Armageddon theology

Armageddon theology is the fundamental belief that a final war will be fought between the forces of good and evil lead by God and Satan, respectively, occurring at Tel Megiddo. The word Armageddon is derived from the word Megiddo.
Christians
For Christians Armageddon theology is related to Christian eschatology and Fundamentalist Christianity.
Dispensationalism
Dispensationalism consists of a distinctive end times perspective with the premillennialism and a pretribulation rapture. Dispensationalists believe that the nation of Israel is distinct from the Church, and that God will fulfill His promises to national Israel. These promises include the land promises, which in the future result in a millennial kingdom where Christ, upon His return, will rule the world from Jerusalem for a thousand years. In other areas of theology, dispensationalists hold to a wide range of beliefs within the evangelical and fundamentalist spectrum. The first event is to be unseen, the rapture proper, when the saved are prophesied to be 'caught up,' from whence the term rapture is taken. The 'second coming' is the public event when Christ's presence is prophesied to be clearly seen as he returns to end Armageddon. The majority of dispensationalists hold that the first event immediately precedes the period of Tribulation.
Antichrist
The Antichrist, according to Christianity, is one who fulfils bible prophecy concerning an adversary of , while resembling him in a deceptive manner. Armageddon theology envisions a war between the followers of Christ and the followers of the Antichrist.
Tribulation
The Tribulation is the name given to the event or events referred to in ("For then shall be great tribulation..." - King James Version) While it is considered a period of immense suffering and sacrifice, greater than anything before in history, believers are promised strong faith to help them endure and prevail. Persecution is attributed to the believers rebelling against the Antichrist and his regime.
Millennialism
Millennialism is a belief that there will be a Golden Age or Paradise on Earth in which "Christ will reign" for 1,000 years prior to the Last judgment. This belief is derived primarily from the book of .
Apocalypticism
Apocalypticism stems from John the Baptist, Jesus Christ and the Apostles who preached about the end times.
Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse are described in the last book of the New Testament of the Bible, called the Book of Revelation of Saint John the Evangelist at 6:1-8. The chapter tells of a scroll in God's right hand that is sealed with seven seals. Jesus Christ opens the first four of the seven seals, which summons forth the four beasts that ride on white, red, black, and pale-green horses symbolizing conquest, war, famine, and death, respectively. The Christian apocalyptic vision is that the four horsemen are to set a divine apocalypse upon the world as harbingers of the Last Judgment.
Influence
The influence of Armageddon theology is reflected in an Federal Bureau of Investigation report that certain individuals have acquired weapons, stored food and clothing, raised funds, procured safe houses, prepared compounds, and recruited converts to their cause, all in preparation for foreign attacks.
Ronald Reagan adopted this theology and never retreated from it. He uttered at least seven public references to Armageddon during his Presidency and seemed to blend his political analysis with his Armageddon theology quite naturally.
The militia movement in the United States believe in the Christian apocalyptic vision that the Antichrist will attempt to take over the world in the near future. There were over 100 extremist militias that the Southern Poverty Law Center has identified as active in the United States in 2009. In March 2010, one of these militia units, called the Hutaree, had several members arrested for planning an attack on the police.

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