The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1896-10-29
REV. DIR. TALMAGE.
The Eminent Divine's Sermon Dcs
livsred in Wsshington.
Subject. "Armageddon."


geddon. "-Rev. xvi. 16.
Megiddo is the name Of mountain that
looks down upon Esdralon, the greatest
battlefield that the world has ever seen.
There Barak fought the Canaanites: there
Gideon fought the Midianites there JOSIAH
fought the invading Egyptians. The whole
region stands for battle, and the Armaged-
don of my text borrows is name from il,
and Is here used, not geographically, but
f1guratively, while setting forth the idea
that there is to be worlds closing battle.
the greatest of all battles. compared with
which the conflicts of this century and all
other centuries were insignificant, because
Of the greater number OF combatants en-
gagged, the greater victory and the greater
defeat. The exact date Of that battle We do
not know, and the exact locality is uncer-
tain. I may be in Asia. Europe, Africa, or o,
America; but the fact that such battle will
take place is as certain as Gods eternal
truth. When use the superlative degree in
regard to that coming conflict do not forget
that there have been wars all along on
stupendous scale. As when at Marathon Mil
tiades brought on his men, not in ordinary
march, but in full run, upon the horse
men Of Persia and the black archers of
Ethiopia. and scattered them, and crying,
ships Of the invaders. As when Pizarro over
came Peru. As when Philip the Second
triumphed over Portugal. As when the Huns
met the Cloths. As when three hundred
Spartans sacrificed themselves at Thermo-
pylae. As when the CarthaSenians took Ag-
rigentum. As when Alexander headed the
Macedonian phalanx. As when Hannibal in
vaded Italy. Battle of Hastings! Battle OF
Valmy! Battle of Arbela! Battle of Tours!
Battle of Borodino! Battle OF Lucknow! Bat
tie of Solferino! Battle of Fontenoy where
100000 were slain! Battle of Chalons where
100000 were massacred! Battle of Herat
where Genghis Khan destroyed 1900, 900
livesl Battle of Neishar where 1.747, 900
went down to DEATH 1876, 0C0 slain at Troy
And American battles. too near US now to
allow US to appreciate their awful grandeur
and significance, except you who were there.
facing the North or facing the South! But
all the battles have named put together
will not equal in numbers enlisted, or fierce
ness. or grandeur, or triumph. or rout, the
coming Armageddon contest. Whether 1t
shall be fought with printers type or keen
steel. whether by brain or muscle. whether
by pen or carbine, whether by booming cam
non or thunders OF Christian eloquence, DO
not know, and you may take what [ say a3
igurative or literal, but take as certain what
St. John, in his vision on the rocks of the
Grecian archipelago, is pleased to call Gar
mageddon."
My sermon will first mention the regiments
that will be engaged in the conflict; then
will say something of the commanders on
both sides: and then speak Of the battle
itself and the tremendous issues. Begin
ming with those who will fight on the wrong
side, first mention the Regiments Dia-
bolic. In this very chapter from which my
text is taken We are told that the spirits OF
| devils will be there. How many millions
| of them no one can tell. for the statistics OF
the satanic dominions have never been re-
ported and the roll of that host has never
on earth been called; but from the direful,
and continental, and planetary work they
| have already doue, aud the fact that every
man and woman and child on earth has a
| tempter. there must be ut least sixteen hun
| dred millions of evil spirits familiar with
| our world. Perhaps as many more are en-
| gagged on especial enterprises OF abomiua-
ton among the Nations and empires of the
earth. Beside that there must be an incon,
ceivable number OF Inhabitants in realms
, pandemoniac, staying there to keep the
| great capitals of sin going from age to age
Many of them once lived in heaven. but
engaging in conspiracy to put Satan on tbs
| throne. they were hurled out AID down, ana
they are now among the worst thugs OF the
universe. Having been in three worlds, =
Heaven, earth and ell,-they have all the
advantages of great experience. Their power
their speed, their cunning, their hostility
mageddon they will. doubt not, be present
in full array. They will have no reserve
corps, but all will be at the front. There vii
not only be soldiers in that battle who cal
be seen and aimed at, but troc ps intangible
and without corporeity, and weapons ma,
strike clear through them without giving then
hurt. With what shout of defiance will the,
climb up the ladders Of fire and leap from
the battlements of asbestos into the lasr cam
| M hol poy, ho hpuv oil
was impressed with their might for evil whel
he said, "We wrestle not against flesh ant
blood. but against principalities, land agains
powers, and against the rulers of the dark
ness in this world, against spiritual wicked
ness in high places" Oh, what an agitatin;
moment. when the ranks diabolic move u
and take their places for conflicts in the Al
mageddon!
Other regiments who will march into tn
fight will be the Regiment Alcoholic. The
will be made of the brewers companies, dis
til;ery owners and liquor dealers associa
tions, and the hundreds of millions of thei
patrons. These millions Of victims of alec
hol joined by the millions of the victims {
arrack, the spirituous liquor of China an
India, and Arabia, and Egypt, and Ceyior
and Siam.
be made up Of offenders Of all sorts-the d.
) frauders, the ibert mes. this dynamiters, til
Anarchists, the oppressors and the foes {
society. the criminals of all Nations, b
whatever name they are now called, {
shall then be called. They may not befor
{ that have openly taken sides. but then the
will be compelled to take sides. With whs
> venom, with what violence, with what de-
r peration they will fall into line at the gref
, Armageddon! Is it not appalling, thes
uncounted regiments of the earth, to b
Joined by the uncounted regiments frol
perdition? Can any power cope with them
: Especially when tell you who their con
mander Is, for so much in all wars depend
upon the chleftain. Their leader will NJ
be political accident or a military "har
1 pen So" By talent, and adroitness al
} courage, and unceasing industry he ba
come to the bad eminence. He disputed tt
> throne of heaven with the Almighty. b,
no one has ever disputed the throne of etel
, nal night with this monarch who will in tn
last battle take the field in person. Milto
calls him Lucifer, Goethe calls him Mephi
tophees, the Hebrew call; him Abaddon, tt
Greek calls him Apollyon. He is the mpe
sonation of all malevolence. of all oppre
sion, Of all cruelty. The summing up of a
falsehood. In his makeup nothing bad W;
left out and nothing good was put in, an
he is to be the General, the Commander-i
Chief of all the forces on the wrong side
the great Armageddon. He has bean
more battles than you have ever read abou
and he has gained more victories than ha,