In some religions, there’s a debate whether Armageddon and the battle of Gog and Magog are the same. I believe they are the same, though there’s a very brief battle of the same name at the end of the Millennium. More than likely those who fight against God at that time will do so billing it at the continuation of the first battle and vowing a different outcome.
The Battle of Armageddon
Ezekiel knew that at a certain point following the return of the Jews to Palestine, and after they had built up the land and its cities, there would be a monumental military conflict which would precede the manifestation of the Messiah unto them.
Ezekiel said a great conquering host would come out of the north. He identified them as a massive military coalition of the people of Magog, Tubal and Meshech. These are three of the sons of Japheth, father of the Gentiles, whose descendants became the principal settlers of Europe and Asia. Their leader is identified by Ezekiel as “Gog,” who is the dictatorial commander general or “chief prince” over all these hosts. The Lord said this army would come over the land “like a cloud” and that it would be an unprovoked assault against defenseless cities. There would be savage fighting “throughout all my mountains,” the Lord said.
It is at this point that we digress long enough to examine the writings of Joel. His entire vision pertained to this period of terrible warfare and struggle just prior to the manifestation of the Messiah. We do not have any certain way of determining exactly when Joel wrote, but it is believed to have been long before this, probably in the eighth or ninth century B.C. The first two chapters of Joel have great significance for people living in an age of atomic warfare and mechanized cavalry.
He describes what the war against Judah will be like and the modern reader may well be astonished at some of the details. He says seeds will not grow in the ground, the land will be completely defoliated, “for the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness, and the flame hath burned all the trees of the field. The beasts of the field cry also unto thee: for the rivers of waters are dried up, and the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness.” Joel describes a great war-like people who use fire as a weapon of desolation. He says that “there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it.... A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them.”
Joel tried to describe what he saw: “The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run.” But these were like no other horses he had ever seen. Notice this bold attempt to describe the strange mobile units which he saw: “Like the noise of chariots [not horses] on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble...they shall run like mighty men [once again the simile changes]; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks: neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded. They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; and they devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them.”
Joel tried to describe what he saw: “The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run.” But these were like no other horses he had ever seen. Notice this bold attempt to describe the strange mobile units which he saw: “Like the noise of chariots [not horses] on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble...they shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks: neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded. They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; and they shall enter in at the windows like a thief. The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble.”
It sounds very much as though he were attempting to describe a modern armored division rumbling across a city with cannon and flame-throwers spreading destruction all around. Joel recommended that when the people of Judah see this great gentile juggernaut sweeping toward them they should go into fasting and prayer, for without God’s help they will never survive.
He cried, “Rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God.... Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: gather the people, sanctify the congregation...let them say, Spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thine heritage to reproach.... Then will the Lord be jealous for his land, and pity his people. Yea, the Lord will answer and say...I will remove far off from you the northern army.”
The apostle John states that the source of many of these divine judgments would will be two prophets raised up to the Jews who will help them greatly in standing up this enemy. (See Revelation 11) And most Christians believe this is how the final great battle will go down. Taking his prophecy, which seemingly speaks of modern warfare, there’s no way any of this would be applicable to the Jehovah's Witnesses of the early 21st Century.
