Scriptures: Daniel 2, Isaiah 14, 24, Habakkuk 3, Revelation 12, 17, 19
One of the Old Testament names of Jesus is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. He is described in Isaiah 24 as the one who comes in the last days to rid the heavens and the earth of evil. “The earth staggers like a drunk. It trembles like a tent in a storm. It falls and will not rise again, for the guilt of its rebellion is very heavy. 21 In that day the Lord will punish the gods in the heavens and the proud rulers of the nations on earth. 22 They will be rounded up and put in prison. They will be shut up in prison and will finally be punished. 23 Then the glory of the moon will wane, and the brightness of the sun will fade, for the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will rule on Mount Zion. He will rule in great glory in Jerusalem, in the sight of all the leaders of his people” (Isaiah 24:20-23, NLT). To understand what Jesus does as the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, it’s important to know who his enemies are. Isaiah 24 reveals that the Lord will come to punish the “gods in the heavens” or fallen angels who rule as demonic principalities and the proud rulers of the nations who defy God.
Isaiah 14 describes a fallen angel, the demonic principality backing the empire spirit of Babylon. “How you are fallen from heaven, O shining star, son of the morning! You have been thrown down to the earth, you who destroyed the nations of the world. 13 For you said to yourself, ‘I will ascend to heaven and set my throne above God’s stars. I will preside on the mountain of the gods far away in the north. 14 I will climb to the highest heavens and be like the Most High.’ 15 Instead, you will be brought down to the place of the dead, down to its lowest depths. 16 Everyone there will stare at you and ask, ‘Can this be the one who shook the earth and made the kingdoms of the world tremble? 17 Is this the one who destroyed the world and made it into a wasteland? Is this the king who demolished the world’s greatest cities and had no mercy on his prisoners?’” (Isaiah 14:12-17).
Revelation 12 reveals a similar picture of the spiritual war taking place in the heavens that comes down to the earth as war and destruction in the last days when Satan is thrown down to the earth and unleashes his wrath on humanity. “Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. 8 But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. 9 The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him” (Revelation 12:7-9). The rest of the chapter reveals that when Satan and his angels are thrown down, he tries to destroy Israel first, but God helps Israel. “Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring—those who keep God’s commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus” (Revelation 12:17). Both Israel and the church will face intense persecution in the last days, which Jesus warned of in Matthew 24.
The cosmic battle between God and the usurper, Satan, will be played out on the earth as war in the last days. As the clock ticks ever closer to this time, we must remember that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12). Jesus, the Lord of Heavens Armies, will return to rescue his bride and destroy these powers. Isaiah 14 prophesies the destruction of Babylon in the future after the Lord has given Israel “rest from sorrow and fear,” pointing to the demonic principality of Revelation 17 described as “’Babylon the Great, Mother of All Prostitutes and Obscenities in the World.’ 6 I could see that she was drunk—drunk with the blood of God’s holy people who were witnesses for Jesus” (Revelation 17:5-6). “The kings of the world have committed adultery with her, and the people who belong to this world have been made drunk by the wine of her immorality” (Revelation 17:2).
This future Babylon is the foot of the statue of Daniel 2 that began with ancient Babylon and has carried the prideful, idolatrous spirit of Babylon down through the centuries through various empires. It is this spirit or principality that the Rock, Jesus, destroys along with the kings of the world that “have committed adultery with her” by embracing immorality. Psalm 2 paints a picture of these rebellious rulers in the last days. “The kings of the earth prepare for battle; the rulers plot together against the Lord and against his anointed one. 3 ‘Let us break their chains,’ they cry, ‘and free ourselves from slavery to God.’ 4 But the one who rules in heaven laughs. The Lord scoffs at them. 5 Then in anger he rebukes them, terrifying them with his fierce fury. 6 For the Lord declares, “I have placed my chosen king on the throne in Jerusalem, on my holy mountain’” (Psalm 2:2-6). Paul describes the last days as a time of apostasy or rebellion against God as the pride of man fully ripens and its fruit is seen in the “man of lawlessness” who sets himself up to be worshiped by the world (2 Thessalonians 2:3).
The Lord of Heaven’s Armies will come to destroy the proud rulers who set themselves up against God. Isaiah 2 says, “The eyes of the arrogant will be humbled and human pride brought low; the Lord alone will be exalted in that day. 12 The Lord Almighty has a day in store for all the proud and lofty, for all that is exalted (and they will be humbled), 17 The arrogance of man will be brought low and human pride humbled; the Lord alone will be exalted in that day, 18 and the idols will totally disappear. 19 People will flee to caves in the rocks and to holes in the ground from the fearful presence of the Lord and the splendor of his majesty, when he rises to shake the earth” (Isaiah 2:11-19).
In Habakkuk’s vision of Jesus’ coming he says, “You marched across the land in anger and trampled the nations in your fury. 13 You went out to rescue your chosen people, to save your anointed ones. You crushed the heads of the wicked and stripped their bones from head to toe. 14 With his own weapons, you destroyed the chief of those who rushed out like a whirlwind, thinking Israel would be easy prey” (Habakkuk 3:12-14). In the last days, as Israel is being attacked by the enemy and the church is being persecuted by the demonic principality of immoral, prideful Babylon, Jesus will return as the Lord of Heaven’s Armies to rescue his people. He will fulfill the second half of Isaiah 61:2 by proclaiming “the day of vengeance of our God.”
Revelation 16:13-14 reveals the partnership between the demonic principalities and proud rulers that climaxes in a battle that will eclipse anything produced by Hollywood. “Then I saw three impure spirits that looked like frogs; they came out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 They are demonic spirits that perform signs, and they go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty.” Jesus shows up to this battle in the valley of Megiddo called Armageddon, which is not far from where he grew up in Nazareth. The last righteous king of Israel, Josiah, was killed in this valley, but the Lord our Righteousness will come here to end all wars. He will rescue his people from oppression, put an end to pride and rebellion against God’s good plan for the earth and humanity, and rule with righteousness.
“I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war.12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself.13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.15 Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. ‘He will rule them with an iron scepter.’ He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty.16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: king of kings and lord of lords” (Revelation 19:11-16).
Response:
Let’s join with those who triumph over the beast and sing to the Lamb, “Great and marvelous are your works, O Lord God, the Almighty. Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations. Who will not fear you Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy” (Revelation 15:3-4).
(The picture above is of the valley of Megiddo called Armageddon, where Jesus will confront the wicked rulers of the world and end the war between God and Satan. Hallelujah!)
