1. The Bible describes a system of global government, economy, and religion presided over by a Satan-
inspired man known as Antichrist. II Thess 2:3-4; II Thess 2:9; Dan 7:9-28; Dan 8:25; Rev 13:1-18
a. Although this man will at first seem to have answers to the world’s problems, he will eventually
bring the world to war at a series of battles known as Armageddon (WWIII). Rev 16:16
1. Armageddon is a Greek form of the Hebrew word Megiddo. Megiddo is a 70 foot mound on
the southwest edge of the Jezreel Valley which is 70 miles north of Jerusalem. The valley runs
west to east across the country and has been the scene of many battles throughout antiquity.
2. The valley’s western entrance today is near the Port of Haifa. It is one of the most accessible
areas in Israel for amphibious troop landings and it is also a good area for equipment assembly.
3. Fighting will center at Megiddo and run the length of Israel (200 miles, Rev 14:20). There will
be nuclear, biological, and chemical warfare and millions will suffer and die.
b. In his vision, John saw these final events. John wasn’t describing some supernatural, freaky “throw
down” from an angry God. He was describing nuclear, biological, and chemical warfare and the
resulting effects on humanity and the earth itself.
1. He was a 1st century man observing events for which he had no words—21st century technology
and warfare. So he described them in terms familiar to himself and his audience.
2. For example, John spoke of a great earthquake (seismos) (Rev 6:12). The word can mean a
terrible shaking, not necessarily an earthquake. If the earth shook due to a nuclear holocaust
John would have had no words to describe it other than earthquake.
2. John was not the only author to write about events he had never seen and had no words for. The prophet
Ezekiel (a 7th century BC man) described what seems to be one of the first military actions at
Armageddon when Gog (Russia and its allies) will launch an invasion of Israel. Ezek 38-39
a. In his vision Ezekiel saw highly mobile and well equipped armies and a battle which he described in
terms that his readers understood—clouds, shaking, brimstone. Ezek 38:16; 19; Ezek 38:20-22
b. Reading his description today, we see that Ezekiel was reporting a nuclear and chemical exchange
that produced not only a cloud and shaking, but heavy rains, hailstones, and fire and brimstone.
1. The movement of mechanized troops would produce great clouds of dust as well as the shaking
of the earth. And, we now know that nuclear weapons produce fire. When the atomic bombs
were dropped on Japan in WWII people were literally incinerated by the ensuing fireballs.
2. Brimstone is sulfur which is a principle ingredient in many chemical and nerve gases. And we
know that open air hydrogen bomb tests conducted since WWII have produced intense
fireballs, radiation, and hailstorms that put large dents on the armor plating of the test ships.
3. Remember what we’ve already discussed about the Old Testament language. God’s primary
purpose was to show Himself to a world of idol worshippers as the only Almighty God. Many
events are connected to God, not because He causes them, but to help men recognize that
destruction comes when they are out of relationship with Him due to idol worship.
3. Ezekiel is not the only prophet to mention fire and shaking as the destructive forces in these final battles
that will occur before the Lord returns.
a. Isa 13:6-13—Isaiah wrote that in the day of the Lord men’s faces will be aflame and they will be as
scarce as the gold of Ophir, and that the heavens and earth will shake. (Ophir was a gold producing
region in what is now Yemen. Gold from Ophir adorned Solomon’s Temple, I Kings 10:14-23).
b. Isa 24:5-6—Isaiah reported that the inhabitants of the earth will be burned, with few left alive.
Because nuclear weapons have been exploded in war in the 20th century, we know that the intense
heat and blinding light of thermonuclear blasts can set people on fire for a radius of up to 100 miles.

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c. Joel 2:1; Joel 2:10-11; Joel 2:30-31—The prophet Joel also wrote about fire and shaking in the day
of the Lord and added that the sun, moon, and stars will be darkened. His words resemble a
description of the nuclear winter scientists say will follow nuclear war. The debris blasted into
the atmosphere will blot out light and heat from the sun and obscure the moon and stars.
4. Rev 6—John, in his vision, saw Jesus open a sealed scroll in Heaven prior to His second coming. The
opening of each seal triggered an event on earth. We could do an entire lesson on each point. For now,
consider a brief summary in connection with our topic tonight.
a. When Jesus opened the first seal the final world ruler (Antichrist) was released (v1-2). Other
passages tell us that he will establish a false peace and then declares himself to be God (v1-2).
When Jesus opened the second seal peace was taken away and men began to kill (butcher, slaughter,
ruthlessly massacre each) other (v3-4).
b. Notice that the events produced by the opening of subsequent seals are all natural consequences of
major war breaking out in the world. (Some of the wording John used is found in the prophets.)
1. The opening of the third seal results in food shortages and extremely high food costs—a loaf of
wheat bread or three loaves of barley for a day’s pay (v5-6, NLT).
2. The fourth seal unleashes mass death (sword means death by war). Famine and plague (death)
result from scarcity of food and the aftermath of chemical and biological weapons being used.
Wild beasts (animals) desperate for food go after men (v7-8).
3. The breaking of the fifth seal is followed by massive persecution of those who refuse to worship
the final world ruler when he proclaims himself God (v9-11).
c. When the sixth seal is opened John repeats the imagery used by the Old Testament prophets as they
described the events they witnessed which strongly indicate a nuclear holocaust (v12-14).
1. If the earth shook due to a thermonuclear blast John would have had not words to describe it but
earthquake (seismos). The word can mean a terrible shaking, not necessarily an earthquake.
2. The sun and moon being darkened is consistent with the debris blasted into the atmosphere
from thermonuclear detonations that blot out light and heat from the moon and sun.
3. John speaks of stars falling. John saw multiple warheads streak through the sky as they fell on
intended targets. They looked to him like falling stars.
d. Finally, John saw the sky roll up like a scroll. This is another 1st century description of the
aftermath of 21st century warfare in terms that the author and his readers were familiar with.
1. We now know from observing the effects of nuclear weapons tested during and after WWII that
in a thermonuclear explosion the atmosphere is pushed back on itself, creating a vacuum.
2. Then it rushes back into the vacuum with almost as much force. That is where much of the
damage of the explosion comes from—the violent movement of the atmosphere or the sky
rolling up like a scroll which could easily be described as the sky rolling up like a scroll.
3. Isa 34:4—Isaiah recorded a similar event when he recorded a passage about the day of the Lord.
5. Neither the imagery John used in the Book of Revelation nor the events he described freaked out the
original readers. They already knew from the Old Testament prophets that there was a clear distinction
between those who belong to God and those who don’t.
a. Ezekiel described intervention by God on the part of His people (Ezek 39:1-8). Joel reported that
all who call on the Lord will be delivered. He will be their refuge and hope (Joel 2:32; Joel 3:16).
b. Isaiah ended his book of prophecy with the promise of a new heavens and new earth (Isa 65:17; Isa
66:22). John actually saw the new heavens and earth. In his last two chapters John described the
great transformation with tremendous outcomes for those who know the Lord (Rev 21-22).