ARTICLE
from the
Encyclopædia Britannica
Armageddon, (probably Hebrew: “Hill of Megiddo”), in the New Testament, place where the kings of the earth under demonic leadership will wage war on the forces of God at the end of history. Armageddon is mentioned in the Bible only once, in the Revelation to John, or the Apocalypse of St. John (16:16).
The Palestinian city of Megiddo, located on a pass commanding a road connecting Egypt and Syria, was probably chosen as a symbol for such a battle, because it had been the scene of many military encounters owing to its strategic location. (Megiddo was also the site of a crucial battle in 1918 during the First World War and lent its name to the victor: Lord Allenby of Megiddo.) The term Armageddon has often been used by Protestant fundamentalists to refer to an impending cataclysmic struggle between the forces of good and evil. (See apocalyptic literature.) It has also been used figuratively, often by peace activists, to describe a possible nuclear world war.
Robert E. Lerner
Articles from Britannica encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.
-
Armageddon - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)
-
place-name based on Megiddo, ancient fortified city in Palestine; derived probably from Hebrew for "mountain of Megiddo"; modern usage usually refers to site of battle at the end of world history between forces of good and evil, as well as of God’s final judgment, believed by some Christians to be foretold in biblical prophecy; biblical reference cited is Revelation 16:16.
The topic Armageddon is discussed at the following external Web sites.
Citations
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.