Many Christians have been taught that the Battle of Armageddon will be the greatest military conflict in history. In this conflict, the armies of the world will gather to wage war against Christ in the Valley of Armageddon. As the teaching goes, Christ will return to earth with His saints. Christ will destroy the armies of “the Antichrist” with violent judgments and will set up a new world order at Jerusalem. Reference to Armageddon is made in only one place in our Bibles – Revelation 16:16:
Revelation 16:16 (KJV) – And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.
Sell Books – Write About “Armageddon”!
I did a quick search on the Amazon.com website for books and videos containing the word Armageddon. The search yielded 293 hits! The subject of Armageddon certainly is popular today. You can be sure that any book or movie containing the word Armageddon will certainly grab the attention of an unsuspecting public. While most of these works are classed as “fiction” the authors tend to believe that nonetheless, they are equipping Christians to prepare for what’s right around the corner. However, as you will see, the prophetic view portrayed in these works are flawed from a scriptural perspective. Below are but a few of the reasons why the theology behind the story line of Armageddon is flawed:
- First, the name of the battle is NOT “Armageddon” or the “Battle of Armageddon”. The correct name for the battle is found in Revelation 16:14. It’s “the battle of that great day of God Almighty”.
- Some prophecy teachers place the battle in Israel’s largest Valley, which is 50 miles north of Jerusalem. According to scripture, the location of this battle in Hebrew is referred to as “Har-Mageddon/Megiddo” (Rev. 16:16). But the Hebrew word “har” means a mountain. Now isn’t a mountain the exact opposite in meaning from a valley? In Hebrew the “h” is silent, thus rendering the Greek word as “Armageddon”.
- This battle of Armageddon is but a part of the whole prophecy of the book of Revelation. According to the internal testimony of Revelation this whole prophecy were concerning “things which must shortly come to pass”; “at hand”; “things which must shortly be done” for “the time is at hand” (Rev. 1:1; 1:3, 22:6 and 22:10). Can you imagine living in one of the seven cities mentioned in the book of Revelation and reading John’s letter? These “things” were something that they could obey, heed and keep during their lifetime in the 1st century!
- In Revelation 22:10 John was directed not to seal up the prophecy: “And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.” But sealing up is exactly what many modern day prophecy teachers do. In essence, they have sealed up Revelation for over nineteen centuries (and counting) by their system of postponement interpretation. But now, today, they want to unseal the book by claiming that near future events will finally occur to fulfill the prophecies of Revelation, including the “Battle of Armageddon.” Indeed, there’s ample evidence to suggest that the book of Revelation was written before the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in 70 A.D.
- The book of Revelation is a book filled with signs and symbols. It is full of what’s known as Biblical imagery and symbolism. Har-Magedon/Megiddo is a composite name and most likely also symbolic. Therefore, it’s not unreasonable to conclude that it also, is symbolic of a real battle. This is a rather boring mundane interpretation which certainly will not sell many books and DVDs!
Historical Battles
If we look back in history, we’ll find that multiple battles were fought during Biblical times at Megiddo. It was the site of two major ancient Israeli victories; of Barak over the Canaanites, and of Gideon over the Midianites. It was also the place where the armies of King Saul and King Josiah were defeated. The great military leader Napoleon Bonaparte conquered a portion of Palestine in 1799. Napoleon declared that Armageddon was the most natural battleground in the world.
Destruction of the Jewish Temple – A.D. 70
Perhaps the most famous battle fought in this area was recorded by the Jewish Flavius Josephus. In his book “The War of the Jews” Josephus records how the Roman Generals Vespasian and Titus over-ran Israel with three legions during the 3 1/2 yr Roman-Judeo War fought between 67 and 70 A.D. At the end of the siege the Romans trapped the Zealots and many others inside Jerusalem. The city and the Jewish Temple were destroyed. Josephus was an eye-witness to this destruction. This event was prophesied in Matthew 22:7 and Matthew 23:35. However, the Christians heeded Christ’s warnings in Matthew 24:16 and fled into the Judean mountains to a city called Pella. In Luke 21:20-22 Jesus said: “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that her desolation is at hand. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let not those who are in the country enter the city; because these are the Days of Vengeance, so that all things which are written may be fulfilled.”
Church historian Eusebius records these events in his work “Ecclesiastical History”. In addition to the three (3) Roman Legions (the 5th, 10th, and 15th), other military contingents from the entire Roman world (oikumene) joined in the Roman-Judeo campaign. Eusebius records that over 1.1 million Jews died during this siege of Jerusalem.
The Battle of Armageddon may also represent comparative imagery. A great slaughter once took place in the valley of Megiddo (2 Kings 9:27, Zech 12:11). Throughout ancient history, this valley was a favorite highway for invading armies and the scene of numerous famous battles. So much blood was shed in the valley of Jezreel or Megiddo that it became synonymous with slaughter, violence, and bloodshed. It is also a symbol of God’s judgment (Hosea 1:4-5).
Have you ever heard the term “he has met his Waterloo?”. Well back in 1815, this small Belgium town was the scene of Napoleon’s final defeat. Now today we have the saying that someone has met their “Waterloo”. We don’t mean they have met the city of Waterloo in Europe. We mean, in a comparative way, that they have met a crushing defeat. May I suggest that Revelation uses the word Armageddon/Megiddo in this same way?
Commentary on Revelation 16:16
This is a quote from Adam Clarke’s Commentary on the meaning of Revelation 16:16:
Armageddon—The original of this word has been variously formed, and variously translated. It is הר־מגדון harmegiddon, “the mount of the assembly;” or חרמה גדהון chormah gedehon, “the destruction of their army;” or it is הר־מגדו harmegiddo, “Mount Megiddo,” the valley of which was remarkable for two great slaughters: one of the Israelites, 2 Kings 23:29, the other of the Canaanites, Judges 4:16; 5:19. But Mount Megiddo, that is Carmel, is the place, according to some, where these armies should be collected.
But what is the battle of Armageddon? How ridiculous have been the conjectures of men relative to this point! Within the last twenty years this battle has been fought at various places, according to our purblind seers and self-inspired prophets! At one time it was Austerlitz, at another Moscow, at another Leipsic, and now Waterloo! And thus they have gone on, and will go on, confounding and being confounded.
Adam Clarke believes that Revelation 16:16 was fulfilled during the two great Israelite slaughters: 2 Kings 23:29 and Judges 4:16. I detect a hint of sarcasm from Mr. Adam Clarke. He thinks all of the “conjectures” about the battle of Armageddon are “ridiculous.” He even refers to those who place the fulfillment of Revelation 16:16 with more modern battles as “purblind seers and self-inspired prophets”!
Well said, Mr. Clarke!
Conclusion
I once believed, as many other Christians do, that Revelation 16:16 is yet to be fulfilled. However, both history and the Holy Scriptures testify otherwise. No, the battle of Armageddon does not involve nuclear weapons, fighter jets or chemical gas. Revelation 16:16 simply records one of the five major Biblical battles fought at the plains and hills of Megiddo.
What I believe scripture reveals is that the battle of Armageddon referred to in Revelation is not about some great end time battle in our future. John was writing to first century Christians regarding the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. John used apocalyptic, symbolic language. The Jewish Christians of the first century were certainly aware that this valley of Megiddo had been the site of numerous slaughters and bloodshed in the past. Now, John, the Revelator is saying that Jerusalem, which sits on a mountain (Mt. Zion) will experience a similar slaughter in their immediate future.
Zechariah the prophet also mentioned the future destruction of Jerusalem: “In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon.” (Zech 12:11). John in Revelation was using Armageddon/Megiddo as a figure of speech to declare that Jerusalem would soon experience destruction just as Megiddo did in the past.
I am fully aware of the dire condition that this world is presently in. But it is also true that the world has gone through many transitions and upheavals in the past. This includes two world wars during which many predicted that the “end of the world” had arrived. While it’s certainly possible that we are on the verge of World War III, I don’t believe that Revelation 16:16 predicts this war. I am comforted by the words of Isaiah when he said “of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end.” We have the assurance that the “knowledge of the glory of the Lord will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea!”. (Hab 2:14).
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I believe that the historicistic interpretation of Revelation is more appropriate than the futuristic interpretation. I believe that the Battle of Armageddon was fulfilled in WWI and WWII. The drying up of the Euphrates is the death of the Ottoman Empire to make way for the Kings of the Rising Sun or Japan. I believe we are under the 7th Bowl judgment, and this is chaos caused by communications over the airways e.g., the internet. I believe this age is about to end and the millennium period is coming. Satan is to be locked up–this is symbol of either a… Read more »
Well I prefer the historicistic interpretation over the futuristic interpretation as well. However, I prefer the preterist interpretation over the historicistic interpretation.
You are correct about the Ottoman Empire because Great Britain invaded Palestine at the Battle of Megiddo in September 1918 and defeated the Ottoman Empire Great Britain sent troops through the Euphrates River as they drove closer into Palestine. (Rev.16 )
But what you said about the that we are living in the 7th bowl judgment you are mistaken because all of Revelation has been fulfilled the book of Revelation went all the way into 1967ad.
The wars that occurred in Jerusalem from 115ad through 1967ad these wars were the great tribulation that Jesus spoke of in Matt.24
Thanks for your comments! Probably the best commentary ever written on the book of Revelation was written by David Chilton. It’s entitled “Days of Vengeance” – get a copy for yourself and study it. Revelation was primarily fulfilled in the events under the destruction of the Temple in AD 70!
Amen brother I believe you are correct because the way Jesus describes his second coming he did not say anything about wars he said that they will be eating and drinking and marrying and giving in marriage until the flood came and took them away just like the days of Noah Amen 🙏!
The Battle of Armageddon was in our past, not our future.