When people hear this word Armageddon, likely, images of a major catastrophe spring to mind. This term is repeated often by the news media, movies and by religious leaders.
The word Armageddon is taken from Bible and it is seen in only once in the entire Bible. It is mentioned in the last book of BIBLE, REVELATION 16:16. The verse mentions that “And they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.” As per this verse, ARMAGEDDON (sometimes rendered “Har-magedon,”) is the name of a place. but surprisingly that place, does not seem to have existed in any literal location on earth. So we are going to see what is the real significance of the word “Armageddon” and why is it so often associated with an event, such as a war?
The original Hebrew word Har–Magedon literally means “Mountain of Megiddo”, however there was no such literal mountain existed. A place known as Megiddo was located at a strategic crossroads in the northwest of the area inhabited by the ancient nation of Israel. The importance of this place is, many decisive battles were fought near that location. Therefore, the name Megiddo became associated with war.
The real significance of Megiddo is, not the battles fought there, but the purpose of the battles why they were fought. As per the Bible verses Exodus 33:1; Joshua 12:7, 21, Megiddo was part of the Promised Land that Jehovah God gave to the Israelites. He vowed to those people that he would defend them against attackers, and he did. For example, it was at Megiddo that Jehovah miraculously defended the Israelites against the invading forces of Canaanite King Jabin and his army chief Sisera which is mentioned in the book of Judges 4:14-16. Therefore, the word “Har–Magedon,” or “Armageddon,” has great symbolic significance. This is assocoated with the protection to Godly people and to the destruction of the enemies.
The truth about Armageddon can free you from needless fear. Let us now consider the three following questions and see what the Bible really explains about them.
- IS ARMAGEDDON A MAN-MADE DISASTER?
Journalists and researchers often use the word “Armageddon” to define catastrophes caused by humans. But as per Bible explains that God will not allow humans to destroy the earth. Instead, the Bible says in the book of Revelation 11:18 that God will “bring to ruin those ruining the earth.” So this is clear that Armageddon is not a man made disaster and it will not destroy the earth.
2. IS ARMAGEDDON A NATURAL DISASTER?
Journalists sometimes use the word “Armageddon” as a label for major natural disasters. One report mentioned about “‘Armageddon’ when it was describing the suffering, damage, and loss of life caused by the massive earthquake occured in 2010. Sometimes the word “Armageddon” is used to describe the imagined effects of an asteroid striking the earth.
If Armageddon is a natural disaster, then this event may indiscriminately kill innocent victims and there is no way to protect us from such a disaster. But What the Bible teaches is just the opposite. It says that during Armageddon, only the wicked will be wiped out. In the book of Psalm 37:10,11, the Bible promises that soon the wicked one will be no more, but the meek ones will posses the earth.
3. DOES GOD DESTROY THE EARTH AT ARMAGEDDON?
Many religious people believe that there will be a final confrontation between good and evil that will result in the end of our planet. But as per Bible book Psalm 104:5, God “has founded the earth upon its established places; it will not be made to totter to time indefinite, or forever. and then it further explains in Psalm 37:29 that the righteous themselves will possess the earth, and they will reside forever upon it. So it shows that the earth will not be destroyed, and there will be rightuous people always living on earth.
4. WHAT LASTING EFFECT WILL THIS CONFRONTATION HAVE?
The war of Armageddon results in the saving of millions of lives. The book of Revelation talks about an unnumbered “great crowd” who will survive this conflict. And these countless crowd will help to restore the earth to the Paradise conditions that Jehovah God originally purposed.
HOW WILL YOU BE AFFECTED?
The study of those details will help you to remove unnecessary fear, also change your view of the future. When you study the Bible and the events mentioned, it will help you to trust that these events will take place in the near future. The Bible contains a long record of prophecies that have already been fulfilled. The study of Bible will also will help you to change your life positively and be among the righteous people who will be protected during the Armageddon.
