A place mentioned in the New Testament (Rev 16.16) as the site of the final cosmic battle between the forces of good and evil in the last days. The name is possibly a corruption of the mountains of Megiddo or some other unknown location in Israel.
The word Armageddon is known only from a single verse in the Greek New Testament, but it is thought to be derived from the Hebrew words Har Megido (הר מגידו), meaning "Hill of Megiddo". The referred site is a valley plain called Megiddo, which was the location of many decisive battles in ancient times (see Battle of Megiddo). One of these, which took place in 609 BC and is described in 2 Kings 28-30 (see Books of Kings) and 2 Chronicles 20-25 (see Books of Chronicles), resulted in the death of Josiah, a young and charismatic ruler whose quick and untimely death precipitated the decline of the dynasty of David and may have inspired stories of the return of a Messiah from this lineage.
The only mention of the word Armageddon in the Bible appears in Revelation 16:16: "And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon" (KJV).
In fact, a gathering of the Roman army occurred at this place as a staging ground for one of their assaults on Jerusalem in AD 67.
Another interpretation is that the sudden death of Josiah, a religious reformer in his early 30s who showed great promise of renewing a theocratic Jewish state, resulted in myths of his triumphant return. The idea that a Davidic king would return someday to fight and win at Megiddo is an example of the myth of eternal return.
Before the Second World War, the First World War was commonly referred to in newspapers and books as "Armageddon", in addition to "the Great War".
While many modern people feel that Armageddon is a war of countries or persons against each other,....
Bahá'í Faith
As part of the overall theology of the Bahá'í Faith, Bahá'í literature and research interprets the fulfillment of the expectations surrounding the Battle of Armageddon in three ways, all of which have passed.
The first deals with a series of Tablets Bahá'u'lláh, Founder of the Bahá'í Faith, authored to be sent to various kings and rulers.
The second relates to the detailed events near the end of WWI of the Battle of Megiddo (1918) - a kind of literal fullfillment where in World Powers were in battle. Specifically, General Allenby's victory at Megiddo, which prevented the Ottoman Empire from crucifying 'Abdu'l-Baha, then the head of the Baha'i Faith, is viewed by Baha'is as having been the literal Battle of Armageddon.
The third reviews the whole progress of the World Wars (though they can be viewed as one process in two phases), and their derangement of the means and norms of the world before and after.
Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses believe that Armageddon is the battle when Satan unites the kings of the Earth against God's appointed King, Jesus. Satan himself will move the kingdoms of the world to wage war on God's chosen people. Revelation says that "expressions inspired by demons" cause the kings of the entire inhabited Earth to gather together for the war of the great day of God the Almighty (Revelations 16:14). But then, the "King of Kings and Lord of Lords" because of his righteousness will defeat them for the glory of the Almighty God. (Revelation 17:12-14)
The Witnesses believe it is evident from this text that this war is not one of nation against another with nuclear, biological, or other weapons of mass destruction, since it says that the kings of the Earth "gather together" against Christ. Finally, Revelation 16:16 calls Har-Mageddon (Mountain of Megiddo) "the place" where these kings are gathered for this final showdown.
Since the Mountain of Megiddo is not a literal place, they feel it is fitting the Bible uses Megiddo as the "symbolic" place of gathering of all the kings of the Earth where they will try to do battle against God and his forces. This action on the part of the kings of the Earth is provoked by expressions and signs inspired by demons. (See Revelation 16:13)
Jehovah's Witnesses believe the collective action to persecute God's chosen on Earth is what finally triggers this war. Chapter 38 of the book of Ezekiel has a prophecy in which a certain Gog from the land of Magog collects an army of many nations to attack God's people, believing them to be unprotected.
Armageddon is followed by the establishment of God's Kingdom over the earth — a period commonly referred to as "Christ's Millennial Reign", when "Satan is bound for a thousand years" (See Rev.
Rastafari movement
Main article: Rastafari movement
According to Rastafari, it is Haile Selassie who appears in the Book of Revelation.
Seventh-day Adventists
Seventh-day Adventists have a different interpretation — the final battle of Armageddon will take place after the thousand-year period mentioned in the book of Revelation, where the righteous dwell with God in heaven and the wicked are judged. The Earth will be burned, having been purged of all evil, then, according to the final two chapters of Revelation, the Earth will then be made new and restored to its original state before sin entered into the world.
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