N1 to Ge. 36.1, p52 “Now these are the generations of Esau, who is Edom.” Edom (called also “Seir,” Ge 32:3; 36:8) is the name of the country lying south of the ancient kingdom of Judah, and extending from the Dead Sea to the Gulf of Akaba. It includes the ruins of Petra, and is bounded on the north by Moab. Peopled by descendants of Esau Ge 36:1-9. Edom has a remarkable prominence in the prophetic word as (together with Moab) the scene of the final destruction of Gentile world-power in the day of the Lord. See “Armageddon” “>Re 16:14; 19:21 and “Times of the Gentiles” Lu 21:24; “>Re 16:14. Cf. Ps 137:7; Ob 1:8-16; Isa 34:1-8; 63:1-6; Jer 49:14-22; Eze 25:12-14.).

Isa. 10.28-34. The approach of the Gentile hosts to the battle of Armageddon (Rev. 16.14; 19.11).

N1, 2 p724 to Is. 13.1. “The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see.”.(N1: A “burden,” Heb. massa= a heavy, weighty thing, is a message, or oracle concerning Babylon, Assyria, Jerusalem, etc. It is “heavy” because the wrath of God is in it, and grievous for the prophet to declare.)(N2: The city, Babylon is not in view here, as the immediate context shows. It is important to note the significance of the name when used symbolically. “Babylon” is the Greek form: invariably in the O.T. Hebrew the word is simply Babel, the meaning of which is confusion, and in this sense the word is used symbolically. (1) In the prophets, when the actual city is not meant, the reference is to the “confusion” into which the whole social order of the world has fallen under Gentile world-domination. (See “Times of the Gentiles,” Lu 21:24; “Re 16:14 gives the divine view of the welter of warring Gentile powers. The divine order is given in Isa. 11. Israel in her own land, the centre of the divine government of the world and channel of the divine blessing; and the Gentiles blessed in association with Israel. Anything else is, politically, mere “babel.” (2) In Re 14:8-11; 16:19 the Gentile world-system is in view in connection with Armageddon “>Re 16:14; 19:21 while in Re 17. the reference is to apostate Christianity, destroyed by the nations Re 17:16 headed up under the Beast Da 7:8; Re 19:20 and false prophet. In Isaiah the political Babylon is in view, literally as to the then existing city, and symbolically as to the times of the Gentiles. In the Revelation both the symbolical-political and symbolical-religious Babylon are in view, for there both are alike under the tyranny of the Beast. Religious Babylon is destroyed by political Babylon Re 17:16 political Babylon by the appearing of the Lord Re 19:19-21. That Babylon the city is not to be rebuilt is clear from Isa 13:19-22; Jer 51:24-26,62-64. By political Babylon is meant the Gentile world-system. (See “World,” Joh 7:7; Re 13:8) It may be added that, in Scripture symbolism, Egypt stands for the world as such; Babylon for the world of corrupt power and corrupted religion; Nineveh for the pride, the haughty glory of the world.).

N2 p727 to Is. 15.1: “The burden of Moab. Because in the night Ar of Moab is laid waste, and brought to silence; because in the night Kir of Moab is laid waste, and brought to silence;” “This “burden” had a precursive fulfilment in Sennacherib’s invasion, B.C. 704, three years after the prediction Isa 16:14 but the words have a breadth of meaning which includes also the final world-battle. (Cmt. on Re 19:17, Isa 16:1-5 which is a continuation of this “burden,” shows the “tabernacle of David” set up, the next event in order after the destruction of the Beast and his armies. Cf. the order in Isa 10:28-34; 11:1-10; Ac 15:14-17; Re 19:17-21; 20:1-4.Margin: burden See note #1; Cmt. on Isa 13:1.”

Is. 34. The day of the Lord. Armageddon.

 

N1 p799 to Jer. 25 “29  For, lo, I begin to bring evil on the city which is called by my name, and should ye be utterly unpunished? Ye shall not be unpunished: for I will call for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, saith the LORD of hosts.” (The scope of this great prophecy cannot be limited to the invasion of Nebuchadnezzar. If Jehovah does not spare His own city, should the Gentile nations imagine that there is no judgment for them? The prophecy leaps to the very end of this age. (See “Day of the Lord,” Isa 2:10-22; Re 19:11-21 “Armageddon,” “>Re 16:14; 19:11-21. Margin: I will call Cmt. on Isa 2:12.)

Jer. 51.19-23: [Israel is the “rod for his inheritance, etc. God will use Israel to “break into pieces the nations.” etc.]
N1 to Ez. 38.2, p883 “Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him,” (That the primary reference is to the northern (European) powers, headed up by Russia, all agree. The whole passage should be read in connection with Zec 12:1-4; 14:1-9; Mt 24:14-30; Re 14:14-20; 19:17-21, “gog” is the prince, “Magog,” his land. The reference to Meshech and Tubal (Moscow and Tobolsk) is a clear mark of identification. Russia and the northern powers have been the latest persecutors of dispersed Israel, and it is congruous both with divine justice and with the covenants (e.g. Cmt. on Ge 15:18 Cmt. on De 30:3 that destruction should fall at the climax of the last mad attempt to exterminate the remnant of Israel in Jerusalem. The whole prophecy belongs to the yet future “day of Jehovah” Isa 2:10-22; Re 19:11-21 and to the battle of Armageddon “>Re 16:14 Cmt. on Re 19:19 but includes also the final revolt of the nations at the close of the kingdom-age. Re 20:7-9.)

N3 to Da. 7.14, p910 “And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.” (Da 7:13-14 is identical with Re 5:1-7 and antedates the fulfilment of Da 2:34-35. Da 7:13-14; Re 5:1-7 describe the investiture of the Son of Man and Son of David with the kingdom authority, while Da 2:34-35 describes the crushing blow (Armageddon, Re 16:14, refs.) which destroys Gentile world-power, thus clearing the way for the actual setting up of the kingdom of heaven. Da 2:34-35; Re 19:19-21 are the same event.).

N1 to Jl. 1.4, p930

N1 to Jl. 1.4, p931 “Joel 1:4  That which the palmerworm hath left hath the locust eaten; and that which the locust hath left hath the cankerworm eaten; and that which the cankerworm hath left hath the caterpiller eaten.” (“The palmerworm, locust, etc., are thought to be different forms, at different stages of development, of one insect. The essential fact is that, according to the usual method of the Spirit in prophecy, some local circumstance is shown to be of spiritual significance, and is made the occasion of a far-reaching prophecy (e.g.) Isa 7:1-14 where the Syrian invasion and the unbelief of Ahaz give occasion to the great prophecy of verse 14. Here in Joel a plague of devouring insects is shown to have spiritual significance Joe 1:13-14 and is made the occasion of the prophecy of the day of the Lord, not yet fulfilled. Cmt. on Isa 2:12. This is more developed in Joel 2., where the literal locusts are left behind, and the future day of Jehovah fills the scene.
“The whole picture is of the end-time of this present age, of the “times of the Gentiles” Lu 21:24; “>Re 16:14 of the battle of Armageddon “>Re 16:14; 19:11-21 of the regathering of Israel. Cmt. on Ro 11:26 and of kingdom blessing. It is remarkable that Joel, coming at the very beginning of written prophecy (B.C. 836), gives the fullest view of the consummation of all written prophecy.
“The order of events is: (1) The invasion of Palestine from the north by Gentile world-powers headed up under the Beast and false prophet # Joe 2:1-10 “Armageddon,” Cmt. on Re 16:14; (2) the Lord’s army and destruction of the invaders Joe 2:11; Re 19:11-21; (3) the repentance of Judah in the land Joe 2:12-17 Cmt. on De 30:3; (4) the answer of Jehovah Joe 2:18-27; (5) the effusion of the Spirit in the (Jewish) “last days” Joe 2:28-29; (6) the return of the Lord in glory and the setting up of the kingdom Joe 2:30-32; Ac 15:15-17 by the regathering of the nation and judgment of the nations Joe 3:1-16; (7) full and permanent kingdom blessing Joe 3:17-21; Zec 14:1-21. Cmt. on Mt 25:32.)

Joel 2.1-10. Part II. The day of the Lord: (1) The invading host from the north preparatory to Armageddon (Rev. 16.14, refs.).

Joel 2.11. (2) The Lord’s army at Armageddon (Rev. 19.11-21).

N1 p931 to Joel 2.11 “And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?” (To verse 10 inclusive the invading army is described; at verse 11 Jehovah’s army. This “army” is described, Re 19:11-18. The call to repentance is based upon the Lord’s promise of deliverance, Joe 2:12-17. At verses Joe 2:18-20 we have the deliverance (Joe 2:20); see “Armageddon,” Cmt. on Re 16:14, and kingdom blessing in verses Joe 2:21-27. Verses 28-32 give the outpouring of the Spirit, and verses 29-32 the cosmical signs preceding the day of the Lord. Cmt. on Re 19:11.).

Jl. 3.9-14.

Mi. 4.11-13. (g) How the kingdom is set up: the gathering of the Gentile nations against Jerusalem, and the battle of Armageddon (Rev. 16.14; 19.17, note). McGee, Micah, pp. 128-129.

N2 to Mi. 5.1, p948 “Now gather thyself in troops, O daughter of troops: he hath laid siege against us: they shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek.” (The “word of the Lord that came to Micah” Mic 4:1 having described the future kingdom Mic 4:1-8 and glanced at the Babylonian captivities Mic 4:9-10 goes forward into the last days to refer to the great battle (see “Armageddon,”) “>Re 16:14, Cmt. on Re 19:17 which immediately precedes the setting up of the Messianic kingdom (see “Kingdom (O.T.),” Ge 1:26 Cmt. on Zec 12:8 also, “Kingdom (N.T.), Lu 1:31-33; 1Co 15:28.

Mic 5:1-2 forms a parenthesis in which the “word of the Lord” goes back from the time of the great battle (yet future) to the birth and rejection of the King, Messiah-Christ Mt 27:24-25,37. This is followed by the statement that He will “give them up until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth” (Mic 5:3). There is a twofold “travail” of Israel: (1) that which brings forth the “man child” (Christ) Re 12:1-2 and (2) that which, in the last days, brings forth a believing “remnant” out of the still dispersed and unbelieving nation Mic 5:3; Jer 30:6-14; Mic 4:10. Both aspects are combined in Isa. 66. In Mic 5:7 we have the “man-child” (Christ) of Re 12:1-2 in Mic 5:8-15 the remnant, established in kingdom blessing. The meaning of Mic 5:3 is that, from the rejection of Christ at His first coming Jehovah will give Israel up till the believing remnant appears; then He stands and feeds in His proper strength as Jehovah (Mic 5:4); He is the defence of His people as in Mic 4:3,11-13 and afterward the remnant go as missionaries to Israel and to all the world. Mic 5:7-8; Zec 8:23.)

Mi. 4.11-13: The gathering of the Gentile nations against Jerusalem and battle of Armageddon (Rev. 16.14; 19.17, note).

        N1 to Zec. 12.1, p976 “The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.” The siege of Jerusalem by the Beast and his armiew. (Cf. Rev. 19.19-21.)(Zech. 12.-14. from one prophecy the general theme of which is the return of the Lord and the establishment of the kingdom. The order is: (1) The siege of Jerusalem preceding the battle of Armageddon (Zec 12:1-3); (2) the battle itself (Zec 12:4-9); (3) the “latter rain” in the pouring out of the Spirit and the personal revelation of Christ to the family of David and the remnant in Jerusalem, not merely as the glorious Deliverer, but as the One whom Israel pierced and has long rejected (Zec 12:10); (4) the godly sorrow which follows that revelation (Zec 12:11-14); (5) the cleansing fountain # Zec 13:1 then to be effectually “opened” to Israel.)

(Zech. 12.1-9 Seige of Jerusalem by the Beasts & his armies; God to destroy the nations that come against Jerusalem).

Zec. 13.8-9 Result of Gentile invasion under the Beast.

Zec. 13.8 & N1 p978 thereto. “Zechariah 13:8  And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein.” (Zech. 13 now returns to the subject of Zec 12:10. Zec 13:8-9 refer to the sufferings of the remnant Isa 1:9; Ro 11:5 preceding the great battle. Zech. 14. is a recapitulation of the whole matter. The order is: (1) The gathering of the nation, Zec 13:2 (see “Armageddon,” “Re 16:14 Cmt. on Re 19:11 (2) the deliverance, Zec 13:3; (3) the return of Christ to the Mount of Olives, and the physical change of the scene, Zec 13:4-8; (4) the setting up of the kingdom, and full earthly blessing, Zec 13:9.)

Zech. 14.1-3. Summary of events at the return of the LORD in glory: Armageddon; 4-7: The visible return in glory; physical changes in Palestine; 9-15: The kingdom set up on earth. 16-21: the worship & spirituality of the kingdom.

N2 to Zec. 14.4, p978 “And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.” (Zec 14:5 implies that the cleavage of the Mount of Olives is due to an earthquake, and this is confirmed by Isa 29:6; Re 16:19. In both passages the context, as in Zec 14:1-3 associates the earthquake with the Gentile invasion under the Beast Da 7:8; Re 19:20. Surely, in a land seamed by seismic disturbances it should not be difficult to believe that another earthquake might cleave the little hill called the Mount of Olives. Not one of the associated events of Zech. 14 occurred at the first coming of Christ, closely associated though He then was with the Mount of Olives.)
Re. 14:14-20. Vision of Armageddon.  “And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.  And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped. And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.”

N1 to Mt. 24.16, p1033 “Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:” (Cf. Lu 21:20-24. The passage in Luke refers in express terms to a destruction of Jerusalem which was fulfilled by Titus, A.D. 70; the passage in Matthew to a future crisis in Jerusalem after the manifestation of the abomination. See “Beast” Da 7:8; Re 19:20 and “Armageddon” “>Re 16:14; 19:17. As the circumstances in both cases will be similar, so are the warnings. In the former case Jerusalem was destroyed; in the latter it will be delivered by divine interposition.)

Re. 16.12-16 “12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared. 13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. 15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. 16 And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.”

Rev. 16.14, refs.

N4 p1348 to Rev. 19.17 “Revelation 19:17  And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;” “Armageddon (the ancient hill and valley of Megiddo, west of Jordan in the plain of Jezreel) is the appointed place for the beginning of the great battle in which the Lord, at His coming in glory, will deliver the Jewish remnant besieged by the Gentile world-powers under the Beast and False Prophet Re 16:13-16; Zec 12:1-9. Apparently the besieging hosts, whose approach to Jerusalem is described in Isa 10:28-32 alarmed by the signs which precede the Lord’s coming Mt 24:29-30 have fallen back to Megiddo, after the events of Zec 14:2 where their destruction begins; a destruction consummated in Moab and the plains of Idumea Isa 63:1-6. This battle is the first