‘Day 286

⁶ And they gathered them together to the place which in Hebrew is called Har-Magedon. REV 16:16. (NASB)

By alluding to the Mount Carmel showdown, John indicates that the Battle of Armageddon is a spiritual battle over worship (Rev.13:4,8,12,15; 14:7, 9-11). It is a battle for the mind (Rev.16:15, 17:14). Everyone in the world is brought to a fateful decision with permanent results.

Texts like Matthew.24, 2 Thessalonians 2 and Revelation 13 speak about a great end-time deception. According to Rev.16:16, the place where that deception occurs is Har-Magedon, Mount Carmel. In the original event at Mount Carmel, Elijah takes on the prophets of Baal. There is a showdown between two claims to be God, Baal and Yahweh. After a time of failure by the prophets of Baal (and a whole lot of mocking from Elijah), Yahweh responds to Elijah’s simple prayer and sends fire from heaven to confirm that He is the one and only true God.

There is one small problem, though, in the end-time version of the Carmel showdown. The fire from heaven falls on the wrong altar! Instead of confirming the identity of the true God, the evidence of the senses will confirm that the counterfeit Trinity is the real thing. This will be a devastating shock to the human race. In the last days, we will have to deny our senses and trust the word of God alone. Jesus responded three times to satan’s temptations in the wilderness with, “it is written!” This is our model.

There is another parallel here with the life of Jesus. During what we call passion week (the last week of His life on earth from the triumphal entry) Jesus parables began to focus very heavily on Judgment. Scan e.g. Matt.21 to 26 and note the theme of the parables. The fig tree, the 2 sons, the tenants, the wedding garment, or the 7 woes of Chapter 23 etc. This was a contrast with the rest of His ministry.

Rev.14 – 16 contains the phrase “the wrath of God 7 times. This is a contrast. This is what Isa calls “His strange act.” (Isa.28:21KJV) 
Three times Christ utters the words, “It is done,” or, “It is finished.” The first time was at Calvary (John 19:30) (In the Greek, “It is finished” and “It is done” reads the same.) The plan of salvation was secure at the cross and confirmed (echoed) at the end. Theologians call this inaugurated and consummated. At the end of the plagues, when God’s wrath (His justice) against sine is complete the consummation is declared (Rev 16:17.)
The third time these words are used is when sin is eradicated from the universe. (Rev 21:6) – remember these words had also been uttered in Genesis 2:1-3 at the completion of creation.

Our salvation is finished and complete – we rest in that finished work. We don’t have to wonder if we are good enough. We are off the treadmill of works and can live with the joy of His salvation in our hearts. We are justified by faith alone without the works of the law (Galatians 2:16). This is what the New Testament Sabbath means to an end-time Christian.