Armageddon is an Anglicized version of the Hebrew har-Megiddo. Har means hill rather than something to laugh at, and nobody will be amused at this very sad and terrifying time for humanity. Kings of the earth and their armies will “gather” in a valley called Megiddo for “the battle of that great day of God Almighty" (Revelation 16:13-16). Historically lots of battles have been fought here. But not this time.

Precisely put, they gather here, but the battle will take place elsewhere. Where?

Megiddo is about 80 miles north of Jerusalem. The kings and their armies will mobilize down to the Kidron Valley that runs north and south between the Mount of Olives and the eastern gate of Jerusalem. This makes perfect logistical sense, since at His return, Jesus is going to stand on the Mount of Olives (Zechariah 14:4). And it stands to reason that He will majestically make a triumphant royal processional walk into Jerusalem—through the Lion of Judah eastern gate—that is walled up and reserved for His arrival.

My feet have stood on the Mount of Olives and walked down to the wall, which is close enough to hardly break a sweat. Of course, if Jesus chooses to just pop on over, who will stop Him?

Not the armies, which are merely like grapes clustered in the valley and destined to be stomped in the winepress of His wrath. How do they think they will even have a chance fighting the Son of God, except through strong delusion by the one who relentlessly keeps up his losing cause?

Joel 3:11-16 and Zechariah 14:12-15 warn about this earth-shaking battle. Joel says the Kidron Valley is also called the Valley of Jehoshaphat and refers to it as “the valley of decision.” Anybody who gathers in Megiddo or shows up for the Battle of Jehoshaphat in the Kidron Valley has already made the wrong decision!

For anybody fighting against Christ and His heavenly armies, it will seem like the end of the world! But actually Jesus will come to the rescue just before there would be no flesh saved alive (Matthew 24:22), and restore the earth to 1,000 years of joy, peace and prosperity.

So "the Battle of Armageddon?" "The end of the world?" The battle will be in a different place and in truth, it will be the beginning for the world.