War of Gog and Magog

The War of Gog and Magog

“For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries,

                  and bring you into your own land.”       Ezekiel 36:24

 

 This is part 2 of 3 parts concerning present wars and wars to come.  This is a prophecy given in the time of Ezekiel and was fulfilled in 1948 when Israel became a nation once again.  Then in Ezekiel 38:11, we read about Israel being a peaceful people who live in cities that have no walls or gates.  This is how Israel is at this present time in history and we know that the surrounding nations want to destroy Israel.  It is also prophesied in Ezekiel 38 and 39 that those nations will gather to cause war, which in the Bible is called the Battle of God and Magog. Now let’s see what is beginning to fulfill this prophecy.

Let me make clear that this battle, or war, is not the same as the Battle of Armageddon, which we will discuss next week.  The Bible names nations at that time, but today we know them as Iran, Libya, Ethiopia, Egypt, Turkey and other Muslim nations which are known as Magog.  Islam will call this ‘jihad’ and consider it a religious war against Jews and Christians.  Many believe that Russia will lead this invasion.  Why Russia?  They have long wanted the water port and the oil wells on the Arabian Peninsula so they can once again become a ‘super power’.

Russia is busy arming several of these countries of which most, or all, hate Jews and Christians. So they will be involved in some way. How will the United States fit into this?  Seeing how they are reacting at this time to ISIS, it’s hard to tell.  However, looking at Matthew 24:16-20, Jesus said that when the Anti-Christ is in Jerusalem and in the temple telling that he is God, the people should get out of the city and into the mountains. How will they get there?  Revelation 12:14 may be the answer to the U.S. being involved. “But the woman was given two wings of a “great eagle” that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent.”  In earlier blogs I have explained why the U.S. is considered the eagle in Daniel 7:4. If this is correct, then it is possible that the U.S. helps the Israelis escape to the mountains.  It appears the mountain referred to Petra in Jordan, south of the Dead Sea.  It is amazing in that there is only one entrance to this historic city where the huge buildings were carved out of the rock.  It was once used as a place of safety and according to theologians will be used again as a place of safety in the end days.

On a day yet to come, this group will come together and descend on the mountains of Israel.  When they come in to Israel, we are told what will happen to them in Ezekiel 39:2-6; God will cause a great earthquake to kill them.  “You and your army and your allies will all die on the mountains. I will feed you to the vultures and wild animals. You will fall in the open fields, for I have spoken, says the Sovereign LORD.”  In verse 12 it says that it will take 7 months to bury the bodies and cleanse the land. Also, Israel will take all the weapons and arms that are left.  Ezekiel also talks about this being a 7-year period of clean-up.  The only 7-year period mentioned in the Bible is the 7-year Tribulation, so in all probability this Battle of Gog and Magog will take place between now and the beginning of Tribulation.  The Battle of Armageddon will take place at the end of the Tribulation.

            Somewhere in this timeframe, the Anti-Christ will put together a 7-year peace treaty between Israel and her Muslim neighbors.  This treaty will give Israel the right to build a temple beside the Mosque on the temple mount, and they will once again begin to offer live sacrifices.  Israel as a whole will accept the Anti-Christ until he desecrates the temple and names himself ‘God’. Then they will see the horrors of the Wrath of God.  [Read of this in Revelation]

            If we are still on this earth and if the Rapture has not come, there is no need to worry. At this point in time, 1 Thessalonians 1:10 tells us “to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.”   No one knows for a certainty when the Rapture will occur, but we know it will be before the wrath of God falls on this earth.  Don’t be left behind; ask God to forgive you of your sins and to live in your heart.  Then when the Rapture comes, you will go with Jesus to live in heaven forever more. 

            Trust God and believe his Word for it is always true. [Thessalonians 4:17-18] “Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.