven. And Jesus makes it possible. Revelation chapter 5. Verses 11 and 12 describe the scene of 10,000 times 10,000 and thousands of thousands of angels round about the throne with the four beasts and the elders saying with a loud voice, worthy is the lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing. It's all because of Jesus. In Revelation 5 verse 13, John says, he heard every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, saying, blessing, and honor, and glory, and power be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever. Revelation chapter 7, verses 9 and 10, describe a great innumerable multitude of all nations, kindreds, people, and tongues standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes and palms in their hands, crying out with a loud voice saying, salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne and unto the Lamb. Revelation 7, verses 11 and 12 continue, describing the scene saying, and all the angels stood round about the throne and about the elders and the four beasts and fell before the throne on their faces and worshiped God saying, amen, blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be unto our God forever and ever, amen. Revelation 1, verse 6 says, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Jesus not only delivers us from evil and gives us eternal hope and peace, but He also makes us kings and priests. We're unworthy of the salvation, that gift, yet by the infinite love and grace of God, he gives us even more. To be a citizen in heaven is a glorious hope. It's guaranteed by God's word and his promise, but God adds more gifts and privileges. Oh the divine grace and mercy that exceeds our worthiness and expectations. Anyone with the slightest hint of what God graciously offers should be and would be jubilant. Revelation chapter 14 verse 7 reveals an angel flying in the midst of heaven with the gospel saying with a loud voice, fear God and give glory to him for the hour of his judgment is come. and worship him that made heaven and earth and the sea and the fountains of waters. Though there will be a violent end of destruction in the world because of the judgment against evil, it's all for good. And the multitudes in heaven will be rejoicing and will rejoice and are rejoicing in anticipation of God's righteous vengeance. God is worthy of glory and honor and the devil and his crowd are worthy of their damnation. Revelation 16 verse six says of the wicked enemies of God, for they have shed the blood of saints and prophets and thou has given them blood to drink for they are worthy. Revelation chapter 19 verses five through nine. reveals another reason for rejoicing and celebrating when the Lord returns. It says, And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thundering, saying, Alleluia! For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice and give honor to him. For the marriage of the Lamb has come and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her it was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white. For the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, these are the true sayings of God. The victory celebration over the defeat of evil and the establishment of Christ's kingdom will include the marriage of the lamb and his wife. The marriage will occur with the backdrop of celebrating the triumph of righteousness over evil. Eternal fellowship between God and those who follow him will never end. The wife of Christ stands in stark contrast to Babylon. The wife of Christ is righteous and faithful. She's pure and holy as indicated by her clothing. Her clothing is described as being of fine fine linen clean and white to signify her righteousness, which comes from God. Christ prepares his bride with his righteousness, which he grants to all those who rely on him for salvation rather than relying on themselves. In other words, the wife of the Lamb prepares herself for him by accepting his righteousness rather than by trying to manufacture her own righteousness or by choosing sin. Isaiah chapter 61 verse 10 says, I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God, for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. In contrast to the faithful and true wife of the Lamb, Babylon, the great whore, indulges her passions and entices a multitude of followers to indulge their lusts with her. They choose unrighteousness and evil for their garments. God's gifts and garments of righteousness are forsaken and despised. Hosea 1, verse 2 explains the significance of rejecting God, saying, And the Lord said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of Hortems, and children of Hortems. For the land hath committed great Hortem, departing from the Lord. Those who choose unrighteousness over righteousness and evil over God choose to reject their creator, the salvation he offers, and the promise of eternal peace and blessings. The Bible identifies Israel and the church as the bride of Christ. In Hosea 2, verse 19, God says to Israel, and I will betroth thee unto me forever. Yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies. In other words, the covenant between God and the nation of Israel was a promise of eternal covenant of marriage. In Hosea 2, verse 20, he says, I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness, and thou shalt know the Lord. This betrothal is based on righteousness, mercy, and faithfulness. It's a betrothal to an Israel that is not the same one that Hosea knew. In this passage, the Lord is betrothing himself to the saved souls from the nation of Israel that will be born again believers and his bride forever. Nonetheless, Ephesians chapter 5, verses 23 through 27 explain the relationship between Christ and his church as being like a husband and wife, saying, for the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church. and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be unto their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives even as Christ also loved the church. and gave himself for it, that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish. Likewise, In 2 Corinthians 11, verse 2, Paul writes to the Corinth, to the Corinthian church, for I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy. For I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. Preparing the Gentile church in Corinth as the bride for Christ gives some great insight into who the bride of Christ is. It consists of all the local visible churches of baptized believers, whether they be Jewish or Gentile. A bride is distinguished from all other women due to her covenant of marriage with her husband. A bond of fidelity is agreed upon and they're committed to each other. Whereas salvation is God fulfilling his covenant to save anyone who believes and trusts in him, the covenant of marriage with Christ is with those who are saved and enter into a mutual covenant with Christ. Under the Old Testament, this was done by being born an Israeli into a circumcised family or by adopting the customs of Jewish law. Under the New Testament, this is done by being baptized into his church. Being saved brings believers into the family of God due to a one-sided fulfillment of promise by God. Being married to Christ in the bride is accomplished when the believing child of God declares a personal commitment or covenant to do his work his way, which begins with baptism as after being saved. This is the expectation and purpose both for Israel and the church. Many wonder whether Israel or the church will be the bride. The answer is both. The New Testament church is the fulfillment of the Old Testament law between God and the nation of Israel through the new covenant. The early church was entirely Jewish. The apostles and the members of the early church were all Jews. At Pentecost, after the resurrection of Jesus, Jews from all over the world gathered in Jerusalem in obedience to the Old Testament law. It was at this time that the church began its ministry being empowered by the Holy Spirit. 3,000 souls were saved and baptized on one day during that time. Eventually, Gentiles were included in the church and soon became predominant within it. In Romans 1, verse 16, Paul wrote about the order of the ministry, saying, for I'm not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it's the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. The Jews were and are God's chosen people called to bear witness to the gospel and his promise of salvation to humanity. In Isaiah chapter 49 verse 6, God speaks of Israel's role on earth, saying, I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth. Having this responsibility, they were approached first with corrections to the legalistic errors in their doctrines and with the fulfillment of the prophecies prophesying and promising deliverance from evil by the Messiah. In a covenant agreement with Christ, Being in a covenant agreement with Christ distinguishes those who are part of the bride of Christ from those who are only in the family of God. Like I said earlier, no one deserves to be saved, yet God offers salvation as a merciful and gracious gift. Due to his infinite love, he doesn't stop offering blessings to the saved. He'll also make us priests and kings, providing the opportunity to be a part of his bride, if we agree to enter into the covenant of marriage with him. This was possible for everyone in the old covenant with the nation of Israel, and it's still possible under the new covenant as well, for everyone, Jew and Gentile. So then, In the New Testament, the church is referred to as the bride. There's only one bride. The new covenant is a fulfillment of the old to make all the promises possible and includes Jews and Gentiles. Hebrews chapter 8 verse 8 explains that the Lord will make a new covenant with Israel saying, For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the day is come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. The Old Covenant between God and Israel could not and did not make Israel qualified to be the Lamb's bride. The Old Covenant was a covenant of law and works. Israel's success depended on their obedience to the law, not on the grace of God. Exodus 19, verse 5 records the conditions for the Old Covenant, saying, Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people, for all the earth is mine. In Exodus chapter 23, verse 21, God warned, saying of his angel, beware of him and obey his voice, provoke him not, for he will not pardon your transgressions, for my name is in him. In other words, the Old Covenant was conditioned on the obedience of Israel to God. Obey and be blessed or disobey and be cursed. Israel's testimony under the Old Covenant to the world is that a relationship with God based on law is doomed to fail. This is not the way to be blessed by God. The only way Israel could be blessed by God was to enter into another covenant with him based on grace and mercy. This is the reason for introducing the new covenant. Hebrews 8, verse 7 says, for if that first covenant, referring to the old covenant, had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. And Hebrews 8, verse 13 concludes, saying, In that he saith a new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish. By replacing the old covenant with the new, all of God's promises to Israel could be fulfilled. The new Jerusalem is the bride of Christ for eternity because of the grace and mercy of God. Her preparation is not based on the works of men, on her own efforts according to the condition of law. Thus, the church, which consists of believers who are Jews and Gentiles, is being prepared to be the perfect bride of Christ, prepared by Christ himself, because the promises of Christ are not based on the conditions of law. For this reason, a new and better covenant was required to replace the old. Some confuse the New Testament church with being a Gentile institution. Contrary to this thinking, the book of Acts shows that the early church was exclusively Jewish. In fact, when the church was scattered during its persecution surrounding the days of Stephen, The Jewish church members were exclusively Jews. Acts 11, verse 19 says, now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen traveled as far as Phineses and Cyprus and Antioch, preaching the world to none but unto the Jews only. To the Jews only. When the new covenant between God and the church was sealed, it was with Jewish Christians, including and led by Jewish apostles. The church is the new covenant made between God and Israel, and it's a covenant of grace, not of law. It's the fulfillment of what the Old Testament could not accomplish. And, unlike the Old Testament, which did not allow forgiveness and required death for violating the law, according to Exodus 23, verse 21, under the New Testament, church members are forgiven 70 times seven. Discipline and chastisement are practiced in the church to protect its integrity and testimony, but forgiveness is always offered to the repentant, and that demonstrates the mercy and grace of God, not found under law. The church is a Jewish institution. It's the fulfillment and replacement of the old covenant between God and Israel. However, since the time of its beginning, the church has changed and become dominated by Gentiles, saved Gentiles, believers. By birth and by being born again in Christ, Gentiles who otherwise would not be called God's people are included in the Jewish lineage of Christ, being born of Christ, and therefore heirs to the promises given to Abraham. Salvation has always been available to everyone, both before and after Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The Jews had no problem with the conversion of Gentiles. Their issue was including Gentiles as equals in their covenant with God. That was the problem they had. Jesus indicated this when he said to the Jewish leaders in Matthew 23, verse 15, Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte. And when he is made, you make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves." They would go to the ends of the earth to save souls. The Jews proselytized Gentiles for salvation, but the Gentiles were not allowed to be full participants in the temple. There were two courtyards around the temple in Jerusalem, an inner court and an outer court. The Gentiles were allowed to enter the outer court, but were forbidden to enter into the inner court. Gentiles could be saved, but they were excluded from full participation in temple activities. In contrast, Under the new covenant, Gentiles are allowed to participate fully in the institution of God and currently serve as pastors and leaders in the church. Within a hundred years after the church began, Gentile presence dominated the churches, and today, most have forgotten that the church is a Jewish institution. Revelation chapter 19 verses 9 and 10 say, and he saith unto me, write, blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, these are the true sayings of God. And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, see thou do it not. I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. All those who are called to the marriage feast will be blessed, while those not called will be judged and condemned. During this time of judgment and celebration, here will be a supper, either for eating or being eaten. Those invited to the wedding will be blessed to eat in celebration, while those not invited will be eaten for supper by the fowls of the air and the scavengers of the land. The marriage supper for Christ and his bride will be attended by all believers in heaven and on earth. It will be a time of rejoicing in the victory of Jesus Christ and celebrating the blessings of fulfilled promises by Christ. John, at this point, is so overwhelmed by the spectacle of praises and the celebration of the marriage supper that he falls down before the angel who reveals these things to him. However, the angel rebukes him, telling him to worship only God. The angel points out that the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. The spirit of prophecy and its fulfillment are all about Jesus. The Old Testament scriptures are filled with prophecies about him, as declared in John 5, verse 39, where Jesus said, search the scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which testify of me. John 5, 46, where Jesus said, for had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me, for he wrote of me. Luke 24, verse 27, where Jesus said to two disciples on the road to Emmaus, and beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. John 1, verse 45, where it says, Philip findeth Nathanael and saith unto him, we have found him of whom Moses in the law and the prophets did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. Luke chapter 24, verse 44, where Jesus said, these are the words which I spake unto you while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses and in the prophets and in the Psalms concerning me. Acts 8, verse 32, where Philip explains to the Ethiopian that the place of the scripture which he read was this, he was led as a sheep to the slaughter, and like a lamb done before a shearer, so opened he not his mouth. He continues to explain in Acts 8, verses 34 and 35, when the eunuch answered Philip and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself or of some other man. Then Philip opened his mouth and began at the same scripture and preached unto him, Jesus. Acts chapter 26, verses 22 and 23, which say, having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both the small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come, that Christ should suffer and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead and should show light unto the people and to the Gentiles. The spirit of prophecy is all about Jesus Christ in God's Word and in the voices of the prophets. The prophecies are about him and because of him. The angel points out to John that he is nothing but a fellow servant in the ministry of the gospel of Christ and also a brother to John in the testimony of Jesus. He's not worthy of being worshipped. Only God should be worshipped. All honour belongs to Jesus. Colossians 1, verse 20, shows the necessity for all creatures, whether in heaven or on earth, to be saved, saying, and having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself, by him, I say, whether they be things in earth or things in heaven. All creatures. earthly or heavenly must be born again in order to enjoy eternity with Christ. It's only through new birth in Christ that souls are imputed with the righteousness of God. Apart from this, no one, earthly or heavenly, has any hope of being sustained in righteousness long enough to spend eternity in heaven. Revelation chapter 19 verses 11 through 16 say, And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns. And he had a name written that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture, dipped in blood, and his name is called the Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations. And he shall rule them with a rod of iron. And he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. In preparation for the marriage supper, Christ comes out of heaven on a white horse for the purpose of destroying evil. The end of evil has come and it's time for righteousness to reign throughout all of creation from one end to the other. It's a time to celebrate. And a celebration it will be. It's a time to celebrate. And the celebration begins with the marriage supper of the Lamb. Heaven opens, and Christ appears on a white horse. He's faithful and true to his promise. He'll avenge the righteous who were persecuted in Satan's kingdom, and he'll establish his kingdom of peace and righteousness forever. His kingdom of peace can only come after putting the kingdom of unrest, ruled by Satan, to rest. Genesis 6, verse 11 describes, the earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. Jesus said of his time on earth in Matthew 11, verse 12, and from the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. Psalm 11 verses 5 and 6 describes the way God will respond to violence, saying, the Lord trieth the righteous, but the wicked and him that loveth violence, his soul hateth. Upon the wicked he shall reign snares, fire and brimstone, and a horrible tempest. This shall be the portion of their cup. Only by violence will the violence be stopped, the violence do not want peace. Thus the eyes of Christ are described in Revelation 19 verse 12 as flames of fire. Wickedness cannot hide from him. He sees evil and judges it. His evil, his judgment is righteous, just, and fair. The many crowns on his head, that's referred to, show that he is the king of kings and the Lord of lords over all kingdoms. As king of kings, Revelation 11, 15 says, the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever. Jesus will reign supreme and bring all things under subjection to his kingdom. This is what will last forever. This is what makes eternal peace and life possible. His clothing is dipped in blood because by his blood, sin and death are conquered. Hebrews chapter 13 verse 12 says, wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Revelation chapter 5 verse 9 says, and they sung a new song, saying, thou art worthy to take the book and to open the seals thereof, for thou was slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred and tongue and people and nation. Hebrews 9, verse 12 says, neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. Colossians 1.14 says, in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins. And Colossians 1.20 says, and having made peace through the blood of his cross, By him to reconcile all things unto himself, by him I say whether they be things in earth or things in heaven. Revelation 19 verse 14 states, his name is the word of God. Word of God is one of Christ's many names. As the word of God, he's known as the expression and embodiment of God's message to man. He's more than a mere written... He's more than mere written symbols of words and vocal sounds. He's the message. He is the message. He is what the written scriptures and the vocal declarations of the prophets have been all about. He is the subject of the scriptures and of the prophets. He is the reason for the scriptures and the prophets. He is the fulfillment of the scriptures and the prophets. If you want to know the thoughts and intents of God's message, You must know Jesus Christ. To know Christ is to know the Word of God. And to know the Word of God is to know God and Christ. John 1. 1 and 14 state, in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God, and the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. The sword out of His mouth is His command. That's how God makes things happen. God simply speaks wills it to be, and it's done. For example, Genesis chapter 1, verse 3 says, and God said, let there be light, and there was light. Genesis 1, 6 says, and God said, let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. Genesis 1, 9 says, and God said, let the waters under the heaven be gathered together under one place, and let the dry land appear. And it was so. Genesis 1.11 says, and God said, let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself upon the earth, and it was so. Genesis 1.14-15 say, and God said, let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night, and it was so. Genesis 1.20 says, and God said, let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. Genesis 1.24 says, and God said, let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle and creeping things and beasts of the earth and after his kind. And it was so. Genesis 1.26 says, and God said, let us make man in our own image, after our likeness, and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. And it was so, just as God said it would be. When God speaks, whatever he says is done. For this reason, God needs no weapon other than his word. He creates and destroys simply by saying so. The armies of the lost will come with weapons made by their own hands, but God is the creator, needs nothing more than his word. Revelation 19, verse 15 says that Christ will also rule with a rod of iron. The rod of iron refers to the manner in which Christ will rule, namely, with absolute unyielding and uncompromising justice. He will establish a kingdom ruled in peace, justice, and righteousness. Those who prefer uncleanness and evil will be judged and banished. Psalm 2 verse 9 says, Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron. Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. Armageddon is a well-known word, both culturally and religiously. Movies have been made about Armageddon to describe an epic end-time battle between good and evil. The term is used only once in the Bible. And yet it has great significance and prominence in our culture in the world today. Specifically, or I should say, specifically in Revelation chapter 16, 16 is the only place you will find the word. Its purpose, the plagues of the first five vials and the global impact of the battle give the word Armageddon and its concept prominence. Revelation 16, 16 says, and he gathered them together into a place called, in the Hebrew tongue, Armageddon. Revelation 16, verse 17 says, and the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air, and there came a great voice out of the temples of heaven from the throne saying, it is done. When the words, it is done, are said, the end of evil's rule in creation will cease. The end of evil's rule in creation will come to pass. It will be no more. Revelation chapter 16 verses 18 through 21 describes some of the events at that moment. It says, and there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings, and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth. So mighty an earthquake, and so great. And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon came in remembrance before God to give under her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about a weight of a talent. And men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, for the plague thereof was exceeding great. Revelation 17, 14 says of this time, These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them, for He is the Lord of lords and the King of kings, and they that are with Him are called and chosen and faithful. Revelation 17, 16 states, And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. According to Revelation 18, verses 17 through 18, those who were made wealthy by Babylon cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city? The army of saints with Christ will observe the events of Judgment Day. They will have nothing to contribute. Christ does speak and it will be done. He alone sets things right. The saints are merely the benefactors of Christ's deeds. With just an unused weapons will lie next to their bodies. They will have fallen to the ultimate weapon of mass destruction, God's word. When he speaks, it will be done. Death and carnage follow battles. And this is also the case with the battle at Armageddon. Revelation 19 verses 17 and 18 say, And I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of the ocean, in the midst of heaven, come and gather yourselves together under the supper of the great God, that you may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. The bodies of the dead will be left lying in the fields for the foul to devour. At Armageddon, there will be no burial of honor. The dead will be a meal for the birds and scavengers. With a large number of scavenger birds, the corpses will be devoured quickly and recycled. It will be simple, cost-effective, efficient, and green. Their souls, on the other hand, will be cast into hell. Revelation chapter 19, verses 19 and 21, completes the narrative of the final battle of Armageddon, stating, and I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse and against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshiped his image. These both were cast alive into the lake, into a lake of fire, burning with fire, burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth, and all the fowls were filled with their flesh." This is the final battle on earth as we know it between good and evil. Christ will claim the earth for his own and rule all nations on earth. He will destroy all those who oppose him. Though the kings and armies will gather for war against Christ, this will be unlike any war we have experienced in history of mankind. Christ will simply speak, it is done. and the beast and the false prophet will be cast alive into the lake of fire, burning with brimstone. The remaining troops will die instantly as their souls depart from their bodies, and Satan will be bound for a thousand years. 1 Corinthians 15, verse 24 describes the coming of Christ, saying, Then cometh the end, when he shall when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father, when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. The final battle at Armageddon illustrates the ultimate confrontation between good and evil. Christ claims the earth with sovereign authority and decisively defeats his adversaries. The futility of opposing God's power is made clear as the beast and the false prophet are swiftly cast into the lake of fire and the remnant of their armies is slain with the mere words of Christ. He's coming, as he said, and will fulfill his promise to avenge the righteous and establish his kingdom forever. The important question for us to ask is which army will we be in? That's chapter 19, guys. Armageddon and the marriage supper. The times are coming. But this is the, you know, I was listening to a couple of podcasts about end times, about what's going on, because now with Israel and Turkey's threatening Israel and everything else going on. But you know, yes, you can turn it off. Thank you, Jonathan.