Armageddon

Armageddon usually refers to the "Battle of Armageddon," a prophesied war at the end of times just before the Second Coming of Christ.

And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon (Revelation 16:16).

Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision (Joel 3:14).

The center of this battle will take place in the Valley of Megiddo, in north-central Israel. The war will last 3 1/2 years, and all the nations of the earth will be involved in some way, whether for or against the nation of Israel. The forces of evil are called in the scriptures Gog and Magog. There are also references in the scriptures to a great and last battle after the Millennium between the forces of righteousness, led by Michael the Archangel (see Adam) and the forces of Satan, called Gog and Magog. Thus, both battles (before and after the Millennium) will engage the armies of Gog and Magog.

And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes (Ezekial 38: 16 (15-16).

As the battle rages on, Jerusalem will be protected by two prophets who hold the same sealing power as Elijah. Eventually, they will be overcome by the "beast," and Jerusalem will fall:

For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city (Zecariah 14:2).

And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh (Luke 21:20).

Christ will then return in power and glory, setting his foot upon the Mount of Olives. The mount will "cleave in twain"--cleave in two, and survivors will flee through it. Then will Christ rain down destruction upon the armies of the wicked. Those whom he has saved will be invited to see and feel the wounds of his crucifixion, and then will know with certainty that Jesus is the Messiah.