Armageddon – When?

Understand that the following are just the observations of individuals who have done much research. No claims of Divine Revelation are being made here. Like the ‘Faithful and Sensible Slave,’ of Matthew 24, the ‘Doorkeeper’ of Mark 13, the ‘Faithful House Manager’ of Luke 12, and the ‘Wise Virgins’ of Matthew 25, we are trying to remain awake and look for signs of the Lord’s coming. Remember that we don’t sin by watching, hoping, and anticipating. Rather, we sin when we stop doing that. For Jesus said at Luke 12:37, ‘Those slaves who are found watching when their master arrives are blest! I tell you the truth, he will put on his apron, make them recline at the table, and he will come and serve them.’

Also notice that we are not drawing our own conclusions as to when Armageddon will come, but we are simply offering suggestions and showing what the research of others has concluded. So, please read the following research items, and of the four Armageddon dating theories shown below, with an open mind.

What Precedes Armageddon?

We first read of ‘the battle of the great day of God Almighty’ at Revelation 16:14. Then in verse 16, the name of that battle is given as Har-Mageddon (or Armageddon). When may this be expected?

It is interesting that although we read of this final battle in Revelation the Sixteenth Chapter, the account seems to interrupt itself there to talk about two events that happen first; the destruction of ‘The Great Babylon’ (Chapters 17 & 18) and ‘the marriage of the Lamb’ (Chapter 19). Then, the account of the battle appears to resume at Revelation 19:11.

If we can accept this series of events in that order, ‘The Great Babylon’ (unfaithful religion?) will be destroyed first, then the Lamb will take his bride. This will be followed by the final battle against ‘the kings of the earth (Armageddon),’ and then the Opposer and his messengers will be locked in the abyss for a thousand years.

This prophecy then seems to dovetail with Jesus’ words as recorded at Matthew Chapters 24 & 25, and again at Mark Chapter 13. Since Luke’s parallel account of Jesus’ words (in Chapter 21) seem to focus on just the destruction of Jerusalem, not the extended fulfillment implied by Matthew and Mark, his version of Jesus’ words has less to do with the coming of Armageddon. However, the Battle of Armageddon appears to be linked to Jesus’ coming.

Is it a Literal Place?

The word that we call Armageddon was actually pronounced Har Mageddon in Greek (the H is often overlooked by translators, because it isn’t a letter, it’s indicated by an inverted apostrophe (‘). Har is a Hebrew word that means mountain, while Mageddon comes from the Hebrew word Megiddo, which refers (appropriately) to a gathering place (for troops). So, the entire word means (and can be translated as) the mountain of the gathering place.

Because there was a literal Bible city called Megiddo, which was the center of many Israelite victories during Bible times, many have concluded that the final battle will be fought on this ancient plain that is located fifty-six miles north of Jerusalem and nineteen miles southeast of the modern city of Haifa. That doesn’t seem likely, because that ancient city wasn’t located on a mountain, so the word Armageddon doesn’t really describe that particular location, for there was no such place as the ‘Mountain of Megiddo.’ Rather, it appears as though the single use of this term in Revelation is symbolic, and it doesn’t refer to a geographical location, but to a worldwide ‘gathering of armies’ to fight against the Word of God.

Of particular interest is the fact that the battle is referred to as a ‘mountain.’ This term is used throughout the Bible to symbolize governments, since many ancient cities (such as Jerusalem) were situated on mountains. Then could Armageddon refer to a collective ‘gathering’ of armies of governments, such as from the United Nations? Possibly.

The Valley of Jehoshaphat

The entire Bible book of Joel seems to be a discussion of the last days and of the coming of the Battle of Armageddon, but it speaks in terms of Jerusalem, Judah, and the nations that surrounded them. So, we must assume that Jerusalem and Judah symbolize those who claim to be in a Sacred Agreement with God today, and the nations that are destroyed are those who will attack them for their wickedness. For, throughout this prophecy we read that these things will happen during ‘the Day of the Lord.’ However, in Joel the battle is not referred to as the ‘Mountain of Megiddo,’ but as the ‘Valley of JehoShaphat.’ What did that term mean?

Well, since the meaning isn’t spelled out in the Bible, we can only speculate, and there appear to be two different possible answers:

1.   JehoShaphat could be translated as Jehovah is Judge, and God certainly speaks of Himself as serving as judge of the nations in that prophecy. So, the valley could refer to a place of God’s judgments.

2.   During the reign of the Judean king Jehoshaphat, God saved Judah and Jerusalem from the combined armies of Ammon, Moab, and those from the Mountains of Seir (nearby nations), causing the enemy forces to become confused and to slaughter each other (see 2 Chronicles 20:1-29). So, perhaps this is a prophetic reference to that war.

Then notice some of the things we read about in that prophecy:

1.   Joel starts out by describing a period of desolation upon the land of Judah and the City of Jerusalem, which could well be the same as the destruction of The Great Babylon.

2.   This is followed by what is called the Great Day of the Lord (Jesus?), which starts out with God’s Breath being miraculously poured out on His people, for we read at Joel 2:28-32: ‘And in the last days I will pour out My Breath, and Your sons and daughters will all prophecy; your aged men will dream dreams, and your young men will also see visions. In those days I’ll pour out My Breath, upon My male and female servants. Miracles I’ll create in the sky; fire, blood, and smoke I’ll bring bring to the earth. The sun will convert into darkness, and the moon [will be changed] into blood, before the coming and appearance, of the great Day of the Lord. And it will be [in that Day], all who call on the Name of the Lord will be saved.’ (For more information see the link The Last Days).

3.   Thereafter, God’s faithful people will be returned from among the nations where they are held as captives, and then the great war against the offending nations begins. For we read at Joel 3:9-13: ‘Proclaim these things to the nations! Declare holy war… awaken the soldiers! [Attack and conquer] men of war! Cut your plows into broadswords, and your scythes into spears! Let the weak now say I am strong! Gather and attack those nations round about! Have them all meet together, and let the meek become warriors! Awaken all nations and make them decend, upon the Valley of JehoShaphat; for there I will sit and separate the nations, which are living round about you! Send out the scythes, for the crops are now ready for harvest! Climb in and tread, for the wine vat is full… the vats overflow with their badness!’

Zechariah’s Prophecy

Zechariah Chapter Fourteen seems to also be describing this same battle, for notice the words in verses one through seven: ‘{Look!} The Lord’s Day is coming, when spoils will be divided among them. Against Jerusalem I’ll assemble all nations, and the city will thereafter be captured. All the homes will be looted, and all the women will be tainted. Then half of the city will be taken as captives, and the rest of My people in the city, will not be destroyed from the [land]. For, the Lord will come and attack all those nations, in his battle array in the Day of the war.

‘And in that Day his feet will then stand, upon the Mount of Olives to Jerusalem’s east. Then the Mount of Olives will split in two halves… part to the east and the rest to the west in great chaos. Half of the mountain will lean toward the north, and half will lean toward the south. Then flee to the valley of My Mountain, which will [run] to the Wadi Azal. You must flee as in the day of the earthquake, in the days of UzziJah (king of Judah).

‘Then Jehovah my God will arrive, and all of His Holy Ones with Him. There’ll be no light in that Day… there’ll be just coldness and ice. But it will [all last just] one day, and the Lord will know of that Day. There will be no daytime or night, but light will come toward the evening.

Then verse twelve goes on to tell us: ‘And this will be the great downfall, when the Lord will strike all the peoples… all who against Jerusalem marched. Their flesh will melt while they’re standing on their feet; their eyes will flow from their sockets, and their tongues will melt in their mouths.’

So the conclusion once again, is that the Battle of Armageddon will not come as a general destruction of the wicked, but upon those armies and kings who dare to march against the faithful Israel of God, after they destroy the unfaithful among them.

That some of the unrighteous nations will survive the war is indicated in verses sixteen and seventeen, where we read: ‘Then all who remain from the nations, that came up against Jerusalem, will ascend each year to bow before the King – to Jehovah the Almighty – and to observe the holiday of the Pitching of Tents. Then all who won’t ascend to Jerusalem [in that Day], to bow before Jehovah the Almighty, from all the tribes of the earth, these things will be added to them, and on them won’t fall any rain.’

You may also wish to see the linked document Isaiah 24 - Is It Speaking of Armageddon?

The Sequence of Zephaniah’s Prophecy

Zephaniah (as most other Prophets) also appears to have received an account of the events that lead up to and follow the Battle of Armageddon, since the words of his prophecies have not all been fulfilled upon Judea and Israel, and he speaks of them as coming (at Zephaniah 1:7) ‘in the Day of the Lord,’ which we assume is the thousand-year Day that starts with the coming of Jesus.

In this prophesy, note that:

• First, there’s the destruction of the unfaithful among God’s people, for Zephaniah 1:9, 10, tells us: ‘When I take vengeance you will see it, for it will come to their gates in that day, and those filling the [Temple] of Jehovah their God, with their treachery and irreverence. And it will be in that day, says Jehovah, that there’ll come the sounds of cries from the gates… [the sounds] of men being stabbed through, and shrieks of women in the second quarter, as well as great battles in the hills.’
• Next comes the destruction of other nearby nations that hated His people and worshiped other Gods. For Zephaniah 2:4 tells us: ‘For, Gaza will then be plundered, and AshKelon will be extinct. AshDod will fall at mid-day, and Ekron will be rooted [from the land].’
• Thereafter, verse Eleven tells us: ‘Then before them the Lord will appear, and destroy all gods of the nations of the earth. Then they will bow down before Him, each one within his own land, and in all the islands of the nations.’ (So, it looks likes those who are not destroyed will reject their gods and all bow before Jehovah).
• This seems to be followed by the Battle of Armageddon, for we read at Zephaniah 3:8, ‘Then I’ll pass judgment on the gathering of nations; I’ll take their kings and pour on them My rage… yes, all the anger of My rage. And the fire of My zeal will consume the whole earth.’
• And next it appears as though the survivors will all start speaking the same language, for Zephaniah 3:9 says, ‘Then I’ll bring one tongue to that generation, so all can call on the Name of the Lord, and serve Him under one yoke.’
• There will be a re-gathering of Israel, for verses ten and eleven say: ‘From the ends of Ethiopia’s rivers, I’ll welcome back those who were scattered, and they’ll bring back sacrifices to Me. In that Day you’ll not be disgraced, over the disrespect that you showed Me. For, I’ll remove your insolence and careless attitudes, and of My Holy Mountain you’ll then boast.’
• Then verses twelve and thirteen speak of a time of peace and tranquility for the righteous, for there we read: ‘I’ll leave the meek and humble among you (those who reverence the Name of the Lord). And this remnant of Israel will not be unrighteous; they will not speak of vain things, and no way will their tongues then deceive. They will eat as they lie in their beds, and no one will make them afraid.’
• And finally; God’s people will be respected by the remaining peoples of the nations, who will have started worshiping God and will thus survive the Battle of Armageddon… but they will not be considered among this select group, because verse twenty tells us: ‘For, her enemies will be disgraced in that time, and whatever you find good I will do; for in that time I’ll take you back, and make you famous and a reason for boasting, among all the peoples of the earth, when before their eyes I return you, from your captivity, says Jehovah.’

Jesus’ Prophecy

Of course, although Jesus never spoke of Armageddon, he did refer to a similar time and set of circumstances when he answered a question regarding the total end of the age (gr. synteleias tou aionos – or, together/end of/the age). For at Matthew 24:3, Jesus’ Apostles asked him, ‘Tell us; when will these things happen... what will be the signs when you are near and [when we will see] the total end of the age?’

Notice some of the descriptions (which are similar to the prophecy of Joel) as found at Matthew 24:29-31: ‘In the days that follow that difficult time, the sun will grow dark and the moon will not light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all tribes of the earth will beat themselves in grief when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with great power and glory. Then he’ll send his messengers [blowing] loud trumpets, and collect his elected from the four winds… from one end of the sky to the other.’

Then after Jesus told his Apostles these things, he went on to say (at Matthew 24:34), ‘I tell you the truth: That generation will not pass until all these things happen.’

Notice that Jesus’ description of the events of  ‘the end of the age’ is broken into two parts in his prophecy:

1.   His being ‘near’ (gr. parousia – or next to), which is described at Matthew 24:4-28

2.   His ‘coming’ (gr. ercomi), which starts at Matthew 24:29 and runs through Chapter 25.

So, ‘the great time of difficulty’ that Jesus mentions at Matthew 24:21 seems to be the climax and conclusion of the period that he refers to as his being ‘near.’ It is only after that – after Jesus’ ‘coming’ – that the great signs are seen in the sky. So, this entire period could possibly be a description of what the Revelation calls Armageddon.

However, the Revelation refers to Armageddon as a war against nations and armies, not against wicked people in general. So, it could be that Jesus’ description (which starts at Matthew 24:21 and runs through Chapter 25) is of things that immediately bring about the judging of the sheep and the goats, the selection of the faithful slaves, and the marriage of the Lamb. Yet, it has also been suggested that the judging and separating work could be a description of what will happen throughout the entire thousand-year (millennial) reign of Jesus.

Also notice that; Although the first portion of Jesus’ prophecy was actually fulfilled by things that happened in and around the ancient city of Jerusalem in the forty years prior to its destruction by the Roman armies, not all of the later portion (his coming) was fulfilled back in 66-70 C.E. So, the rest of his prophecy must then be fulfilled during some future period that Jesus called ‘the final end of the age’ (gr. syntelias tou aionos).

When will this happen? Well, many people have speculated on this date through the ages, and one of the greatest scientific theorists over the past couple of hundred years, Sir Isaac Newton, came to the conclusion that Armageddon will happen in the year 2060 (sorry, we don’t have the results of his research). However, many continue to speculate on the date of its coming, and the following reflects some of these theories.

Theory 1: 2033/34

As it Was in the Days of Noah

After reminding us that even he didn’t know the day or the hour back then, Jesus gave a further clue as to the length of this period when he said what is recorded at Matthew 24:37-39, ‘The same as it was in the days of Noah, that’s how it will be when the Son of Man is near. For [people] in those days before the downpour were feeding themselves and drinking, marrying and being taken in marriage, up to the day when Noah entered the large chest. They were very unaware until the downpour came and swept them all away. That’s how the nearness of the Son of Man will be.’

Of course, there is no period mentioned in those words. However, turning to the account of the times of Noah at Genesis 6:4 we do read of a definite period in the days that led up to the Downpour (Flood). It says, ‘Then Jehovah God said: I won’t allow them to keep My Breath (which allows them to flesh) throughout the [rest of] the age. So their [lives] will last one-hundred and twenty [more] years.’

Now, some claim that Noah was unfamiliar with this particular period, since it was only known to God. However, the accounts in the first part of Genesis don’t claim to be revelations that were received in dreams or visions, just written histories from ancient times. So, we must assume that since we know of that one-hundred and twenty year period today, it must have been known by Noah (or his sons), who caused it to be written in the Bible for those of us who live after the Downpour.

120 Years

One-hundred and twenty years is also a very significant number, because twelve in the Bible refers to heavenly completeness (see Revelation 21:10-14). And multiplying twelve by ten indicates an absolute completion. What heavenly thing is being completed? Notice what Revelation 7:1-3 says:

‘After this, I saw four messengers who were standing at the four corners of the earth. They were hanging on to the four winds of the earth so the winds wouldn’t blow on the earth, the sea, or the trees. Then I saw another messenger who was coming up from the sunrise. He had the seal of the living God, and he shouted out loud to the four messengers who were allowed to harm the earth and sea, saying, Don’t harm the earth, the sea, or the trees, until after we have sealed the slaves of our God in their foreheads.’

So, here is a period that seems to parallel the one Jesus spoke of at Matthew 24 as the end of the age, because Revelation 1:10 says that John’s vision starts in ‘the Lord’s Day.’ And Revelation 7:3 is talking about the final sealing of those who would rule with Jesus. So, if those who were described as being ‘sealed’ refers to being sealed for life in heaven (as some think), that would be the completion of a heavenly number.

And notice that when the full number is sealed, that’s when God’s messengers release the ‘winds’ of Armageddon – Jesus’ coming. Yes, one-hundred and twenty years appears to be a proper symbol of the period of the ‘sealing of the slaves of God.’ (For more information, consider the linked document, Significance of 120 Years.)

The Generation of Noah

Let’s look at another expression that is found at Genesis 6:10 (from the Greek Septuagint), ‘This is the account of Noah’s generation: Noah was a righteous man… perfect [when compared to] that generation.’

It’s interesting that the Bible speaks of the account of Noah’s generation here, rather than saying (as in previous chapters) ‘this was the Book of.’ So, could this be a Bible clue that the ‘generation’ that Jesus spoke of in Matthew 24 parallels the ‘generation of Noah?’ And notice that the prophecy of 120 years is found in this portion of Genesis that is called the ‘generation of Noah,’ which isn’t the story of his entire life, but covers just the last days of the wicked generation that Noah was living in.

So from the above, can we assume that the period of the last days might possibly run on for 120 years? If so, the next question is, when did that period (the Lord’s Day) begin?

The Seven Times of Daniel

Serious Bible students (who we would now classify as Adventists) had calculated what they thought to be the beginning of the Lord’s Day back in the 1880s. Some of their conclusions were based on a prophecy found in the book of Daniel the Fourth Chapter, which talks about a period of ‘seven times’ that would come upon the King of Babylon (Nebuchadnezzar). There it was foretold that he would live ‘in the fields like a wild animal’ for ‘seven times,’ which likely meant seven years.

These Adventist groups felt that this prophecy must have a greater fulfillment than on just Nebuchadnezzar and his wandering in the fields for seven years. Because the point of that prophecy was, as God explained it (through Daniel) to Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4:25), ‘You will be changed for seven times, until you realize that Jehovah is higher than all the kingdoms of men, and He gives it to whomever He wishes.’

And since Babylon under Nebuchadnezzar had just overthrown the ‘typical Kingdom of God’ on the earth, the Kingdom of Jerusalem, they reasoned that this was a prophecy that showed how long God would allow these (beastly) worldly nations to dominate God’s chosen people. After all, the Bible almost always shows the lengths of the events that it foretells. And here was a prophetic period; it concerned the very king who had destroyed Jerusalem; and the theme of the prophecy was God’s permission of nations to rule. So, those Bible students of a bygone era believed that this prophecy of Daniel held the answer to when God’s permission for worldly nations to rule over His people would end, and when the period of Jesus’ kingship (the Lord’s Day) would begin.

Could their conclusions have been right? We don’t know, but here is the rest of their reasoning:

How Long Would the ‘Seven Times’ Last?

Another prophecy in Daniel gave these students their first clue as to the length of those prophetic ‘seven times.’ At Daniel 9:24-27 there’s a prophecy of a seventy-week period that would lead to the coming of ‘the Anointed One,’ Jesus. By applying the rule that each day of this prophecy equals a year, Bible scholars have known for centuries that they could pinpoint the exact years of the beginning of Jesus’ ministry and of his death from this prophecy. So, they applied the same rule of ‘a day for a year’ to the seven times of Daniel chapter four.

However, how long was each ‘time’ in year-long days? Remember that the Jews followed a lunar calendar, so there weren’t always the same number of days in each year.

The next clue was found in an unrelated prophecy in Revelation. At Revelation 12:6, we read of a period of one-thousand, two-hundred and sixty days that ‘the woman will be fed in the desert.’ Then in verse fourteen, the same period is referred to as ‘a time, times, and a half a time,’ or three-and-a half times (interesting similarity in the prophetic words). So, the prophecy in Revelation set the length of each ‘time’ as 360 days per year (1,260/3.5=360).

Now, if we accept this Bible-given rule (of 360 years in each ‘time’) the prophetic period of the symbolic ‘seven times’ equals (360 X 7) a total of two-thousand five-hundred and twenty years.

But, when did that period start? Well, the Bible suggests that Jerusalem may have been destroyed by Babylon in the year 607-B.C.E. Add two-thousand, five-hundred and twenty years to 607, and you come up with the modern date of 1913-C.E.

Although many historians disagree with this date (607-B.C.E.) for the destruction of Jerusalem, they do agree on the date of the destruction of Babylon as being 539-B.C.E. And according to the Prophet Daniel, the length of the Jewish captivity in Babylon was to total seventy years (see Daniel 9:2). And if that period of captivity ended when the Jews were allowed to return to their homeland, which was two years after the destruction of Babylon by the Medes and Persians, or in 537-B.C.E., the seventy-year captivity must have started in 607-B.C.E. Since this is a Bible prophecy, they prefered the Bible’s dating (to read more about this date, please see the document, 587 or 607 – The Bible View). However, to read a compelling argument against this date, select the link ‘When Was Jerusalem Destroyed?’

The Length of the Generation

The people who came up with this startling piece of Bible sleuthing then added an extra year to the date, making the time when God’s Kingdom would be restored and when the generation of Matthew chapter twenty-four began, as the autumn of 1914. Why did they add the extra year? Because, the Gregorian calendar is said to have no zero year (which is illogical to us)... it simply jumps from 1-B.C.E. to 1-C.E., and this means that we have to add an extra year to the end, to make up for this date-skip anomaly.

As the result; the hundred and twenty years of ‘the last days’ could possibly have started in late 1914 – which makes sense, because World War I (‘nation rising against nation’) started in 1914, and it was followed by enormous famine in Europe, then by the great plague of Spanish Influenza in 1918-1919. History tells us that this series of events so bothered the U.S. President, Woodrow Wilson, that he ordered news of the Spanish Influenza plague to be withheld from the public for fear that they would view this series of events as the ride of the ‘four horsemen’ of Revelation.

And although many argue against the accuracy of this calculation – and whether the seven times in the prophecy of Daniel have any significance at all – the striking events of 1914-1919 can’t be denied. So, it does seem possible that we are now living in the period when Jesus is near and about to come.

Back around the turn of the 20^th Century, belief that Armageddon was near – and that it would possibly come around 1914 – was common among many Protestant religions. If fact, during his last campaign bid for Presidential election in 1913, former U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt repeatedly spoke of the world being ‘on the brink of Armageddon’ in his speeches, and he wasn’t referring to World War One.

So, how long will that ‘nearness’ last? If we add 120 years to 1914, this brings us to the future date of 2034, which is interesting, because the previous year (2033) is thought to be exactly two-thousand years after the impaling of Jesus. This raises the question: Could the calculation that brings us to 1914 be off by a year? We don’t know, but that is possible with all the dates and years that are involved in the complicated calculations.

Take for example, the claim made by scholars that Jesus was born in the year 4-B.C.E., not 1-B.C.E., which would have put his death some three years earlier, or in the spring of 30-C.E. This theory is based on the following contributed information:

‘The modern calendar did not come into existence until 525 A.D. In that year, a Scythian monk in Rome (Dionysius Exiguus) was preparing new tables for determining the date of Easter, and he decided to abandon the calendar in use at the time, which used as a starting year the first year of the reign of Emperor Diocletian (our year 284). Dionysius decided to calculate the year of the birth of Jesus, based on the following data:

‘Luke 3:1 - Jesus was baptized in the 15th year of the reign of Tiberius;
‘Luke 3:23 - Jesus was about 30 years old at his baptism.

‘Using this and other data available to him, he calculated the probable year of Jesus’ birth as occurring in the 753rd year since the founding of the Roman empire, which he re-designated as year 1. Subsequent scholarship, however, has proven Dionysius’s dates incorrect. For example, we know that King Herod the Great was still alive when Jesus was born. Historians are rather certain that Herod died in the year we now designate as 4 B.C., from the writings of the historian Flavius Josephus as well as known astronomical data. So the year of Jesus’ birth was most likely 4 or 5 B.C. according to our Dionysian calendar.’

So, is 2030, 2033, or 2034 the year when we can expect Armageddon? We don’t know for sure. But the prophecies and the calculations do seem to make sense, so we have offered them as a suggestion here.

The Problems with this Theory

One of the main problems with this theory, is that the seven times of Daniel’s prophecy (or 2,520 years) is thought to be the period that God allows the nations to dominate His chosen people. And if this period was finished in 1914, we would have expected some greater changes in worldly domination (worldly nations falling before God’s Kingdom), but nothing is evident.

Yet the supporters of this theory point to the words of Revelation 12:7-12 to prove that some change of domination did come, not here on the earth, but unseen in the heavens. For there we read:

‘Next, war broke out in heaven. Michael and his messengers went to war with the dragon, and the dragon and his messengers fought back; but he lost and could no longer stay in heaven. So, the huge dragon was thrown out. He is the first snake, the one who is called the Slanderer and Opposer, who is leading the whole earth astray. He was thrown down to the earth along with his messengers.

‘Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say, This is the moment when the salvation, the power, the Kingdom of our God, and the authorization of his Anointed One begins. Because the one who has been accusing our brothers has been thrown down… the one who has been complaining about them day and night in front of our God! They conquered him by the blood of the Lamb, by the things they said while they were testifying, and because they didn’t value their lives even in the face of death. This is why the heavens and those who live there should be joyful! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the Slanderer has come down to you in a rage, knowing that he only has a short time left.’

So, has this war already been fought in heaven, and are we now living in the short time of woe for the earth because the Slanderer has now been cast down here? And has Jesus actually started his rule over his people from heaven, ending the period of their domination by the nations? We don’t know for sure. However, much of this concept is based on the teaching that Jesus has already come in Kingdom power. And this leaves us with two modern comings of Jesus (one in 1914 and another at the end of the great time of difficulty). And the Bible simply doesn’t speak of two comings. It is also based on the belief that we are living in the period of his presence, which appears to be a misconception based on a mistranslation (for more information, see the linked document Coming, Presence, or Nearness?).

An Adjusted Theory

There is an interesting possible tie-in here that was recently suggested in a contributed document, The Problem with Setting Bible Historical Dates. For the writer (though not being dogmatic) points out that the destruction of Jerusalem may have happened as much as 120-years later than 607-BCE, which sets the 2,520 years of gentile domination as ending somewhere in the early part of this (21st) century.

Theory 2: Six Thousand Years

Another Armageddon theory is based on the premise that each of God’s earthly creative days were seven-thousand years long, and that we came close to the end of six-thousand years of the seventh creative day in 1975, when Jesus would come, bringing Armageddon and his thousand-year reign. This idea is based on scriptural dates, and on the premise that Jerusalem was first destroyed in 607-BCE.

While not claiming that this assumption is true (since 1975 has come and gone with no Armageddon so far), we are offering:

Another Possible Date

In our translating, we have come across a major discrepancy between the wording of the Hebrew text of 1 Kings 6:1, and that which is found in the Greek text (the Greek Septuagint). In the Hebrew text, we read that the time when the foundation of Solomon’s Temple was laid was four-hundred and eighty years after the exodus from Egypt. However, the Greek text says that the time was just four-hundred and forty years.

This is no minor discrepancy, nor would it have gone unnoticed by Jewish scholars, because it brings into question all Bible chronology!

Could the Greek text be right and the Hebrew text be wrong? Well, one of the two has been deliberately changed (this is no accident or oversight) over the past 2,200 years, and while many doubt the accuracy and reliability of the Greek text, our research has led us to doubt the reliability of the current Hebrew text, so we give the Greek text some credence.

So, if the thousand-year reign of Jesus starts six-thousand years into that seventh day, then Armageddon will come (according to the Greek text) in 2015. However, if the actual date for Jerusalem’s destruction (607-BCE) is wrong (historians say it was 586/7), then the 6,000 years will end sometime after 2035.

Also, both secular and some scriptural chronology puts the Israelite Exodus from Egypt quite a bit later that the 1513-BCE date offered by those who predicted the 1914-CE coming of Jesus (see the link http://cresourcei.org/exodusdate.html). So, if there is any validity to searching for a 6,000-year date, it appears to lie sometime in the near future.

So, are we saying that Armageddon will come in 2015 or 2035? No, for we aren’t sure that the Greek text is right, or that chronology has anything to do with it. And a reason why the dates of 2015 or 2035 may not be valid for the coming of Armageddon is that the calculations don’t necessarily start from the exact point of the end of the seventh creative day, but with the creation of Adam.

Notice what the Bible text (in Genesis 1:26, 27) says: ‘Then God spoke, saying, Let us make man like us and in our image. Then [we will] appoint him to be over the fish of the seas, the winged creatures of the skies, the herding animals of the ground, and all the slithering animals that crawl on the ground. So, God made man. He made him in the image of God. He made them both – the male and the female.’ And verse 31 concludes, ‘Then God viewed everything He made, and Look, it was very good. So came the evening and morning of day six.’

As you can see, the ‘seventh creative day’ didn’t really start with the creation of Adam. First, he was created, then he named all the animals, then Eve was created, and then the sixth day ended. How long was that? Could it have been just a few months, or eighteen or nineteen years? We don’t know.

Theory 3: The End of the Mayan Calendar

Another thing that has attracted considerable recent attention is the fact that the ancient Mayan calendar ends on December 21st, 2012. So, many Christians and others have wondered if this similar date is another sign of the coming of Armageddon.

Frankly, we don’t think so, because; although the astrological research leading that date is truly astounding, all the calculations appear to be based on ancient astrology, not on God’s Word. For more information, see the link 2012 Phenomenon

Theory 4: Daniel’s Prophecy About the Rebuilt Temple

In the Eighth Chapter of Daniel, the account tells us of something that the Prophet saw in a vision when BelShazzar, the king of Babylon, was in power. However, the rest of the prophecy has to do with the coming of Jesus (the commander-in chief) and his mistreatment and death, which was followed by the last days leading up to the destruction of Jerusalem. Could this prophecy then also be describing the last days that would lead to Armageddon?

In this prophecy we read (at Daniel 8:13, 14): ‘Then I heard the holy one speaking, and he asked, How long will this vision stand when the sacrifices are taken away, the destruction over sins is allowed, and the Holy Place of the mighty ones is to be trampled on? And he said to him: After two-thousand, three-hundred evenings and mornings the Holy Place will be cleansed.’

Now, this description of two-thousand, three-hundred evenings and mornings seems to refer to how long the Temple and Jerusalem will lie desolate awaiting its cleansing, which doesn’t seem to have had a fulfillment back in the First Century. So, could this have had reference to a period of 2,300 years of cleansing that would start with the destruction of Jerusalem?

Well, some have suggested that the prophecy is talking about 2,300 combined mornings and evenings, or 1,150 years that the Holy Place would be cleansed. So they say that this brings us to 544-C.E., which they claim is when the last vestiges of true Christianity were wiped out. However, the prophecy doesn't seem to be speaking of the end of true Christianity, but of the rebuilding or cleansing of a Holy Place of worship of God.

Another group says that this was just a period of six-and-a-third literal years, which saw its fulfillment in modern times around Word War Two… the logic of which seems to elude us, since it is highly unlikely this major prophecy would have such a minor and unheralded fulfillment.

So, neither theory is likely true, and the prophecy could refer to the rebuilding of a method of true worship of God in the year 2370. However, the 2,300 mornings and evenings could also be some cryptic reference to the amount of time between Rome’s first attack on Jerusalem (66-C.E.) and the final conquest of the Jewish nation at Masada (73-C.E.).

Other Observations

Can ‘the Day and Hour’ be Known?

Can men actually determine the date when Armageddon will happen? After all, didn’t Jesus say that nobody (including himself) knows the date or hour? Well, he did say that some two-thousand years ago, and we are sure that the statement was true at the time, because, until then God had only provided clues to the date, which would require time and future historical events to unravel. But, hasn’t God always told His servants what is going to happen ahead of time? If you examine the Bible, you’ll find that the answer is yes!

For example: He gave Noah some idea of how long his ‘generation’ would last. In addition, two other periods that seem to parallel the events that lead up to the last days were also known; for Abraham was told the exact length of the Israelite’s captivity in Egypt (see Genesis 15:13), 400 years. Then the Israelites were told exactly how long they would have to wander in the desert before they would enter the Promised Land; forty years. And both of these events seem to be prophetic of our time, for they end with God’s people entering the Promised Land.

And notice what God Himself told us at Amos 3:6-8, ‘Will harm come to a city if it’s not done by Jehovah? No! There’s no way God Jehovah will do anything, unless He uncovers it to His servants the Prophets.’

Yet, while Jesus told us that we would be able to recognize the season when he is ‘near and at the doors,’ he clearly said that he would come at an unexpected day and hour… but unexpected by whom?

Notice what Paul wrote at 1 Thessalonians 5:3, 4, ‘Whenever they are saying ‘Peace and security,’ then destruction will come on them instantly as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they won’t escape. However, brothers, you aren’t in the dark. So that day shouldn’t sneak up on you like thieves.’

From Paul’s words we can conclude that; although the ‘day and hour’ wasn’t known when Jesus was on the earth, world conditions (and specifically a world-wide cry of ‘peace and security’) will give us clear indications of an impending end to this age, so that true Christians who are awake won’t be surprised at its coming.

What Will the Battle of Armageddon Involve?

What will happen at Armageddon? We do know that armies of this world are on one side of the battle and that Jesus and God’s messengers are on the other, because Revelation 19:19 says, ‘At that I saw the wild animal, along with the kings of the earth and their armies, all gathered together to go to war against the one who was sitting on the [white] horse and his army.’

Then, as Revelation 16:14 says, the war starts as the result of ‘inspirations of demons’ that go out ‘to all the kings of the earth to bring them together for the war of the Great Day of the Almighty God.’

Immediately thereafter, the Revelation goes into a discussion of the destruction of ‘The Great Babylon’ (in Chapters 17 and 18). Then, in Chapter 19, it talks about ‘the marriage of the Lamb’ (a heavenly union between Jesus and his ‘bride,’ or chosen ones), and finally it returns to the actual battle. So, from the order that is given, we might assume that the destruction of The Great Babylon and the marriage of the Lamb will happen before the Battle of Armageddon.

So, how would worldly governments actually wage a war against a heavenly army? In the case of the Israelites who were facing the armies of Pharaoh at the Red Sea, the battle started when the Egyptians attacked God’s people. So, we must assume that is the case here.

Who are Destroyed at Armageddon?

Revelation 19:20, 21 says, ‘Well, the wild animal was captured, as was the false prophet that performed the signs in front of it, which he used to mislead those who received the mark of the wild animal, and those who worshiped its image. While they were both still alive, they were tossed into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. However, the rest were killed by the long sword that came from the mouth of the one who was riding the [white] horse. Then all the birds ate their fill of flesh.’

So, who (other than ‘the kings and their armies’) is involved in this final battle and destruction is unclear. However, it does seem to indicate that those who ‘received the mark of the wild animal and those who worshiped its image’ are included among the destroyed. This ‘mark of the wild animal’ likely refers to people who are intensely nationalistic and supportive of their worldly governments (the ‘wild animals’ of Revelation and Daniel). For information on who will be involved in this battle and who will be destroyed, see the linked document, ‘The Mark of the Beast.’

However, if what is said at Isaiah Chapters 24-27 is a description of what will happen at Armageddon (and it does seem to be), it appears as though few will survive this great battle, for we read at Isaiah 24:6, ‘Therefore, this curse will devour the earth, because those who are dwelling on it have sinned! And because of this, [only] the poor will live on the earth, and just a few men will be left behind.’

Also, the prophecy of Zechariah the Fourteenth Chapter seems to speak of this great Battle, and there it indicates that, although the ones who come against God’s people (Jerusalem) will be destroyed, there will be some from the nations who will remain, and they will have to come to Jerusalem to bow before Jehovah and to celebrate the Festival of Booths.

But Isaiah 24:1 holds out this promise to those who do survive: ‘{Look!} Jehovah will lay waste to the entire inhabited [earth] and make it desolate. Then He will remove the veil from its surface and scatter those who live on it. And all the people will be like priests; servants will be masters; handmaids will be ladies; those who buy will be those who sell; those who borrow will be the ones lending, and those who owe will be the ones who are owed.’

For more information on who are destroyed at Armageddon, see the linked document Similarities between the Exodus and the Events of Revelation.

Another False Prophecy?

We recognize that many will likely seize on the speculations provided here and consider these just a few more false prophecies on the date for Armageddon… they aren’t. As we stated in the beginning, all we are trying to do is to keep watching for the Lord’s return and to show you why we believe that the time is near.

There have certainly been numerous speculations as to the date of Armageddon in the past, all of which have been wrong. As the result, most people have come to believe that any attempt to arrive at such a date is foolish… and it may be. However, Jesus warned his faithful slaves to stay awake! And that’s what we’re trying to do. For, if what we have written about the possible dates for Armageddon are all wrong, we firmly believe that we are living in the ‘season’ of its coming.

Armageddon or ‘The Lord’s Coming?’

One last thing to notice is that, although the term Armageddon has received a lot of press and is often used by politicians, book writers, and moving pictures to describe total annihilation, it’s interesting that Jesus didn’t use the term when he was describing his ‘nearness’ or his ‘coming’ (as found at Matthew 24, Mark 13, or Luke 21), nor does he describe such a battle there. So, there may be several steps that lead up to or follow Armageddon, and the dates provided above (if they are accurate) could refer to another part of that event, or specifically to ‘the Lord’s coming,’ which may then be followed by Armageddon.

If, for example, the events from the time of Jesus’ first coming to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70-C.E. are a mini picture of the things leading up to Armageddon, then there will be a brief work of preparing the way by a John the Baptist (or EliJah) class, followed by Jesus’ coming.

However, the description of the ‘feet of iron and baked clay’ that is described in Daniel 2 seems to indicate that the final cataclysmic event is the destruction of the last great world empire by God’s Kingdom, and this strongly indicates that we are living in the era when this will happen. For more information, see the Note at the end of Daniel, ‘Who Does the Image of Daniel Chapter Two Represent?’

Are You Awaiting Armageddon?

The thought of death is repulsive to most people, so it isn’t surprising that many have started serving God because they’ve been told that Armageddon is coming any day now, and if they’re faithful, they won’t have to die. As the result, they are literally living for and praying for the coming of Armageddon. They forget the words of Revelation 2:10, where we were told, ‘But be faithful to death and I’ll give you the crown of life.’

Seth, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Job, Moses, Joshua, Samuel, David, Daniel, and more all knew that Armageddon wasn’t coming in their lifetimes, so they understood that they would have to die, and they served God not to survive Armageddon, but because they loved Him. Their goal was to be counted among ‘the living’ by God, not to just stay alive. So, we urge all to stop thinking about when Armageddon will come and whether they will survive, for the real prize is having a relationship with God and receiving that ‘crown’ of being viewed by Him as the living, because ‘He isn’t a God of the dead, but of the living.’

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