Revelation 9:15: And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year.

The physical battle of Armageddon will begin at a specific moment in time.¹ The hour, and day, and month, and year describes precisely when the battle will begin, not its duration.² This precise timing suggests that some epic event of worldwide interest, and perhaps of catastrophic proportion, will occur at a specific hour to usher in this much debated battle.³ The event may involve weapons of mass destruction⁴ or a spiritually significant event of some kind that relates to how and when the four angels [will be] loosed from the Euphrates river (bottomless pit).⁵

Some scholars identify the Middle East as the specific locality for the event that will begin Physical Armageddon because the four angels will be loosed from the Euphrates River in Revelation 9:14.⁶ John identifies the valley of Megiddo, near Jerusalem, as the center place for the battle.⁷ Many other decisive battles have been fought at this location in ancient history as foreshadows to Physical Armageddon.⁸ These circumstances and other current world events strongly suggest that an event of epic proportion will occur in the Middle East to trigger the start of Armageddon at a set time.

Some scholars miss the meaning of this verse entirely, and add together the hour, day, month, and year to conclude that the Second Woe will last 391 days or just over one year.⁹ Others believe the 391 days represent 391 prophetic years that supposedly correspond to a variety of events in ancient history.¹⁰ These views notwithstanding, the Second Woe will occur at a date certain in the future¹¹ and will last seven years based on Daniel's Seventy Weeks Prophecy.¹²

The precise timing for the start of the Second Woe emphasizes the importance of this event.¹³ The Second Woe will truly be the time when peace shall be fully taken from the earth.¹⁴ The same meticulous timing is used to identify other significant events such as the hour of Christ's atonement,¹⁵ the hour of his ministry in the postmortal spirit world,¹⁶ the eleventh hour of the gospel's restoration,¹⁷ and the hour of Christ's Second Coming.¹⁸ When the precise hour comes for the Second Woe to begin,¹⁹ the four angels, who represent all spirit sons of perdition,²⁰ will be prepared (ready)²¹ with immense power.²² Through their powerful influence the Second Woe will commence and the third part of men will die during the seven-year battle of Armageddon.²³