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Topic: The War God Will Fight For Israel
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knowHim
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Ezekiel Chapters 38 and 39 describe a confederacy of nations from the north. They come down to attack unsuspecting Israel before being destroyed by God's supernatural intervention. Various details in the account and varying views about the way to interpret prophecy, however, have given rise to much controversy about these chapters. Since this is an overview of the whole book, we will focus on the text itself and present several plausible interpretations that have been offered by capable Bible-believing scholars.
The Setting--in the "latter years" when Israel is in the land and is living "safely" (38:8).
The Invaders--Magog, Meshech, Tubal, Cush, Put, Gomer, Togarmah, Sheba, Dedan, and Tarshish. These names appear in Genesis 10:2-7, but their specific relationship with modern nations is disputed. So is the idea that the word chief in verse 3 should be rendered "Rosh." And making it refer to modern Russia because of the similarity in sound is arguable. Dr. Ralph H. Alexander, after acknowledging the elements of uncertainty, writes, "It can be concluded that Gog is a person from the region of Magog . . . the prince . . . over the geographical areas, or countries, Meshech and Tubal. These land areas or countries appear to be located generally toward the south of the Black and Caspian Seas in the modern countries of Turkey, Russia, and Iran." The other names represent the allies of Gog when he makes his attack.
The Battle--The invading forces and the Israelites seem never to contact each other. A tremendous earthquake will throw the enemy soldiers into such panic that they will start killing one another. The Lord will pour down diseases that bring instant death, plus bloodshed, rain, hailstones, and burning sulphur (38:17-23). The armies are destroyed "on the mountains of Israel." Moreover, fire falls on the territory of Magog--on people far from the battlefield (39:3-6). God's supernatural involvement will be so obvious that the survivors will acknowledge His power (38:23; 39:7,21).
The Aftermath--The weapons left in the fields will provide fuel for the Israelites that will last 7 years. (Ezekiel depicted weapons with which he and his contemporaries were familiar. It is likely that they will be modern weaponry with today's fuel.) The dead bodies of the slain will provide food for hordes of scavengers--beasts and birds (39:17-20). Even so, the smell of decay will be oppressive (39:11), and the people will be occupied with burying the bones for more than 7 months (39:12-15). This devastation will be followed by millennial blessings (39:25-29).
The Eschatological Time--Four views are held by biblical scholars:
VIEW 1: Near the midpoint of Daniel's 70th week. Israel will be enjoying security because of the protection afforded by the world ruler before he shows himself to be the Antichrist. But then he demands that he be worshiped, killing all who refuse. (See Dan. 9:24-27; Rev. 13:1-18.) In this view, the Israelites are attacked unexpectedly (as required by 38:8), but the period that follows--the great tribulation described in Revelation--will be so horrendous that it is difficult to envision people clearing the battlefield of war equipment and dead bodies as depicted in 39:9-20.
VIEW 2: Near the close of Daniel's 70th week as part of the war of Armageddon described in Daniel 11:36-45; Zechariah 12,14; Revelation 14:14-20; 16:17-21; 19:11-21. Various excellent scholars take this position and manage in different ways to integrate the Scriptures listed above. But reading Ezekiel 38 and 39 gives the impression of an invading force that is destroyed before it meets enemy armies.
VIEW 3: During the transition period between the destruction of the armies gathered at Megiddo at Christ's return, and His subjugation of the northern confederacy. In this scenario, the Beast and False Prophet are still free for a brief time after the great battle of Armageddon as depicted in Revelation 16:16-21 and 19:11-16. In this view, Revelation 19:17-21 does not refer to Armageddon, but to the battle depicted in Ezekiel 38 and 39. The regathered and converted Israelites are living safely because Messiah has returned. This position is strengthened by the fact that the "great supper" is common to both Ezekiel 39:17-20 and Revelation 19:17-19. Additionally, the time spent cleaning up the battlefield coincides nicely with the idea of a transitional period of preparation as the kingdom age begins.
VIEW 4: At the close of the millennial kingdom, when Satan is released for a little while, gathers a following, and then makes one final and futile assault against God. In favor of this view are the facts that the Israelites will be living safely and that the words "Gog and Magog" appear in Revelation 20:7-10 as in Ezekiel 38:1-2 and 39:1-2. But one wonders why the Lord would have people spend so much time cleaning up the land when He is on the verge of purifying the whole planet by fire and bringing down the new heavens and earth as depicted in 2 Peter 3:10-13 and Revelation 20:11--21:27.
Most Bible students who are committed to the principle of literal interpretation will choose one of these four options.
Read on...
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Plow on, plow on...
David Campbell
Posts: 426 | From: Charlestown, IN | Registered: Jun 2002
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