Revelation 16: The Mountain of Megiddo

Today’s reading is Revelation 16.

Armageddon

We all know what Armageddon is, right? The final battle. Everyone in the world, except the inhabitants of God’s city, gather to battle against God and His people. This happens right before the end of the world. The destruction in that battle leads right into the final judgment. That’s what Armageddon is. Right?

Maybe.

Can we first recognize “Armageddon” is only found once in Revelation. In fact, it is only found once in the entire New Testament. In fact, it is only found once in the entire Bible. It is found right here in Revelation 16:16:

And they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon (ESV).

Now, Revelation is a kaleidoscopic whirlwind of visions. It repeats and switches back. So, this may well be the same gathering and battle as we see in Revelation 19:11-21, when the beast and false prophet are captured and thrown alive into the lake of fire. But that battle is not called Armageddon. This may well be the same gathering of the earth’s inhabitants when Satan is released after a thousand-year imprisonment in the abyss to surround the camp of the saints and the beloved city in Revelation 20:7-10. Of course, it is hard to see how the Revelation 19 battle and the Revelation 20 battle are the same. But, even for that, we must say, “Maybe.” However, this final battle is not called Armageddon. Further, it takes place on a plain, not on a mountain.

Why then is the gathering in the sixth bowl called Armageddon?

The Mourning at Megiddo

While there is some question about translation, most see “Armageddon” as a Greek transliteration of the Hebrew phrase meaning “Mountain of Megiddo.”

Megiddo has a long history, not an illustrious one. We only know a few things about it. This was one of the cities in which the Israelites failed to complete the conquest and drive out the Canaanite inhabitants (Judges 1:27). The battle under Deborah and Barak was, at least in part, fought there (Judges 5:19). Solomon built up or rebuilt the city (1 Kings 9:15). When Judean king and son-in-law to Israelite king Ahab, Ahaziah, was mortally wounded by Jehu’s men, he fled to Megiddo and died there (2 Kings 9:27).

However, the most important event occurring at Megiddo is revealed in 2 Kings 23:29. Josiah, great reformer king of Judah, was killed by Pharaoh Neco in a battle at Megiddo. More explanation and description is given in 2 Chronicles 35:20-27. There we discover Neco was on his way to fight against Babylon at the battle of Carchemish. Neco told Josiah he was sent by God. The text says Josiah “did not listen to the words of Neco from the mouth of God, but came to fight in the plain of Megiddo” (ESV).

Josiah was shot and mortally wounded by an archer. He was taken from the battlefield back to Jerusalem where he died and was buried with his fathers. Then the scripture declares:

All Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah. Jeremiah also uttered a lament for Josiah; and all the singing men and singing women have spoken of Josiah in their laments to this day. They made these a rule in Israel; behold they are written in the Laments (2 Chronicles 35:24-25, ESV).

The depth of the impact of this event on the psyche and imagination of Israel is seen by the legacy of mourning. This seems to be the reference when Zechariah wanted to describe great mourning in Zechariah 12:11: “On that day the mourning in Jerusalem will be as great as the mourning for Hadad-rimmon in the plain of Megiddo” (ESV).

This is the history called to mind when Revelation 16:16 says the kings of the whole world will be gathered to Armageddon for battle on the great day of God the Almighty.

But Why Call it Armageddon?

It’s a vision. They aren’t actually gathering at Megiddo. Its the armies of the whole world. They couldn’t actually gather at Megiddo. Why bring it up in this place?

I may not know any better than anyone else. But may I hazard a guess I think fits within the context we have seen this week?

Josiah was an incredible king. He was the great reformer. He began to reign in Judah at age 8. At 16, he began to seek God. At 20, he began to purge Jerusalem and Judah of idolatry. At 26, his people found the book of the Law. Josiah led them in even further reform, re-establishing the Passover. However, at 39, this great reformer king neglected to listen to the word of God and was killed in a battle at Megiddo.

I am glad I’m not the judge of Josiah. I admit, I do not think Josiah “lost his soul” in this final moment. I know God will do right with Josiah and however God judges Josiah eternally will be the right thing. That being said, I can’t miss how this fits within the context of Revelation.

John is writing to seven churches in Asia. These are people who have turned to Jesus. I don’t know all the reforms they made in their lives. I don’t know all the teaching they did. However, they certainly did some. Yet, when Revelation was written, some of them were struggling to maintain faithfulness to Jesus. Now, John is writing them words from the mouth of God. A battle is coming. If they do not repent, it will be an Armageddon.

No, that doesn’t mean it will be the end of the world. That means it will be a cause for incredible mourning when those who had once reformed are caught up in the judgment they are being called to avoid.

A Message for Us

When we talk about Armageddon, we are too influenced by all the wrong teachings on Revelation. The fact is, we can get caught up in our own personal Armageddons if not a world-wide one. If my guess above is anywhere close to the truth, the battle is Armageddon not because it is the end of the world. It is Armageddon when we who had turned to the Lord grow weary of doing good and leave our first love. It is Armageddon when we rest on a reputation from the past and do not complete our works. It is Armageddon when we become too much like the world around us. It is Armageddon when we compromise with the enemy kingdom and its false religion.

It is Armageddon when those who once listened to God ignore Him and get caught up in what was intended to be someone else’s judgment. Don’t let that happen to you.

Next week’s reading is Revelation 17.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier.

PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family

What do you want to share with others from Revelation 16?

Psalm 83: A Prayer for When We Know We Deserve Judgment

Today’s reading is Psalm 83.

As our psalmist considers the coalition coming against Israel, his prayer is God will deal with this host the same way He did with Midian, with Sisera and Jabin, with Oreb and Zeeb, and with Zebah and Zalmunna.

Jabin was the Canaanite king who oppressed Israel in Judges 4. Sisera was his commander. You may recall Sisera was killed by Jael the wife of Heber who drove a tent peg through his skull while he lay sleeping. Jabin was routed by Deborah and Barak and the army of Israel. When Gideon’s army of 300 defeated Midian in Judges 7, Oreb and Zeeb were two of the princes killed in the victory. Then in Judges 8, in the ongoing battle Zebah and Zalmunna were executed.

Perhaps the reason for mentioning these victories is simply to call to mind the overwhelming odds against which Israel took up arms against these enemies. God gave them victory when it looked like they couldn’t possibly win. But I think there might be a more poignant principle here.

As we have read the Asaphite psalms, we have seen a story arc. Israel and Judah enduring judgment. We cannot help but think of Israel and Judah in captivity when we have read the psalms about the destruction of the temple. They have asked “Why?” They have asked “How Long?” In Psalm 81, we read God’s response. Israel didn’t listen to Him. They went their own way instead of following their Shepherd. They did not love the Lord their God with all their heart. In Psalm 82, we read God’s response. Though Israel was God’s chosen, they acted like all the nations and did not love their neighbor as themselves. They perpetrated injustice. Therefore they were judged. They deserved the judgment they received.

What do you pray when you realize you know you actually deserve the judgment that is coming on you or has come upon you? You pray Psalm 83. You remember how God’s covenant people deserved judgment and God sent Jabin king of Hazor against them. You remember how God’s covenant people deserved judgment and God sent Oreb, Zeeb, Zebah, and Zalmunna against them. Then you recall that when God’s covenant people repented and cried out to Him, He judged the nations and delivered His people. Not because they deserved it, but because God is a covenant keeping God.

We struggle because we know what sinners we have been. Part of us doubts prayer because we know we deserve any judgment God would bring against us. We wonder what right we have to ask God for deliverance from the enemy. Why would God listen to our prayer? If we are in Christ, we have the right offered us by His death, burial, and resurrection. We have the right given us as children of God by the blood of Jesus. We do not have the right of merit, earning, or deserving. We have the right of God’s covenant people. Repent. Turn to God. Cry out to Him. He will not turn a deaf ear. He will not be silent. Do so with the same kind of confidence you see in this psalm. Not because we deserve it but because this is the kind of God we serve. He will keep His covenant with us. God will hear our prayer not because we deserve to be heard, but because He has promised us He will listen. Don’t you believe Him?

Praise the Lord!

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier sparked by this post.

PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family

How does Psalm 83 prompt or improve your trust in God?