The battle of Armageddon
The term Armageddon is one of the best known (and least understood) four-syllable biblical words. Some suggest that the term Armageddon references a battle that is profiled in the book of Revelation, others suggest it references two or more conflicts, separated by a thousand years. Some argue that Armageddon does not refer to a battle at all, but to a location. Of those who believe it is a geographic location are two groups – one believes it is a valley, the other teaches it is a battle in the mountains. Others note that the Battle of Armageddon is linked to (and the same as) the conflicts mentioned in Psalm 83 and Isaiah 17, while still others link the Battle of Armageddon with the engagements mentioned in Ezekiel 38-39 (also called the Gog-Magog War).
This article will provide a biblical overview of pivotal battles and wars in prophetic passages of Scripture and how these battles and wars correlate with the Battle of Armageddon.
Why is this Important?
Satan loves confusion, doubt, and division. Those who do not know the truth are vulnerable to false teaching and can easily become discouraged when prophecies fail to unfold as bad teachers predict (as was the case when Jesus did not return in May of 2014, or October 2015). Believers in Christ are to know the teachings of Christ and be able to “correctly handle the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15b).
The Main Approach for Interpreting Scripture
In recent decades there has been a push to view the Bible as allegorical. Many now hold that the Bible may impart a few generally positive guiding principles, but it certainly is not a living, Spirit-inspired message from God to be taken literally. Many faulty approaches to interpreting Scripture flow from this corrupt view. In researching this vital subject and writing this article, I followed the most common hermeneutic practices (procedures governing the interpretation of Scripture) established by conservative leaders of the historic Christian Church. These guiding principles include:
A belief that the Bible is accurate, true, and inspired.
A belief that major prophetic sections of the books of Revelation and Ezekiel are written in chronological order.
A belief that Bible prophecy is specific, and every detail of a prophecy must be fulfilled for the prophecy to be considered fulfilled. [For example, if a prophecy notes that 6 nations will attack Israel, and only 4 nations attack, that prophecy would be considered not yet fulfilled].
A belief that some variance in detail does not negate the possibility of writers profiling the same event. [For example, the Gospel writers presented significantly different details when recording the events that took place on the Sunday following the cross. However, they are all correct and are all profiling the same event].
KEY TERMS
Understanding what Bible prophecy notes will happen in the future begins with an understanding of key biblical terms. These include:
Armageddon: The word appears only once in the New Testament (Rev. 16:16) and references the location of the last (and decisive) battle before the return of Christ and the commencement of His Millennial Reign. This battle will conclude the seven-year Tribulation period. During this battle, the armies of the Antichrist and False Prophet will be defeated by Jesus Christ. The Antichrist and False Prophet will be judged and thrown into the pit of fire, and Christ will then usher in His Millennial Kingdom.
Millennial Reign: The literal 1000-year period in which Christ will reign on a renewed earth in fulfillment of the Isaiah 9:7 prophecy. His Kingdom and reign will be marked by peace and righteousness. His subjects will include the saints, Tribulation martyrs, and believers who survived the Tribulation period.
The Gog-Magog War: In general, this references vast evil armies moving against Israel. The primary biblical reference point for this war is Ezekiel chapters 38-39, however, the terms Gog and Magog are also referenced in Revelation 20.
Elam: An ancient reference to southwestern Iran (Persia).
Gog and Magog: In Genesis 10, Gog is mentioned as an individual (a descendant of Noah), and his land is Magog. Gog can also be understood as a title, meaning leader. I.e., Gog is the leader of the inhabitants of Magog.
WHAT IS CLEAR
Though there is debate regarding the interpretation of some prophetic passages, the vast majority of Bible scholars agree on the following:
The Psalm 83 War is NOT the Battle of Armageddon or the Gog-Magog War. names of the nations or people groups attacking Israel, the scope of the battle, how Israel is victorious in the fight, and the aftermath of the battle are markedly different in the Psalm 83 War than in the Battle of Armageddon (Revelation 16-19) or the Gog-Magog War (Ezekiel 38-39).
The Battle of Armageddon is profiled in Revelation 16-19.
Ezekiel’s eschatological profile of future Israel is chronological. Chapter 36 prophecies promise a renewed Israel, chapter 37 prophecies note a restored Israel, chapter 38-39 prophecies note an invasion against a restored Israel, and chapter 40 prophecies profile the Millennial Reign of Christ in Israel.
The Bible notes that there are TWO battles involving Gog and Magog. There is conjecture regarding the timing of the first Gog-Magog conflict, but virtually all conservative scholars agree that this conflict is profiled in Ezekiel 38-39 and will precede the Millennium (and very likely take place right before the Rapture or near the beginning of the Tribulation period. The second Gog-Magog conflict will take place at the end of the Millennial Reign of Christ and is profiled in Revelation 20:1-10.
WHAT IS NOT CLEAR
Good Bible scholars are not in agreement on the following points regarding the wars.
Whether or not the Ezekiel 38-39 Gog-Magog War is the same as the Battle of Armageddon profiled in Revelation 16-19. What follows is a comparative analysis of the two conflicts.
WHY SOME BELIEVE THE REVELATION 16-19 BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON AND THE EZEKIEL 38-39 GOG-MAGOG CONFLICT ARE THE SAME WAR.
In both conflicts, vast armies attack Israel.
In both conflicts, God intervenes and brings about the victory (which is different from the Psalm 83 War where Israel’s army, blessed by God, secures the victory).
The depiction of God’s wrath in Ezekiel 38:19-22 resembles happenings associated with the Battle of Armageddon as profiled in Revelation 16. In both passages, God aids Israel by sending an earthquake, pestilence, and fire and hail fall from the sky.
The Revelation 16-19 Battle of Armageddon directly precedes the Millennial Reign of Christ, which tracks well with the eschatological chronology in Ezekiel: in chapter 36 there is a promise to renew the land of Israel, in chapter 37 Israel is restored as a nation, in chapters 38-39, Israel is attacked but supernaturally protected, and in chapter 40 the Millennial Reign of Christ begins.
The immediate aftermath of the wars is similar when comparing Ezekiel 39:17-20 with Revelation 19:17-20.
The terms Gog and Magog are mentioned in Ezekiel 38 and Rev. 20.
Historically, many have equated the Gog-Magog War with Armageddon.
The devastating earthquake that flattens every mountain in Ezekiel 38 is very similar to the earthquake prophesied to take place during the Battle of Armageddon (see Revelation 16).
WHY SOME BELIEVE THE REVELATION 16-19 BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON AND THE EZEKIEL 38-39 GOG-MAGOG CONFLICT ARE SEPARATE AND DISTINCT EVENTS
There seem to be more nations involved in the Battle of Armageddon than in the Gog-Magog conflict.
In the Gog-Magog War of Ezekiel 38-39, it takes seven months to bury the dead, and Israelis utilize enemy weapons for fuel for seven years. As virtually all place the Battle of Armageddon at the end of the Tribulation period (just before the beginning of the Millennial Reign of Christ), there does not seem to be an interpretation allowing for the burying of the dead over a period of months, or for using enemy weapons as fuel for seven years.
The purpose of God bringing victory to Israel in the Ezekiel 38-39 Gog-Magog War is to bring Israel to repentance so that all acknowledge the Lord. The purpose of God moving to bring victory to Israel in the Battle of Armageddon is to deliver believers from the horrors of the reign of the Antichrist.
In Matthew 24 and in Revelation 12, those who flee the wrath of the Antichrist run to the hills (a move encouraged by Jesus in Mark 13:14). However, the Gog-Magog War takes place in the mountains (which God will flatten via a supernatural earthquake). This seems to place the Ezekiel 38-39 Gog-Magog War no later than the mid-point of the Tribulation.
In the Ezekiel 38-39 Gog-Magog War, the name of the leader of the armies advancing against Israel is Gog—in Hebrew, the numerical value of his name is 12. In the Battle of Armageddon, the leader of the armies advancing against Israel is the Beast—the numerical value of his name is 666.
In Ezekiel 38-39, the battle takes place in the mountains of Israel. In the Revelation 16-19 Battle of Armageddon, enemy forces are vanquished in a valley (Joel 3:2) and a river of blood runs through Israel (Rev 14:20).
The Ezekiel 38-39 Gog-Magog War occurs when Israel is enjoying peace and safety (“…a nation of unwalled villages…” 38:11). The Revelation 16-19 Battle of Armageddon takes place at the end of the Tribulation. At that time, the Antichrist is oppressing and threatening to destroy Israel, and some Hebrews have fled to the mountains of Petra (Revelation 12:6). At that point in history, Israel will not live in peace and safety.
The stated goal of the Gog-Magog invasion is to “take the spoil,” while the purpose of Armageddon is to destroy Israel once and for all.
The primary direction of advancing armies in the Gog-Magog War is from the North—in the Battle of Armageddon enemies move against Israel from all directions.
At the end of the Battle of Armageddon, Jesus Christ stands on Mount Olivet—there are no references to a divine presence appearing in the Ezekiel 38-39 Gog-Magog conflict.
RESPONSES TO ANTICIPATED QUESTIONS REGARDING THE ABOVE
There seem to be more nations involved in the Battle of Armageddon than in the Gog-Magog conflict: It is possible that Ezekiel 38 presents a partial listing of enemy nations (noting only key players or leaders of the engagement), and that the “every nation of the world” reference associated with the Battle of Armageddon is a general statement meaning many nations are involved in the attack. Neither passage provides conclusive evidence to argue for or against the view that the Gog-Magog War is the same as the Battle of Armageddon.
In the Gog-Magog War of Ezekiel 38-39, it takes seven months to bury the dead, and Israelis utilize enemy weapons for fuel for seven years. As virtually all place the Battle of Armageddon at the end of the Tribulation period (just before the beginning of the Millennial Reign of Christ), there does not seem to be an interpretation allowing for the burying of the dead over a period of months, or for using enemy weapons as fuel for seven years. In the Gog-Magog War, the dead are buried. In the Battle of Armageddon, the dead are vaporized by the power of God or savaged by birds and wild animals. The differences regarding the dead and the fact that Israel will use weapons of war for fuel for seven years after the Gog-Magog War represents compelling evidence supporting the view that the Gog-Magog War and the Battle of Armageddon are two separate conflicts.
The purpose of God bringing victory to Israel in the Ezekiel 38-39 Gog-Magog War is to bring Israel to repentance so that all acknowledge the Lord. The purpose of God moving to bring victory to Israel in the Battle of Armageddon is to deliver believers from the horrors of the reign of the Antichrist. Again, these differences represent compelling evidence supporting the view that the Gog-Magog War and the Battle of Armageddon are two separate conflicts.
In Matthew 24 and in Revelation 12, those who flee the wrath of the Antichrist run to the hills (a move encouraged by Jesus in Mark 13:14). However, the Gog-Magog War takes place in the mountains (which God will flatten via a supernatural earthquake). This seems to place the Ezekiel 38-39 Gog-Magog War no later than the mid-point of the Tribulation. References to the location of the Gog-Magog War and the Battle of Armageddon are general and do not provide conclusive evidence that these are two different conflicts. Those who argue that Armageddon must take place in the Valley of Jehoshaphat must remember that the engagement will involve millions of personnel and that soldiers and equipment will occupy the entire region. Also, the word Armageddon means the mound (mountain) of Megiddo or “Mountain of Assembly.”
In the Ezekiel 38-39 Gog-Magog War, the name of the leader of the armies advancing against Israel is Gog—in Hebrew, the numerical value of his name is 12. In the Battle of Armageddon, the leader of the armies advancing against Israel is the Beast—the numerical value of his name is 666. The difference in how the key leaders are referenced, including the numerical value of their names, represents reasonably compelling evidence supporting the view that the Gog-Magog War and the Battle of Armageddon are two separate conflicts.
In Ezekiel 38-39, the battle takes place in the mountains of Israel. In the Revelation 16-19 Battle of Armageddon, enemy forces are vanquished in a valley (Joel 3:2), and a river of blood runs through Israel (Rev 14:20). As noted above, references to the location of the Gog-Magog War and the Battle of Armageddon (and the inclusion of the detail about the ‘river of blood’) do not represent conclusive evidence that these are two different conflicts.
The Ezekiel 38-39 Gog-Magog War occurs when Israel is enjoying peace and safety (“nation of unwalled villages” 38:11). The Revelation 16-19 Battle of Armageddon takes place at the end of the Tribulation, at a time when the Antichrist is oppressing and threatening to destroy Israel and some Hebrews have fled to the mountains of Petra (Revelation 12:6) for safety. In the Hebrew text, the term “safety” can be understood as confidence. That is, though there is a threat of war (as there is today), Israel can be at peace and feel safe because they are confident in their military’s ability to check any threat against them. This is the primary counterargument to those who teach that Israel will only live in peace and safety AFTER the Psalm 83 War and expansion of borders or AFTER they enter into a peace compact with the Antichrist (Daniel 9:27). Note: The phrases reference Israel’s sense of security can also be a prideful, mocking, sarcastic assessment of the attacker (meaning, they do not think Israel could withstand their powerful assault).
The purpose of the Gog-Magog invasion is to “take the spoil,” while the purpose of Armageddon is to destroy Israel once and for all. The distinction regarding motive represents compelling evidence supporting the view that the Gog-Magog War and the Battle of Armageddon are two separate conflicts.
Armies in the Gog-Magog conflict advance from the North—in the Battle of Armageddon enemies move against Israel from all corners of the globe. The different notations regarding the direction of the attack do not represent conclusive evidence that the Gog-Magog War and Battle of Armageddon are separate events. The reference “from the North” can merely be a reference to the location of the base of the principal leader, the primary (but not sole) direction of the advance, or the direction that armies from the four corners of the earth will gather and begin their advance.
At the end of the Battle of Armageddon, Jesus Christ stands on the Mount Olivet, but there are no references to Jesus appearing in the Ezekiel 38-39 Gog-Magog war. Even though Ezekiel was writing before the birth of Christ, the distinction regarding the conclusion of these battles is significant enough to represent compelling evidence supporting the view that the Gog-Magog War and the Battle of Armageddon are two separate conflicts.
More about the term: Armageddon
The term Armageddon is based on the Hebrew phrase Har Megiddo which means, “Mount of Megiddo.” The word “Armageddon” is found only in Revelation 16:16: “Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.” The term references the final battle of the Tribulation (Revelation chapters 16-20, Zechariah 14; Joel 3). Throughout history, Megiddo and the Jezreel Valley have been ground zero for battles that determined the course of history. More than 20 major battles have been fought there. The term has become synonymous with the future battle in which the Antichrist will lead the armies of the world in a vain attempt to destroy Jerusalem and the Hebrew people. In this decisive battle, Israel will be greatly outnumbered and outgunned, but God will intervene and destroy those aligned with the Antichrist.
The Old Testament prophet Joel described the battle this way: "I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. And I will enter into judgment with them there, on behalf of my people and my heritage Israel…Proclaim this among the nations: Consecrate for war; stir up the mighty men. Let all the men of war draw near; let them come up. Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears…Bring down your warriors, O LORD. Let the nations stir themselves up and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; for there I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations. Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Go in, tread, for the winepress is full. The vats overflow, for their evil is great." (Joel 3:2, 9–13).
The Antichrist will lead a massive army against Jerusalem. John writes: "And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army" (Revelation 19:19). However, John did not only see Israel’s plight, but he also saw their redemption. He writes: “And I saw heaven opened and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war…And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.” Those who return to earth with the Lord are the believers in Christ who were taken in the Rapture or died as believers during the Tribulation. They are clothed in white, have glorified bodies, and are ready to share in the final victory and usher in the Millennial Reign of Christ.
Many refer to the return of Jesus as the second coming or the glorious appearing (Titus 2:13). This is what the Apostle John said would happen: "They (the world's armies) will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful" (Revelation 17:14).
Zechariah the prophet wrote: “In that day shall the Lord defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God…and it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem” (Zechariah 12: 8-9).
Zechariah also foresaw the aftermath of the war: “…the Lord will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.” (Zechariah 14:12)
Revelation 19 records the fate of the Antichrist: "And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh" (Revelation 19:20–21).
When Christ returns, the earth will be cleansed and rejuvenated. The Bible records that the False Prophet and Antichrist are cast into the pit of judgment, unbelievers are removed, topography will change, new founts of pure water will spring forth, a new temple is established, and Jesus will reign in righteousness on the earth for 1000 years in what is termed, the Millennial Reign of Christ.
REASONABLE CONCLUSIONS
The Ezekiel 38-39 Gog-Magog War is different from the Battle of Armageddon.
Because the Ezekiel 38-39 Gog-Magog War will take place in the mountains (where God’s people will later take refuge), the battle will likely take place before the midpoint of the Tribulation.
There will be TWO wars associated with the terms Gog and Magog. The first is the war is profiled in Ezekiel 38-39, the second is profiled in Revelation 20 and takes place at the end of the Millennial Reign of Christ.
Believers should monitor developments in the middle east and based on what is happening, anticipate what prophecies are about to be fulfilled.