Commentaries:
At this time, the demons mentioned in verse 14 will stir up worldwide resistance to Christ. The proper translation of the inspired Greek of this verse should be as follow: "And THEY gathered them together. . . ." This verse is sometimes rendered incorrectly, "And he gathered them together. . . ." Notice the battle is actually stirred up, not by men or nations alone, but by spirit demons of Satan the Devil.
The Sensational Return of Jesus Christ!
Related Topics:
The nations will marshal their armies at a place called Armageddon. "Armageddon" is not an English word. Rather it comes from the Greek rendering of the Hebrew name Har Megiddo. (The Hebrew prefix har means "hill" or "mountain.")
Megiddo was a strong fortification dating from ancient times, situated approximately 55 miles north of Jerusalem. The mound that remains is a few miles south east of Haifa—a natural port and industrial center providing ideal facilities for landing troops.
The ruins of Megiddo are located on the edge of the plain of Megiddo, an oval-shaped valley once called the Plain of Esdraelon, but now commonly called the Valley of Jezreel. It is a large flat area ideal for the assembling of military equipment and personnel.
The Hill of Megiddo was strongly fortified as long ago as the days of King Solomon (I Kings 9:15). It was a literal fortress rising above the surrounding plain. The fortress Hill Megiddo serves as a type, or forerunner, of the bristling armaments that shall soon envelope the whole surrounding area.
Historians have said that more battles have been fought in the Valley of Jezreel that anywhere else on earth. However, when Christ returns, the armies will only gather here. From this natural staging area they will advance southward toward Jerusalem to fight against Him. The final battle will then take place in the environs of Jerusalem (Zechariah 14:2).
The Sensational Return of Jesus Christ!
The Devil will again go on the offensive against God with the same results: He is cast back down to earth. In his anger over his defeat, he will savagely persecute God's people and gather the armies of man to fight against Christ when He comes. He and his human agents will be soundly defeated, and Satan will be bound in the bottomless pit for a thousand years.
Richard T. Ritenbaugh
Basic Doctrines: Satan's Origin and Destiny
Related Topics:
Library resources that contain this verse:
E-mail this page
