Keywords

Armageddon, Megiddo, Ancient Israel, stronghold

Abstract

Armageddon tends to conjure thoughts of horrific battles and natural disasters, specifically in relation to the "end of the world." Numerous movies, books, and art have capitalized on the theme of Armageddon, enticing audiences with, for example, life-threatening asteroids and far-reaching alien invasions. The term is often used descriptively, conveying the idea of universal, cataclysmic destruction, such as "nuclear Armageddon." The word Armageddon originates from Revelation 16:16-its only appearance in the Hebrew Bible or New Testament-in reference to the location of the battle between God and the world, or between good and evil. It is generally understood that this battle will consist of many nations who fight against Israel and are ultimately defeated by God. The events of Armageddon also include major natural disasters and chaos, making it an all-encompassing event that culminates in the destruction of the wicked. The Armageddon motif has become an integral part of Christian eschatology. Although the Battle of Armageddon has been connected to a particular location ("Megiddo," an ancient site in northern Israel), many end-time discussions and theologies use Armageddon as a major event in the chronology of the last days. Other references to end-time battles in the Hebrew Bible, Dead Sea Scrolls, Quran, and other religious texts are often syncretized with the term Armageddon.

Original Publication Citation

Hatch, T. & Fairbairn, C. (2017). Armageddon. In Wendell Johnson (Ed.), End of Days: An Encyclopedia of the Apocalypse in World Religion (pp. 38–41). Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO.