The Middle East War -- Speculations by West End Church of Christ

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The Middle East War -- Speculations As the war in the Middle East continues to escalate, so do the voices of modern prophets exclaiming that the end of time is upon us, that the Battle of Armageddon is imminent. What do you think of all this? Do you think it is possible that they may be right? Well, please rest assured that they are wrong. We have no indication that the end of time is upon us now any more today than it has ever been. Nor is there going to be a Battle of Armageddon. Stay tuned, and you will learn why. But first, the West End Church of Christ presents these fifteen minute sermons each Sunday. We have only one reason for doing it -- we want to preach the truth of God's word without being restricted by human doctrines, creeds, and wisdom. That is why we repeatedly ask anyone who listens to communicate with us if you do not agree with what we teach on this program. This is not done out of a spirit of dare, or challenge, but in sincerity and in the interest of being absolutely right about the most important issue of this life and of eternity. We also want to invite you to attend our services. Bible study begins at 9 a.m. Sunday morning. We have classes for all ages in which the Bible is discussed and made relevant to living in this world today. At 10 each Sunday morning we assemble to worship -- we honor God in the reading and teaching of His word, several prayers, gospel songs, giving of our means, and partaking of the sacred memorial feast of the Lord's Supper. Sunday evening we assemble for worship at 6 p.m. and mid-week Bible study is each Wednesday night at 7 p.m. Mr. John Walvoord, chancellor of Dallas Theological Seminary answered some inquiries in USA Today, January 19, 1991 relative to all that is happening around the Persian Gulf. After offering his speculations that the state of Israel is the Old Testament Israel restored to her ancestral homeland (which obviously is false) he added that a 10-nation confederacy will be formed out of which will come a dictator the likes of which the world has never known. This dictator will convince Israel to join him in a peace pact. After three and a half years, Walvoord thinks the pact will be broken, and -- well, listen to his own words: "Those 3 1/2 years are a final countdown to the second coming of Christ. Just before the second coming, there's going to be a world war as nations rebel against the world ruler, and Armageddon is the physical place where they're gathered. So that's why it's called the Battle of Armageddon." Mr Walvoord and others fail to realize just how self-contradictory they are. If a war is a world war -- how can it be localized to one battle? If it is the War of Armageddon, then how could it be a world war? Further, there is no such thing at all as "The Battle of Armageddon" mentioned anywhere at all in the Bible. Mr. Walvoord gave no biblical reference. There is none. Should any of you who listen think you know the whereabouts of such a passage in the Bible, please send it to me. I will read it carefully and slowly right over this microphone. The truth is there is not a single reference to a battle of a future war or battle involving Armageddon. Another dispensationalist prophet is Mr. Richard DeHaan, well known preacher for the Radio Bible Class of Grand Rapids, Michigan. DeHaan says, "In that location, the Valley of Megiddo, the war of Armageddon will end with the defeat of the evil armies. This will bring about the close of the great tribulation and end the rule of Antichrist." The foregoing is taken from a reprint of a radio sermon called, "The Middle East: Watch It!", page 13. It is interesting that the location of the battle site is identified as "The Valley of Megiddo." DeHaan and others read Revelation 16:16 and think it refers to a valley where this great battle is to be fought. The verse reads, "And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon." The thing missing is what kind of a place it is. It is not a valley. Actually, the word Armageddon is a composite of the prefix "Har" and "Mageddon" which means "Mountain of Megiddo." Here is the explanation given in the Pulpit Commentary. "The correct reading, 'Harmagedon" signifies 'Mountain of Megiddo' geddon, 'City of Megiddo.' Mount Megiddo possibly refers to Carmel, at the foot of which lay the Plain of Megiddo, which was well known to every Jew as a gathering place for hostile hosts and as the scene of many battles." The reference in Revelation is symbolic -- not literal. But if it is to be understood literally, the modern day prophets should move the battle site up to the mountain out of the valley. It is really amazing to learn where these modern day prophets look in the Bible for some scrap of evidence to bolster their theories. Mr. Tim LaHaye's book, "The Coming Peace in the Middle East" (wouldn't it be nice if he had been right?) cites Ezekiel 38 as a prophecy of things that are beginning to take place today in the Middle East. LaHaye wrote, "The logical conclusion to all these conditions is a war in the Middle East to end all wars. And according to biblical prophecy it will happen -- but not for some time." (Obviously LaHaye didn't take Saddam Hussein into his theory.) Continuing, he said, "Before that a peace treaty will put a stop to the terrorism, the fighting, the fear, and the human suffering of both sides. Both the Arabs and Israel will temporarily enjoy safety and harmony. ... "Some 2,500 years ago the prophet Ezekiel declared that peace and prosperity would come to Israel before Russia invades her country." It is here that LaHaye and others begin a literal interpretation of Ezekiel 38. They get Russia into Ezekiel 38 via the prophet's reference to "Gog, prince of Rosh." Surely everyone knows that Rosh means Russia. Magog in the Ezekiel 38 surely means Moscow. I say that with a bit of tongue-in-cheek because these men insist on interpreting Ezekiel's prophecy literally. A reading of the chapter reveals that whatever war was under consideration would have the following features: 1. The warriors wear bucklers, helmets and shields (38:4). 2. They ride horses (verses 4 and 15). 3. They wield swords, spears, bows and arrows -- even handstaves as weapons (chapter 39:9-10). 4. The war ends not by armed victory but through pestilence, fire and brimstone (38:22). 5. There are so many dead bodies on the field that all of Israel are occupied for seven full months just burying them (39:2-13). Again, this is to be taken literally, if those like Walvoord and LaHaye are correct in their theories. Let me show you how it is literally impossible to take this prophecy literally. There are approximately 3 million people calling themselves Israelis today. Do you realize how many people they would have to bury, if they were all occupied in a burial detail for a full seven months? A very conservative estimate would be around 700 million dead bodies! It is impossible to understand this as a prophecy to be literally fulfilled yet in the future. What about the weapons of the prophecy? Who in his or her right mind would even imagine that a war to end all wars would be fought with primitive weapons? It is absurd. This, however, is merely a sample of the vagaries of the millennial theories about the end of time and the imaginary Battle of Armageddon. Finally, Armageddon has a meaning for the whole world -- but not that of a literal war to end all wars. It is used in the Bible as a figure of conflict. Much the same as some might use the term "Waterloo" so the Bible uses the term Armageddon. It became a symbol of great struggle -- usually of good against evil. Once, at least, it is used in the Bible as a symbol of wretchedness. The prophet Zechariah said, "And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication: then they will look on Me whom they have pierced; they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn. In that day there shall be a great mourning in Jerusalem, like the mourning at Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Mediddo" (Zechariah 12:10-11). The woe of this verse is directly related to the death of Josiah (II Kings 23:29). Ahaziah also died there (II Kings 9:27). Judges 5:19 reminds us that the kings of the Canaanites were defeated there. The truth of Armageddon is that it is a symbolic term that denotes conflict, slaughter, sorrow, and woe. In the one place it is found in the New Testament it figuratively tells us that evil will be overcome by righteousness. It does not, and cannot mean, that there will be an actual world war to end all wars. Remember that Jesus said His kingdom was not of this world, thus He prevented His servants from fighting to defend Him (John 18:36-37). Paul said our weapons are not carnal, but spiritual (II Corinthians 10:4). Dear Friend, don't listen to those who mislead you. None of us knows one thing about when time will end. Our life must be one of consistent and constant preparation so that whenever it comes, we will be ready. If you have any question at all about this topic, or if you would like extra study materials on it, contact us. If you would like to receive the Voice of West End call or write West End Church of Christ, 1609 Parkside Dr., Bowling Green, KY. 42101. Until the next time we have this opportunity to be with you by radio, may God richly bless you and yours. Good bye. Radio Sermon No. 49