My Greek Word of the Day: Topos

Greek (SBLGNT): καὶ συνήγαγεν αὐτοὺς εἰς τὸν τόπον τὸν καλούμενον Ἑβραϊστὶ Ἁρμαγεδών.

Although I will discuss other part this verse, the main focus will be the noun phrase τὸν τόπον in Revelation 16:16.

καὶ-the use here is likely resumptive/connective. Translate "then."

συνήγαγεν αὐτοὺς εἰς τὸν τόπον -Note the construction, συναγαγεῖν αὐτοὺς εἰς τὸν πόλεμον in Rev. 16:14.

Beckwith: "the subj. of the vb. is the spirits of v. 13."

αὐτοὺς in 16:16 refers to τοὺς βασιλεῖς in 16:14 (that is the antecedent of αὐτοὺς).

εἰς τὸν τόπον-a prepositional phrase with its singular accusatival and articular object ("to the place").

Sterphen S. Smalley (The Revelation to John): "The subject and object of the gathering together in verse 16 are not specified; but the context makes it clear that on this occasion the evil ‘spirits’ (πνεύματα, pneumata, verse 14) ‘assembled’ (συνήγαγεν, synegagen, aorist singular verb with the neuter plural noun) the kings of the whole world, representatives of the worldly powers, for battle at Armageddon. For the spelling of this place name, which is found only here, see the textual note on verse 16. The use of Hebrew, and the absence of its interpretation, are typical of apocalyptic style (Jeremias, ‘Armageddon’)."

What about the significance of the articular noun phrase τὸν τόπον?

τόπος appears in Rev. 12:6: καὶ ἡ γυνὴ ἔφυγεν εἰς τὴν ἔρημον, ὅπου ἔχει ἐκεῖ τόπον ἡτοιμασμένον ἀπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ

Rev. 12:8: καὶ οὐκ ἴσχυσεν οὐδὲ τόπος εὑρέθη αὐτῶν ἔτι ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ. Compare Rev. 20:11.

Revelation 12:14: καὶ ἐδόθησαν τῇ γυναικὶ αἱ δύο πτέρυγες τοῦ ἀετοῦ τοῦ μεγάλου, ἵνα πέτηται εἰς τὴν ἔρημον εἰς τὸν τόπον αὐτῆς

BDAG on τόπος: 1ⓒ a portion of a larger area: place, location (Diod S 2, 7, 5 τόπος τῆς πόλεως=the place on which the city stands; Just., D. 40, 2 ὁ τ. τῆς Ἰερουσαλήμ) ἔρημος τόπος (ἔρημος 1a) Mt 14:13; cp. vs. 15; Mk 1:35; 6:31f, 35; Lk 4:42; 9:12; GJs 17:3. Pl. Mk 1:45. πεδινός Lk 6:17. κρημνώδης Hv 1, 1, 3; Hs 6, 2, 6. καλός v 3, 1, 3b. τόπος τοῦ ἀγροῦ a place in the country 2, 1, 4; 3, 1, 3a; τοῦ σπηλαίου GJs 19:2 (cp. Just., D. 70, 1; 78, 6). Cp. Hv 2, 1, 1; Hs 6, 2, 4. On τόπος διθάλασσος Ac 27:41 s. διθάλασσος. Cp. τραχεῖς τόποι rocky places vs. 29. ὁ τόπος ὅπου (TestAbr B 10 p. 114, 13 [Stone p. 76]; ParJer 7:32; ApcMos 33; Just., D. 78, 8) the place where Mt 28:6; Mk 16:6; J 4:20; 6:23; 10:40; 11:30; 19:20, 41. ὁ τόπος ἔνθα GPt 13:56 (Just., A I, 19, 8; Mel., HE 4, 26, 14). ὁ τόπος ἐφ’ ᾧ ἕστηκας Ac 7:33 (cp. Ex 3:5). The dat. for εἰς w. acc. (B-D-F §199) ποίῳ τόπῳ ἀπῆλθεν Hv 4, 3, 7. ἐν παντὶ τόπῳ in every place (in Jerusalem) 1 Cl 41:2. Combined w. a name εἰς τόπον λεγόμενον Γολγοθᾶ Mt 27:33a. ἐπὶ τὸν Γολγοθᾶν τόπον Mk 15:22a.—Lk 23:33; J 19:13; Ac 27:8; Rv 16:16. W. gen.: κρανίου τόπος Mt 27:33b; Mk 15:22b; J 19:17 (s. κρανίον). τόπος τῆς καταπαύσεως Ac 7:49; B 16:2 (both Is 66:1; s. κατάπαυσις 1).—Pleonastic ἐν τόπῳ χωρίου Ῥωμαίων IRo insc. (s. τύπος 6c, end).—(Definite) place, (particular) spot, scene Lk 10:32; 19:5; 22:40; J 5:13; 6:10. ἐκεῖνον τὸν τόπον Papias (3:3) (Just., D. 3, 1 ἐκείνου τοῦ τόπου).

A question that arises for Revelation 16:16 is whether "place" is literal or metaphorical. Could the usage here be a case of extended meaning for τόπος?