Dictionary Article

Hebrew word in Revelation 16:16 meaning “Mount Megiddo.” It is generally thought that the term refers to the town of Megiddo, strategically located between the western coastal area and the broad plain of Jezreel in northern Palestine. The area of Megiddo was important commercially and militarily and was the scene of many important battles in Israel’s history. There the Lord routed Sisera before the armies of Deborah and Barak (Jgs 4–5); Gideon was victorious over the Midianites and Amalekites (Jgs 6–7); King Saul and his army were defeated by the Philistines (1 Sm 31); and King Josiah was slain in battle by the Egyptian army of Pharaoh Neco (2 Kgs 23:29). Because of that long history the name seems to have become symbolic of a battlefield. Such is the depiction in the book of Revelation.

Revelation 15 and 16 describe seven angels who pour out seven bowls of the wrath of God upon the earth. The sixth angel pours out his bowl upon the great river Euphrates, and its waters are dried up (Rv 16:12-16), preparing the way for the coming of the “kings of the East.” Also three demonic spirits go forth to cause the kings of the whole world to gather for a battle on the great day of God the Almighty (16:13-14). Their gathering takes place at Armageddon (16:16). See Revelation, Book of.

How Do We Interpret Armageddon?

Like most of Revelation the passage about Armageddon is difficult to interpret. A literal interpretation sees real armies gathered at an exact geographical location in the Near East. A more figurative interpretation sees John symbolically portraying a final worldwide conflict between wicked mankind and the Christ of God. Regardless of how literally or figuratively the passage is interpreted, it clearly describes a final battle in which Christ is victorious. That battle is known as the battle of Armageddon. The term has also passed into the secular vocabulary; for example, people now speak of the cataclismic end of the world as being “Armageddon.”

Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary