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The Last World War
By Rev (Dr) Timothy Tow
(Preached at Life BPC, 10.30am Service, Mar 23 2003)
Text: Rev 9:13-16; 16:12-16
The First World War was fought in 1914-18. The
Second World War was fought in 1939-1945. And now has broken out a
war between America under President Bush and Saddam Hussein of Iraq.
Iraq is where the Great Euphrates River is and it is mentioned in
Rev 9:13-16 and Rev 16:12-16. Does the present war fulfil the two
passages in Revelation? I do not think so after carefully studying
the context. I believe this is still future.
So we have Iraq reappearing in the Last World
War. The Last World War is predestinated to break out for an hour
and a day and a month and a year. It will involve as many as 200
million men and the war breaks out at the blowing of the sixth
trumpet.
What concerns us is Christ’s coming to save us
during the process of the Last World War. He will come and save us
at the sounding of the seventh or last trumpet. This is foretold in
Rev 10:7, "But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when
he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as
he hath declared to his servants the prophets" and in I Cor
15:51-52, "Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but
we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at
the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be
raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed." In I Thess 4:16-17,
Paul puts it more sharply, "For the Lord himself shall descend from
heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the
trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which
are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the
clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with
the Lord." This is known as the rapture. Will you be caught up to
meet the Lord in the air?
In Revelation there are three series of seven
angels in action. The first series are seven angels who open the
seals. The second are seven angels who blow the trumpets. The third
are seven angels who pour out the vials (or bowls of wrath). Now we
see the 6th angel pour out his sixth vial upon the great Euphrates
River. The Last World War which will last three-and-a-half years,
will see the great river Euphrates dry up that the way of the kings
of the east might be prepared. The east means east of Israel. This
will include Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and
China most probably entering the Last World War with even northern
nations of Europe who swoop down to meet these eastern forces at
Armageddon.
In Hebrew it is spelt as Har-Megiddo meaning
Hill of Slaughter. It is a landmark of an ancient battlefield
between Haifa and the Sea of Galilee. It is several hundred miles
west of Baghdad. Armies from the East will meet with those from the
West in a last battle in Jerusalem for the Battle of Armageddon
brings us right up to Jerusalem.
The Jews will suffer two-thirds killed, leaving
one third, according to Zech 13:8. In their great agony Jesus will
descend on the Mt of Olives to save His own. Of the Gentile nations
who clash in the battle of Armageddon Rev 14 reveals a river of
blood of 200 miles stretching from North Israel to Eilat on the Red
Sea in the South. That is the description of how the Last World War
will end.
President Bush may win the war but not the
peace. Only Christ will bring the peace when he returns to earth to
rule 1,000 years on the throne of His father David. This is recorded
in Isa 2:1-4, "The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning
Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall come to pass in the last days,
that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established in the
top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all
nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come
ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of
the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk
in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word
of the LORD from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among the nations,
and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into
plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not
lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any
more."
We who have found the way of life everlasting
are commanded to hasten in the work of the Lord. In Jesus’ sermon on
his Second Coming he says, "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be
preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then
shall the end come" (Matt 24:14). In another place He gives to His
three servants five, two and one talent. And he entrusts these
talents to them to trade and gain profit till he comes. We should
think of ways and means whereby His Kingdom might be extended. Our
Church’s latest start of an English Sunday School to Kota Tinggi
whereby we have exceeded fifty pupils is a work well done.
On my part the Lord has given me the idea of
manufacturing a JESUS SAVES clock which is displayed in Churches and
other public places. The "jewel" models for study table and bedroom
preach equally well to users. Thousands have been sold. Then the
Lord gave me the idea of a Chinese version in the form of a couplet
of six words, , Believe in Jesus, enjoy everlasting life. The
Chinese version sells better than the English. A brother minister
from another church bought 130 of them. He distributes to new
converts of his church. There are many mainland Chinese factory
workers who have believed Jesus after coming to his church. When
they return to China they will spread the Word to the mainland. "By
all means save some" (I Cor 9:22) for who knows the present war may
not lead to the Last World War?
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