The word “Armageddon” appears only once in the Bible: “And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon” (Revelation 16:16). In context, Armageddon is the last battle between good and evil before the Day of Judgment.
Who will be involved in the battle?
Jesus Christ will lead a heavenly army to fight the enemies of His people (Revelation 12:7–9, 17; 17:14; 19:11–21). These enemies include all those who oppose God’s authority (Ezekiel 39:7). Lucifer’s entire Babylonian system (representing all false religions) will attempt to destroy God’s children (Revelation 17:3), to rule the world, and overcome the truth.
Is the Modern Nation of Israel the one that will be persecuted by Satan?
No, God’s promises to ancient Israel in the Old Testament were conditional on their obedience (Deuteronomy 28; 1 Kings 9:4-7). But because of their continued disobedience, God permitted them to be taken captive to Babylon for seventy years. Through the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah, God foretold of their return from that captivity.
Today, some Bible students mistakenly apply these prophecies of restoration to the future victory of the modern nation of Israel not realizing that these predictions have already been fulfilled long ago. Because of Israel’s disobedience and rejection of Christ, God’s promises are no longer applicable for the modern nation of Israel. Though the fulfillment failed when Israel failed to be faithful, the promises themselves were never nullified or withdrawn but they apply to spiritual Israel.
Who is spiritual of Israel?
The Bible gives the answer, “And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:29; 1 Peter 2:9,10). The church of the New Testament, including Jews and Gentiles, is spiritual Israel; it is anyone who receives the true Messiah and enters into the New Covenant. So, not literal Israel of the flesh but spiritual Israel inherits the promises of God. Paul makes it even clearer: “For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart” (Romans 2:28, 29; Romans 9:8).
Thus, the Old Testament prophecies to God’s people (Israel at the time) apply today to anyone (Jew or Gentile), who accepts Jesus as the Messiah (spiritual Israel)! The physical temple in Jerusalem does not apply because the nation of Israel rejected Jesus as the Messiah, so all those around the world who accept Christ are now part of the world wide spiritual temple, the New Testament Church.
Will Armageddon be fought in the modern land of Israel?
No, the battle of Armageddon will encompass the whole earth (Jeremiah 25:32-34; Ezekiel 39:17-20). Armageddon, comes from two Hebrew words “Har–Magedon” (Hebrew Har Meghiddohnʹ). “Har” means mountain and Megiddo is an archaeological site on the plain of Esdraelon, south of present-day Haifa in Israel. Armageddon cannot refer to the literal area near ancient Megiddo because there is no large mountain nor space that could fit all those who will fight against God.
Is the battle of Armageddon a political or a spiritual one?
The battle of Armageddon is not a political war but a spiritual one where the armies of the world move to exterminate God’s people for honoring the laws of God over the laws of men (Revelation 14:12). All the nations will gather together to fight against Christ and annihilate the people of God (Revelation 16:14; 17:13).
When will Armageddon take place?
The battle of Armageddon will take place between the sixth and the seventh plagues (Revelation 16:12-20).
What will happen at the battle of Armageddon?
When God’s people (spiritual Israel) will be threatened with a death decree by the world-governments because they refuse to break God’s commandments (Revelation 13:15), Christ will descend from heaven to deliver them: “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war … And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses clothed in fine linen, white and clean … and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God” (Revelation 19:11-15).
The Lord used in the past hail, earthquake, flooding downpour, fire and sulfur, lightning, and disease to fight His enemies (Job 38:22, 23; Ezekiel 38:19, 22; Habakkuk 3:10, 11; Zechariah 14:12). And He will use these again.
What forces will Satan use in the battle?
Satan will use three forces – the beast, dragon and false prophet – to take part in that war: “And the sixth angel poured out his vial … And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. … And he gathered them together in a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon” (Revelation 16:12-16).
Satan will command his agents to force God’s people, through a death decree, to accept the mark of the beast by obeying the laws of the governments and disobeying God’s law.
What will be the outcome of the battle?
God will destroy the armies of the Antichrist (Revelation 16:16; 20:1-3, 7-10) and save His faithful children who would lay down their lives in death rather than disobey Him. They will have refused the mark of the beast (Revelation 13:18) and instead have the seal of God (Revelation 7:2-3; 9:4).
How can we prepare for the battle of Armageddon?
We can prepare by having a daily relationship with the Savior through the study of the Word and prayer. By living in holiness unto the Lord and working with God in overcoming sin, we will train ourselves to be ready to stand the final test. “Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame” (Revelation 16:15). By their connection with Christ, the saints will prevail and be victorious even in the face of a death decree (Revelation 12:11).
