Revelation 16

Preface

This interpretation was one I came up with when I was in high school. I think that at the time I was trying to figure out the Revelation. There are several places where I could see what was being said, but mostly I really don't know.

Interpretation

This interpretation is from the sixteenth chapter of Revelations, and is really rather short, but important. That is, many people have talked about "Armageddon" as the last war that destroys everything. There is even a movie out with that title. What if this is not a future event, but a past event?

14 These were demonic spirits who performed signs. They went out to the kings of the whole world to assemble them for the battle on the great day of God the almighty.

This was true of the first and second world war. That is, every nation on Earth was recruited for the war on one side or the other. There were other wars that might qualify - the Napoleonic wars, even the wars with the Roman Empire. I think this refers to the first World War (or maybe the first and second World War as two battles of a single war.)

15 ("Behold, I am coming like a thief." Blessed is the one who watches and keeps his clothes ready, so that he may not go naked and people see him exposed.)

16 They then assembled the kings in the place that is named Armageddon in Hebrew.

This is the only place Armageddon appears in the Bible. It refers to a great battle in the war.

The truth is that "Armageddon" refers to a real place, the "Hill of Megiddo" according to Wikipedia. This is a hill in northern Israel, and is the scene of many great battles. The Wikipedia entry lists three battles, only one of which is significant, as the other two occurred before this scripture was written. The significant battle was the battle of Megiddo, 1918. The significant thing about this battle is that this is the battle which defeated the Ottoman Empire. That is, the land of the Middle East was finally freed of Ottoman domination after 500 years. This was the first step in a sequence that lead to the formation of the State of Israel, a battle of Armageddon.

This interpretation of this scripture is not mine alone. Rather, others have expressed the same feeling. The Wikipedia mentions that the Bahá'ís also believe this may be the battle of Armageddon mentioned in the Bible.

17 The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air. A loud voice came out of the temple from the throne, saying, "It is done."

18 Then there were lightning flashes, rumblings, and peals of thunder, and a great earthquake. It was such a violent earthquake that there has never been one like it since the human race began on earth.

19 The great city was split into three parts, and the gentile cities fell. But God remembered great Babylon, giving it the cup filled with the wine of his fury and wrath.

Conclusion

This is the scripture that justifies all the talk about a final battle of Armageddon, which the Fundamentalist think is going to happen at some point in the future. Yet, the battle has already taken place. This often happens in interpretation of the scripture. People look at particular results that they expect, and as a result the scripture is fulfilled, and people don't notice. The most notable case is that of Jesus. People were looking for Jesus to come as a figure in the clouds, but he didn't, he came as a baby, just like everyone else. How many other times has this occurred? Think about it.