Meeting His Waterloo – Revelation 19:10-21

by Pastor John Fredericksen

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In 1815, a coalition formed from the United Kingdom, Russia, Austria, and Prussia to resist the advancing armies of Napoleon Bonaparte of France. Critically outnumbered, Napoleon knew his only chance of staying in power was to attack near Waterloo, Belgium, before the coalition forces were fully mobilized. Under the command of Wellington, the strength of coalition forces were concealed behind a 2.5 mile ridge. When Napoleon advanced with his troops, he was outflanked on three fronts and soundly defeated. Losing the Battle of Waterloo resulted in Napoleon abdicating power over France. He had “met his Waterloo.”

During the middle of the seven years of Tribulation, Satan will be cast out of his heavenly atmospheric domain, as described in Revelation 12:9. At this point, “he knoweth that he hath but a short time” before his ultimate demise (vs. 12). As if in desperation, he will turn a frenzied campaign of slaughter upon all Jews. As the Tribulation draws to a close, he will assemble troops from the entire world to attack Jerusalem. In an instant, the heavens will open to reveal the Lord Jesus Christ coming in power and great glory (compare Revelation 19:11 and Matthew 24:30). No longer offering mercy and eternal life as the Savior of the world, Christ now comes as the conquering “King of kings, AND LORD OF LORDS” (Revelation 19:16). “Out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations: and He shall rule them with a rod of iron” (vs. 15). We take this to mean that the opposing world armies of millions will literally be cut down on the battlefield by His spoken word, and their blood will flow deep (Revelation 14:20). Then the beast (or Anti-Christ), and the false prophet will be taken and, “these both were [or will be] cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone” (Revelation 19:20). Their arrogant voices will be forever silenced on earth, and their reign of terror will be over forever. They will meet their Waterloo of defeat. Then, the angel of God will call the fowls of the air to come feast off the dead bodies of the slain (vss. 17-18). What remains will take seven years to bury once the Millennial Kingdom begins (Ezekiel 39:8-15).

We must begin conversations with lost souls by asking if they know about the Battle of Armageddon that is looming on earth’s near horizon. After giving the above details, present the gospel and urge them to flee to the safety of eternal life.


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Start each day with short, devotional articles taken from the book Daily Transformation by Pastor John Fredericksen. As Pastor Fredericksen writes in the introduction:

"We welcome you, as you journey with us..., to not only learn information, but to benefit from examples of faith and failure, and seek to apply God’s Word to every day life. Together, let’s transition from only studying theories of doctrine, to applying God’s truths in a practical way every day. May God use these studies to help you find daily transformation."