THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON

Sir,

The word Armageddon occurs only once in the book of Revelation. The Bible says, “And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. (Rev 16:15) The word “Armageddon” comes from two Hebrew words: Har, meaning “mountain,” and “Megiddo,” which is a reference to a location in ancient Israel . This Hebrew phrase seems to mean “Mount of Megiddo.”

Mount Megiddo will be the site of this prophesied final battle between the forces of good and evil. However, there is no Mount Megiddo in the Middle East or anywhere else in the world. There is only the Valley of Megiddo in Israel that is located near Mount Carmel where Elijah confronted the priests of Baal. This simply shows us that the term Mount Megiddo or Armageddon is symbolic.

Armageddon will be a worldwide conflict between the forces of Christ and Satan not a local battle in the area of Megiddo. It will be a religious struggle, the ultimate climax, between the two sides of the great controversy. All humanity is involved in the great controversy. All who stand for God place themselves squarely against Satan and his army.

The Bible tells us that this war began thousands of years ago with an angel named Lucifer, who was described as a “covering cherub” (Ezekiel 28:14-16). He rebelled against God, and he gained a huge following among heaven’s angels. The crisis continued until “there was war in heaven” (Rev. 12:7-9). Lucifer and his followers were defeated, expelled from heaven and cast to the earth, and their struggle against God has continued on Earth ever since. Armageddon will simply be the final battle in that conflict.

In Revelation 13, there is another reference of this great war. John describes a beast that came out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads (Rev 13:1). The Bible says, people all over the world will follow this beast. They will ask, “Who is like the beast and Who can make war against him?’” (verse 4). This beast was “given power to make war against the saints” (verse 7)
In this war, Satan does not personally attack God’s people. He attacks them through his forces on earth, especially earth’s political and religious powers that are opposed to God and His truth.

The next reference to the same war comes in Revelation 17. This chapter describes events in the world immediately prior to Christ’s second coming. It opens with a description of a prostitute riding on a scarlet beast, which has seven heads and 10 horns and it attacks God’s people as well. The 10 horns on this beast represent 10 kings “ ‘who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast’” (Revelation 17:12). Kings means “heads of state,” which in our day can include presidents and prime ministers. These kings represent the nations over which they rule. The nations of the world will “make war against the Lamb” (verse 14).

The “Lamb” is a symbol of Jesus Christ. So the beast and the nations of the world will join the devil on one side, while Jesus will be on the other. Verse 14 says that “the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings.”

Revelation 19 gives us a clear picture of Christ’s victory over earth’s rebellious political and religious powers. Jesus Christ personally joins the battle. Verse 11 says, “I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war.” The Rider on the horse is Jesus. Revelation goes on to say that “the armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean” (verse 14). The phrase “armies of heaven” refers to the angels (chapter 12:7-9).

Bopoto Gwinyai
(7663 8191)

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