For other uses, see Armageddon (disambiguation).

Armageddon refers, generally, to end times or Earth ending catastrophes in various religions and cultures. "Armageddon" also refers to any great loss of life in battle, etc. The word armageddon is derived from Mount (Har in Hebrew) Megiddo, the site of the Battle of Megiddo and other battles.

Interestingly, the only mention in the Bible was in Revelation 16:16: "And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon" (KJV). This bible prophecy reference is ambiguous as to whether any event actually takes place here or whether the gathering of armies is only to be seen as a sign. 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. This is consistent with the preterist interpretation that the events of Revelation 16:17-21 refer to events culminating in the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70.

Jehovah's Witnesses

Armageddon in Christianity is also anticipated, as the final battle between the forces of good and the forces of evil. The battle is a situation where the kings of the Earth unite against God's appointed king, Jesus. Thus, Revelation says it is the war of the great day of Jehovah Almighty. Jehovah's Witnesses believe that unlike what others teach, the antichrist will not be in it. Satan himself will move the kingdoms of the world to wage war on God's chosen people. But then, the "King of Kings and Lord of Lords" because of his righteousness will defeat them for the glory of the Almighty God. It precipitates the establishment of God's Kingdom over the earth—a period commonly referred to as Millennium, when "Satan is bound for a thousand years" (See Rev. 20:1,2).

The final judgement and purification of the Earth's sin occurs at the end of the Millennium, when Satan is "loosed for a little season" and allowed to "go out to deceive the nations... and gather them to battle" against "the camp of the saints and the beloved city". Satan loses the battle and is finally cast into the "lake of fire and brimstone" (or complete destruction, not hell). Those who join him will suffer like Satan eternal destruction.

Rastafari movement

Main article: Rastafari movement

In the Rastafarian beliefs, it is Haile Selassie who appears in the Book of Revelation. One of the Armageddon battles is considered to be the Second Italo-Ethiopian War.

Seventh-day Adventist

However, 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, the period where those in Christ who have either died or lived through the Second Coming taking His name reigned with Him in Heaven. According to this account, Christ and His saints (and the Heavenly kingdom they now reside in) will come down to Earth, shielded from the wicked. Christ will raise the wicked dead, and both sides will engage in one final battle between good and evil. Satan and his followers will attempt to overthrow Christ's followers, but will be overcome by the power of Christ. Under His command, God destroys Satan and the wicked once and for all with an overwhelming fire. The Earth will be burned, having been quenched 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...Christ and His redeemed saints will be declared victorious.

See also

• Apocalypse
• Apocalyptic literature
• Bible prophecy
• Carmageddon, a violent video game with cars.
• Eschatology
• End of the world (religion)
• End of civilization
• Armageddon (movie)
• Battles of Megiddo (disambiguation)
• Megiddo (disambiguation)
• Megiddo (place)
• Armageddon (Warhammer)
• Endtime Ministries
• Summary of Christian eschatological differencesde:Harmagedon