Wednesday, January 06, 2010

Megiddo

Megiddo is a strategic hill in the Jezreel Valley in Israel. It has always been an important location, militarily, and still remains so. Today Israel has an underground airbase in the valley. In ancient times, this was a military outpost that had storehouses and a water supply. It was a city, of sorts.

The Hebrew word for hill or mountain - har - is often used when identifying Megiddo, which is where we get Har Megiddo or Armegeddon. According to historians, archaeologists have discovered seventy-seven layers in this ruined outpost - each representing a time when the city was battled for, destroyed, and rebuilt.

In ancient times, for one culture to war against and conquer another meant that the god of one culture was superior to the god of the conquered culture. Had Goliath killed David, the news on the morning headlines would have read 'Dagon Is the True God!'. In the land of Israel, there is perhaps no greater symbol of strategic possession than Har Megiddo - outside of the city of Jerusalem itself. What does this hint at?

From a Hebraic perspective... if there were going to be a final, symbolic battle to determine once and for all whose god was supreme, this battle would be fought at Megiddo. Isn't that something? Perhaps God thinks so, too! This is exactly why the last battle will be fought at Armageddon.

Rev 16:16 HNV
(16) He gathered them together into the place which is called in Hebrew, Megiddo.

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