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Tuesday, January 28, 2003
Malig: Armageddon
By Jun A. Malig
I also believe in the doctrines and teachings of Jesus Christ. But I tend to give credence to the observations of Bible scholars who have studied the history and literary contents of the biblical books without dogmatic or personal biases for they did not allow their own religious beliefs and devotion interfere with their studies. And it is a fact that an objective observer would be a lot more credible than a subjective one.
THE Merriam-Webster Company's collegiate dictionary's 150th anniversary edition defines Armageddon as "a final and conclusive battle between the forces of good and evil." The term is usually ascribed to the end of the world.
It is believed taken from that of the battlefield Megiddo in the Plain of Mesdraelon, a valley and kingdom where numerous battles between the
Israelites and their enemies were fought during the biblical times.
It was in the valley of Megiddo where Israelite king Joshia (not the military leader Joshua who succeeded Moses) was wounded by his enemies' arrows. Upon seeing his wounds, his servants took him out of his battle chariot and brought him to Jerusalem where he died.
The book of Revelation of the Bible's King James version (chapter 16, verse 16) states: "And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon." It is the only biblical verse wherein Armageddon was mentioned. The verse has something to do with the command of a "great voice" to the seven angels to go their ways and "pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth."
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READING the book of Revelation, sometimes called the Apocalypse, could make a believer of the "doomsday" quiver in dread. It was written in a literary fashion filled with apocalyptic symbols derived from early Christian traditions and the Old Testament's prophetic books and stated fearful words like thunder, earthquake, the sun's scorching heat, blood, and death.
Bible scholars believe the book was written some 50 years after Jesus died on the cross by John the Elder (Saint Mark), although ecclesiastical tradition has held John the Evangelist (Saint John) to be its author.
The scholars noted the linguistic differences in the Revelation and the Gospel of John. Many Christian preachers in almost 2000 years now have talked about the end of the world while citing the passages of the Revelation.
It never happened. Preachers and believers lived and died but the "doomsday" they were waiting never came.
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I also believe in the doctrines and teachings of Jesus Christ. But I tend to give credence to the observations of Bible scholars who have studied the history and literary contents of the biblical books without dogmatic or personal biases for they did not allow their own religious beliefs and devotion nterfere with their studies. And it is a fact that an objective observer would be a lot more credible than a subjective one.
Most Bible scholars were convinced that John the lder wrote the Revelation in reference to the worsening conditions for Christians under Roman Emperor Domitian's rule.
It was written chiefly to encourage the Christians of the 1st Century to endure their terrifying ordeals while waiting for the imminent eternally just age. It was not about the end of the world. But of course, there are scientific evidences showing that the Earth could end up as cosmic cloud and debris if it collides with a comet or if the star we call Sun would have to enter the point of its life when it becomes a super nova.
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SO, is it true that Armageddon, the so-called final battle between the forces of good and evil, is already near? Doomsday fanatics have been expecting Armageddon since the 1st until the 20th century.
They had and have various reasons, be it personal or religious, for this. Predictions of Michael Nostradamus, alleged apparitions and messages of Mother Mary, spiritual communications, or simple gut feelings were and are among these.
Some Catholics believe that the simple blessing by a priest, using prayer and "holy" water, would spare people and their properties from the devastating effects of Armageddon. Well, everybody is entitled to his or her own opinion.
But should we expect a universal or worldwide Armageddon and doomsday happening exactly at the same time? Perhaps the early Christians already experienced these, either individually or collectively.
Perhaps the people of Hiroshima and Nagasaki had their taste of Armageddon and doomsday after the United States' B-29 bombers dropped atomic bombs on their cities.
Finally, are we talking about physical or spiritual salvation? Some could say both. But if both, how come martyrs, including the church-declared saints, decided to forsake their physical redemption in exchange for spiritual salvation? For doing so, they are now being revered and serve as good examples for every Catholic.
Perhaps each individual would have his own Armageddon and "doomsday" as part of the natural process of the spirit's abandonment of the material body and return to its Creator. All we human beings could do is either to presume or have faith.
Only the Creator knows for certain. |
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