Thought forJune 28th. “ARMAGEDDON”

Today’s Revelation reading is the only place in the Bible where the word “Armageddon” occurs. Yet the word keeps cropping up in the world, especially in movies for mass mind consumption!              There is a fear among many, that is more than subconscious, that there is a great crisis ahead.  There is continuing chaos in the nations surrounding Israel, and since October 7th in particular there has been great turmoil in the Middle East with the alliances redrawn and the rise of the Abraham accords forging new partnerships. The turmoil in Iran has brought a disastrous situation for its citizens.   There is no regard for human life.  No one sees any long term future for the world! The United Nations is impotent and the United States is no longer willing to try to act as a ‘policemen’ in trouble spots.  The European Union is impotent and could soon fall apart financially.      It is  understandable, if you do not believe in the Bible, that you see no future for the world.  Revelation 16 starts by saying there is “a loud voice from the temple telling the seven angels, ‘Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God’” [v.1]  We see pictured in symbol, the ultimate outpouring of the Creator’s anger on those who do not obey him, but the greater number do not even believe he exists.  Some in past centuries have persecuted true believers – and today we read, “for they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink.  It is what they deserve. …They did not repent of their deeds.” [v.6,11]    We read in v. 14 of “demonic spirits” (unreasoning, mad attitudes of mind?) … who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle … at the place that is called in Hebrew, Armageddon” [v.14,16]  This is a place (valley?) spoken of by several Old Testament prophets without using the word Armageddon.  Joel calls it “the valley of decision” [3 v.4]    As the world today becomes more and more God-less we wonder how close we are to the bowls of God’s wrath being emptied?  Whether that time is close or not, if we really fear God, let us always be ready.  May it be our wondrous experience to sing “the song of the Lamb” we read in ch. 15 v.3,4, “Great and amazing are your deeds … O king of the nations! Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name?  … All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.”