Arma Geddon

"And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon." (Rev. 16: 16.)

According to the prophetic declaration of God, the final object of the three unclean spirits is to gather the kings and their armies to Arma Geddon on the great day of God Almighty. They first go out to the courts to be received and recognized there as representatives of God and in order that they might gain influence among the most elevated. They do not understand that it is the influence of unclean spirits which is thrown over them in the name of Christianity, yea, in the name of salvation, and still less do they know the object these spirits have with their out going work.

Arma Geddon is the final objective of the movement. And what does Arma Geddon signify? In Hebrew it signifies the mountain of devastation, alluding to the place and circumstances where Gideon with only three hundred men conquered three great armies. But in order to grasp the prophetic meaning repre sented by the words in the text, it is necessary to keep in mind the previous history concerning this Gideon. He appeared as a deliverer in Israel. His history begins by relating the visit he had of an angel at the time Israel was so oppressed by the power of aliens that the latter reaped their fields and carried away from them their cattle and all objects of value. Gideon, therefore, represented a people oppressed to the utmost — a prefigure of the masses of working people on the great day of distress. He was commissioned by the angel to tear down an altar of Baal and in its stead erect an altar to Jehovah.

This shows that Israel had become devoted to the idol-worship of the Chaldeans — the very worship that had arisen with the human institutions of the Chaldeans, and which is also adopted and faithfully followed by Christendom. Israel did it in the name of Jehovah, the so-called Christians in the name of Jesus.

After Gideon had taken a decided stand before Jehovah against Baalism, he received an order to gather around him a chosen people — a tried army of war. A stream of water decided the difference between the tried and the great mass, separated as unfit for the work of faith, for it was by virtue of faith Gideon and his little host won the great victory.

Arma-Geddon might also signify the army of Gideon, for army is derived from the word "Arma." It indicates, however, that Jehovah, on Israel's day of redemption, will raise up a lead ing movement, which, opposed to Baalism — the modern worship — will re-erect the fallen-down altar of Jehovah and the ruling power connected therewith, which, in the Scripture is called "the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down." (Acts 15:15-17.) By this is meant both the true temple-work of Jehovah, such as it appears in Christ, and the kingly scepter, which is to gather into unity the dispersed tribes and establish them in national power.

The unclean spirits are actuated by the Baalistic power, and their temple-work is united with that of the Chaldeans, made by the hands of men. And the scepter around which they gather their subjects, is also of Chaldean origin. Hence a collision be tween these so dissimilar god-powers will take place on the great day of the Almighty, for then the high places of Baal will have to give room to the temple of Jehovah.

It is at this juncture the unclean (or, by virtue of Baalism) , deceiving and acting spirits press on to their goal. In the name of Jesus they will employ spiritual means in connection with natural in order to get the people, especially leading men, under their will-power. At last Gideon — the man of Jehovah — and his chosen flock, which this time may separate themselves from the others because the streams of water dry up, will appear. The mountain of Gideon, this time a living mountain, is formed, and the unclean spirits inspire the leading men in the world to wage war on it, declaring it is Antichrist against whom they are to battle and that, because of it, they will win a signal victory.

The victory however, is already written in the history of Gideon — three great armies fell on the battle field — most of them by one another's sword.