At Revelation 16:14, 16 the Bible shows that demon-inspired propaganda will lead the world’s leaders “to the war of the great day of God the Almighty.” It adds: “And they gathered them together to the place that is called in Hebrew Har–Magedon.” Does this not indicate a final war in the Middle East? No, for no geographic location called “Har–Magedon” (literally, “Mountain of Megiddo”) actually exists. In Bible times, there was a Middle Eastern city called Megiddo. It was located in the plain shown on the cover of this issue. Near Megiddo many significant battles took place. But there was, and is, no mountain there. “Har–Magedon,” or “Armageddon,” must therefore be a symbolic location. Symbolic of what?

The Bible, however, indicates that the world scene will undergo a drastic change. “Babylon the Great,” the world empire of false religion, will suffer sudden destruction. (Revelation, chapter 18) With this debacle of false religion, the remaining true Christians will seem vulnerable, and Satan, or “Gog,” will not be able to resist attempting to destroy them. He will see to it that under demonic influence “the kings of the entire inhabited earth” are gathered together “to the war of the great day of God the Almighty” at Har–Magedon.​—Ezekiel 38:12-16; Revelation 16:14, 16.

“Har–Magedon” is, therefore, not some tiny location in the Middle East. Rather, it is a world situation. The entire world will be united in its opposition to Jehovah God and his witnesses. (Isaiah 43:10-12) It is Satan’s vicious attack upon true Christians​—not a battle between nations in an area of the Middle East—​that arouses God to warfare in defense of His people!​—Ezekiel 38:18-23; Zechariah 2:8.