Two adversaries stand in array at odds against one another. When the battle is over, only one will stand in victory.
I enjoy the college football season. I have a few teams I follow. We know only one shall come away victorious at the end of the game. Such is the game of life.
Everything on earth seems to operate in similar fashion; even in the Spirit realm. As we speak, God and his angels are in array against Satan and his angels. They are vying for position, power and dominance over all the souls who have ever lived, currently live, and will ever live. But, only one army shall come victorious to the throne of God and eternally live with God Almighty in Heaven. The war is on but only one will see victory. Battles are being fought; however, the final battle is yet to come. Each soldier living has not been placed in the respective armies.
As in all warfare, many battles will be fought and either won or lost. The war is not over just by a victory or loss from individual battles. It is not over until it is over.
Many Christian people believe the final decisive battle to happen in this war for dominance between good and evil is called Armageddon. Turn to Revelation 16:16-21. 16 And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. 17 And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. 18 And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. 19 And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. 20 And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. 21 And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.
At the sound of the great voice from heaven, when the last angel pours out his vial of the final wrath of God upon the earth, the message from the great voice will say, “It is done.” Yes, all physical things to happen on earth will culminate with the beginning of this Spiritual battle between God and his angels and Satan and his angels. One will become the victor.
What side will you be on in this battle? Will you become one victorious or one of the losers? Will you have anything to do in preparation for this battle? Can you do anything in preparation to avoid this battle? Let us try to answer these questions.
In The Great Battle Called Armageddon, What Side Will You Be On?
There are only two commanders leading their troops into this battle; God and Satan. God will have his general, Jesus to fight for righteousness. Satan will have his general, The Beast to fight for his way, unrighteousness. The army will consist of either the righteous of God or the unrighteous of Satan fighting for the victory.
Are you living in the grace and righteousness of God or in the evil way disobedient followers do of The Beast of Satan? These are the only choices; there are no other options.
Will You Become One Victorious Or One Of The Losers?
Which army will overcome the other? We know God and his army shall be victorious over Satan. If you are in the body of Christ, the army of God, and your position is acceptable to God by his mercy and grace–living sinless and in subjection to God in all things–you shall be victorious. Remember, a discharge from any army is possible.
By what do you obtain the victory over sin and death? Scripture says, “Faith is the victory that overcomes the world–sin.” Do you have ‘faith’ in Jesus?
1 John 5:1-5. 5 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. 4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
Believing in Jesus and doing the commandments of God shall put you on the side of God in the great battle. By our faith in Jesus and God shall ye become victorious. Satan shall not become victorious over the entire kingdom of souls God makes. Satan shall have a great army; perhaps the largest number of soldiers. However, we believe and know God shall win.
Revelation 15:1-2. 15 And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God. 2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. There shall be those who will be victorious over Satan’s Beast and shall stand in heaven having received their reward for their life of righteousness. This reward will include white robes, a crown of life, and a beautiful mansion. Rev. 7:9. 9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; Revelation 2:12 says the righteous shall have a crown of life. John 14:2 says Jesus will build a mansion for the inhabitants of heaven.
They became victorious in the great battle.
Will You Have Anything To Do In Preparation For This Battle? YES!
What is it you must do in preparation for the battle? You are to obtain ‘Faith’--belief in God, his son, Jesus and repent of any sins which disqualifies you from service in the Army of God. To be prepared and ready for battle, you must show your faith in doing works fit for the army of God. You must continuously do good works fit for the kingdom. You must exercise your faith; increase it. 2 Peter 1:4-7. 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
James 2:14-17. 14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Just as athletes daily prepare for their competitions, just as soldiers prepare daily for their duties, Christians are to daily prepare. They are to take up their cross to do the good deeds of righteousness, living out their ‘faith’ and showing their works. They are to take upon themselves the armor of God to fight against evil powers of the dark of this world, principalities and evil wickedness in high places. Eph. 6:11-19. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Christians are therefore to prepare for doing good and fighting against evils. This is by studying and doing good deeds daily, taking up your cross and putting on the full armor of God in order to receive the victory over Satan and evil.
Can You Do Anything In Preparation To Avoid This Battle?
There seems to be no escaping this responsibility. Each soul will be drafted into one army or the other. Therefore, are you making the choice for which army you will be on or are you letting Satan or God decide for you? If you do not choose, the draft is upon you. By enlisting in the army of your choice, you choose whether you want to win or lose. This is one of the proper ways you can prepare.
God gives you a lifetime to prepare. Then the army is set. Either you will be on the one side or you will be placed upon the other. There are only two armies and only two choices of mandatory participation. It is believed no one shall not participate.
Matthew 25:31-33. 31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
As athletes participate in competitions, as in physical earthly warfare with each army's soldiers, each Christian soul shall come to the battle. Can you know which army you are in? Do you know if you are making daily preparations useful for the victory?
If you find out you are not being led by God’s general, Jesus Christ, know this assuredly, God giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. There is no other way to victory. 1 Cor. 15:57. You must be living in the body of Christ to be one the side of victory for it is only through Jesus Christ you will obtain victory.
How can you be given the choice of which army to choose? Being alive here today gives you the choice to choose the army in which you may enlist. The enlistment is simple. Believe in the son of God–Jesus. This is the beginning of your faith which offers victory. This is your preparation.
Repent of your sins which disqualifies you from God’s army. Decide to no longer live in sin.
Confess with your mouth Jesus is the son of God; he is lord.
Wash away your sins in a watery tomb, to rise in the newness of life.
Daily prepare for the great battle in the army of God. Put on your military suit–the Armor of God.
Train daily.
Doing nothing will automatically put you into the losing army–The Army of Satan.
Which army are you currently in? Are you satisfied to remain in the army you are currently in? Do you wish to change armies? God’s army will be the victors. Do you wish to be victorious?
