Israeli archaeologists have discovered near Tel Megiddo, commonly known as Armageddon, the remnants of an 1800 year old sprawling Roman legionary base that once housed between 5000 to 6000 soldiers of Rome’s Legio VI Ferrata, or the Sixth Iron (or Ironclad) Legion (ref. 1). It is said, this is the largest Roman military base ever found in Israel. The complex was established sometime between 117 AD and 300 AD. Within the site, archaeologists also found parts of weapons, pieces of pottery, fragments of glass, and lots of roof tiles, some marked with the brand of Legio VI Ferrata.
The Sixth Iron Legion was formed in 52 BC in Gaul by Julius Caesar. It saw action in many parts of the empire, including Egypt when Caesar took it there to settle a dispute with Cleopatra. In 117 AD, the Sixth Iron Legion began to serve in Judea. This was after Rome brought an end to Herod’s temple, 70 AD. In Judea, the Sixth Iron Legion did fight against the Jews who followed Simon bar Kokhba in the revolt of 132-135 AD.
The fact that this legion was based near Armageddon goes to show how important the valley of Jezreel is militarily to the land of Israel. Napolean once described the valley of Jezreel and Armageddon as the perfect battlefield, where all the armies of the world can gather. The Bible prophesies that Armageddon will be the place where a decisive battle between God and Satan will be fought.
And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.
Revelation 16:16
And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
Revelation 19:19
As I understand it, on that day, the Assyrian and his forces will be there, and the false prophet and the forces of Babylon and her allies will also be there.
… he [the Assyrian or Antichrist] shall also stand up against the Prince of princes [Jesus Christ]; but he shall be broken without hand.
Daniel 8:25
And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
Revelation 16:13-14
Fallen angels too will be there, including Satan himself.
On the opposing side, the kings of the east will be there.
And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.
Revelation 16:12
And of course, Jesus Christ will be there, and so too his armies from heaven – the angels still loyal to God, and the saints, a brand new army numbering 144000.
And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies [plural, two armies] which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
Revelation 19:11-14
I don’t think this will be a three-way battle, if there is such a thing. Nor will this be a battle between the whole world on one side and heaven on the other. Today, can you imagine Russia and China on the same side as the USA?
Instead, this will be a battle of good versus evil.
Both sides will have armies of human soldiers, or clay; and both sides with have armies of angels, or iron. Angels outnumber fallen angels two to one, and on the side of God, there will be yet another army – the 144000 saints – which also constitutes iron.
Furthermore, the Bible likens the power of Jesus Christ himself to that of iron.
And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
Revelation 19:15
So, because Jesus Christ is Almighty God, and because there is more iron on the side of good, Satan and all who are with him will certainly lose.
I am not sure whether Israel, as in the IDF, will be at Armageddon.
Prior to the entry of the kings of the east, Judah and Jerusalem will be besieged (ref. Zechariah 12:2). However, by the time of the sixth trumpet, the military pressure on Israel should be less. This change will lift the siege, and enable Israel to counterattack the caliphate. At this stage, Israel will push into Egypt (ref. Isaiah 19:16-17) and Edom (ref. Ezekiel 25:14), and maybe elsewhere as well.
And the land of Judah shall be a terror unto Egypt, every one that maketh mention thereof shall be afraid in himself, because of the counsel of the LORD of hosts, which he hath determined against it.
Isaiah 19:17
And I will lay my vengeance upon Edom by the hand of my people Israel: and they shall do in Edom according to mine anger and according to my fury; and they shall know my vengeance, saith the Lord GOD.
Ezekiel 25:14
It is possible that some elements of the IDF will reach Armageddon, to see what is going on.
So, prophetically, Armageddon is about “iron” and the “sixth” trumpet and vial. Is it a coincidence that the “Sixth Iron” Legion was the one of Rome that was based at Armageddon?
Now, to be clear, Armageddon has nothing to do with Gog and Magog. That battle is something that will happen over a thousand years from now (ref. Revelation 20:7-8).
And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
Revelation 20:7-8
First, Gog and Magog will essentially be an open rebellion of some portion of the army of the saints, sometime after the Millennial Reign of Jesus Christ, after Jesus Christ has returned to heaven. It will be a battle that will involve “mountains”, an epithet of the saints, and a battle where every man’s sword will be against his brother.
And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord GOD: every man’s sword shall be against his brother.
Ezekiel 38:21
It will be every man’s sword against his brother, because all of the 144000 are technically brethren: all have bloodline to the 12 tribes of Jacob.
Those under the impression that the IDF is going to lay down its arms and wait for the enemies of Israel to start killing themselves have the two battles mixed up. Nahum 2:1 clearly says, in these last days, the nation of Israel is to prepare to fight and to fortify its power.
He that dasheth in pieces is come up before thy face: keep the munition, watch the way, make thy loins strong, fortify thy power mightily.
Nahum 2:1
By contrast, the humans of Zion at the time of Gog and Magog will be unarmed, not having to hurt or destroy anyone any more (ref. Isaiah 65:25), because the kingdom by then is to be defended entirely by saints.
Second, Gog and Magog will occur after the nation of Israel becomes a land without walls.
And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates
Ezekiel 38:11
Today, Israel is most certainly a place with gates, fences and concrete walls.
Third, Gog and Magog will involve some number of humans on the side of Gog, armed with swords, bucklers, shields, spears, bows and arrows. There will probably even be actual horses.
And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords
Ezekiel 38:4
This is because, by that time, the world will have forgotten how to do war with bullets and bombs, as it is done today, in the 21st century (ref. Isaiah 2:4). There might be one notable exception to this, but for now I won’t say more.
Anyway, because of the wood of the various weapons, once Gog loses the battle, the people of Zion will not have to gather any more wood from forests for a while.
And they that dwell in the cities of Israel shall go forth, and shall set on fire and burn the weapons, both the shields and the bucklers, the bows and the arrows, and the handstaves, and the spears, and they shall burn them with fire seven years: So that they shall take no wood out of the field, neither cut down any out of the forests; for they shall burn the weapons with fire: and they shall spoil those that spoiled them, and rob those that robbed them, saith the Lord GOD.
Ezekiel 39:9-10
By contrast, there is very little if any wood in the weapons of today.
So, Armageddon is not the same as Gog and Magog.
Whereas Gog and Magog over a thousand years from now will see Satan fracture and then try to destroy the kingdom of God, Armageddon on the day of the LORD will see the remnants of the kingdoms of Judah and Israel reunited to become the kingdom of God. When Jesus Christ returns to earth, these two kingdoms, Judah and Israel, will become one for the first time since their split, and this will happen at the valley of Jezreel.
And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king [Jesus Christ] shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all: Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their dwellingplaces, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God.
Ezekiel 37:22-23
Remember, it was prophesied to the ancient kingdom of Israel that in the place of Jezreel, where God said to Israel, “Ye are not my people”, there God shall say to Israel, “Ye are the sons of the living God”. In this context, a “son of God” is a “saint”.
Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God. Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head [Jesus Christ], and they shall come up out of the land: for great shall be the day of Jezreel.
Hosea 1:10-11
The chosen ones of Israel (saints) and the holy remnant of Judah (human Jews) together, under one king, Jesus Christ. This is the kingdom of God.
References:
1. Jennifer Nalewicki (16 February 2024), “1,800-year-old Iron Legion Roman base discovered near Armageddon is largest in Israel”, livescience.com