Armageddon: ¿what does it mean?

Many people describe the final battle that occurs at the end of the world as the battle of Armageddon. Is this really what the Bible teaches? 

For many years, it has been understood that the name "Armageddon" is the great final battle between good and evil that would occur as the end of the world approached. However, the only biblical script where this word is mentioned reveals that its meaning is very different: "Then the spirits of the demons gathered the kings in the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon" (Revelation 16:16, New International Version ).

These spirits are described in verses 13-14 of Revelation 16 as three "demon spirits that make miraculous signs that come to gather the kings of the entire world for the battle of the great day of the Almighty God." It is important to note that the name of the battle is not "Armageddon," but "battle of the great day of Almighty God." So, Armageddon is the name of the place where many armies will gather for the battle mentioned in Revelation 16:14.

Stage of many battles throughout history

In Hebrew, the word Armageddon is translated as " Har Megiddo "; this means "hill" or "mount" of Megiddo and also refers to the plain or plain of Esdraelon . It was in this place that Josiah, king of Judah, attacked Pharaoh Necao of Egypt, who was going to meet the king of Assyria. After this, Josiah was defeated by the Egyptians in Megiddo (2 Kings 23: 29-30).

According to a historical announcement in the place of Meguido , “the city of Meguido has played an important role in the history of the Middle East. Because of its strategic location to the east of ' Nahal Iron ', Megiddo controlled access to the road leading from Egypt to Mesopotamia and Asia Minor-the largest commercial and military route of the time. In addition, Meguido is the only city in Israel mentioned in the records of all the ancient governments that existed in the Middle East and is recognized as the most troubled place in the region. ”

Meeting place for the future battle

While Har Meggiddo (Armageddon) has been the scene of many battles throughout history, in the future this city will be only a place of gathering and preparation. Once assembled, the armies will move towards the south of Jerusalem, as the “battle of the great day of the Almighty God” will take place in the Jehoshaphat Valley (Cedron Valley), which is located east of the Old City of Jerusalem.

The journey that these nations will make is described in Joel 3: 2: “I will gather all the nations, and bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat, and there I will enter into judgment with them because of my people, and of Israel my inheritance, to who they scattered among the nations, and divided my land. ”

Later, in verses 12-14, we find similar words: “Wake up the nations, and go up to the valley of Jehoshaphat; because there I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations. Cast the sickle, because the harvest is already ripe. Come, descend, because the winepress is full, the vats overflow; because much is their evil. Many villages in the valley of decision; because the day of the Eternal is near in the valley of decision ”.

In Revelation 19: 11-20 the same terminology is used. These verses describe the battle of the great day of the Almighty God, in which Jesus Christ will return to earth and overcome those who have gathered to fight against Him. Zechariah 14: 1-4, also prophesies about this age.

In short, Armageddon is the place where many nations will gather and prepare to fight. From there, the armies will march to Jerusalem to face Jesus Christ himself in the battle of the great day of Almighty God. Christ, of course, will defeat these armies. Then Christ will finally establish the Kingdom of God on earth, which will rule forever.