Page 37 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

ARMAGEDDON - ARMINIAN

ARMAGEDDON (mountain of Megiddo). The hill had the reputation of “a spotless Christian consistency”
and plain of Megiddo southwest of the Sea of Galilee and “as a preacher he was exceedingly popular; in
where the Antichrist forces will be destroyed by Christ sweetness of voice, ardor of manner, and finish of style,
(Re. 16:16; 19:19). It is also called the valley of Jezreel. he was distinguished above all his contemporaries.” His
Megiddo occupies a strategic location on a pass through zeal was to base his views strictly upon the Bible, and he
the Carmel mountain range, straddling the major north- could not countenance error. He was often involved in
south route between Mesopotamia (Syria, Babylon) and debates with philosophers and teachers such as the
Egypt. The valley has been the scene of battles from followers of Aristotle, Augustine, and Calvin. Though he
ancient times. “During the past 4000 years, at least 34 was willing to pursue doctrinal controversy, the mean-
bloody conflicts have already been fought at the ancient spiritedness and petty jealousy that often characterized
site of Megiddo and adjacent areas of the Jezreel Valley. his opponents did not mar his life.
Egyptians, Canaanites, Israelites, Midianites, His zeal for the truth won him many enemies. In
Amalekites, Philistines, Hasmonaeans, Greeks, Romans, 1586, he traveled to Rome, and while there, vicious
Muslims, Crusaders, Mamlukes, Mongols, French, rumors were spread in Geneva that he had kissed the
Ottomans, British, Australians, Germans, Arabs and pope’s slipper and had become a Roman Catholic. These
Israelis have all fought and died here. The names of the slanders were answered after his return from Italy.
warring generals and leaders reverberate throughout Arminius said he “he saw at Rome a mystery of iniquity
history: Thutmose III, Deborah and Barak, Sisera, much more foul than he had ever imagined.” He was
Gideon, Saul and Jonathan, Shishak, Jehu, Joram, ordained to the Protestant ministry at Amsterdam in
Jezebel, Josiah, Antiochus, Ptolemy, Vespasian, Saladin, 1588. In 1603, he was falsely charged with being a
Napoleon, and Allenby, to name but a few of the most Pelagian, which is the denial that men are condemned
famous” (Eric Cline, “The Battles of Armageddon,” n.d., sinners because of Adam’s fall. That same year he
BibleInterp.com). Israel has fought several famous received the degree of Doctor of Divinity from the
battles at Megiddo. It was the scene of Barak’s victory University of Leyden and assumed the professorship of
over the Canaanites (Jud. 5:19) and of Gideon’s victory divinity at that school. “One of the first observations of
over the Midianites (Jud. 7). Three of Israel’s kings died Arminius, after entering on the duties of his chair, was
here: Saul at the hands of the Philistines in the 10th that the students were much more given to scholastic
century B.C. (1 Sa. 31:8, Mt. Gilboa is in that same subtleties and disputations than to the thorough study
area), Ahaziah at the hands of Jehu in the 9th century of Scripture. He determined to cure this evil.” His chief
B.C. (2 Ki. 9:27), and Josiah at the hands of the goal in teaching divinity, therefore, was the
Egyptian army in the 7th century B.C. (2 Ki. 23:29). commendable task of leading his students away from
[See Prophecy.] unprofitable squabbles about man-made philosophy and
ARMINIAN. The followers of James Arminius theology (“crabbed questions and the cumbrous mass of
(1560-1609), a Dutch theologian. Arminius opposed scholastic assertions”) and to encourage them to study
John Calvin’s doctrines of unconditional predestination, and depend upon the Bible alone. Arminius’s ever-
limited atonement, and irresistible grace, and stood for present enemies, though, attempted constantly to
universal salvation for all that come to God through disrupt his ministry. One of his warmest adversaries was
Jesus Christ. We do not follow Arminius nor do we his uncle, who was a rector of the theological faculty.
agree with all of his positions. He was a fallible man and “Preachers attacked him from the pulpit as a Pelagian,
he was influenced by some of the errors of his day; and and worse than a Pelagian.” A national synod was
his followers took his theology even farther away from demanded to settle the disputes, but before it could be
the Bible. We do believe, though, that Arminius was held, Arminius died of a disease he had contracted eight
much closer to biblical truth than John Calvin. months before. “His death was most painful; and to
The following overview of Arminius’s life and bodily pain was added mental anguish at the
teaching is taken partly from two cyclopedia sets in my misrepresentations of his religious opinions and of his
library: M’Clintock and Strong’s Cyclopedia of Biblical, personal character made by his embittered foes.”
Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature of 1895 and the Today the term “Arminian” is loosely and commonly
New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge of applied to those who emphasize the sinner’s ability to
1909. receive or reject Christ and who believe Christians can
Arminius was born in Oudewater, Holland. In 1582, lose their salvation, but Arminius himself did not teach
at age 22, he began studies in Geneva, which was the the latter. SOME CONTEND THAT IF A CHRISTIAN IS
center for John Calvin’s reformed theology. Upon NOT A CALVINIST, HE MUST BE AN ARMINIAN. THIS
Calvin’s death in 1564, Theodore Beza had assumed IS NOT TRUE. IT IS POSSIBLE TO BE NEITHER
leadership and promoted Calvinistic theology. Arminius ARMINIAN NOR CALVINIST, BUT SIMPLY TO BE

Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity 37