Armageddon as Divine War in the Apocalypse : An Exegetical-Theological Study on Popular Biblical Eschatology

The word "Armageddon" appears only once in the whole Bible as the name of the site for the eschatological battle on the great day of God the Almighty (Rev 16:16). Though it appears only once in the Bible, it has been the subject of a variety of interpretations. These interpretations can be divided into 2 major groups: Armageddon as a literal geographical place and Armageddon as a symbolic place. In the light of the differing opinions on the subject, this study explores the interpretation of Armageddon through the theological lens of the divine war motif. This is also done in an attempt to provide a unified, integrated understanding of the subject. The divine war motif emphasizes that Armageddon is not just the ultimate battle between good and evil. It is God's final and complete victory over all evil. The good news of Armageddon is that God will win in the end.