The Valley of Armageddon

On the way to Tel Megiddo we drive through

 the Valley of Armageddon.

Guess I had always pictured a desolate and forlorn place.

Not a fertile and beautiful land.

Megiddo is mentioned twelve times in the Old Testament, 

ten times in reference to the ancient city of Megiddo, 

and twice with reference to "the plain of Megiddo", 

most probably simply meaning "the plain next to the city". 

None of these Old Testament passages describes the city of Megiddo

 as being associated with any particular prophetic beliefs.

 The one New Testament reference to the city of Armageddon

 is found in Revelation 16:16.

Armageddon (from Ancient Greek: Ἁρμαγεδών Harmagedōn, 

Late Latin: Armagedōn will be, according to the Book of Revelation, 

the site of gathering of armies for a battle during the end times,

 variously interpreted as either a literal or symbolic location.

The term is also used in a generic sense to refer
 to any end of the world scenario.

The word "Armageddon" appears only once
 in the Greek New Testament, in Revelation16.:6.
The word may come from Hebrew har məgiddô (הר מגידו), 
had meaning

 "[at the] Mountain" and Megiddo -
Strong מְגִדּוֹן /meg-id-do'/ "place of crowds".

 "Mount" Tel Megiddo is not actually a mountain,
 but a tell (a hill created by many generations of people living 
and rebuilding on the same spot) on which ancient forts 
were built to guard the Via Maris, an ancient trade route linking Egypt 
with the northern empires of Syria, Anatoliaand Mesopotamia.
 Megiddo was the location of various ancient battles,
 including one in the 15th century BC and one in 609 BC.
 Modern Megiddo is a town approximately 25 miles (40 km) 
west-southwest of the southern tip of the Sea of Galilee
 in the Kishon River area. ( wikipedia)

This area brings to mind a list
 of warfare leaders:
Pharaohs Tutmouse, and Neco, Barak, Gideon,
Sennacherib, Josiah, Saul, Greeks,
 Romans, Crusaders, Saladin,
Turks, Brits and Israelis.

This area was fought over as an international highway.

The Lord is still in charge of the end times.

It rests with Him.

My part?

Tell and be ready.