1. Every major conflict reignites Armageddon talk “At Armageddon ‘the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His [God’s] wrath (Rv.16:19) will be poured out, and the forces of evil will be overthrown and destroyed” (Nelson’s, 99) War brings out Armageddon talk (Tennessean) Armageddon, Oil and the Middle East Crisis sold 300,000 in 1st printing. …Persian Gulf conflict fulfills conditions “exactly as the Bible anticipates in its prophecies of the end of time” (John Walvoord)

2. I. Nature Of Revelation

3. Revelation Highly symbolic, 1:1 404 verses; 278 allude to OT  Language couched in OT imagery  Over 500 OT references & allusions in Revelation

4. Apocalyptic literature: Apocalyptic literature: 200 BC–AD 200: writings of Jews & Christians Animals, colors, numbers, struggle Universe: two camps: good & evil Supernatural powers behind warring camps: God & satan At end of time, everyone on side of one Final separation occurs at judgment

5. Signified Revelation Signified (Rv.1:1) Def.: to show by some sort of sign (RR) Jn.21:18-19. Rv.12:1 Rv.13:2 – leopardbearlion American eagle British lion Political cartoon: animals, tug of war w. rope… Apocalyptic: persecution; God’s people appear to lose

6. I. Nature Of Revelation II. Armageddon: Revelation 16

7. Bowls of wrath (Rv.16) Six bowls (1-16)  Euphrates dries up; makes way for kings (12)  Three unclean spirits (13-14)  Harmageddon Seventh bowl (17-21) Armageddon

8. Jg.5 1 Sm.31 2 Sm.4 2 K.23

9. Destruction of unholy trio 1. Beast 1. Beast (13:1-10); 17:3-9-18; 19:…11-21 2. False prophet 2. False prophet (13:11-13-18) 19:20-21 3. Dragon 3. Dragon (ch.12) 20:2, seized… 1.A ‘no account’ battle 2.OT Megiddo language symbolizes conflict between good & evil a. Isa.63:1-3 b. Rv.5:6, 9

10. I. Nature Of Revelation III. Places In Revelation II. Armageddon: Revelation 16

11. Places symbolize concepts Zion Zion (Rv.14:1) & Jerusalem (21:2) = God’s spiritual city: church in glory Babylon Babylon = apostasy, sin (Rv.14:8) EgyptSodom Egypt & Sodom (Rv.11:8) = oppression, wickedness Euphrates Euphrates (Rv.16:12 (16) = war. Is.7:20 Megiddo Megiddo = famous battlefield (Jg.4-5)

12. I. Nature Of Revelation II. Armageddon: Revelation 16 IV. Principles Of Prophecy III. Places In Revelation

13. 1. 1. Some literal, some figurative. Mal.4; Is.40 2. 2. Spiritual kingdom – Jn.6:15; 18:36 3. 3. Do not ignore fulfillment (e.g.: Ezra, Neh.) now a.Ep.1:20-22, above all now then b.1 Jn.2:18, many antichrists then (2 Co.10:3-5) A literal interpretation of a figurative prophecy is a misinterpretation

14. 666 (Rv.13:18) JFK, Kissinger, popes, etc. How to decide? Cipher: number the alphabet –  A = 100  B = 101  C = 102  D = 103  Etc. H I T L E R 107108119111104117

15. Four aids to identify antichrist 1. If proper name won’t fit, use a title 2. If English won’t work, use Greek, Hebrew, or Latin (e.g.: Nero) 3. Use alternate spellings if necessary 4. Use manuscript variants (Rv.13:18) If you do it right, you can be antichrist! Maometis or Moametis for Mohammed Gk.: 1005 Hebrew letters: Neron Kaisar : 666 Nero Kaisar: 616