DAY 231- BIG PICTURE IN A YEAR - THE LAND
Reading: Revelation 20:6-15; 2 Thessalonians 2: 8
Have you ever wondered where Armageddon (sometimes called Megiddo) is? It is in the Promised Land, actually, situated approximately 40 kilometres west-southwest of the Sea of Galilee.
Because it was on the highway that connects Egypt to the rest of the Middle East, the Via Maris, forts were built to guard the way. A few battles in the past have been fought at Armageddom between great empires. 2 Chronicles 35 records a battle that took place between Necho II of Egypt and the Assyrians against the Babylonians. This battle was to be fought at Carchemish in Syria, but the Egyptian troops had to pass through Megiddo to get there. King Josiah refused to let them pass and ended up fighting the Egyptians there and losing his life.
Today we read about the final battle of Armageddon. ‘Gog and Magog’ is borrowed from the book of Ezekiel where the term refers to the Seleucids, especially Antiochus Epiphanes, the bitter enemy of the Jews. The center of his kingdom was located in northern Syria… and included Meshech and Tubal, districts in Asia Minor. Accordingly Gog was the prince of Magog i.e. Syria. Therefore the oppression of God’s people by Gog and Magog refers in Ezekiel to the terrible persecution under Antiochus Epiphanes, ruler of Syria. The persecution of the Jews by Antiochus Epiphanes was the last great attack on the people of God in the Old Testament.
He is a type of the final persecution of Satan and the two beasts, against the worldwide Church. The defeat of Gog and Magog in history was sudden and most unexpected. In the same way, in regard to the Church, the destruction of God’s enemies will be very sudden indeed for fire will come down from Heaven and consume them.
Prayer:
Dear Father, thank You for caring about us and for the future protection against Satan and his forces. Amen
FOR THE FAMILY
Ok, so this is a big one…the highlight of your Family Times this month and it needs a bit more prep than the other days. You’re going to start making a model of the New Jerusalem together – that you can complete tomorrow!
for a simple step-by-step guide.