Prophecy of the Battle of Gog and Magog, part 3

Battle of Gog and Magog – Ezekiel 38 39

This is our third study about the “Prophecy of the Battle of Gog and Magog.” In both Ezekiel 38:1 and Ezekiel 39:1 we have been told that Gog is the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal. The exact location of these three nations is uncertain. Many think that Rosh refers to Russia, but solid evidence is missing. What is clear is that all three nations were located north of Israel for Ezekiel 38:15 and Ezekiel 39:2 say that Gog will come from the remote parts of the north. By the way, the directions of north, east, south, and west in Scripture are relative to Israel. So, Gog will come down from the north of Israel. That means Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal are all north of Israel.

Gog is a symbolic term for a future leader or prince. It is possible that this person is alive today. If he is alive today, then he is living somewhere in the remote north. Regarding Magog, we have already discovered that Magog’s descendants scattered to parts of Europe, Russia, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Turkey, and China. That agrees with Ezekiel 38 and 39 which says Gog is from Magog and will be living in the north.

Now we have discovered that Gog and his soldiers will descend from the north and invade Israel. In our second study we learned that Gog and the soldiers from Magog will invade Israel during the last half of the tribulation at the battle of Armageddon.

Also, we have discovered that the answer to the question, “What will God do to Gog and his great army?” is that God will annihilate Gog and his massive army at the battle of Armageddon. Every solider in Gog’s massive army will die. The dead bodies of his massive army will be scattered everywhere across the plain of Megiddo which lies in the Valley of Jezreel (Ezekiel 39:5). It is also called the Valley of Hamon-gog which is also known as the place where the battle of Armageddon will occur. This massive invasion will surround Jerusalem from the north, east, south, and to the west like a cloud. So, the dead bodies and weapons will be everywhere. The death and destruction will be so very great that it will take seven months to bury the dead and seven years to burn all of the weapons. So, the answer to the first question in Ezekiel 39, “What will God do to Gog and his great army?” is that Yahweh will defeat Gog and his massive army and all their weapons.

Battle Occurs In the Last Half of the Tribulation

That brings us to this third study, which is from Ezekiel 39:20-29. In this study we will answer two final questions. One question is, “Why are we confident this battle will occur during the last half of the tribulation?

Before I answer the question, we need to remember that the tribulation is a seven-year period that will occur before the millennial kingdom. For example, Daniel 9:27 tells us that the tribulation is a seven-year period of time. Daniel 9:27 says,

“And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate.” Daniel 9:27 (NASB)

There are three important points to notice immediately. First, the ”he” in this verse refers to the antichrist. Second, the “one week” refers to a seven-year period of time. If you would like more information about the meaning of “week”, you will find it in the study “Daniel’s 69 Weeks – Prophecy About the Death of Christ.” So, when we are told the antichrist will make a firm covenant for one week, this refers to a seven-year peace agreement or peace treaty.

The third point we should notice is that in the middle of the seven-year period, the peace is broken and the antichrist violates the Mosaic law and prohibits the Mosaic sacrifices and offerings from occurring. Absolute chaos and horror takes place afterwards during the last 3.5 years of the tribulation. Revelation 6 provides an overview of the horrors that will occur in the last half of the tribulation. It will be a time of war, famine, death, martyrdom, and terror. So, the first half of the tribulation is a time of peace, and the last half will be filled with terror. The millennial kingdom will follow after the tribulation. That is the big picture.

Now I want to answer the question “Why are we confident this battle will occur during the last half of the tribulation? I will give you seven reasons why the battle of Gog and Magog will begin in the last half of the tribulation and end at the battle of Armageddon. These seven key points are found in chapters 38 and 39.

The first reason the battle of Gog and Magog will occur in the last half of the tribulation is that Ezekiel 38:8, 10-12 states that Israel will be living in peace when Gog and his great army invade Israel. That agrees with the first 3.5 years of the tribulation. It begins with peace. This suggests Gog’s invasion breaks the peace in the middle of the tribulation. Apparently, the invasion enrages the antichrist and he begins attacking people and believers in the last half of the tribulation.

The second reason the battle of Gog and Magog will begin during the last half of the tribulation is that Ezekiel 38:17-23 describes some of the same plagues that are mentioned during the trumpet and bowl judgments that will occur during the tribulation as described in Revelation 7-16. For example, Ezekiel 38:19 says that Gog and his great army will suffer from a great earthquake. Verse 20 says that birds, land animals, and humans will die. Verse 22 says pestilence, torrential rain, hailstones, fire, and brimstone will occur. It appears that the same plagues that will occur during the trumpet and bowl judgments in the tribulation (Revelation 8:6-8). Also, Revelation 16:2-20 speaks of the bowl judgments which will cause people to become sick. Men will suffer from fire and intense heat. The Euphrates River will dry up so the army from the east can invade Israel. This supports the idea of a massive army from China invading Israel from the northeast. Further, a great earthquake will occur which will flatten the earth, except for Jerusalem. The similarity between Ezekiel 38-39 and Revelation is extremely significant. So the plagues that will occur during the battle of Gog and Magog and the battle of Armageddon are essentially identical.

All of this will occur as Gog and his massive army approaches and attacks Israel. God will be raining down plagues upon Gog, his great army, and upon the other nations described in Daniel 11:40-45. God will be pouring out His wrath upon a wicked and unbelieving world. In the process, Israel will be destroyed and two-thirds of the Jews around the world will be killed (Zechariah 13:8-9). Only one-third of the Jews will saved by the end of the tribulation (Zechariah 12:10; Romans 11:25-27). So the plagues and destruction in Ezekiel agree with those in Revelation.

Third, we believe the battle of Gog and Magog will occur during the last half of the tribulation because we have already learned from Ezekiel 39:5, 11, and 15 that the valley where the battle of Gog and Magog will occur is the same valley in which the battle of Armageddon will occur.

Fourth, we believe the battle of Gog and Magog will occur during the last half of the tribulation because Ezekiel 39:17, 19-20 agrees with Revelation 19:15, 17-18 which says the birds will eat the flesh of the dead soldiers.

A fifth reason we believe the battle of Gog and Magog will occur during the last half of the tribulation is because both Ezekiel 39:6 says divine judgment will occur at the end of the battle of Gog and Magog and Revelation 19:20-21 says that divine judgment will occur at the end of the battle of Armageddon. Ezekiel 39:6 indicates that the homes of Gog’s warriors will be destroyed by fire and Revelation 19:20-21 says the army will be destroyed by Christ. But the fire in Ezekiel 39:6 cannot mean the warriors were killed by fire. If they were, then no bodies would be left to bury and no weapons would be left to be burned by fire. So, divine judgment will occur in both battles.

The sixth reason we believe the battle of Gog and Magog will occur during the last half of the tribulation is because God will be glorified afterward (Ezekiel 39:13, 21; Revelation 19:7-16). We will see that soon when we answer the third and last question.

Seventh, we believe the battle of Gog and Magog will occur during the last half of the tribulation because Ezekiel 39:25-29 refers to the millennial kingdom as the next event after the battle of Gog and Magog. This agrees with Revelation 20:4-6. We will see that soon when we answer the third and last question.

So, this gives us the conclusion that the battle of Gog and Magog describes some of the military maneuvers that will occur at the battle of Armageddon.

Daniel 11:40-45’s End-Time Military Maneuvers

Daniel 11:40-45 also describes more military maneuvers during the tribulation and the battle of Armageddon. The prophecy in Daniel 11:40-45 describes two different military maneuvers.

The first maneuver is given in verses 40-43. Here is verse 40,

At the end time the king of the South will collide with him, and the king of the North will storm against him with chariots, with horsemen and with many ships; and he will enter countries, overflow them and pass through. Daniel 11:40 (NASB)

The king of the South in Daniel 11 consistently refers to Egypt and the king of the North refers to the old Seleucid empire which was north of Israel. The “him” in the first line is the antichrist. Then we are told the king of the South and the king of the North will collide with him. For more information about this battle, visit the study, “The Future Antichrist and the Battle of Armageddon.”

Then verses 41-43 add,

He will also enter the Beautiful Land, and many countries will fall; but these will be rescued out of his hand: Edom, Moab and the foremost of the sons of Ammon. Then he will stretch out his hand against other countries, and the land of Egypt will not escape. But he will gain control over the hidden treasures of gold and silver and over all the precious things of Egypt; and Libyans and Ethiopians will follow at his heels. Daniel 11:41-43 (NASB)

The Beautiful Land is Israel. So, we are told that the antichrist will enter Israel and defend Israel and himself from attack. He will win against the king of the South, the king of the North, Edom, Moab and the sons of Ammon. Today, the ancient territories of Edom, Moab and the sons of Ammon are occupied by Saudi Arabia and Jordan. Finally, we are told that the antichrist will pursue Egypt and plunder the country. Now notice that the Libyans and Ethiopians are also mentioned. These same ancient nations are part of Gog’s army according to Ezekiel 38:13.

Then Daniel 11:44-45 reveal that the king of the North returns to attack Israel.

But rumors from the East and from the North will disturb him, and he will go forth with great wrath to destroy and annihilate many. He will pitch the tents of his royal pavilion between the seas and the beautiful Holy Mountain. Yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him. Daniel 11:44-45 (NASB)

Here we are told the king of the North and an army from the East will invade Israel and attack the antichrist. The last statement says the antichrist will die. Since Revelation 19:11-21 tells us that Christ Himself will kill the antichrist at the battle of Armageddon, this means that Daniel 11:44-45 describes the battle of Armageddon.

Now I believe that verses 40-45 describe two engagements. The first military engagement in verses 40-43 will occur at the middle of the tribulation at the break of the peace. In response an angry antichrist will pour out his wrath during the last half of the tribulation. The second and last military engagement in verses 44-45 will be the battle of Armageddon. So, Ezekiel 38-39 and Daniel 11:40-45 describe different military maneuvers involving Gog and his massive army plus the nation of Egypt during the tribulation. So, now the answer to the second question in Ezekiel 39 has been given.

Yahweh’s Glory Will Be Revealed (v 21-24)

This brings us now to the third question in this chapter which is, “What will occur after the battle of Gog and Magog?” The answer is given to us in verses 21-29.

When we come to Ezekiel 39:21, the tribulation has ended and we read next verses 21-24. I have titled them “Yahweh’s Glory Will Be Revealed.” Here are verses 21-24.

“And I will set My glory among the nations; and all the nations will see My judgment which I have executed and My hand which I have laid on them. And the house of Israel will know that I am the LORD their God from that day onward. The nations will know that the house of Israel went into exile for their iniquity because they acted treacherously against Me, and I hid My face from them; so I gave them into the hand of their adversaries, and all of them fell by the sword. According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions I dealt with them, and I hid My face from them.”’” Ezekiel 39:21-24 (NASB)

This reveals a dramatic change that will occur around the world after the battle of Armageddon. We are told God’s glory will be seen by every nation all over the earth. The nations will see His righteous judgment in ways we are not experiencing today. Instead, we are experiencing selective justice or injustice. Verse 23 adds that the nations will finally understand that Israel was destroyed and scattered because they rebelled against God. Yahweh hid His face from them when He severely punished them! That is, no one could help Israel. This is a serious warning! When God punishes us, He does so according to our sins. If we have committed serious sins, He may leave us all alone. The greater our unrepentant sin, the greater our punishment.

So, when will the events in verses 21-24 occur? The answer is that verses 21-24 describe events that will occur during the millennial kingdom. We must remember that the millennial kingdom will be populated by immortal believers and mortal believers, some of which are parents with mortal children. Even though some mortal parents and their children will be saved, they will still have a sin nature and commit sin. So, sin will still occur in the millennial kingdom in the lives of the mortal believers (Zechariah 14:9-11, 16-21).

Israel Will Be Saved and Yahweh Will Be Known (v 25-29)

Verses 25-29 is the last section of chapter 39. Here are Yahweh’s final words.

Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, “Now I will restore the fortunes of Jacob and have mercy on the whole house of Israel; and I will be jealous for My holy name. They will forget their disgrace and all their treachery which they perpetrated against Me, when they live securely on their own land with no one to make them afraid. When I bring them back from the peoples and gather them from the lands of their enemies, then I shall be sanctified through them in the sight of the many nations. Then they will know that I am the LORD their God because I made them go into exile among the nations, and then gathered them again to their own land; and I will leave none of them there any longer. I will not hide My face from them any longer, for I will have poured out My Spirit on the house of Israel,” declares the Lord GOD. Ezekiel 39:25-29 (NASB)

Now Yahweh concludes the prophecy with promises to Israel. If we combine all of the promises together, we learn several things. First, Israel will be restored back to the land and live securely in the land that Yahweh gave them. Second, this will occur in the millennial kingdom and not before. So, clearly verses 25-29 is about the millennial kingdom. So, chapter 39 ends with the millennial kingdom.

Conclusion

There are two very important principles for us to remember from this chapter. The first is that Israel’s punishment in the past, now, and in the future proves our God is holy. He will have punished them because they did not repent of their sins. God will prove that He is holy because He will save them and return them to their land. God will prove that He is holy because He will show Israel mercy by causing them to forget all of their sins and live for eternity with Him. The second important principle is that Israel’s presence in the millennial kingdom will prove to everyone that Yahweh is God. Believing Gentiles will also be able to experience the same blessings. What a wonderful ending!