Revelation 20:7 Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison
Revelation 20:8 and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea.
Revelation 20:9 They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them.
This is very obviously at the end of the Millennium. But there is another instance in Ezekiel 38-39 that is not so clear and at first glance it seems that it could occur at the end of the 1000 year reign of Christ on Earth. The truth is, however, that the events described in Ezekiel will occur just after the beginning of the Millennium which is of course after the return of Christ.
Ezekiel 38:1 Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
Ezekiel 38:2 “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 38:3 and say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal.
Genesis 10:1 Now this is the genealogy of the sons of Noah: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. And sons were born to them after the flood.
Genesis 10:2 The sons of Japheth were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.
Genesis 10:3 The sons of Gomer were Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah.
Rosh is not mentioned here and thus lends more credence to the fact that is part of the title and not a separate entity.
Ezekiel 38:4 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.
Seems to me to indicate that they are an existing and standing army ready to go. Also we see that they are using swords in the age of technology and we might tend to think that this symbolizes offensive weapons of the future, but we will see that this is not the case in the next chapter.
Ezekiel 38:5 Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya are with them, all of them with shield and helmet;
Ezekiel 38:6 Gomer and all its troops; the house of Togarmah from the far north and all its troops—many people are with you.
Identifying the main players here:
- “Gog” means “mountain” or “high” and seems to be a reference to a commander.
- Magog – land of Gog possibly the Mongols specifically or generally China
- Meshech Mosocheni Mushki, Moscow, Georgia (in the former Soviet Union)
- Tubal city of Tobolsk.
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Gomer seems to designate the peoples from Asian steppes and deserts, including people from the region of Mongolia.
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Togarmah from the far north has been associated with the people living in Siberia.
Altogether they represent the expanse northern Asia / Eurasia from the Baltic to the Pacific, so some of these next ones might seem a little out of place:
- Persia is modern Iran; they still call themselves this.
- Ethiopia (Cush in Hebrew) obvious includes Ethiopia, but also peoples of the subcontinent: in Central and Southern India and parts of Sri Lanka.
Genesis 10:7 The sons of Cush were Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabtechah; and the sons of Raamah were Sheba and Dedan.
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Cush’s sons, Seba and Raamah and Sheba were later worshipped by Hindus: they were knows as the gods Shiva and Ramah.
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Libya (“Put” in Hebrew) includes Libya, as well as people from Northern and Central India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Gog and Magog in Revelation 20 are said to be from the four corners of the earth and therefore apparently represent people of all nationalities. In Ezekiel 38, it is clear the forces are of specific ethnicities and associated with a particular region.
Ezekiel 38:7 “Prepare yourself and be ready, you and all your companies that are gathered about you; and be a guard for them.
Speaking to the commander here.
Ezekiel 38:8 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.
Latter years… end time
they were brought out of the nations… This is not verbiage that would be used 1000 years after the beginning of the Millennium.
Isaiah 27:12 And it shall come to pass in that day That the LORD will thresh, From the channel of the River to the Brook of Egypt; And you will be gathered one by one, O you children of Israel.
Isaiah 27:13 So it shall be in that day: The great trumpet will be blown; They will come, who are about to perish in the land of Assyria, And they who are outcasts in the land of Egypt, And shall worship the LORD in the holy mount at Jerusalem.
now all of them dwell safely… this is their current state; some time has passed for them to get settled; so this cannot be prior to Christ returning.
which had long been desolate… cannot be at the end of the millennium
Isaiah 51:3 For the LORD will comfort Zion, He will comfort all her waste places; He will make her wilderness like Eden, And her desert like the garden of the LORD; Joy and gladness will be found in it, Thanksgiving and the voice of melody.
Isaiah 35:1 The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them, And the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose;
Isaiah 35:2 It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice, Even with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, The excellence of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the LORD, The excellency of our God.
Isaiah 35:7 The parched ground shall become a pool, And the thirsty land springs of water; In the habitation of jackals, where each lay, There shall be grass with reeds and rushes.
Ezekiel 38:9 You will ascend, coming like a storm, covering the land like a cloud, you and all your troops and many peoples with you.”
coming like a storm … so many, that it seems like they could cover the land like storm clouds.
Ezekiel 38:10 ‘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:
The phrase “in that day” is associated with the time of Christ’s coming and not the end of the 1000. KJV. Same Hebrew as :10, 14, 18 and 19
God is speaking to the army not His people because:
Isaiah 2:2 Now it shall come to pass in the latter days That the mountain of the LORD’s house Shall be established on the top of the mountains, And shall be exalted above the hills; And all nations shall flow to it.
Isaiah 2:3 Many people shall come and say, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, To the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, And we shall walk in His paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
Isaiah 2:4 He shall judge between the nations, And rebuke many people; They shall beat their swords into plowshares, And their spears into pruning hooks; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, Neither shall they learn war anymore.
Isaiah 2:5 O house of Jacob, come and let us walk In the light of the LORD.
Ezekiel 38:11 You will say, ‘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’—
unwalled villages… indicates that the events will not occur PRIOR to Christ’s return.
Israel walled completely at the moment with Iron Dome. In fact, the Israelis are currently building an actual wall or security fence to protect them against Palestinian suicide bombers.
dwell safely… this could not be happening if it was referencing Armageddon.
Ezekiel 38:12 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.
to take plunder and to take booty… acquired livestock and goods… this shows that the people have time to accumulate some possessions that are worthy of being taken by the invading army.
again inhabited… this takes place after their return from slavery.
against the waste places… There will be no waste places by the end of the 1000 years.
Ezekiel 38:13 Sheba, Dedan, the merchants of Tarshish, and all their young lions 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?’ ” ‘
Sheba, Dedan… Saudi Arabia or an attack coming up through the Arabian sea; does seem likely if it was a ground attack coming from the North of Asia that they would go that far south before coming back up into Israel.
Tarshish… Spain or Asia Minor or Tyre, seems to indicate an assault coming through the Mediterranean Sea or from the west.
Ezekiel 38:14 “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?
The phrase “in that day” is associated with the time of Christ’s coming and not the end of the 1000. KJV. Same Hebrew words as :10, 14, 18 and 19
My people Israel … Israel, the people, are the target of Gog and Magog … so it cant be before the return of Christ either. Israel has not dwelled there since they went into captivity around 700 BC
Ezekiel 38:15 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 38:16 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 in you, O Gog, before their eyes.”
It will be in the latter days
like a cloud, to cover the land… massive army
hallowed… this word (qadash; sanctified as well) and holy (qodesh) are used many times in chapters 38-39 giving us one of the reasons God is doing this.
God will accomplish many things at once with this invasion.
Ezekiel 38:17 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 38:18 “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.
The phrase “in that day” is associated with the time of Christ’s coming and not the end of the 1000. KJV. Same Hebrew as :10, 14, 18 and 19
Ezekiel 38:19 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,
The phrase “in that day” is associated with the time of Christ’s coming and not the end of the 1000. KJV. Same Hebrew as :10, 14, 18 and 19
Ezekiel 38:20 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 38:21 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.
brother… literal or kindred blood, indicating that it is not from the four corners of the world.
Ezekiel 38:22 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.
GOD will do the fighting for His people as He once promised His people after the first exodus (Exodus 14:14).
Ezekiel 38:23 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.” ‘
sanctify… be seen as holy by everyone (See Ezekiel 38:16). Here God reveals more of His purpose.
Ezekiel 39:3 Then I will knock the bow out of your left hand, and cause the arrows to fall out of your right hand.
Ezekiel 39:4 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.
I will give you to birds of prey… This act is not unprecedented and should not be confused with the events of Revelation 19. This why it is often necessary to understand the timeline of events so that we do not mix-up similar occurrences. Throughout history, the fact that birds of prey eat fallen soldiers is well documented.
Revelation 19:17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, “Come and gather together for the supper of the great God,
Revelation 19:18 that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, both small and great.”
Revelation 19:19 And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army.
There is also a similar prophecy against the Egyptians
Ezekiel 32:4 Then I will leave you on the land; I will cast you out on the open fields, And cause to settle on you all the birds of the heavens. And with you I will fill the beasts of the whole earth.
Ezekiel 32:5 I will lay your flesh on the mountains, And fill the valleys with your carcass.
Point being that there is no reason to conflate the verses or be confused by there similarities.
Ezekiel 39:5 You shall fall on the open field; for I have spoken,” says the Lord GOD.
Ezekiel 39:6 “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.
More about what is going to happen to them, but the more important question is WHY:
Ezekiel 39:7 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.
Then… In the next moment in time they will know; if this were the end of the 1000 years they would already have known for a long time because this is what they will be learning and practicing:
Isaiah 11:9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD As the waters cover the sea.
Isaiah 30:20 And though the Lord gives you The bread of adversity and the water of affliction, Yet your teachers will not be moved into a corner anymore, But your eyes shall see your teachers.
Isaiah 30:21 Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” Whenever you turn to the right hand Or whenever you turn to the left.
Ezekiel 39:9 “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.
Ezekiel 39:10 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.
This once again gives credence the fact that this war will be low tech. I can only speculate as to why this would be the case.
Ezekiel 39:11 “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 39:12 For seven months the house of Israel will be burying them, in order to cleanse the land.
Ezekiel 39:13 Indeed 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 39:21 “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.
This is the recurring theme and why God will do all that is described here – He always has a good reason.
Ezekiel 39:22 So the house of Israel shall know that I am the LORD their God from that day forward.
This has to be a reference to the beginning of Christ’s reign on Earth — not the END of the 1000 years when everyone will truly know this.
Jeremiah 31:31 “Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah—
Jeremiah 31:32 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the LORD.
Jeremiah 31:33 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
Jeremiah 31:34 No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”
Recap and Summary of these Two Chapters by God
Ezekiel 39:23 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.
the Gentiles will know by then that “the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity” They will know and understand why this happened to Israel – meaning that the one and true God did it because the people sinned.
Christ will free Israel and Judah from captivity and escort them back to the land of Israel in a second exodus – this is a trigger for the beginning of the Millennium and THEN centuries of peace will ensue.
Ezekiel 39:24 According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions I have dealt with them, and hidden My face from them [Israel].” ‘
Ezekiel 39:25 “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—
No more will God stand idly by as people in the world take His name in vain and blaspheme all that it stands for.
Ezekiel 39:26 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.
Ezekiel 39:27 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,
Ezekiel 39:28 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.
Ezekiel 39:29 And 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.”
In Ezekiel 38-39 the defeat of Gog as results in the Israelites and Gentiles coming to know God.