Fr. Abraam Sleman's Blog

  Some preachers say that the Russia-Ukraine war is the same as “the Battle of Armageddon” in the Book of Revelation (Rev. 16:14-16). Answer According to the Historical Approach of interpreting the book of Revelation, the Commentators try to find fulfillment of the Revelation’s visions in historical events. In the past, they referred to many wars as the Battle of Armageddon. They miss the spiritual message and the symbolic language of the Book of Revelation by such interpretation. The kings of the world (Rev. 16:14) symbolize the powers of darkness opposing God through the evil political and religious rulers. And with the deceived multitudes, these kings go to war against Almighty God. Waging War The “battle” or “war” against God and His people is not physical or political but spiritual. It is the ongoing battle Satan has been waging since he led Adam and Eve astray in Paradise. Satan will continue to wage wars until God casts him into the lake of fire (Rev. 20:10). However, the Greek

  Some preachers in churches and TV have promoted the idea that the Russian-Ukraine War fulfills Gog and Magog’s War (Rev. 20:8-9). The number of their army is “two hundred million” (Rev. 9:16), “as the sand of the sea” (Rev. 20:8). This number can easily be reached if Russia and China allied together, and it would be the catastrophic World War III and the end of the world. Answer The Russian-Ukraine War is not the first war in history, and there is evidence to make us sure that it will be the last one. The Lord Jesus Christ said, “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet” (Matt. 24:6). According to the Historical Approach of interpreting the book of Revelation, the Commentators try to find fulfillment of the Revelation’s visions in historical events. They referred to many wars as the Battle of Gog& Magog in the past. They miss the spiritual message and the symbolic language of