Nicholas Roerich. Armageddon. The description of a picture. Masterpieces of Russian painting

Armageddon. 1936. Tempera on canvas. 91,4 x 122. State Museum of Oriental Arts, Moscow, Russia.

Armageddon. 1940. Tempera on canvas.

What is Armageddon? Armageddon is the great decisive Battle between the Forces of Light and darkness. It was predicted in all the ancient scriptures, and the name "Armageddon, as well as the description of it, can be found in the Apocalypse. The year 1936 is indicated as most significant. It is interesting to note that these calculations are also found in the pyramid of Cheops. Thus, today, we find ourselves in the midst of this Battle, which will increase. This Battle is still more fearful in the Subtle World, but eventually its reflections will be intensified on the earthly plane. Great is the tension of space, and the tensed fiery energies are surging in the subterranean and superterranean spheres, threatening an explosion. Verily, the planet is in convulsions. The time is most ominous. Verily, we are facing an incredible world catastrophe. As it is said, "The hostile elements of the race refuse to submit to destiny. The departing race seeks to destroy the chosen successors, but We must save them. Destiny may be eased and the battle ended sooner." So far, there are no signs of easement. But the ark of the sixth race is already being built. Let us trust that it will be larger than that of Noah.

The Great Armageddon started at the end of the year 1931, opening with the Great Battle for which the Teacher was preparing us. We must understand the proportions of this Battle, which takes place on all planes or worlds. We must understand the rigor of our time and that the heavenly battle is followed by the earthly one. Therefore, let us not be surprised by the accumulation of events.

The word Armageddon is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew har megiddon (the mountain district of Megiddo). In the Hebrew writings, the final great battle between the Forces of Light and darkness was indicated by this name, and was foretold by all the ancient prophecies in the scriptures of all peoples as the "Great Day of God's Judgment." Much is said about it in the Apocalypse, and in the same book (chap. 16, vs. 16), this name is mentioned. Moreover, the dates of this battle and of the beginning of the New Epoch, or Cycle, can also be found in the most precise calculations of both the Egyptians and the Hindus The name of this battle is symbolic in memory of a terrible and actual battle which took place in Megiddo (an ancient city in Palestine), not far from which the Canaanites under the leadership of Sisera were entirely destroyed. This dreadful total destruction remained for a long time a terrible memory for the nations that witnessed it. According to all the Scriptures, the dates are now coming for the final destruction of the army of Gog upon the mountains of Israel. And Israel does not necessarily mean the Jews, it signifies precisely "the chosen." In a similar way, the mountains of Israel must be understood as other mountains, just as the New Jerusalem does not necessarily mean Jerusalem in Palestine. The sacred language always uses symbols. There is the Heavenly Jerusalem - the Abode of the Hierarchy of Light - and the earthly Jerusalem, which should be understood as that place which, throughout all the Earthly cataclysms, remained intact and inviolate.

The Battle of Armageddon cannot be a straight victorious march because Great Forces are involved in it on both sides. The victory of the Forces of Light, however, is evident, as they are allied with the Cosmic Magnet. The latter attracts the greatest powers, against which the dark ones cannot hold out. The element of pure Fire burns them. . But we must have patience. The battle is started by the dark ones because in their fury they are trying to destroy as much as they can before their days are over.

The predicted Armageddon is not a myth but a dreadful reality. Therefore, be strong! God is with the brave!

Dreadful is Armageddon; the dark forces are struggling for their very existence. Despair unites them and makes them so persistent in trying to achieve their aim. The Prince of the World has very many talented collaborators - some conscious, some unconscious - and it is foolish to think that they do not know the ways of the most cunning subtlety. They are very shrewd and inventive, and they act according to the level of their victims. But all of them lack warmth of heart. Thus intertwined is darkness with Light on our Earth. The snare of darkness is woven by skillful hands. Many terrifying things are now practised. A great deal of the most disgusting sorcery is spread all over the Earth. Of course the biggest centers of population are usually chosen by the main dark forces and are used as their centers. Precisely, the whole brood of hell has crept out onto the surface of Earth. And their best weapon is the ignorant masses. That is why the unity of all the white and near-white forces is so essential! But the latter so easily become greyish and fill the ranks of those of whom it is said in the Bible, "because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth." Only the power of devotion and the striving to serve the Great Hierarchy of Light can save from the widely spread snares of the Prince of the World.

The Great Individuality of Buddha, His Fiery Ego clothed by Materia Lucida, is now in the spheres close to our planet. In view of the threatening period of Armageddon, a number of the Fiery Dwellers are in the spheres not far from our Earth. The approach of the fiery energies makes their presence possible. You can well understand how threatening is our time and what Forces participate in the salvation of our planet.

The world is living through those stages by which have been signalized all the decisive moments in the history of mankind. Stages of destruction precede construction. Creativeness, having been tensed, calls all energies to life. That epoch into which humanity has entered will inevitably manifest all the potentials of forces, for this epoch is a decisive one, and a turning point in history is approaching. Surely, the condition of the planet has not come about by accident, and each tension bears witness to that current which is engulfing all spheres. If the conflict is inexorable, so will the victory be decisive. For all forces and spheres participate in this Cosmic Battle. On the path to the Fiery World one must take up the Sword of Light for building the New Epoch.

Armageddon should not be understood as only a physical war. Armageddon is full of incalculable dangers. Epidemics will be the least of the calamities. The main destructive results will come from psychic perversion. People will lose confidence, they will sharpen their minds in mutual injury, they will learn to hate all that exists beyond the boundaries of their own dwellings, falling into a state of irresponsibility and sinking into depravity. To these madnesses will be added one more, the most shameful one, the revival of the battle between the Masculine and Feminine Principles.

Observe a great number of events. They cannot be considered as incidental; but obviously due to some law, they are spreading through the world. It is as though invisible hands were touching numerous strings. Besides, one can notice that seemingly silent strings begin to resound anew and still more powerfully. But those who understand Armageddon as the field of the manifestation of the signs of the highest energy are correct. This battlefield cannot be accidental, but is like a magnet composed of conflicting energies. The field of the City of Light is destined as a counterbalance to this field. As the field of Armageddon is proclaimed by the clanging of arms, so the field of the City of Light is proclaimed by the peal of bells. According to their juxtaposition one can judge the dimensions of that which is destined. Thus, one can listen to the tumult of the battle for the sake of the pealing bells.