The Battle of Gog of the Land of Magog

[Charles R. Sabo]

                                Ezekiel    

                                                  A Bible Commentary

 

                                                         Chapter 38

 

The most well-known endtimes prophecies in the Bible include Ezekiel 38-39, while so many attempt to acknowledge who exactly will be involved in this battle. The Lord declared the participants of the adversaries that will be attacking Israel (38:2-6). The Lord God of Israel has promised that He will personally annihilate the entire eight (maybe 12) countries, who will be led by Gog from the land of Magog (38:1). With maps, it can be determined who these participants will be, while Gog of Russia will have political motivations, which are provided as well (38:10-13). The ascending of these bands of twenty-first century warriors will storm into the land of Israel, while God’s passionate zeal (38:18) will be manifested into a display of His omnipotent wrath over His adversaries (38:20-22). The whole world will watch this occur and know that it is the Lord God Almighty who had predicted it over 2,600 years before, while it then occurs right before their eyes (38:23).

Ezekiel 38:1 And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, The English translators have mistranslated the Hebrew verb “hāyâ” as a Qal perfect verb, when the manuscript is actually inflected as a Qal imperfect verb; this should be an ongoing action, which would be a continuation of God’s word immediately after verse 37:28. The conjunction “and” was added to this, when it was not called for in the original manuscript; wrongfully using the past perfect tense insinuates this came anywhere from immediately after 37:28, to as many as sixteen years later! The proper translation of this verse should say: “The word of the Lord continued unto me, saying,” which means that there was very little time elapsed between 37:28 and 38:1. As was disclosed in Ezekiel 33:21, this word of God came to Ezekiel in the twelfth year of the captivity of King Jehoiachin and Ezekiel at the Chebar River. It was the fifth day of the month of Tevet; this would be Tevet 5, 586 B.C.

Ezekiel 38:2 Son of man, set your face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him, Ezekiel was being commanded to focus (set your face) against an adversary of God. This time Ezekiel was to focus the Lord’s declaration (prophesy) of judgment against Gog, of the land of his potential ancestor, Magog. According to Genesis 10:2, Magog was the second eldest son of Japheth, the youngest son of Noah. Since the Lord has disclosed this prophecy against Gog, He has provided Ezekiel’s readers with the bloodline that settled the land after the Flood of Noah, which was Magog.

 With the ancient post-flood migration map below, we can see that Magog settled north of the Caspian Sea, which looks to be Russia and Kazakhstan of the current day. Since the Republic of Kazakhstan was the last of the Soviet republics to declare independence during the dissolution of the Soviet Union from 1988 to 1991, human rights organizations have described the Kazakh government as authoritarian, and regularly describe Kazakhstan's human rights situation as poor. The military of the Republic of Kazakhstan is not a threat to the major powers of the world, therefore we must put their involvement with Russia to “possibly” become a merging between them, when it comes to this prophecy here in Ezekiel 38-39.

 

                                            <a href=>"https://ibb.co/wMVz7vN"</a>

 

                                                  Post-flood migration according to ancient history

 

                                                 <a href=>"https://ibb.co/k2CVrBM"</a>

                                       2022 map of the northern location of the Caspian Sea

 

After realizing that this prophecy focusses on the people of origin from their father, Magog, we must then look to the major power being Russia in this prophecy. If the people of the Republic of Kazakhstan get involved, then you heard it first here, because this has always been considered to be the world power called Russia of the twenty-first century. Though it should not be concluded that Gog is a descendant of Magog directly, Ezekiel 38:2 is to be of the people of this land in Russia, therefore we must conclude that Russia is the land of Magog.

Since the inflected Hebrew preposition “ʿal” is a third-person, masculine, singular (עָלָֽיו), which modifies the other singular proper noun “Gog,” we must conclude that the other information includes him as well (against him). We have already ascertained that Gog is of the land formerly settled by Magog, we should also conclude that Gog is (or will be) the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal.

 

                                         <a href=>"https://ibb.co/J38DsGm"</a>

 

This military leader of the land of Magog, will also be the chief prince, or militarily sovereign power over the people of Meshach and Tubal. If we analyze the above map, then co-ordinate it with the 2022 map on the previous page, we will find these people to be of the country called Georgia, as well as the country of Azerbaijan. This is totally likely, since they are heavily influenced by Russia, while being on their border. According to Genesis 10:2, Meshach and Tubal were the fifth and sixth sons of Japheth, son of Noah.

Ezekiel 38:3 And say, Thus says the Lord God; “Behold, I am against you, Oh Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal:” If the sovereignty of the countries of Georgia and Azerbaijan is not already being led by Gog of Russia, then we know from this verse they will be. There was a war in 2008 that confirms this prophecy:

 

On August 8, 2008, Russian forces began the invasion of Georgia, marking the start of Europe’s first twenty-first century war. The conflict itself was over within a matter of days, but the repercussions of the Russo-Georgian War continue to reverberate thirteen years on, shaping the wider geopolitical environment. [1]

 

This prophecy has repeated here in this verse, that the Lord God of Israel is against this military leader of Russia (Gog).

Ezekiel 38:4 And I will turn you back, and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you forth, and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armor, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords: The encounter that Gog is being turned back from is located within Daniel 11:40-43. As I had explained from Ezekiel 29-30, the end-times judgment against Egypt is weaved within Ezekiel 29:8-16, 30:1-9, and 30:12-19. Gog of the land of Magog is the “king of the north” within Daniel 11:40-45.

 

And the Egyptians will I give over into the hand of a cruel lord; and a fierce king shall rule over them, says the Lord, the Lord of hosts. (Is. 19:4)

 

To keep this timeline of events consistently moving to the last judgment spoken of in Isaiah 19:1, the timing of Isaiah 19:4 coincides with the end-times events. The fierce king, who will rule over them, will be Antichrist. The Lord gives the Egyptians over into his hand. That would seem to imply that there is to be a conflict, which will cause them to resist being ruled over by Antichrist.

 

⁴⁰ And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over. (Dan. 11:40)

 

 “And at the time of the end” is clearly the time period being referred to here as the time of the end of the current age, or dispensation. We must realize that the prophecies in Daniel 11 are working on a timeline. With verses 11:36-39 referring to the Antichrist of the Seventieth Week of Daniel, then we must conclude that the “time of the end” is during this time as well. The exact timing of this battle, between the king of the north and king of the south, cannot be determined based on information that has been given as of yet. Once certain prophecy has been fulfilled, in these end times, the timing may start to become clearer.[2]

Daniel 11:40 has been misinterpreted by most theologians. They seem to fail to use proper pronoun-to-noun references, in order to determine who Daniel is referring to in this prophecy. If one refers to the pronoun “him” in the phrase “shall the king of the south push at him,” we need to refer to the previous noun in verses 11:36-39. Since Daniel uses pronouns in verses 36-39 that refer to the first noun mentioned in verse 36, we must refer to that noun also. Verses 11:36-39 refer to “the king,” who has been determined by most theologians to be Antichrist. With this being understood, one can then plug “Antichrist” in place of the pronoun “him” in verse 40 (shall the king of the south push at Antichrist).[3] 

The next phrase that follows is where many will stumble upon “and the king of the north shall come against him.” Using the same pronoun-to-noun referencing, one should understand that the “king of the north” shall come against the “king of the south.” If we search back through the entirety of Daniel 11, we will find that Daniel only refers to the “king of the south” and “king of the north” initially, then he uses pronouns to reference back to them. Never will we see Daniel referring to them, at any time, as just a “king;” he only calls them king of the south, or king of the north. With that understanding, Daniel did not call this king of the north as just the “king,” nor did he refer back to the pronoun used previously, as he did in the first phrase that referred back to verses 11:36-39. If Daniel meant for this “king of the north” to be Antichrist, he would have used the pronoun “he,” or called him “king” only (and he shall come against him, or, and the king shall come against him). Instead, Daniel calls him “king of the north” which refers to the king from a northern empire. The king of the north, historically, has been an Aramean king from the Seleucid Dynasty. Because the timeclock has fast-forwarded to the “time of the end,” the location that the king of the north rules over is more difficult to determine.[4]

The Antichrist will send his “king of the north” to inflict war on the king of the south, which is Egypt. The same pronoun referencing occurs within Daniel 11:41-42, which points to the king of the north, who was the last noun mentioned in verse 11:40. ^“He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape” (Dan. 11:42). With Daniel 11:42 implying that Egypt shall not escape, that confirms what Isaiah says here in 19:4, when the Lord will “give over into the hand” of the Antichrist, or “cruel lord.” Ezekiel 30:3-6 indicates that Egypt will fall by the sword during the same time of decimation, where they will eventually become desolate in verse 30:7;  The king of the north does the police work for the Antichrist. The Antichrist is the “fierce king” who “shall rule over them.”[5]   

 

⁵ And the waters shall fail from the sea, and the river shall be wasted and dried up. (Is. 19:5)

 

 In order for the waters to fail, they would have to stop being water, or dried completely up. This judgment should not be interpreted allegorically, like some will attempt to do; it is a literal interpretation to be applied here. But with the decimation of the Nile River spoken of within the Ezekiel 29:9-11 prophecy, we can then envision the re-routing of the Nile River, because of the totally new topography of the land. There is also a possibility that the Nile River will be dry and possibly not even be in existence within these decimating times on the Earth.

 

 And they shall turn the rivers far away; and the brooks of defense shall be emptied and dried up: the reeds and flags shall wither. (Is. 19:6)

 

 In Isaiah 19:6, the pronoun “they” is one that refers back to Isaiah 19:4. With the battle between the Egyptians and the “king of the north” coming to pass, the decimation of the Nile River may be implied here to be by those who attacked Egypt. The attackers turned the rivers away from flowing to the Mediterranean Sea, by sending a nuclear strike onto the Aswan Dam (Ezek. 29:9-11). While the Nile River dries up, so will the entire delta at the mouth of the Nile River be dried up, which has always been a natural defense for the Egyptians. With no delta, the reeds and rushes (water plants) will be dried up, which are used in day to day life. ^“The paper reeds by the brooks, by the mouth of the brooks, and everything sown by the brooks, shall wither, be driven away, and be no more” (Is. 19:7). Since all of the reeds and rushes need fertile and wet soil to grow, they will be no more available, because the Nile River will be no more in that area.[6]

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Now that I have brought my readers to speed on what will be happening during this Ezekiel 38:4 declaration, I will now explain why I brought you here.

 

But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many. (Dan. 11:44)

 

Gog (king of the north) will be heavily involved in punishing the militaries that want so badly to go into Israel, so that they can destroy them. The king of the north (Gog) will be defending the seven-year peace covenant (Dan. 9:27) in behalf of Antichrist (Dan. 11:36-39), when he will be turned back, and the Lord God will put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you forth.

We must look at this hook in the jaws of Gog (king of the north) as a call back to a military alliance, which he had been establishing with Persia (Iran) over the time that he has (had) been in office. This military alliance will be demanding that Gog honor his alliance commitments and go forth against Israel, in behalf of Persia (Iran). This hook will be so convincingly strong, when he will be forced to go forth against the newly established seven-year peace covenant by Antichrist with Israel. Here we have the king of the north destroying Egypt (and the forces defending Egypt [Dan. 11:41-42]), because they will insist that they will be going forth against Israel, but Gog will defend the Antichrist’s peace covenant (Dan. 9:27; 11:40). Gog (king of the north) will then betray that same seven-year peace covenant that he had defended previously (Dan. 11:44 [But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him]).

Though conventional weaponry will be used, we must keep in mind that God was not going to describe the twenty-first century artillery here. When we read “and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armor, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords,” the reality of swords being carried cannot be ignored, or considered a description of conventional weaponry. It has been an endeavor over the centuries that beheading the infidels is what Islamist find to be their most desired way of executing their victims. I have no doubt that these advancing militaries, into the mountains of Israel, will have their swords with them. “Jihadists' beheading of their captives corresponds with aspects of cosmic war, particularly on how religious terrorists' desires to please a deity and secure a place of honor in the hereafter has devalued the lives of both captor and prisoner.”[7]

Ezekiel 38:5 Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet: While Persia is now modern day Iran, they have become the number one ally to Russia in the twenty-first century. A person should realize that during the times, which Ezekiel had written the prophecy of Ezekiel 38-39, Ethiopia was a much larger territory. It has been divided and its southern territory has been a non-military country for centuries. However, the northern part of the land had become the country of Sudan, which is now an Islamic military state.^[8] It's been nearly a decade since the U.S.-backed ousting of Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, and conditions in the country have gotten worse and more complicated. The U.N.-backed government in the capital of Tripoli has very loose control over about a third of the country. To the east, Libya is controlled by a renegade general leading what they have called the Libyan National Army, which has tried and failed to topple the government in Tripoli.

Gog of Magog (king of the north) will bring one of the most powerful militaries to go against Egypt and the supporters from the other countries (and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over). Gog of Magog (Russia) will pass over the other countries, in order to stamp out the rebellion and get to those in Egypt. He will most likely be the one who will send the nuclear blast to the Aswan Dam (29:8-12), which may be encouraged by Antichrist.

 

⁴¹ He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. (Dan. 11:41)

 

The king of the north (Gog of Magog) will pass down through Israel (He shall enter also into the glorious land) and will destroy the attackers and overthrow the government regimes except for those descendants of Edom, Moab and Ammon, which are now located within Jordon and Gaza.

 

⁴² He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape.

⁴³ But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps. (Dan. 11:42-43)

 

The defeat of Egypt, and the other rebellious countries, will bring peace to the lands surrounding Israel. Israel will feel secure for the first time, since they had been brought back to their land in 1948. They will become a land of un-walled villages, which has never been the case (Ezek. 38:11).  Russia will have defeated Egypt and taken booty of the riches, which would still remain in Egypt (Dan. 11:42-43). Notice in the end of Daniel 11:43, where a very significant statement is prophesied. The Libyans and Ethiopians will be at the steps of Russia (Gog of Magog). If Libya and Sudan (Ethiopia) defend Africa from the invading Russians, they will be at the steps of Gog of Magog, until they are defeated.  Defeated militaries usually are forced to fight in behalf of their conquerors, or they die; that will be their choice, to fight for Antichrist (king of Dan. 11:36-39), or die. Any adversary of Gog of Magog (king of the north) will be defeated.

With the disclosure within Ezekiel 30:5, the military of Lydia will not march to fight for Antichrist and Gog of Magog, but most likely will all fall by the sword (weapons) at the hands of the strengthened Russian military. The militaries that will be defending their land in Africa (the men of the land that is in league) will fall, except the remaining militaries of Libya and Sudan (Ethiopia), who will march in behalf of the Russian military under Gog of Russia.

Ezekiel 38:6 Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with you. Genesis 10:2 declares Gomer as the eldest son of Japheth, son of Noah, which made him the eldest amongst Magog, Meshech, and Tubal, his brothers. Looking back to the map on page 490, we will find that Gomer settled around the northern and southern areas off of the Black Sea. Since Russia is in pursuit of Ukraine of the current time, then most likely Russia will bring those Ukrainians as part of this army of Gomer (and all his bands). Gomer’s settlement on the southern land of the Black Sea includes them into the country of Turkey, as well. Gomer is diverse in this prophecy, because they are both Muslim in Turkey, as well as Slovak in the area of Ukraine. We can conclude that sons of Gomer did settle into most Eastern Europe, so there is a possibility that this prophecy can also include Bulgaria, Romania, and Moldova; though Ezekiel does say this includes “all of Gomer’s bands, this is a possibility, but not likely.

According to Genesis 10:3, Togarmah was the youngest son of Gomer; Togarmah of the north quarters, settled on the west bank of the Caspian Sea (see maps pg. 489-490), which seems to be modern day Azerbaijan. They may have also settled in eastern Turkey of the modern day as well.

Many people (most likely Islamists), will be headed to battle. From what I have concluded within these first six verses, the several countries coming in force will be:

1)     Russia

2)    Georgia

3)    Iran

4)    Sudan

5)    Libya

6)    Turkey

7)    Ukraine

8)    Azerbaijan

Possibly, but not likely:

9)    Kazakhstan

10) Romania

11)  Bulgaria

12) Moldova

Ezekiel 38:7 Be prepared, and prepare for yourself, you, and all your company that are assembled unto you, and be a guard unto them. It is a bit redundant to tell Gog to be prepared and then tell him to prepare for himself right afterward. The Hebrew verb “kûn” also can mean “be ready.” It would be less redundant to say: “Be ready and prepare yourself.”

After advising all of the men assembled unto him to be prepared and ready, the Lord advised Gog of the land of Magog (Russia) to be watching as the guard for the others that will be fighting alongside him. It reveals that Russia will be the major power involved to have to take responsibility of watching over the others.

 Ezekiel 38:8 After many days you shall be visited: in the latter years, you shall 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. This seems to be a run-on sentence, which does need repaired. After realizing that Gog of Magog will be needed by his ally, Iran, I have realized that this first statement has been mistranslated, as well as misinterpreted. The translators have chosen the wrong English verb in translation for the Hebrew Niphal Imperfect verb “pāqaḏ,” which had been translated as “be visited.” This Niphal imperfect verb also can mean “to be sought, be needed, be missed.” Knowing what Daniel 11:44 and Ezekiel 38:4 has indicated, the contextual translation should say: “shall be needed.” Persia (Iran) will need their most powerful ally to come forth and go after Israel, after the destruction of the “ring of fire” had been dowsed by Israel and the Lord, within the Psalm 83 tumultuous attack.

The many Muslim nations (listed in Ps. 83:5-8) will rush towards Israel (rushing like the rushing of mighty waters), while leaving their land behind deserted. God will seduce them into madness, as they seek to destroy God’s people, whom they believe inhabit the land of their god, Allah. “Who said, ‘Let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession.’” (Ps. 83:12)^[9]

 

The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters: but God shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, and shall be chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like a rolling thing before the whirlwind. (Is. 17:13)

 

Psalm 83:9-11 presents Asaph asking the Lord to do unto these rushing nations as He had unto the Midianites in Judges 7:19-25. God will destroy the attacking nations, just as He had in Judges 7, when He reduced Gideon’s army down to 300 men (Judges 7:2-7). Israel will be outnumbered by a tremendous ratio and God will be glorified by the defeat over the multitude of the Muslims nations. Just as the Midianites had fled, so shall the people of these tumultuous nations flee. Iran will be highly irate over the loss of Damascus and the Syrians (Is. 17:1). They will be angered and call for Gog of Russia (you) to join them as an ally does (After many days you shall be needed).

 

in the latter years, you shall come into the land that is brought back from the sword and gathered out of many people; you shall come into the land against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste, but is brought forth out of the nations and they shall dwell safely, all of them.

 

The second sentence is a little easier to interpret, but needs a little work, please respect what I have done in the above corrections in punctuation and addition to the beginning of the third sentence. The translators made a bit of a mess of it.

As we have found in chapter 36 and 37, Israel had been brought back from the sword that they had been destroyed by in 70 A.D. They had been gathered back into their land out of many nations and people (37:12-14). Gog of the land of Magog, and all of his armies mentioned within 38:2-6, shall come into the land and against the mountains of Israel. The Lord God had said that all of this shall happen in the latter years of the current age (two thousand year church age). The land of Israel and the mountains, which have been always waste, were revived by God before their adversary’s eyes. The Lord provided Gog (king of the north) with a warning here, because He had implied that Israel was brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely, all of them. This is a guarantee that God is going to protect Israel from this military attack, all of them. Israel will have no casualties at all, when the military of these eight countries (38:6 commentary) will come against the mountains of Israel to destroy them all.

Ezekiel 38:9 You shall ascend and come like a storm; you shall be like a cloud to cover the land, you, and all your bands, and many people with you. From what has already been commented upon in 38:4, Gog (Russia) and his army shall ascend from the south coming from Egypt (NE Africa), and through the land of Israel peacefully, then cross over the northern borders of Israel and into southern Syria and western Jordan. Then they will gather together and proceed to come back down through Bashan (see 39:18) into the mountains of Israel east of the Sea of Galilee, and proceed like a storm. He (Gog) of Russia will ascend all of his troops into the mountains of Israel covering the land as a cloud does in the sky. There is nothing supernatural here, just imagery being used to reveal the multitudes of Gog’s military presence (and all your bands, and many people with you). The description “all your bands” includes all eight (maybe as many as twelve) countries (disclosed within 38:2-6) covering the land of Israel in a massive multitude.

Ezekiel 38:10 Thus says the Lord God: “It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into your mind, and you shall think an evil thought:” This prophesy here sets up a thought that only the Creator of the Universe can even remotely predict, because He is omniscient. The Lord had predicted that Gog of the land of Magog (Russia) will think an evil thought, which the Lord God had provided in the following verse. While Gog moves his military assault against Israel, this evil thought will come into his mind.

Ezekiel 38:11 And you shall 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, This verse is the first thought to enter into Gog’s mind, while the following verse completes this thought. It provides Ezekiel’s readers with clues towards the motivations of this man, while he storms his massive military into God’s protected land. Remember, God disclosed to Gog ahead of time that not one of His people will be harmed through this military advancement (and they shall dwell safely, all of them [38:8]).

Because of the results of the Isaiah 17:1 disaster in Damascus, which will be followed by the devastation to the Muslims of the Psalm 83:13-17 attack, the seven-year peace covenant will cause Israel a sense of security (Dan. 9:27); the conclusion of defeating the ring of fire (Muslims) surrounding Israel, and the seven-year peace covenant administrated by the Antichrist, they will have faith in God that their future is to be secure. Israel will be a land of unwalled villages, because the threat of their destruction will be removed. They will have also heard of the destruction in NE Africa, caused by the nuclear blast set upon the Aswan Dam in Syene (29:8-16, 30:1-9, and 30:12-19), and trust that Russia is to be in support of this seven-year peace covenant. Because this verse discloses that Israel will be a land of unwalled villages, there is no way that this assault in Ezekiel 38-39 can be before the seven-year peace covenant of Daniel 9:27. Israel in the current day live in a land of walls, bars, and gates, until the results of the Psalm 83 battle and the peace covenant is put in place.

It seems that there would be time elapsed between the activation of the seven-year peace covenant, and the time it would take for Israel to be relaxed and will have removed their walls, bars, and gates. It could be that a public celebration may occur, which Israel will celebrate the new seven-year peace covenant instigated by Antichrist, and tear down their walls, bars, and gates. The reason I conclude something like this is because Israel will be burning weapons for seven years after this Ezekiel 38-39 attack (39:9). If the Gog of Magog attack occurs further into the seven years, Jesus the Messiah will arrive on day 2,520 (7 years x 360 day years), and Israel would be still burning weapons. The only way that Israel can burn weapons for seven years is if the seven years of weapon burning is slightly less than 2,520 days.

Ezekiel 38:12  ^“To take a spoil, and to take a prey;” to turn your 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 first prepositional phrase: “To take a spoil, and to take a prey” is the remaining thought in the mind of Gog of Magog, which started in 38:11. The Lord God has foretold of His thoughts during this time, when he will be pulled in to bring his forces back out of NE Africa (38:4) and head up (ascend) to the mountains of Israel (38:9).

 

The discovery of natural gas fields in Israel’s Eastern Mediterranean offshore areas has moderated the country’s total dependence on energy imports.[10]

 

Tamar and Leviathan, two large and prolific fields discovered in 2009 and 2010, respectively, boosted Israel’s energy supply. Further energy exploration in the country’s offshore areas in the following years uncovered a host of smaller fields that together added up to significant reserves. Israel held about 413 bc (14.6 tcf) of proven gas reserves at the end of 2018, equivalent to 36.7 times its current annual consumption. It implies that Israel has about thirty-seven years of gas left at current consumption levels, excluding unproven reserves.[11]

The 2022 energy crisis has focused all countries on fossil fuel consumption and their dependency on fossil fuel-rich counties. Israel now possesses the top natural gas reserve in the world. When Gog of the land of Magog (Russia) discovers a good reason to go along with their commitment to their Iranian (Persian) alliance, he will think of the encounter as potentially being very profitable to him and his hunger for power and wealth. (To take a spoil, and to take a prey)

When the Lord then continued to speak to Gog in this prophecy, he stated: “to turn your hand upon the desolate places.” The last portion of 38:12 is a repeat of the world’s description of God’s people who came back to their land. Verse 38:8 foretells of the attitude towards Israel; the world has looked at the land of Israel being invaded by Israel, when it had been barely inhabited over eighteen-hundred years. God resurrected the land of Israel and brought Israel back to their land (Ezek. 36-37). But the world thinks: “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.”

Ezekiel 38:13 Sheba and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto you: “Have you come to take a spoil? Have you gathered your company to take a prey? To carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil? The first son of Raamah, Sheba, and second son, Dedan, settled close by each other in western Arabia (Gen. 10:7). Dedan was more northwestern Arabia, while Sheba was more southwestern Arabia. These two sons should not to be confused with the two sons of Jokshan mentioned in Genesis 25:3, who were grandsons of Abraham and Keturah.

The Hebrew spelling between the names Sheba שְׁבָא and Seba סְבָא are similar, but distinctly different. The Queen of Sheba was definitely the queen from the country of people then called Sheba, who was the son of Raamah and brother to Dedan. In 1 Kings 10:1, 4, 10, and 13, Sheba was spelled out using the same Hebrew שְׁבָא. We do know that son of Cush, Seba סְבָא, settled in what is known as Ethiopia, while Sheba שְׁבָא settled in western Arabia. Therefore, rather than the Queen of Sheba being from Ethiopia, she was from western Arabia (Sheba, son of Raamah) or central/eastern Arabia (Sheba, son of Joktan [10:26]). She was a daughter of the sons of Sheba, and not a daughter of the sons of Seba.[12]

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With the disclosure here of Sheba and Dedan together, we can conclude that these two were brothers and not of separate fathers, therefore we must exclude Sheba, son of Joktan the Shemite (Gen. 10:26).

Tarshish was the second eldest son of Javan (Gen. 10:4), and migrated all the way to what is now known as Spain. He and his descendants are mentioned twenty-one times in the Old Testament. Being known for their sea travels, their merchants and ships brought gold, silver, and unusual animals to the middle-east. An interesting side note is that Javan was the fourth eldest brother of the sons of Japheth, son of Noah (Gen. 10:2). Javan was the brother of Gomer, Magog, Tubal, and Meshech, sons of Japheth, son of Noah. Please refer to the sons of Japheth post-flood settlement map on page 390.

The 2022 countries of Saudi Arabia (Dedan), Yemen (Sheba), and Spain (Tarshish) are the three concerned countries that will criticize Gog of Russia (Magog) for his endeavor in attacking Israel in these endtimes. They are quoted by the Lord God to say to Gog of Magog (Russia): “Have you come to take a spoil? Have you gathered your company to take a prey? To carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil?” Obviously, Saudi Arabia (Dedan), Yemen (Sheba), and Spain (Tarshish) are not to partake in the attack, therefore they question Gog’s intentions for his attack; the Antichrist will be the world king at this time, and these three countries will be in support of the seven-year covenant (Dan. 9:27), meanwhile they will lash-out publicly against Gog of Russia. The public smear of Gog will be at work, because he will have been caught in his own hypocrisy, just after he will have defended the seven-year peace covenant against NE Africa. Though the natural gas in Israel will be his main motivator, he will be accused of desiring all of the wealth of God’s nation of people.

God hates hypocrisy, and therefore will have handed Gog over to this defamation, and then God will proceed to place judgment upon him, as Gog attacks Israel.

Ezekiel 38:14 Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say unto Gog: “Thus says the Lord God: ‘In that day when my people of Israel dwells safely, shall you not know it?’” God asked Gog of Russia a rhetorical question, in order to make him think about his actions, before he brings all of his armies of 38:2-6 onto the mountains of Israel. Israel will be dwelling safely because of the seven-year covenant, which God and His sovereignty had manifested. Gog of Russia will have just defended Israel from Egypt and the rest of NE Africa (see commentary 38:4); God has spoken to Gog of Russia through this Ezekiel 38 prophecy, yet will he not know of His fate? (shall you not know it?) God’s question to Gog of Magog (Russia) is questioning Gog’s knowledge of Him and His complete sovereignty over His Creation. If Israel is God’s nation of people, then the fact that they will be dwelling safely is noted here in Ezekiel 38:11, while the will of God is at work. The answer to this rhetorical question is obvious! Yes, Gog of Magog (Russia) will know it!

Ezekiel 38:15 And you shall come from your place out of the north parts, you, and many people with you, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army: Though this may seem contradictory from what I have concluded so far, we must look at this very closely. Granted, Gog of Magog (king of the north) will have been pulled by the hook of his jaws back to the location that Iran will need them to be; the others within his army are Muslims with the exclusion of Ukraine (north Gomer). The Muslims will have not gone to NE Africa to destroy other Muslims, but once Iran rallies the remaining Muslims to go forth after Israel, then Georgia, Turkey, Iran, Azerbaijan, and even possibly Kazakhstan, will come down from the northern parts of the map. Russia will be returning from NE Africa with his Russian army, which will include Ukraine, Libya, and Sudan. Ukraine seems to be destined to be a part of Russia, once the War in Ukraine is finished.

God has been including these armies within two of the statements concerning Gog and his bands (38:4, 7), therefore their inclusion here reveals the entrance into the Holy Land from the north by these other countries, which are Muslim nations. If Russia, Ukraine, Libya, and Sudan are coming from Russia’s northern location, then this would mean that Russia will have returned back after the assault on NE Africa, with his remaining army, and then proceed down from the north as well. (you shall come from your place out of the north parts, you, and many people with you)

Since most of the Muslim nations rely upon horses to ride over the desert lands, there is no question that they will be needing horses. The majority of the Muslim artillery will have been destroyed in the destruction of the ring of fire (Muslim nations of Psalm 83). With the fossil-fuel industry crashing in 2022, the availability of diesel fuel to burn in military artillery vehicles will be nearly non-existent. These armies may very well be all horses riding onto the mountains of Israel from the north parts. The previous war in NE Africa may deplete even Russia of enough fossil fuels (diesel fuel) to burn in their tanks and artillery vehicles, especially after the war in Ukraine. Russia may even be headed to the destruction of their available fossil fuels due to attacks from their adversaries.

Ezekiel 38:16  And you shall 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 you against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in you, Oh Gog, before their eyes. In response to the rhetorical question within 38:14 (shall you not know it?), God clarifies to Gog of Russia that Israel is His people and His land that Gog and his army are attacking (as a cloud to cover the land). This declaration here reconfirms to Gog that the Lord God is the one who brought him and all of his bands mentioned in 38:2-6 to the land of Israel in the latter days (endtimes). This event will bring God His glory, therefore God will be honored as sacred, because He said it and it happened.

The translators chose the English verb “be sanctified” when it might not be what God is implying here; the Hebrew verb “qāḏaš” is inflected as a Niphal Infinitive Construct. The definition in Niphal means: “to be honored, be treated as sacred.” God seeks His glory, to draw His people to Him, while not separating Himself from them. God, therefore, will be glorified by the fulfillment of this prophecy among the heathen of the world. This 2,600 year old prophecy fulfillment is being anticipated among many public forums in these last days; when this comes to pass, many non-believers will read this prophecy and be amazed in how accurate God is in his declarations. Some might repent and seek the Lord for His salvation because of this. (that the heathen may know me, when I shall be honored as sacred in you, Oh Gog, before their eyes.)

Ezekiel 38:17 Thus says the Lord God; “Are you 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 you against them?” As I had commented within the previous verse, the Lord will be glorified because He will have fulfilled this. He addressed this question to Gog of Russia and asked him if he actually realizes that he is Gog of Magog within this Ezekiel 38-39 prophecy. Currently, the commander of Russian ground forces name is Oleg Salyukov. Does Vladimir Putin, or Oleg Salyukov, of Russia actually realize that one of them might be Gog being addressed here? One would think that someone has shown Oleg Salyukov and Vladimir Putin this prophecy here, since this is one of the most commonly spoken of endtimes prophecies, which seems to be unfolding in their midst. God asked Oleg Salyukov here: “Are you he of whom I have spoken in old time?” I want to point out that Ezekiel 38-39 is not the only prophecy of this event, as the prophet Daniel had prophesied in chapter 11:40-45. This is why God used the plural nouns: servants, prophets. Like I had implied earlier, this prophecy is over 2,600 years old (those days many years).

Ezekiel 38:18 And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, says the Lord God, that my fury shall come up in my face. Since God has now spent 17 verses providing details of this coming attack on Israel in the latter days, He began here to proclaim judgment against Gog of the land of Magog (Russia). Though chapter 39 brings more details of the aftermath, the remainder of chapter 38 reveals the anger and wrath of the Lord, when Gog of Magog (Russia) and all his bands will come against the land of Israel. The Lord God first implied here that His fury shall come up in His face. No punches thrown yet, but things won’t be so good for this military of eight countries (possibly twelve [38:6]).

Ezekiel 38:19 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; Though the noun “jealousy” can be associated with being fiercely protective, or vigilant of one's rights or possessions, the twenty-first century English within the world only relates “jealousy” with spousal jealousy, or parental jealousy. The Hebrew noun “qin'â” also means: “passion of religious zeal as God for his people.” It might be more contextual to say: “For in the passion of my zeal and in the fire of my wrath.”

While God was foretelling of this event to Ezekiel, His passion of zeal manifested His thoughts to desire His wrath to be spoken. God had implied here that on that day that Gog of Magog and his bands invades Israel, that the entire land of Israel will greatly shake; when God brings His endtimes earthquakes, they will shake the land more than ever before. This earthquake will begin God’s fiery wrath to unload upon these armies.

Ezekiel 38:20 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. A logical thinker, as myself, cannot make sense of this verse in the current translation; if every mountain, steep place, and wall falls to the ground at the beginning of the seven year Seventieth Week of Daniel 9:27, then the Earth would be flat, with a lot of debris, with no place to dwell until buildings are rebuilt. There is no indications anywhere in the Bible concerning people living in tents during the seven years. I looked at the verb inflections of this verse, and evaluated what this is supposed to say.

First, this does not indicate every mountain will fall, nor every steep place. The English translators have used the English verb “shall be thrown” and “shall fall” (used twice); these are used in a future tense, which are imperfect verbs, because the action is not finished. Hebrew perfect verbs are finished actions, which cannot be completed in the future. The mountains’ Hebrew action verb is supposed to be inflected as a Niphal perfect verb, which would say: “thrown down,” which implies that this verb is finished. The steep places’ Hebrew verb is supposed to be inflected as Qal perfect, which would say: “fallen down,” which would be a finished action. Every wall, however, has its verb action in the Qal imperfect action, which means it should say: “shall be falling.” Contextually, we need to understand that every wall will not totally fall to the ground because of this earthquake; every wall shall be falling, which means they will be weakened by this earthquake and not totally fall to the ground.

 

…and all the men that are upon the face of the Farth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains thrown down, and the steep places fallen down, and every wall shall be falling to the ground.

 

The above corrections make more sense, knowing that not every mountain shall be thrown down, and not every steep place will have fallen down, with every wall be falling to the ground. Every wall will be badly damaged, but not completely fallen, because the action is to be ongoing. These walls will still be standing at the end of the seven years, but many will most likely fall to the ground completely by then.

When Gog of Russia and all his bands come into the land of Israel, God’s fury (38:19) will shake-up (frighten) everyone on the entire Earth, when they see (see videos) the destruction that God will bring with this one earthquake. It seems that every living thing on the Earth will feel the earthquake, no matter where they are. The Lord God’s intent is to frighten everyone, so that they will know that only He can accomplish this as He had predicted 2,600 years earlier.

Ezekiel 38:21 And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, says the Lord God: every man's sword shall be against his brother. We must realize that there will be between eight to twelve different nation’s military on the mountains of Israel. When the earthquake shakes all of the mountains, and they crumble beneath their feet, they will panic in fear. Self-preservation will be their highest instinct, and they will lash out against one another in fear. When the Creator of the universe is shaking the crumbling Earth beneath their feet, war against Israel will fall from their priorities. The swords carried, by the Muslims, will be slaying one another in tremendous fear. Many shared videos on the internet will see the event unfold before the eyes of everyone on Earth.

The location of the majority of troops will come into Israel through the northern mountains of Israel near Bashan (39:18), but it can be presumed that some troops will invade over other locations around Israel in their mountains. God has implied here that at this time, all of His mountains in Israel will shake, which will cause this supernatural affect. (every man's sword shall be against his brother)

Ezekiel 38:22 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. The translators badly mistranslated the Hebrew Niphal verb “šāp̄aṭ,” as “will plead,” when it also is defined as: “to be judged.” God will do no pleading, when He rains His fiery wrath upon these nation’s militaries upon the mountains of Israel. God will judge against him (Gog) with pestilence (plague) and blood. The translation of the Hebrew noun “deḇer” is: “pestilence, plague.” There are two of the three known plagues that cause bleeding (pestilence and with blood [see 5:17; 14:19]):

 

Septicemic Plague:[13]

·        Fever and chills

·        Extreme weakness

·        Abdominal pain, diarrhea and vomiting

·        Bleeding from your mouth, nose or rectum, or under your skin

·        Shock

·        Blackening and death of tissue (gangrene) in your extremities, most commonly your fingers, toes and nose.

 

Pneumonic Plague[14]

·        Cough, with bloody mucus (sputum)

·        Difficulty breathing

·        Nausea and vomiting

·        High fever

·        Headache

·        Weakness

·        Chest pain

 

Of the two known bloody plagues, I tend to lean towards the Septicemic plague, because it seems to be the one of the two that would produce the most blood from its victims (pestilence and with blood).

The outbreak of the plague may be an immediate outbreak of this illness that kills with much blood loss; it Acts 12:23, we can read of the immediate illness that killed King Herod Agrippa back in the first century A.D. ^“And immediately the Messenger of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.” (Acts 12:23) This bloody pestilence will come immediately upon many of them, during this earthquake, meanwhile God will rain huge hailstones, fire, and brimstone. It will be the end of all of these men, while God will furiously judge the attackers of His people in the land of Israel. It will be the military forces of Russia, Iran, Ukraine, Turkey, Georgia, Sudan, Libya, Azerbaijan, and possibly (but not likely) even Kazakhstan, Bulgaria, Romania, and Moldova, who will be all dead at the hand of God (38:2-6). The devastation will be similar to what God had accomplished against the five cities of the plain (Gen. 19:24-25).

 

And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him. (Dan. 11:45)

 

Ezekiel 38:23 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. The translators chose an English verb “sanctify,” which means “separate oneself,” while the Hebrew verb “qāḏaš” also means: “hallow oneself.” The Lord God has been separate from His creation for over six-thousand years, and will not be separating Himself from this event. He will, however, be made greater (magnify) and hallow Himself by this amazing event. The whole world will have their phones and computers watching youtube video recordings of eye-witness accounts posted for all to see. The Lord God of Israel will be talked about all over the Earth, when they will notice this supernatural event unfold. He had declared over 2,600 years ago that He would do this, and then fulfill it. The whole Earth will know that He is the Lord God, the Almighty.

 

 

 

 

                                     Ezekiel    

                                                           A Bible Commentary

 

                                                                 Chapter 39

Chapter 39 presents to Ezekiel’s readers a micro view of the Ezekiel 38 prophecy; this is similar to what Moses had done between Genesis 1, and Genesis 2. Ezekiel elaborated concerning the leaving behind of one-sixth of the Russian army behind, which may be who Gog of Magog will leave behind in NE Africa (39:2). The weapons of the eight to nine countries will fail upon the mountains of Israel, and they will die as described within 38:21-22 (39:3-4), while the fowls and beasts will devour their dead flesh (39:4, 17-20). The nuclear war is imminent as we can see within 39:6, when Russia will face mass destruction from that fire, along with the Islands near Russia, which means most of Russia will be destroyed. From the successful defense of Israel, from these attacking nations, Israel will come to realize that they will be dwelling safely during this terrible time on Earth; they will come into belief in the Lord God because of this (39:7-8). Israel will burn weapons for seven years (39:9), while they will also spend seven months transporting dead soldiers to the Valley of Hamongog where they will all be buried (39:11-15), then begin a new city there called Hamonah (39:16). Because the whole Earth will have seen the events unfold on their electronic devices, the Lord God will be glorified (39:21). Ezekiel presents Israel with even more enlightening information of their restoration as a people under their Messiah between verses 39:25-29.

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Ezekiel 39:1 Therefore, son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, “Thus says the Lord God; ‘Behold, I am against you, Oh Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal:’” The first verse of chapter 39 repeats what the Lord God had declared back in 38:2. The conjunction “therefore” seems appropriate, since the Lord had just spent chapter 38 declaring the judgment that will fall on Gog of the land of Magog and his bands (following military). He continued here to declare more against him.

In Ezekiel 38:2, Ezekiel was being commanded to focus (set your face) against an adversary of God. This time Ezekiel was to prophesy again of judgment against Gog, of the land of his potential ancestor, Magog. According to Genesis 10:2, Magog was the second eldest son of Japheth, the youngest son of Noah. Since the Lord had disclosed this prophecy against Gog, He had provided Ezekiel’s readers with the bloodline that settled the land after the Flood of Noah, which was Magog. (see commentary 38:2)

 

This military leader of the land of Magog, will also be the chief prince, or militarily sovereign power over the people of Meshach and Tubal. If we analyze the above map, then co-ordinate it with the 2022 map on page 489, we will find these people to be of the country called Georgia, as well as the country of Azerbaijan. This is totally likely, since they are heavily influenced by Russia, while being on their border. According to Genesis 10:2, Meshach and Tubal were the fifth and sixth sons of Japheth, son of Noah.

Ezekiel 39:2 And I will turn you back, and leave but the sixth part of you, and will cause you to come up from the north parts, and will bring you upon the mountains of Israel: From what the Lord has declared here, He will turn Gog back from a location not yet in the mountains of Israel. Since we know that 38:19-22 is the judgment against Gog and will have been poured out upon him, then this prophecy here is a micro-view of the chapter 38 prophecy; this is much like the comparison between Genesis chapter 1 and chapter 2 of the creation account. The Lord had provided additional details that fit within the chapter 38 judgment.

Because 38:4 spoke of the turning back of Gog of Russia, we should refer back to what was implied within that verse. (see commentary 38:4)

 

But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many. (Dan. 11:44)

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Gog (king of the north) will be heavily involved in punishing the militaries that will want so badly to go into Israel, so that they can destroy them. The king of the north (Gog) will be defending the seven-year peace covenant (Dan. 9:27) in behalf of Antichrist (Dan. 11:36-39), when he will be turned back, and the Lord God will put hooks into his jaws, and will bring him forth.

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We must look at this hook in the jaws of Gog (king of the north) as a call back to a military alliance, which he had been establishing with Persia (Iran) over the time that he has (had) been in office. This military alliance will be demanding that Gog honor his alliance commitments and go forth against Israel, in behalf of Persia (Iran). This hook will be so convincingly strong, when he will be forced to go forth against the newly established seven-year peace covenant by Antichrist with Israel (Dan. 9:27). Here we have the king of the north destroying Egypt (and the forces defending Egypt [Dan. 11:41-42]), because they will insist that they will be going forth against Israel, but Gog will defend the Antichrist’s peace covenant (Dan. 9:27; 11:40). Gog (king of the north) will then betray that same seven-year peace covenant that he had defended previously (Dan. 11:44 [But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him]).

We have two conclusions to choose from for the second clause of 39:2; either Gog of Russia will leave one-sixth of his military in NE Africa, or if he returns back to Russia with his forces coming back from NE Africa, he will leave one-sixth of his forces in Russia. (and leave but the sixth part of you). I believe that since the first clause declares the turning back from NE Africa, that Gog of Russia will leave one-sixth of his military forces behind to maintain stability of NE Africa, as if policing it for Antichrist.

Because Gog and all of his military bands (38:2-6) are to be coming up (the mountains) from the north parts of the land, then he (Gog) may take his military back to the north part of the land to all go in together (all bands) and enter into the mountains of Israel as one big storm.

Ezekiel 39:3 And I will smite your bow out of your left hand, and will cause your arrows to fall out of your right hand. Since conventional weapons were not known of 2,600 years ago, this needs to be interpreted within a spiritual reality. The reality will be that whatever weapons used by Gog of Magog, and all his bands, will all fail in their hands. Tank cannons, flames, and guns will fail; rifles and pistols will fail; bow and arrows will fail, swords will only work on one another; grenades will fail; rockets will fail. They will all be sitting ducks for the pestilence, fire, and brimstone to fall upon them (38:22). This reality in this verse will be the reason why not one Israeli will be harmed (38:8 [and they shall dwell safely, all of them]).

Ezekiel 39:4 You shall fall upon the mountains of Israel, you, and all your bands, and the people that are with you: I will give you unto the ravenous birds of every sort, and to the beasts of the field to be devoured. With the judgment having occurred (38:19-22), the Lord revealed that the corpses will be devoured, at least until they are buried.

The difference between 39:4 and Revelation 19:17 is the lack of the adjective “all.” At Armageddon (seven years later), all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven will be in the Valley of Jehoshaphat to feast on the many dead corpses; while at this smorgasbord here, it will be ravenous birds of every sort; these ravenous birds of every sort will not be all fowls on Earth. In Ezekiel 39:4 and 17, there will be both fowls and beasts devouring flesh from this judgment. We can associate the event in Isaiah 18-19 with the beginning of the seven years of judgment, since we can be sure that the Ezekiel 38-39 judgment will be in the beginning of the seven years as well. The messengers (ambassadors) will be coming to NE Africa to bring God’s word to the scattered and peeled Africans, after that terrible devastation to the land (Is. 18:1-2). The fowls and beasts of Isaiah 18:6 will be eating the flesh over in NE Africa, almost at the same time that fowls and beasts will be eating the flesh of Gog of Magog and all his bands in the mountains of Israel (see commentary 30:9).  (I will give you unto the ravenous birds of every sort, and to the beasts of the field to be devoured)

Ezekiel 39:5 You shall fall upon the open field, because I have spoken it, says the Lord God. The entirety of the military forces of Russia, Iran, Ukraine, Turkey, Georgia, Sudan, Libya, Azerbaijan, and possibly (but not likely) even Kazakhstan, Bulgaria, Moldova, and Romania will fall upon the open field within the mountains of Israel (38:2-6). Because the Lord has declared this, it is sure to happen, says the Lord God.

Ezekiel 39:6 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. This is a scary reality that shall come upon the land of Magog (Russia), during this time. Russia will have most likely sent a nuke onto the Aswan Dam before this event (29:9-12). We do know that Isaiah 17:1 can most likely be a nuclear hit as well; this nuclear war is eminent. God plans on a nuclear exchange, which will devastate Russia (Magog) with fire, as well as the Islands off of Asia and Middle East. Zechariah chapter 5 describes a nuclear missile in detail to Zechariah, which the English translators (and ill-equipped theologians and pastors) have mistranslated. Please review my Bible Commentary for the Book of Zechariah, in order to better understand this nuclear prophecy. When this nuclear war comes to pass, then the world will know that it was the Lord God who declared it upon the world. (they shall know that I am the Lord)

 

Then said he unto me, This is the curse that goes forth over the face of the whole earth: for everyone that steals shall be cut off as on this side according to it; and every one that swears shall be cut off as on that side according to it. (Zech. 5:3)

 

In Zechariah 5:3, the conjunction “Then” links us to the previous statement. The same cherub angel revealed a declaration of a coming judgment, which will be set upon the people of the Earth. God is one who blesses, as well as curses. The curse is designated against a certain people, who have performed certain acts that God is going to place judgment against; “for every one that steals, and every one that swears” are the two sins. The verb “steals” is translated from the Hebrew verb “ganab,” which is defined as: “to steal, steal away, carry away.” The verb “swears” is translated from the Hebrew verb “shaba`,” which is defined as: “to swear, take an oath.”  The words “shall be cut off” is translated from the Hebrew verb “naqah,” which has a definition of either to be “made clean and pure,” or it has an adverse definition to mean “to be desolate, bare or extirpated.” With the flexibility of the definition of the Hebrew verb “naqah,” one can refer to Zechariah 5:4, in order to figure which definition pertains to these people.[15]

 

I will bring it forth, says the Lord of hosts, and it shall enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him that swears falsely by my name: and it shall remain in the midst of his house, and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof. (Zech. 5:4)

 

This verse needs to be used, while interpreting Zechariah 5:3. In 5:3, one knows that God will judge those that steal and swear falsely. The details of the two sins are given more clarity here. There are those that are stealing are as a thief. I believe that this can also be applied to those that steal from the truth, commit adultery, and even those that backstab their neighbors (covet or envy). Those that are swearing falsely by God’s name can be understood to be those who say they believe in God, and swear by his name, but turn and sin like the devil. It can be all those that commit idolatry, putting worldly things above God, even though they say they believe in Him. Basically, these two offenses can be applied to the entire Ten Commandments of God, which these people have violated.[16]

In Zechariah 5:3, the Hebrew verb “naqah” can be applied with both definitions from the above paragraph and applied to the phrase “shall be cut off as on that side according to it.”  This judgment will separate the good from the wicked; it will purge the righteous as clean and pure, while purging the wicked to be desolate, or bare. Those that are wicked will have used up their time to repent and judgment will then fall upon them. 

Zechariah is told that “it shall remain in the midst of his house.” That seems to imply that people will be caught unawares, while they are at home living life as normal, when this judgment enters into their house. The rest of this verse indicates that this judgment will be something that will consume the natural things, such as timber and even stone: “and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof.” This judgment would have to be something of a very intense heat level to consume stones.[17]

Ezekiel 39:7 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 anymore: and the heathen shall know that I AM the Lord, the Holy One in Israel. After the nuclear exchanges, and the massive failed attack of Gog of Magog, Israel will remain unharmed and safe. If we look back to 38:8, the Lord guaranteed Gog of Russia that Israel will all dwell safely, in spite of what is to be happening on their mountains; this nuclear war will not harm the people living within the land of Israel.

 The Messiah is referred to throughout Isaiah’s writings. One name for Messiah, which seems to be the most frequently used, is the Holy One of Israel; this name occurs twenty-five times in the Book of Isaiah, while only seven times within the rest of the Old Testament;^[18] this name reveals God’s transcendence and closeness to His people. The Holy One is conveyed to be the Creator (41:20), the Maker (17:7, 45:11, 54:5), the Redeemer (48:17, 49:17, 54:5), the Savior (43:3); many times, He is called the Lord and God.

The Lord implied that He would not let the people of Israel pollute His holy name anymore; this seems to imply that after this nuclear war, and protection from the Gog of Magog attack, that the Lord will not tolerate them blaspheming Jesus the Messiah any longer. This is a pretty scary statement to consider, since there are a majority of Israel that deny their Messiah currently. These people of Israel (the heathen) may be a part of that two-thirds (Zech. 13:8) who will die during the seven-year Seventieth Week of Daniel 9:24-27. Also, we must consider that the one-third who come through the seven years (Zech. 13:9), may have come to the belief in their Messiah, once these events in Ezekiel 38-39 happen. 

 

⁸ And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, says the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein.

⁹ And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God. (Zech. 13:8-9)

 

Ezekiel 39:8 Behold, it has come, and it is done, says the Lord God; this is the day whereof I have spoken. This implies that on that day, when all of this occurs, the people of Israel should realize it; because the Lord God had declared it, then seeing it so accurately and supernatural fulfilled, that this will be astounding to all.

Ezekiel 39:9 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 hand staves, and the spears, and they shall burn them with fire seven years: The aftermath of the nuclear war, and the death of the militaries in the mountains of Israel, will bring peace to the world for the remainder of the first-half (midst) of the seven years (Dan. 9:27, Zech. 14:2, Matt. 24:15, Mk. 13:14, Rev. 13:5-7). For the remainder of the seven-year Seventieth Week of Daniel 9:24-27, Israel’s inhabitants will be burning the weapons left over in their land. This buildup of war, then the actual war occurring, may only take up a few days or weeks of the first days of the seven years; the weapon burning (with fire) will take what is left of that seven years.

As was disclosed in 38:11, it will take the seven-year peace covenant to put Israel at ease, in order to have them be a land of unwalled villages, with no walls, nor gates. This Battle of Gog of Magog has to occur into that seven years, in order for Israel to be as 38:11 has stated.

Ezekiel 39:10 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, says the Lord God. We know that there will be seven years of weapon burning with fire (39:9), but no wood out of the field, nor trees out of the forests will be used for the fire. The people of Israel will have to find a fueled-furnace of some sort, in order to burn all of these weapons with fire over that seven years.

The remains of the dead men of war, in the mountains of Israel, will be robbed for the spoils of war. As people gather these dead bodies and bury them (39:12), the spoils remaining on their bodies will be robbed by these people of Israel. These many nations of people (Russia, Iran, Ukraine, Turkey, Georgia, Sudan, Libya, Azerbaijan, and possibly even Kazakhstan) have been guilty of spoiling and robbing Israel for millenniums, and these people of Israel will gather the spoils of this war to their own benefit.

Ezekiel 39:11 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. The name “Hamongog” means: “multitude of Gog.” The Lord has promised a burial place (graves) for Gog and all of his bands (38:2-6) in a valley on the east side of the Dead Sea. Yes, in the original promised inheritance to Israel, God provided Reuben (eldest son of Jacob [Josh. 13:17]) this portion of land; therefore, this land is Israel’s land, as was promised (map pg. 468). 

The translators have used the English plural noun “passengers” for the plural Hebrew verb-participle form of “ʿāḇar,” which is defined as: “passers-through, or passer-by.” The world media may want this to be a tourist attraction, but it will be so horribly dreadful, that no one will want to even drive a vehicle close enough to smell this, unless they are there for a purpose. I would not say the plural noun “passengers” is completely wrong, but a little inaccurate. Passengers are those that ride within something (car, bus, truck, helicopter, plane), while “passers-by” would include those on foot, or even riding horses. I will elect to use “passers-by” as my assertion to this verse.  

Comically, the Lord used a bit of humor when stating that the decaying bodies of these dead men will “stop the noses” of these passers-by. The Hebrew verb-participle “ḥāsam” means: “muzzle the noses.” It will be that those that will travel to this valley of dead, decaying bodies that will to be on that very mission, which means they will probably be prepared to muzzle their noses; they will bury these smelly, dead bodies (Gog and all of his multitudes) in this valley east of the Dead Sea, which is in the current country of Jordan; this valley has already taken the name as the Valley of Hamongog, in anticipation of the fulfillment of this prophecy. Many want to place this valley north of the Arnon River, which may happen as a self-fulfilled prophecy because of this.

Ezekiel 39:12 And seven months shall the house of Israel be burying of them, that they may cleanse the land. Israel will assign workers to transport the thousands of dead bodies from the mountains of Israel nearest to Bashan (39:18), down the east side of the Jordan River, to the valley east of the Dead Sea; the bodies will lay piled up and decaying. They will stink badly, as the previous verse has stated; not only will it reek of decaying flesh, but infested with rats, flies, and maggots. These workers will muzzle their noses, or be wearing hasmat suites to protect them from disease. This will take the house of Israel seven months to perform this burial of the multitudes of dead men’s carcasses.

Ezekiel 39:13 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, says the Lord God. Israel will perform this burdensome task in shifts and duties (see 39:14). Some will haul the bodies there, some will unload the bodies from the vehicles, while others bury the bodies. It will not be as much of a burden as expected, because the house of Israel will be rejoicing in the Lord, their God. He shall be glorified all around the Earth, and Israel will be in a peaceful state for the first time since 1948 A.D.

The Hebrew noun “šēm” was translated as “renown,” which actually will be a memorial of the Ezekiel 38-39 prophecy fulfillment, which shall be to God’s glory. My own personal prediction of these events (Psalm 83, Ezekiel 38-39, Dan. 11:40-45) will be the dismissal of the Islamic occult religion, because their god (Allah) will be defeated; because a majority of the Jihadist movement will be destroyed by the God of Israel, why would anyone continue to follow such a failure of a god.

Ezekiel 39:14 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. The translators made a bit of a mess with this verse, therefore I will clean it up.

And they shall sever out men of continual employment, passers-through the land, with the passers-by, to bury those that remain upon the face of the Earth, to cleanse it; after the end of seven months, they shall be searching.

 

The same Hebrew verb-participle was used for both descriptions of passers-through and passers-by, which designates two separate divisions of workers. I am pretty confident to say that the one will be transporting dead bodies, while the others are to be burying dead bodies (those that remain). The plural Hebrew verb-participle form of “ʿāḇar,” is defined as: “passers-through, or passers-by.” Since the translators already assigned “passers-through” to the first use of this plural Hebrew verb-participle, I then used “passers-by” for the second use; these passers-by are the ones who will be muzzling their noses, as 39:11 had declared.  These people will be permanent full-time employees of Israel, who will be assigned the duties of either transporting dead bodies, while others who will be burying them (sever out men of continual employment).

At the end of the seven months, these same employees will be assigned the task of searching for others to transport, as well as burial during the seven years; I would have to presume that this workforce will most likely be the ones assigned to the seven years of weapons burning as well (39:9).

Ezekiel 39:15 And the passengers that pass through the land, when any see a man's bone, then shall he set up a sign by it, till the buriers have buried it in the valley of Hamongog. The passers-through the land, when they notice a man’s bone, their responsibility will be to set-up a marker by it. When the passers-by (buriers) see the marker, they will find the bone and bury it in the Valley of Hamongog. The marker will remain in place, until the passers-by (buriers) have buried the bone in the valley. This might be taking place for the entire seven years.

Ezekiel 39:16 And also the name of the city shall be Hamonah, thus shall they cleanse the land. After the seven-month stench has dissipated, the location will become a historical site to commemorate the defeat of Gog and his multitudes. It will become a city called Hamonah (Hamonah = multitudes), and possibly a tourist attraction during the seven years, as well as potentially thru the Millennial Kingdom of Christ. This can only be presumed, by being called a city, but is likely. It could be that this commemorative site will be a celebrated place, because it might symbolize the destruction of the religion of Islam. The Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob will be glorified as the protector of Israel, while the Islamic god “Allah” will be proven to not be a god at all.  

 Ezekiel 39:17 And you, son of man, thus says the Lord God; “Speak unto every feathered fowl, and to every beast of the field, Assemble yourselves, and come; gather yourselves on every side to my sacrifice that I do sacrifice for you, even a great sacrifice upon the mountains of Israel, that you may eat flesh, and drink blood. The disclosure to Gog of Russia in 39:4 was: “I will give you unto the ravenous birds of every sort, and to the beasts of the field to be devoured.” Though Ezekiel will not be on Earth when this event unfolds, the Lord is addressing this to him to prophesy of the calling of every feathered fowl, and to every beast of the field. I would have to presume that the adjective “every” would pertain to every feathered fowl and beast in the general area, and not on the entire Earth. This prophecy is to God’s glory, because when these thousands of fowl and beasts of the field assemble themselves, God will be glorified for having declared it here in 39:17. When they do come to this feast, the fowls will summer upon them, while the beasts will winter upon God’s blood sacrifice of this hostile multitude of men.   

Fowls eat enough for a day’s consumption, while beasts will eat enough to hibernate for a time, most commonly during cold winter months. Isaiah 18:6 refers to an animal eating huge amounts to cause it to hibernate for a time of digestion, while the bird eats day to day, like in summer days. We can associate the events in Isaiah 18-19 with the beginning of the seven years of judgment in NE Africa, because we can be sure that the Ezekiel 38-39 judgment will be in the beginning of the seven years as well (see commentary 38:11).

The messengers (ambassadors) will be coming to NE Africa to bring God’s word to these scattered and peeled Africans (Is. 18:1-2), after the terrible devastation to that land (Ezek. 29:9-12). During this time, the fowls and beasts of Isaiah 18:6 will be eating the flesh of the fallen dead in NE Africa, which will be during this same time as other fowls and beasts will be devouring the fallen in the mountains of Israel.

Ezekiel 39:18 You shall eat the flesh of the mighty, and drink the blood of the princes of the Earth, of rams, of lambs, and of goats, of bullocks, all of them fatlings of Bashan. As Ezekiel’s prophesying began in 39:17, he continued here in 39:18. His prophesy spoken by him over 2,600 years ago remains active, in order for God’s sovereign power to be seen, when the fowls and beasts come into the northern mountains of Israel to feast upon the many thousands of dead men (You shall eat the flesh of the mighty, and drink the blood of the princes of the Earth). Oleg Salyukov is the current commander of Russian ground forces; this concept of princes being eaten holds true for all of the ground forces coming into the mountains of northern Israel; they will be military commanders, which Ezekiel is calling princes.

The Lord God used imagery here, concerning His blood sacrifice of these evil armies attacking Israel. He used the same type of imagery for His future blood sacrifice in Bozrah, when He will create the lake of fire on the last day of the seven years (Is. 34:6, Ezek. 35:6, Rev. 14:19-20). God will feed His fowls and beasts only here in the beginning of the seven years in Bashan, east of the Sea of Galilee, because on the last day of the seven years at Armageddon (Valley of Jehoshaphat [Joel 3:2, 12]), all fowls of the entire Earth will feast (no beasts).

 

The sword of the Lord is filled with blood, it is made fat with fatness, and with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams: for the Lord has a sacrifice in Bozrah, and a great slaughter in the land of Idumea. (Is. 34:6)

 

Please do not combine Isaiah 34:6 with this Ezekiel 39:18 prophecy; they are only related, because they both are the blood sacrifices at God’s altar (the Earth). This blood sacrifice, “of rams, of lambs, and of goats, of bullocks, all of them fatlings of Bashan,” will occur in the first weeks of the seven years; meanwhile, the Isaiah 34:6 blood sacrifice will occur on the final day of the seven years (see commentary Ezek. 35:6). The commonality will be that God will destroy the heathen who will come to destroy Israel in this Gog of Magog blood sacrifice, as well as the Bozrah blood sacrifice to create the lake of fire on day 2,520 of the seven years.

 

¹⁷ And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;

¹⁸ That you may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. (Rev. 19:17-18)

 

The Armageddon feast will occur on day 2,520 (last day) of the seven years, and only include all fowls, with no beasts of the field; they will feast on kings also, while the Ezekiel 38-39 feast will only devour one king (Gog of Russia). The Bozrah blood sacrifice will occur separately from Armageddon on the same day (moments before).

The Lord also provided Ezekiel the location of this blood sacrifice in the mountains of Israel; I had, in the past, thought that this was in the mountains of Israel surrounding Jerusalem; I came to realize that Ezekiel was given this micro view of this attack here in chapter 39, thus provided us the exact location within 39:18. The location of Bashan is east of the Sea of Galilee in those northern mountains of Israel (Israel’s inheritance). Interestingly, God had planned for them to accumulate in the northern parts outside of Israel (And you shall come from your place out of the north parts [38:15]). Daniel 11:45 has indicated that this king of the north (king of Russia) is to build his tents (אָהֳלֶי) of his fortress (אַפַּדְנוֹ) between the seas of the glorious holy mountains of Israel. Looking to the map of the holy land (pg. 517), we can see that the two seas between the glorious holy mountains of Israel are the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea. Most militaries will build a command center, before carrying out their military advancements.

When this Daniel prophecy comes to pass, could we see the king of Russia established in these tents before the attack? The king of the north (Russia), may not proceed into NE Africa (Is. 18:1-2; 19:1-17, Ezek. 29:1-7, 17-21, 30:10-11, 20-26, Dan. 11:40-43); but when his military returns back to the location of Bashan, he may establish himself in these holy mountains near Bashan; this would be on the east side of the Jordan River valley in modern-day Golan Heights, east of the Sea of Galilee.

 

And he shall plant the tents of his fortress between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him. (Dan. 11:45)

 

        

 

The king of Russia (Gog of Magog) may find his end in this command center established in the Golan Heights (map below), when the Lord God will rain His great hailstones, fire, and brimstone down upon him (38:22).

 

      

 

Ezekiel 39:19 And you shall eat fat till you be full, and drink blood till you be drunken, of my sacrifice which I have sacrificed for you. The prophecy spoken by Ezekiel began in 39:17, and continues here. The pronoun “you” refers back to the fowls and beasts, which will be feasting upon the many dead soldiers and leaders within the mountains of Israel in Bashan. Fowls eat enough for a day’s consumption, while beasts will eat enough to hibernate for a time, most commonly during cold winter months. Isaiah 18:6 refers to an animal eating huge amounts to cause it to hibernate for a time of digestion, while the birds eat day to day, like in summer days. Both fowls and beasts will eat until they are full, and drink the blood until they are drunken (excessive). The Lord continued to call this His blood sacrifice as He did in 39:17.

Ezekiel 39:20 Thus you shall be filled at my table with horses and chariots, with mighty men, and with all men of war, says the Lord God. This continues the prophecy spoken from the mouth of Ezekiel (39:17-20) as a future prophecy from the Lord. Once again, the pronoun “you” refers back to the fowls and beasts from 39:17. The table of the Lord God will be set by His judgment of great hailstones, fire, and brimstone (38:22), while the men kill one another in a panic from the great earthquake of 38:20-21. The menu that day will consist of horses, mighty men, and men of war, while the chariots (vehicles) will be cooking the flesh in their fire.

Ezekiel 39:21 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. This is additional information given in reference to 38:23. The heathen (nonbelievers) shall all see this event (both victims and spectators), when the Lord God had declared this judgment and executed (laid His hand) it upon His mountains of Israel. He will be made greater (magnify) and hallow Himself by this amazing event. The whole world will have their phones and computers watching youtube video recordings of eye-witness accounts posted for all to see. The Lord God of Israel will be talked about all over the Earth among the heathen, when they will notice this supernatural event unfold. He had declared over 2,600 years earlier that He would do this, and then be seen to have fulfilled it. The whole Earth will know that He is the Lord God, the Almighty and He will be glorified by this.

Ezekiel 39:22 Therefore, the house of Israel shall know that I AM the Lord their God from that day and forward. As will the entire event unfold before the eyes of the world, the entire house of Israel will also see it unfold. Whether they are believers, or not, they will know that He is the Lord God of their father, Israel. The house of Israel shall know that I AM the Lord their God from that day and forward. This implies a great conversion from non-believers, to believers, though they will still not believe that Jesus is their Messiah. This provides a starting point for them, because belief in God begins their path to coming into repentance and belief in Jesus as their Christ.

Ezekiel 39:23 And the heathen shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity, because they trespassed against me, therefore I hid my face from them, and gave them into the hand of their enemies: so fell they all by the sword. The final seven verses of chapter 39 are a review of why Israel was to be restored from their disbelief. As soon as I read this, I remembered what was written in Isaiah 65:11-15. The nonbelievers of the world know that Israel had rejected Messiah Jesus and killed Him. In 70 A.D., Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed for the second time, and the house of Israel went back into captivity. The Lord God hid His face from them, as He caused the world to persecute and kill them for over eighteen hundred years, and many fell by the sword (were killed).

 

But you are they that forsake the Lord, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for that troop, and that furnish the drink offering unto that number. (Is. 65:11)

 

After providing an explanation of why the wicked dwell with the elect in Isaiah 65:8, then providing the blessings planned for them in Isaiah 65:9-10, Isaiah returned back to addressing the non-believing Jews in verse 11. The remnant of Israel, who forsake the LORD and do not believe in His salvation through His Messiah, are addressed once again. Because this is prophecy, Isaiah spoke in present perfect progressive tense, while describing what they will be doing. They will live their lives for wealth and good fortune, as if worshiping the god of fortune (Gad). The translators have used the noun expression “that troop” for the Hebrew proper noun “Gad” (a Babylonian deity), which really causes confusion to a reader. Translators use the noun expression “that number” in place for the Hebrew proper noun “Mĕniy,” which is the name of the Babylonian deity “god of fate.” Isaiah presents rebellious Israel as those who “prepare a table for the god of fortune, and that furnish the drink offering unto the god of fate.” This idolatry needs to be understood to not be literal worship of these gods; the people of Israel (since their return from Babylon) have not followed other gods, but have rejected their Messiah when He came unto them between 27-30 A.D., and focused themselves on their fate and fortune ever since. Nonbelieving Israel have sought out wealth and good fortune, while loosely following the Laws of Moses in their attempt to be religious.

 

Therefore will I number you to the sword, and you shall all bow down to the slaughter: because when I called, you did not answer; when I spoke, you did not hear; but did evil before my eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not. (Is. 65:12)

 

 Isaiah 65:12 begins with the word “therefore,” therefore it is there for a reason; this connects to the previous verse, which presents a reason for God’s judgment; He stated then the judgment in this verse, which He shall and has inflicted upon non-believing Israel since their rejection of their Messiah.

 The history of the children of Jacob/Israel has been full of heavy persecution in the last two millenniums. Jesus prophesied of the destruction of Jerusalem (A.D. 70) and the temple forty years before it happened (Matt. 24:1-2, Mk. 13:1-2). Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed in 70 A.D. because of their rejection of Jesus as their Messiah. In 119 A.D., Roman Emperor Hadrian banned circumcision, making Judaism de facto illegal. Between 135-137, according to Cassius Dio, 580,000 Jews were killed, when Hadrian ordered the expulsion of Jews from Judea. In 325, the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea declared it improper to follow the customs of the Jews in the celebration of the Seven Feasts of the Lord, which included the Feast of Passover for the date for the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ; this was done because the Jews were blinded and stained with the crime of the crucifixion. In 529, the Byzantine Emperor Justinian the Great published Corpus Juris Civilis, which new laws restricted citizenship to Christians. These regulations determined the status of Jews throughout the Empire for hundreds of years:  the Jewish civil rights were restricted. In 1096, in the First Crusade, over 5,000 Jews were murdered in Eastern Europe. In 1146, 100,000 Jews were massacred by the Almohads in Fez and 120,000 in Marrakesh. In 1492, Ferdinand II and Isabella issued the General Edict on the Expulsion of the Jews from Spain: approximately 200,000 Jews were expelled. There were hundreds of antisemitism events in the 20^th century, which is lowlighted by the German holocaust. I had hand-picked a few of the events, but if a person searched the events of antisemitism over the last two millenniums, one would find thousands of historic accounts of persecution over the descendants of Israel. 

The Lord declared that He will number them to the sword and they would be bowed down to their slaughter. The Lord has had a hand in their persecution, because they rejected Him. One cannot say that God did not mean for the Jews to suffer the way that they have over the last two millenniums. As sure as the prophecies of Isaiah have and will come to pass, so has this verse been coming to pass (Therefore will I number you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter). The Lord Jesus came to Israel; He spoke and called Israel to Him, and they did not hear Him; instead they did evil to Him, before His eyes, and did things that He was not delighted in (you did not answer; when I spoke, you did not hear; but did evil before mine eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not).  

 

Therefore thus says the Lord God, Behold, my servants shall eat, but you shall be hungry: behold, my servants shall drink, but you shall be thirsty: behold, my servants shall rejoice, but you shall be ashamed: (Is. 65:13)

 

 Theologians will rebuke the thought that God brought the persecution of the descendants of Israel and insist that Isaiah 65:12 was focused on the Babylonian Captivity, but Isaiah 65:13 confirms that this was for the Jews from the first advent of Christ and afterwards. Isaiah 65 had first addressed the gospel to the Gentiles and progressed telling of the judgments to follow. 65:13 addresses the servants of the Lord, who are His church of Christian believers. The Lord continued with stating His curse, which began in Isaiah 65:11-12; His elect (servants) will have food to eat, while those Jews who reject Messiah shall be hungry through persecution. His elect (servants) will drink, while those Jews who do not believe Jesus as their Messiah will be thirsty through persecution. God’s elect (servants) will rejoice in the Lord Jesus Christ, while the nonbelieving Jews will be put to shame (persecution) (my servants shall rejoice, but you shall be ashamed).

 

Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but you shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit. (Is. 65:14)

 

From what Isaiah 65:11 had prophesied, non-believing Israel would live their lives for fate and fortune, which would allow some to become quite wealthy in the right environments; we can see this in such environments as what they have experienced in the United States. Within the environments where persecution has been inflicted upon them, they cry for sorrow of heart and howl for vexation of their spirit. The elect (servants) will have the Holy Spirit living within them and they will sing praises for the Lord, because He has saved them (my servants shall sing for joy of heart).

 

And you shall leave your name for a curse unto My chosen, because the Lord God shall slay you, and call His servants by another name: (Is. 65:15)

 

 As what was already discussed within Isaiah 65:12, the Lord God has cursed the reputation of the name of Israel, which becomes a cursed reputation (name) unto the believers (my chosen). The Lord God has allowed for nonbelieving Israel to be persecuted, because of their reputation (your name for a curse) of being the ones who put Messiah to death and have rejected Him as the Lord. The Lord has manifested a new name for His servants, which have been known as “Christians” (and call his servants by another name). Christians are commanded to pray for their enemies and turn the other cheek when persecuted by their enemies (Matt. 5:43-44). Israel is to be treated as the rest of the world, when it comes to teaching of the gospel in hope of their repentance. Praying for peace in Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6) is commanded. Praying for Israel’s repentance is also commanded, since they became enemies for the gospel’s sake (Rom. 11:28).

 

³¹ Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. (Rom. 11:31) 

 

Ezekiel 39:24 According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions have I done unto them, and hid my face from them. The persecution of non-Christian Israel started after the cross, where the Messiah had been put to death by His own people (Israel). Their uncleanness can best be explained by their lack of faith in God the Father and His Son, therefore their sins were not forgiven of them, even when the Temple was still standing; this was all while their rejected sacrifices had been attempted. After the blood sacrifice of Messiah on Nisan 14, 30 A.D., the New Covenant had begun, and any other attempt at cleanness was rejected by God as a lack of faith. Their sin atonement was inadequate to say the least, but because they chose to reject the gift of grace provided by the sin atonement on the cross by Messiah, their transgressions were never washed away. Therefore, as Isaiah 65:12 states, they were numbered to the sword, and were bowed down to the slaughter. God hid His face from helping them, because they had rejected Him again.

Ezekiel 39:25 Therefore thus says 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; The timeline on this prophecy follows the past two verses (39:23-24), when God destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple for the second time on Av 9, 70 A.D. (first one AV 9, 587 B.C.). The house of Jacob (Israel) went again into captivity(36:19), then had mercy on Israel and brought them back to their land as He had promised (36:24); He explained to Israel in 36:21-22, that He did not bring them back to their land for their own sake, but for His holy name’s sake. The Lord had made promises to the patriarchs of Israel, including King David (2 Sam. 7:8-16), therefore He had to bring Israel back to keep His promises; it was His own holy name’s sake that was in need to bring them back to their land.

Since May 14, 1948, Israel had been given their land back, and the Lord’s mercy had begun to be given to them, while they have prospered in their own country, with threats continuously to wipe them from the face of the Earth from the surrounding nations.

Ezekiel 39:26 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. This passage should be contemplated for what it actually implies. Israel’s salvation will not be until they receive the Holy Spirit of grace and supplication (Zech: 12:10), upon the Second Coming of Messiah, but Ezekiel 39:26 implies something interesting.

Ezekiel implies here that Israel will bear their shame and their trespasses against the God of Israel. If Israel bears their shame and trespasses, then that would mean that they will be in a position to accept their Messiah, which is Jesus. In my undergraduate work, I researched the blinding of Israel, and had determined that their blinding would be withdrawn upon the Second Coming of Christ (Messiah). But here in 39:26, this may be the removal of the blinders from the minds and hearts of Israel towards their Messiah. From what we have in the Book of Revelation, there will be the two-witnesses who will go forth on the first day of the seven-year Seventieth Week of Daniel 9:24-27 (Rev. 11:3-11). The two witnesses will be sent down from heaven supernaturally, in order to teach 144,000 people of the house of Israel (Rev. 7:4-8). In order for those future 144,000 to receive the good news of salvation through Messiah Jesus, their blinders would need to be removed.

 I believe this prophecy here in Ezekiel 39:26 is the removal of the blinders put upon Israel, which will happen once they see the Ezekiel 38-39 faithfulness of their Lord God; this is within the timing of the evangelism of the two witnesses of Revelation 11:3-11, which will begin on the first day of the seven years. Below is my interpretation, concerning the inflicted curse upon Israel, after they officially killed the first martyr of the crucified Messiah.

 

  The Stoning of Steven and the Curse of the Blinding of Israel

 

7 What then? Israel has not obtained that which he seeks for; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded.

8 (According as it is written, God has given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear unto this day.

9 And David said, “Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumbling block, and a recompense unto them:

10 Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.”

11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid, but rather through their fall, salvation has come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.

12 Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fullness?

13 Because I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the Apostle of the Gentiles, and I magnify my office: (Rom. 11:7-13)

 

According to the Apostle Paul, God has blinded the nation Israel to the gospel and has given salvation unto the Gentiles. Obviously, not all Israel has been blinded, because there are many Messianic Jews that have come to know Jesus as their Messiah over the last 1,993 years.  But, the majority of Israel have not believed that Jesus is their Messiah.

I will first show you a curse that Israel has put on themselves, as they spoke in unbelief. As Yeshuah ha Mechiac was standing in front of Israel the morning of the Feast of Passover, Pilate presented Israel with a choice. They could free one person traditionally that day, meanwhile Pilate was hoping that they would choose Yeshuah to be the one that they would choose to free. He gave them an almost obvious choice, between a prophet and a murderer named Barabbas. As they chose Barabbas, the crowd made a comment that became a curse that they had put upon themselves. It seems that God the Father obliged them and gave it unto them.

 

23 And the governor said, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they cried out the more, saying, “Let Him be crucified.”

24 When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this just person see you to it.”

25 Then answered all the people, and said, “His blood be on us, and on our children.” (Matt. 27:23-25)

 

God brought fulfillment to this curse, through the blinding of Israel as they had asked.

 

Does the Bible indicate when the blinding had begun? The answer is, the Bible does not specifically state when the curse had started, but it gives indicators in the Book of Acts of a judgment being carried out. In the Book of Acts, the Apostles presented the gospel to the Jews on the Feast of Pentecost, and three-thousand Jews were saved by the gospel of Jesus Christ (Act 2:41). There was no sign of a blinding of the nation Israel at that point. An additional five-thousand believed from the readings in Acts 4:4; there was clearly no blinding of Israel happening as of that time.

 

And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women. (Acts 5:14)

 

In Acts 5:14, we can still see a strong indicator that Israel was still receiving the gospel and believing. I want to remind you that not one Gentile has been written of in the Book of Acts as being a believer to that point. Reading through Acts 6, the outcome was the appointing of seven deacons to assist in the management of the people of the church. Stephen was one of these seven. As one reads in Acts 7, we find Stephen was confronted; he then spoke the gospel, which convicted the people accusing him; the offended people of Israel took Stephen prisoner and stoned him for blasphemy.

Before his stoning, Stephen finished praying to Jesus, while he looked to heaven and saw Jesus standing (not sitting) at the right hand of God. Why would Jesus be standing? Isn’t He there sitting at the right hand of God?

 

The Lord said unto my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.” (Psalm 110:1)

 

Because the people had chosen to stone Stephen, after hearing the truth of the gospel, Stephen became the first martyr for Jesus Christ. When Jesus was standing at the right hand of God, He was passing judgment on Israel for their wickedness for their unbelief, but also fulfilling the curse by which they had put upon themselves and their children, which had brought Jesus the Messiah to die on the cross.[19] After the stoning of Stephen, Acts 7:58 included an introduction of a man named Saul. Saul, not much later became known as the Apostle 0f the Gentiles.

 

And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. (Acts 7: 58)

 

And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. (Acts 8:1)

 

Acts 9:1-16 provides a change of focus from the Lord Jesus Christ, when He called upon Saul to be His Apostle to the Gentiles. The timing of this was shortly after the stoning of Stephen.

 

While Stephen is in the midst of controversy between two groups of “Jews,” the Hebrews and the Hellenists, this intragroup division adumbrates the subsequent division between Jewish and Gentile believers that will come to the fore in the Pauline mission.[20]

 

The first potential Gentile, that became a believer, was not until Acts 8:26-39, after the stoning of Stephen. In Acts 10:9-16, God announced to the Apostle Peter that Gentiles are also to be children of God. God had Peter go to preach the gospel to Cornelius and his family, of whom were all Gentiles. Because the blinding of Israel had started, the Lord God started the two thousand year time of the Gentiles, while Israel fell into the Isaiah 65:11-15 curse.

When they dwelt safely in their land, and none made them afraid. This is to be the result of the Ezekiel 38-39 prophecy fulfillment. After that they have borne their shame, and all their trespasses whereby they have trespassed against me. They bore their shame and trespasses during the years scattered after the destruction Jerusalem and the Temple in 70 A.D. Being brought back to their land in the endtimes, sets up the coming of this Ezekiel 38-39 prophecy fulfillment; then the Lord will remove the blinders from the eyes of Israel, and they will be ready to receive the gospel of Messiah. Bring on the 144,000 to be witnesses of Messiah Jesus to Israel!   

Ezekiel 39:27 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; The heightened belief by Israel will be because God had kept His promises and brought them back to their land, while also gathering them out of the surrounding Muslim nations, who had been hostile towards them. God will be honored and hallowed in His people, Israel, in the sight of many nations. When the Ezekiel 38 attack provides a confirmation to many nations that the Lord God is protecting Israel, those many nations will understand that God is just and keeps all of His promises.

Ezekiel 39:28 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 anymore there. The Lord God had indicated that Israel will know that He is the Lord their God because He had brought them back to their land, after He had led them captive in 70 A.D. He implied here that Israel will know that He is the Lord their God, once He has led every one of them back into their land. Currently, 60% of the Earth’s house of Israel live in the United States of America, while 30% live in Israel, and the other 10% are elsewhere. This prophecy implies that the other 70% will be coming back to their land, because the Lord has stated that He will have left none of them anymore there (among the heathen).  This is a tough prophecy to bring to fruition, but when we consider that the fall of the United States of America is imminent, the 60% will either die, or flee across the world back to their homeland in Israel, while in distress. God may chase the rest of His people back, or they will be killed in the process.

Ezekiel 39:29 Neither will I hide my face any more from them, because I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, says the Lord God. The Lord has committed in 39:29 that He will no longer hide His face from Israel, because He will have poured out His spirit upon the house of Israel. The house of Israel’s shame will not be borne (bear) until the Second Coming of Jesus the Messiah; the prophecy within Zechariah 12:10 is the specific time that this shame and remorse will be felt by Israel. Until that time, a majority of Israel will reject their Messiah (though the curse of blinders will be gone [39:26]), just as most Gentiles of the current age do. But when the rescued remnant of Israel will have God’s Holy Spirit poured out upon them, all of them will be believe in Jesus the Messiah (Neither will I hide my face any more from them).

 

And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon Me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for Him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. (Zech. 12:10)

 

The Lord had committed to those of Israel that His Spirit of grace would pour out upon them. This Spirit of grace and of supplication described here is the fulfillment and reconciliation of the cursed people of Israel. The curse of Isaiah 65:12 will be reconciled, when they shall “look upon Me whom they have pierced.” The curse that they had put upon their own heads, as well as their children’s heads, will be recalled no more. “Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.” (Matt. 26:25) In Matthew 26:25, the people of the Israel answered altogether and brought their own curse upon them, when they condemned to death a just Man.

 The people of Israel know of the story of Jesus, when He was crucified for blasphemy, because He declared Himself as the Messiah and Son of God. They will recall the piercing recorded in the Gospel of John. “But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced His side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.” (John 19:34) Zechariah reveals the sadness and mourning, which they will feel, when they see Messiah Jesus come to their rescue (Is. 63:1-6).

 

---

[1] Peter Dickinson, The 2008 Russo-Georgian War: Putin’s Green Light, (accessed 11-29-2022, https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/ukrainealert/the-2008-russo-georgian-war-putins-green-light, Washington, DC: Atlantic Council.org, Aug. 7, 2021).

[2] Sabo, Daniel, 141.

[3] Ibid., 142.

[4] Ibid.

[5] Ibid., 142-143.

[6] Ibid., 143.

[7] Pete Lentini & Muhammad Bakashmar (2007) Jihadist Beheading: A Convergence of Technology, Theology, and Teleology?, Studies in Conflict & Terrorism, 30:4, 303-325, DOI: 10.1080/10576100701200140.

[8] Ibid. 147.

[9] Ibid., 129.

[10]Sugata Ashwarya, Natural Gas Discoveries and Israel’s Energy Security, (website accessed 12/1/2022-https://gjia.georgetown.edu/2020/05/25/natural-gas-discoveries-and-israels-energy-security/, NW Washington, D.C.: SFS/Georgetown Journal of International Affairs, May 25, 2020).

[11] Ibid.

[12] Sabo, Genesis 1-11, 180-181.

[13] Mayo Clinic. Plague. webpage referenced 05/04/2022: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/plague/symptoms-causes/syc-20351291, Rochester: Mayo Clinic, 2022.

[14] Ibid.

[15] Sabo, Joel, Zephaniah, Zechariah, 211.

[16] Ibid.

[17] Ibid, 211-212.

[18] J. Alec Motyer, The Prophecy of Isaiah: An Introduction & Commentary (Downers Grove: Intervarsity Press, 1993), 18.

[19]John B. Polhill, The American Commentary, Acts vol. 26, (Nashville: B&H Publishing Group, 1992), 208.

[20] Shelly Matthews, Perfect Martyr: The Stoning of Stephen and the Construction of Christian Identity, (http://www.oxfordscholarship.com.ezproxy.liberty.edu:2048/view/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195393323.001.0001/acprof-9780195393323: Oxford Scholarship Online, 2010), 66.

Edited April 25, 2023 by Charles R. Sabo
fixed title centering

[Keras]

You don't distinguish between the House of Israel and the House of Judah. They were separated in King Rehoboams time and remain 2 distinct entities. The Bible prophets mention them separately in over 160 verses. 

Their future rejoining is Prophesied in Ezekiel 37.  For now; the Jewish people have come back to a part of the holy Land. But in apostasy and with total reliance on their own strength. 

The peoples that Gog will attack are those gathered from the nations AFTER the great and terrible Day of the Lord's firry wrath, the almost complete depopulation of the Middle East. Zephaniah 1:14-18, Isaiah 66:15-17, Amos 1 & 2:1-5, +   

THEY - the faithful Christian peoples, will rely on the Lord for their protection and He will deliver them. Joel 2:20

[WilliamL]

On 4/19/2023 at 7:29 PM, Charles R. Sabo said:

Ezekiel 38:1 And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, The English translators have mistranslated the Hebrew verb “hāyâ” as a Qal perfect verb, when the manuscript is actually inflected as a Qal imperfect verb...

This imperfect verb is prefixed with a vav-consecutive conjunction, which changes the translation to "the values of the Perfect." Basics of Biblical Hebrew, p. 195

So the English translators are correct.

[Desopixi Seilynam]

"Gog, the land of Magog... Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them...
Gomer, and all his bands, the house of Togarmah of the north quarters ...
and many people with thee.

In the latter days thou shalt come to the land that is
brought back from the sword

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."

Ezekiel 38:1,5-6,8,11

 

Those words do not describe the Israel of today.

They do not dwell safely, there is a war still going on there now.
They do not dwell without walls, they've built many walls and a big wall.
They do not dwell without bars and gates, they have bars and gates on their windows and doors,
gates at the entrance of their settlements, and solders guarding the settlements.
Gun fights happen often, the people live in fear of violence and terrorism.
They are not "brought back from the sword",
the sword of war has been on the place since 1967 and they do not dwell safely.
Ezekiel 38 is clearly not describing the Israel of our times.

However, you will find many that agree with what your saying, the view I present is rare,
but the scripture I think is clear.

 

-------

 

Ezekiel 37:1-15 = Resurrections
Ezekiel 37:15-28 = Reign of the Messiah
Ezekiel 38 and 39 = Gog and Magog

Revelation 20:4-5 = Resurrections
Revelation 20:5-7 = Reign of the Messiah
Revelation 20:7-10 = Gog and Magog

The two passages are giving the same prophecy in the same order.

 

But some will say that 'graves' in Ezekiel 37 does not mean 'graves'.

For that let us examine Acts 23:1-8 and Acts 26:5-8 and the viewpoint of Paul.

"..when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees,
and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council,
Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee:
of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.."
Acts 23:5-7

"For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel nor spirit,
but the Pharisees confess both." Acts 23:8

Paul's enthusiasm was that Christ rose from the dead, proving and demonstrating
that all the prophecies that seem to be about resurrection actually are. 

"And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God to our fathers:
Unto which promise our twelve tribes .... hope to come...
Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you that God should raise the dead?"
Acts 26:5-8

We see then Paul refer to a promise of resurrection made from God to the fathers.

There is only one such promise in all of scripture:
"O my people, I will open your graves and bring you up from your graves
and bring you into the land of Israel" Ezekiel 37:12

Surely when Paul read those words he thought it was about actual resurrection.
That is the promise of resurrection that Paul refers to, that the twelve tribes hope to come.

Ezekiel 37:1-15 is about actual resurrections.

 

Jesus also gives a clear notion that He was expounding on Ezekiel's prophecy.

"Come from the four winds, Oh breath of life,
and breath upon these slain that they may live"
Ezekiel 37:9-10

"And He shall send forth His angels with the great sound of a trumpet
and they shall gather together His chosen ones, from the four winds"
Matthew 24:31

Those are the only two accounts in which "from the four winds" is used.
They both are speaking about actual resurrection.

 

[Keras]

6 hours ago, Desopixi Seilynam said:

Ezekiel 37:1-15 is about actual resurrections.

No it isn't, it refers to the dispersed House of Israel, the ones Jesus came to save, Matthew 15:24, they accepted the Salvation Jesus offered and are now the Christian peoples, from every tribe, race, nation and language. 

6 hours ago, Desopixi Seilynam said:

"Come from the four winds, Oh breath of life,
and breath upon these slain that they may live"
Ezekiel 37:9-10

"And He shall send forth His angels with the great sound of a trumpet
and they shall gather together His chosen ones, from the four winds"
Matthew 24:31

Those are the only two accounts in which "from the four winds" is used.
They both are speaking about actual resurrection.

They both refer to gatherings of the faithful peoples. Of mortal humans, no resurrection or body change implied, or possible. 

[Charles R. Sabo]

On 4/24/2023 at 6:03 AM, Desopixi Seilynam said:

 

Ezekiel 37:1-15 = Resurrections
Ezekiel 37:15-28 = Reign of the Messiah
Ezekiel 38 and 39 = Gog and Magog

Revelation 20:4-5 = Resurrections
Revelation 20:5-7 = Reign of the Messiah
Revelation 20:7-10 = Gog and Magog

The two passages are giving the same prophecy in the same order.

 

On 4/24/2023 at 6:03 AM, Desopixi Seilynam said:

Ezekiel 37:1-15 = Resurrections
Ezekiel 37:15-28 = Reign of the Messiah
Ezekiel 38 and 39 = Gog and Magog

Revelation 20:4-5 = Resurrections
Revelation 20:5-7 = Reign of the Messiah
Revelation 20:7-10 = Gog and Magog

The two passages are giving the same prophecy in the same order.

 

 

The timing of the Battle within Ezekiel 38-39 is quite clear to be in the latter days, before the Second Coming of Christ. Meanwhile that post-Millennial Kingdom battle includes the spirits of Gog, and his ancestor, Magog. No sign of Satan in Ezekiel 38-39 anywhere. Gog and his ancestor, Magog, will be burned with fire and cast into the lake of fire, along with Satan. Ezekiel 38 indicates no such thing. The fate of Gog in Ezekiel 38 is determined to occur in the mountains of Israel near Bashan, while Revelation 20:9 determines that they come to Jerusalem, but does not indicate mountains anywhere. 

Revelation 20:8 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. God will have manipulated Satan once again to go forth and attempt to pull away enough rebellious people, in order to put together an army. The deceiver will deceive once again, while he convinces many of the mortals that they stand a chance at overthrowing the King of the Earth.

At the time of Armageddon, the remnant of Israel, and whatever remnant of Gentile mortals spared by Jesus, will have all been in the Valley of Jehoshaphat. The Lord will have commanded them to go forth back into the Earth and replenish it, just as He had told Adam and Eve (after the fall), as well as Noah and his sons, after the flood. Over a thousand year time span, they will have taken up the land of the Earth and produced offspring through many generations. The Earth will have possibly four or five billion people spread out unto the four quadrants of the Earth; if you will remember, Revelation 7:1, God has recognized the Earth to be in four quadrants (four quarters).

Satan will take some time and gather an army, which he will deceive into fighting a battle, which they could never win. There is much speculation on Gog, as well as Magog mentioned within this verse. If you will remember in Ezekiel 38:2, Gog came out of the land of his distant ancestor Magog, who had settled in southwestern Russia. In the case in this verse in Revelation 20:8, the spirits of both Gog and Magog will be used in gathering the people for battle. Most will agree with me that these are spirits of the deceased Gog from Ezekiel 38:2 and his ancestor Magog, from Genesis 10:2. Satan will be given their assistance, as they will most likely ascend from the Bottomless Pit together. There will be no resurrection for Gog, nor his ancestor Magog, unless you are speaking of their resurrection on Judgement Day.

It seems that this gathering of the unfaithful of the Lord will be over a duration of time. We can speculate, but never really be correct. It will definitely take some time to deceive so many people into rebelling against the Lord, especially with so many immortals as the Bride in their midst. I can speculate here and suggest that the Lord may command the Bride of Christ to lay low and let it come to pass, since these will not be of His elect, and do not need to be convinced to be faithful to Him. The army will be so numerous, that they will be as the sand of the sea. That is a lot of sand! If you wonder how can this be, that the Lord would not attempt to twist someone’s arm to love Him and worship Him, look to John 6:53-66. “Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast you your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.” (Matt. 7:6)

Revelation 20:9 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. Then Satan and His military leaders (Gog and Magog) will bring their military forces to the breadth (platos), or greatest extent. I see this as at the equator (the greatest width of the Earth). The multitudes of people will travel through the breadth (equator) of the Earth, on their way to the holy city; they will be compassing around Jerusalem (the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city).

As they will have accumulated, while compassing around Jerusalem, their final fate of their mortality will be given unto them; GOD the Father will send fire down from heaven and literally devour every one of them in the flames. These billions of people will burn from the flames, then upon their physical death, they will be taken immediately to the Bottomless Pit (hell), for a short stay.

 Revelation 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. This event should bring all of the remaining alive of mankind into a standing ovation, applause, and worship for the GOD of all Creation; HE will have kept all of HIS promises and destroyed death and all of our adversaries for ever and ever. Satan will be cast into the lake of fire burning pitch and brimstone for ever and ever; he will be tormented day and night for ever and ever; I don’t feel bad for him. Satan will be only the fourth one to be cast into this lake of fire, because the Antichrist (first beast) and the false prophet (beast from the pit and the eighth king = two [Rev. 17:8-11; 19:20]) will have already been there for over one thousand years.

 

 

Edited April 25, 2023 by Charles R. Sabo
mispelled

[Charles R. Sabo]

On 4/23/2023 at 9:24 AM, WilliamL said:

This imperfect verb is prefixed with a vav-consecutive conjunction, which changes the translation to "the values of the Perfect." Basics of Biblical Hebrew, p. 195

So the English translators are correct.

Thank you for your efforts, but the reversal typically occurs. הָיָה (hāyâ) began as a perfect verb, then the vav reversed it into an imperfect verb. Vav conjunction represents the conjunction “and,” when this verb began and is a perfect verb and is reversed into imperfect, it became a vav reversive.  

https://scholarsgateway.com/parse/וַיְהִי+

Therefore, the translators were incorrect. 

[WilliamL]

10 hours ago, Charles R. Sabo said:

Thank you for your efforts, but the reversal typically occurs. הָיָה (hāyâ) began as a perfect verb, then the vav reversed it into an imperfect verb. Vav conjunction represents the conjunction “and,” when this verb began and is a perfect verb and is reversed into imperfect, it became a vav reversive.  

https://scholarsgateway.com/parse/וַיְהִי+

Therefore, the translators were incorrect. 

Not correct. Vav-consecutives (other names are sometimes used for this principle) work both ways, changing the effect of a perfect into a perfect, and vice versa. The lexical form here of the verb hayah is imperfect, which is altered by the vav with the Pathach vowel point under it into the sense of the perfect. The Pathach is the dead giveaway; when the perfect is changed to the imperfect, the vowel under the vav is a Shewa.

[Charles R. Sabo]

2 hours ago, WilliamL said:

Not correct. Vav-consecutives (other names are sometimes used for this principle) work both ways, changing the effect of a perfect into a perfect, and vice versa. The lexical form here of the verb hayah is imperfect, which is altered by the vav with the Pathach vowel point under it into the sense of the perfect. The Pathach is the dead giveaway; when the perfect is changed to the imperfect, the vowel under the vav is a Shewa.

So you can argue against the Lexicons all you want. I will side with them, when all of them say that this is inflected as an imperfect verb. The Blue Letter Bible, the James Strong Lexicon, and the Scholars Gateway all parse this as an imperfect verb. 

https://scholarsgateway.com/parse/וַיְהִי

The original hāyâ הָיָה is Qal perfect, then is reversed into a Qal imperfect verb, as all lexicons have determined.

Why pose this argument against my point? If you have concerns, go argue with the lexicons. My point being made in my Bible Commentary is that the English translators have changed the tense to past tense, when it should have been an unfinished action. Ezekiel's timemarks can be determined with all of his writings being ongoing until he determines them to have changed. 

Edited April 25, 2023 by Charles R. Sabo

[WilliamL]

39 minutes ago, Charles R. Sabo said:

3 hours ago, WilliamL said:

... The lexical form here of the verb hayah is imperfect, which is altered by the vav with the Pathach vowel point under it into the sense of the perfect. The Pathach is the dead giveaway...

So you can argue against the Lexicons all you want. I will side with them, when all of them say that this is inflected as an imperfect verb.

As you can see, I did say that the verb is imperfect. What you fail to understand is how its meaning is changed by the vav-consecutive prefix.

"The Hebrew Imperfect verbal form occurs 15,966 times in the Hebrew Bible. The consecutive Imperfect (Imperfect with Waw Consecutive) occurs 15,034 times." BBH, p. 195

Until you get this figured out, you are going to be misinterpreting a boatload of verbal forms.

This same verb with v-c prefix begins the Book of Ezekiel, and is used hundreds of times in the OT. Often interpreted "And it came to pass..."