I have lived through all the wars of the past century, from World War I, to the present war with Iraq. During every major conflict, some have become frightened with the thought of Armageddon. During World War I many feared, “The end of the world” (Matt. 24:3). Today that word “world” is translated “age.”

Modern weapons like machine guns, tanks, bombs, and hand grenades were used for the first time in that awful war. They didn’t have A-bombs, guided missiles, or human bombers. Nor did they have giant aircraft and helicopters as today. Our present war is our worst ever, but IT IS NOT ARMAGEDDON!

Matthew 24:6,7

“And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that you be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.”

NOBODY IN HIS RIGHT MIND WANTS WAR

It is the last thing President Bush wanted during his Administration, but war was forced upon him the first week he held office and the present war with Iraq is but an unavoidable outgrowth of that attack.

On September 11, 2001 nineteen Islamic terrorists attacked our nation and killed about 3,000 peace-loving people in three different locations. The plan was to paralyze America in one day. The well planned scheme was to knock out at least a dozen vital locations almost simultaneously. The plane brought down in Pennsylvania was aimed at our Capitol building with both houses of congress in session. Through the mercy of God that flight was aborted. Some of the other planes were delayed for various reasons and when the first three exploded, the other flights were canceled. Terrible as this onslaught was, it could have been fatal! Some of the targets undoubtedly included our oil refineries and our nuclear power plants.

God foiled the plans of the terrorists that day and if the people of America pray, believe, and turn from their evil ways; God will give us a decisive victory in this present war! (II Chronicles 7:14).

Then conquer we must
When our cause it is just.
Let this be our motto
In God is our trust.
And the Star Spangled Banner
In triumph shall wave
O’er the Land of the Free,
And the Home of the Brave!

ARMAGEDDON IS STILL FUTURE

Revelation 16:16

“And he gathered them together Into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.”

Armageddon will be the final battle of the last war fought prior to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. This war will destroy one third of earth’s entire population (Rev.17,18) Christ will terminate this war by slaying the wicked with the”brightness of his coming” (Rev.19:11-16).

This war will not take place until the climax of the 7-year reign of Antichrist over the nation of Israel (Daniel 9:27). If Antichrist is in the world today, he has not yet been “revealed” (II Thess. 2:8). That being the case, Armageddon will not be here for at least seven to ten years.

The War with Iraq is undoubtedly of prophetic significance and is one of the factors leading up to the Antichrist Reign. The worse thing possible that could result from this struggle is not another world war, but a world-wide plan for universal peace. The Bible says that is coming but we will not know when, until it arrives.

THE FUTURE PLAN FOR WORLD PEACE

Some time in the near future a strong man will arise in Europe who will rise to power on the platform of world peace (Daniel 8:25). He will gain control of the United Nations (or possibly a new program to replace that body of nations). Through cunning diplomacy he will persuade all the nations of the world to out-law war. He will then be made head of that anti-war system, with power to enforce peace world-wide. At first he will be heralded as an international hero, but the Bible calls him a “beast.”

Revelation 13:4,5

“And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? Who is able to make war with him? And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.”

THE CHURCH WILL BE RAPTURED

We are not told how long Antichrist will be active in Europe before all the nations sign this world-wide agreement. It is possible all the nations, including Israel, will sign at the same time, but at about the time Israel signs that “covenant” (Daniel 9:27) God’s blood-bought church will be caught up in the Rapture. Praise God!

I Thessalonians 4:16,17

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

Luke 21:28

“And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.”