Apocalypse Now?

WORDS: Steve Hunt PHOTOGRAPHY Bill Gullo @unsplash.com

A closer look at the biblical concept of Armageddon and its striking parallels with current Middle East tensions

“Is the Middle East finally on the brink of Armageddon?”
That was the chilling headline in a recent national newspaper analysis on the region’s escalating crisis.
“Is the Middle East inching towards all-out war?” asked the respected foreign affairs reporter behind the piece.
His sobering conclusion: “Probably yes, over time.”

Which got me thinking—what exactly is Armageddon? Has it become just a dramatic term for catastrophe, or does it refer to something more literal?

The Origin of Armageddon

The word “Armageddon” originates from the final book of the Bible—Revelation 16:16.
Revelation is known for its symbolic language, apocalyptic imagery, and prophetic vision of the end times. It introduces such dramatic figures as the Antichrist, the false prophet, the mark of the beast (666), the bowl judgments, and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

Here’s the key excerpt:

And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. They are demonic spirits that perform signs, and they go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty.

‘Behold, I am coming as a thief…blessed is the one who stays awake’, says a direct interjection by Jesus Christ in the narrative.
‘And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon.” (Revelation 16:12–16)

Interestingly, “Armageddon” appears only once in the Bible. The term comes from the Hebrew Har Megiddo, meaning “Mount Megiddo,” a real location in northern Israel.

Prophetic Threads Through Time

The Book of Revelation, believed to have been written by the Apostle John while exiled on the island of Patmos in the first century, connects uncannily with much older Old Testament prophecies—especially those in the books of Ezekiel and Daniel.
In Ezekiel, written roughly 600 years before Revelation, the prophet foretells a coalition of nations rising against Israel in the “last days.” Many scholars identify these nations with today’s geopolitical actors—chief among them Russia and Iran.

Modern Fulfilment?

The modern state of Israel was founded in 1948, fulfilling what many Christians see as biblical prophecy. The Old Testament foretold that Jews would be scattered but eventually return to their homeland:

“The Lord will scatter you among all peoples…” (Deuteronomy)
“I will bring my people Israel back from exile… I will plant them in their own land, never again to be uprooted.” (Amos)

Since 1948, Israel has survived multiple wars, persistent threats from neighbouring countries, and now, new escalations following the October 7, 2023 terror attack in which 1,200 Israelis were murdered by Palestinians linked to the terror group Hamas.
Iran, Israel’s most vocal adversary, has repeatedly called for Israel’s destruction and is reportedly pursuing nuclear weapons. This prompted the latest and most decisive event since Israel’s formation, its pre-emptive strike on Iran on June 13 which is playing out as we speak.

As tensions continue to rise, references to “Armageddon” have resurfaced in global media coverage.

Prophetic Voices Today

Amir Tsarfati, a Messianic Jew and Christian apologist who lives near Megiddo, sees divine alignment in current events.

“We’re not just seeing wars—we’re seeing the rebirth of Israel, the forming of Ezekiel’s coalition, and the fulfilment of prophecies nobody could see coming for 2,000 years,” Tsarfati says.

Biblical prophecy experts Todd Hampson and Jeff Kinley, hosts of the Prophecy Pros podcast, also point to Ezekiel 38.

“After the rebirth of Israel,” says Hampson, “a coalition of nations led by Gog and Magog—understood as Russia, Iran, and Turkey—will come against Israel from the north.”
“If that invasion happened today,” adds Kinley, “it would be a direct confirmation that we are living in the last days.”

Is it just coincidence that the nations named more than 2,500 years ago are today united in hostility toward Israel?

The Historical Context

Biblical scholars have long viewed the restoration of Israel in 1948 as a key prophetic milestone.
“Israel’s continued existence, identity, and national revival is a remarkable testament to the power of God,” wrote prophecy scholar John F. Walvoord. “Other nations disappear into history; Israel remains.”

The Valley of the Dry Bones

One of the most powerful metaphors in Ezekiel is the Valley of Dry Bones (Chapter 37). The vision portrays a long-dead nation—Israel—being brought back to life.

“Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord… I will bring you back to the land of Israel.”

Mark Twain once described the land as a “desolate wasteland” in the late 1800s. But since 1948, it has blossomed—both demographically and agriculturally. In 2023 alone, over 900,000 people immigrated to Israel, many of them Jews returning from over 100 countries.

Israel’s population is just over nine million. To put this into context, Iran’s population is ten times that, at 92 million, and ten times larger in land mass.

The End Game

How does this all relate to Armageddon?
According to Revelation, nations will converge on Armageddon for a climactic battle during the End Times. The battle marks the rise of the Antichrist, the onset of divine judgments, and the ultimate return of Christ.
The reference to Babylon in Revelation is often interpreted as a global economic system. Scholars have speculated that the “mark of the beast” may represent a digital currency system—something only made feasible in recent decades with the advent of global digital infrastructure.
Is it possible that the COVID-19 pandemic was a precursor to forced global compliance, as some prophecy teachers suggest?

The Role of Prophecy

Remarkably, 30% of the Bible consists of prophecy.
One example: the prophet Isaiah predicted the virgin birth of the Messiah 600+ years before Jesus’ time (Isaiah 7:14), and his suffering and death (Isaiah 53:5) centuries before the crucifixion occurred.
Daniel, while interpreting a dream for Babylon’s King Nebuchadnezzar, laid out a vision of four successive empires: Babylonian, Medo-Persian, Greek, and Roman. These predictions were fulfilled by history.

“Daniel provided a sweeping prophecy,” says Hampson, “accurately predicting history—and leaping forward to the end times.”

Israel: The “Super Sign”

Hampson calls Israel’s rebirth the “super sign” of the end times.

“Everything hinges on it. Every Old Testament prophet except Jonah spoke of it.”

With this prophetic foundation in place, what comes next?
According to prophecy scholars, we are heading toward:

• The Rapture of the Church
• The rise of the Antichrist
• A global economic system (the “mark of the beast”)
• The Great Tribulation
• The Battle of Armageddon
• The Second Coming of Christ

Despite the chaos, Scripture maintains that Israel will endure.

“From the Six-Day War to today’s threats from Iran,” says Hampson, “Israel has always emerged victorious—and will continue to do so, according to biblical prophecy.”

Credits:
Special thanks to Amir Tsarfati (Behold Israel), Jeff Kinley and Todd Hampson (Prophecy Pros Podcast).
beholdisrael.org | prophecyprospodcast.com