The Christ in Prophecy Journal

The Mighty Angels of Revelation 19 and the Sword of the Word

MP3: The Mighty Angels of Revelation 19 Continued
Hosts: Nathan Jones & Vic Batista

The Sword of the Word

Nathan Jones: We have in our study of Revelation reached what is called the Battle of Armageddon. Finally! If anyone is familiar with only one topic related to Bible prophecy, it is most often Armageddon. Usually it’s because of movies produced loosely on the word Armageddon.

Bear in mind that Armageddon isn’t the last prophetic war, because there will be one after this that we’ll address in Revelation 20, but Armageddon is the second-to-last prophetic war and the one most people recognize. The war involves Jesus’ forces against Satan’s forces on the earth in one great, multi-staged battle.

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We have reached the summit of the seven year Tribulation and are now at the end. Thank goodness, because there wouldn’t be much of a world left if Jesus didn’t return at the end of the seven prophesied years!

Vic Batista: Back in Revelation 16:16, the battlefield was named in Hebrew Armageddon.

Nathan Jones: Right, Armageddon is actually the Valley of Jezreel. The valley stretches across Israel from Mount Carmel up north near Haifa and rolls in a southeasterly direction toward Jerusalem. We read earlier in Revelation 14:20 that the blood of the dead soldiers will fill up the valley as high as a horse’s bridle. That’s 1600 stadia or furlongs, or in modern measurements 180 miles or about 300 kilometers.

The length of the valley means the Antichrist’s army must consist of a tremendous amount of people. Remember that most of the world’s population at this point in the Tribulation have been decimated by God’s 21 judgments, but there’s still enough people left alive to field the largest army that’s ever existed. So, what Satan I’d imagine would have to do is gather whatever remaining people across the earth that are left, whether they’ve ever been a fighter or not, and as long as they can hold a weapon and fight, they are drafted.

While the first stage of Armageddon is the Antichrist battling the Kings of the East and their army in the Valley of Jezreel, the Antichrist’s true eye is on destroying Jerusalem in order to prevent the fulfillment of the prophecies concerning the return of Jesus Christ. And yet, Revelation already foretells that Jesus Christ is going to win. The carrion birds are waiting in this Valley of Armageddon to pick off the flesh of the dead.

I have been to the Valley of Jezreel three times. The valley is a massive place and perfect for holding a land battle of such magnitude. As a matter of fact, Napoleon once visited the site and claimed that all the armies of the world could be gathered together there in battle. He was right, for in truth, one day all the armies of the world will actually be gathered there. The defeated dead will become a feast for the birds.

Vic Batista: Revelation 19 described Jesus Christ as having a sword that He will use to fight. It protrudes out of His mouth, and it is in reality it is made of the very words of God. Jesus doesn’t need a weapon, for His words alone can kill.

Nathan Jones: The passage in Revelation 19:15 reads, “That out of His mouth was a sharp sword and with it He should strike the nations and He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.”

Let’s look at Jesus’ robe. Revelation 19:13 describes that Jesus’ robe is dipped in blood, which some have claimed could mean His own blood from His death on the cross. Considering Jesus’ resurrected body was not blood spattered, I have a problem with that interpretation. Rather, the description of the bloody robe was likely made beforehand, as it gets bloody after Jesus has come down to earth. Bear in mind Jesus touches down first on the Mount of Olives, according the Prophet Zechariah, so He must just hover over His enemies in the valley and gets His hem covered with blood. This imagery certainly sounds disgusting, but it is what it is.

Let’s look at Jesus’ sword. His sword as we’ve said is the Word of God. It’s not an actual sword that sticks out of His mouth like a snake’s tongue. The words of God have power. Jesus doesn’t have to punch anybody, or karate chop, or back kick. No, He just speaks and His enemies fall down dead.

When Jesus makes the claim that He holds all things together, He isn’t engaging in hyperbole. Jesus Christ is truly our life, and when He speaks in order to take that life away, His enemies’ bodies just disintegrate before Him. Jesus’ power is so awesome that His armies following Him don’t even have to engage a single person in battle. His angels don’t have to fight either. There’s no prophecy that I’m aware of which portrays the armies of Heaven engaged in fighting at Armageddon, only that Jesus Himself defeats the Antichrist’s army simply by speaking.

I wish there was a movie about Revelation, and not a cheesy B-rated Christian movie, but an actual A-list big budget movie that would help people visualize the power and might of Jesus Christ’s return. Imagine what it would look like to see Jesus merely speak and the Antichrist’s army just fall apart. What a scene as the blood of the dead flows as high as a horses bridle for 180 miles. This is a massive battle that Revelation 19 is describing, and Jesus accomplishes Satan’s defeat just by talking!

Vic Batista: As Christians we too should consider the power that is in the tongue, as the Bible says in James. We also hold the power of life in a similar way in that we proclaim the Word of God, and it is more powerful than any two-edged sword.

Nathan Jones: Exactly, the two-edged sword here in Revelation 19 mirrors Hebrews 4:12 which teaches that the “Word of God is powerful it is quick and powerful and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

As Christians we have Christ inside of us, so we need to be careful about what we say, because it either edifies people by sharing the Gospel, by being encouraging, and by being loving. Or, we can tear a person apart with our tongue. We so have to guard what we as Christians say.

In the sixtieth segment of our series “The Mighty Angels of Revelation,” Christians will rejoice over being on the winning team!

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Dr. Nathan E. Jones

As the Internet Evangelist at Lamb & Lion Ministries, Nathan reaches out to the over 4.5 billion people accessible over the Internet with the Good News of Jesus Christ. He also co-hosts the ministry's television program Christ in Prophecy and podcast The Truth Will Set You Free.

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