Just a reminder…….this blog
is a compilation of posts that build on the information shared in previous
posts. So, if this is your first visit,
you may want to check out previous postings regarding this subject or check out
the personal verse-by-verse commentaries posted on my website regarding the
subject passages (Psalm 83, Isaiah 17, Ezekiel 38-39, Revelation 6 &
Revelation 19).
As I was spending time yet once again in the subject
passage in Ezekiel regarding the war most popularly known as Gog/Magog and
thinking about its timing in relation to end times events, a flash of
understanding hit me that fit the prophetic puzzle pieces together more clearly
yet again. I get so excited when I feel
like the Lord is revealing things to me, and I can’t wait to get it recorded
and share it. Most of my research
indicates that end times scholars usually fall into one of two camps regarding
the timing of this war—before the tribulation and as part of Armageddon. I now believe that the scripture makes
application to both, much like the prophecy in Isaiah 61 that Jesus read in the
synagogue in Nazareth.
Isaiah
61:1–2 “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is
upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the
meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the
captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the
acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to
comfort all that mourn….”
Jesus declared Himself the fulfillment of the first
portion of that prophecy (highlighted in bold), but stopped His reading at a
comma preceding “the day of vengeance,” the reference to His return at
Armageddon. That comma has represented
almost 2,000 years at this point in time.
Circumstances are changing quickly in the Middle
East. More radical groups are gaining
control or making power plays in the nations of that area as the people rebel
against their dictatorial leaders.
I still think it likely that this will culminate in
a war between Israel and her neighbors as described in Psalm 83 that will
result in the destruction of Damascus when Israel retaliates as they have
declared they would. When Israel is
victorious, it will set the stage for the attack by Gog’s coalition. It also explains why these nations are not
mentioned as part of that coalition.
The members of the Gog coalition will have their own
motives for joining together for this attack.
Russia has vested interests in those nations, especially in Syria and
Lebanon, that will be jeopardized by Israel’s victory. The recent discovery of a great gas field off
the coast of Israel will serve as another incentive, not to mention gaining
control of other valuable assets in Israel.
Turkey is one of Gog’s primary allies, and they will be very angry to
see their desire to reestablish an Islamic Caliphate over that region disappear. The leaders of Iran, Gog’s other primary
ally, are focused on bringing about conditions that will result in the return
of their Mahdi.
Though men are the instruments, God is very clear in
declaring through Ezekiel that He is the One who goads Gog into attacking. It seems to be His intervention on Israel’s
behalf that prepares the hearts of the 144,000 Jews who will be set apart as
God’s witnesses among the nations when the believers are raptured. Gog’s defeat will cause many to acknowledge
Almighty God as the God of Israel (38:16 & 39:7).
The prophet goes on to declare that when Gog attacks
Israel, God’s “fury shall come up in my face.”
His response will be to cause a great “shaking” (earthquake, bombs,
both?) in the land of Israel. Events will
provoke great fear among all creatures and men on the earth. Mountains will be thrown down, high places
tumbled, and walls destroyed. Gog’s army
will be so crazed with fear that they turn on one another.
Along with the great shaking, God will send
pestilence with blood and a powerful storm raining down great hailstones, fire
and brimstone (nuclear aftermath?).
In chapter 39 we are told that God is giving the
dead carcasses to the carnivorous beasts and birds to devour. This, in fact, clouded my understanding as I
tried to equate this declaration with that of verse 17.
The prophet then goes on to add that not only will
Gog’s armies experience His judgment, so too will the land of Magog
(Russia/Turkey) and those dwelling carelessly in the “isles” (Hebrew = habital
areas, coasts, countries, islands); in other words, other places on earth that
aren’t part of his army. Conclusion, the
effects of this war are far reaching.
Next, we are given a detailed method that will be
used to cleanse the land and dispose of the dead bodies that seems to mirror
the guidelines that would apply to a nuclear aftermath. This cleanup will take seven months.
Ezekiel
also makes a point of telling us that the weapons of her enemies will be used
as fuel by Israel for 7 years.
These are some of the primary reasons that I believe
Gog’s attack will occur prior to the 70th week of Daniel we know as
the tribulation. When Jesus returns to
establish His kingdom, the focus is on the forces of Antichrist positioned
against the believing remnant in Bozrah (Petra?) and against Jerusalem in
Megiddo. I do not believe Jesus would
require such a long or careful cleanup period, nor would Israel need to be
dependent on weapons for fuel during His Kingdom.
Now, go with me to the opening of the 6th
seal in Revelation 6. It was the phrase
“my fury shall come up in my face” that made me connect to the reference to the
coming of God’s wrath as referenced in 6:17.
Then I started to make other connections. The 6th seal judgment includes a
great earthquake (shaking), the sun turns black and the moon turns red, stars fall
and the heavens roll together like a scroll (nuclear?). Every mountain and island move out of
place. Men call out for death in their
fear; they recognize these events as “the wrath of the Lamb.” Though described a bit differently, these
judgments mesh well with Ezekiel’s record of God’s judgment against Gog’s army.
This would certainly set the stage for the rise of
the Antichrist as the world’s Savior and establish conditions that would
facilitate the signing of a 7-year covenant with Israel. Yes, I believe that the first five seals are
open and represent the birth pains described in Matthew 24. (See the commentary on Revelation 4-7 on my
website for an explanation. My understanding
of those chapters changed once I took off self-imposed blinders. I’m still trying to put more of the details
into place, but when I feel I’ve been given new understanding, I can’t wait to
share it. Some of that commentary as
well as that of Ezekiel 38-39 will have to be revised as soon as possible.)
Now, back to Ezekiel 39. As I came to verse 17, I realized that this
could be another one of those prophetic time jumps (a la Isaiah 61 referenced
at the beginning of this post)—this time to Armageddon and the second
coming.
God declares at this point that He is preparing a great
sacrifice for the carnivorous birds and beasts in Israel. Revelation 19:17-18 is a mirror
passage—though not as detailed. The
prophet declares that this sacrifice is followed by God “setting His glory
among the heathen.” I believe this is a reference to establishing Jesus on His
throne.
Verse 22 of Ezekiel 39 helped affirm this revelation in my
mind. Ezekiel states that “the house of
Israel shall know that I am the Lord their God from that day and forward.” That statement was always one of those puzzle
pieces that didn’t quite fit in connection with Gog’s attack. It fits perfectly, however, with Armageddon
and the return of Jesus as King.
Not only will Israel recognize their Messiah, it
seems that the Gentile nations will finally understand the truth of the prophecies
of scripture.
It is then that God will complete what was started
in 1948 with the reestablishment of Israel as a nation. ALL the Jews will be brought home to Israel
to fulfill God’s covenant with Abraham.
God will pour out His Spirit on the house of Israel as part of the New
Covenant as foretold by both Jeremiah and Ezekiel, and Jesus will reign as King
in fulfillment of God’s covenant with David.
This flows in beautifully with Ezekiel’s record that
follows regarding the building of the millennial temple and reapportionment of
the land among the tribes of Israel within the Promised Land.
Any input?
