Tel Megiddo with archaeological remains from the Bronze and Iron Ages
Ruins atop Tel Megiddo

According to the Book of Revelation in the New Testament of the Christian Bible, Armageddon (/ˌɑːrməˈɡɛdən/; Ancient Greek: Ἁρμαγεδών Harmagedṓn;[1][2] Late Latin: Armagedōn;[3] from Hebrew: הַר מְגִדּוֹ‎ Har Məgīddō) is the prophesied location of a gathering of armies for a battle during the end times, which is variously interpreted as either a literal or a symbolic location. The term is also used in a generic sense to refer to any end-of-the-world scenario. In Islamic theology, Armageddon is also mentioned in Hadith as the Greatest Armageddon or Al-Malhama Al-Kubra (the great battle).[4]

The "mount" of Megiddo in northern Israel is not actually a mountain, but a tell (a mound or hill created by many generations of people living and rebuilding at the same spot)[5] on which ancient forts were built to guard the Via Maris, an ancient trade route linking Egypt with the northern empires of Syria, Anatolia and Mesopotamia. Megiddo was the location of various ancient battles, including one in the 15th century BC and one in 609 BC. The nearby modern Megiddo is a kibbutz in the Kishon River area.[6]

Etymology

The word Armageddon appears only once in the Greek New Testament, in Revelation 16:16. The word is a Greek transliteration of the Hebrew har məgiddô (הר מגידו). Har means "a mountain or range of hills". This is a shortened form of harar meaning "to loom up; a mountain". Megiddo refers to a fortification made by King Ahab that dominated the Plain of Jezreel. Its name means "place of crowds".[7][8]

Adam Clarke wrote in his Bible commentary (1817) on Revelation 16:16:

Armageddon - The original of this word has been variously formed, and variously translated. It is הר־מגדון har-megiddon, "the mount of the assembly;" or חרמה גדהון chormah gedehon, "the destruction of their army;" or it is הר־מגדו har-megiddo, "Mount Megiddo," [9]

Christianity

Saint John the Evangelist on Patmos. Painting by Hieronymus Bosch (1505).

Megiddo is mentioned twelve times in the Old Testament, ten times in reference to the ancient city of Megiddo, and twice with reference to "the plain of Megiddo", most probably simply meaning "the plain next to the city".[10] None of these Old Testament passages describes the city of Megiddo as being associated with any particular prophetic beliefs. The one New Testament reference to the city of Armageddon found in Revelation 16:16 makes no specific mention of any armies being predicted to one day gather in this city, either, but instead seems to predict only that "they (will gather) the kings together to ... Armageddon".[11] The text does however seem to imply, based on the text from the earlier passage of Revelation 16:14, that the purpose of this gathering of kings in the "place called Armageddon" is "for the war of the great day of God, the Almighty". Because of the seemingly highly symbolic and even cryptic language of this one New Testament passage, some Christian scholars conclude that Mount Armageddon must be an idealized location.[12] R. J. Rushdoony says, "There are no mountains of Megiddo, only the Plains of Megiddo. This is a deliberate destruction of the vision of any literal reference to the place."[13] Other scholars, including C. C. Torrey, Kline and Jordan, argue that the word is derived from the Hebrew moed (מועד), meaning "assembly". Thus, "Armageddon" would mean "Mountain of Assembly", which Jordan says is "a reference to the assembly at Mount Sinai, and to its replacement, Mount Zion".[12]

Most traditions interpret this Bible prophecy to be symbolic of the progression of the world toward the "great day of God, the Almighty" in which God pours out his just and holy wrath against unrepentant sinners, led by Satan, in a literal end-of-the-world final confrontation.[14] 'Armageddon' is the symbolic name given to this event based on scripture references regarding divine obliteration of God's enemies. The hermeneutical method supports this position by referencing Judges 4 and 5 where God miraculously destroys the enemy of their elect, Israel, at Megiddo.[15]

Christian scholar William Hendriksen writes:

For this cause, Har Magedon is the symbol of every battle in which, when the need is greatest and believers are oppressed, the Lord suddenly reveals His power in the interest of His distressed people and defeats the enemy. When Sennacherib's 185,000 are slain by the Angel of Jehovah, that is a shadow of the final Har-Magedon. When God grants a little handful of Maccabees a glorious victory over an enemy which far outnumbers it, that is a type of Har-Magedon. But the real, the great, the final Har Magedon coincides with the time of Satan’s little season. Then the world, under the leadership of Satan, anti-Christian government, and anti-Christian religion – the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet – is gathered against the Church for the final battle, and the need is greatest; when God's children, oppressed on every side, cry for help; then suddenly, Christ will appear on the clouds of glory to deliver his people; that is Har-Magedon.[16]

Dispensationalism

In his discussion of Armageddon, J. Dwight Pentecost has devoted a chapter to the subject, "The Campaign of Armageddon", in which he discusses it as a campaign and not a specific battle, which will be fought in the Middle East. Pentecost writes:

It has been held commonly that the battle of Armageddon is an isolated event transpiring just prior to the second advent of Christ to the earth. The extent of this great movement in which God deals with "the kings of the earth and of the whole world"[17] will not be seen unless it is realized that the "battle of that great day of God Almighty"[18] is not an isolated battle, but rather a campaign that extends over the last half of the tribulation period. The Greek word "polemo", translated "battle" in Revelation 16:14, signifies a war or campaign, while "machē" signifies a battle, and sometimes even single combat. This distinction is observed by Trench (see Richard C. Trench, New Testament Synonyms, pp. 301–32) and is followed by Thayer (see Joseph Henry Thayer, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, p. 528) and Vincent (see Marvin R. Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament, II, 541). The use of the word polemos (campaign) in Revelation 16:14 signifies that God views the events culminating in the gathering at Armageddon at the second advent as one connected campaign.

— Pentecost, p. 340

Pentecost then discusses the location of this campaign, and mentions the "hill of Megiddo" and other geographic locations such as "the valley of Jehoshaphat"[19] and "the valley of the passengers",[20] "Lord coming from Edom or Idumea, south of Jerusalem, when he returns from the judgment"; and Jerusalem itself.[21][22]

Pentecost further describes the area involved:

This wide area would cover the entire land of Israel and this campaign, with all its parts, would confirm what Ezekiel pictures when he says the invaders will 'cover the land'.[23] This area would conform to the extent pictured by John in Revelation 14:20.[24]

Pentecost then outlines the biblical time period for this campaign to occur and with further arguments concludes that it must take place with the 70th week of Daniel. The invasion of Israel by the Northern Confederacy "will bring the Beast and his armies to the defense of Israel as her protector". He then uses Daniel to further clarify his thinking.[25]

Again, events are listed by Pentecost in his book:

  1. "The movement of the campaign begins when the King of the South moves against the Beast–False Prophet coalition, which takes place 'at the time of the end'."[26]
  2. The King of the South gets in battle with the North King and the Northern Confederacy.[27] Jerusalem is destroyed as a result of this attack,[28] and, in turn, the armies of the Northern Confederacy are destroyed.[29]
  3. "The full armies of the Beast move into Israel[30] and shall conquer all that territory.[31] Edom, Moab, and Ammon alone escape."
  4. "... a report that causes alarm is brought to the Beast"[32]
  5. "The Beast moves his headquarters into the land of Israel and assembles his armies there."[33]
  6. "It is there that his destruction will come."[34][35]

After the destruction of the Beast at the Second Coming of Jesus, the promised Kingdom is set up, in which Jesus and the saints will rule for a thousand years. Satan is then loosed "for a season" and goes out to deceive the nations, specifically Gog and Magog.[36] The army mentioned attacks the saints in the New Jerusalem, they are defeated by a judgment of fire coming down from heaven, and then comes the Great White Throne judgment, which includes all of those through the ages[37] and these are cast into the Lake of Fire, which event is also known as the "second death" and Gehenna, not to be confused with Hell, which is Satan's domain. Pentecost describes this as follows:

The destiny of the lost is a place in the lake of fire.[38] This lake of fire is described as everlasting fire[39][40] and as unquenchable fire,[41][42] emphasizing the eternal character of retribution of the lost.

— Pentecost, p. 555

Jehovah's Witnesses

Jehovah's Witnesses believe that Armageddon is the means by which God will fulfill his purpose for the Earth to be populated with happy healthy humans who will be free from sin and death.[43] They teach that the armies of heaven will eradicate all who oppose the Kingdom of God, wiping out all wicked humans on Earth, only leaving righteous mankind.[44]

They believe that the gathering of all of the nations of the earth refers to the uniting of the world's political powers, as a gradual process which began in 1914 and was later seen in manifestations such as the League of Nations and the United Nations following the First and Second World Wars.[45] These political powers are said to be influenced by Satan and his demons in opposition to God's kingdom.[43] Babylon the Great is interpreted as being the world empire of false religions, and it will be destroyed by the beast just prior to Armageddon.[46][47] Witnesses believe that after all other religions have been destroyed, the governments of the world will begin persecuting Witnesses, and God will then intervene, precipitating Armageddon.[48]

Jehovah's Witnesses teach that the armies of heaven, led by Jesus, will then destroy all forms of human government and then Jesus, along with a selected 144,000 humans, will rule Earth for 1,000 years.[49] They believe that Satan and his demons will be bound for that period, unable to influence mankind. After the 1,000 years are ended, and the second resurrection has taken place, Satan is released and allowed to tempt the perfect human race one last time. Those who follow Satan will be destroyed, along with him, leaving the earth, and humankind at peace with God forever, free from sin and death.[50]

The religion's current teaching on Armageddon originated in 1925 with former Watch Tower Society president J. F. Rutherford, who based his interpretations on passages that are found in the books of Exodus, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Psalms as well as additional passages that are found in the books of Samuel, Kings and Chronicles. The doctrine marked a further break from the teachings of the Watch Tower Society's founder Charles Taze Russell, who for decades had taught that the final war would be an anarchistic struggle for domination on earth.[51] Tony Wills, the author of a historical study of Jehovah's Witnesses, wrote that Rutherford seemed to relish his descriptions of how completely the wicked would be destroyed at Armageddon, dwelling at great length on prophecies of destruction. He stated that towards the close of his ministry, Rutherford allocated about half the space that was available in The Watchtower magazines to discussions about Armageddon.[52]

Seventh-day Adventist

Seventh-day Adventist understanding of Revelation 13–22

The teachings of the Seventh-day Adventist Church state that the terms "Armageddon", "Day of the Lord" and "The Second Coming of Christ" all describe the same event.[53] Seventh-day Adventists further teach that the current religious movements taking place in the world are setting the stage for Armageddon, and they are concerned by an anticipated unity between spiritualism, American Protestantism and Roman Catholicism. A further teaching in Seventh-day Adventist theology is that the events of Armageddon will leave the earth desolate for the duration of the millennium.[54] They teach that the righteous will be taken to heaven while the rest of humanity will be destroyed, leaving Satan with no one to tempt and effectively "bound".[55] The final re-creation of a "new heaven and a new earth";[56] then follows the millennium.

Christadelphians

For Christadelphians, Armageddon marks the "great climax of history when the nations would be gathered together 'into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon', and the judgment on them would herald the setting up of the Kingdom of God."[57]

Baháʼí Faith

From Baháʼí literature, a number of interpretations of the expectations surrounding the Battle of Armageddon may be inferred, three of them being associated with events surrounding the World Wars.[58]

The first interpretation deals with a series of tablets written by Bahá'u'lláh, founder of the Baháʼí Faith, to be sent to various kings and rulers.[58] The second, and best-known one, relates to events near the end of World War I involving General Allenby and the Battle of Megiddo (1918) wherein World Powers are said to have drawn soldiers from many parts of the world to engage in battle at Megiddo. In winning this battle Allenby also prevented the Ottomans from killing 'Abdu'l-Baha, then head of the Baháʼí Faith, whom they had intended to crucify.[59][60] A third interpretation reviews the overall progress of the World Wars, and the situation in the world before and after.[58]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Bibletranslation.ws" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2009-09-23.
  2. ↑ "Revelation 16:16 And they assembled the kings in the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon". biblehub.com. Archived from the original on 2012-10-27. Retrieved 2019-04-01.
  3. ↑ Collins English Dictionary, HarperCollins, 3rd ed., p. 81
  4. ↑ "Hadith - Book of Tribulations - Sunan Ibn Majah - Sunnah.com - Sayings and Teachings of Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و سلم)". sunnah.com. Archived from the original on 2020-11-12. Retrieved 2020-12-24.
  5. ↑ "Amateur Archaeologists Get the Dirt on the Past" Archived 2021-03-08 at the Wayback Machine, The New York Times
  6. ↑ "Maps and pictures of Megiddo mountain and the surrounding plain (in Spanish)". Archived from the original on 2017-06-14. Retrieved 2010-06-22.
  7. ↑ "Strong's Number 4023 Hebrew Dictionary of the Old Testament Online Bible with Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, Brown Driver Briggs Lexicon, Etymology, Translations Definitions Meanings & Key Word Studies". lexiconcordance.com. Archived from the original on 2014-03-01. Retrieved 2014-02-25.
  8. ↑ BC The Archaeology of the Bible Lands. By Magnus Magnusson. BBC Publications 1977
  9. ↑ "Revelation 16 Clarke's Commentary". Bible Hub.
  10. ↑ "Bible Keyword Search Results: megiddo (KJV)". 2011. Archived from the original on 2012-07-15. Retrieved 2011-01-15. Listing of the 12 Biblical Old Testament passages containing the word "Megiddo". 
  11. ↑ "Revelation 16, The Seven Bowls of God's Wrath". 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-01-11. Retrieved 2011-01-15. New Testament excerpt describing various apparent calamities of nature with respect to Armageddon.
  12. 1 2 James B. Jordan, Biblical Horizons, No. 85 Archived 2010-08-01 at the Wayback Machine
  13. ↑ Rousas John Rushdoony, Thy Kingdom Come: Studies in Daniel and Revelation, 190.
  14. ↑ Chapman, Roger (2015). "Premillennial Dispensationalism". Culture Wars: An Encyclopedia of Issues, Viewpoints, and Voices. London: Routledge. pp. 517–518. ISBN 978-1317473510.
  15. ↑ Judges 5:19 | Hebrew Bible, archived from the original on 2022-01-09, retrieved 2022-01-09
  16. ↑ William Hendriksen, More Than Conquerors, 163.
  17. ↑ Rev. 16:14
  18. ↑ Revelation 16:14
  19. ↑ Joel 3:2
  20. ↑ Ezekiel 39:11
  21. ↑ Zech. 12:2–11; 14:2
  22. ↑ Pentecost, p. 341
  23. ↑ Ezekiel 38:9–16
  24. ↑ Revelation 14:20
  25. ↑ "Daniel 11:40–45 (King James Version)". BibleGateway.com. Archived from the original on 25 November 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-16.
  26. ↑ "Daniel 11:40 (King James Version)". BibleGateway.com. Archived from the original on 25 November 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-16.
  27. ↑ Daniel 11:40
  28. ↑ Zechariah 12:2
  29. ↑ Ezekiel 39, Zechariah 12:4
  30. ↑ Daniel 11:41
  31. ↑ Daniel 11:41–42
  32. ↑ Daniel 11:44, Revelation 16:12
  33. ↑ Daniel 11:45
  34. ↑ Daniel 11:45
  35. ↑ Pentecost, p. 356
  36. ↑ Revelation 20:8
  37. ↑ Revelation 20:11–15
  38. ↑ Rev. 19:20; 20:10, 14–15; 21:8
  39. ↑ "Matthew 25:41 (King James Version)". Archived from the original on 25 November 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-16.
  40. ↑ "Matthew 18:8 (King James Version)". Archived from the original on 25 November 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-16.
  41. ↑ "Mark 9:43–44 (King James Version)". Archived from the original on 25 November 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-16.
  42. ↑ "Mark 9:46–48 (King James Version)". Archived from the original on 25 November 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-16.
  43. 1 2 "Armageddon—A Happy Beginning". The Watchtower: 4–7. December 1, 2005. Archived from the original on September 29, 2015. Retrieved May 22, 2015.
  44. ↑ "Armageddon—God's War to End All Wars". The Watchtower: 5–8. April 1, 2008. Archived from the original on July 20, 2015. Retrieved May 22, 2015.
  45. ↑ What Does the Bible Really Teach pp. 215–218 "1914 – A Significant Year in Bible Prophecy"
  46. ↑ "The End of False Religion is Near". Archived from the original on 2015-05-02. Retrieved 2015-05-22.
  47. ↑ Mankind's Search for God chap. 16 p. 371 par. 13 "the destruction of Babylon the Great will usher in a period of 'great tribulation' that culminates in 'the war of the great day of God the Almighty ... Har–Magedon.'"
  48. ↑ "Walk by Faith, Not by Sight!". The Watchtower: 19. September 15, 2005.
  49. ↑ "The Marvelous New World of God's Making". Archived from the original on 2015-08-31. Retrieved 2015-05-22.
  50. ↑ "Flight to Safety Before the 'Great Tribulation'". The Watchtower: 18. June 1, 1996.
  51. ↑ Alan Rogerson (1969). Millions Now Living Will Never Die. Constable. p. 47.
  52. ↑ Wills, Tony (2006), A People For His Name, Lulu Enterprises, p. 154, ISBN 978-1-4303-0100-4
  53. ↑ "Seventh-day Adventists believe" 1988 by the Ministerial Association General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
  54. ↑ Handbook of Seventh-day Adventist Theology 2000 Review and Herald Publishing Association and the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
  55. ↑ Revelation 20:2
  56. ↑ Revelation 21:1
  57. ↑ The Christadelphian (1970), Volume 107, pp. 555–556.
  58. 1 2 3 Lambden, Stephen. "Catastrophe, Armageddon and Millennium: some aspects of the Bábí-Bahá'í exegesis of apocalyptic symbolism". Baháʼí Studies Review. 9. Archived from the original on 2018-12-24. Retrieved 2007-06-10.
  59. ↑ Roderic Maude and Derwent Maude (1997). The Servant, the General, and Armageddon. George Ronald. ISBN 0-85398-424-7.
  60. ↑ Smith, Peter (2000). "A Concise Encyclopedia of the Bahá'í Faith". A concise encyclopedia of the Baháʼí Faith. Oxford: Oneworld Publications. p. 18. ISBN 1-85168-184-1.
  • Media related to Armageddon at Wikimedia Commons
  • The dictionary definition of Armageddon at Wiktionary
  • Quotations related to Armageddon at Wikiquote
  • Armageddon, in James Crossley and Alastair Lockhart (eds.) Critical Dictionary of Apocalyptic and Millenarian Movements. 2021

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