Questioner: Salome
Subject: ArmageddonQuestion:
- what is armegedon and what does it mean
John of AllFaith's reply
Hi Salome,Armageddon is the English form of the Hebrew place name Har Megido.
Megiddo is a hill in Israel near the modern settlement of Megiddo, known for theological, historical and geographical reasons. In ancient times Megiddo was an important city state. It is also known alternatively as Tel Megiddo (Hebrew) and Tell al-Mutesellim (Arabic).
Megiddo is a tel (hill) made of 26 layers of the ruins of ancient cities in a strategic location at the head of a pass through the Carmel Ridge, which overlooks the Valley of Jezreel from the south.
In the Tanach (the "Old Testament") this was a place known for war as well as Pagan sacrifices to gods like Baal and goddesses like Asteroth.
There have been many major wars fought there. Today it is mainly used to refer to a coming war predicted by biblical prophets, especially the Apostle John:
Revelation 16:12
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And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great
river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.
13 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.
14 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.
15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
16 And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.
Exactly how and when this war will be waged, including what is meant by the dire warnings, is debated.
In a nutshell, at some point in the future (many of us believe within the lifetime of people born in 1948 because of verses like Matthew 24:32 and the evident fulfillment of countless of the prophecies) a leader will arise unlike anyone the world has ever seen. In the Bible this leader is known as the anti-Christ. In the Qur'an he is referred to the Dijal.
Many Christians believe in what is known as the Rapture of the Church, the doctrine that says that at around the time this ruler comes to power all true Christians will instantly vanish and be taken into heaven. I do not believe this to be a biblical doctrine even though I do understand where the teaching comes from.
This ruler will arise in the European Union, his mother will be Jewish, his father MAY be Muslim. Chances are, by my calculations, he will arise in the Greek Ilse. He will establish his base of authority through a body like the UN or NATO. He will appear like a wonder man. He will end poverty, cure many diseases, establish world peace and many many people will hail him as Messiah (including most Jews, Christians and Muslims). There will be a LOT of exceptions.
I Thessalonians 5:3
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For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
At some point, he will be assassinated. This will happen in Jerusalem.
He will rise from the dead (probably after 3 1/2 days) and his reign will turn brutal.
II Thessalonians 2:3
- Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
He will begin killing Jews and others, will either create or utilize an existing economic system based, probably, on encoded implants (Rev.13:18). To receive these implants one will have to pledge loyalty to the world government and its leader.
Finally, China, Russia, Ethiopia and other regions (they may not be "countries" by this point), will invade his capital on the outskirts of Jerusalem, at or very near Har Megiddo, and a global war will ensue as the people of the earth try and wrench control away from the Leader. This war will be worse than any military campaign in human history. We are told that in the valley of Megido the blood shed in this battle will run to a horses' bridle! Perhaps this is but metaphor, but the point is still clear! It is frightening to note that the US is nowhere mentioned in these highly detailed prophecies! This leads many to conclude that the US will fall prior to these events. It is easily conceivable that the international vacuum left by a defeated US may be what sets the stage for the type of power grabs described in the prophecies.
Throughout this period, the Leader will be practicing genocide against the Jews. It is of this period that Jesus warns:
Matthew 24:21
- For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
The "elect" are clearly the Jews in context. Only the coming of the Messiah will be able to save the Chosen People from annihilation. What Hitler failed to accomplish, this leader will, save the coming of Jewish Messiah, do.
To save the Jews from extinction the Messiah will come and destroy all the armies and establish his own kingdom, a global Jewish theocracy that will last for 1000 years of true peace and global brother/sisterhood.
The War of Armageddon is the event that will end history and begin the future. According to the prophecies, as understood by millions and millions of people, Jews, Christians, Muslims and others (including many Hindus), the time is now at hand for this transition.
As I said, people debate who will survive the war and enter the kingdom, will there be a Rapture, who will rule the kingdom, will the Messiah be Jesus or another (Rev. 19:2), is one particular religious sect the true people of God who will rule all others, even will these things literally happen or are they merely symbolic.... People love to debate! In a nutshell though, this is the biblical prediction of our future and the war of Armageddon.
This answer only scratches the surfaces of course. If you have other questions feel free to write back.
~Maranatha (Messiah comes!)
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~John of AllFaith
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