END TIMES: ARMAGEDDON

Through the years, there are at least 6 dominant interpretive streams on Armageddon:

1) Kingdoms View
Under this view, the “SEVEN KINGS” are symbolic of successive world empires that oppressed God’s people such as Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and the future Rome. Often, people are saying the final “EIGHTH” kingdom is a revived Roman Empire.

2) Roman Emperors
Another interpretation is that the “SEVEN KINGS” are literal Roman emperors. These Roman emperors are Julius Caesar, Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, and Claudius. This view suggests that the “EIGHTH” is a future ruler who embodies the beast, possibly a revived Nero

3) Psalm 83
Some interpret Revelation 17’s ‘Ten Horns’ as rulers tied to the coalition in Psalm 83. Today, these geographies are often linked to nations like Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and the Palestinian territories, seen as united against Israel in the end times. In this light, ongoing Middle East conflicts draw attention.

4) West Europe
Some perspectives see a final West European superpower, rooted in the legacy of the Roman Empire, as the “Beast” or King of the North, leading global armies to Armageddon against Christ.

5) Globalist Power (USA)
Other views suggest the United States functions within this Western “Beast” system, possibly as the “SECOND BEAST” of Revelation 13; the superpower enforcing the “MARK OF THE BEAST” and supporting the global order that ultimately fights at Armageddon.

6) Worldwide Coalition
More broadly, both Western European and American forces are often understood as part of the wider alliance opposing Christ in these interpretations.

FIVE (5) HAVE FALLEN
To be exact, the Armageddon is the continuity of Daniel’s visions of the statue, the four beasts and 70 weeks prophesies. Indeed, visions of statue and beast are parallel accounts of the same prophecy.

In that vision, the Roman Empire is represented by the two legs of iron and part iron/ clay, prophesying the empire’s eventual split into the Western and Eastern Roman Empires. It further extends to Western and Eastern Europe.

Thus, in Daniel’s visions of the statue and beasts, it is about 5 beasts (Empires) instead of 4. They depict the transition of world power through five successive empires: Babylon,Medo-Persia,Greece, the 2 legs of West Rome and East Rome. Both West Rome and East Rome never started and ended at the same timeline. It shows that they weren’t empowered by the same beast system and have to be counted as two different dominions. West Rome fell swiftly, East Rome endured for centuries. Eventually, they transformed into Byzantium

Indeed, Revelation 17:10 declares: ‘Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come.’

The five fallen kingdoms are Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and the two divisions of Rome .i.e. West and East. The sixth shall arise from the East, contending in the battle of Armageddon. The final manifestation will be the gathering of nations in the war of Gog and Magog.

TEN TOES
Daniel 2:42–45 and Daniel chapter 7 disclose that the statue’s ten toes, formed of iron mixed with clay, represent the final ten kings, as clarified in the AMPC translation.

These kings or the Ten Toes will ultimately be struck by the Stone, which shatters iron, bronze, clay, silver, and gold alike. Though the empires symbolized by these metals of Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome have long since fallen, the prophecy reveals that the Babylonian system itself persists until the destruction of the toes, or ten kingdoms. The emphasis, therefore, is not on isolated rulers or beasts, but on the overarching beastly system that manifests across successive nations, and which will, in the end, be utterly removed.

Hence, when believers seek to interpret Armageddon, the understanding must align with the full truth revealed in the vision of the Statue. Both Egypt and Assyria cannot be inserted into this prophecy, for they do not form part of its divine framework.

KINGS FROM THE EAST
Revelation 16:12 declares, “Drying up on the great river Euphrates, prepared the way for the kings from the East gathering for the battle of Armageddon.”

Truly, God Himself is at work in the drying of the great river Euphrates in preparing the Armageddon for EAST kingdoms. Essentially, God is inviting the East kingdoms for the battle. Yet many claim the coming power will arise from Western Europe or America. Scripture, it can’t align. Just look at the world map in relation to the great river Euphrates, and discern who lies to the East.

With these pretext, we shall now chart into the long-anticipated Apocalyptic journey.

THE ARMAGEDDON
Armageddon is the site of one of the final battles between divine forces and the powers of evil, or the destroyer. When interpreting Scripture, it is important to recognize that the book of Revelation presents its narrative twice. In other words, the unfolding of end-time events is given in parallel sequences. For example:

The 144,000 are described both in Chapter 7 and again in Chapter 14.
Likewise, Armageddon appears in parallel form in Revelation 9:11 and Revelation 16:16.
Statue and 4 beasts

The bible always reveals prophetic events more than once. Hence, it is good to put parallel events into one for complete understanding. Greater detail on how the same end-time event is revealed twice within the Book of Revelation shall be discussed separately.

PURPOSE OF ARMAGEDDON
Revelation 9:20-21 and Revelation 16:9 reveal the reason God drying the river of the great Euphrates is to invite people who constantly hardened their hearts, blaspheme, rebellion, worshiped pagan gods to fight Him at the Armageddon or “THE JUDGMENT VALLEY.”

PROPHETIC GAP & TRIBULATION
Under the dispensationalist view of “Prophetic Gap” theology teaches that the Church Age is inserted between Daniel’s 69th and 70th weeks. That means Daniel’s last seven years’ time clock halts or pauses in the Church Age. Only after the Rapture will the 70th week unfold in its destined fury.

Based on this teaching, the Rapture is then expected to happen either:
1) pre-tribulation,
2) mid-tribulation, or
3) post-tribulation.

DANIEL’S 70 WEEKS
Nevertheless, in the previous study of “End Times: Daniel’s 70” that bases on Daniel chapter 9 and Revelation 12, we are established that we have already entered into Daniel’s 70th week. To be exact, we are now approaching the end of the first 3 1⁄2 years of the seven-year period foretold. This indicates that Church Age does not stand in between Daniel’s 69th and 70th weeks known as “Prophetic Gap”. In light of this, we have already entered into a period of great tribulation that will culminate in Christ’s redemption in the Armageddon. There isn’t a gap or pause in Daniel’s 70 weeks

Precisely, we are in the era of ten toes. Those toes appear smaller than the head, body and legs, however, their size does not imply duration of the kingdom period. Indeed, the toes are small in size, but last longer than the era of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece. The toe era has lasted more than 2,000 years now. Similarly, the 7 years and 70 weeks are all symbolic representations, not measured by physical size or duration.

Of course, the Ten Toes or Ten Kings will only receive their kingdoms after Armageddon (Revelation 17:12). They gain their authority at the very moment the beast rises from the Abyss, preparing for the Gog and Magog war (Revelation 20:7-8).

If the Ten Toes, which are the Ten future Kings, are seen as extensions of Western and Eastern Rome, or Europe, then East and West Europe shall surrender their power and authority, in coalition with the King of the North during the Gog and Magog war. Yet former geographical boundaries cannot be interpreted in the same locations for what lies ahead. Above all, it is the Babylonian, beastly system that subverts the world, especially oppressing Christianity.

Hence, Revelation 17:8’s “once was, now is not, and yet will come up out of the Abyss and go to its destruction” is referring to the Satan/ beast and the future Ten Toes/ Kings (Revelation 17:12-13) that comes out for Gog and Magog war. It is not referring to the battle of Armageddon.

THE RAPTURE
In Revelation 14:14-20 a son of man and an angel are each harvesting with their sickles at His commands. Scriptural, these gatherings of the harvests are the picture of “RAPTURE”. Greater detail on Rapture shall be discussed separately.

Importantly, it establishes: –
– The Rapture is taking place in Revelation 14:14-20.
– However, the Armageddon happens in Revelation 16:16; slightly later.

AMERICANS & THE RAPTURE
In essence, Armageddon comes after the Rapture. By then, true believers will already have been taken up. The Rapture marks the Lord’s return to rescue His oppressed people and to judge the world.

In a side-note, the teaching that says ‘The World Grows Darker While The Church Shines Brighter” does not hold. If the church were truly growing brighter and brighter, there would be no need for Christ to come and redeem His oppressed people.

The Rapture will gather true believers worldwide, Americans as well. This helps explain why the United States is not explicitly mentioned in Scripture in the last days.

Hence, Scripture does not suggest that the United States will vanish before Armageddon, nor that its existence is absent from the biblical record. What it affirms is that the Rapture precedes Armageddon.

Of course, not all Americans live in authentic faith, and the Word makes clear that in the last days, believers worldwide; not only in America will fall away.

THE SCARLET WOMAN
Specifically, the Bible showcases a “WOMAN SITTING ON THE WATERS” as a nation. Likely that woman is the leader of the Eastern Kingdoms gathering for the Armageddon war.

Her role is not referring to the role of third frogs that symbolizes the “False Prophet.” Revelation 17:1-4 is saying a woman in purple or scarlet is sitting on the scarlet beast. Therefore, two figurative; the woman and the beast are clothed in scarlet, purple, or red.

Some of the identities and characteristics of the Woman is known as: –

Clothed in purple or scarlet
That seated in waters which are nationals, many languages, and tongue
a kingdom that has 7 heads, 10 horns. The 7 heads are explained as 7 mountains or 7 kings subsequently.

Interestingly, as a nation or kingdom, there is a city in the East that is described in purple colour. The Chinese name is known as Zijincheng (紫禁城) or Forbidden City. It literally means “PURPLE FORBIDDEN CITY,” and it is located in the center of Beijing, the capital of China. Not only that, the building is coloured predominantly in red (purple) and yellow. It was an imperial or Royal palace during the Ming and Qing dynasties.

CATHOLIC CHURCH
There is teaching saying the “Scarlet Robed Woman” is the Catholic Church. As we continue to read Revelation 16:13, Apostle John saw in his vision three unclean, frog-like spirits emerging from the mouths of:
– the Dragon (Satan),
– the Beast, and
– the False Prophet.

These three figures are designated as ‘spirit’; they are neither human entities nor earthly kingdoms. This reveals that three spiritual forces unite in the great conflict of Armageddon. Each plays a distinct role and faces a different destiny. At the end of the Armageddon, that beast and that false prophet will be seized, together with those who received the “Mark of the Beast” shall be cast alive into the lake of burning sulfur (Revelation 19:20).

While the dragon; which is Satan, or the ancient serpent will be bound in the Abyss for a thousand years. Yet after the millennium, he will be released to deceive the nations across the earth, leading them into the battle of Gog and Magog (Revelation 20:1–8).

THE BLASPHEMER
Moreover, the unidentified Eastern Woman sits upon the waters, representing dominion over diverse nations, languages, and peoples while actively persecuting the faithful or the saints. She is described in Revelation 17:6 as one who “Drinks The Blood Of The Saints, The Martyrs Who Bear Witness To Jesus.” This scarlet beast, clothed in blasphemous and opposing His Name as noted in Revelation 17:3.

ANTI CHURCHES
Through the years, one of the East Nations has been closing down thousands of churches. Foreign missionaries expelled, Bibles rewritten, children banned from worship. Some believers died in custody or under torture; others faced lifelong imprisonment; a real Christianity faith prosecutor, and the real anti-Christ. She is prosecuting Christians across nationalities, languages, people who are actively ministering His faith in that country.

SYMBOLIZES AS THE DRAGON
Besides, that unnamed Eastern Nation is being symbolized and the worshiping of the “DRAGON” for centuries. In the Bible, the dragon is Satan.

MAJOR SEAPORT & VAST RESOURCES
Revelation 18:11–13 unveils another clue that this unnamed kingdom possesses immense wealth, engaging in the cargoes and sea shipments of goods such as gold, silver, precious stones, pearls, fine linen, silk, cinnamon, bronze, iron, ivory, incense, fragrant oil, wine, wheat, cattle, sheep, chariots and even extending to the trafficking of human lives (Revelation 18:17).

Obviously, this Unnamed East Country should own a huge, if not world class seaport. As a country, she owns vast rare earths, agriculture, and precise stones. The identity of this major seaport in the Eastern region is not difficult to discern.

200 MILLION ARMY
The Book of Revelation foretells that an army of 200 million will assemble for the final battle (Revelation 9:16).

In light of modern advancements in technology and artificial intelligence, such a vast force could encompass not only human soldiers but also robots, drones and Auto Taxi.

However, the vision given to Apostle John is that the drying of the great river Euphrates to encourage a 200 million strong army matching to the Armageddon war. This shows that the scripture is referring to 200 million land forces. If the deployment is on technologies, then, it doesn’t need to dry the great river Euphrates.

Without the participation of that unnamed Eastern nation that has a huge population, it would be difficult to muster a formidable 200 million-strong army for this climactic conflict. Again, it is not difficult to discern who this Scarlet Woman is with the huge population in the East.

BABYLON SYSTEM
Throughout the ages, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome rose and fell, each in turn subjugating Israel. Their borders shifted, expanding and contracting yet history reveals that these oppression were never limited to a nation or place. The true issue is the embodiment of the evil beastly system itself.

These beastly embodied kingdoms, though distinct, operated with similarities and shared a fundamental characteristic at their core. It lies in:

– Hegemonism and Domination
– Centralized ruling,
– Dynastic Succession
– Centralized military power
– Unyielding loyalty of the army
– Central resources
– Against God and oppressed His people

When a vast nation or a federation of states and provinces rules with one voice, one resource, and one centralized purpose, marked by hegemonism, domination, and military unity, it mirrors the builders of the Tower of Babel. In such pride and ambition, they raise their own name, against God and profane His name.

In reality, systems founded on dominance wield greater power than nations built upon private enterprise. This reflects how Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome once conquered, unveiling the deeper meaning of the Babylonian system.

If the Woman in the context represents a nation, then the Babylonian-beastly system may diverge from mere political structures and powers.

Indeed, Scripture declares that the scarlet woman sits upon the scarlet beast, and the scarlet beast carries her (Revelation 17:3, 7). This portrays the coalition of the spiritual beastly system interwoven with political order. Thus, the Woman—symbolizing the nation—rests upon the spiritual beast, which is political power. In turn, the political party bears the nation itself.

SEVEN HEADS/ HILLS
If that ‘scarlet woman’ is indeed the purple-palace mentioned above, then that unnamed Eastern nation literally has many spiritual hills or heads and altars where blood is shed and human sacrifices are offered in devotion to many pagan gods. The holy Name of God has been profaned and blasphemed, and His people have endured persecution for generations.

Revelation 17:2; 5; 9 summarizes: “The woman with seven heads and ten horns, committed adultery with her; her name: –
– Babylon The Great
– The Mother Of Prostitutes
– And Of The Abominations Of The Earth

Therefore, the Lord is bringing judgment upon the kingdoms and the greatest adultery, the great city of the earth. Indeed, those hills symbolize adulterous and entrenched religious strongholds.

CONCLUSION
Certainly, the prophecy describes the assembling of Eastern forces at Armageddon, yet the scriptures emphasize and focus on “Scarlet Woman,” seated upon many waters and borne by the beast with seven heads and ten horns. This woman is labelled as:-

As a nation not a religious group.
Likely, this nation is the Eastern Leader
Formatting 200 millions foot troops
Making wealth from sea shipments with vast minerals, agriculture etc.
Sitting on the water or prosecuting Christians across nationalities, languages and rebelling against God. The anti-Christ.
Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth’s abomination
Operating by “ centralized resources, marked by hegemonism, domination, and military unity” that subvert the God kingdom and His people.
Having many spiritual hills; religious that profaned and blasphemed, imprisoning, beheading and persecuting His people generations.

In conclusion, with the pointers above, it is not different to discern who is the “Scarlet Woman” in the East of the great river Euphrates.

In Revelation 18:4, the command to “come out of her” serves as an urgent warning for both pre and post rapture believers to distance themselves from the spiritual and moral corruption of the Babylonian system and nation.

While the physical “Mark of the Beast” may not yet be mandatory, the beast and national; the Babylon system itself, is already manifesting in our world today. This presents a test of loyalty, forcing us to choose sides. Come out of her. Don’t become a channel for the Antichrist. Amenbible