Friday, April 1, 2022

Message : The victory of Christ at Armageddon by Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce

Weekly message: The victory of Christ at Armageddon        

By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical precepts & Gospel Music

Date: 9/1/2018 & 4/1/2022


Introduction

My friends! Are you still dwelling in the sadness and suffer of the depression? You may need to renew your spirit and vision in the Bible, and know the truth that our Lord Jesus Christ Messiah is the great King of kings, and Lord of lords. Christians shall arise and shout for joy to the Lord in victory. Because when we gaze upon the victory of Christ coming at Armageddon, Christ with a sharp sword to smite the nations, shepherd them with an iron rod, and treads the great winepress (Rev.19:11-21), we shall rejoice, exult and give the glory to the Lord. For today, you and I can be the chosen believers as the armies of Christ which mentioned in the Rev.19:14 and Rev.17:14. Those who are called to the wedding supper of the Lamb are those who constitute the Bride of Christ (Rev.19:9).

The victory of Christ at Armageddon

There were three prophets unveiled the same vision and the victory of Chris coming at Armageddon. First, Isaiah’s prophecy in 740-680 before Christ in the book of Isaiah 63:1-6, it says,

“It is I, speaking in righteousness, mighty to save. Why are your garments red like those of one treading the winepress? I have trodden the winepress alone, from the nations no one was with me. I trampled them in my anger and trod them down in my wrath; their blood spattered my garments, and I stained all my clothing. For the day of vengeance was in my heart, and the year of my redemption has come. I looked, but there was no one to help, I was appalled that no one gave support; so my own worked salvation for me, and my own wrath sustained me. I trampled the nations in my anger; in my wrath I made them drunk and poured their blood on the ground. (Isa.63: 1-6)

 

Second, the Prophet Joel’s prophecy in the 835 before Christ in the book of Joel 3: 12-13, it says,

 

Let the nations be roused, let them advance into the Valley of Jehoshaphat, for there I will sit to judge all the nations on every side. Swing the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, trample the grapes, for the winepress is full and the vats overflow so great is their wickedness. (Joel 3: 12-13).

Third, Apostle John’s prophecy in A.D.90s in the book the revelation 19:13-16 it says,

 He is clothes in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, wearing fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron; he will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name inscribed, “King of kings and Lord of lords.”  ( Rev.19:13-16)

An iron rod                                                                                                                            Apostle John mentioned about “an iron rod” or “iron scepter” twice in Rev.2:26-27 and Rev.19: 11-16

To everyone who conquers and continues to do my works to the end, I will give authority over the nations, to rule them with an iron rod, as when clay pots are shattered.”

 

The Apostle John unveils the vision to the Thyatira church who want to be the overcomers, they must overcome Jezebel, a prophetess’ teaching, Jezebel here, signify the Roman Catholic Church. The teaching deceives salves to commit fornication and to eat food sacrificed to idols.

Apostle John mention about “a rod of iron” again in Rev.19: 11-16, he said,    

“Then I saw heaven opened, and there was a white horse! Its rider is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name inscribed that no one knows but himself. He is clothes in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, wearing fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron; he will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name inscribed, “King of kings and Lord of lords.”   (Greek-English NIV)

In Geek literally “ἐṿ ῥἀẞδῳ σιδηρᾰ (rhabdos siderus)” metaphorically interpret as “made of iron (Acts12:10). Literally with an iron rod, i.e. with strict, merciless rule (Rev.2:27)[1]. In Chinese literally says “Tie ̆ zhang̕”, “the iron rod” signifies “strong power.”  In Rev.19:15 indicate that “the sword which proceeds out of the mouth of Christ, who is the Word of God, is the word that will judge the rebellious. To shepherd here is to rule, the iron rod signifies strong power. First, with His judging word Christ will smite the nations. Then, with His strong power He will shepherd those who remain. His ruling with strong power is His shepherding. He will rule over the nations by shepherding them.”[2]

The Rev.19:15 mentioned, “He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.”  Christ’s being clothed with a garment dipped in blood is related to His treading the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God (Isaiah 63:1-3) at Armageddon, where the blood will rise up to the bridles of the horses. (14:20). “The great winepress of the fury of God is the war at Armageddon (16:12-16), which is in the valley of Jehoshaphat (Joel3:9-16), it is very close to Jerusalem. This war will be the treading of the great winepress of the fury of God. All the Gentile evil worldly forces will be gathered there, and the Lord, Christ with His armies which are the overcomeing saints will fight against them and destroy them there.”[3] 

“At the end of the great tribulation three unclean spirits out of the mouths of Satan, Antichrist, and the false prophet will go forth to stir up the kings of the whole inhabited earth and to gather their forces including the two hundred million horsemen mentioned in Rev.9:14-16 to the war at Armageddon, which will be the last war among mankind before the millennium. In that war Satan’s intention will be to destroy Israel (Zech.14:2) and fight against Christ and His army. For this he will use all of rebellious mankind (17:12-14; 19:11-19). Christ and His chosen overcomers will defeat and destroy them all (Rev.19:20-21; Micah4:11-13; Zeph3:8; 14:4-5; Joel13:14-17). This is the treading of the winepress, which is recorded in Rev.14:17-20, Isa.63:1-6, and Joel 3:9-13.”[4]

The last day of the great tribulation

Antichrist and the false prophet will be the first to be cast into the lake of fire. Unlike all the others who perish, they will be cast alive into the lake of fire, without passing through death and resurrection. Once the seventh trumpet is sounded, on the same day, the last day of the great tribulation, the following events will all take place:

1). The kingdom of the world will become the kingdom of Christ.

2). The dead saints will be resurrected and will be raptured with the living saints.

3). The two witnesses will be resurrected and raptured.

4). Christ will execute the judgment at His judgment seat for the rewarding of the overcomers.

5) The marriage of the Lamb and the overcomers will take place.

6).Christ and His newly-wed overcomers will come to the earth to defeat Antichrist and destroy those who destroy the earth in the war at Armageddon, and to cast Antichrist and the false prophet into the lake of fire.

7). By the war at Armageddon Christ will rescue Israel from Antichrist’s besieging, and the whole house of Israel will repent and be saved.

8). The material Babylon the Great will be destroyed.

9).At the same time the seven bowls will be poured out. The war at Armageddon will occur at the time of the sixth bowl. The various plagues of the seven bowls will be executed by God on the same day, perhaps at the time when the few positive events mentioned previously will occur. After the defeat of Antichrist, Satan is bound and imprisoned that the rebellious earth may be cleared up and the kingdom of Christ may come.[5]

Application/ Implication

My friends, when you realize that you are Bride of Christ and the armies of Christ (v.14), your inner man will overflow with joy, peace, love and secure in His faithfulness and true. The earthly things will no longer entangle or captive you. You will pursue the victory with Christ and follow Him as overcomers ride on white horses, dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Living in the present time, the saints must pray without ceasing, and cooperate with Christ in mind and in Spirit. Believing the sword, which proceeds out of the mouth of Christ, who is the Word of God, is the WORD that will judge the rebellious. With His judging word Christ will smite the nations, then with His strong power He will shepherd those who remain.

My friends! Do you still doubt Christ? And suffer the pains of comparison, envy, jealousy and pursue earthly vain glory?  Take time to read the Bible, and discover God’s eternal plan for all mankind. It will help you to be set free from the captivity and relief earthly strife, anxiety and sorrow. Once you turn your eyes upon Jesus, and gaze upon the victory of Christ at Armageddon, your heart will find the secure in Christ, longing to live for Christ, fight good fight of hope and faith with Christ as overcomers. And wait patiently for the eternal king who is King of kings, and Lord of lords. May this message renew your spirit and your heart, keep on hope in Christ, and rest in the unfailing love of Christ.

Bibliography,

                Anderson, Neil. The Bondage Breaker: Overcoming negative thoughts, irrational feelings, habitual sins. Sisters Oregon: Harvest House Publishers, 2006.

Bauer, Walter. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. 3rd Chicago: The University of Chicago press, 2000.

Brown, Robert, Philip W. Comfort and J.D. Douglas, ed. The New Greek English Interlinear New Testament. Carol Stream: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.1990.

Bruce, Katherine L. Book review: the bondage breaker by Neil T. Anderson. M.Div. VAN670. Orlando FL: Liberty University Baptist Theo. Seminary, 2012.

Countryman, Jack. If my people. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2016.

Friberg, Timothy, Barbara Friberg, and Neva F. Miller et al., eds. Analytical Lexicon of the Greek New Testament.1st ed. Victoria BC: Trafford Publishing, 2005.

            King James, The Holy Bible, Cleveland, OH: The world publishing company

                       

            Lee, Witness. The New Testament (R.V.) Anaheim, CA: Living Stream Ministry, 1985.

 

Lucado, Max. God is with you every day. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2015

 

             __________. Glory Days. Nashville, TN. Thomas Nelson, 2015

 

            Myers, Roth. 31 days of praise. Colorado Springs, CO: Multnomah Books, 1994.

 

Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV). Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986. 

 Strong, James. Strong’s: the expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2010. 

Towns, Elmer. Fasting for a Spiritual Breakthrough: a guide to nine biblical fasts. Ventura: Regal Books, 1996 .



[1] Timothy Friberg, Barbara Friberg, and Neva F. Miller et al., eds. Analytical Lexicon of the Greek New Testament.1st ed. (Victoria BC: Trafford Publishing, 2005),348.

            [2] Witness Lee. The New Testament (R.V.) (Anaheim, CA: Living Stream Ministry, 1985),1316.

[3] Witness Lee. The New Testament (R.V.) (Anaheim, CA: Living Stream Ministry, 1985),1300.

[4] Ibid., 1304.

[5] Witness Lee. The New Testament (R.V.) (Anaheim, CA: Living Stream Ministry, 1985),1317-1318.


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