This Article: (6 Pages)
- 1. What Does Armageddon mean?
- 2. The Bible's Warning About Armageddon.
- 3. The Word 'Armageddon' is Hebrew... for a Place
- 4. The Modern Political Situation... Fits These Prophecies
- 5. Answering the Questions and... options for Survival
- 6. Armageddon To Occur In The Valley... of Jehoshaphat
6) Armageddon To Occur In The Valley of Jehoshaphat
The prophecy related to Armageddon predicts “he gathered them into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.”(Rev16:16)
Armageddon is a place that is to be the focal point of a world conflict where the nations will be gathered for war.
As noted before, the prophet Joel refers to the Valley of Jehoshaphat twice in chapter 3 as a place where the nations will be gathered for judgement (Joel 3:2, 11-13). In a third place in this same chapter, Joel refers to “multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision; for the day of the LORD (Yahweh) is near in the valley of decision.” The word “DECISION” is more accurately rendered “concision” or “threshing.” This establishes a very clear link between Revelation 16:16 referred to before, and the references in chapter 3 of the prophecy of Joel.
The reference to Armageddon in Rev 16:16, “And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon” is very closely linked to Joel 3:14, “Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision (or threshing).”This link can be related to the battle that will take place when Yahshua returns to set up God’s kingdom on earth. The connection is established by the meaning of the word Armageddon, which as already shown signifies, “a heap of sheaves in a valley for judgement.”
In relation to the Valley of Jehoshaphat in Joel 3, it is recorded, “I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the Valley of Jehoshaphat,”(verse 2) and “let the heathen be wakened and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge round about.” (verse 12)
Geographers tell us that there was no such physical place as the Valley of Jehoshaphat. This seems to be an anomaly, but it appears to have an important connection with Armageddon considering the strong connection between the references in Revelation and Joel to “a heap of sheaves in a valley for judgement,” and “a valley of threshing.” Both references are to a battle of the Lord like no other recorded in the Bible.
We need to refer to 2 Chronicles 20. This is where it is recorded that Yahweh destroyed, without the people of Israel having to fight, the enemies of Judah, in the time of Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah. This was a miraculous victory for Israel, and brings to mind that reference in Zechariah 14:3, which says, “then shall Yahweh go forth and fight against those nations as when he fought in the day of battle.”
From 2 Chronicles 20, the following facts emerge. Jehoshaphat, whose name means “Yahweh will judge”, witnessed a battle which required no fighting by the people of Judah, Israel. Forces led by Ammon, Moab and Mt Seir had assembled in Engedi against Judah. The people of Judah were in great fear and gathered with Jehoshaphat before the Temple in Jerusalem to pray and seek Yahweh’s help. It is interesting to note here that this was in accordance with the prayer of Solomon at the time of the dedication of the Temple (1 Kings 8). Jahaziel in “the spirit of Yahweh” revealed to them that “the battle is not yours but God’s.” We should note here that Jahaziel’s name means ‘he will be divided of el (i.e. God)’ and showed the purpose of Yahweh on this occasion. Jahaziel was the son of Zechariah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph. The people were told to go to the cliff of Ziz and to be “still and see the salvation of Yahweh…for Yahweh will be with you…and Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before Yahweh worshipping Yahweh.”(2 Chron 6:16-18)
The people went to the wilderness of Tekoa and witnessed the destruction of their enemies as the armies of Amon, Moab and Mt Seir engaged in battle amongst themselves. It is here that we recall Jahaziel’s name, “he will be divided of El.”
In the aftermath of the battle in which, not they but Yahweh had fought for the people, the people, with Jehoshaphat, assembled in the valley of Berachah (which means ‘blessing’), where they “blessed Yahweh…for Yahweh had made them to rejoice over their enemies.” (verse 27) This why the valley was called Berachah and not Jehoshaphat, The victory was Yahweh’s, not Jehoshaphat’s.
Armageddon (Rev 16:16) and Joel 3 appear to have a close association, which is worthwhile considering. Bible students have often puzzled over the significance of the statement in Isaiah 63: 1-4. “Who is this that comes from (the direction of) Edom with dyed garments from Bozrah?...I will trample them in mine anger…blood shall be sprinkled on my garments…for the day of vengeance is in my heart.” This appears to suggest that when the Messiah returns to fight Yahweh”s great battle against the nations, that the Messiah comes from the south. It may mean that there is a logical connection between this vision described by Isaiah coming from the south of the area , where this most significant battle occurred in the reign of Jehoshaphat. Zechariah also tells us that “Yahweh shall save the tents of Judah first.” Jehoshaphat was the king of Judah and Judah was located in the southern part of Israel.
Many commentators place the Valley of Jehoshaphat between Jerusalem and the Mt of Olives, but there is no historical or geographical evidence to support this. The only valley in which Jehoshaphat was historically involved (2 Chron 20:26) was subsequently named the Valley of Berachah/Blessing, in honour of Yahweh’s victory in that place over the combined enemies of Israel, typical of the Battle of Armageddon. Whether the Valley of Berachah will be significant at the return of Yahshua, or whether we learn spiritual lessons from Jehoshaphat’s experiences, it is valuable to consider this victory against and judgement of Judah’s enemies and the time to come , when “Yahweh shall go forth and fight against those nations as when He fought in the day of battle.” (Zechariah 14:3)
The Valley of Berachah, the Ascent of Ziz, Tekoa and Engedi were significant in the time of Jehoshaphat, and could again be significant in the future battle.
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