My Commentary on the Book of Ezekiel chapters 38 & 39, and the two Judgments of Gog 1,000 years apart
My Commentary on the Book of Ezekiel chapters 38 & 39, and the two Judgments of Gog 1,000 years apart Support This Ministry Today My Eschatology; “Sola Scriptura Interpretatur Prophetia,” Meaning “Only Scripture Interprets Prophecy.” Blogroll Copyrighted © All Rights Reserved Everything on this site New-Found Prophesies in Revelation: Almost All Prophesy Revealed Section 2 New-Found Prophesies in Revelation: Almost All Prophesy Revealed Section 3 New-Found Prophesies in Revelation: Almost All Prophesy Revealed Section 4 New-Found Prophesies in Revelation: Almost All Prophesy Revealed Section 5 New-Found Prophesies in Revelation: Almost All Prophesy Revealed Section 6 New-Found Prophesies in Revelation: Almost All Prophesy Revealed Section 7 New-Found Prophesies in Revelation: Almost All Prophesy Revealed Section 8 Friends of RobertLeeRE’s Ministry of Prophecy New-Found Prophecies in Revelation: Almost All Prophecies Revealed Section 1 © This material is copyrighted all rights reserved Israel Mountains compliments of Daniel Ventura on Wikipedia; red & black writing on image are changes by RobertLeeRE This has been a work in progress since July 2009 A Study on Ezekiel’s Gog & Magog Author’s Preface The top picture is where Gog and Magog will be judged by God, on the mountains of Israel. The large picture to the upper left are the mountains of Israel while below and on the right, in a smaller picture is the Valley of Armageddon, also known as the Valley of Megiddo, which is where the armies of the world will be drawn by the Antichrist, also called the Abomination of Desolation. These are two separate wars during the last part of Tribulation , the spotted , striped sheep great harvest portion. I have put a short view of Joel Richardson’s view on Gog and Magog. Although I do not agree with his view we do agree on the most significant thing-that the Antichrist will rise through Islam. His view and my view are a little different but he has got it right on who and what of the Antichrist so he is significant among our generation. Do not confuse Armageddon with the two Gog Magog wars. Three separate wars, three separate judgments by God that are about 7 years apart, the other one a 1000 years later. So in a nutshell it will go in this order: rapture, Gog Magog war, 6 to 7 years of tribulation, judgment and purging of goats from sheep, 1000 year millennium, Gog Magog war again and final Great White Throne Judgment. One Armageddon at the end of that 7 year period, first Gog Magog attack at the beginning of that 7 year period right after the rapture. I say attack because it really isn’t a war since God fights Israel’s battle with fulfillments of scriptural judgment upon Gog & Magog on Israel’s Mountains. Scripture doesn’t say exactly which mountains but there does seem to be some hints. Israel is more mountainess then most realize and I hope to cover some of that also. This will not be by any means exhaustive with more effort being applied on the most recent newer revelation simplifying Ezekiel’s prophecy thus becoming more useful in these last years of The Time Of Jacob’s Trouble. So open your bibles, lets break bread in fellowship as we allow God to be our lamp on a narrow winding path as we ascend mount Zion in a world of darkness searching God’s words of truth for an outpouring of revelation that might reveal more scriptural truth bringing additional illumination upon consideration of these [extremely complicated] prophecies so our ears will be unplugged and the scales flaking off our eyes as we study Ezekiel’s premillennial and postmillennial Gog and Magog in bible prophecy. Like the twin brothers Jacob and Esau who were so different these two chapters are also different in our search of the Gog & Magog wars both fought in the nation of Israel at two different times in history of what appears to be 1,000 years separated into what we call postmillennial and premillennial Gog & Magog. Generally speaking the issues of who Gog and Magog are seem to be settled overall in the body of Christ. Most theologians today conclude at a minimum, Russia as either the nation or leader or both in the far north are what Ezekiel calls Gog and Magog, where Magog. seems to be the bordering nations of Russia, of the former Soviet Union near the area of the Caspian and Black Seas near the Caucasus Mountains. Some history and word origins that produced these beliefs in the Body of Christ will be reviewed. Megiddo courtesy of Photos8.com These views are supported not only biblical but historically by the Jewish historian Josephus and the Greek historian Herodotus and the .philosopher historian Hippocrates. These accounts are significant since they were approximate contemporaries of the time of Ezekiel’s life, prophecies and authorship of the book. But we must also consider that they do contrast with much later ideas in which Gog and Magog were thought to have been around where the modern day Turkey is thought of today. I do not consider this theory very credible but we will discuss some of this also. These historical accounts will be covered and quoted with links within this sermon. The order these scriptures should be studied and read to avoid theological error is as follows; 1st-Ezekiel chapter 39, 2nd- Revelation 19:17-21, 20:8 than 3rd -Ezekiel chapter 38. This is the order the prophecies occur in history and less confusion will result if read in this way. In conclusion, this study has revealed one major revelation not yet but now revealed to the Body of Christ; that chapters 38 and 39 in Ezekiel are prophesying about Gog and Magog during two different time periods in world history separated by 1,000 years, also known by theologians as the 1,000 year Millennium. This new revelation was revealed after the scriptural cross referencing of Revelation 19:17-21, 20:7-9 and comparative study to Ezekiel 39:9-10, which led to more in depth studies on Ezekiel chapters 38 & 39. One must conclude two wars of God’s people being attacked by Gog and Magog with two defeats by God. When comparing these almost seemingly contradictory verses one can only conclude that Gog and Magog surround and attack Israel not once but twice, once premillennial right before the last seven years of The Time Of Jacob’s Trouble known incorrectly by most Christians as the 7 year Tribulation period and postmillennial at the end of the 1,000 year millennium Sabbath day of rest when Satan is once again released from Hades to go to the four corners of the earth and stir up Gog and Magog once again to attack Israel. For simplification and discussion purposes I will label and separate these two Ezekiel prophecies by calling them slightly different names that describe the prophecies by their particular time period in history represented respectively, pre and postmillennial Gog Magog. These important descriptions [will] allow a more thorough discussion of the issues without the common pitfalls and confusion associated with the study of these two difficult Ezekiel chapters. The first Gog prophecy from here on will be called the “Pre-millennial Gog Magog,”time period respectively, Ezekiel chapter 39. This is a 6 to 7 year period but most likely a 7 year period that will begin possibility at the Feast of Tabernacles-2012. The reason it is most likely a 7-year period is that Israel will cleanse the land for seven years, so the invasion and defeat of Gog must be the year before. Since the 70 year prophecy points to a redemption at the end of the 70 years, the Rapture should either be approximately 6 to 7 years prior or the last portion of the Tribulation period could also begin in the year 2018 or 2019. I see nothing wrong scripturally with this scenario in prophecy fulfillment. It will be interesting to watch the news and see how this plays out. The 6 to 7 year premillennial Gog Magog time period appears to begin around 2012 Feast of Tabernacles, ending around October 2018 or 2019 on the Feast of Tabernacles, beginning right before the last 6-to 7 years of the 20 year period of The Time of Jacob’s Trouble, See these sermons:The Time Of Jacob’s Trouble which will in all likely occur around 2012 most likely around the Feast of Tabernacles. This is estimating with scriptural evidence according to the 70 years Prophecy; see these sermon links;Seventy Years Prophecy 1, Seventy Years Prophecy 2, Seventy Years Prophecy 3 , Seventy Years Prophecy 4 and The Time Of Jacob’s Trouble. The key verses in Ezekiel chapter 39 would be verses 1, 4, 6, 7, 9, 17-19, 22-24. This prophecy is based upon in the first verse of how God tells Ezekiel to prophecy against Gog rather then the final judgment brought to Gog in the first verse of chapter 38 when God tells Ezekiel to set his face against Gog. This setting of his face against Gog is indicative of a final judgment from God. The 2nd Gog prophecy called from here on “Postmillennial Gog Magog,” time period, Ezekiel chapter 38 whole and Revelation 19:17-21, 20:7-8, begins around the year 3010, approximately a 1,000 years later. The reason we call it postmillennial Gog is its fulfillment occurs an approximate 1,000 years later, after the millennium. The key verses in Ezekiel chapter 38 are, 1,2, 8, 11, 14, 15, 19, 21, 22. We will also cover some of the view of my favorite topical preacher, J. Vernon McGee’s view on Gog and Magog. And of course my scriptural view which will hopefully come across to you as also the most updated view today. So grab your bibles and lets break bread seeking together in fellowship the truth of how things will play out in these last few years before the beginning of the 1,000 year millennium when Christ will rule the earth with his God followers as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the Bridegroom with his bride that has been awaiting his return. The Twin Ezekiel Chapters 38 & 39 Here is some comparison and contrast of the two very condensed important chapters 38 & 39 in Ezekiel. So let us divide the world carefully as we study the peculiar but very different chapters that describe two different times in prophetic history. Sometimes it is easier when you look at these two chapters side by side. Suddenly when we look at these chapters this way what at first appeared only subtle differences become very big differences and one can see more clearly God is talking about two very different times in history. Why would the order of these two chapters appear to be switched or backwards? I do not know. Maybe the time Ezekiel wrote them down until the time they were placed in a book form they got switched. Or it could be that there is some prophetic reason we do not understand prophetically yet. What ever it is God clearly is talking postmillennial in chapter 38 and premillennial in chapter 39. This way the context of the interpretation lines up and supports Revelation 19:17-21, 20:7-8. Premillennial Gog & Magog Ezekiel Chapter verses 39:1-29 1″prophecy against Gog” 2″I will turn you around and drag you along” 2″send you against the mountains of Israel” 3″I will strike your bow from your left hand” 3″I make your arrows drop from your right hand” 4″on the mountains of Israel you will fall” 6″I will send fire on Magog” 6″and those who live in safety on the coastlands” 8″this is the day I have spoken of” 9″will go out and use the weapons for fuel” 9″for 7 years they will use them for fuel” 11″It will block the way from travelers” 12″for 7 months the house of Israel” 12″will bury them” 13″The day I am glorified will be” 13 “memorable day for them” 14″Men will be regularly employed” 14″to cleanse the land” 17″Call out to every bird and all the wild animals” 17″Assemble and come from all around to 17the great sacrifice I am preparing for you 17 on the mountains of Israel” 22 “from that day forward the house of 22 Israel will know I am the Lord their God” 23 “and the nations will know Israel 23 went into exile for their sin” 24 ” I dealt with them according to their uncleanness 24 and their offenses and I hid my face from them” 25 “I will now bring all of Jacob back from captivity 25and will have compassion on all the people of Israel” 26 “They will forget their shame and all their unfaithfulness 26 they showed me when they lived in safety in their land 26 with no one to make them afraid Postmillennial Gog & Magog Ezekiel Chapter verses 38:1-23 2″Set your face against * 4“I will turn you around * 4 with a hook in your jaw * 8 “in future years you will invade a * 8 land that has recovered from war” * 9 advancing like a storm; you will * 9 be like a cloud covering the land” * 11 “You will say ‘I will invade a land * 11 of unwalled villages; I will attack * 11 a peaceful and unsuspecting people— * 11 all of them living without walls * 11 and without gates and bars * 14 living in safety, will you not * 14 take notice of it? * 16 “You will advance against my people * 16 Israel like a cloud that covers the land * 18 When Gog attacks the land of  Israel my * 18 hot anger will be aroused. * 19 at that time there shall be a great * 19 earthquake in the land of Israel. * 20 The fish of the sea, birds of the air, * 20 the beasts of the field, every creature * 20 that moves along the ground, and all * 20 the people on the face of the earth * 20 will tremble at my presence. The * 20 mountains will be overturned, the cliffs * 20 will crumble and every wall will fall * 20 to the ground. * 21- I will summon a sword against Gog on * 21 all my mountains ~every man’s * 21 sword will be against his brother. * 22 I will execute judgment upon him * 22 with plague and bloodshed; I will pour down * 22 torrents of rain, hailstones and burning sulfur on him, * 22 and on his troops and on the many nations with him. There are some very distinctive differences I have put in bold when comparing these two important chapters of Ezekiel. For instance in chapter 39 verse 1 God tells Ezekiel to prophecy against Gog as if Ezekiel hasn’t yet prophesied against Gog yet. Yet this is chapter 39 one whole chapter after prophesying against Gog already, significance being these chapters appear to be in the wrong order. When looking at chapter 38 verse 1 God tells Ezekiel to “set your face against Gog.” This very strong statement by God telling Ezekiel to say this is a final judgment type of statement versus the other statement in 39 verse 1 which says to just prophesy against Gog. Ezekiel chapter 38 verses 8-14 state the whole of chapter 38 is about a time when Israel will be a very very wealthy land, a land not of war but peace, of unwalled villages, no crime, no bars no security. This all is not of this time. If since all the Islamic suicide bombers in the 90’s Israel keeps building walls and checkpoints. Israel today is a land of walled villages, attempting to keep the Islamic.suicide killers out. This is very clear scriptural evidence that this whole chapter of Ezekiel 38 is at the end of the 1000 years day of rest for the Christ-followers. Now when looking at Ezekiel chapter 39 verses 9-12 once again we se clear scriptural evidence that ties this whole chapter to the last part of tribulation, what many theologians call the 7 year period. More evidence of these two chapters possibly being switched a long time ago or maybe just another curious structural component of God’s word. Gog and Magog Theories First off lets review some scriptural definitions and history to get a good idea as to why most theologians today think Gog and Magog are Russia and the old satellite countries above the Black Sea, north east of the Black Sea, eastern to north eastern mountains of the Caspian Sea area. We will use some extra biblical historical accounts of who exactly historical writers claimed Magog and Gog were. Christianity seems to either take one of two theories depending on which church theology you were influenced by. Old theology which are usually either amillennialists or Postmillennialist from before the dispensational movement that occurred in the early 1900’s seems to take the view that most these old testament prophecies were fulfilled with Antiochus Epiphenes 175-163 B.C., Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39 Gog and Magog included. They either seem to take the view that Anitiochus Epiphenes fulfilled all prophecy and even Revelation or all was fulfilled by 100 A.D. when the 2nd Temple and Jerusalem were razed by Titus and the Romans. This is a similar view as to what Josephus took. The other half of Christianity takes a Premillennial view; the view that since Gog and Magog are mentioned in Revelation by the Apostle John in Revelation 20:8, and that there are just too many unanswered questions that give an indication these prophecies are still yet to be fulfilled during a seven to eight year period right after a Rapture in which the Saints will escape this last period of Tribulation. Catholicism seems to take the overall view that after considering other later historical evidence such as Marco Polo and others used the word Magog in a much more general word to mean any barbarian groups in the north country that threatened what was considered modern civilization at that time. Protestantism seems to take the common view that Gog and Magog are Russia and a leader of Russia connecting the words Rosh with Russia, Meshech with Moscow, Tubal with (here). Islamic Scholars seem to feel Gog and Magog are the ten lost tribes of Israel that are barbarians with red hair and disfigured faces that are kept behind supernatural gates that keep them from invading the middle eastern holy lands; kind of a take on the Gates of Alexander that were supposedly made by Alexander the Great to keep the barbarians of the north from invading the more civilized societies of the fertile crescent in the middle east. Some historical evidence seems to support evidence of Gog and Magog being either Iranian nomads whom later became known as the Scythes migrating northward through the Caucasus mountain range which were ruthless barbarians that stole the land from the Cimmerians to eventually settle land in what is today modern Ukraine, parts of Georgia and Russia. This would be supported by such historians as Josephus and the Latin Father Jerome. Herodotus, considered by historians the father of history, gives clear evidence that the Scythes had migrated northward through the Caucasus Mountain range as Iranian Nomads called Sacu by the Iranians in his History. Recent prophecy modernists that are mostly (Messianic Jews?) today take the view that Magog are the Turkey and Gog is the Antichrist, also called by scripture the Assyrian, that will come from somewhere East of the Euphrates river in Iraq, Syria or SE Turkey. These would be such authors as Joel Richardson, Chuck Missler, Rodrigo Silva and Shoebat. Here are some links of these authors and their prophecy modernist views. would highly recommend them to be checked out: The Islamic End Time Paradigm The Open Challenge by Joel Richardson, Walid… truncated (67,561 more characters in archive)