One of the most recognized and least understood words known to mankind is “Armageddon.” The word is used in social, political, environmental medical, economic, etc. contexts. In not one of these contexts is the word used correctly. The only context in which the word is legitimately used is spiritual–specifically Biblical. In brief, Megiddo is a saucer-shaped valley approximately 55 miles north of Jerusalem where many battles have been fought over the centuries. The word “Har” (hill or mountain) refers to the geographical rise at one end of the valley from which one can look down into the valley. The har is the location of the ancient city of Megiddo, for which the valley is named. Bible translators conjoined “har” and “Megiddo” and come up with “Armageddon.” True, the valley is the perfect place for a battle. And for centuries men have preached that the world’s final and most deadly battle–“the battle of Armageddon”–will be fought in this valley where Jesus will destroy the armies of the world. But that is not what God said. Nowhere in Scripture will one find a reference to this battle. THERE WILL BE NO “BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON.” Let us move away from the church’s Satan-formulated theology and consult God’s true Word relative to this subject.

In Revelation 17:14 we are told that at the end of the Day of the Lord–the end of the tribulation period–the armies of the world will gather to fight against Jesus Christ–the Lamb of God: “And these shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them … and they that are with Him are called and chosen and faithful”–His obedient saints. In Revelation 16:13,14;12:9 we are told that the dragon will incite the armies to fight against Him, and that the dragon is in fact Satan–the Serpent of Genesis 3, who has deceived the whole world just as he deceived Adam and Eve. In the har Megiddo episode, the dragon uses his demons (devils) to gather the armies of the world into one place. It is the demon army that stirs up world-wide anger against Jesus Christ. These evil spirits will convince the world’s armies to stop fighting each other and to come against Jesus en masse. These armies will congregate in a place called “Armageddon.” From there this massive, world-encompassing army will travel to Jerusalem with one intention–to destroy Jesus Christ and His people.

What is commonly called the “Battle of Armageddon” is referred to Biblically as “the battle of the great day of God Almighty” (Rev. 16:14). This decisive battle will not be fought in the Valley of Megiddo, but rather in the Valley of Jehoshaphat, also called the “valley of decision.” This valley, situated between the Mount of Olives and the city of Jerusalem, is known today as the Kidron Valley. Zechariah 14:12 describes this final battle: “And this shall be the plague wherewith the Lord will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem: ‘Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.'”

This done, Jesus will officially establish the Kingdom of God on earth where, along with His saints, He will rule the the nations with a rod of iron (Rev. 19:15). L.J.