
“GOG
& MAGOG” - WHATEVER DO THEY MEAN?
Why
the events in Ezekiel 38 & 39 are important to the entire
world.
Every individual alive at that time will be affected, so
that means you & me.
Offered
in prayer and love as a basis for your own study.
Scriptures
mainly from N.I.V. or the ‘Complete Jewish Bible’ as
translated by
Dr David H. Stern, are in Italics.
There
are three very important reasons God has placed these chapters
in
His ancient, Eternal Word.
1.
To explain how the whole world will finally
recognise that ADONAI, the Sovereign LORD, is the only true God, and
the Eternal God of the whole Earth.
Sixty-five times the
phrase occurs, “then they will know that I AM the LORD.”
2.
To explain what it will take to fully restore the true
Jewish nation of Israel (as a nation) to their own Sovereign
ADONAI, recognising the Face of God in Yeshua, by the out-pouring of
the Ruach ha Kodesh, The Holy Spirit of God.
3.
To give more than a hint of the effects of a world-shaking
scenario on the entire Earth physically, politically and spiritually,
bringing about the final birth-pangs of the End of the age of
man’s Earthly rule.
Explaining why a Bible Study from Ezekiel matters to anyone.
As one looks at various Bible studies, whether they focus on our future or the future of other people, (especially Israel) and ‘The End Times’, and finally on ‘the Second Coming of Jesus Messiah’, it is easy to feel overwhelmed. We are tempted to think “who is right” and “who is wrong?” For this web-site, our greatest longing is that whatever we decide about it all, each one of us will be drawn closer to Jesus Messiah in truth and love, so that we are inspired or challenged to be more humble, and holy. “Being right” is far less important than walking closely with our God day by day in faith and obedience!
Therefore it is important
to think, “what is God’s purpose in this
Scripture?” This is our only reason for looking at these
chapters of Ezekiel, especially 38 & 39, which are confusing to a
lot of people it seems, and about which there are many ideas!
Some writers brush them off as unimportant, partly because they have
many ‘explanations’.
If we do not know every detail
it does not matter – as long as we catch something of God’s
heart and fulfilled purposes!
We
believe these chapters tell us how ADONAI will restore His
relationship with Israel and make them a blessing to the whole world
– surely His greatest longing!
For
us this is the most important reason for studying them.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
THE
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
WE HAVE ABOUT EZEKIEL, & THIS SECTION
OF HIS BOOK,
DESCRIBING THE TOTAL RESTORATION OF THE NATION OF
ISRAEL.
Ezekiel,
a chosen Jewish prophet.
As a member of the
priestly tribe of Levi, Ezekiel should have had a ministry in the
Temple from the time he turned 30 – a very special role.
However, he was not even in Israel, or Judah or Jerusalem – and
the Temple was destroyed in his lifetime. But God anointed him for
this very special role of Prophet and confirmed it by giving
him the amazing visions of God’s Glory that almost defied his
ability to describe them!
See chapters 1 – 3.
Ezekiel,
a despised refugee.
The fact that Ezekiel was one
of many deported Jewish exiles in the most evil, but powerful nations
of the world at that time, only emphasises the superiority of ADONAI,
the God of Israel. Israel’s God was not limited by the distance
from Jerusalem, or the poor state of His chosen people, or their
cynical unbelief, or even criticism of Him. ADONAI was there, even in
Babylon!
Nor was the God of the universe unable to speak, and
foretell the events of either judgement or blessing for the Jewish
remnant! This was a costly lesson for Ezekiel, whose wife died as God
said she would at the very time of the final destruction of the
sacred Temple in Jerusalem. Even the fact that he was not allowed to
mourn at all for her – demonstrated the indifference of the
other Jewish exiles to this most tragic event, following as it
did, on the visible Glory of God, departing from that same
Sacred Place. (See chapter 10, & 24:15 –27.) All this was
unthinkably awful for Ezekiel, and in 35 chapters of his book he
shares it all – for us to read today in the 21st C, some 2,600
years later!
(Ezekiel’s 1st vision is dated as July 31st
593 B.C. – See NIV Study Bible.)
Ezekiel,
a faithful recorder of God’s progressive messages.
As
mentioned, in the first 33 chapters of his book, Ezekiel’s main
messages were what would now be called ‘gloom and doom’
not only for the nation of Israel, but seven of her neighbouring
nations, from Ammon to Tyre to Edom to Egypt and those between!
However, Ezekiel was delighted to find God was also able to give
marvellous visions of restoration! This is especially noticeable from
chapter 36, to 39, four distinct visions – almost as clear as
watching separate videos of the events described so
vividly.
Ezekiel’s four
visions of restoration. (We will leave you to read
them for yourself.)
Vision one, in chapter 36. A general picture of Israel’s geographical, agricultural, physical, national and spiritual restoration! It can be proved that God through Ezekiel even gave the date of the spring of 1948 as the actual date of Israel’s political restoration as a nation! [Books by Grant Jeffery explain this.]
Vision two, in chapter 37:1 – 14. The stages of restoration, from physical to political/nationhood, to the deep spiritual restoration by the out-pouring of the Holy Spirit of God – but in partnership with the prophetic word of the prophet.
Vision three, in chapter 37:15 – 27 depicts the stage of unification of the divisions of the nation so fractured by the events of the various exiles, but followed by the return of at least some of every tribe to part of the ‘Promised Land’. This unification, especially of the former Northern & Southern Kingdoms was completed by New Testament times, where there is very little reference to the tribal background of most of the Jews mentioned. Two exceptions are for Yeshua/ Jesus Himself, & Sha’ul/ Paul. This ‘melting together’ is again, now, being confirmed by the gradual actual restoration of Jews to the Land of Israel, where specific tribal lineage for most Jews is difficult, if not impossible to authenticate. They have many divisions among them, religiously, even culturally and politically, but in a time of war or overwhelming threat, they stand as ‘an army’ & are simply ‘Israelis’. This vision is now fulfilled.
Vision four in chapters 38 & 39 are really one vision of how God will cause the great spiritual revival for Israel, to happen.
This
is now the subject of the rest of this article.
HERE
ARE THE MAIN VERSES FROM CHAPTER 38,
QUOTED AS AN
INTRODUCTION.
These
are from the “Complete Jewish Bible”,
but we invite
you to have your Bible open beside you as you read on.
Vs
1. The word of ADONAI came to me; “Human being, turn
your face toward Gog, (of the land of Magog), chief prince of Meshekh
and Tuval; and prophesy against him. Say that ADONAI Elohim says, ‘I
am against you, Gog, chief prince of Meshekh and Tuval. I will turn
you around, put hooks in your jaws and bring you out with all your
army, horses and horsemen all completely equipped, a great horde…all
wielding swords… Many people are with you’.”
Vs
7. “Prepare yourself, get ready, you and all your
crowd gathered around you; and take charge of them. After many days
have passed, you will be mustered for service; in later years you
will invade the Land that has been brought back from the sword,
gathered out of many peoples, to the Mountains of Israel. They
had been lying in ruins for a long time, but now Israel has been
extracted from the peoples, and all of them are living there
securely…”
Vs. 10.
“ADONAI Elohim says; ‘When that day comes, thoughts
will well up in your mind and you will devise a sinister scheme’.
You will say, ‘I am going to invade this Land of unwalled
villages, I will take by surprise these people who are at peace,
living securely, all in places without walls, bars or gates. I
will seize the spoil and take the plunder.’ You will [plan
to] attack the former ruins that are now inhabited and come against
the people gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and
other wealth, and are living in the central parts of the Land.’
Sheva,
[Yemen] and Dedan, [Saudi Arabia & maybe the Gulf States] and all
the leading merchants of Tarshish will ask you, ‘Have you come
to seize spoil? Have you assembled to carry off silver and gold…
and other wealth; to take much plunder?’
Vs.
14. “Therefore, Human being, prophesy! Tell Gog that
ADONAI Elohim says this; ‘Won’t you be aware of it when
My People are living in security? You will choose just that
time to come from your place in the far reaches of the North,
you and many peoples with you. All of them on horseback, a huge
horde, a mighty army, and you will [plan to] invade My people
Israel like a cloud… This will be in the End-times and I
will bring you against My Land, so that the Goyim, [nations] will
know Me, when, before their eyes I AM set apart as holy through
you, Gog’.”
PROPHETIC
GUIDELINES TO APRECIATING THE
MESSAGE OF THESE CHAPTERS.
General Biblical principles, or guidelines
needed.
Understanding the importance of these two
chapters of Ezekiel 38 & 39.
As we go through these Scriptures in Ezekiel, their significance should become clearer to those readers who believe that every part of the Word of God, which we call the Bible is important to our understanding of the Future. “ALL Scripture is given by inspiration from God and is profitable for correction…” It agrees with every other part of the Word of God, and every principle, especially the importance of ‘faith’ – trust in God’s ways for all people, in every age!
Different chapters or books of Scripture hold important truths regarding different ‘topics’ or subjects. Each subject is important to discover the full-orbed truth of God’s ways with people. It may be the story of Creation, or the choice of Israel to be God’s special nation, or the whole amazing story of that other chosen group we call ‘the Church’ – meaning true Believers in God through the Lord Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit. All the subjects are gathered into groups called ‘Doctrines’ and are wonderful to study. We cannot cover them all on this web-site, which is dedicated to certain subjects, such as the Future for all God’s people, and how to prepare for it, including the Final event of Yeshua/ Jesus Return to be King of the World.
Because we believe God has a special place for the Nation of Israel in this End Time Plan we want to share it with anyone who wants to think about it. It seems unthinkable to debate other questions, (‘Pre’/ Post/ Mid tribulation Rapture & the other myriad of beliefs) apart from how they inter-act with God’s Plans of spiritual restoration of modern Jewish people! Also, Israel as Nation becoming a blessing on the Earth bringing great glory to God in this dark world like it is!
(See Isaiah 60 & 19: 23 – 25, also Romans 11 for a few Scriptures among many!)
There is a great deal in the Bible about the Future, and thousands of books, films, and preachers are trying to explain these things. So we encourage you to study these for yourself from the Bible, first, then look and listen to other people.
However, because we have seen a set of beliefs, which we feel, are either neglected, or not quite true to the total message of the Bible, we are offering our prayerfully researched conclusions. You are more than welcome to contact us with any questions, or comments. [Please ‘Contact us’.] We deal with the different parts of this big subject in our other articles, summarised on the ‘Home Page’.
It seems to us there are ‘key’ events – some main events - which form the basic structure of this whole topic of the Future. These events all have to fit together.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Specific Guidelines of the Essential Facts Regarding the ‘End Times’.
These
are the whole world knowing Who the true and only God is &
about the Gospel of God’s Kingdom, which would surely lead
to ‘the End’.
[See ‘The
Main End Time Sign of Messiah’s Coming’.]
Israel’s role in the End Time will also show that God is over the whole world. Because these events are given in the Tanakh/ O.T. and in this book by Ezekiel it shows that while they are especially relevant to Israel they would affect the entire world. That is why we believe Israel is a key to End-time events. True, God’s prophet Ezekiel was given messages especially for his own people. However, we repeat, the fact that he gave these prophecies even though he was in exile in Babylon emphasised that ‘The God of Israel’ was also a Universal God who could still give His servant messages, even though Ezekiel was in Satan’s territory - far from ‘God’s Land’! The messages are ‘timeless’ too, still reaching into the future (our 21st century) 2,600 years after they were given!
These events will be the catalyst for the other main event which will be the whole world being controlled by one Evil Leader, the Anti-christ. He will initiate one economic and religious system, which will cause big events and reactions, (allowed by God), during a time of severe testing called ‘The Great Tribulation”. So this explains (we believe) an answer to the question “when will the Anti-christ appear?” This adds to the significance but is NOT the main reason God gave this vision to Ezekiel. The fact that 2 whole chapters of the Bible are given to this one scenario of events suggests their importance. We’ll discover the main reason for their inclusion, is to show ADONAI’S power on behalf of His People, as we progress.
These basic facts are the whole reason for looking at these significant chapters!
One of the great advantages of the Internet, is the facility to look at a range of web-sites dealing with different subjects. As you do this on this subject, you will find a number of different ideas and conclusions that need to be woven together.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The Answers to Carefully considered Questions Explain so Much!
HERE
ARE SEVERAL BIG QUESTIONS
TOWARDS UNDERSTANDING THIS VISION.
Question
1. Why did Ezekiel have this fourth special vision,
specifically for Israel, after the two previous ones?
Answer
1. To explain more exactly the ‘how’’
of Israel’s total restoration and spiritual revival, after
writing about the facts of their restoration, though it would
seem almost impossible after centuries of sorrowful experiences they
have suffered!
Question 2. Who
initiates these great events, even the timing of a great
earthquake?
Answer 2. The
Almighty God, called repeatedly by Ezekiel “The Sovereign
ADONAI”.
It is clear God is the One who initiates these
events. 21 times we read “I will… I will… I
will…” In fact only the LORD could create or use
several circumstances for His specific purposes. The one purpose
above all – is for a great reconciliation with His Chosen
People! But also to demonstrate finally to the whole World that there
is only ONE God – by refuting, in this event the claims of
every other religion!
Question
3. When, as far as Israel is concerned- will this
scenario of events occur?
Answers to
3.
A lot of indicators are that these events have never yet happened in the way described in detail. Ezekiel 38: 8 says, “after many days”… “in future years…”
It is clear from these chapters that Israel is again an independent nation, living in their own land, especially when the repeated phrase, “the mountains of Israel” - occurs 4 times. Even more so, when God calls it “My Land” (38:16) and “the Land of Israel”, “their Land” or “their own Land” are considered. This has only been true of this nation since 1948! This means it still must be in the future, but the stage is set by the fact that they are a recognisable nation even by the UNO.
Another
answer is that there will be a time when Israel is both
enjoying a false peace, which will help it to become wealthier
than before, (partly through increased tourism and trade.) “A
land that has recovered from war”
“Whose people were
gathered from many nations to the Mountains of Israel, which had
long been desolate. They had been brought out from the nations…”
“
Now all of them live in safety.” (Vs 8).
“A land of
unwalled villages… a peaceful and unsuspecting people.”
(Vs 11).
“In that day when My people are living in safety.”
(Vs 14).
Inspite of years of terrorist attacks and many
problems, Israel’s economy is on the rise, as reported even in
the Knessit Cabinet meeting late in 2005.
We believe a further clue to the timing is the plan (because of modern technology) enabling the ‘Hordes’ that come against Israel “to [try to] plunder… to loot… to carry off silver & gold… and to seize much plunder”. This is something only possible in these modern times, when the use of chemical or biological weapons can eliminate people, but not buildings or hardware. This has been Israel’s greatest concern over recent years of the nearby wars in the M.E. especially Iraq –the threat of chemical use, such as used against the Kurds, & on a train in Japan. ‘Vx’ is a chemical, lethal enough to kill simply by touching the skin, and it has no useful antidote. Missiles capable of delivering a shower of particles are available already. It is for these reasons we do NOT believe nuclear weapons will be used in the “Ezekiel War”, as they are too destructive.
Another clue therefore about the time is that the invading nations are getting more poverty stricken and desperate to try to recover both the wealth and past ‘glory’ (such as Russia & Germany have had). This will gauge them into a plan of action, to recover both ‘wealth’ and the respect of especially the Muslim world. Therefore they plan to plunder the wealth of Israel a nation they already despise. This is an important factor to take notice of.
Question
4. Who are “Gog & Magog”?
Answers.
There is a massive amount of material on this question, which we feel
is not always necessary to know in detail, because it is a little
uncertain, but the main facts are clear.
Magog appears to be a name to represent a group of peoples north of Israel.
The name ‘Magog’ is found early in Scripture, in Genesis 10 where Magog was the name of one of the sons of Japheth. Japheth was the eldest of Noah’s 3 sons, and nations that became ‘Scythians’ gathered in the areas now known as ‘Russia’. Many commentaries & Bible Study notes [like NIV], can give you even more details.
Many other nations are willing to join and swell the army to become a ‘huge horde’. Some of them are actually named, which indicates this is not a world army, such as the Anti-christ/False Messiah gathers to Armageddon later on, at the very end.
These peoples are willing to come under one powerful Leader, Gog, who may be a demonic Leader. But demons like to work through human beings – because they are God’s special creation. (Satan has entered into the heart and mind of other men.)
It seems very clear that the leader, called ‘Gog’ is not the final ‘Antichrist’ since he is eliminated with his whole army, (not a proportion as some older Scriptures suggest.) No animal is dragged with a hook in it’s jaw unless it is to be totally slaughtered. Read chapter 39: from verse 1, “Son of man, prophesy against Gog and say: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says; I am against you. O Gog, chief prince of Meshekh & Tuval. I will turn you around & drag you along. I will bring you from the far north,’ (a useful identifying point), ‘and send you against the Mountains of Israel…’ (Vs. 4), ‘On the mountains of Israel you will fall, and all your troops and nations with you’.” We believe the destruction of the False Messiah & his prophetic assistant is later on & is clearly described in Revelation 19:17 –21, especially the words, “the two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulphur.” Gog is a separate person but with anti-God, anti Israel motivation. No doubt he is alive at present and gaining the authority he will need.
Since this event is still future, (most commentators agree on that) we would soon know which modern nations are involved when it happens. [Some articles we have read, spend so much time identifying the nations involved that the whole point of these chapters seems to get lost.] Other facts in these chapters are more important for their wider implications, such as the purpose of their involvement. This leads us to looking at the timing of these events in relation to End Times.
Question
5. Can we know the TIMING in relation to many OTHER End
Time events?
Specifically the time of the False Messiah/
Antichrist, the Tribulation, the End time battle of Armageddon and
the actual Second Coming of Yeshua/ Jesus to Earth to reign, &
all the events which are described in our articles on “The
End Time Events.”
Answers
to Question 5.
First we need to establish that this ‘war’ (we call it ‘the Ezekiel War’) is localised to the Middle East because it is very specific about what nations are involved and even some nations that question it! Therefore it cannot be the Last Great War of “Armageddon” which will include the whole world against all God’s People and Jesus Messiah also. But it is also against God, because the goal is to eliminate Israel.
Many people confuse these
two battles - the ‘Ezekiel Gog/Magog war’ - with
‘Armageddon’. Even Osama bin Laden’s deputy Leader,
Abu Masab al-Zarqawi, in a new print-Internet glossy magazine called
“the Tip of the Camel’s Hump” has had an article in
2005, called, “The Jews are unworthy of the Promised Land,”
based on his understanding that the two battles are one!
He even
challenges President George W Bush to engage in this war immediately,
so all can see that it is Allah’s land.
[www.debka.com/article.]
In ADONAI’S time He will organise
this!
The Scripture gives clear indications that this is an End-time event by the use of the actual words, “after many days have passed… in later years you will invade the Land that has been brought back from the sword, [wars, pogroms & holocausts], gathered out of many peoples, [not just Babylon], to the mountains of Israel…” This is a clear picture of events from the 20th century to this time.
That the people of Israel are involved in the ‘cleaning up’ after the ‘war’ and also they are able to use the remnants of the war machines and equipment, suggests that it is not followed by the Millennial reign of Yeshua Messiah, when the world will be restored to its original, complete form as at Creation. “Then those that live in the towns of Israel will go out and use the weapons for fuel and burn them up… For seven years they will use them for fuel. They will not need to gather wood from the fields or cut it from the forests, because they will use the weapons for fuel.” Chapter 39: 9 & 10. Therefore this one-sided battle will be before the final war of ‘Armageddon’. It is interesting to note that the big issue of an energy source for Israel will be solved. The indications are, that through modern scientific technology, the armaments, (vehicles, even tanks, etc), are made from a specially treated wood base, (‘lignostone’) which burns very hot & slowly. – This has only been made in recent years (and is not easily detected by radar). This also indicates a modern – ‘end time’ event. This helps with establishing the timing of this event. [Israel is excellent in its use of solar power as in other technologies.]
Some writers equate this series of events with another war, as described in Revelation 20: 7 – 10, after the Millennium. However it is clear from the details given there, that it is a different War, again on a much bigger scale. Armageddon will be World War III, and the WW IV, the Final World War is 1000 years later, between all the forces of Evil, under Satan and Yeshua Messiah! Perhaps the use of the same names of ‘Gog’ and ‘Magog’ are a clue to the same purposes of each battle: Evil Powers want to eliminate God’s People who they hate! But time-wise, (1000 years apart) and in other ways they are very different events!
>>Neither
battle will be successful in destroying God’s People.
Please
be sure of this!

Question
6. Who JOINS WITH GOG in this planned war?
Answer
to 6. Ezekiel 38: 2 – 6 names, “Meshekh &
Tuval…Persia, Cush & Put, Gomer & Beth Togarmah from
the far north with all its troops – the many nations with you.”
There is a clear list of named nations, although when Ezekiel gave them some of the names and territories were probably different from the names used today, 2,500 years later! (Again, other web-sites can give much detail on these nations.) It seems clear that they are mainly from the Middle East area of the world, around Israel. It is not a ‘world war’.
Just as significant is the mention of nations that object to this war! 38: 13 says, “Sheva [modern Yemen] & Dedan [Saudi Arabia] and the merchants of Tarshish and all her villages/or ‘‘her strong lions’ [nations we call the ‘Gulf States’] will say to you, ‘Have you come to plunder? Have you gathered your hordes to loot, to carry off silver & gold, to take away livestock & goods & to seize much plunder’?” It would seem in modern language, that they send a ‘protest note’ to the UNO or the nations concerned, but do no more to prevent it. The economic reasons are very clear, as the influence & wealth on these nations of the Arabian peninsular is very dependant on the good will of many other nations, who also have financial interests in the nations involved in this war, even investments in Israel!
>>However
the nations involved are unified by a despising of Israel’s God
-
being a Spiritual battle, driven by demonic forces
that blind them.
Question
7. Why are they against Israel, specifically?
Answer
to 7.
The Arab nations that surround little Israel greatly surpass them in land area, natural resources of oil, minerals and potential income from tourism to see ancient sites, and a vast resource of manpower and invested interests & even aid money. The same is true of Russia & other nations who want to join this ‘horde’.
However because the main motivation of Gog the leader of Magog, is to destroy Israel as a Jewish nation, we can identify who they are likely to be. Every day it is clearer that the Muslim god Allah has a fierce anti- Jewish hatred of God and His people so it will drive more nations to going beyond ‘suicide attacks’ to try to rid the world of Jews, especially in the Land of Israel, once under Islam’s sway. As ADONAI’S Chosen people, the Jews are anathema to Islam and their followers.
Therefore we conclude that these are Islamic nations, whose peoples number in the hundreds of millions. Even if some Islamic nations are not physically involved as soldiers, their finances and total belief that “Allah is the only great god” will cause them to share widely in it with finances and loud praises of the Leader, Gog. There are 57 nations in the Organisation of Islamic Nations.
>>The
world will be notified that this battle is to prove
how much
‘greater’ Allah is,
than any other God, especially
the ‘Holy One of Israel’.
Even more important to them will be the proclamation to the world of the victory that they are sure they will win over their hated enemy: Israel and godly Zionism. It is no secret that Islam has two mottoes for their existence in the world. ‘Dar-es salaam’ (world-wide domination) even if it must be by ‘Dar es haratz’. Jihad is a name for so called holy war. So their key goal is for this great effort to reclaim the Land of Israel (once ruled briefly by Islamists,) to prove their god is great. The fact that Jews now live and control the Land of Israel - ‘Palestine’ to them, is an insult and anathema to Muslims, and a real driving force behind their hatred of Jews. Other factors are greed and desperation, which is growing even today.
Their total focal-point will be on Israel’s Capital, Jerusalem, especially the Temple Mount that they have tried with Satanic help to hold for several years. Their blasphemous shahada or kalima [confessions] as in the ‘Mosque of Omar’ / Dome of the Rock is that God has no Son, and Muhammad alone is the true prophet of god. They are currently building a huge Mosque under the Temple Mount area, where once ADONAI’S Jewish Temple stood as a witness to all who saw it.
>>Not
only do they want to finally refute ADONAI Elohim as the only true
God,
but His Son Jesus/ Yeshua Messiah/ Isa Maseeh, the only
Saviour.
GOD’S
PATIENT PLANS & PREPARATIONS
FOR THIS WORLD CHANGING EVENT!
We
believe they are timed for this 21st Century.
A. What is the Spiritual Part of this Plan of God’s?
The
Salvation of many more people to come to know God is a main part
of God’s Eternal Plan. We have explained this in the
article about the greatest sign being the Gospel being made known in
the entire world, before the ‘End’ can come. Matthew 24:
14. From the time of this Magog War on, NO ONE on Earth will have
any doubt about Who the TRUE & ONLY GOD IS! Very many will turn
to Him at this time!
[See article, ‘The
Key Sign of Jesus’ Coming’.]
The
use of His own Jewish and Middle Eastern People is given as God’s
special way for God’s Plan of Salvation to be completed. We
have explained this many times in our other articles, based in
Scriptures like Romans 11, Isaiah 19: 23 –25, and the whole
message of the Bible.
[See ‘Middle
East Focus’
section.]
We
need to understand that God does allow wars to happen, for
His reasons.
[See our Article on ‘War
in the Bible’.]
It
seems the ‘war’ of Ezekiel 38 & 39 is unique!
There
have been many horrific wars, lasting even up to 100 years, affecting
millions of people throughout the last 2,500 years. [It is debatable
if even the 1st & 2nd ‘World wars’ are mentioned in
the Bible. It is just possible that the vision John had of the ‘Four
Horsemen of the Apocalypse’, as they have become known, in
Revelation chapter 6 could be a picture of those wars.] Certainly,
because of modern technology –and developing world
communications, even at the beginning of the 20th Century, they were
the first wars to affect people from every continent, indeed the
whole world ever since.
Scripture
seems to only record wars that have happened, except for
three!
Each war will deal with - and eliminate the
terrible forces of evil involved in them.
First
- The war of Ezekiel 38 & 39, called Ezekiel’s ‘Gog
and Magog War’.
Second -
The ‘End Time’ war ‘Armageddon’ led by the
Anti-christ against ‘the saints’, (all God’s
people) at Ha Megiddo. This is just before the end of this Age and at
the Second Coming of Yeshua/ Jesus Messiah to the Mount of Olives, in
Israel.
It is described in Isaiah and in Revelation 19, but
referred to in other Scriptures.]
Third
- The war to end all wars, at the end of the Millennial Reign
of Messiah, also a ‘Gog’ and Magog war’. As
we said, we believe it is a different ‘Gog & Magog’
war. It will be when Satan is allowed to emerge from the prison pit
that has held him for 1000 years, to gather another Army for the
FINAL battle of all time, which he will lose!
>>So
a careful description in detail in Ezekiel 38 & 39 of this
horrific
Event must be very, very significant!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
B. What is Happening in the Rest of the World at this Time?
First
a time of increasing chaos, rebellion and many kinds of trouble on
Earth.
There are many Scriptures, which bear this out,
Matthew 24, Revelation 6, and 2 Thessalonians 2. One emphasis is,
that so much is the result of mankind’s deliberate
rejection of God’s laws, in this “time of rebellion”.
These things; wars, (not peace), plagues, disasters,
famines, refugees, and many false prophets, have been clearly
foretold in the Bible, & are happening now.
The great increase in wickedness, will result in “the love of most growing cold” and a “great falling away” from a true and holy faith by Christians. But as our world is plunging deeper into chaos. God takes note of those “who grieve and lament” over these things and is putting His mark on them now, (Ezekiel 9). May I be one, Loving LORD God!
C. How is God preparing Israel for these events?
The formation of Israel as a Nation in their own Land, is becoming more significant, in God’s End Time programme. This fact cannot be ignored!
Sadly, Jews are often gathering in unbelief, though fulfilling the words about their return from every part of the world, “whose people were gathered from many nations… brought out from the nations.” (38; 8.) Praise the Holy One of Israel, He is building a people of true Believers in Yeshua the Messiah in the Land, inspite of many troubles and cruel attacks of all kinds by the Evil one through their enemies. God has preserved them miraculously and will do even more!
The fact that present day Israel is only able to claim and live in a small part of the land God promised is part of God’s ultimate plan. It is a great pity many Evangelical Christians who love Israel and quite rightly believe in the full entitlement of the Jews to the whole of the Land Promised to them, (repeatedly) do not recognise this. We need to remember “God’s ways are higher than our ways…”
Note!
We
could even be fighting against God, by objecting to the present
Israeli Government plans in Israel to ‘withdraw’ from
certain areas and be content with old borders. God may even want
Israel to give up part of the sacred City of Jerusalem and trust
that one day God, Himself will restore it and live there! The
last 8 chapters of this same book of Ezekiel teach this, and the very
last verse says, “The Name of the City will be “YHWH
Shammah” – ADONAI, The LORD is There!
[May we suggest you check our other articles about ‘Jerusalem’s Future.’]?
God
has two very important specific reasons for limiting their
area at present:
One is, so that when they come under
the enormous threat of annihilation, (but not the reality), God will
be able to protect them in a small area of Land – until
He is ready to give it ALL to them. (Which He will after this
‘Ezekiel War’!)
Secondly, as for most
Believers in God, we really only were willing to call on Him, when
we were in a desperate situation. This has often been God’s
way with Israel. You can read about it over and over in the book of
‘Judges’, [Hb. Shof’tim.] So their helplessness at
this time of great threat will be used by God, again!
But it is clear that first Israel will have a time of ‘false peace’ for a time.
This
is told clearly in Ezekiel 38: 8,11 & 14.
“…all
of them are living there securely…”
“…take
by surprise these people who are at peace, living securely, all in
places without walls, bars or gates.” But Israel will not
yet be a holy Nation honouring to ADONAI.
Verses 25 & 26 of
chapter 39 are very revealing as God looks to the end of this time
of unbelief. “I will now bring Jacob back from captivity and
will have compassion on all the people of Israel and I will be
zealous for My Holy Name. They will forget their shame and all the
unfaithfulness they showed toward Me, [when?] when they lived in
safety in their Land with no one to make them afraid.”
So, “when they say ‘peace and safety’, then
sudden destruction will (potentially) come upon them” (1
Thess.5: 3.) This ‘peace’ has not happened yet but must
before anything else can happen, but the false peace may only last a
year or two, and it will probably be for Israel (& possibly their
nearest neighbours, the Palestinian so called ‘West Bank’
Area, Lebanon, Jordan & Egypt) only. This seems improbable
at present (2006) but it must be true, if God writes it, as He has!
THREE
IMPORTANT NOTES!
1.
Many Christians expect the False-messiah to arrange
peace for the world, yet this goes against many other
Scriptures, especially Revelation 6: 1- 11. The world will
never have any real peace before the return of Jesus –
the Prince of Peace!
2. God
wants Israel to be the ‘exception to the rule’,
(different in fact!) This is why there is so much focus on this tiny
nation. God is going to use them for His glory.
3.
The False-messiah will not be revealed yet,
but almost certainly after the events of Ezekiel 38 & 39.
The world will continue as ‘normal’, as Jesus said it
would.
SO IT IS ALL HAPPENING – OR WILL, SOON!
After the time of ‘false peace’ in Israel the events of Ezekiel 38/39 will happen. However while this will affect Israel very significantly, it will change the whole world also, from that time on. This is how the Scripture describes it, from verse 10, God speaking. “ADONAI Elohim says: ‘when that day comes, thoughts will well up in your mind and you will devise a sinister scheme. You will say, ‘I am going to invade this Land of unwalled villages; I will take by surprise these people who are at peace, living securely, all in places without walls, bars or gates. I will seize the spoil and take plunder.’ You will attack the former ruins that are now inhabited and come against the people gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and other wealth, and are living in the central parts of the Land.’ Sheva (Yemen) and Dedan (Saudi Arabian area, possibly including the Gulf States), and all the leading merchants of Tarshish (maybe Europe?) - will ask you – ‘have you come to seize spoil? Have you assembled your hordes to loot, carry off silver, gold… and other wealth; to take much plunder’?” [Perhaps these nations send a protest note to the UNO?] It is clear that the whole world is watching this scenario, which again points to it being in this century with world media –radio, T.V. & Internet coverage of serious events like this.
HERE IS A SUMMARY OF THIS TIME & THE CONTRIBUTING EVENTS.
Israel will become very wealthy and prosperous.
Israel will continue to be the center of world concern, in different ways.
Israel will be confined to a small part of the Land, promised. (See Isaiah 26:20)
Israel may even have to concede part of Jerusalem to the Muslim Palestinians but this will result in bringing God’s judgements on the Islamic residents -later on! (Maybe that is what Rev. 11:13, suggests –where a 10th of Jerusalem is destroyed by an earthquake?) But NOW God longs for Israel to look to Him, alone!
The patience of Muslim nations who want to exclude all Jews from the Land, will finally run out, and as the power of Islam grows world wide, they will decide to finally honour Allah by eliminating the Jews from Israel, and seizing the Land for Allah, (and themselves). Satan will ensure that they will proclaim this loudly as their goal worldwide, (as Satan’s part of the battle.) They will tell the world “Now you will see how great Allah is when he destroys ‘the Zionists’!” (But even this is part of God’s plan to reveal Himself!)
At the same time some northern nations, especially Russia, will get poorer and more desperate to gain worldwide respect, and power. Leading a war against Israel will be a ‘sure’ step of success, in taking ‘plunder’ from Israel and re-gaining power!
A huge composite army will be formed of communists, neo-nazis, and Muslims from most of the 50 Islamic nations. They will be prepared to use chemically loaded missiles, to kill Jews but not destroy the infrastructure, as they want to have it.
THE ELECTRIFYING OUTCOME OF EVENTS NOW BEGINS!
The
onset of the event will seem to be sudden.
Most of the
world, and even Israel will be almost caught by surprise, as the
preparations will have been (& are being done) surreptitiously.
Already Russia has demanded that a register of horses, and all
animals capable of carrying loads must be kept. “ I will
turn you around, put hooks in your jaws and bring you out with your
whole army – your horses, your horsemen, fully armed, & a
great horde with large & small shields, all of them brandishing
their swords.” Ezekiel 38:4. We noted the development of
trucks, tanks and other war machines are being made of the wood
based material, which, after treatment is as hard as steel, but much
less visible to radar or even by satellite. (Maybe some kind of
‘black-out’ will be engineered to hide the progress of
the HUGE ‘Horde’, of military might?)
No nation will be prepared to stand with Israel, as the threat of disaster is so great! It seems it will be so well planned that it will not be obvious until the Army is close. Also the impossibility of trying to protect Israel will be clear, so no action will be taken to help Israel, which is part of God’s will, also.
Very many residents of Israel who do not really believe in her future will leave especially Muslim Arabs. Psalm 37 has a number of references to this, such as verse 10. “A little while and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them they will not be found.” Christian cults, (Mormons, J.W’s, Christadelphians) and other religious groups such as Ba’his, will also leave. Isaiah 49: 17, “Those who laid you waste,” [or tricked you] “depart from you.” Those who would die for Israel will stay and as at the time of the ’92 ‘Gulf War’ many Jews, will in actual fact go to Israel to be with loved ones. Even some Christian Messianic Believers may go, also. We, who ‘know’ God, can pray this scenario through to God’s glory!
A verse in Isaiah 26: 20 adds to our understanding. “Go, My People, enter your rooms & shut the doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until His wrath has passed by.” Consider this whole chapter (26), in the light of this study, please. Over recent years Israeli’s have been instructed to set aside a ‘safe room’ in which they keep some emergency supplies, but also need to make the room secure from the entrance of chemical gas infiltration. It seems there could be literal fulfillments of prophecies in this chapter, which match the Ezekiel war.
HOWEVER
THE EFFECT ON ISRAEL AND THE M.E. WILL BE VERY SPECIAL!
This
is a description of how this ‘Ezekiel War’ will all
happen.
5. The site of the gathered enormous army is described and is important.
Four times in these two chapters it clearly explains that this event will happen on “the mountains of Israel.” Now this is the land of Israel as it is seen in ‘God’s geography book’, which reaches “from the Euphrates River to the Great Sea.” [Joshua 1: 2-5.] So this is a mountainous area now called ‘Syria’, and at present is beyond the borders of today’s Israel. (Recently Syria has renewed contact with Russia sharing oil & weapons.) God says in verse 39: 4, “On the mountains of Israel you will fall, you and all your troops & the nations with you.” And in verse 11, “On that day I will give Gog a burial place in [what is really] Israel, in the valley of those who travel east toward the Sea.” The area could be well north, even adjacent to centres at present called Halab (Aleppo) or Hamah (Hamath) which may even fit with the future name of ‘Hamon Gog’, Ezekiel 39: 11. Syria also has close ties with Iran – across the ‘Persian Gulf Sea’.
In fact we have explained in other articles that this could be the reason why God is ‘shutting Israel up into a small piece of Land’ where he can protect them better. ‘The mountains of Israel are not the ‘West Bank’ / Samaria area. Even as close as present day Israel is, (adjacent to Lebanon) they will not be hurt at all!
Later
on the burial places of the destroyed army is described as having
great valleys, which the area of Syria has – even the border
area between Syria and Lebanon is well known as ‘The B’
qua Valley’ – where, incidentally many of Iraq’s
missing WMD are said to be hidden. Just imagine the destruction if
there was an earthquake, (as there will be) there! “When
that day comes I will give Gog a burial place there in Israel for
graves… it will block the travellers passage… because
Gog & all his hordes will be buried there.
They will
rename it ‘the Valley of Hamon Gog.” [39.11.]
Sadly this also could explain Isaiah 17:1, Damascus will no longer be a city, but become a heap of ruins.” [See ‘God’s Plans for the M.E. Part 3.]
>>This gives an insight to how today’s Israel will be delivered.
6. From the beginning it will be quite clear to Israel there is nothing she can do.
Feeling utterly helpless, and fearful of almost certain annihilation, finally Israel individually, but as a nation and even Jews in the Diaspora, will call on the Holy One of Israel. THIS is the time Jeremiah explains in detail in chapter 30: 1 – 11.
The people will go into their sealed rooms in great fear, and the whole nation will actually “call on the Name of Adonai,” just as Yeshua said the would before His Coming! THIS will be “the time of Jacob’s trouble – a short time only, (NOT 3.5. years!) God will be doing a great work in them as Ezekiel 36 and Zechariah 11 tell.
The threat against Israel will be sudden, but will be seen by the whole world, which will think that Israel is ‘finished’. How wrong they will be! Islam is in the ascendancy at present, imprisoning a billion people in this evil system. Persecution of Christians among them is already horrific, but the True God sees all. He will show His mighty power, by sending an earthquake.”This is what will happen in that day. When Gog attacks the Land of Israel My hot anger will be aroused, declares the Sovereign LORD. In My zeal and fiery wrath I declare that at that time there will be a great earthquake, in the Land of Israel. [All creatures} and all the people on the face of the Earth will tremble at My Presence. The mountains will be overturned, the cliffs will crumble and every wall will fall to the ground.
But the destruction of the army is also by their own hands. “I will summon a sword against Gog on all My mountains, declares the Sovereign LORD. Every man’s sword will be against his ‘brother’.” [It is an uneasy alliance of nationalities.] “I will execute judgement on him, with plague and bloodshed; I will pour down torrents of rain, hail stones & burning sulphur on him & on his troops & on the many nations with him.” Pray for any Believers who have perhaps been forced to be in this army, or live in this area. Killed Believers will go straight to Heaven.
7. The result is as God planned.
“And so I WILL show MY greatness and My holiness, & I WILL make Myself known in the sight of many nations. THENTHEY WILL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD.” No longer will there be any doubts or false claims as made beforehand by the forces of Communism and Islam, especially.
It is even possible that an effect of the earthquake will cause irreparable damage to the Muslim Mosques on the Temple Mount, clearing it for the rebuilding of the 3rd Jewish Temple. Even though it is about 150km. from the area mentioned, smaller tremors could be felt in parts of Israel, with little damage, (as at the time of the 39 scuds in the 1st ‘Gulf War’.) The evidence of God’s power will be very visible and significant, in the light of the Islamic claims, beforehand.
Therefore, thousands of Middle East people will also turn to the true God! Isaiah 19:23-25 and Jeremiah 49:35-39 will be true soon! There will be a great change, especially for Egypt and Assyria! The “fullness of the Gentiles” will be very close. See Romans 11:25. Not a ‘rapture’ but a harvest of new Believers all over the world in a great revival! This is what Joel explains in chapter 2.
The army will be totally destroyed on ‘the mountains of Israel’ - as we have suggested - in present day Syria. The earthquake God orders against them, at just the right moment will cause panic, and the chemicals they are carrying will destroy them. Ezekiel 38 & 39 gives the description as if he were actually there. There are great deposits of chemical weapons (WMD’S) and Oil pipes across this area, especially near the B’qua Valley – which is also a site for refining drugs for sale.
SO, FINALLY WE SEE THE EFFECT THIS WILL HAVE ON THE ENTIRE WORLD.
There
are world-wide repercussions from this event, “The Ezekiel
War”.
(We will enlarge on these in
our next article, “The Sequel of events after the Ezekiel
War.”)
Severe destruction in other places by other serious earthquakes. (39: 6.)
Great shock, shame and loss for all the nations that have been involved.
Total economic collapse for every nation, so that the whole world economy is affected, as the world has become more inter-dependant over recent years.
This will result in anarchy (killing and looting) and so much panic and disorder that Governments will be powerless to act. This will be a critical time for the governments of the World. All nations signed their sovereignty over to the UNO in 2000 for such a time of this, ‘a world wide threat’.
This will open the way for the false-messiah/Antichrist to step forward to offer himself as ‘the great saviour’ and needed Leader of the world! Backed by many religious supporters, he will quickly gain world supremacy.
Christians and Jews will be in great danger, but ‘ in a window of opportunity’ they will have a wonderful, perhaps brief time of transition, to witness to the God of Israel, the only true God who is now known by the whole world as the Sovereign LORD! “Then they will know that I AM the Sovereign LORD ADONAI.” This is a repeated message and result, making it clear there is NO OTHER GOD!
Thousands, especially across the Middle East will turn to Jesus/ Yeshua/ Isa in faith & repentance as their true Saviour & Messiah!
OUR
CONCLUSIONS ARE OFFERED IN LOVE WITH URGENT PRAYER.
Dear
Readers, we have presented this study after
very much study,
consultation & prayer.
We have now come to see this as an
even more serious
matter than even we had thought, before!
So we
can only trust that you too,
will pray and consider the
implications for yourself and those you love.
Perhaps after this
long study we can only remind you of the words of
Yeshua/ Jesus
Himself in Matthew 10: 28.
“So
do not be afraid… There is nothing concealed that will not be
disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What I tell you in
the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in the ear,
proclaim from the roofs.
Do not be afraid of those who kill the
body but cannot kill the soul.
Rather be afraid of the ONE Who
can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for
a ‘penny’/’cent’?
Yet not one of them
will fall to the ground apart from the will of your father.
And
even the hairs of your head are all numbered.
So don’t be
afraid; you are worth more than MANY sparrows!”
We will give the sequel of events in our next article, Please read it too.