The Battle of Gog and Magog

The Battle of Gog and Magog:

Ezekiel 38 & 39

Study (Blog) Purpose: To update the reader as to what is currently happening in Israel. To expose the Islamic agenda as it relates to Iran, Turkey, and Russia. To remind the saints that God has called us to intercede for the Jews (Psalm 122:6-9). To emphasize that God is in control and His plan for Israel and for the world will be what ultimately prevails.

The PRACTICAL EMPHASIS of this study (blog) is to remind believers that we are to pray for, intercede, and proclaim the God’s favor for the Jews and for their eyes to be open to their Messiah, Jesus.

The Apostle Paul said it this way, “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. ² For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. ³ For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. ⁴For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” – Romans 10:1-4

We must understand that God will not allow Israel to be taken by a foreign power again.  (post May 14, 1948)

Jeremiah said it this way, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: ‘Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge those who are carried away captive from Judah, whom I have sent out of this place for their own good, into the land of the Chaldeans. ⁶ For I will set My eyes on them for good, and I will bring them back to this land; I will build them and not pull them down, and I will plant them and not pluck them up. ⁷ Then I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the Lord; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God, for they shall return to Me with their whole heart.”                           – Jeremiah 24:5-7

• It doesn’t matter what kind of rhetoric the political leaders say against Israel, they are NOT going anywhere.  The full restoration of Jeremiah’s statement will not come to pass fully until we reach the millennial reign of Jesus, which will begin shortly after the seven-year tribulation.

As Christians, we must see a direct connection between the blessing of God upon our lives and our prayerful intercession and consideration of the Jews.  It does us no good to be anti-Semitic or callus toward these precious people.   We are to pray for them, love them, and support them however we can.

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you. ⁷ Peace be within your walls, Prosperity within your palaces.” ⁸ For the sake of my brethren and companions, I will now say, “Peace be within you.” ⁹ Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek your good.”                                                             – Psalm 122:6-9                                            

The Apostle Paul reminded believers in Jesus that we also partake in the blessings of the Lord that He has bestowed upon the ‘apple of His eye,’ His people, the Jews, through the work of Jesus.

“And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, ¹⁸ do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.”                     – Romans 11:17,18

The prophetic truth of the Battle of Gog and Magog spoken by Ezekiel is not a doom saying message, rather, it reveals where we are in our current timeline of prophetic events.  The nations and people groups mentioned in Ezekiel 38 and 39 are accurately mentioned and they speak of their political agendas that are bent on destroying Israel.  It doesn’t mean that all people from these nations are evil or anti-Semitic, rather, that as a nation, they are against the Jews.

A prime example of this would be the many people groups and nations who have attempted to overthrow Israel and ultimately failed. Throughout history that have always been individuals and groups of people who have resisted the evil decisions of their national leaders.  Many German Christians gave their lives to protect the Jews from the Nazis during the holocaust.

Iran was Ancient Persia and is today a modern day menace to the Jews.  Their leadership is bent on destroying Israel at their first opportunity, which could be this week!  Israeli intelligence has provided photographic evidence which confirm that Russian scientists, working with the Iranian military, are attempting to develop and secure long-range hypersonic missiles capable of carrying a nuclear payload and striking London, Jerusalem, and New York in under five minutes from launch.  If this is true, than Iran is not just a threat to Israel, but to the west as well.  The idea of a Muslim nation procuring nuclear weapons is a game changer for global instability.  

The Battle of Gog and Magog (Ezekiel 38 &39) is a specific battle that will occur very near to the Rapture or just before or at the beginning of the tribulation.  The Church will have already been removed from the earth via the Rapture, but it’s possible that we could see this battle ensue, or at least the very beginning of it before we are taken.  Never before have we seen the stage set for this particular battle; we’re very close.

NOTE: The battle of Gog and Magog is NOT the battle of Armageddon. The battle against Gog of Magog is God’s judgment upon Gog resulting in the total destruction of Magog, which is modern day Russia,  and her Islamic allies involved in this military offensive. God will show Himself very strong in that day which will mark the end of Russia, permanently. At the end of this Age of Grace there will be four great military powers:

     NORTH – Russia – The Bear in the North  / SOUTH – The Arab Nations

    EAST – China – The Kings of the East / WEST – Europe – Revived Roman Empire

These nations will be in the forefront of Bible prophecy in the last days and during the seven-year tribulation.  They will rule for a short time and be defeated when the Lord returns to set up His earthly millennial kingdom; after the tribulation.  America is not specifically mentioned in Bible prophecy, however, many scholars believe the Jeremiah 50 & 51 is a dual reference to both Babylon and America.  While this study is not about that, I do believe it’s worth looking into.  I recommend checking out timfoster405 on YouTube FMI.

However, this study is about Gog and Magog and a closer look at Ezekiel 38 and 39 reveals this battle happening in the not too distant future.  This is God’s judgment upon the nations of the world who are attempting to destroy His people, Israel. There are various opinions as to when this battle may occur. Some believe it’s still a long way off, others believe it could happen tomorrow, and still others believe it won’t happen until the end of the Millennial Reign of Jesus.

What is certain is that when this battle does occur, God will show Himself strong and protect Israel and continue to establish them in their land.

“Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ² “Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him,”                                    – Ezekiel 38:1,2

• Gog is a word for ‘ruler’ and literally means ‘the man on top.’  It speaks of a dictator nation. Gog is named as a ‘chief prince’ of the land of Magog.  The word ‘chief’ meaning ‘head’ is the Hebrew word ‘Rosh’ which is an ancient name for Russia. 

In Genesis 10:2 Meshech and Tubal are listed among the seven sons of Japheth, Noah’s son; who biblical ethnologists tell us migrated to the north, beyond the Caspian and Black Seas to this area called Rosh, which today is modern day Russia. The Hebrew name ‘Meshech’ translates into the Greek ‘Moschi’ where we get the modern name for Moscow, which is magnetically north of Jerusalem.

During Ezekiel’s time, Magog existed where Russia is today. Suffice it to say that Magog is most likely Russia and Gog is the rule of Russia. Currently that would be Vladimir Putin, who the CIA recently reported is the wealthiest man on earth.  This could be the right fit.

“and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal. –  Ezekiel 38:3

• The phrase “I am against you” is both a powerful and profound statement made by God Almighty through the prophet Ezekiel.  Biblical history reveals that anytime God made this kind of statement against a nation, it was for one or all of three reasons:

1. Idolatry / polytheism – Exodus 20 – Commandments #1 and #2 forbid such activity.
2. Atheism – Psalm 14:1 “The fool has said in his heart, there is no God.”
3. Persecution of the Jews – Genesis 12:1- God’s blessing or cursing depending on Jewish treatment.

“I will turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and lead you out, with all your army, horses, and horsemen, all splendidly clothed, a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords.”       – Ezekiel 38:4

• The phrase “I will put hooks into your jaws and lead you out” is a direct reference to a ‘forced kill.’  God is literally dragging the Russian and Islamic armies south to the land of Israel where it will be destroyed on Israeli soil by God Almighty.  It is understood that Gog may not feel he has a choice and has to attack Israel for his own nation’s survival.

A major reason why modern day Russia would want to capture Israel has more to do with them being financially crippled as a nation.  They need a warm-water port to access the oceans and economies of the world. Israel offers that with direct access to the Mediterranean Sea.

NOTE: Russian president Vladimir Putin (former director of the KGB) has made a $50 billion oil contract with Iraq and has provided Iran with Russian scientists to direct their nuclear weapons program.  Putin platforms peaceful intensions, but he has removed any structure of democracy within the Russian political process.  At the same time he maintains peace with the western world.  He is a shrewd politician with an aggressive agenda.

Russia all but lost its status as a world military superpower when the former Soviet Union fell.  They need access to an abundant supply of Arabian oil if they are to regain their previous military status and keep their war machine fueled and lubricated.  The Arab nations of the world can help them with this.

More than oil and seaport access, Israel is home of the Dead Sea Works, a multi-billion dollar mineral retention and processing plant.  It is estimated that the Dead Sea contains over 2 billion tons of potassium chloride, that’s  a mineral used in enriching soil for agriculture.  It also contains over 22 billion tons of magnesium chloride and 12 billion tons of sodium chloride.  This one industry alone could fuel the economy of any bankrupt nation because it services the world market in food preparation and agriculture.

Russia’s Allies:

“Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; ⁶ Gomer and all its troops; the house of Togarmah from the far north and all its troops–many people are with you.”                       –  Ezekiel 38:5,6 

Persia is modern-day Iran.  Ethiopia and Libya are the Persian version of Cush and Put located in Northern Africa. Gomer became the people who lived along the Danube and Rhine rivers in Europe and Togarmah became the Armenian people who lived in the region east of Turkey.  What we have here is a modern-day pan-Islam invasion of Israel led by Russia.  The ‘many people are with you’ reference these Muslim nations.

These Arab nations possess the three-fold Islamic agenda:

1. The total destruction of the Jewish race (genocide).
2. To gain total control of Jerusalem and have it as their capitol city.
3. To establish worldwide recognition of a Palestinian nation of Islam.

Remember: Islam wasn’t developed until the 5^th century AD.  These precious Arab people groups are all the sons of Ishmael and are in need of the true message of hope that’s found in the Savior Jesus Christ.

“Prepare yourself and be ready, you and all your companies that are gathered about you; and be a guard for them.”                                                                  –   Ezekiel 38:7  

The word ‘guard’ used here references ‘supplier and provider.  Gog will be supplying these surrounding regions in the latter days. Russia will be leading the coalition of Arab nations against Israel.

“After many days you will be visited. In the latter years you will come into the land of those brought back from the sword and gathered from many people on the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate; they were brought out of the nations, and now all of them dwell safely.”                                                           –  Ezekiel 38:8

The caveat of ‘safety’ is a qualifier as to when this attack will occur. One way of looking at the safety issue is by comparing it to Israel’s history.  Today, Israel has never been safer, but she is still under constant threat from her enemies.  The phrase ‘after many days you will be visited’ refers to the fact that Ezekiel was prophesying about a nation that didn’t exist yet and an event that wouldn’t occur for another 2500 years.

The phrase ‘in the latter years’ most likely refers to the seven-year tribulation, but certainly the end times. The last part of this verse describes a re-unified Israel; with Jews returning to Israel from all nations of the world and who will ‘dwell in safety.’ This statement foretells that one day Israel will ‘dwell in safety,’ but it will be a false safety. Most likely this ‘safety’ will be the result of the seven-year peace treaty. 

“You will ascend, coming like a storm, covering the land like a cloud, you (Magog – Russia) and all your troops and many peoples (pan-Islamic regime) with you.”    –  Ezekiel 38:9

• A massive military invasion will be waged against Israel. This verse reveals that Russia will not be coming alone: she will be joined by many ‘peoples’ with her.  If today Russia is partnering with Islamic nations in preparation for a future fight, it’s not a far stretch to believe that God will not only destroy Russia, but those nations (peoples) who partner with her against the Jews.

“Thus says the Lord God: “On that day it shall come to pass that thoughts will arise in your mind, and you will make an evil plan: “I will go up against a land of unwalled villages: I will go to a peaceful people who dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls and having neither bars nor gates”                                                   – Ezekiel 38:10,11

• This ‘evil plan’ is a plot against the Jews.  While it would seem that Israel will be a soft target for Magog and her coalition armies.  What they didn’t figure on was that God Almighty is always watching over Israel, He never sleeps or slumbers.

“to take plunder and to take booty, to stretch out your hand against the waste places that are again inhabited, and against a people gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and goods, who dwell in the midst of the land.”                   –   Ezekiel 38:12

Ezekiel describes the plot of Gog, he wants “to take plunder and booty” which refer to the financial treasurers of Israel.  He also wants “to take dwellings” in the re-inhabited ‘waste’ places “against the people” (Jews) who have acquired wealth in Israel.

The three-fold agenda of the invading armies:

1. To acquire the wealth of Israel.
2. To acquire the residential dwellings and land settlement of Israel.
3. To kill all the Jews – genocide.  

“Sheba, Dedan, the merchants of Tarshish, and all their young lions (America included) will say to you, ‘Have you come to take plunder? Have you gathered your army to take booty, to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods, to take great plunder?'”                                                                            –  Ezekiel 38:13

• ‘Sheba, Dedan, Tarshish and all their young lions’ – refers to the western nations of the world who are familiar with Israel’s wealth, but who do not attempt to come to her aid for any number of possible reasons.  Sheba and Dedan are modern day Yemen and Saudi Arabi, both are friendly to Israel today. 

These nations will protest this invasion but they will be unable to extend support militarily or financially.  They may be unwilling to involve themselves due to their losses already or they will be unresponsive due to internal damage or political resistance.  It might just be that they will be afraid to do anything

The ‘merchants of Tarshish (Great Britain and Spain) and all their young lions (America, South America) will questions Gog’s motives but not intervene.

“Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say to Gog, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “On that day when My people Israel dwell safely, will you not know it?”                  –  Ezekiel 38:14 

• The statement, “will you not know it” speaks of a well-planned, specific invasion intent on the destruction of Israel for the purposes already stated.  It implies that Israel will be a ‘sitting duck’ without protection from the international community because for whatever reason, they are not coming to her aid.  Gog will be motivated to attack Israel because the nation of Magog’s survival depends on it. The real plan will come from God who will destroy Gog and his armies on Israeli soil.  Then the world will know there is a God in Israel who watches over His people.  This will platform Israel into a real superpower.

“Then you will come from your place out of the far north, you and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great company and a mighty army.”              –  Ezekiel 38:15  

• The term “out of the far north’ again speaks of Russia; Moscow being the capitol and also being exactly magically north of Jerusalem.

“You will come up against My people Israel like a cloud, to cover the land. It will be in the latter days that I will bring you against My land, so that the nations may know Me, when I am hallowed (holy) in you, O Gog, before their eyes.”             – Ezekiel 38:16

This verse reiterates three things:

1. A massive army ‘like a cloud, to cover the land’ is invading Israel.
2. It will happen in the ‘latter days’ – Again, most likely the tribulation.
3. So that God can show Himself as Israel’s ultimate defender.

“Thus says the Lord God: “Are you he of whom I have spoken in former days by My servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied for years in those days that I would bring you against them?”                      –  Ezekiel 38:17

• This verse is given in the form of a question because the secular peoples of the world will see this attack happening and come to know that God is, in fact, real!

“And it will come to pass at the same time, when Gog comes against the land of Israel,” says the Lord God, “that My fury will show in My face.”                      – Ezekiel 38:18

• This ‘fury’ refers to a specific wrath in righteousness judgment that only a holy God bestows.  Before Ezekiel, no prophets had written about Gog by name, however, there were many prophecies about end time events. 

In this case, Gog will attack Israel and when he does, God’s fury will be shown against him and his armies as God continues to defend His people.

“For in My jealousy and in the fire of My wrath I have spoken: ‘Surely in that day there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel, ²⁰ so that the fish of the sea, the birds of the heavens, the beasts of the field, all creeping things that creep on the earth, and all men who are on the face of the earth shall shake at My presence. The mountains shall be thrown down, the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground.’”                                 – Ezekiel 38:19,20

• God’s jealousy and the fire of His wrath will be revealed in the form of a massive earthquake.  This earthquake will be so powerful that it will topple mountains, destroy walls, and even the animals, birds, and fish will tremble.

All life will be affected and ‘shaken at the presence of the Lord’ in this earthquake.  The earth’s geography will change and walled structures will fall.  This will no doubt create terror in the invading armies and among their ranks.

“I will call for a sword against Gog throughout all My mountains,” says the Lord God. “Every man’s sword will be against his brother.”                                         – Ezekiel 38:21

• Each soldier will fight against the next soldier. Like in other battles in the OT, the invading army will turn on itself.  It will be the worst case of ‘friendly fire’ ever recorded in military history.

“And I will bring him to judgment with pestilence and bloodshed; I will rain down on him, on his troops, and on the many peoples who are with him, flooding rain, great hailstones, fire, and brimstone.”             –   Ezekiel 38:22

We know that ‘pestilence and bloodshed’ will be part of this judgment.  The Lord will send down fire, water, and stones from heaven in the same what the He has done in the past.

“Thus I will magnify Myself and sanctify Myself, and I will be known in the eyes of many nations. Then they shall know that I am the Lord.”                        – Ezekiel 38:23

God Almighty will be magnified, sanctified and known in the eyes of the nations of the world. This barrage of divine intervention will destroy 5/6^ths of the armies of Gog so that the nations of the world will know that God did this, not a defending army.

As we close out this chapter and begin the next one, we observe through the looking glass of biblical prophecy that this future event that will no doubt have a powerful impact on the post-Rapture world.  The Lord God Almighty will show Himself to be God to the world and the protector of Israel. 

Ezekiel 39 – The Restoration of Israel

From everlasting to everlasting God has always been in total control.  All the feeble attempts of mighty men of valor throughout human history to control the world have never lasted.  Eventually they were overthrown by other powers.  Here we see that in the end that Jesus Christ will ultimately reign forever and ever.

“And you, son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal; ² and I will turn you around and lead you on, bringing you up from the far north, and bring you against the mountains of Israel. ³Then I will knock the bow out of your left hand, and cause the arrows to fall out of your right hand.”                              – Ezekiel 39:1-3

• When God is against you, judgment ensues. This refers to a total disarmament of the invading army. God says that He will cause Gog to come from the far north and attack Israel, but the Israelites will NOT need to defend themselves as God foretells how He will kill Gog and his invading armies.

“You shall fall upon the mountains of Israel, you and all your troops and the peoples who are with you; I will give you to birds of prey of every sort and to the beasts of the field to be devoured.”                               – Ezekiel 39:4

• This refers to the many bodies of dead soldiers laid waste in the open field being food for both fowl and beasts.  The dead bodies of Gog’s massive army will be strewed all over the battlefield.  They will lie on the mountains and fields where the birds and animals will eat them.

“You shall fall on the open field; for I have spoken,” says the Lord God. ⁶ And I will send fire on Magog and on those who live in security in the coastlands. “Then they shall know that I am the Lord.”                                  – Ezekiel 39:5,6

• God will send fire upon Magog and on the coasts where the beneficiaries of evil live in wealth.  This is where Gog is from, Magog.  It’s the place (land) from which they came, particularly in the coastlands where the more affluent live in luxury; this will be totally destroyed.  God’s judgment upon Gog and Magog is not only upon the invading armies, but their homeland.

“So I will make My holy name known in the midst of My people Israel, and I will not let them profane My holy name anymore. Then the nations shall know that I am the Lord, the Holy One in Israel.”                    – Ezekiel 39:7

• God will show Himself strong and that He is the God of Israel and the world. All the nations will know that God is the Lord of His people and He is their defender.

“Surely it is coming, and it shall be done,” says the Lord God. “This is the day of which I have spoken. ⁹ “Then those who dwell in the cities of Israel will go out and set on fire and burn the weapons, both the shields and bucklers, the bows and arrows, the javelins and spears; and they will make fires with them for seven years. They will not take wood from the field nor cut down any from the forests, because they will make fires with the weapons; and they will plunder those who plundered them, and pillage those who pillaged them,” says the Lord God.”         – Ezekiel 39:8-10

• We see that once the armies of Gog of Magog are destroyed, there will be a vast number of bodies and weapons on the ground.  The Jews will assemble and collect these weapons and burn them.  The fires will last for seven years.

The working theory here is that this battle occurs just after the Rapture and just before the seven-year tribulation. It’s during this seven-year span of time where the weapons are burning that the tribulation is also occurring.  Both of the seven-year time frames symbolize Daniel’s 70^th week.  Gog intended to plunder Israel, but Israel plundered Gog and his armies.  Their task will be to bury all of the decaying bodies of Gog’s army.

It will come to pass in that day that I will give Gog a burial place there in Israel, the valley of those who pass by east of the sea; and it will obstruct travelers, because there they will bury Gog and all his multitude. Therefore they will call it the Valley of Hamon Gog.”                                                                                          – Ezekiel 39:10,11

• The number of dead bodies will innumerable so a mass graveyard will be created in this valley to facilitate Gog’s dead army.  It will be a memorial to God’s ultimate power to deliver His people and also to destroy her enemies.

This will be a mass grave situated in the valley where people travel east toward the Dead Sea.  The valley will be renamed to Hamon-God, meaning ‘Gog’s vast crowd.’

“For seven months the house of Israel will be burying them, in order to cleanse the land. ¹³Indeed all the people of the land will be burying, and they will gain renown for it on the day that I am glorified,” says the Lord God.”                              – Ezekiel 39:12,13

It will take seven months to bury all of the bodies. We see the phrase ‘cleanse the land ’used three times in verses 12-16 which refer to the God’s restoration agenda for Israel.  The Israelites will have to follow the OT Levitical law of cleansing the land from dead bodies.

“They will set apart men regularly employed, with the help of a search party, to pass through the land and bury those bodies remaining on the ground, in order to cleanse it. At the end of seven months they will make a search. ¹⁵The search party will pass through the land; and when anyone sees a man’s bone, he shall set up a marker by it, till the buriers have buried it in the Valley of Hamon Gog. ¹⁶ The name of the city will also be Hamonah. Thus they shall cleanse the land.”                                                 – Ezekiel 39:14-16

Men will be employed as abatement teams who will search out the land to locate bones, weapons, military hardware, and other such items from the ground and mark it with a flag or something.  This will alert others to locate and collect these fragments of war, be it bones or other items associated with war.

This cleansing the land will be a massive undertaking and will require the regular employment of men who will search out the land and retrieve the remains of the enemies of Israel to be removed and buried.

‘From the perspective of the Jews, the dead must be buried because exposed corpses are a source of ritual contamination to the land (Numbers 19:11-22; Deuteronomy 21:1-9).”

               – Dr. Ron Rhodes                                                                                        Northern Storm Rising

“And as for you, son of man, thus says the Lord God, ‘Speak to every sort of bird and to every beast of the field: “Assemble yourselves and come; Gather together from all sides to My sacrificial meal Which I am sacrificing for you, A great sacrificial meal on the mountains of Israel, That you may eat flesh and drink blood. ¹⁸You shall eat the flesh of the mighty, Drink the blood of the princes of the earth, Of rams and lambs, Of goats and bulls, All of them fatlings of Bashan. ¹⁹ You shall eat fat till you are full, And drink blood till you are drunk, At My sacrificial meal Which I am sacrificing for you. ²⁰ You shall be filled at My table With horses and riders, With mighty men And with all the men of war,” says the Lord God. ²¹ “I will set My glory among the nations; all the nations shall see My judgment which I have executed, and My hand which I have laid on them. ²² So the house of Israel shall know that I am the Lord their God from that day forward.”                                   – Ezekiel 39:17-22

God reduces the armies of Gog to bird food and beast food as these wild fowl and animals devour the flesh of these future fallen warriors.

NOTE: Recently in Israel, migratory birds that would normally ‘pit stop’ in Israel are now staying, Thousands of vulture-type birds are beginning to nest in Israel. This anomaly is so intriguing that several Israeli tour guides have been known to make mention of this on their excursions.

“The Gentiles shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity; because they were unfaithful to Me, therefore I hid My face from them. I gave them into the hand of their enemies, and they all fell by the sword. ²⁴According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions I have dealt with them, and hidden My face from them.”                                                                                                      – Ezekiel 39:23,24

• The nations of the world will see the Lord’s power.  The defeat of Gog will be a sovereign display of God’s power and the world will realize that God is real and a defender of Israel. Those nations that thought that God would not save or could not save Israel will know otherwise. 

When the question is asked by non-Jews, “Why did God allow judgment to happen to His chosen people the Jews?” They will know it was because of their unfaithfulness, their uncleanness, and their transgressions.

“Therefore thus says the Lord God: ‘Now I will bring back the captives of Jacob, and have mercy on the whole house of Israel; and I will be jealous for My holy name– ²⁶ after they have borne their shame, and all their unfaithfulness in which they were unfaithful to Me, when they dwelt safely in their own land and no one made them afraid. ²⁷ When I have brought them back from the peoples and gathered them out of their enemies’ lands, and I am hallowed in them in the sight of many nations, ²⁸ then they shall know that I am the Lord their God, who sent them into captivity among the nations, but also brought them back to their land, and left none of them captive any longer.  ²⁹And I will not hide My face from them anymore; for I shall have poured out My Spirit on the house of Israel,’ says the Lord God.”                                                                        – Ezekiel 39:25-29

The prophet foretells of a day where God protects, delivers, and vindicates Israel for the last time.  He speaks of an outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Jews and a work of total restoration between a chosen people and a Holy God.  This is God’s plan for the Jews! This is when God will bring all of His people back into the land.  They will live in peace and serve and worship only Him.  They will no longer turn to false gods and they will be loyal and faithful to the One True Messiah. This will be during the Millennial Reign of Jesus

Many people confuse the Battle of Gog and Magog with the Battle of Armageddon, however there are differences between the two of them.  I have listed some differences between the Battle of Gog and Magog (G&M) and the Battle of Armageddon (BoA)

1. In G&M, there are specific allies mentioned as coming against Israel.  It is a Russian and pan-Islamic force attacking the Jews. In the BoA, the Bible is clear that all nations are allied against the Jews, including the kings of the East, which do not fight in G&M.

• In G&M, the invasion comes from the north, in the BoA, the invasion comes from the entire earth, as it’s a global assault against Israel.  This is the devil’s last attempt to destroy the Jews just before the Second Coming of Jesus.

• In G&M, the purpose of the invasion is to take spoils and capture the land of Israel.  In the BoA, the purpose it to totally destroy the land of Israel and kill the Jews.  The devil will be furious because he will know that his time is now up and he is about to be cast into the bottomless pit for a thousand years.

• In G&M, there is a diplomatic protest from the west even though they do not get involved or attempt to stop the invasion. In the BoA, there is no protest from any nation as they all will be allied against Israel. Nobody will want to save Israel as they will be hated by the tribulation weary world.

• In G&M, the invasion is stopped through a supernatural act of God through natural acts and in fighting.  In the BoA, the visible, physical Second Coming of Jesus to the earth is what stops the invasion of Israel.  Jesus Himself leads this invasion of the earth with the armies of Heaven with Him. 

• In G&M, the invasion is stopped on the mountains of Israel.  In the BoA, the invasion is stopped between Petra, in Jordan, and Jerusalem.  The location of both offensives are in different places.

• In G&M, the invasion occurs when Israel is living in ‘peace and safety,’ but in the BoA, the invasion occurs when Israel is in flight, hiding in the Petra cliffs of Jordan, and is crying out for the One True Messiah to come and save them; Jesus.

• In G&M, it takes 7 months to bury the fallen Russians and Muslims and 7 years burn their weapons of war.  This would be possible for the Jews to do because they will still occupy the land at that time.  In the BoA, the Lord returns and crushes the bodies of the invading armies in his ‘winepress of wrath.’  The Jews will have been in hiding at this time and could not have been able to bury the dead as before.

• In G&M, only portions of Israel’s enemies are destroyed, in the BoA, all those who opposed the Lord will be destroyed by Jesus.  It is after this battle that we enter into the Millennial Reign of Jesus.
• In G&M, God intervenes on Israel’s behalf in order to show a post-Rapture world that He is the Lord, the Holy One of Israel.  In the BoA, Jesus intervenes in order to establish His millennial reign and bring the post-tribulation earth into the new millennium of His global reign from Jerusalem.
• In G&M, it occurs at the beginning of the seven-year tribulation, in the BoA it occurs at the end.  Similar to the Rapture and the Second Coming, one occurs before the tribulation and one occurs after.

What the Lord does in the battle of Gog and Magog is to show Himself strong once again to a people who have cried out to Him.  He desires to reveal Himself to the nations of the world that He is still the God of the universe and the only Lord worthy of our worship.  I hope this will help you to better understand what is about to happen in Israel and how this relates to the soon return of Jesus for His Church.  I have attempted to help to build your faith as it relates to Israel and her current crisis. To make you aware of the Russian – Islamic connection, and to encourage you to pray for the salvation and protection of the Jews.

As we close out this blog on Ezekiel 38 and 39, we can observe through the looking glass of biblical prophecy that this future event that will no doubt have a powerful impact on the post-Rapture world.  The Lord God Almighty will show Himself to be God to the world and the protector of Israel.  What we must know now is that

Jesus is Lord of all.  Daniel saw this, John saw this, and God’s Word reveals this.  In the last days, even in the darkest hours, Jesus will ultimately prevail.  If you have not received Jesus, invite Him into your heart now!

The Apostle Paul said it this way, “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him (Jesus) and given Him the name which is above every name, ¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, ¹¹ and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. ¹² Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; ¹³ for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. ¹⁴ Do all things without complaining and disputing, ¹⁵ that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, ¹⁶ holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.”           – Philippians 2:9-16

Maranatha!

Encouragemen is a blog written by Pastor Rob Lee, recently relocated to Southern Missouri.  He lives with his wife of 32-years, near their three adult children, their spouses, and children (their grandchildren).  Pastor Rob is an Ordained Assemblies of God minister, a former Lead Pastor (25 years), police chaplain, and community advocate.  He continues to serve, consult, and disciple men of God, including those who are in the ministry.