THE POPULAR ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIBLE PROPHECY

ARMAGEDDON Part I

ARMAGEDDON , THE LAST GREAT World war of history, will take place in Israel in conjunction with the second coming of christ. The battle or campaigned of Armageddon is described in Daniel 11:40 – 45; Joel 3:9 – 17; Zechariah 14: 1- 3; and Revelation 16:14 – 16. It will occur in the final days of the tribulation, and John tell us that the kings of the world will be gathered together ” for the war of the great day of God, the Almighty” in a place known as “Harmagedon” ( Revelation 16:14; 16 NASB ). The site for the converging of the armies is the plain of Esdraelon, around the hill of Megiddo. The area is located in Northern Israel about 20 miles south southeast of Haifa and 50 miles north of Jerusalem. This area was the scene of many battles in Old Testament times. The book of Judges records it is the location of Barak’s conflict with the Canaanites ( Chapter 4 ) and Gideon’s battle with the Midianites ( Chapter 7 ).

WHAT IS ARMAGEDDON?

The term Armageddon comes from the Hebrew tongue. Har is the word for “mountain” or “hill”. Mageddon is likely the ruins of the ancient city of Meggiddo that over look the valley of Esdraelon in Northern Israel, where the armies of the world will congregate. According to the Bible great armies from the east and the west will gather and assemble on this plain. The Antichrist will defeat armies from the south who would threatened his power, and he will destroyed a revived Babylon in the east before finally turning his forces towards Jerusalem to subdue and destroyed it. As he and his armies move upon Jerusalem, God will intervene and Jesus Christ will return to rescue his people Israel. The Lord and his Angelic Army will destroyed the armies, captured the Antichrist and the false Prophet, and cast them into the lake of fire ( Revelation 19: 11 – 21 ). When the Lord returns, the power and rule of the Antichrist will come to an end. Charles Dyer ( pp. 237 – 38 ) states: “Daniel, Joel, and Zechariah identify Jerusalem as the site whwre the final battle between Antichrist and Christ will occur. All theree predict that God will intervene in history on behave of his people and will destroyed the Antichrist’s army at Jerusalem. Zechariah predicts that the battle will end when the messiah returns to earth and his feet touch down on the mount of Olives. This battle concludes with the second coming of Jesus to earth”.

The Campaign of Armageddon—- actually at Jerusalem—- will be one of the most anticlimactic events in history. Given the huge armies mustered on both sides, we would expect to witness an epic struggle between good and evil. Yet no matter how mighty someone on earth is, that individual is no match for the power of God.