Gog & Magog as seen by the Israelis & Christians : Ezekiel 38,39: The Magog Invasion
by Khalid Hasan on Friday, 04 March 2011 at 21:53
Ezekiel 38,39: The Magog Invasion
What is this invasion by Gog, Magog and others?
Excerpt from Contender Ministries:
"Ezekiel 38 through 39 tells of a future invasion of Israel by a vast coalition of nations that surround it. As we read the headlines in the newspapers of today, and witness the conflict in the Middle East, it's not hard to imagine that this invasion prophesied over 2600 years ago, could be fulfilled in our lifetime. Ezekiel 36-37 predicts a gathering of the Jews to the nation of Israel, which will be followed by this massive invasion. For 19 centuries the Jewish people were scattered throughout the world, and until May 14, 1948 there was no nation of Israel to invade. With the nation of Israel now a reality, the stage seems set for the war that will usher in the tribulation and the rise of the Antichrist; a war that will end with the destruction of Israel's enemies by God Himself, and lead to the signing of a peace treaty with the Antichrist.
As you read Ezekiel 38 and 39, it isn't just the creation of the nation of Israel that makes this prophecy seem likely to be fulfilled in the near future. The nations that God tells us will form this coalition against Israel seem more likely now than perhaps ever before to form just such an alliance."
What does the scripture say? * Biblical names are explained further down
Ezekiel 38:10-23
Thus saith the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought: And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates, To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land. Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil? Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say unto Gog, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In that day when my people of Israel dwelleth safely, shalt thou not know it? And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army: And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes. Thus saith the Lord GOD; Art thou he of whom I have spoken in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, which prophesied in those days many years that I would bring thee against them? And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, that my fury shall come up in my face. For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel; So that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground. And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord GOD: every man's sword shall be against his brother. And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD.
Zechariah 2
I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand. Then said I, Whither goest thou? And he said unto me, To measure Jerusalem, to see what is the breadth thereof, and what is the length thereof. And, behold, the angel that talked with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him, And said unto him, Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein: For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her. Ho, ho, come forth, and flee from the land of the north, saith the LORD: for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heaven, saith the LORD. Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon. For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple [H892 lens] of his eye. For, behold, I will shake mine hand upon them, and they shall be a spoil to their servants: and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me. Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the LORD. And many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto thee. And the LORD shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again. Be silent, O all flesh, before the LORD: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation.
Ezekiel 39:1-16
Therefore, thou son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: And I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee, and will cause thee to come up from the north parts, and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel: And I will smite thy bow out of thy left hand, and will cause thine arrows to fall out of thy right hand. Thou shalt fall upon the mountains of Israel, thou, and all thy bands, and the people that is with thee: I will give thee unto the ravenous birds of every sort, and to the beasts of the field to be devoured. Thou shalt fall upon the open field: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD. And I will send a fire on Magog, and among them that dwell carelessly in the isles: and they shall know that I am the LORD. So will I make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel; and I will not let them pollute my holy name any more: and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel. Behold, it is come, and it is done, saith the Lord GOD; this is the day whereof I have spoken. And they that dwell in the cities of Israel shall go forth, and shall set on fire and burn the weapons, both the shields and the bucklers, the bows and the arrows, and the handstaves, and the spears, and they shall burn them with fire seven years: So that they shall take no wood out of the field, neither cut down any out of the forests; for they shall burn the weapons with fire: and they shall spoil those that spoiled them, and rob those that robbed them, saith the Lord GOD. And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will give unto Gog a place there of graves in Israel, the valley of the passengers on the east of the sea: and it shall stop the noses of the passengers: and there shall they bury Gog and all his multitude: and they shall call it The valley of Hamongog. And seven months shall the house of Israel be burying of them, that they may cleanse the land. Yea, all the people of the land shall bury them; and it shall be to them a renown the day that I shall be glorified, saith the Lord GOD. And they shall sever out men of continual employment, passing through the land to bury with the passengers those that remain upon the face of the earth, to cleanse it: after the end of seven months shall they search. And the passengers that pass through the land, when any seeth a man's bone, then shall he set up a sign by it, till the buriers have buried it in the valley of Hamongog. And also the name of the city shall be Hamonah. Thus shall they cleanse the land.
Ezekiel 39:21-29
And I will set my glory among the heathen, and all the heathen shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid upon them. So the house of Israel shall know that I am the LORD their God from that day and forward. And the heathen shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity: because they trespassed against me, therefore hid I my face from them, and gave them into the hand of their enemies: so fell they all by the sword. According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions have I done unto them, and hid my face from them. Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Now will I bring again the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel, and will be jealous for my holy name; After that they have borne their shame, and all their trespasses whereby they have trespassed against me, when they dwelt safely in their land, and none made them afraid. When I have brought them again from the people, and gathered them out of their enemies' lands, and am sanctified in them in the sight of many nations; Then shall they know that I am the LORD their God, which caused them to be led into captivity among the heathen: but I have gathered them unto their own land, and have left none of them any more there. Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.
We see a recurring theme in this next passage with the destruction of Syria and others. Thank you Beth, for bringing the following verse to my attention...
Isaiah 14:24-32
The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand: That I will break the Assyrian in my land, and upon my mountains tread him under foot:
This is specifically toward Syria and Palestine (Gaza). Notice again that they are "broken" on God's mountains. It is the Lord that founded Zion, so going against it is going against God.
Who are the players?
Identity of Gog from Chuck Missler's Magog Invasion
Amos 7:1 (KJV)
Thus hath the Lord GOD shewed unto me; and, behold, he formed grasshoppers in the beginning of the shooting up of the latter growth; and, lo, it was the latter growth after the king's mowings.
Amos 7:1 (LXX: Septuagint)
Thus the Lord showed me, and behold a swarm of locusts were coming, and, behold, one of the young devastating locusts was Gog, the king.
The cause of the difference is in the translation results from a little mark from the original that was overlooked.
Revelation 9:11 (KJV)
And [the locusts] had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.
Gog is therefore a demonic king who isn't limited in lifespan by time.
Some of the more common theories you'll hear when studying the prophecies from Ezekiel 38. Excerpt from Contender Ministries
Hashemite Kingdom Theory: The Islamic Nations will come against Israel either by an Iraqi-led, Jordanian led, or Turkish led coalition. The enemy from the north refers to the areas of Syria, Turkey, and Iraq. These Islamic nations make up the lands occupied by Magog, Gomer, Togarmah, Meshech and Tubal.
Caucus Theory: Gog and Magog are the Arab nations in an alliance with the Muslim republics of the former Soviet Union. This theory leaves out most of Russia, and includes only the southern part.
All Europe theory: Gog and Magog are the sons of Japeth thus the originators of the European races. Gog and Magog therefore indicates all of Europe. This is not a widely held theory and I could find little support for it.
Russian Theory: The Hebrew word 'rosh' in verse 3 is identified with Russia, 'Tubal' with Tiblisi or Tobolsk and 'Meshech' with Moscow, therefore Gog and Magog refers to Russia. This is one of the most commonly held views and is based on a different interpretation of the Hebrew word Rosh (used as a noun rather than adjective), similarities in the pronunciation of words, and the Greek translation of Rosh referring to a tribe of people found in what is now Russia. (Given Russia's obvious involvement in giving arms and technology to Iran and Syria, I believe they will be a big player in the attack if not actively involved in it.)
Indo-European Theory: Gog and Magog include the nations descending from Japheth: Russia, the Caucasus (Turkey), Iraq, and the Islamic republics of Central Asia. The coalition is an alliance of Arab nations, Muslim republics, Georgia, southern Russia and the Black sea area.
These are some of the theories you will find if you do any research into the prophecies of Ezekiel 38. You may also find interpretations that are a combination of these, and in fact, I tend to find more evidence for a version of the Indo-European and Caucacus Theory.
Before looking at the participants of this invasion in more detail, it's important to understand that the war described in Ezekiel 38 is not the same as the war that will come at the end of the tribulation when Jesus returns to defeat the Antichrist and establish his millennial kingdom. How do we know this? The war at the end of the tribulation, known as Armageddon, is a world war. Revelation tells us that this battle will involve all nations. The war described in Ezekiel includes specific nations that invade Israel. Also, Armageddon is at the climax of the tribulation, while the war described in Ezekiel comes well before then.
Ezekiel 38:1-7 gives 10 names as participants in the invasion of Israel that will follow the re-gathering of the Jews to their homeland. First mentioned, is the land of Magog. The most common identity for Magog is in Central Asia. The Jewish historian Josephus said, "Magog founded the Magogians, called Scythians by the Greeks. Scythians were a nomadic tribe who inhabited the ancient territory from Central Asia across the southern part of ancient Russia." Today this area is inhabited by the former Soviet Republics of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and possibly northern parts of Afghanistan. All of these nations that make up the land of Magog have one thing in common - Islam. Militant Islam has been on the rise in these countries since the fall of the Soviet Union, when Islam no longer had to be practiced secretly. Radical Islamic groups such as the Islamic Renaissance Party, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, and Hizb ut-Tahrir al-Islam are working to reunite central Asian nations and ultimately the entire Muslim world. It is from this part of the world that a leader will arise to bring together a great coalition of nations to invade Israel.
Probably the most debated verse is Ezekiel 38:3. There are two main views on the identity of the Nations God is referring to in this verse. I'll list both here, and let the reader decide which sounds most reasonable.
Rosh as Russia
Some versions of the Bible translate the Hebrew word 'rosh' in verse 3 as a noun referring to a place in Russia. The least credible support for this view is that Rosh sounds like the modern-day name Russia and Meshech sounds like Moscow. In this translation they treat rosh as a proper name. The Greek translation translates Rosh as the proper name Ros. Because the ancient Sarmations were known as the Ras, Rashu, and Rus and inhabited Rasapu which is now Southern Russia, some feel this verse points to Russia as the prince of Rosh. Another support sited for this view is that verse 6 and 15 say the invasion will come from remote parts of the north, and Russia is more remote.
The Muslim Bear? by Mark Hitchcock - Ezekiel's prophecy and Russia's changing demographics. The prophet Ezekiel predicted almost 2,600 years ago that Rosh (modern Russia) would lead an end time invasion of Israel. The allies of Russia in this invasion are ancient places that today are Central Asia (Magog), Iran (Persia), Libya (Put), Turkey (Meshech, Tubal, Gomer, and Togarmah), and Sudan (Cush)—all of which are Islamic nations. In previous articles we have speculated about what could possibly draw Russia into such an alliance against Israel. Several reasons have been suggested: 1) Russia's desire for regional supremacy, 2) Russia's need to maintain a counter-balance of power against the West, or 3) Russia's reassertion of its might after its humiliation in the early 1990s when the might Soviet Empire disintegrated. All of these are plausible, reasonable explanations for Russia's involvement in this future attack on Israel. However, a recent article sheds some fascinating new light on this subject. Mark Steyn at SteynOnline recently presented some startling statistics about the rapidly changing demographics in Russia. Here's what he said. There are ten million people in Moscow. Do you know how many of them are Muslim? Two and a half million. Or about a quarter of the population. The ethnic Russians are older; the Muslims are younger. The ethnic Russians are already in net population decline; the Muslim population in the country has increased by 40% in the last 15 years. Seven out of ten Russian pregnancies (according to some surveys) are aborted; in some Muslim communities, the fertility rate is ten babies per woman. Russian men have record rates of heart disease, liver disease, drug addiction and Aids; Muslims are the only guys in the country who aren't face down in the vodka. Faced with these trends, most experts extrapolate: thus, it's generally accepted that by mid-century the Russian Federation will be majority Muslim. But you don't really need to extrapolate when the future's already checking in at reception. The Toronto Star (which is Canada's biggest-selling newspaper and impeccably liberal) recently noted that by 2015 Muslims will make up a majority of Russia's army. . . . What will happen in Russia? A remorseless evolution into a majority Muslim state? Bosnian-style civil war? The secession of a dozen or so of Russia's 89 federal regions? A Muslim military coup? Or a panicky attempt to arrest decline by selling off your few remaining assets, including national resources to the Chinese and nukes to anyone who wants them? None of us knows, but we should know enough to know we don't know. The Russia of 15 years ago is already ancient history. . . . By 2050, Russia will be the umpteenth Muslim nuclear power, but the first with a permanent seat on the UNSC. (Mark Steyn "The Bear Goes Walkabout," marksteyn.com. 2/2/07 [Scroll down the page a little]). Imagine that. The great Muslim bear poised to the north of Israel. Assuming the accuracy of these facts, or even anything close, one can see another explanation for Russia's participation in the Islamic invasion of Israel in the end times. Russia will lead this Islamic invading force, because Russia itself will be dominated by Muslims. This is something that no one could have envisioned even a decade or two ago. Yet, it appears to be happening right before our eyes. No one knows when the battle of Gog and Magog in Ezekiel 38-39 will occur, but if it's several years in the future, this dramatic demographic shift in Russia could very well play a key part in setting the stage for this major event of the end times.
Is it any wonder Russia will attack Israel too? The anti-Semitism is spreading throughout the world and Islam is helping it along quite well. This is also why I believe Islam will be one of the main tools the antichrist uses to control the world. Keep in mind that beheading is the choice of execution for Islam and also the cause of many martyrs deaths in the great tribulation. Islam is already integrated into all societies, regardless of nationality. They view their religion as the future world-wide religion. While that will morph into worshipping the man of sin and his puppet master, I'm sure many things, like execution methods, will remain quite the same. I used to think guillotines when I thought of the great tribulation, but swords work much easier and faster. The stronger Islam gets, the quicker those without any faith or grounding will join to save their mortal lives, giving up their eternal existence in God's presence for eternal separation. Many will be deceived, we who know the truth must speak up and warn them.
Continuing the above article...
Rosh as chief
Other versions of the Bible translate 'rosh' as an adjective. The argument here is that in the Massoretic text the words 'chief prince' carry the accents Tiphha and Zaqeph-gadol. The Tiphha appears under the resh of the Hebrew word 'rosh'; the Zaqeph-gadol appears on top of the sin of the Hebrew word 'nish'. The Tiphha to the right, underneath the initial consonant of the world 'rosh', or chief, is prepositive and does not mark the tone syllable. The world 'nish' or prince has the accent Zaqeph-gadol which is disjunctive and indicates a pause. So, verse three would read:
"Behold, I am against thee, o Gog, the prince, {pause} chief of Meshech and Tubal"
Rather than:
"Behold, I am against thee, o Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal."
Here 'rosh' is translated head or chief as it is 423 other times in the Old Testament. In short, if you believe 'rosh' should be translated as a proper noun you may find the interpretation that Russia will be a part of this coalition more reasonable. If you believe 'rosh' should be an adjective here, you need only concern yourself with who Meshech and Tubal are. I tend to have a problem with the "it sounds like Russia" theory, and find the translation of rosh as an adjective more believable, but to each his own.
Meshech and Tubal in verses 2 and 6, were the names of the 6th and 5th sons of Japheth, the son of Noah (Genesis 10:2). Ezekiel 27:13 also mentions Meshech and Tubal as trading partners with Tyre (Modern Lebanon). It's likely that Meshech and Tubal refer to the ancient Moshi/Mushki and Tubalu/Tibareni who dwelled in the area around, primarily south of, the Black and Caspian Sea in Ezekiel's day. Today these nations would be in the modern country of Turkey, parts of Southern Russia and Northern Iran. All areas with a Muslim majority.
Verse 6 adds Gomer and Beth-Togarmah to the coalition. "Gomer" was the first son of Japheth. The Gomerites were the ancient Cimmerians, expelled in 700 BC from the southern steppes of Russia into what is today Turkey. "Togarmah" is the 3rd son of Gomer and beth at the beginning of the name is the Hebrew word for 'house' or 'place of'. In Ezekiel's time there was a city in Cappodocia (Modern Turkey) known as Tegarma, Tagarma, Til-garimmu, and Takarama.
The possibility that four of the names mentioned in Ezekiel are now in Turkey makes a pretty strong argument for Turkey being a part of the invasion of Israel. Current circumstances in that country also lend this view some credibility. Since the break-up of the Soviet Union, Turkey has been gaining inroads into Central Asia (Magog). It is also linked to Central Asia both ethnically and linguistically, and has a growing number of political parties that support opposition to Israel, establishment of a Turkish Islamic Republic, and the worldwide rule of Islam.
Verse 5 brings three more names into the mix. God tells us that "Persia, Cush and Put will be with them".
Persia is a pretty easy one. In 539 BC the Persians conquered the city of Babylon. You only need look at a map of the ancient Persian Empire to see that it was centered in the nation known today as Iran. In fact Iran was called Persia until 1935 when it was changed to Iran and then to the Islamic Republic of Iran in 1979 during the Iranian Revolution. It's no secret that Iran is an archenemy of Israel and the West, and a supporter of the Palestinians. They are actively working to get other Arab countries to change camps in their cooperation with the U.S. and Israel.
The ancient kingdom of Cush in Ezekiel's time was the land just south of Egypt on the Nile River. Today this land is occupied by Sudan. Sudan is home to the National Islamic Front, is ruled by an Islamic military dictatorship, a strong supporter of Iraq, home to Osama bin Laden from 1991-1996, and harbors countless Islamic terrorist groups. Sudan would easily fit into the coalition as it is already close allies with Iran, trading military supplies for docking rights on the Red Sea shipping routes.
Ancient Put was the land just west of Egypt, or what is today Libya. Libya is another sponsor of terrorism, and openly refuses to recognize Israel's right to even exist. When the coalition against Israel is formed, Libya won't have to be asked twice to join.
Verse 6 adds "and many people with you." The nations listed specifically are all somewhat distant from Israel. By adding "and many people with you", God may have been indicating that those nations and peoples in closer proximity to Israel will join the Jihad. Other nations that might join the alliance are Iraq, Syria, Jordon, and Egypt. All of them are Islamic nations, and all of them would not hesitate to support the destruction of Israel were the opportunity to join such a vast coalition presented to them.
When Could It Happen?
Before the 70th Week???
Ezekiel 39:8-10
Behold, it is come, and it is done, saith the Lord GOD; this is the day whereof I have spoken. And they that dwell in the cities of Israel shall go forth, and shall set on fire and burn the weapons, both the shields and the bucklers, the bows and the arrows, and the handstaves, and the spears, and they shall burn them with fire seven years: So that they shall take no wood out of the field, neither cut down any out of the forests; for they shall burn the weapons with fire: and they shall spoil those that spoiled them, and rob those that robbed them, saith the Lord GOD.
In reality, I don't believe there is any further defining of when Gog/Magog specifically happens, but once it does we will know. The views that are left are that Gog/Magog happens either before the 70th week or before the abomination of desolation. This passage is used by some to imply that Gog/Magog happens before the 70th week since they burn the weapons for 7 years. I personally think that's a big assumption that can't really be supported. There's nothing in the above scripture which says these weapons can't be burned during the millennium when Christ is reigning.
Before the abomination of desolation:
Ezekiel 39:6,7
And I will send a fire on Magog, and among them that dwell carelessly in the isles: and they shall know that I am the LORD. So will I make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel; and I will not let them pollute my holy name any more: and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel.
I don't believe that God allows Israel to pollute His holy name during the millennium. He rules with a rod of iron. It is the fire on Gog/Magog that marks the point where God doesn't allow them to pollute His holy name anymore. I think that means that when it happens, Israel will begin to come back to God again out of their current secularism. Of course it will start by going back to the daily sacrifice because that's what they know and accept. But later on 2/3 will be killed and 1/3 refined through fire. Zechariah 13:8,9 They will accept Christ as the Meshiach Nagid.
Also, Chuck Missler brought up a good point. The names of our countries, they're boundaries, and cities change over time. The one thing that doesn't change is our ancestor's names. Magog was a grandson of Noah. They are identified later as the Scythians. From my understanding, this was Northern Turkey to North of the Black sea and even into China at one point. The great wall of China is called the "ramparts of Gog and Magog." I would recommend listening to Chuck Missler's presentation on this. It's only $7.95 to download. The Magog Invasion
Not all of Magog will be destroyed in the Gog/Magog invasion. At the end of the millennium, more descendents will again come against Christ at Jerusalem. I believe Ezekiel 37-47 is chronological. If you look at what is described, it walks through history.
Ezekiel 36: Mountains of Israel coming alive again ~ because Israel is living there again. (1948)
Ezekiel 37: Valley of dry bones ~ Israel becoming a nation again (1948)
Ezekiel 38: Gog/Magog Invasion (Yet future)
Ezekiel 39: Gog/Magog Invasion (Yet future)
Millennium begins
Ezekiel 40: Detailed measuring of millennial Temple (one this size has never before existed: The Temple of Ezekiel by Lambert Dolphin)
Ezekiel 41: Temple and altar
Ezekiel 42: More measuring
Ezekiel 43: Animal sacrifices
Ezekiel 44: Procedures and Jobs
Ezekiel 45: Offerings and feasts
Ezekiel 46: Procedures and offerings
Ezekiel 47: Waters from the house and more measurements
Ezekiel 48: Land divisions in the millennium
Revelation 20:7,10: After millennium, the nations along with Gog/Magog are brought to Jerusalem and destroyed.
Notice how Gog/Magog is nestled neatly in-between Israel becoming a nation and the chapters describing the millennium? I believe there's a reason. God leaves 1/6 of the Magog invaders that are wiped out in the mountains of Israel. I think 1,000 years is plenty of time to build up an army again. If the ones who are left have children and raise them as they were raised, there will be an animosity against God building for 1,000 years.
Some other points to consider:
Israel is dwelling in peace and security when they are attacked. There are two times we know this will be happening:
False peace just before the abomination of desolation (I believe the security may be the false peace that will soon come that will allow the rebuilding of the temple. Perhaps this means that Israel will be allowed to rebuild the temple, and will be living securely but then will be attacked by the Gog/Magog armies?)
Millennium
There are several battles where God intervenes on Israel's behalf. Here are three at the end:
Gog/Magog - God destroys the armies in the mountains of Israel with fire and brimstone from heaven
Armageddon - Christ destroys the gathered armies with the Word of His mouth
End of Millennium - Christ destroys the armies Satan gathers from the four corners of the earth
"In Ezekiel, Gog is buried while in Revelation the AC is cast alive into the lake of fire. Gog and his alliance of nations comes against the mountains of Israel while all nations come against Jerusalem at Armageddon." -1whowaits
"Revelation 20 also mentions Gog-Magog at the end of the millennium. The conditions described in Ezek. (God hiding His face from Israel) would not be consistent with Christ's rule during the millennium." -1whowaits
"There is something a little different-Satan is released and goes out to deceive the nations of the 4 corners of the earth and he is successful. At Armageddon it is not only Satan but also the AC and FP that send out demons to gather the nations, a minor difference perhaps." -1whowaits
"Could Gog be Satan's fall guy, the one he uses to deceive the world about who the real AC is? Could Satan be the one that places the evil thought in the mind of Gog? Could this be the reason Gog-Magog and Armageddon are so similar, almost indistinguishable? Could the death of Gog and his identification as the 'beast' of Rev. be the cover that Satan needs to put his man in place?" -1whowaits
After the 70th week, Armageddon?:
Ezekiel 38:8-12
After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them. Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee. Thus saith the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought: And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates, To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land.
This passage tells us first and foremost that this takes place in the latter years. This also tells us that Israel, gathered from the nations to the land of Israel, is living at rest, dwelling safely without walls, bars, or gates. This removes the possibility of this coinciding with Armageddon because Israel isn't even in Jerusalem at that point.
Revelation 12:14
And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
Some believe that the attack takes place in conjunction with Armageddon, and that's when the armies are wiped out. However, Israel will not be living in peace in Jerusalem when Christ returns in glory. They will be in the wilderness protected from the dragon. Revelation 12:14
At the end of millennium:
Revelation 20:7-9
And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog, and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
Is Gog/Magog representative of all "the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth?" Or are they just a part of that army? I think that would make a difference in determining if this is the same time being spoken of. I don't know, I'm just really cautious about what I link because I've been in error on it before in other matters.
Ezekiel 39:6,7
And I will send a fire on Magog, and among them that dwell carelessly in the isles: and they shall know that I am the LORD. So will I make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel; and I will not let them pollute my holy name any more: and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel.
From what I understand of Bible prophecy, this eliminates Gog/Magog from after the millennium. Why? The heathens recognize God through the time His wrath is poured out. Also, does that mean that Israel will pollute God's name through the millennium?
It's because of this passage that I view Gog/Magog as the initial clear intervention by God during the end times. This is the point where the earth has to either accept God or reject Him, but they won't be able to deny Him because Ezekiel 38,39 are so clear. When this event happens, the world will know the God of Israel exists.
This is also why I believe Gog/Magog is what brings more of Israel back to following God as a nation. I think they will take Him seriously after that and it will spur their desire to rebuild the temple.
So given the scriptures above, here's how the possibilities look:
Before the 70th week (This is still in the realm of possibilities, but I personally think it will be during the first part of the 70th week of Daniel.)
Before the abomination of desolation (Because of the HIStory, Our Future collection of Bible studies I lean toward this timing. If you look at my Gog/Magog news page, I think you'll agree how close we could be.)
Armageddon (Israel not dwelling in Jerusalem, they're in the wilderness)
End of the millennium (Israel and the world will know God long before Gog/Magog if this is when it happens. It seems pretty clearly stated though that this event will make everyone realize God is real and present. This doesn't fit if Christ has been ruling from Jerusalem for 1,000 years already.)
I think this assessment on the timing of the Gog/Magog invasion from 1whowaits on FulfilledProphecy.com is pretty good. My comments are indented in blue.
Just thought I would add a couple of points regarding the timing of Gog Magog (GM). I believe we are given 2 big clues as to the timing of GM in Ezekiel 39 which describes Israel as returning to her land and to her God.
Israel returning to her land (all Israel, none left behind) would eliminate certain timeframes. GM is mentioned at the end of the millennium but Israel will have already returned to her land and to her God prior to that time according to Zechariah 14. There is no evidence in scripture that Israel will need to return to her land or her God after Christ's return so this possibility is eliminated.
Some have suggested that GM occurs sometime after the middle of the 70th week (JVI) and could be protracted battle that runs into Armageddon.
I would suggest that GM cannot occur during the 'great trib.' because Israel cannot return to her land during this time. Revelation 12:14 states that Satan pursues the woman (Israel) and she is protected in a place in the wilderness, presumably somewhere outside of Israel. Israel, at least those in the wilderness, would then be unlikely to return to the land of Israel until Jesus returns at the end of the 70th week.
As far as GM being a protracted battle that extends for a significant part of the great trib, this is possible but would seem unlikely. What is described as coming against Israel in Ezekiel is "a great horde... a mighty army... like a cloud covering the land." This is a major, overwhelming force that is coming against Israel and this would most certainly be high intensity warfare. Israel has faced superior forces in the past and has defeated them through preemptive strike (1967) and through superior tactics and the threat of nuclear weapons (1973). But Israel was quickly re-supplied by its allies, especially in '73, as it was losing much material in battle. At GM Israel stands alone, no one (nation) will be there to help her or re-supply her. Israel simply lacks the munitions and resources for a protracted, high intensity war like that described in Ezek. And Israel does not appear to threaten Gog with major weaponry such as nuclear missiles in Ezekiel so either she no longer possesses them or she is faced by a much superior nuclear force such as Russia. Israel has her 'back to the wall' at GM which is the point. No one but God can rescue her, which He does.
And God (Jesus) does rescue Israel at Armageddon so GM and Armageddon could be the same battle. But there are differences suggested in scripture, (northern alliance vs. all nations, battle on the mountains vs. outside Jerusalem, Gog buried vs. being cast into the lake of fire, etc.), which can be disputed but the differences are there. For this reason I consider GM and Armageddon being the same battle possible but less likely.
This would leave the possibility of GM occurring at the beginning, or just prior to, the 70th week. This would fit the statement in Ezekiel of the burning of weapons for 7 years, which using the 7 year time frame would appear to be more than just a coincidence. All Israel could return to the land at the beginning or just prior to the 70th week (Israel's week). But will Israel return to the Lord that early?
Very good assessment, I agree for the most part. I actually believe it occurs within the 70th week, but before the abomination of desolation. In fact, I believe that current news is pointing to this happening very soon. I believe this may be what brings the "peace" and conquering by flatteries and leads to the rebuilding of the temple. I'm tracking Gog/Magog news here, and every puzzle piece is falling into place. This also matches the HIStory, Our Future Bible study I've been doing. I combine the exact day prophecies in Daniel and Revelation with the 14,000 day "coincidence" and that's what the study explains with scripture and history. I'm fascinated by the precision and detail in the Word of God. It truly is a Book of extra-terrestrial origins and outside of our time, yet wrapped around and in it all. May His name be glorified in all the earth!
And by returning to the Lord I mean returning as God wishes her to, by returning to Jesus her messiah. This would be the problem with GM occurring at the beginning of the 70th week, can Israel return to her God, return to her messiah this early?
I believe that scripture may show that Israel does indeed return to the Lord early in the 70th week.
But by stating that Israel returns to the Lord, does the entire nation need to turn to God for the return to be valid? Paul states in Romans 11:26 that 'all Israel will be saved' the context indicating a return to Jesus. But we know from Zechariah 13:8,9 that 2/3 of the nation of Israel will die by the end of the 70th week and only 1/3 will remain, the 'faithful remnant' that will be 'refined' and will call on God's name, and will be saved. So when Paul says 'all Israel' will be saved, he is not talking about the entire nation, at least as it exists at the beginning of the 70th week.
I believe Revelation 12:14 places the protection of the 1/3 remnant of Israel 3 ½ years (1260 days) before the end of the 70th week. It looks something like this:
But Paul is correct from the perspective of the end of the 70th week because the only Israelis left alive will be those who have accepted Jesus. Therefore 'all Israel' will be saved because those that are not saved are not alive. Perhaps then, from God's perspective, Israel could return to the Lord early in the 70th week, even if it is only a return of a portion of the nation, because at the end this is the only part of the nation that will still exist. God knows even now who in Israel will return to Him, who will accept His messiah, so that even if the entire nation does not return to Him, the part that does return is the true nation, the one part that will survive.
I believe this is what scripture means too. I also believe that the reason they will collectively call on the Lord fulfilling the requirement for His return, (Matthew 23:39 | Luke 13:35) I think they do this because of the armies gathered around Jerusalem by the frog spirits out of the false prophet's mouth at Armageddon, and that is why Christ comes. Even more fascinating is what day the HIStory, Our Future study places it at, the 9th of Av.
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Ezekiel 39 discusses Israel's return to the Lord, but so also do the passages proceeding it. Ezekiel 39 states that Israel will know her God but it is not clear what type of return this is. Ezek. 36 and 37 also describe Israel returning to the Lord but in a little more detail. Ezekiel 36:26-27 states "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you..." This sounds like a conversion experience.In fact Ezekiel 36-39 describes a series of events that are linked to Israel's return. Israel will return to the land, Israel and Judah will be joined as 1 nation, Israel will return to the Lord, God will pour out His spirit on them (give them a new spirit), and God will make a covenant with Israel. Ezekiel 37 describes this covenant as a covenant of peace and and everlasting covenant. What type of covenant will God make with Israel at this time?A similar description of a covenant with Israel is given in Jeremiah 30-31, the 'time of Jacob's trouble' passage. In fact a similar sequence of Israel's return to the land, Israel and Judah being joined, Israel returning to God, a changed heart, and a new covenant is described in Jeremiah as it is in Ezekiel 36-39. And Jeremiah 31:31 says ' The time is coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house if Israel and the house of Judah... This is the covenant I will make with the house if Israel...I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts'.What is the new covenant that God makes with Israel? Hebrews 8 quotes this exact passage from Jeremiah 31 and directly associates it with the new covenant of which Jesus is mediator. The new covenant that God makes with Israel in Jeremiah is the new covenant of Jesus Christ which makes the old covenant obsolete.Therefore, the new covenant, the covenant of peace, the everlasting covenant described in Jeremiah 30-31 and Ezekiel 36-39 is the covenant with Jesus the messiah. This would make sense of the pouring out of the spirit, the giving of a new heart, David (Jesus) being their king described in these passages.But this could also mean that, as described in Ezekiel 36-39, when Israel returns to her land , when Israel and Judah are joined together, when Israel returns to the Lord, when Israel receives the spirit, when the new covenant is made, it will occur just after GM as described in Ezekiel 39.So God's saving Israel from the Gog/Magog invasion would mark that turning point where Israel turns back to God? I believe that too. In fact, I believe once Gog/Magog happens, the antichrist will come forth peaceably making a covenant that will allow the rebuilding of the temple. (I don't believe the 7-year covenant the antichrist makes is the 7-year time period of the 70th week. Daniel 9:27 can be taken that way, and I completely understand why, but it doesn't close the books on the matter either. I'm in "wait mode" for the clarity on this point.) At which time the Ark of the Covenant may be "rediscovered" and bring the nation of Israel even more back to a place of serving God. I don't believe they will be the same Israel they are now, after seeing God save them so clearly and spelled out in scripture.
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Though Israel's return can be tied to Gog Magog and to the new covenant with Jesus, this could still take place at the end of the 70th week, at Armageddon, making gm and Armageddon the same battle. But if there were some other scripture that indicated that Israel returns to Jesus their messiah at an earlier time, even if it were only part of the nation, it could demonstrate that Gog Magog also occurs at an earlier time.
An earlier return of part of Israel to Jesus the messiah is suggested in Revelation 7 and 14, the passages that describe the 144,000. The 144,000 are definitely Jews as described by their tribal designations in chapter 7. And they definitely have accepted Jesus as messiah as they are sealed by God, the are redeemed, they follow the lamb, and they were purchased, all statements associated with accepting Jesus as Savior.
When do the 144,000 come to Christ? According to Revelation 7 the 144,000 are sealed before there is any harm done to the land, sea or trees. There may be some difference on how one interprets the seals, trumpets and bowls and their timing of the 70th week but it would be reasonable to assume that this sealing, which occurs before any 'harm' comes to the land, would certainly be before the midpoint, before the 'great tribulation.' This would suggest that the 144,000 accept Christ sometime before the abomination of desolation and the midpoint of the 70th week. And they are definitely part of the nation of Israel. And these are only the single males, the scripture is silent as it was in the feeding of the 5,000 on how many women, children, (married males) possibly could also accept Christ at this time. The 144,000 are the 'firstfruits', the first converts as it were.
And there is another scripture that suggests an earlier return of Israel to Jesus. Again Paul in Romans 11 discusses that 'all Israel' will be saved, and that God will make a covenant that 'takes away their sins', which only the new covenant can do. But Paul also says something quite interesting in verse 25- "Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of gentiles has come in."
This would imply that Israel's hardening of heart will end and she will accept Jesus when the full number of the gentiles has come in. The full number of gentiles has been interpreted by some to mean that when the full number of gentiles that will be saved is completed, then Israel will return to Jesus, will be saved. But gentiles can be saved up until the day of Armageddon, which if this interpretation were true Israel could not return to Jesus until Armageddon. This would not appear to be the case as at least 144,000 are saved prior to that time. Is it reasonable to believe that only 144,000 Jews will be saved prior to Armageddon? Would they not be witnessing that entire time?
An alternate interpretation to the 'full number of the gentiles' would be the full number of years of the gentiles or 'until the times of the gentiles are fulfilled.' (Luke 21:24) Jesus says in this passage that there will be a 'time of the gentiles' exactly how long this 'time' lasts is unclear. But if there is a time for the gentiles is there also a time period for the Jews?
Daniel says '70 sevens are decreed for your people', 69 weeks of which have already passed. But there is one week to come, one more time of Israel, a time of Jacob's trouble. One could reason that the time of the gentiles ends when the time of Israel begins again. It would be a new time, a different time for Israel. This would make sense of how the 144,000 could be called 'firstfruits'. Jewish people are coming to Jesus now, why are they not 'firstfruits'. It may be because the 144,000 are the 'firstfruits' of the new time for Israel, Israel's 70th week.
So it is possible for Israel to return to the Lord, to Jesus their Christ, at the beginning of the 70th week. And then it is also possible for Gog-Magog to occur at the beginning of or prior to the 70th week.
Links:
Magog Revisited Chuck Missler article - Ezekiel Chapters 38 and 39 describe the occasion in which God Himself intervenes to quell the ill-fated invasion of Israel by Magog and its allies (Persia, Cush, Phut, Libya, Gomer, Togarmah, Meshech, and Tubal). This passage also appears to anticipate the use of nuclear weapons. Why does the Bible use such strange names? It has to - we keep changing the names of things: Petrograd = St. Petersburg = Leningrad = St. Petersburg again. (My friends in Russia remind me that ''in Russia, even the past is uncertain!'') Byzantium = Constantinople = Istanbul. Cape Canaveral = Cape Kennedy, etc. But we don’t change the names of our ancestors!
The Magog Invasion $7.95 download - This presentation by Chuck Missler presents the history of Magog and the future invasion of Israel they will attempt. Why does the Bible use such strange names? It has to - we keep changing the names of things: Petrograd = St. Petersburg = Leningrad = St. Petersburg again. (My friends in Russia remind me that ''in Russia, even the past is uncertain!'') Byzantium = Constantinople = Istanbul. Cape Canaveral = Cape Kennedy, etc. But we don’t change the names of our ancestors!
Zola Levitt speaks on Ezekiel 36-40
Gog/Magog description from Harpazo.net
Russia's Day of Destruction in Israel - God is in control of history. As the earlier chapters of this book demonstrate, some of God's appointments with destiny for Israel and the nations have already occurred. Several additional appointments remain to be fulfilled in the future. Russia and her allies (the former republics of the USSR, Eastern Europe, and the Arabs) still await their appointment with destiny.
Related Books:
The Ezekiel Option by Joel C. Rosenberg - The first page of his first thriller, The Last Jihad, put readers inside the cockpit of a hijacked jet, coming in on a kamikaze attack into an American city … but it was written nine months before September 11, 2001. As Jihad unfolds, an American president finds himself in a war with Saddam Hussein over terrorism and weapons of mass destruction … but it was published five months before the actual war with Iraq began. Rosenberg's second novel, The Last Days, opens with the death of Yasser Arafat and an American president pressing for peace in the Middle East … but it was published thirteen months before the actual death of Yasser Arafat.
Now comes The Ezekiel Option, an explosive new political thriller that literally feels ripped from tomorrow's headlines. With Saddam Hussein and Yasser Arafat out of the way, a dazzling era of security and prosperity seems to have come to the Middle East. With the help of an American president trying to spread freedom and democracy, Israel and the Palestinians have signed an historic peace agreement after oil is found in Israel. Violence is down. Their economies are booming. But a new evil looms on the horizon. A dictator is rising in Russia. Iran is feverishly building nuclear weapons. A new Axis of Evil is emerging, led by Moscow and Tehran. And Jon Bennett and Erin McCoy—two senior White House advisors—find themselves facing the most chilling question of their lives: Is the world rushing to the brink of an apocalypse prophesied more than 2,500 years ago?
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