Historians, eschatologists, scholars, and well-intentioned Christians have searched the Bible for years for prophecies from the Lord; Scripture that will give us a clue as to how to recognize when the Judgment of Christ will bring horrific persecution, death, famine, and ultimately the return of our Lord. Although we are not to worry about the time or day, Jesus tells us in Matthew 24 that we are to know "the season". He explained it like this: Just like when we see a fig tree putting on its leaves, we can tell that summer will soon be upon us. So, when we see the signs He describes in Scripture, we can know that Jesus's coming is near.
And I believe that it cannot be denied that Ezekiel, Chapter 38 is often cited as one of the most explicitly detailed prophetic Books in the Bible. If you are the least bit interested in eschatology, I'm sure you've heard a variety of explanations for this particular prophet's foretelling. Here are just a few of the theories posited, [and which I looked at in 2016] which have been well-documented on watchmanbiblestudy.com:
1. Hashemite Kingdom Theory: The Islamic Nations will come against Israel either by an Iraqi-led, Jordanian-led, or Turkish-led coalition. The enemy from the north refers to the areas of Syria, Turkey, and Iraq. These Islamic nations make up the lands occupied by Magog, Gomer, Togarmah, Meshech and Tubal.
2. Caucus Theory: Gog and Magog are the Arab nations in an alliance with the Muslim republics of the former Soviet Union. This theory leaves out most of Russia, and includes only the southern part.
3. All Europe theory: Gog and Magog are the sons of Japheth, thus the originators of the European races. Gog and Magog therefore indicates all of Europe. This is not a widely held theory and I could find little support for it.
4. Russian Theory: The Hebrew word ‘rosh’ in verse 3 is identified with Russia, ‘Tubal’ with Tiblisi or Tobolsk and ‘Meshech’ with Moscow, therefore Gog and Magog refers to Russia. This is one of the most commonly held views and is based on a different interpretation of the Hebrew word Rosh (used as a noun rather than adjective), similarities in the pronunciation of words, and the Greek translation of Rosh referring to a tribe of people found in what is now Russia. (In 2016, given Russia’s obvious involvement in giving arms and technology to Iran and Syria, it was commonly held that they would be a big player in the attack if not actively involved in it). Now, in 2013, credible sources are saying the militant terrorists who attacked Israel have met [and will be meeting] with Russian leaders.
5. Indo-European Theory: Gog and Magog include the nations descending from Japheth: Russia, the Caucasus (Turkey), Iraq, and the Islamic republics of Central Asia. The coalition is an alliance of Arab nations, Muslim republics, Georgia, southern Russia and the Black sea area. Iran and Pakistan are included among these Islamic republics.
It's also possible that you have heard combinations of these different theories, and even heard Russian President Vladimir Putin identified as Gog. This theory is often proposed because God says in Ezekiel 38:15. And you [Gog] shall come from out of your place in the north parts...". However, "the north" or "the north parts" has often been understood to be the heavens, and in this case, the second heaven, where satan and his fallen angels and demons live. But, for centuries, that hasn't stopped people from trying to relate specific humans and geographic locations on the earth, when dissecting Ezekiel 38. But in taking counsel from the Holy Spirit in regards to the spiritual war in the heavens, I am leaning towards a different picture.
So, I'm going to ask you to follow me and connect the dots; try to consider this possible interpretation... Let's start with Genesis, Chapter 10, in which Magog is listed as a son of Japheth, who, himself, was a son of Noah. Genesis 10:5 tells us that from these men, "the nations were separated and spread into their lands, every one according to his own language, according to their constituent groups (families), and into their nations"... so the fact that Magog is usually understood to be a nation or country makes sense; having been named for the descendant of Noah who was given that land. Just think of Washington, D.C. named for George Washington, or America, named for the explorer Amerigo Vespucci. Naming a land after a specific person makes sense to me.
But then who is this Gog that our God is prophesying against? In Ezekiel 38:3, he is called "the chief ruler of Meschech and Tubal". It is not as important to me to understand where Gog is chief ruler or prince, as it is to know the identity of who Gog is. I can accept that he rules over the nations of Meshech and Tubal, and I can agree, without any problem, that those nations may comprise parts of modern-day Turkey, southern Russia and Iran. It is important to know who this Gog is, and why the Lord God is against him.
So, now I'm going to finally tell you the understanding that I have come to, after much study and prayer. I believe that Gog is one of the demonic rulers (or princes) that satan has assigned to particular nations to carry out his evil directives. Once again, I feel that's why Paul made such an effort in Ephesians, Chapter 6, to spell out for us that we do not fight against flesh and blood! (Could he have been telling us to not try to identify flesh and blood men as these enemies?) These rulers and princes are the forces of spiritual wickedness that coordinate the game plan and align demonic forces on the battlefield of each nation. [Think Allah over the Muslim nations; Shiva over India; Ra over ancient Egypt, etc].
And I do not believe they are constrained by time or place. Gog has obviously been assigned to govern and administer the nations of Meshech and Tubal at a time when they will be unleashing their armies on Israel. I often find that the Bible expresses overlapping and dual prophecies -- a word from the Lord that is specific to an ancient historic event, but that also applies to an End Times scenario. In this case, the Old Testament prophet Amos says, Thus the Lord showed me, and behold a swarm of locusts were coming, and, behold, one of the young devastating locusts was Gog, the king.
Then in the New Testament, in Revelation, Chapter 9, the Apostle John is given a vision of the Fifth trumpet being sounded, the bottomless pit opening, and the power of the locusts descending upon man to torture him. In verse 11, John says, And [the locusts] had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon. It is understood and accepted in the 21st Century that this king will be the Anti-Christ. So, it is certainly possible, and it is my opinion, that the "devastating king of the locusts", that the prophet Amos saw is the same king of the locusts that John saw. "Gog" could just be the designation of his title or position, such as President; and at the End Times he will be known by his proper name, Abaddon.
All this, I understood in 2016, but in the last 7 years, I have come to believe an additional component of this scenario that will blow the minds of Christians. In Ezekiel 38:14-17, the Word says this: “Therefore, son of man [Ezekiel], prophesy, and say to Gog, Thus says the Lord God: On that day when my people Israel are dwelling securely, will you not know it? You will come from your place out of the uttermost parts of the north, you and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great host, a mighty army. You will come up against my people Israel, like a cloud covering the land. In the latter days I will bring you against my land, that the nations may know me, when through you, O Gog, I vindicate my holiness before their eyes. Thus says the Lord God: Are you he of whom I spoke in former days by my servants the prophets of Israel, who in those days prophesied for years that I would bring you against them?"
Read that again! It is God who will use Gog to bring Israel to know Him, and to their salvation, if they will receive it! God will use whatever measure He has to, to cause His people to call on His Name! But then watch what happens ... Having served God's purpose, Gog will then find himself and his armies subject to God's wrath. Ezekiel 38:18 says, "But on that day, the day that Gog shall come against the land of Israel, declares the Lord God, my wrath will be roused in my anger". Verses 21-23 show us the full counsel of God and what His intentions are ... "I will summon a sword against Gog on all my mountains, declares the Lord God. Every man's sword will be against his brother. With pestilence and bloodshed I will enter into judgment with him, and I will rain upon him and his hordes and the many peoples who are with him torrential rains and hailstones, fire and sulfur. So I will show my greatness and my holiness and make myself known in the eyes of many nations. Then they will know that I am the Lord".
I urge you, please, look upon Scripture as the source of Truth. Do not look at what the media and politicians tell you is happening; do not look at the events in Israel and through the lens of the world and its spokesmen. I have come a long way from my understanding in 2016 to considering the revelations from the Holy Spirit as I grew in my faith and knowledge of the Bible.
I'm sure that this may be a new and very difficult concept for you to accept, since it is virtually never discussed in the Church today. And maybe, you are one of those Christians who doesn't feel it is necessary to understood Old Testament prophecy. But the God who spoke to, and instructed, Ezekiel is the same God who wants to speak to us today through His Word ... all of His Word! For me, it is a matter of knowing that His character never changes. So if God used demonic rulers in the spiritual realm in Ezekiel's time to turn the hearts of His people towards Him, He will do the same today. And, if He asked Ezekiel to prophecy that He would summon a sword against [and set His face] against that demonic ruler, I believe He wanted the prophet to take a stand, with God by his side, and announce the defeat of the evil entities.
I believe His command and His desire is for us to do the same... to believe that His ultimate goal is to bring the nation of Israel -- a nation that is not aligned with His sanctified nation in the Old Testament -- into holy covenant with Him again. My next blog post will talk more about that. Mind you, I am not denigrating or disparaging the tragedy and horror that is visible on all our TV screens. I am just trying to know God's heart and intentions in the "big picture". Keep praying for Israel, and that the world will turn from its dark and evil ways to the God of Israel. He is our Rock, our Fortress, our Deliverer, our Salvation, and our Stronghold... our only hope.
#bible; #bible prophecy; #bible prophets; #end times; #end times eschatology; #bible eschatology; #gog and Magog; #gog and magog war; #latter days; #God's word; #tribulation; #Jacob's sorrows; #Ezekiel 38; #prophets of Old Testament; #Old Testament; #christian theology; #house of Israel; #Israel and Middle East; #Matthew 24; #Kingdom of God; #God's wrath
Ezekiel 39:25 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.
No comments:
Post a Comment