Decisive Moment Rev 15, 16, 19

Decisive Moment

Revelation 15, 16, 19

Christ came to deal with the forces that hold us back and hinder us from experiencing life in full. He accomplished His mission. Before His second coming, the seven bowls of Revelation Chapter 16 will bring judgment on those who worship the Anti Christ. Both sea and fresh water will turn to blood. Heat from the sun will scorch unrepentant and blasphemous people. Darkness and pain will fill the kingdom of the Anti Christ but sadly, hearts of people will remain hard against God. No wonder, God has employed the gospel of grace to win humanity back. The grace of God teaches repentance. If grace fails to turn people back to God, judgment is less able to do so. If His Love does not work, judgment will not. By the time an angel will pour the seventh bowl, a voice will announce that it is finished (Rev 19:11-16). There will be great earth shaking and a hailstorm, armies will gather for the battle of Armageddon, and Christ will appear (Rev 11:17; 19:15) and overcome. Babylon will fall in one hour and Christ will establish His kingdom.  God will have the last say and laughter (Ps 2:2-3; Ps 37:13, 14). May God help us to put our treasures on things that do not perish (Ps 37:1, 9).

The similarity of opposition to Christ when he was crucified at Calvary and when armies will gather against him at Armageddon is notable. When He was on the cross He made the announcement, ‘It is finished’ (Joh 17:30).  The book of Revelations reinforces the fact that Jesus conquered. Just before His return, a voice from the throne in heaven will say similar words, ‘It is done’ (Rev 16:17), to affirm and vindicate what Christ said on the cross.  At the cross, the forces opposed to Christ mobilized the best effort to stop Him. Instead, they fell to the resurrection power of God’s word - ‘he must rise again from the dead’ (Joh 20:9). Interestingly, according to the book of Revelation armies opposed to Christ will mobilize themselves in a valley called Armageddon. In that valley, they will face Christ and the word from His mouth overcomes them. The defeat of these armies will be so decisive that the Anti Christ leaders who mobilize the armies are thrown into the lake of fire (Rev 19:20) and Christ will establish his glorious kingdom on earth. Opposition to Christ will reach its worst point before the best is born.

The battle of Armageddon is a call to prepare for Christ’s second coming and to be steadfast in hope (Rev 16:15; Mat 24, 25). However many are waiting for a future Armageddon victory yet Armageddon also has a present day meaning. The book of Revelation consummates what Christ already provided.  Believers can enjoy today in very great measure what Christ will bring on His second return.  Human and spiritual enemies of Christ were overcome at the cross of Jesus Christ. His kingdom has come to the believers (Mat 10:7; Col 1:13). The second return is unique in its full enforcement of what Christ achieved on his first advent, particularly over rule of nations.

Without going into prophetic details about the battle of Armageddon, may I suggest that Armageddon is not just a place in the Middle East, or an end time event, but has immediate relevance to us.  Armageddon is symbolic of the conquest of the enemies of Christ. The battle therefore has meaning for today as it does for the future. It has meaning to you as a believer as well as to your enemy.

To the enemy it is a self-destroying moment of madness when his best plot against God only manages to attract his own worst defeat. To you, Armageddon represents a decisive moment where through Christ; long-standing problems give way to long lasting solutions. He appears to fulfill his promise and to manifest your long awaited break through. You need an Armageddon like victory for your long standing ministry problems, for your long standing sickness, for your long standing business problems,  for your long standing marital conflicts, and  for your long standing financial problem. 

The day you cried out Lord I am a sinner, I need you’ was a personal Armageddon moment. It was a marvelous moment that traded your incapacity with God’s capacity. Christ came to exchange your identity with his and your despair for hope. Today can be another life defining moment that brings perfect victory to your day-to-day experience. Are you tired of waiting? Are you tired of piecemeal solutions? Are you tired of swinging back and forth? Are you tired of going in circles? Are you tired of going up and down like a yo-yo?  You may be desiring a decisive move of God in your situation.  The moment can come anywhere anytime by repentance and faith in Christ (Mat 6:33). You alone determine who wins in your heart daily.   Trust in God, IT IS DONE through the precious blood of Jesus the battle is won.

Message by Dr. Kurai Chitima.

Faith Ministries – Johannesburg Faith Life Center.

Ground and First Floors Sunset Bay Building,

204B Bram Fischer drive,

Randburg, Johannesburg, South Africa