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May 23, 2026
CONTENT
ALPHABETICAL INDEX | "A" | "B" | "C" | "D" | "E" | "F" | "G" | "H" | "I" | "J" | "K" | "L" | "M" | "N" | "O" | "P" | "Q" | "R" | "S" | "T" | "U" | "V" | "W" | "X" | "Y" | "Z" |
Revelation 21st Century Commentary. CONTENT with links. 61 documents
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About 10-minutes to read the following study. 6 video clips and 5 images. Este tema en ESPAÑOL
Section 2 of the Commentary on "Revelation: Its Astounding Relevance for the 20th and 21st Centuries."
Seven GROUPS of PROPHECIES in REVELATION that LEAD UP to the END of the UNIVERSE and TIME, thus proving that Revelation was not fulfilled
by 70 CE nor by 476 CE.
GROUP 7 includes the PROPHECIES about the BATTLE of…
“ARMAGEDDON”
Scene 3 of 3 on this Subject
F. Who constitutes the “armies” that gather “to MAKE WAR” against Jesus Christ “in the place that is called ARMAGEDDON”?
G. What are “GOG and MAGOG.” or what do they represent?
H. The meaning of "…the camp of the saints and the beloved city…"
I. The STATE of the secular-material-political nations during the “LITTLE TIME.”
The format and sequence of the previous Scene 1 on Armageddon are followed.
F. Who constitutes the “armies” that gather “to MAKE WAR” against Jesus Christ “in the place that is called ARMAGEDDON”?
1. Given that the fundamental nature of the conflict between the forces of GOOD and EVIL is SPIRITUAL, sound logic convinces us that the "ARMIES" appearing in Revelation 19:19 as "gathered to make war" against the “Faithful and True” would be constituted of deceived human beings, mentally, morally, and spiritually, in the service of secular authorities, as well as corrupt religious leaders, equally deceived by Satan and his minions.
True “ARMIES,” in number and in the context of their actions, of political, social, cultural, lifestyle activists, engineers, and of advisors occupying positions of trust. Including influential members of governing councils, executives of agencies, and departments of all kinds.
In short, officials and employees of every category and rank, from all government branches and agencies. All deceived and in the unconditional service of the powerful, who head, motivate, and activate their “armies” of employees, or sympathizers! Not even the military forces are exempt, for these would be under the command of those who occupy positions of greater authority and power.
In almost every country today, the employees of government, from the federal or central, to the state (provincial), county, municipal, and neighborhood or ward levels, constitute a true "army:" between 10% and 50% of all citizens with employment.
Marching in these great "armies," in addition to those already mentioned, are also teachers, university professors, police officers, guards, firefighters, postal workers, etc., etc.
When these tremendous "armies" receive ORDERS, however explicit and direct or subtle and veiled, to oppose religious people of all stripes, and, by implication, all the “spiritual beings and forces” they invoke, their potential to entangle, hinder, obstruct, restrain, inhibit, prohibit, punish or destroy would be absolutely TERRIFYING. Among the possible measures that such “armies of the purely secular, worldly, and hedonistic” might take, the following are discerned:
a) To force religious institutions of all kinds, and the organizations they create for various purposes (hospitals, clinics, schools, universities, benevolent institutions, etc.), to pay taxes, “protection insurance,” or other penalties.
b) Rescind the laws that guarantee freedom of worship.
c) Ban evangelism by any means, prohibiting radio or television programs, messages in newspapers and on Internet sites, closing, in addition, church printing presses, religious publishing houses, and offices
of religious ministries, as well as schools, colleges, institutes, and universities sponsored by religions
d) Imprison any religious leader who resists, perhaps secretly torturing or killing the most obstinate or militant.
e) Close the meeting places of congregations, mostly of those that would openly oppose the conditions or obstacles imposed by deceived governments.
f) Expropriate all religious property, all material resources, including bank accounts, offerings, etcetera.
2. Against the "armies" of deceived souls that would form on the earth, the "ARMIES of HEAVEN" would be launched. Revelation 19:14. These are composed of SPIRITUAL BEINGS, and not carnal or earthly ones. Specifically, they are composed of the angels in service to God and the glorified redeemed, for these
accompany the Lord in His Second Coming. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 2:26-28
a) During the entire trans course of the "little time," the "ARMIES of HEAVEN" do not materialize here on planet Earth before the eyes of the deceived rulers, inciting them to fight carnally.
b) The "ARMIES of HEAVEN" do not become visible, nor present themselves in any way in the material-physical universe, until the moment of the Second Coming of Christ in glory, a sudden and decisive event that marks the end of the “little time” and of all material time.
c) Then, the deceived of the earth -understood to be all the secular and religiously corrupt governing powers and authorities under the influence of the devil, together with all their sympathizers, beguiled by them, free or slave, great or small of every category- seeing the glorified Jesus Christ and His “ARMIES of
HEAVEN” appear with all power and splendor, become exceedingly TERRIFIED!
Far from fighting carnally at this moment of their evil trajectory, they scatter in frantic and desperate flight (Revelation 6:15-17), but, all to no avail for they are overtaken by the “King of kings, and Lord of lords,” perishing as they fall “slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse” (Revelation 19:21), consumed by the divine fire that comes down from heaven. Revelation 20:9
d) Honestly, it is entirely inconceivable that the deceived nations existing during the “little time” would mount a material-carnal war against the ONE called “the Word of God” and His "ARMIES of HEAVEN" using material weapons.
Carnal armies against the "ARMIES of HEAVEN" of the Almighty God? Against the Omnipotent Being capable of creating and destroying, from every atom and its minuscule parts to the entire material-physical universe itself, just by speaking the word? The mere notion is ridiculous! Against such power, what good are laser beams, rockets launched from space platforms, fighter jets, nuclear bombs, or any other material instrument of war, however sophisticated or powerful they may be?
1) Logically, God's power to destroy is as great as His power to create, an observation supported by the universal Flood of Noah's time. This divine destructive power is highlighted in biblical texts that affirm the future destruction of all that is temporal, for example, 2 Corinthians 4:18 and 2 Peter 3:10-13. Thus, the Almighty Creator needs to do no more than merely pronounce the words of judgment
and sentence, and all His enemies on earth, with all their carnal weapons, would be consumed!
2) Now, Pentecostals, along with a large number of evangelicals and Protestants, and even some Roman Catholics, tend to interpret “Armageddon” materially. In this regard, we see fit to pose the following questions to them.
If Armageddon is an earthly-material war, how long will the battle last?
How many casualties will there be in the “Armies of Heaven” of the “Faithful and True”?
What carnal weapons will be effective against the Rider of the “white horse,” his angels, and the glorified saints that accompany him?
Is God a man that he should come down from his throne and fight like a carnal man? Is his arm so short?
Will the deceived nations become so intelligent, technically sophisticated, and powerful as to feel capable of entering into a carnal-material conflict with the “King of kings” and his “Armies of Heaven”?
These questions, together with the correct answers demanded by true knowledge, common sense, and sound logic, highlight the absurdity of projecting a carnal battle between the deceived nations and the "ARMIES of HEAVEN."
G. What are or what do
“GOG and MAGOG”
represent?
The prophecy of Revelation
20:8 says that Satan "will come
out to deceive the nations that
are at the four corners of the
earth, GOG and MAGOG, to
gather them for battle; their
number is like the sand of the sea."
1. "GOG" was the name of the son of Shemaiah, who was the son of Joel, descendant of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel. 1 Chronicles 5:1-4
2. "MAGOG" was the name of one of the sons of Japheth, son of Noah. Genesis 10:2
3. In Ezekiel 38 and 39, "GOG" is identified as the "chief prince of Meshech and Tubal" (Ezekiel 38:3) and MAGOG, as the "land" where he reigned. It was prophesied that Gog, together with "many" other peoples, would attack Israel.
4. In Revelation 20:8, "GOG and MAGOG" are used metaphorically, these names being synonymous with "the nations which are in the four corners of the earth,"
H. The meaning of "…the CAMP of the SAINTS and the BELOVED CITY…"
An artistic representation of the "saints," that is, the holy, faithful followers of God and Christ, in any place on earth they may be found, in the very moment when Jesus Christ appears, with his celestial "armies," transforming them and lifting them up to meet him "in the clouds."
In the prophecy, “And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them.” Revelation 20:9
1. “Camp” and “city.” Reflecting on both the text and the context of these two names in their biblical setting, especially in that of the New Covenant and Revelation in particular, we conclude that both terms should be interpreted in a symbolic sense.
2. For the same reasons given above in F 2, d, etc.), to visualize the "camp of the saints" as a "Christian military camp on earth," where all Christians would gather, assembling and training for a material-carnal battle against the deceived nations, would grossly violate the biblical concept of a SPIRITUAL “BATTLE” between the opposing forces of Good and Evil, as well as the clearly stated biblical doctrine according to which “the weapons of our warfare are NOT of the flesh.”
3. Today, members of the legitimate, true “Kingdom of God and Christ,” a spiritual Kingdom “NOT of this world,” (John 20:18; Ephesians 5:5) synonymous with the true and faithful church which Jesus Christ built (Matthew 16:18), are scattered all around planet Earth in millions of places, according to data reported by "competent... ministers" of the "New Covenant" of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 3:4-5
Assuming that more or less the same situation exists during the “little while,” we do not find any biblical prophecy or projection that obliges us to think that all Christians of that time will abandon their homes and countries, gathering in a single geographical location on the globe in preparation for the “battle” of “Armageddon.”
4. Curiously, in the present time (the first half of the 21st century), some religious leaders gather their followers on "farms," in "communes", or earthly "camps," in remote places or secret places in towns and cities. Supposedly, to avoid persecution and martyrdom. Whatever their motivation may be…
…doctrinal ignorance, religious megalomania, illusions of being “prophets,” sectarian fanaticism, pure selfishness, fear of “signs of the end,” fraudulent interpretations of “visions and prophecies”…
…the truth is that they do not correctly understand Revelation 20:9, nor do they act biblically, since the true church of the Lord does not isolate itself from the world, but rather continues to make its light shine among the lost souls, NO MATTER HOW powerful, widespread, or barbaric the opposition of the enemies of the God, Jesus Christ, and their faithful followers on Earth.
5. Regarding the "BELOVED CITY," it definitely is NOT the earthly city of Jerusalem but the "Jerusalem ABOVE" (Galatians 4:26), that is to say, it is the "CITY of the LIVING GOD, the HEAVENLY JERUSALEM," (Hebrews 12:22), synonymous, in Revelation 20:9, with the CHURCH, meaning "the CALLED OUT," unequivocably faithful to Christ, the one and only true "HEAD of the CHURCH." Ephesians 5.23; Colossians 1:18
I. The STATE of the SECULAR-MATERIAL-POLITICAL NATIONS during the “LITTLE TIME.”
What are the implications of the following expressions?
"…to assemble them for battle" (Revelation 16:14), "they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon" (Revelation 16:16), and "armies gathered to make war." Revelation 19:19
Normally, it is not at all easy to "assemble" even a few nations for any specific purpose. Nevertheless,
during the "little time," incredibly, Satan manages to gather all the nations against God, His Book, and His People! ALL of them! “…to the kings of the earth in ALL the WORLD…” Revelation 16:14
A. The UNITY of ALL NATIONS during the "little time" clearly means that they will stop fighting among themselves during said period. They will unite!
1. Thus, contrary to the scenarios presented by Pentecostals, many evangelicals, and other religious people, there will be NO "great carnal World War III" during the "little time" that precedes the definitive and eternal end of the material-physical world and time itself.
Not a few contemporary interpreters of prophecies, with their multitudes of disciples, are expecting "the imminent outbreak of a great global war" as a sign that proves the approach of the end of the earth and time. The Bible does not support their vision. On the contrary, "earthly nations at peace" is the biblical scenario for the "little time," and definitely not "nations engaged in a global war."
2. The prophetic word of the apostle Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3 confirms our observations and conclusions. "While people are saying, 'There is peace and security,' then sudden destruction will come upon them as labour pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape."
"While people are saying, 'There is peace and security...” This very projection of the Holy Spirit, how many pastors, priests, preachers, teachers, and writers of Christianity incorporate it into their scenarios for the last days? Particularly, among those who are obsessed with "Revelation, other prophecies, the Second Coming of Christ, the Rapture, the Millennium, and the end of the world."
The apostle Paul says that the Christians in Thessalonica were “fully aware” regarding the “day of the Lord,” how it "will come light a thief in the night," including what those "in darkness... of the night" will be saying shortly before that day. Surely, without a doubt, the “sensationalism of Pentecostalism” misleads many leaders of popular Christianity today, who do not even know what the Thessalonians understood two thousand years ago!
3. Great World War III? Or “PEACE and SAFETY?” As the "little time" comes to an end, the peoples of the different nations will not be shouting at one another "War! War! Death! Vengeance!," but, rather, proclaiming “PEACE and SAFETY.”
B. “ONE WORLD! ONE PEOPLE! ONE CULTURE!” is the MOTTO of great multitudes around the planet Earth today. A global culture and economy without borders is the vision.
Who will be saying “Peace and safety”?
Certainly not the totally loyal followers of God and Christ alive during the “little time,” since the "LITTLE HORN" will make “war against the saints, and shall prevailagainst them.” Daniel 7:21; Revelation 11:7. Rather, the ones proclaiming “Peace and safety” will be the vast multitudes of deceived peoples with their equally, or worse, deceived rulers, who are “of the night… of darkness… who sleep… who get drunk.” 1 Thessalonians 5:4-8
What circumstance makes such a proclamation possible among human beings unconverted to God? Precisely and obviously, the UNITY of the DECEIVED NATIONS! The unity among themselves that their rulers will reach, skillfully persuaded by the “three unclean spirits like frogs” that come out of the mouth of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. Revelation 16:13-14
Therefore, we may expect a time when there will generally be peace between secular and religiously corrupt governing powers around the world, and peace among the deceived peoples who support them. This is the clear and unmistakable prophecy of 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3. Being united in their terrible purpose to oppose God, there will be “Peace and safety,” politically, socially, and perhaps even economically, for the inhabitants of the world who love darkness more than light.
But it behooves us to understand clearly, and not be deceived ourselves, for our own mental and spiritual well-being, that these conditions will not exist for all true, intelligent, and dedicated followers of God and Christ during the entire trans course of the “little time.” For some prophecies of the Sacred Writings of the Spiritual Kingdom of God, “not of this world,” let it be always kept in mind, is that some of its citizens will be persecuted and some will suffer martyrdom before the “little time” is consummated by the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
Text and layout by the author Homer Dewayne Shappley. All rights reserved. Not to be sold in any format. The source should be properly identified in any published citation of the content.
Next: Scene 3 on Armageddon. Who constitute the “armies” that gather “to MAKE WAR” against Jesus Christ “in the place that is called ARMAGEDDON”? What are or what do “Gog and Magog” represent? The meaning of "…the camp of the saints and the beloved city…" The state of the nations during the “little while” that comes after the Millennium and ends with the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Will there be a Third World War or will “PEACE and SECURITY” prevail generally around the world? 21st Century Revelation Commentary, About 10-minute read time. 6 video clips and 5 images.
A LIST of the CONTENT, with links, of the commentary "Revelation: Its Astounding Relevance for the 20th and 21st Centuries."