Armageddon!
Literal or Spiritual World Conflagration?
Click to go to our Home PageDear Reader, I received the following question from Karl
Wagner, a professing Seventh-day Adventist I converse with on the
Internet. As most of my regular
readers know, Karl works for an ABC in Please do not be disturbed that I use
Karl’s name. He is most proud of his
beliefs and does not mind whatsoever that I promulgate them on my
Website. He is very adamant that he is
right. He believes that I am a
When I say foolish virgins believe that the battle
is spiritually only, that does not mean that some of them will not change
their foolish virgin stance. But at
this late stage, most of them will not change. Imagine, these same folk believe that we never
needed nor now need another prophet to inform Laodicean foolish virgins
concerning the truth. Chap. 288
- God Intervenes in Armageddon A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth;
for the Lord hath a controversy with the nations, he will plead with all
flesh; he will give them that are wicked to the sword, saith
the Lord. Jer. 25:31. For six
thousand years the great controversy has been in progress; the Son of God and
His heavenly messengers have been in conflict with the power of the evil one,
to warn, enlighten, and save the children of men. Now all have made their
decisions; the wicked have fully united with Satan in his warfare against
God. The time has come for God to vindicate the authority of His downtrodden
law. Now the controversy is not alone with Satan, but with men. "The
Lord hath a controversy with the nations"; "He will give them that
are wicked to the sword." {Mar 296.1} The mark
of deliverance has been set upon those "that sigh and that cry for all
the abominations that be done." Now the angel of death goes forth,
represented in Ezekiel's vision by the men with the slaughtering weapons, to
whom the command is given: "Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and
little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark;
and begin at my sanctuary." Says the prophet: "They began at the ancient
men which were before the house." Ezekiel
9:1-6. The work of destruction begins among those who have professed to be
the spiritual guardians of the people. The false watchmen are the first to
fall. There are none to pity or to spare. Men, women, maidens, and little children
perish together. {Mar 296.2} "The
Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their
iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover
her slain." Isaiah 26:21. . . . In the mad strife of their own fierce
passions, and by the awful outpouring of God's unmingled wrath, fall the
wicked inhabitants of the earth--priests, rulers, and people, rich and poor,
high and low. "And the slain of the Lord shall be at that day from one
end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be
lamented, neither gathered, nor buried." Jeremiah 25:33. {Mar 296.3} Chap. 17. -
The Seven Last Plagues and the Wicked (The Great Time of Trouble, Part 1)
The Vials of God's Wrath Will Be Poured Out Solemn
events before us are yet to transpire. Trumpet after trumpet is to be
sounded; vial after vial poured out one after another upon the inhabitants of
the earth.--3SM 426 (1890). {LDE 238.1} The world
is soon to be left by the angel of mercy and the seven last plagues are to be
poured out. . . . The bolts of God's wrath are soon to fall, and when He
shall begin to punish the transgressors there will be no period of respite
until the end.--TM 182 (1894). {LDE 238.2}
The Nations in Conflict Four
mighty angels hold back the powers of this earth till the servants of God are
sealed in their foreheads. The nations of the world are eager for
239 conflict, but they are held in check by the angels. When
this restraining power is removed there will come a time of trouble and
anguish. Deadly instruments of warfare will be invented. Vessels with their
living cargo will be entombed in the great deep. All who have not the spirit
of truth will unite under the leadership of satanic agencies, but they are to
be kept under control till the time shall come for the great battle of
Armageddon.--7BC 967 (1900). {LDE 238.3}
The Whole World Will Be Involved in Ruin
Angels
are now restraining the winds of strife that they may not blow until the
world shall be warned of its coming doom, but a storm is gathering, ready to
burst upon the earth, and when God shall bid His angels loose the winds there
will be such a scene of strife as no pen can picture.--Ed 179, 180 (1903).
{LDE 239.1}
God Is Just, as Well as Merciful It is the
glory of God to be merciful, full of forbearance, kindness, goodness, and
truth. But the justice shown in punishing the sinner is as verily the glory
of the Lord as is the manifestation of His mercy.--RH March 10, 1904. {LDE
240.1} The Lord
God of The One who has stood as our Intercessor; who hears all
penitential prayers and confessions; who is represented with a rainbow, the
symbol of grace and love, encircling His head, is soon to cease His work in
the heavenly sanctuary. Grace and mercy will then descend from the throne,
and justice will take their place. He for whom His people have looked will
assume His right--the office of Supreme Judge.--RH Jan. 1, 1889. {LDE 240.3} In all the Bible, God is presented not only as a Being of
mercy and benevolence, but as a God of strict and impartial justice.--ST
March 24, 1881. {LDE 240.4}
The Certainty of God's
Judgments God's
love is represented in our day as being of such
241 a character as would forbid His destroying the
sinner. Men reason from their own low standard of right and justice.
"Thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself" (Ps. 50:21). They measure God by
themselves. They reason as to how they would act under the circumstances and
decide God would do as they imagine they would do. . . . {LDE 240.5} In no
kingdom or government is it left to the lawbreakers to say what punishment is
to be executed against those who have broken the law. All we have, all the
bounties of His grace which we possess, we owe to God. The aggravating
character of sin against such a God cannot be estimated any more than the
heavens can be measured with a span. God is a moral governor as well as a
Father. He is the Lawgiver. He makes and executes His laws. Law that has no
penalty is of no force. {LDE 241.1} The plea
may be made that a loving Father would not see His children suffering the
punishment of God by fire while He had the power to relieve them. But God
would, for the good of His subjects and for their safety, punish the
transgressor. God does not work on the plan of man. He can do infinite
justice that man has no right to do before his fellow man. Noah would have
displeased God to have drowned one of the scoffers and mockers that harassed
him, but God drowned the vast world. Who will
say God will not do what He says He will do?--12MR 207-209; 10MR 265 (1876).
{LDE 241.3} Judgments Come
When God Removes His
Protection I was
shown that the judgments of God would not come directly out from the Lord
upon them, but in this way: They place themselves beyond His protection. He
warns, corrects, reproves, and points out the only path of safety; then, if
those who have been the objects of His special care will follow their own
course, independent of the Spirit of God, after repeated warnings, if they
choose their own way, then He does not commission His angels to prevent
Satan's decided attacks upon them. {LDE 242.1} It is
Satan's power that is at work at sea and on land, bringing calamity and
distress and sweeping off multitudes to make sure of his prey.--14MR 3
(1883). {LDE 242.2} God will
use His enemies as instruments to punish those who have followed their own
pernicious ways whereby the truth of God has been misrepresented, misjudged,
and dishonored.--PC 136 (1894). {LDE 242.3} Already the
Spirit of God, insulted, refused, abused, is being withdrawn from the earth.
Just as fast as God's Spirit is taken away, Satan's cruel work will be done
upon land and sea.--Ms 134, 1898. {LDE 242.4} The
wicked have passed the boundary of their probation; the Spirit of God,
persistently resisted, has been at last withdrawn. Unsheltered by divine
grace, they have no protection from the wicked one.--GC 614 (1911). {LDE
242.5} At Times Holy
Angels Exercise Destructive Power [THE SINNER MUST HIMSELF BEAR FULL
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PUNISHMENT THAT IS METED OUT TO HIM. ELLEN WHITE
STATES, "GOD DESTROYS NO ONE. THE SINNER DESTROYS HIMSELF BY HIS OWN
IMPENITENCE." 5T 120. SEE FURTHER THE GREAT CONTROVERSY, PP. 25-37.] God's judgments were awakened against Under God
the angels are all-powerful. On one occasion, in obedience to the command of
Christ, they slew of the Assyrian army in one night one hundred and
eighty-five thousand men.--DA 700 (1898). {LDE 243.2} The same
angel who had come from the royal courts to rescue Peter had been the
messenger of wrath and judgment to Herod. The angel smote Peter to arouse him
from slumber. It was with a different stroke that he smote the wicked king,
laying low his pride and bringing upon him the punishment of the Almighty.
Herod died in great agony of mind and body, under the retributive judgment of
God.--AA 152 (1911). {LDE 243.3} A single
angel destroyed all the first-born of the Egyptians and filled the land with
mourning. When David offended against God by numbering the people, one angel
caused that terrible destruction by which his
244 sin was punished. The same destructive power exercised
by holy angels when God commands, will be exercised by evil angels when He
permits. There are forces now ready, and only waiting the divine permission,
to spread desolation everywhere.--GC 614 (1911). {LDE 243.4} The First Two
Plagues When
Christ ceases His intercession in the sanctuary, the unmingled wrath
threatened against those who worship the beast and his image and receive his
mark (Rev. 14:9, 10), will be poured out. The plagues upon The
plagues were falling upon the inhabitants of the earth. Some were denouncing
God and cursing Him. Others rushed to the people of God and begged to be
taught how they might escape His judgments. But the saints had nothing for
them. The last tear for sinners had been shed, the last agonizing prayer
offered, the last burden borne, the last warning
given.--EW 281 (1858). {LDE 244.2} The Third Plague
I saw
that the four angels would hold the four winds until Jesus' work was done in
the sanctuary, and then will come the seven last plagues. These plagues
enraged the wicked against the righteous; they thought that we had brought
the judgments of God upon them and that if they could rid the earth of us the
plagues would then be stayed. A decree went forth to slay the saints, which
caused them to cry day and night for deliverance.--EW 36, 37 (1851). {LDE
245.1} And
"the rivers and fountains of waters . . . became blood." Terrible
as these inflictions are, God's justice stands fully vindicated. The angel of
God declares: "Thou art righteous, O Lord, . . .
because Thou hast judged thus. For they have shed the blood of saints and
prophets, and Thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy"
(Rev. 16:2-6). By condemning the people of God to death, they have as truly
incurred the guilt of their blood as if it had been shed by their hands.--GC
628 (1911). {LDE 245.2} The Fourth Plague
In the plague
that follows, power is given to the sun "to scorch men with fire. And
men were scorched with great heat" (Rev. 16:8, 9). The prophets thus
describe the condition of the earth at this fearful time: "The land mourneth; . . . because the harvest of the field is
perished. . . . All the trees of the field are withered: because joy is
withered away from the sons of men."
246 "The seed is rotten under their clods, the garners are laid desolate. . . . How do the
beasts groan! the herds of cattle are perplexed,
because they have no pasture. . . . The rivers of water are dried up, and the
fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness." "The songs of
the temple shall be howlings in that day, saith the Lord God: there shall be many dead bodies in
every place; they shall cast them forth with silence" (Joel 1:10-12,
17-20; Amos 8:3). {LDE 245.3} These
plagues are not universal, or the inhabitants of the earth would be wholly
cut off. Yet they will be the most awful scourges that have ever been known
to mortals.--GC 628, 629 (1911). {LDE 246.1} The Fifth Plague
With
shouts of triumph, jeering, and imprecation, throngs of evil men are about to
rush upon their prey, when, lo, a dense blackness, deeper than the darkness
of the night, falls upon the earth. Then a rainbow, shining with the glory
from the throne of God, spans the heavens, and seems to encircle each praying
company. The angry multitudes are suddenly arrested. Their mocking cries die
away. The objects of their murderous rage are forgotten. With fearful
forebodings they gaze upon the symbol of God's covenant, and long to be
shielded from its overpowering brightness. . . . {LDE 246.2} It is at
midnight that God manifests His power for the deliverance of His people. The
sun appears, shining in its strength. Signs and wonders follow in quick
succession. The wicked look with terror and amazement on the
247 scene, while the righteous behold with solemn joy the
tokens of their deliverance.--GC 635, 636 (1911). {LDE 246.3}
God's Law Appears in the
Sky There
appears against the sky a hand holding two tables of stone folded together.
Says the prophet, "The heavens shall declare His righteousness: for God
is judge Himself" (Ps. 50:6). That holy law, God's righteousness,
that amid thunder and flame was proclaimed from Sinai as the guide of life,
is now revealed to men as the rule of judgment. The hand opens the tables,
and there are seen the precepts of the Decalogue, traced as with a pen of
fire. The words are so plain that all can read them. Memory is aroused, the
darkness of superstition and heresy is swept from every mind, and God's ten
words, brief, comprehensive, and authoritative, are presented to the view of
all the inhabitants of the earth.--GC 639 (1911). {LDE 247.1}
The Lost Condemn Their False Shepherds Church
members who have seen the light and been convicted, but who have trusted the
salvation of their souls to the minister, will learn in the day of God that
no other soul can pay the ransom for their transgression. A terrible cry will
be raised, "I am lost, eternally lost." Men will feel as though
they could rend in pieces the ministers who have preached falsehoods and
condemned the truth.--4BC 1157 (1900). {LDE 247.2} All unite
in heaping their bitterest condemnation upon the ministers. Unfaithful
pastors have prophesied
248 smooth things; they have led their hearers to make void
the law of God and to persecute those who would keep it holy. Now, in their
despair, these teachers confess before the world their work of deception. The
multitudes are filled with fury. "We are lost!" they cry, "and
you are the cause of our ruin"; and they turn upon the false shepherds.
The very ones that once admired them most, will
pronounce the most dreadful curses upon them. The very hands that once
crowned them with laurels, will be raised for their
destruction. The swords which were to slay God's people,
are now employed to destroy their enemies.--GC 655, 656 (1911). {LDE 247.3} Here we
see that the church--the Lord's sanctuary--was the first to feel the stroke
of the wrath of God. The ancient men [Eze. 9:6],
those to whom God had given great light and who had stood as guardians of the
spiritual interests of the people, had betrayed their trust.--5T 211 (1882).
{LDE 248.1} God's
Word is made of none effect by false shepherds. . . . Their work will soon
react upon themselves. Then will be witnessed the scenes described in
Revelation 18 when the judgments of God shall fall upon mystical Babylon.--Ms
60, 1900. {LDE 248.2} The Sixth Plague
The
spirits of devils will go forth to the kings of the earth and to the whole
world, to fasten them in deception, and urge them on to unite with Satan in
his last struggle against the government of heaven.--GC 624 (1911). {LDE
248.3} The
Spirit of God is gradually withdrawing from the world. Satan is also
mustering his forces of evil, going forth "unto the kings of the earth
and of the whole world," to gather them under his banner, to be trained
for "the battle of that great day of God Almighty" [Rev.
16:14].--7BC 983 (1890). {LDE 249.1} After
John's description in Revelation 16 of that miracle-working power which was
to gather the world to the last great conflict, the symbols are dropped and
the trumpet voice once more gives a certain sound: "Behold, I come as a
thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk
naked, and they see his shame" [Rev. 16:15]. After the transgression of
Adam and Eve they were naked, for the garment of light and security had
departed from them. {LDE 249.2} The world
will have forgotten the admonition and warnings of God as did the inhabitants
of the Noatic world, as did also the dwellers in
The Last Great Two great
opposing powers are revealed in the last great battle. On one side stands the
Creator of heaven and earth. All on His side bear His signet. They are
obedient to His commands. On the other side stands
250 the prince of darkness, with those who have chosen apostasy
and rebellion.--7BC 982, 983 (1901). {LDE 249.4} A
terrible conflict is before us. We are nearing the battle of the great day of
God Almighty. That which has been held in control is to be let loose. The
angel of mercy is folding her wings, preparing to step down from the throne
and leave the world to the control of Satan. The principalities and powers of
earth are in bitter revolt against the God of heaven. They are filled with
hatred against those who serve Him, and soon, very soon, will be fought the
last great battle between good and evil. The earth is to be the battle
field--the scene of the final contest and the final victory. Here, where for
so long Satan has led men against God, rebellion is to be forever
suppressed.--RH May 13, 1902. {LDE 250.1} The
battles waging between the two armies are as real as those fought by the
armies of this world, and on the issue of the spiritual conflict eternal
destinies depend.--PK 176 (c. 1914). {LDE 250.2} All the World Will
Be Gathered on One Side
or the Other All the world will be on one side or the other of the
question. The battle of Armageddon will be fought. And that day must find
none of us sleeping. Wide awake we must be, as wise virgins having oil in our
vessels with our lamps. The power of the Holy Ghost must be upon us and the
Captain of the Lord's host
251 will stand at the head of the angels of heaven to direct
the battle.--3SM 426 (1890). {LDE 250.3} The
enmity of Satan against good will be manifested more and more as he brings
his forces into activity in his last work of rebellion, and every soul that
is not fully surrendered to God and kept by divine power will form an
alliance with Satan against heaven and join in battle against the Ruler of
the universe.--TM 465 (1892). {LDE 251.1} Soon all
the inhabitants of the earth will have taken sides, either for or against the
government of heaven.--7T 141 (1902). {LDE 251.2} The Seventh
Plague We need
to study the pouring out of the seventh vial [Rev. 16:17-21]. The powers of
evil will not yield up the conflict without a struggle. But The
battle of Armageddon is soon to be fought. He on whose vesture is written the
name, King of kings and Lord of lords, leads forth the armies of heaven on
white horses, clothed in fine linen, clean and white [Rev. 19:11-16].--7BC
982 (1899). {LDE 251.4} The whole
earth heaves and swells like the waves of the sea. Its surface is breaking
up. Its very foundations
252 seem to be giving way. Mountain chains are sinking.
Inhabited islands disappear. The seaports that have become like |