By Ken Blue
There is a war coming in the Middle East that will shake the fish in the sea. It is prophesied in several places in Scripture. A war of this magnitude was thought impossible a few years ago. But now, no one doubts its possibility, or probability.
Prior to this battle, the nations must have a reason to descend to the valley that extends from Israel into Syria. John describes it this way. Revelation 16:12-16 “ And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared. 13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. 15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. 16 And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.” If Revelation 9:16 is a reference to this army, there will be 200 million fighting in it! Note the sign above.
“Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.” This is a picture of the battle of Armageddon in this chapter and the following verses. (Rev. 14:18-20; 19:15; Isa. 63:1-6; Joel 3:12-16). Blood will flow on this battlefield up to the horses’ bridles for a distance of about 184 miles (Rev. 14:20). This blood river will come from the veins of multitudes slain in the battle and from the hail, fire, brimstone, and overflowing rain that will fall from heaven on this day (Ezek. 38:21-23). God will participate in this war with His weapons in heaven. Revelation 16:21 “ And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.” These hail stones will weigh about 114 pounds!
Before you have any thought that I have negative sentiments toward Jews, you should read the following verses, and realize that I do not. Romans 11:11-15 “ I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. 12 Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness? 13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
14 If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them. 15 For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?”
As we have said, God is gathering the Jews back to Israel, and then He will gather all the nations there to destroy them. Zephaniah 3:8 “Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.”
If you are not saved, that is, if you have not believed on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, now is the time to do it. You must believe He died in your place, arose from the dead, and then personally accept Him as your Savior. Do it now.
Pastor Ken Blue was born in Boswell, Ark. In 1955 he accepted Christ as his Savior. He and his wife Joyce were married in 1955. They have 5 children. He graduated from Midwestern Baptist Bible College in 1969 and started the Open Door Baptist Church in Lynnwood, Wa. where he pastored for 39 years. Because of health issues (ALS) he was forced to resign as pastor. It is his desire to continue to be used of God to help pastors and believers through this ministry.