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Ezekiel 38 and Babylon

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EZEKIEL 38 AND BABYLON

All recent posts including:  Revelation Commentary; Eschatology of Jesus; Life and Times of the Antichrist; Daniel 12; The Beast; and Millennium can be found at the web address below.

http://freedomfromdelusion.blogspot.com/

If you would prefer to have these articles in a Kindle edition including:  Revelation Commentary; Eschatology of Jesus; and Life and Times of the Antichrist.  It is available for minimal cost at the web address below.

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EZEKIEL 38 AND BABYLON

Ezekiel 38:1-8 KJV

And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,  (2)  Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him,  (3)  And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal:  (4)  And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords:  (5)  Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet:  (6)  Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee.  (7)  Be thou prepared, and prepare for thyself, thou, and all thy company that are assembled unto thee, and be thou a guard unto them.  (8)  After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them.

 

This will be an attempt to diagnose and interpret Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39.  There is no massive agreement as to the timing of the events outlined here.  It could be said that most historical expositors consider it to be an expanded outline of the end of Revelation Gog-Magog sudden destruction.  Many recent expositors consider it to be either a war prior to the 7th week of Daniel tribulation period or a developed description of the war of Armageddon.  However, a recent commentator named Chris White thinks it is only the Revelation event.

1, 2, 3:  Chapter 38 begins with the combat instigators named as Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, along with Persia, Ethiopia, Libya, Gomer, Togarmah, and many other people.  I will make no effort to join the crowd and attempt to identify these perpetrators.  Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya are places that can be currently understood, but the others require much research and historical study, and still, no agreeable results have been produced.

Bob Utley Commentary:  “Magog, Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal are probably located in modern Turkey (i.e., Asia Minor) or between Cappadocia and Media.”  “All of these specific leaders are from the line of Japheth. Now at the end, all of the descendants of Noah attack the lines of Seth and Shem .”

Believers Bible Commentary:  Gog is said to be the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, which some have taken to be the ancient names from which come Russia, Moscow, and Tobolsk. This is a fascinating possibility, but by no means proven.

Chuck Smith CommentarySo now the prophecy turns and is directed towards Magog, which is the ancient name for those people who lived in the area of the Caucasus and the mountains north of the Caucasus, which is the present day area of Russia, along with Meshech and Tubal, which people were the ancient Scythians that inhabited the area known as Russia today.

Along with Persia, which, of course, Russia, part of Russia is a part of the ancient Persia along with Iraq and Iran. Ethiopia and Libya, along with Gomer, which is Germany, but mainly eastern Germany and Poland. Along with Togarmah, which are your Balkan States: Turkey, and Yugoslavia, Romania.

Ezekiel 38:4  And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth It would appear that the warmongers are not interested in an attack but they are being forced by God.  Verse 8 indicates the Gog invasion will occur “in the latter years.”  Other versions translate as:  in future years; in the distant future; in the latter years; in the latter end of years; the after years; the end of years.  All the translation versions still do not give any definite time frame for the event, which is one reason there are several different viewpoints. 

8:  There are other hints in 38:8 such as:  a land brought back from the sword; gathered out of many people; a land which has been always a waste; brought forth out of the nations; and all dwells safely.  The NET version is below.

After many days you will be summoned; in the latter years you will come to a land restored from the ravages of war, with many peoples gathered on the mountains of Israel that had long been in ruins. Its people were brought out from the peoples, and all of them will be living securely.   (Ezekiel 38:8 NET)

Some would argue that Israel was a waste and had long been in ruins when it was assigned as the nation of Israel in 1948 which instigated many wars with the surrounding Arabs for the past 60 or 70 years.  Israel was originally inhabited by people from several European countries.  The NIV translates as “gathered from many nations.”  Whether the original inhabitants came from many nations or only a few countries is not a significant arguing point.  However, the phrase, “living securely” is significant.  There is no possible way someone can use “living securely” as a characteristic of today’s Israel or Jerusalem.  Secure living is just not a way of life for today’s Israel, but it could be a characteristic of Israel under the rule of the antichrist just prior to the judgments of God and the destruction of mystery, Babylon by the antichrist and his kings.

Ezekiel 38:9-12 KJV

Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee.  (10)  Thus saith the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought:  (11)  And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates,  (12)  To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land.

Verse 9 sounds a lot like the Revelation version of the invasion.  Ezekiel says the army comes like a cloud to cover the land and Revelation 20:8 says their number is as the sand of the sea.  That is a considerable similarity, although not necessarily a distinctive difference.

And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.   (Revelation 20:8-9 KJV)

11:  The unwalled villages of verse 11 has the same issue as living securely of verse 8.  The residences of Israel and Jerusalem do not live in unwalled villages.  The inhabitants are also at rest, dwelling safely without walls, bars, or gates.  The mention of cattle may be symbolic but several of the Old Testament prophecies of millennial life mention cattle and other farm animals.  It is doubtful that the millennium will be one of high technology but rather an agricultural system.

The commentary of Bob Utley states, “John uses this scenario in Revelation 20 for a rebellion at the close of “the golden age” (i.e., millennium). Does YHWH need to be vindicated in history beyond the Second Coming of Christ? My study of the genre of prophecy and apocalyptic and my NT understanding tends to relegate this type of OT passage to symbolism and metaphor of God’s total defeat of evil, accomplished at the cross, the empty tomb, and the second coming!

Ezekiel 38:13-16 KJV 

Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil?  (14)  Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say unto Gog, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In that day when my people of Israel dwelleth safely, shalt thou not know it?  (15)  And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army:  (16)  And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes.

13:  Sheba and Deda were brothers, sons of Raamah who was the son of Cush.  They are connected to Arabia and the trade routes.  There is some discussion concerning the location of Tarshish but it is generally considered the name of a Phoenician port in southern Spain.

And the sons of Cush; Seba, and Havilah, and Sabtah, and Raamah, and Sabtecha: and the sons of Raamah; Sheba, and Dedan.  (Genesis 10:7 KJV)

Some modern commentators state that Tarshish is England and the young lions are the USA, Canada, and Australia.  Expanding the participants to major world countries appears to give greater credence to a premillennial Gog-Magog event.

These areas or countries ask Gog-Magog if they are coming to plunder and ransack.  The context makes the areas appear local.  They would have a difficult job plundering silver, gold, and cattle if this occurred in the next few years, but there would likely not be a problem toward the end of the millennium.

14:  God asks if Gog will not know the day that Israel dwells safely, which would not be the current timeframe. 

15:  It is generally assumed the north parts are actually north of Israel.  The favorite candidates of modern expositors are Russia, Turkey, Germany, and perhaps others.  The invasion force will be an extremely large army (many people, great company).  The horses may be symbolic, if not, they could be necessary if this event occurs at the end of the millennium when horses may be the only mode of military transportation.

16:  Gog-Magog will come as a cloud in the last days.  This will cause the heathen (should be translated as nations or possibly Gentiles) to know God, in some manner that is not obvious.

Ezekiel 38:18-20 KJV

And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, that my fury shall come up in my face.  (19)  For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel;  (20)  So that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground.

18:  The Gog invasion will initiate the fury of God culminating in His wrath.

19-20:  This wrath will come in the form of an great earthquake in the area of Israel which will shake all people, fish, fowls, and beasts on the face of the earth.  All mountains, high places, and walls will fall to the ground or be leveled.

The key word in the phrase “steep places” (or pathways) means a secret, inaccessible hiding place, meaning  there will be no hiding places from the personal presence of God and no place for humans to seek refuge.

Ezekiel 38:21-23 KJV

And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord GOD: every man’s sword shall be against his brother.  (22)  And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone.  (23)  Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD.

21:  God will call for the sword to be used against the Gog-Magog invasion when they reach the mountains of God, which are probably the mountains of Israel around Jerusalem.  The word “sword” is most likely symbolic of military weapons.  Satan could induce the soldiers to craft sword-type weapons if the attack occurs at the end of the millennium.   “Every man’s sword shall be against his brother” is an interesting phrase describing an invading army destroying itself, although it has occurred before in scripture (Judges 7:22).

…..and the LORD set every man’s sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host: and the host fled to…..   (Judges 7:22 KJV)

22:  The Lord will plead with Gog as He did with the Egyptians prior to the exodus.  There will be pestilence (plagues), blood, a torrential rain (possibly blood?), hailstones (meteorites?), fire, and brimstone (sulfur).  This list of wraths appears very similar to the Revelation trumpet and bowl judgments and it could be the invasion of Jerusalem (mystery, Babylon) by the antichrist and some (or all) of his ten kings.

23:  As discussed in verse 16 above, these acts will magnify the glory of God to the citizens of many nations who will know they were initiated by the Lord against the invasion of the land of Israel.

VARIOUS VIEWS

There are several modern expositors claiming the Gog-Magog invasion will take place prior to the 70th week of Daniel.  Many of the older generation and historical commentators opt for the Revelation 20 view.  There are three writers (maybe more) I have come across who claim the two chapters of Ezekiel (38 and 39) prophesying of the Gog invasion represent two distinct incursions:  One is prior to the 70th week of Daniel; and the other is at the end of the millennium (Revelation 20).

 

CONCLUSION

After concluding this in-depth investigation of Ezekiel 38, I have developed a solution that had never occurred to me prior to the study.  First, let me give an analysis of the information or data that was discovered.

The words: horses, bucklers, shields, and swords are apparently symbolic terms designating weapons of war.  The use of modern weapon terminology would be unintelligible to anyone until the twentieth century.

“In the latter years” could apply to a pre-70th week of Daniel scenario, an Armageddon situation, or the end of the millennium Revelation 20 application.  Israel and Jerusalem can definitely be considered as restored from the ravages of war and long been in ruins.  However, living securely without wall, bars, or gates would not apply to modern times, although it could refer to the end of the millennium.

The possible solution that came to me is the time period almost at the end of the 70th week of Daniel just prior to the destruction of mystery, Babylon the Great or the city of Jerusalem.  My justification for labeling Jerusalem as mystery, Babylon can be found in the posts, Mystery Babylon Parts 1, 2, &3, and in the 12 Revelation Commentary posts. 

The antichrist (beast) will feign being the Jewish messiah, rebuild the temple (or a reasonable facsimile), declare himself as ‘god’, and along with some or all of his 10 patsy kings will attempt to destroy Jerusalem which is mystery, Babylon.

Mystery, Babylon will have much silver, gold, and other valuables taken from other countries by the antichrist (Egypt is listed in Daniel) and through offerings after the daily sacrifices have been ended.  Israel and Jerusalem will be protected by the antichrist’s troops and there will be no local military threat.  Therefore, unwalled villages without bars or gates with inhabitants living securely will be a reality.  This could also be considered as part of “the latter years”

There are several plagues or judgments issued by God when the Lord will plead with Gog including:  A great earthquake, pestilence, blood, torrential rain, hailstones, fire, and brimstone.  All these judgments could be caused by the majority of the trumpet and bowl wraths of God.

The 1st trumpet consists of hail and fire mingled with blood.

The 1st bowl is grievous sores.

The 2nd bowl changes the sea into blood.

The 3rd bowl changes fresh water into blood.

The 4th bowl causes the sun to scorch the planet.

The 5th bowl is darkness and pain.

The 6th seal releases the kings of the easts

 



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    Total 4 comments
    • messengermark

      Ephraim
      Something to ponder on, think about Alaska who used to own it the USA is what is refered to a land of no walls or gates. Where did a lot of the Israelites scatter to, over the caucuses mountains migrating here, just something to think about

      • Ephraim

        (14) Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say unto Gog, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In that day when my people of Israel dwelleth safely, shalt thou not know it? (15) And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army:

        Mr. messengermark,
        Absolutely no offense to you and your ideas and concepts. At one time I had a similar attitude about agreeing with every semi-sensible theory without actually checking them for veracity. And by checking, I mean, a serious, line-by-line study.

        The current number one theory is that the USA is mystery, Babylon and I actually kind of agree with this theory for a while. And, yes, I have thought about it for a long time and I now reject it. However, an in-depth analysis will surely display what I have shown in my articles. Israel is the center of all prophecy in the Old Testament and also the New Testament. Ezekiel mentions Israel, the mountains of Israel, and the city of Israel. I am not a Jew-butt-kissing dispensationalist and I don’t hate them either. I feel they are responsible for the majority of the problems of today’s world and other then a remnant along with others who do not realize they are Israelites, they will eventually be annihilated by God.

        One cannot interpret Bible prophecy by CNN news or events of the world of today. The Bible has to be read and let it say what is written in it, not by trying to make it say what one already thinks. Some have a theory of what the Bible could mean and then force the Bible to say that even if they have to twist the scripture or leave out the parts that don’t agree. If someone doesn’t go behind them and actually check the scriptures for verification but only read their post then they have won the battle. I have included all the scripture as originally written with nothing left out. All one has to do is just read it.

    • messengermark

      Ephriam
      I wasnt trying to insult you I’m aware of 2 peter 1:20-21, I’m also a chapter by chapter and verse by verse reader Israel, Jerusalem is mystery babylon. ” In that day when my people of Israel dwelleth safely thou shalt know it” where is it the safest of all country’s USA but not without its faults what country has no walls or gates USA other than the mexican border.no other country has in God we trust on their money except USA this country has been blessed and that’s no accident. I respect your comments and wasn’t trying to insult or harm

      • Ephraim

        My apologies, however, I did not consider your comment as an insult. I may have inadvertently insulted you but it was not on purpose. I thought you may not have read the entire post. I seem to get a lot of comments from people accusing me of things that I did not write or even think about. It seems that some just scan the post, find something unintended that aggravates them, and then start calling names, or making accusations that don’t exist.

        I try not to be insulted anymore. I attempt to understand that most people do not know what the Bible actually says, or they try to make it say something it doesn’t, or they have listened to or memorized some preacher’s or teacher’s wrong doctine and go about claiming that particular teaching is the Word of God when it may not even be close. I am not accusing you of any of these things – it is just difficult to answer someone’s question when unaware of their background or scriptural knowledge.

        Again, my apologies. I suppose I shouldn’t try to answer comments, it always ends up causing confusion, when I am only attempting to shine light on confusion.

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