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Mount
Armageddon Hebrew:
הַר מְגִדּוֹ,
Har Megiddo (
Ancient Greek:
Ἁρμαγεδών Harmagedōn,
[1][2] Arabic هرمجدون,
Persian آرماگدن,
Late Latin:
Armagedōn[3]) is the site of a battle during the
end times according to some sects within the
Abrahamic religions. The term can also be used in a more generic sense to refer to any end-of-the-world senario.
According to some
premillennial Christian interpretations, the
Messiah will
return to earth and defeat the
Antichrist (
the "beast")
Satan/
Lucifer/
Devil in the battle of
Armageddon. Then
Satan will be put into the "bottomless pit" or
abyss for 1,000 years, known as the
Millennial Age. After being released from the abyss, Satan will gather
Gog and Magog (peoples of two specific nations) from the four
corners of the earth. They will encamp surrounding the "holy ones" and the "beloved city" (this refers to
Jerusalem). Fire will come down from
God, out of
heaven and devour Gog and Magog after the Millennium, and the
Devil who deceived them is thrown into
Gehenna (the
Lake of Fire and brimstone, or
Hell) where the Beast and the
False Prophet have been since just before the 1,000 years.
[4]
The word
Armageddon appears only once in the
Greek New Testament.
[5] The word may come from
Hebrew har məgiddô (
הר מגידו), meaning "Mountain of
Megiddo". "Mount" (actually a Tel) Megiddo is a small mount or hill on which ancient forts were built that guarded the main highway, the
Via Maris, that connected
Ancient Egypt with
Mesopotamia. Megiddo was the location of many decisive battles in ancient times (including
one in the 15th century BC and
one in 609 BC). The
town Megiddo in Israel is approximately 25 miles (40 km) westsouthwest of the southern tip of the
Sea of Galilee (or
Lake Tiberias to the Romans) in the Kishon River area.
[6]
[edit] Christianity
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".
[7] None of these Old Testament passages describe 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 in fact also makes no specific mention of any armies being predicted to one day gather in this city, but instead seems to predict only that "they (will gather) the kings together to .... Armageddon.
[8]" 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" might be so that these kings could do battle with one another. Because of the seemingly highly symbolic and even cryptic language of this one New Testament passage, some Christian scholars conclude the Mount Armageddon must be an idealized location.
[9] 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."
[10] 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."
[9]
[edit] Dispensationalism
The
Dispensational viewpoint interprets biblical prophecy literally and expects that the fulfillment of prophecy will also be literal, depending upon the context of scripture. In his discussion of Armageddon,
J. Dwight Pentecost has devoted an entire chapter to the subject, titled "The Campaign of Armageddon", in which he discusses Armageddon 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" (Rev. 16:14) will not be seen unless it is realized that the "battle of that great day of God Almighty" (Rev. 16:14)
[11] 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.301-2) 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 would signify that the events that culminate in the gathering at Armageddon at the second advent are viewed by God 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"
[12] and "the valley of the passengers",
[13] "Lord coming from
Edom or Idumea, south of
Jerusalem, when He returns from
the judgment"; and Jerusalem itself.
[14][15]
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'.
[16] This area would conform to the extent pictured by
John in Revelation 14:20."
[17]
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: (Dan. 11:40b-45).
[18]
Again, events are listed by Pentecost in his book:
- "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.'"[19]
- "The King of the South is joined by the Northern Confederacy, who attacks the Wilful King by a great force over land and sea (11:40). Jerusalem is destroyed as a result of this attack,[20] and, in turn, the armies of the Northern Confederacy are destroyed"[21]
- "The full armies of the Beast move into Israel (11:41) and shall conquer all that territory (11:41-42). Edom, Moab, and Ammon alone escape. . . ."
- ". . . a report that causes alarm is brought to the Beast"[22]
- "The Beast moves his headquarters into the land of Israel and assembles his armies there."[23]
- "It is there that his destruction will come. (11:45)."[24]
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.
[25] 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
[26] 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 (Rev. 19:20; 20:10, 14-15; 21:8). This lake of fire is described as everlasting fire (Matt. 25:41)
[27] (Matt. 18:8)
[28] and as unquenchable fire (Mark 9:43-44),
[29] 46-48,
[30] emphasizing the eternal character of retribution of the lost.
—Pentacost, p. 555
[edit] Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses believe that Armageddon is a battle in which Satan unites the kings of the earth against God's appointed king, Jesus Christ. Unlike other
Christian groups, Witnesses believe that the 'Antichrist' is not an individual, that the war is not one of nations fighting against each other,
[31][32] and that Megiddo refers to a symbolic gathering of all the kings of the earth.
According to
The Watchtower magazine, prior to Armageddon "militarized powers within the
United Nations" will attack all religions, and then focus their attack on the Witnesses, who will continue to preach.
[33][34] The world's leaders will then battle against God and his forces, provoked by expressions and signs inspired by demons;
[35] after they are destroyed God's Kingdom will be established over earth for a thousand years.
[36] The
final judgment and purification of earth's sin occurs at the end of the
millennium.
[37]
[edit] Seventh-day Adventist
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.
[38] 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 the growing unity between
spiritualism, American
Protestantism and
Roman Catholicism. A further significant difference in
Seventh-day Adventist theology is the teaching that the events of Armageddon will leave the earth desolate for the duration of the
millennium.
[39] 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 "bind."
[40] The final re-creation of a "new heaven and a new earth."
[41] then follows the millennium.
[edit] Influence
The idea that a final "Battle of Armageddon" will be fought at
Tel Megiddo has had a wide influence, especially in the US. According to Donald E. Wagner, Professor of Religion and Director of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at
North Park University,
Ronald Reagan was an adherent of "Armageddon theology," and "seemed to blend his political analysis with his Armageddon theology quite naturally."
[42]
Some
militia groups in the US, such as the
Hutaree,
[43] are reported to have prepared for violent action associated with related apocalyptic beliefs.
Muslims believe that the
Islamic Prophet Muhammad(SM) prophesied several events to occur just before the advent of the Day of Judgment (
Yawm al-Qiyāmah). Al Dajaal (the Antichrist) will fool people into believing that he is God and ask people to worship him. True believers (Muslims) will reject him but will not be able to defeat him on their own. God (Allah) will then send Isa (Jesus) to earth to fight the Antichrist in the battle of Armageddon, and he will defeat Al Dajaal (the Antichrist) and his followers. This war is given the name "Al-Malhama Al-Kubra" (the biggest battle) in the
Hadith (appearing in the
Sahih al-Bukhari and
Sahih Muslim collections).
[edit] Ahmadiyya
In
Ahmadiyya, Armageddon is viewed as a spiritual battle or struggle in the present age between the forces of good, i.e. righteousness, purity and virtue, and the forces of evil. The final struggle between the two comes as satanic influence is let loose with the emergence of
Gog and Magog. Satan gathers all his powers, and uses all his methods to mislead people, introducing an age where iniquity, promiscuity, atheism, and materialism abound. According to Ahmadi teachings, the present age has as a result been a witness to the wrath of God with the occurrence of the
First and
Second World Wars and the frequency of natural disasters.
[44]
Ahmadis believe that God appointed
Mirza Ghulam Ahmad as the
Promised Messiah and
Mahdi for the spiritual reformation and moral direction of mankind. The moral teachings of Islam, as elucidated by Ghulam Ahmad in accordance with the present age, would eventually protect from and overcome these evil things, and establish the unity and sincere worship of God and an age of peace on earth. This age continues for approximately one thousand years as per Judeo-Christian and Islamic prophecies of the
Apocalypse; it is characterised by the assembling of mankind under one faith, Islam in Ahmadiyya belief.
[45]
[edit] Bahá'í faith
From
Bahá'í 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:
[46]
The first interpretation deals with a series of tablets written by
Bahá'u'lláh, founder of the Bahá'í Faith, to be sent to various kings and rulers.
[46]
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
Turks from killing
'Abdu'l-Baha, then head of the
Baha'i Faith, whom they had intended to
crucify.
[47]
A third interpretation reviews the overall progress of the World Wars, and the situation in the world before and after.
[46]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Bibletranslation.ws
- ^ Scripturetext.com
- ^ Collins English Dictionary, HarperCollins, 3rd ed., p. 81
- ^ Book of Revelation in the New Testament, Rev. 19: 11-20, Rev. 20: 1-3, 7-10.
- ^ Revelation 16:16
- ^ Maps and pictures of Megiddo mountain and the surrounding plain (in Spanish)
- ^ "Bible Keyword Search Results: megiddo (KJV)". 2011. Retrieved 2011-01-15. Listing of the 12 Biblical Old Testament passages containing the word "Megiddo".
- ^ "Revelation 16, The Seven Bowls of God's Wrath". 2011. Retrieved 2011-01-15. New Testament excerpt describing various apparent calamities of nature with respect to Armageddon.
- ^ a b James B. Jordan, Biblical Horizons, No. 85
- ^ Rousas John Rushdoony, Thy Kingdom Come: Studies in Daniel and Revelation, 190.
- ^ Revelation 16:14
- ^ Joel 3:2
- ^ Ezekiel 39:11
- ^ Zech. 12:2-11; 14:2
- ^ Pentacost, p. 341
- ^ Ezekiel 38:9-16
- ^ Revelation 14:20
- ^ "Daniel 11:40-45 (King James Version)". BibleGateway.com. Retrieved 2007-11-16.
- ^ "Daniel 11:40 (King James Version)". BibleGateway.com. Retrieved 2007-11-16.
- ^ Zechariah 12:2
- ^ Ezekiel 39, Zeckariah 12:4
- ^ Revelation 11:44, Revelation 16:12
- ^ Daniel 11:45
- ^ Pentacost, p. 356
- ^ Revelation 20:8
- ^ Revelation 20:11-15
- ^ "Matthew 25:41 (King James Version)". Retrieved 2007-11-16.
- ^ "Matthew 18:8 (King James Version)". Retrieved 2007-11-16.
- ^ "Mark 9:43-44 (King James Version)". Retrieved 2007-11-16.
- ^ "Mark 9:46-48 (King James Version)". Retrieved 2007-11-16.
- ^ Armageddon - A Happy Beginning
- ^ Armageddon—God’s War to End All Wars
- ^ The End of False Religion is Near watchtower.org
- ^ Watchtower 9/15/05 p. 19 par. 13 "Walk by Faith, Not by Sight!" Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania
- ^ The Watchtower 12/1/05 p. 4 Armageddon—A Happy Beginning Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania
- ^ The Marvelous New World of God's Making watchtower.org
- ^ Watchtower 6/1/96 p. 18 par. 20 "Flight to Safety Before the "Great Tribulation"" Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania
- ^ "Seventh-day Adventists believe" 1988 by the Ministerial Association General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
- ^ "Handbook of Seventh-day Adventist Theology" 2000 Review and Herald Publishing Association and the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
- ^ Revelation 20:1
- ^ Revelation 21:1
- ^ Donald E. Wagner, The alliance between fundamentalist Christians and the Pro-Israel lobby: Christian Zionism in US Middle East policy
- ^ "US 'Christian militants' charged after FBI raids" BBC, 30 March 2010. Retrieved 30 March 2010.
- ^ AAIIL.org
- ^ The Review of Religions, January 2009, Vol.104, issue 1. p. 18-22
- ^ a b c Lambden, Stephen. "Catastrophe, Armageddon and Millennium: some aspects of the Bábí-Bahá'í exegesis of apocalyptic symbolism". Bahá'í Studies Review Volume 9. Retrieved 2007-06-10.
- ^ Maude (1997). The Servant, the General, and Armageddon. George Ronald. ISBN 0853984247.
32°35′4.64″N 35°11′0.58″E
