The Battle of Gog and Magog

[Ezra]

There are many people today who claim that there are TWO battles of Gog and Magog, but you will find in Revelation that there is just ONE such battle, which is AFTER the Millennium.  This battle should not be confused with the battle of Armageddon which is BEFORE the Millennium  (Rev 14:13-16; 19:11-21). Satan is the supreme leader of both these battles against Christ and against Israel. After the first battle, the Beast (the Antichrist) and the False Prophet are cast into the Lake of Fire.  After the second battle, Satan himself is cast into the Lake of Fire.

ONE BATTLE AFTER THE MILLENNIUM

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. (Rev 20: 7-9)

NO EVIDENCE FOR TWO BATTLES

Those who claim that there are two battles of Gog and Magog have little or no genuine proof of such a claim.  According to gotquestions.org, “The strongest evidence for this view is that the attack will come when Israel is at peace (Ezekiel 38:8,11) [during the Tribulation]. The description from Ezekiel is that of a nation that has security and has laid down its defenses”. But when you carefully study Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39, the only reason that Israel is at peace and “has laid down its defenses” is because the Lord Jesus Christ is ruling over Israel and all the nations (Ezek 39:27-29). This would be impossible while the Antichrist controls Israel and the world.  Indeed the Antichrist merely has a false peace for Israel during the Tribulation, “and by peace shall destroy many” (Dan 8:25).  In any event, that is “the Time of Jacob’s Trouble” so there will be little or no peace for the Jews. Two battles of Gog and Magog are pure conjecture, and refuted by Rev 20.  If there were two such battles, surely the book of Revelation would present them.

THE PROPHECY OF EZEKIEL (CHAPTERS 38 & 39)

There are numerous Christians who have been indoctrinated into believing that the prophecy of Ezekiel should not be interpreted as a real, literal, progressive prophecy pertaining to Israel.  That there is no actual Millennium  in the future. But there is absolutely no valid reason for such a belief.  Ezekiel was shown a multitude of visions, including a vision of redeemed and restored Israel under the Lord Jesus Christ (chapters 33-48).  It is in this context that we see the battle of Gog and Magog, which corresponds to Rev 20:7-9.  Here is what we find in these two chapters:

1. Israel Regathered (38:8; 39:27)

2. Israel Redeemed and Restored (39:25-29)

3. Israel at Peace With no Defences (38:8,11)

4. Israel in Prosperity (38:12,13)

5. The Northern Confederacy Against Israel (38:1-9; 39:1-4)

6. God’s Promise to the Enemies of Israel (38:14-20; 39:1-7)

7. The Destruction of the Armies of Gog and Magog (38:21-23; 39:6,7,21-24)

8. Seven Months of Burying, Seven Years of Burning (39:9-20)

[missmuffet]

It is important to recognize that the Gog and Magog of Ezekiel 38-39 is quite different from the one in Revelation 20:7-8. Below are some of the more obvious reasons why these refer to different people and battles.

1. In the battle of Ezekiel 38-39, the armies come primarily from the north and involve only a few nations of the earth (Ezekiel 38:6, 15; 39:2). The battle in Revelation 20:7-9 will involve all nations, so armies will come from all directions, not just from the north.

2. There is no mention of Satan in the context of Ezekiel 38-39. In Revelation 20:7 the context clearly places the battle at the end of the millennium with Satan as the primary character.

3. Ezekiel 39:11-12 states that the dead will be buried for seven months. There would be no need to bury the dead if the battle in Ezekiel 38-39 is the one described in Revelation 20:8-9, for immediately following Revelation 20:8-9 is the Great White Throne judgment (20:11-15) and then the current or present heaven and earth are destroyed, replaced by a new heaven and earth (Revelation 21:1). There obviously will be a need to bury the dead if the battle takes place in the early part of the tribulation, for the land of Israel will be occupied for another 1,000 years, the length of the millennial kingdom (Revelation 20:4-6).

4. The battle in Ezekiel 38-39 is used by God to bring Israel back to Him (Ezekiel 39:21-29). In Revelation 20, Israel has been faithful to God for 1,000 years (the millennial kingdom). Those in Revelation 20:7-10 who are rebellious are destroyed without any more opportunity for repentance.

 

http://www.gotquestions.org/Gog-Magog.html

Edited August 27, 2015 by bopeep1909

[Ezra]

 

Did not format properly.  Will try later.

 

[missmuffet]

I have to go with the "Got Questions" ministry because it makes total sense to me.

[Sister]

So true Ezra

Amen.

[Sister]

In Ezra's defence, there is another anomaly.

The armies that gather at Armageddon against the Lord at his return will be destroyed and thrown into "the valley of Hennom", this place is also known as "Tophet", and when this is fulfilled the name will be changed to "the Valley of Slaughter" This is the place they once sacrificed to Baal by burning their children in the fire as an offering to him. (Jeremiah 19)

Whereas, in the Gog and Magog war, ..Gog and his armies will be destroyed in "the Valley of Hammon-gog" (Ezekiel 39:15).  These valleys are in two different places.

 

[Ezra]

In Ezra's defence, there is another anomaly.

The armies that gather at Armageddon against the Lord at his return will be destroyed and thrown into "the valley of Hennom", this place is also known as "Tophet", and when this is fulfilled the name will be changed to "the Valley of Slaughter" This is the place they once sacrificed to Baal by burning their children in the fire as an offering to him. (Jeremiah 19)

Whereas, in the Gog and Magog war, ..Gog and his armies will be destroyed in "the Valley of Hammon-gog" (Ezekiel 39:15).  These valleys are in two different places.

Thanks Sister,

You brought out an excellent point.

[Ezra]

It is important to recognize that the Gog and Magog of Ezekiel 38-39 is quite different from the one in Revelation 20:7-8. Below are some of the more obvious reasons why these refer to different people and battles.

Bopeep,

While gotquestions.org is generally reliable, that is not so in this case.  We should take every teaching and examine it closely.  To say Ezekiel and Revelation are "quite different" is to simply make an assumption.  It has to be PROVED that there are two battles and there is NO Bible proof.

1. In the battle of Ezekiel 38-39, the armies come primarily from the north and involve only a few nations of the earth (Ezekiel 38:6, 15; 39:2). The battle in Revelation 20:7-9 will involve all nations, so armies will come from all directions, not just from the north.

Actually that is not true. In Ezek 38:6,9 we have a very significant phrase which you have overlooked "AND MANY PEOPLE WITH THEE". That points to the hordes which are shown in Revelation 20.  While it is a northern confederacy, Satan gathers armies from around the world under the leadership of Russia and the nations around the Black Sea.

2. There is no mention of Satan in the context of  Ezekiel 38-39. In Revelation 20:7 the context clearly places the battle at the end of the millennium with Satan as the primary character.

That is hardly proof that there are two battles.  There is such as thing as "progressive revelation", and God does not necessarily repeat Himself.  For example, Revelation 19 does not have the word "Armageddon".  But it is perfectly clear by comparing Scripture with Scripture that Rev 19:11-21 is about the battle of Armageddon.

3. Ezekiel 39:11-12 states that the dead will be buried for seven months. There would be no need to bury the dead if the battle in Ezekiel 38-39 is the one described in Revelation 20:8-9, for immediately following Revelation 20:8-9 is the Great White Throne judgment (20:11-15) and then the current or present heaven and earth are destroyed, replaced by a new heaven and earth (Revelation 21:1). There obviously will be a need to bury the dead if the battle takes place in the early part of the tribulation, for the land of Israel will be occupied for another 1,000 years, the length of the millennial kingdom (Revelation 20:4-6).

Once again, we have no right to demand redundancy from Scripture. Just because Rev 20 does not mention the burying or the burning does not mean that that is a different battle. Rev 20 is A BRIEF OVERVIEW on many events, and therefore this battle is presented briefly.  The Millennium is mentioned in two brief verses, but in Ezekiel we have several chapters describing conditions under the Millennium. 

4. The battle in Ezekiel 38-39 is used by God to bring Israel back to Him (Ezekiel 39:21-29). In Revelation 20, Israel has been faithful to God for 1,000 years (the millennial kingdom). Those in Revelation 20:7-10 who are rebellious are destroyed without any more opportunity for repentance.

Quite the opposite. Ezek 39:21-29 summarizes the status of Israel at the time that the battle of Gog and Magog occurs. Please note the correspondence between Ezek 38:8 and 39:27

 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.

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;

God addresses Gog and Magog, and tells them that they will come against Israel which has ALREADY been gathered out of many lands and many peoples.

To sum up, those who postulate two battles of Gog and Magog try to fit Scripture to accommodate their theory, rather than take Scripture as it is written, and not assume that God repeats every detail in every prophecy.

[missmuffet]

It is important to recognize that the Gog and Magog of Ezekiel 38-39 is quite different from the one in Revelation 20:7-8. Below are some of the more obvious reasons why these refer to different people and battles.

Bopeep,

While gotquestions.org is generally reliable, that is not so in this case.  We should take every teaching and examine it closely.  To say Ezekiel and Revelation are "quite different" is to simply make an assumption.  It has to be PROVED that there are two battles and there is NO Bible proof.

1. In the battle of Ezekiel 38-39, the armies come primarily from the north and involve only a few nations of the earth (Ezekiel 38:6, 15; 39:2). The battle in Revelation 20:7-9 will involve all nations, so armies will come from all directions, not just from the north.

Actually that is not true. In Ezek 38:6,9 we have a very significant phrase which you have overlooked "AND MANY PEOPLE WITH THEE". That points to the hordes which are shown in Revelation 20.  While it is a northern confederacy, Satan gathers armies from around the world under the leadership of Russia and the nations around the Black Sea.

2. There is no mention of Satan in the context of  Ezekiel 38-39. In Revelation 20:7 the context clearly places the battle at the end of the millennium with Satan as the primary character.

That is hardly proof that there are two battles.  There is such as thing as "progressive revelation", and God does not necessarily repeat Himself.  For example, Revelation 19 does not have the word "Armageddon".  But it is perfectly clear by comparing Scripture with Scripture that Rev 19:11-21 is about the battle of Armageddon.

3. Ezekiel 39:11-12 states that the dead will be buried for seven months. There would be no need to bury the dead if the battle in Ezekiel 38-39 is the one described in Revelation 20:8-9, for immediately following Revelation 20:8-9 is the Great White Throne judgment (20:11-15) and then the current or present heaven and earth are destroyed, replaced by a new heaven and earth (Revelation 21:1). There obviously will be a need to bury the dead if the battle takes place in the early part of the tribulation, for the land of Israel will be occupied for another 1,000 years, the length of the millennial kingdom (Revelation 20:4-6).

Once again, we have no right to demand redundancy from Scripture. Just because Rev 20 does not mention the burying or the burning does not mean that that is a different battle. Rev 20 is A BRIEF OVERVIEW on many events, and therefore this battle is presented briefly.  The Millennium is mentioned in two brief verses, but in Ezekiel we have several chapters describing conditions under the Millennium. 

4. The battle in Ezekiel 38-39 is used by God to bring Israel back to Him (Ezekiel 39:21-29). In Revelation 20, Israel has been faithful to God for 1,000 years (the millennial kingdom). Those in Revelation 20:7-10 who are rebellious are destroyed without any more opportunity for repentance.

Quite the opposite. Ezek 39:21-29 summarizes the status of Israel at the time that the battle of Gog and Magog occurs. Please note the correspondence between Ezek 38:8 and 39:27

 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.

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;

God addresses Gog and Magog, and tells them that they will come against Israel which has ALREADY been gathered out of many lands and many peoples.

To sum up, those who postulate two battles of Gog and Magog try to fit Scripture to accommodate their theory, rather than take Scripture as it is written, and not assume that God repeats every detail in every prophecy.

I guess we will have to agree to disagree since I find "Got Questions" a very reliable ministry.

[Sister]

I guess we will have to agree to disagree since I find "Got Questions" a very reliable ministry.

Bopeep

This Got Questions mob has got you into a trance.

Ezra has shown you from God's very own word all the contradictions and you are blocking your ears to the Word of the Lord.  Please think on this that everything taught must harmonise with scripture.  There can be no contradictions.  If there are contradictions in doctrine and we are made aware and ignore, then we will be one of those who have no love for the truth.  This is serious sister, don't take it lightly.

 2 Timothy 3:16   All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

 

It's very dangerous not to read the bible for ourselves, because then we cannot compare truth with error.  You are trusting them with your whole heart and soul.

I do not say this to bring you down but to guide you and remind you that Jesus said we have to feed on his flesh only.  That means go directly to his Word and he will feed you.  It's ok for us to ask questions if we are stuck, but search the scriptures first, then weigh everything out.  Trust Christ that he can feed you, he promised us that he would.

John 6:27   Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.