Written by A.D.H. Thomas

Brethren Of Christ Articles - Prophecy

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Armageddon -- Fact or Fiction?
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Multitudes Multitudes brought together into the Valley of Decision also named Jehoshaphat for Armageddon

The common perception of the word Armageddon is that it has to do with a great battle that will signalize the end of the world. We sometimes hear the word used when a conflict in some part of the world looks likely to escalate into a global war with devastating consequences for mankind. Where then does the word come from? What is its origin if known? Does it indeed refer to a specific event or is it merely descriptive of any global war?

It is a word that originates in the Bible where, perhaps surprisingly it only occurs once, and that in the last book of the Bible, the book of Revelation, or to use its Greek name, the Apocalypse. Now much of the information revealed in this book is conveyed in symbols, and this has given rise to much fanciful and remarkable interpretations. We need to separate fact from fiction, which we propose to do by establishing the facts.

Throughout the Bible, but particularly in this last book, certain political events, as they relate to the working out of God’s purpose through nations, individuals, and sections of society, are foretold or predicted, in symbolic and figurative language. As one writer has observed, “The Scriptures are constructed after this ingenious plan, by which they are made so much more interesting, and capable of containing so much more matter, than any other book on the same subject, and of the same size.” In the Apocalypse, this last book of the Bible, we can trace certain historical events from the time it was written, in about AD 96, till the present time, and are able to foresee certain future events that will culminate in the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. In the 16th chapter of this book, where the word Armageddon occurs, dramatic symbols are used to describe, amongst other things, Napoleon’s European campaigns, which had such a dramatic effect on Europe. In the 12th verse we read of the drying up of the River Euphrates, which many Biblical commentators have recognized as the political evaporation of the Turkish Ottoman Empire, which at one time stretched round much of the Eastern end of the Mediterranean. Lest it be thought that this book does not have much relevance to the subject of the hope of salvation that is set forth elsewhere in the Bible, we would point to the blessing that Jesus Christ promised to those who give heed to the things written in the Apocalypse. He wrote, “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein….,” Revelation 1:3. These Apocalyptic prophecies enable us to see where we are in the Divine timetable, and it is after the foretold demise of the Ottoman Empire, that we read of certain powers that will be used by God to gather all nations to what is described as “the battle of the great day of God Almighty,” chapter 16 and verse 14. The First World War, which effectively sounded the death knell for the Ottoman Empire, was expected, by many, to lead to the battle of Armageddon. But this great battle is to be fought in the land of Israel, as we shall see from other Biblical prophecies. The Lord Jesus Christ having forewarned the readers of his Apocalyptic message, of the gathering of the nations to this battle of the great day of God Almighty, then tells us where this battle is to take place, saying, “he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon,” chapter 16 and verse 16.

The fact that this place name is written in Hebrew, rather than in the Greek which was the language of the New Testament, indicates that it is to be found in the country where the Hebrew language is found, i.e. in Israel. Yet, there is no place so named in Israel although some say that the closest approximation is Megiddo or the Hill or Megiddo, which overlooks the Jezreel valley, situated about 60 miles due north of Jerusalem. But we can look for a clue in the meaning of the Hebrew word Armageddon, for its meaning is descriptive of the event to take place there. The word is comprised of ‘Armah’ meaning a hill or heap; ‘Gai,’ a valley; and ‘Don or Dan,’ meaning judgment. The word Armageddon then translates to ‘a heap in a valley for judgment.’ It thus expresses the purpose of the gathering of the nations, namely to judge them. As to when this gathering of the nations to Israel for judgment will take place we are told that it will be during the symbolic sounding of the 7th or last trumpet. A trumpet is an instrument used to gather armies to battle, and so it is an appropriate symbol to use.

Interestingly, the Apostle Paul tells us that the time of the resurrection of the dead will be at the sounding of the last trumpet, 1 Corinthians 15:52. From which we understand that as this is when the Lord Jesus Christ returns to this earth, it will be the time when the Armageddon judgments takes place, and the resurrection of the dead of earlier generations to judgment, for good or ill. Now concerning this symbolic 7th trumpet, the Apocalypse reveals that there are to be 7 blasts of it, described as the vials of wrath, in this 16th chapter. You will recall that it was on the 7th and last blast of the 7th circuit of the city of Jericho, that the walls fell. And this is a type of what is destined to happen to the world, i.e. gentile kosmos or constitution, which is to fall to make way for the millennial kosmos that Christ will set up on this earth. In the 11th chapter of the Apocalypse, we learn that as a result of the blowing of the seventh trumpet, “the nations were angry” and it was a time for judgment, when those who destroy or corrupt the earth would be destroyed, and “the kingdoms of this world become the kingdom of Christ, who shall reign for ever.” In other words the storm of judicial war, i.e. the battle of Armageddon, will clear the way for the establishment of his kingdom, and the everlasting reign of the Lord Jesus Christ on this earth.

It must be self evident that this war has not yet taken place, for the Lord Jesus Christ has not yet translated the kingdoms of this world unto himself and is not yet reigning on this earth in his kingdom. For confirmation of our understanding of the nature and time of the battle of Armageddon we will consider some Old Testament references which also refer to this battle, albeit not by the name Armageddon, but by that which the name signifies, namely the gathering of the nations as sheaves in a valley for judgment. We would expect that such a great and significant event would be the subject of Old Testament prophecies, and we are not disappointed. In the prophecy of Zephaniah dealing with the restoration of the nation of Israel, and judgment upon her enemies, we read theses words; “wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day I rise up to the prey; for my determination is to gather the nations that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy,” chapter 3 and verse 8. The prophet continues with reference to the time following this when Israel would rejoice, because the king of Israel will be in their midst and they shalt not see evil anymore, “for the LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; and he will save thee and rejoice over thee with joy.” Israel has never yet experienced this permanent state of peace and security, and neither will they until this prophecy concerning God’s judgments upon her enemies is fulfilled.