Armageddon is the name given, in the Book of Revelation, to that last great conflict in which the forces of evil in the world muster themselves to withstand the incoming Kingdom of God upon earth. They fail, and with their failure the present Age ends and the "Times of Restitution" begin. The name itself is the Greek form of the Hebrew Hamegiddon, mountain of Megiddo, referring to the district of that name in Galilee where most of the historic battles of Israel were fought.

It is to be expected that many forces will combine to oppose the establishment of the Kingdom of God. A world order which is going to suppress all forms of oppression and injustice, command wars to cease, restrain men from inflicting evil upon their fellows, establish righteousness and just dealing as the order of the day, is bound to have its enemies. Although there is no doubt that the majority of mankind will accept the new Kingdom with enthusiasm—for the majority are righteously and peaceably disposed—there will be grim opposition on the part of those whose selfish interests are threatened by the change of sovereignty.

We are already experiencing the preliminary stages of Armageddon in world distress. Since that memorable year 1914 the nations have been angry, and never free from war. A growing disregard of God is being reflected in an impatience of the restraints demanded by the moral laws which God had ordained, and on every hand now the cry is that man, with the aid of science, can work out his own salvation without Divine help. In consequence any suggestion that the kingdoms of this world are to pass away and give place to the Kingdom of our Lord provokes increasing resentment.

The principal impact of that resentment will come against the nation of Israel, regathered to its own land in fulfilment of Divine promise and prospering there whilst the rest of the world is floundering more and more helplessly in the troubles of its own making. It is at about this time that the future princes of Israel, the ancient stalwarts of Old Testament history, will be raised from the dead to guide the destinies of Israel, and it will be against them, as representing the incoming Kingdom, that the evil forces of this world will advance. In this time of crisis God will intervene and make of no avail the weapons in which the forces of evil have trusted, and in their crushing defeat the nations will see the hand of God and be ready to pay attention to the proclamation of the new kingdom.