Evening journal., 1912-11-25
ARMACEDDON;;
PASTORS THEME
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recent political campaign made the
assertion that We are standing at
Armageddon fighting the battle OF the
Lord We hear on every hand the
question asked, What does Arma-
geddon mean2 From little histor-
lcal knowledge the meaning of the
word can be brought out IN it's
graphic Specification,
"The word Armageddon Ia derived
from two words, Ar, menlng a hill,
and Megiddo. an ancient city near
the famous battlefield of the plain
OF EsdraelOn. Literally, then, Arma-
geddon means tho Hill Of Megddo.
but what does the Hill OF Megiddo
meang II ia said IN the Word that
Joshua, on bis northern invasion OF
Palestine. slow the king Of Megiddo.
But he did not succeed IN taking the
city, Megiddo and her towns wore
given to Manasseh; but Manasaeh
did not take the city. Il was ono Of
the strongholds of the Canaanites.
Here was fought the desperate battle
between Barek and SlserR, the fierce
ness Of the conflict being thus do
sorlbed IN Scripture language; The
kings came and fought, they fought
the kings OF Canaan, in Taanach by
the waters Of Megiddo they
fought from heaven; the stars IN
their courses fought against slsera.
The river Kishon swept them away.
that ancient river, the river Kishon.
o my soul, thou hast trodden down
strength.
also IN this same locality. where
the plains allowed the assembling of
vast armies and the use Of horses and
war-chariots, Josiah fought the king
Of Egypt Here were fought the
mighty battles OF the ancient world.
Now with the thought that Arma-
geddon means the Hill Megiddo and
that the Hill Megddo was the strong
hold Of the enemies of the Hebrew
nation, we are prepared to see what
Armageddon means as used in the text
ITO the Mebrew mind, the HILL
Megiddo-Ar Mageddon-stood for
the nations early and most desperate
struggles. It eventually came to
mean what Bunker Hill does 10 US;
or what Waterloo or Appomattox has
come to suggest No one would fail
to understand me If l should say
metaphorically, We are again stand
ing at Waterloo, or, we are again
assembled at Bunker Hill
Now let us 90 one step further
/ Megiddo means other than a city on
a hill Why was the city called Me-
giddo? In the Old Hebrew, Megidde
means loftiness, haughtiness. or
pride Cities mentioned in the Word
often stand for the character Of the
/ people in them. Recall how Baby
/ Ion is used in Scripture as the symbol
Of those in the love Of dominion. The
term Philistine is now used to denote
people Of a certain character. The
Hill Megiddo means something sim
/ liar Literally il means the Hill of
! loftiness. But as those who occupied
the Hill we're desperate enemies Of
/ Israel, il came to mean TO the Heb
rev those who from haughtiness or
SELF love fought against the Hebrew
religion and God. Armageddon there
/ fore is used in the Word TO mean
those who from the love OF self fight
! against the Christian faith.
Now the New Testament makes
this use OF the name of the place. II
calls Il ArmaSeddOn and applies the
meaning to new conditions that we're
TO come. to the establishment of the
true Christian faith. This fact is evil
dent from the context. Two armies
are described. one commanded by
those who came out Of the dragon,
tile beast. and the mouth OF the false
prophet. called "unclean spirits" and
devils" These went forth to gather
the army o. those for the great day
of God Almighty" which day means
the time Of the Lords coming, for II
is Immediately added Behold l come.
In the text, therefore, Armageddon
means all those who from the love Of
rule fight by means of falsities
against the Lord and His Word, or
AGAINST the descent and extension of
the heavenly kindgd,m. Though Ar
ma geddon literally is a place spirit
ually it is not II stands for the
powers Of hell that are fighting pro-
giess. It embraces in its meaning
the whole kingdom Of darkness. self
ishness. greed, arrogance and ignor-
anoo that unite against Righteousness
and judgment
In resolutely fighting for the ruth
in defending the Word and its holy
teachings. in making the daily sacri-
j fee necessary to live the life of truth
and love we are standing at Arma-
geddon fighting the battle of the
Lord. for self sacrificing love and
toe life of truth arc the weapons
usec in the great battle of God Al
nightly.
"In the true sense of the express
sion, and with the large application
the church today is standing at Ar
mageddon, fighting the battle of the
Lord Those who from the pride oil