Armageddon
He gathered the kings together at a place called Armageddon.
Key words
- Interchangeably: in a way that allows one thing to be used or treated in place of another
The terms "dog" and "canine" can be used interchangeably.
- Reveal: to make known; to uncover or disclose
The new evidence revealed the truth about the crime.
- Imminent: about to happen; impending
There are signs of an imminent economic recession.
- Allude to: to refer to indirectly or suggest without mentioning directly
The politician alluded to the scandal without providing details.
- Eschatology: a branch of theology concerned with the final events in the history of the world or of humankind
The book discusses various religious eschatologies.
Read the article to find the answers
- Where is Armageddon?
- What does the Book of Revelation emphasise at the beginning?
- How does the Book of Revelation end?
- Why was the Apocalypse of Pseudo-Methodius written?
Armageddon & the Apocalypse
Armageddon is mentioned only once in the Bible. The word comes from the Hebrew phrase Har Meggido, which means Mountain of Megiddo, a place in Israel.
Today, Armageddon is a word commonly used in English to describe any end-of-the-world scenario, as exemplified in the song Everyday Is Like Sunday. It is used interchangeably with the word apocalypse, which comes from the Greek word apokalyptĹŤ, meaning to reveal. Neither Armageddon nor Apocalypse originally meant the end of the world.
The word apocalypse is used many times in the Bible, both as a noun and as a verb. In Luke 12:2 it is used as the verb revealed:
Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. There is nothing hidden that will not be revealed.
The Book of Revelation could also be called the Book of Apocalypse.
The Book of Revelation
The Book of Revelation begins by emphasising the imminent return of Christ and encouraging believers to remain faithful.
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, given by God to show his servants things which must soon happen ... Those who read and hear and remember this prophecy are blessed; for the time has come.
John describes how he was on the island of Patmos when he came under the influence of the Holy Spirit and witnessed the Day of Judgment. Jesus tells John:
The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in my right hand are the angels of the seven churches; and the seven candlesticks which you saw are the seven churches.
The Book of Revelation is rich in symbolic visions and language that draws heavily on Old Testament prophecy, especially Ezekiel, Daniel and Zechariah. The imagery is also found in Exodus.
Chapter 16 of the Book of Revelation alludes to the Olivet Discourse:
Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that keeps watch.
After this it says that the kings of the world were gathered together by evil spirits at Armageddon. Then a loud voice came from the throne, out of the temple of heaven, saying the same final words of Jesus on the cross:
It is done!
Then there was a great earthquake, and Babylon suffered the wrath of God. The book concludes with visions of a new heaven, a new earth, and the New Jerusalem, where God dwells with his people, fulfilling prophecy.
John ends the book by telling his readers that everything in the book will be done shortly. Jesus repeats his statement from the beginning of the book that he is coming quickly and that those who remember the prophecy will be blessed. An angel tells John not to seal the Book of Revelation because the time of the prophecy is at hand. Jesus again comforts those suffering tribulation saying:
I come quickly
and then:
Surely, I come quickly.
The fulfilment of all prophecy is promised to take place in the immediate future.
things which must soon happen ... the time has come ... shortly ... the time of the prophecy is at hand ... I come quickly ... Surely, I come quickly.
There is no mention of a fulfilment of prophecy in the distant future.
The Apocalypse of Pseudo-Methodius
The Apocalypse of Pseudo-Methodius was written in response to Arab conquests and presented the events of the 7th century as the unfolding fulfilment of the Gog and Magog War. Influential Christians in the West interpret current events in a similar way to the Apocalypse of Pseudo-Methodius. They promote the idea that the prophecies will be fulfilled soon with a war against Islam and Russia.
Preterism, on the other hand, is a Christian eschatological view that emphasises the historical fulfilment of biblical prophecy. This perspective does not believe in a future worldwide war of Armageddon or the Apocalypse, seeing these events as already fulfilled with the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD and the destruction of the Second Temple.
Discussion questions
- Do you have any questions about any of the vocabulary or grammar in this article?
- Do you believe the world will end?
- What do you think about people interpreting current events in a similar way to the Apocalypse of Pseudo-Methodius?
- What do you know about different eschatologies?
- Do you know anything about the Arab conquests of the 7th century?
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