“And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.”  Revelation 16:16.

 

16:16:  “Armageddon” = Because of the supporting evidence of Revelation 17:14 and Revelation 19:19-21 (see also Isa. 14:13 discussed later), I believe “Armageddon” to be the place where Satan and his host will gather to battle against Christ, which was prepared by the drying up (see verse 12) of the river Euphrates (which may be figurative of any sort of righteousness “drying up,” which is a part of the reason for the Close Of Probation, the other being God’s people being prepared to receive the Seal Of The Living God).

 

A literal translation of “Armageddon” comes from the Hebrew and is “Harmageddon.”  “Harmageddon” is from two words.  The first of which may be “ir,” meaning “city,” or more probably “har,” meaning “mountain.”  The second part of the name is “mageddon.”

 

“Megeddon” comes to us from the Hebrew word “megiddo,” or “megiddon” (1Ki. 9:15; Zec. 12:11), which has reference to the ancient city of Megiddo.  It was at Megiddo that Barak and Deborah defeated Sisera and his Assyrian army (Jud. 5:19-21).  Also, it was the location where Ahaziah was shot by Jehu (2Ki. 9:27), and Josiah was killed by Pharaoh Neco (2Ki. 23:29-30; Zec. 12:11).

 

However, the problem with associating “Armageddon” with this ancient city of Megiddo, is that Megiddo is located upon a plain, as opposed to the Bible’s “Armageddon,” which is located upon a “mountain.”  So rather than believing that “megeddon” is from the Hebrew “megiddo” or “megiddon,” the ancient city of Megiddo, “megeddon” is most probably from “mo’ed,” the Hebrew word commonly used throughout the Old Testament for “congregation” (Exo. 27:21; 28:43; 29:4 & 10 & 11 & 30 & 32; etcetera);  “feast,” (Lev. 23:2);  “assembly,” and “places of the assembly” (Lam. 1:15; 2:6).

 

According to Joel 3:2 & 12, it will take place in “the valley of Jehoshaphat.”  This valley is located between Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives, with the Kidron River flowing through it.  Just south of the city of David, it is also referred to as the Valley of Decision.

 

In Isaiah 14:13, where “har-mo’ed” is translated as “mount of the congregation,” or “mount of assembly,” which designates the mountain on which Solomon’s Temple stood, to the north of ancient Jerusalem.  Lucifer is represented as aspiring to replace God as Israel’s sovereign ruler.  Therefore, “Armageddon” is to be understood as taking place in Jerusalem, as opposed to the literal ancient city of “Megiddo.”  This will be the last battle of mankind in one physical location.  No more “wars and rumours of wars,” Matthew 24:6; Mark 13:7 {Luke 21:9].  All on earth will be involved in this one.