The Battle of Armageddon Not a Full End
By E. Hilliard
THE Scriptures inform us that through the agency of evil spirits, the kings of the earth and the whole world will be gathered to the battle of the great day of God Almighty. Rev. 16:14-16. According to the word of God, this great international struggle for supremacy will take place at Armageddon, situated about fifty miles north of Jerusalem. It is easily approached from the north and the south and from the Mediterranean Sea. In the midst of this great battle, it is said of Christ, "Behold, I come as a thief." Rev. 16:15. The wicked who have not been slain in battle will be destroyed by the brightness that surrounds the coming King and His attendant host of mighty angels. Matt. 25:31; 2 Thess. 2:8. The righteous dead, from Adam down to the last saint who has been laid away to rest, will then be raised to life and immortality, and with the transformed living righteous, will be conveyed by the angels to meet the Prince of peace in mid-air. Matt. 24:31; 1 Thess. 4:16-18. This takes all the righteous to heaven, to live and reign with Christ a thousand years. Rev. 20:4. During this period of time, the earth is covered with the dead bodies of the wicked. Satan is to be bound for the same length of time in the pit—the chaotic condition of the earth, where he has done his deceptive work. Rev. 20:1-3. He is bound by a chain of circumstances. The righteous are in heaven, beyond his reach, and he is surrounded with the dead bodies of those he has deceived and ruined. This gives the archdeceiver time and opportunity to contemplate what his rebellion against God has accomplished. At the coming of the Just One, the cities of the earth will be broken down. With the cities demolished and the world depopulated, the earth becomes a charnel house. None are left to lament or bury the lifeless bodies. Jer. 25:31-33; 4:23-26. Although the battle of Armageddon and the coming of Christ leave the earth desolate, yet it is not a full end. "For thus hath the Lord said, The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end." Jer. 4:27. The full end comes at the expiration of the one thousand years, which terminates the reign of the saints with Christ in heaven. At the close of this period of time, the city of God descends to the earth. The Mount of Olives cleaves asunder, and the New Jerusalem is located thereon. It is at this time that living waters will issue forth from Jerusalem. Zech. 14:4, 8; Rev. 21:2. At the termination of the one thousand years, the rest of the dead—the wicked—are raised to life. Rev. 20:5. This liberates Satan. He heads the innumerable host, they surround "the beloved city" "on the breadth of the earth," and fire from heaven devours them. Rev. 20:8, 9. Then sin and sinners will be no more. There will be no repetition of hostilities. The word of God declares, "He will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time." Nahum 1:9. The events that take place at the close of the one thousand years, constitute not only a full end, but also a full restitution. The flames that devour the wicked purify the earth from the curse that rests upon it. The Creator restores the earth to its Edenic beauty, and it becomes the eternal abode of the righteous. "Thou sendest forth Thy Spirit, they are created" (restored to life), says the psalmist, "and Thou renewest the face of the earth." Ps. 104:30. The prophet Isaiah declares, "Behold, I create new heavens and a new earth." Isa. 65:17. And the Saviour said, "Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth." Matt. 5:5. The Prince of peace will then take the throne of David, and the ravages of war will be feared and felt no more forever.