November
5 & 12, 2006
Cawson St. Church of Christ
Hopewell, Virginia
Mural
Worthey
When Gog Meets God
Introduction
a. Gog and Magog are found in Ezekiel
38-39 and Rev. 20.
b. Ezekiel is the background for
understanding Rev. 20.
c. Both books are highly symbolic and
apocalyptic in nature.
d. These texts are often misused to
refer to present day events in the Middle East
and the end of time.
Ezekiel 37
Vs. 1-10: the vision of the valley of dry
bones
Vs. 11-14: the interpretation given to the
prophet by God. It applies to the whole
house of Israel, not just to
Judah
in Babylonian captivity.
Vs. 15-27: Ezekiel was told to write on two
sticks, For Judah and For Joseph. Verse 21 is often applied to the gathering of
Jews to Palestine and Jerusalem near the end of time. (See also 39:28.) When did God take the scattered tribes and
bring them together in one body? When
did David come back and reign over Israel? (vs. 24) This is a Messianic prophecy which was
fulfilled in Jesus Christ. On Pentecost,
Jews were presented from every nation. (Acts 2:5.) This is not about a yet future event.
There would
be mass confusion if Old Testament prophets spoke about events surrounding the
Second Coming of Jesus when the First Coming had not yet occurred. The truth is that premillennialists believe
that these prophecies were suppose to have been fulfilled literally when Jesus
came the first time, but he failed to accomplish it. No one should accept such an explanation.
Vs. 26-28: The sanctuary and temple are
mentioned here and continues in chapters 40-48.
Cyrus allowed the Jews to return home and rebuild the temple. He assisted them in their effort. But this is more than about the rebuilding of
the old Jewish temple. As 37:24
indicates, this is Messianic in nature.
It will be fulfilled spiritually in Jesus Christ.
Ezekiel 38-39
These two
chapters are in the midst of the vision of dry bones (37) and the vision of the
new temple (40-48). We should not think
that these two chapters are about something wholly different and reaches down
to the Second Coming of Jesus. They
should be about something along the same line of thought as chapters 37, 40-48.
Seven
oracles. Chapters 37 & 38 have seven oracles
beginning with “thus says the Lord God.”
They are 38:3, 38:10, 38:14, 38:17, 39:1, 39:17 and 39:25. This arrangement is a good one for our
presentation as well. In these oracles,
we can understand his message to Judah.
1st
Oracle:
(38:1-9.) The prophecy is against Gog,
prince of Meshech and Tubal. This prince
will be mustered by God. Gog will lead
hordes of people, armies from several surrounding countries against Israel. Is this a literal, physical battle against Israel? No, remember that this occurs during the
reign of the Messiah (when David rules over the combined houses of Israel).
In
Revelation 20, Satan musters this army of God and Magog. In Ezekiel, God leads them out against Israel, but in
the end the army is destroyed. This
battle of Gog and Magog is a final onslaught of heathenism against the God of
Israel. The captives are being promised
that if they follow God’s will, even such a massive army against them will not
prevail. This is the same message in
Revelation applied to us. In fact, both
Ezekiel and Revelation are applied during the same period. The only difference is that Ezekiel is using
Jewish terminology that they would appreciate.
The imagery is united Israel,
David as king again, and a new temple.
Even Gog would not be able to defeat them if they follow God faithfully.
Ancient
cities and countries surrounding Israel are named. They have nothing to do with modern Israel, Russian, Iran,
Iraq, or Egypt. Of course, these modern nations may indeed be
descended from these ancient civilizations.
As Jim McGuiggan wrote, Everyone is descended from someone.
Latter days
or last days, 38:8, 16-17, are not the last few days just before the Second
Coming of Jesus. This is such a harmful idea and contrary to biblical
usage. See also Hebrews 1:1f and Acts
2:16f. Latter days and latter prophets
refer to those after the Babylonian captivity.
Former prophets are those before the 6th C captivity. Joel, Isaiah, Micah and others often use to
refer to events near the coming of the Messiah.
2nd
Oracle:
(38:10-13.) Thoughts would enter the
minds of these nations to go up against Israel. This was God’s doing; though they did not
know it or would admit it. Israel is
described as having unwalled cities, dwelling securely and quietly. Gog thinks that it will be easy to defeat
such an unprotected tiny nation.
3rd
Oracle:
(38:14-16.) In the latter days, God
would bring them up against Israel. The time for this again is during the
Messianic reign. The hordes would be
like a cloud covering the land. John in
Revelation described them as sand on the sea shore. God would vindicate his
holiness through Gog. That is, God will
defeat this massive army. Tiny Israel could not hope to do so; neither
Christians who were being persecuted by Rome
in Revelation.
4th
Oracle:
(38:17-23.) God’s wrath against Gog is
expressed in nature—there will be an earthquake, all living things shall quake
at his presence. God will summon a sword
against the hordes led by Gog. God will
pour fire and brimstone upon the armies arrayed against his people. The greatness and holiness of God will be
made known.
5th
Oracle: (39:1-16.)
The armies of Gog will be defeated.
Israel
will burn their weapons for firewood for seven years. (vs. 9, 10) It will take seven months to bury their dead.
6th
Oracle: (39:17-24.)
God will prepare a sacrificial feast for birds and animals. They would eat the flesh of the princes and
mighty men. This similar to the gory
feast in Revelation 19:17-21. This
vision and oracle is to emphasize the horrors of the judgment of God against
evil.
7th
Oracle: (39:25-29.)
A final oracle telling that God will restore the fortunes of Jacob. God punished them for their disobedience, but
He also forgave and blessed them as he promised. The Messiah will come; Israel will be
blessed during his reign. They will come
from all nations. God will be vindicated.
He will pour out his Spirit upon them. (vs. 29.)
Ezekiel 40-48
“Vision of the New Temple”
This is an
extensive description of the temple in Jerusalem. This is similar to Revelation 11—the
measuring of the temple. This act means
that God knows his people and will circumscribe them. This does not mean that Christians will not
suffer persecution. In fact, just the
opposite is true. “All that will live
godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”
(2 Tim. 3:12.) But no one will be
able to finally and completely defeat those who follow God’s will, even if we
are put to death. The Spiritual Kingdom
will stand forever.
Revelation 17-20
Babylon is fallen! The harlot riding on the beast is
said to be the great city that ruled over the kings of the earth. (17:18.)
In the NT, this is surely Rome, due to
Daniel’s prophecy about four kingdoms from Babylon to the day when God would set up his
everlasting Kingdom. On the forehead of
this harlot is written the words: Babylon
the Great, the mother of harlots. (17:5)
Babylon is the nation that carried Judah
into captivity. God vindicated himself
by allowing a wicked nation to punish Judah. He brought them out and destroyed Babylon. Babylon
was also judged because they too were very wicked. God is just and impartial. He is holy.
Revelation
18. This chapter describes the fall of Babylon (Rome). See 18:2.
God’s people were told to come out from among them. This is what Ezekiel described—Israel came out
from all the nations to return to God.
Revelation
19. This describes the celebration and singing of
hallelujahs because of the overthrow of Babylon. The redeemed are invited to the marriage
supper of the Lamb. There is a very
different feast in 19:17-21. This is the
sacrificial feast by flesh eating birds and animals as in Ezekiel. Babylon
falls in Revelation 17-18; the beast and false prophet are destroyed in
Revelation 19; and finally the Dragon or the Devil is destroyed in Revelation
20. Satan used the nations from the four
corners of the earth to oppose God’s people.
It is his last ditch effort to oppose God. Gog and Magog are destroyed in Revelation
20:7-10.
