38:1-13 The invasion by Russian of Israel.

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1 1 2 1/14/07 Ezk. 38 The prophet Ezekiel has illustrated both the physical restoration of the people to the land and the spiritual regeneration of the nation by the vision of the valley of dry bones, but they will not take place at the same time. Ezk. 37:1-14 He also illustrated by the two sticks becoming one, that the nation would ultimately be one nation, not two, dwelling with their Messiah in the Kingdom Age. Ezk. 37:15-28 Ezekiel now brings us to the invasion of Israel by Russia, with what seems to be an Islamic confederacy, to be destroyed by God. Ezk a. These two chapters are to be taken as an entire section but the sections are not in a chronological order, if this is not recognized they can be seen as contradicting to one another, in terms of their time-line, it is a very difficult passage. b. The messages vary in their description of events, the general revelation is given, then specific details of the same event are given but it is still the same account. * Like Genesis 1-2, they are not two different accounts of creation but the general, followed by the specific details. c. Therefore we have to think through the content of the message to place each in the right time-line by it s context, to see where it fits in the latter years and latter days, the last seven years, that completes the Time of the Gentiles. vs. 38:8b, 16c d. This invading battle has been placed at different periods of the last seven years of Tribulation, some have placed it at the beginning, others in the middle, still others at the end of the Great-Tribulation and others at the end of the Millennium. 1) None are problem free but some have more problems than others. 2) But if we see these two chapters as describing a single battle that takes place at a set point in time, followed by various details, resulting in other events, ending with the recognition of God by Israel and the nations at the end of the seven years, then it makes sense. e. I see this battle, the invasion of Israel by Russia taking place at the beginning of the tribulation, simultaneously with the Rapture or right after it, for the following reasons. 1) First, these two chapters take place during a time of peace and safety, this will take place when Israel makes a covenant of seven years with the anti-christ, the first 3 1/2 years are false peace, the 70 th Week. Dan. 9:27

2 3 4 2) Second, the Jews burn the weapons of war for fuel, for seven years, the period of Tribulation and the Great-Tribulation. Ezk. 39:9 3) Third, the acknowledgment of God by Israel as their God does not take place till the middle of the Tribulation when the anti-christ declares himself as God in the temple and persecutes her as she flees to Petra and at the very end with the ultimate re-gathering. 2Thess. 2:3-4, Rev. 12:13-17 e. The two chapters comprise seven messages, prefaced by the prophetic formula, Thus says the Lord God. Ezk. 38:3, 10, 14, 17; 39:1, 17, 25 38:1-13 The invasion by Russian of Israel. 38:1-2 The animosity of God against Russia. 1) The revelation is identified as being divine in origin by the prophetic formula. vs. 1 a) The phrase, Now the word of the LORD was the revelation of God. b) The same credibility was to be given to this revelation, like all preceding ones. 2) The revelation was said to of been made know to Ezekiel personally by the phrase came to me, saying. vs. 1 a) Ezekiel was commissioned as a prophet of God, the watchman of the house of Israel. Ezk. 3; 18; 33 b) The seven messages of this revelation probably fall under the same date that signaled the messages of restoration, on January 5, 585 B.C. Ezk. 33:21 * Ezekiel had been prophesying 6 1/2 years. Ezk. 1:2 3) The commission of the prophet was one of judgment. vs. 2a-b, f a) The title Son of man, like at all other times inferred him as human and frail. vs. 2a 1)) The title appears 93 times in the book. 2)) The title is also used for Daniel and Jesus used for Himself about 81 times in the Gospels. b) The prophet was to set his face against Gog, implying judgment under the wrath of God, over 14 times in the book. vs. 2b * The phrase is used throughout the book, against Jerusalem, the Ammonites, mount Seir. Ezk. 4:3, 7; 25:2; 35:2 c) This judgment is confirmed by the phrase, prophesy against him. vs. 2g 1)) The repetition is for emphasis.

3 5 6 2)) The message is to be clear. 4) The identification of the enemy. vs. 2c-f a) The term Gog Gowg is a title like Czar or Pharaoh and means mountain, to be on top, head or chief. vs. 2b b) The land of Magog is the geographical location. vs. 2c 1)) The location is of the descendents of Japheth, the grandson of Noah. Gen. 10:2, 1Chron. 1:5 2)) This is the mountain region between Cappadocia and Media, the area of the Scythians. 3)) Josephus in his Antiquities of the Jews, says, Magog founded those that from him were named Magogites, but who are by the Greeks called Scythians. (Book 1, chapter 6) 4)) The Scythians were barbarians, expert horsemen and fierce bloodthirsty killers, who used the skulls as mugs to drink the blood of those they killed, who lived in the area of modern day Russia and Islamic Central Asia, mentioned by Paul. Col. 3:11 c) The prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal further describe the geographical area under judgment. 1)) Rosh Gowg has been interpreted by many as a reference to the name Russia, Gesenius the 19 th century German professor, considered the father of modern Hebrew lexography concluded that Rosh refers undoubtedly to the Russians. 2)) Meshech Meshek to Moscow. 3)) Tubal Tuwbal Tobolsk. a)) The area and countries in eastern modern Turkey, southwest of Russia and northwest of Iran, related to the ancient Scythians. b)) Meshech and Tubal were the brothers of Magog, all three were sons of Jepheth, who originally settled the lands bordering the Mediterranean and Back sea. Gen. 10:2; 1Chron. 1:5 c)) Both traded with Tyre. Ezk. 27:13 38:3-9 The confederation of nations with Russia. 1) The headship of Russia brings her under judgment. vs. 3 a) The authority of the revelation continues to be affirmed as divine, And say, Thus says the Lord GOD. vs. 3a-b

4 7 8 1)) This is the first of seven messages. 2)) This is Yahweh speaking from heaven to earth. b) The message of one of war, Behold, I am against you. vs. 3c 1)) Yahweh is the One who is hostile, the formula is used for many. * Ezk. 5:8; 26:3; 28:22; 29:3; 35:3 2)) Yahweh s hostility is righteous and just, seeing He is the Holy One of Israel. * Russian is the only nation that has boasted about being Atheistic, they said there was no God, in contrast to others, poly-theistic and non-theistic. c) The national identity and location is repeated for emphasis, O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal. vs. 3d-g * The repetition magnifies the intense hostility towards Gog or Russia and affirms her identity is without mistake, Russia. 2) The mobilization of Russia is prophetic. vs. 4 a) The One in control of history is Yahweh. vs. 4a-c 1)) The personal pronoun I referees to God Himself, appearing 38 time in the two chapters. vs. 16c, 17c 2)) Prophecy is not to be understood as God forcing man to do certain things. against his will, for He would be unjust. b)) The purpose for their mobilization is to go to war. vs. 4d-I 1)) The Russians have a history of fighting by cavalry and still practice on horses, related to the Scythians who were equestrian tribes. (Herodotus IV. 46, 136) 2)) The army is of great size and armed with swords. 3) The unification of the nations is identified. vs. 5-7 a) Persia is first, the modern day Iran, radical Muslims who have vowed to drive the Jews into the sea. vs. 5a * The Persians of Esther s day also planned to destroy all the Jews by the man Haman. Est. 3:8 b) Ethiopia, the Sudan region is second. vs. 5b 1)) The Ethiopians were mighty warriors in the past. 2)) They have presently defeated radical Islam extremist in their country by have zero tolerance. (To The Point, Fri. 5, 2007) c) Libya is third, all equipped for war,. vs. 5c-d

5 9 10 * The confederation is for war emphatic! d) Gomer is fourth, the ancient Cimmerians, south of the black Sea, modern day eastern Germany and Poland, and all its troops. vs. 6a e) Togarmah is fifth, Bolkin states, Turkey, Yugoslavia, Armemia the region southeast of the Black Sea, many people with them. vs. 6b-c * The house of Togarmah from the far north and all its troops, Russia extends more than miles east and west, directly north of Israel. f) The warning to Israel by God through the watchman is given. vs. 7 * Warning and personal responsibility is stated. 4) The indication of time is stated to be the end times. vs. 8-9 a) The certainty is clear, After many days you will be visited. vs. 8a b) The particular period is also clear, In the latter years you will come vs. 8b 1)) The term later years is an Eschatological phrase indicating the last period of the Last Days. Gen. 49:1; Num. 24:14; Is. 2:2; Dan. 10:14 2)) The term can fit no other period of history. * Remember this will occur in the time of safety, under the covenant with the anti-christ. vs. 8e, 11 c) The time regards the return of the Jews. vs. 8b-d 1)) The geographical location is Israel, after their return to the land, on the mountains of Israel. vs. 8b-c 2)) The geographical collection is the nations, They were brought out of the nations which had long been desolate; vs. 8d a)) This confirms only the physical return to the land, the rebirth of the nation, but not the regeneration of the nation by the New Covenant, at this point. b)) The vision of dry bones make clear the two phases, physical restoration and spiritual regeneration. Ezk. 36 d) The time regards the time of peace, And now all of them dwell safely. vs. 8e 1)) This has been interpreted by some to indicate the Millennial Kingdom, therefore they place these two chapters along side with the events in the book of Revelation. Rev. 20: 7-10

6 )) Yet Gog and Magog in Revelation takes place at the end of the thousand years and involves the entire earth, when Satan is released from is prison to deceive the nations. Rev. 20:7-10 3)) The attack by Gog and Magog in Ezekiel declares to take place in the latter years identifying the beginning of the seven year Tribulation by the phrase now all of them dwell safely, not the Millennial, for this peace will be the result of Israel s convent with the Anti-Christ, a false peace. Dan. 9:27; 1Thess. 5:3; Rev. 6:2 4)) Gog and Magog in Ezekiel identifies one nation and leader from the region of the north, Russia, confederated with five other nations, in contrast to all the nations on the earth of Revelation. 5)) Also there must be seven years to burn the weapon of war captured, when Israel is in a time of peace, leaving seven years to burn the weapons. Ezk. 39:9 a)) If you put this event at the end of the Tribulation, what would be the need of fuel, since Jesus has made the earth a paradise? b)) If you put this event in the middle, of the Tribulation, you have the same result by three years overflowing into the Millennium. )c) The only logical and mathematically correct place is either simultaneous with the Rapture of the church or right after it, it can t even be before, for that would remove eminence. e) The time regards a sudden and overwhelming invasion of Israel. vs. 9 * But God will defend Israel! 38:10-13 The evil imaginations of the mind of Russia. 1) The future day is confirmed. vs. 10 a) The divine authority continues by the prophetic phrase, the second message vs. 10a b) The time is affirmed by the phrase On that day. vs. 10a-b * Appearing three times. Ezk. 38:10, 14; 39:11 c) The plan is self-serving by evil. vs. 10b-c * In fulfillment of God s word. 2) The very words of Russia are quoted. vs a) The strategy is to catch them by surprise and defenseless. vs. 11

7 13 14 b) The single purpose is greed and violence. vs. 12 1) The reference to in the midst of the land is that the land of Israel is the focus of God and prophecy. * The tremendous wealth of Israel, will be sought, one of them is the Dead Sea, rich beyond measure in minerals, precious metals, etc. 2) All directions with exception are in relation to the land of Israel. 3) The response of other nations is stated. vs. 13 a) Their identity is given. vs. 13a-d 1)) Sheba is the southwest corner of the Arabian peninsula. 2)) Dedan is the western coast of Arabia on the Red Sea. 3)) Tarshish is the area from Sardinia to Spain. 4)) The young lions, we don t know, but some have suggested England, the U.S. and Australia? b) Their indignant words are stated. vs. 13e-i 1)) Some think they are in objection to their evil plan. 2)) Others think they are in objection of not including them in their plan to gain wealth. 3)) This event of the invasion of Israel must take place right after Israel make their covenant with the Anticharts, safety and security being the context. 38:14-23 The destruction of Russia at her invasion of Israel. 38:14-16 The certainty of the attack of Russia on Israel. 1) The Attack will be to their own demise. vs a) Russia will be unaware of what is to happen. vs. 14 1)) The prophet is to address the same enemy, Russia, Gog. vs. 14a-c 2)) The event is when Russia s evil thoughts come upon her to attack Israel, this is the third message, indicative of the prophetic formula, Thus says the Lord GOD. 3)) On that day is the phrase is a confirmation of verse ten. vs. 14c 4)) The period of time is repeated, peaceful, When My people Israel dwell safely. vs. 14f-g * Once again, this will take place at the covenant of Israel with the Anti-Christ. Dan. 9:27

8 15 16 b) Russia will come with her confederated army. vs. 15 1) The geographical location is confirmed, Then you will come from your place out of the far north. vs. 15a * The far north. vs. 6b 2)) The confederation also confirmed, You and many peoples with you. vs. 15b * Persia, Ethiopia, Lidya, Gomer and the house of Togarmah. vs )) All of them riding on horses, a great company and a mighty army. vs. 15c-d * Remember the Scythians and Cossacks are the root of the Russians! 2) Russia will be used by God for His glory. vs. 16 a) By their invasion of Israel. vs. 16a-b 1)) The intent is evil by the phrase against My people. 2)) The overwhelming nature of the attack is marked by the phrase like a cloud, to cover the land. * Just as state earlier. vs. 9 b) By the prophetic fulfillment. vs. 16c-f 1)) The prophetic time-line is given, It will be in the latter days. vs. 16c * The phrase specifies days of the latter years. vs. 8a 2)) The prophetic guidance is God, That I will bring you against My land. vs. 16c c) The prophetic purpose is for the acknowledgment of God, So that the nations may know Me, when I am hallowed in you, O Gog, before their eyes. vs. 16d-g 1)) Remember this battle take place at the beginning of the seven years of Tribulation and Great- Tribulation. 2)) The nations at this point acknowledge the active intervention of God but not to bow to Him, that occurs at the Second Coming. 3)) At the beginning, the entire world is accepting and hailing the Anti-Christ, the Man of Sin, the Son of Perdition. 38:17-20 The certainty of Russia s defeat in Israel. 1) The wrath of God will be the source. vs

9 17 18 a) In view of the confirmation of His prophets. vs. 19 1)) This is the fourth message by the prophetic formula, Thus says, the Lord God. 2)) The men inspired by God, speaking forth God s word. 2Tim. 3:16-17, 2Pet. 1: )) The passages are general references to the destruction of the enemies of God s people. Deut. 30:7; Is. 26:20-21; Jer. 30:18-24; Joel 3; Zech. 14 b) In view of their trespass on the land of the Jews. vs. 18 1)) To destroy Israel. vs. 18a-b 2)) To be confronted by God s anger, as His fury will show in His face. vs. 18c-d * The authority is divine, Says the Lord GOD. Ezk. 38:18, 21; 39:5, 8, 10, 13, 20, 29 3)) The righteous wrath of Yahweh is based on His holiness being manifested on a confederation of atheistic and Muslim nations. 4)) This will be a power encounter of Jesus against Allah, much like Elijah and the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. 2) The manifestation of God s wrath. vs a) Evident by the evidence of His love for Israel, My jealousy and in the fire of My wrath I have spoken. vs. 19a * Jealousy is a strong emotion that compels one to action! b) Evident by the violent earthquake in Israel. vs. 19b c) Evident by the effect on all creation. vs. 20a-c d) Evident by the inability for anything to stand. vs. 20d-f * There is an innate hatred for the Jews that is growing throughout the world today, stronger than in the past and prophetically we know it is Satanic. Gen. 3:15 38:21-23 The certainty of being God s judgment on Russia in defense of Israel. 1) The instruments of judgment are declared. vs a) The sword, Every man s sword will be against his brother, friendly fire. vs. 21 * This took place with the Medianites and Philistines. Judges 7:22; 1Sam. 14:20; Hag. 2:2; Zech. 14:13

10 19 20 b) The use of disease, And I will bring him to judgment with pestilence. vs. 22a 1)) As God did to the Egyptians cattle, horses, etc. Ex. 9:3 2)) As God promised He would do this to Israel if they abandoned Him. Lev. 26:25 c) The use of violence, And bloodshed. vs. 22b 1)) In defense of Israel. 2)) Woe to him who builds a town with bloodshed, Who establishes a city by iniquity! Hab. 2:12 d) The use of torrential rain, resulting in flooding. vs. 22c-f 1)) Psalm 20 says, Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the LORD our God. Ps. 20:7 2)) The power of water is immense, as the Flood of Noah destroyed all the people of the world but eight in the family of Noah. e) The use of huge hail, Great hailstones. vs. 22g * Josh. 10:11; Rev. 11:19 f) The use of fire, and brimstone. vs. 22h-i 1)) Like Sodom and Gamorrah, Then the LORD rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the LORD out of the heavens. Gen. 19:24 2)) This is a picture of the eternal state of man in the Lake of Fire. Rev. 21:8 2) The outcome of God s wrath. vs. 23 a) Yahweh will be exalted and revered as God. vs. 23a 1)) The word magnify gadal means to become great or important, in view of His divine power against the armies. 2)) The word sanctify qadash means to be set apart, consecrated, with the idea of the only God. * Remember what God said, Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD: I do not do this for your sake, O house of Israel, but for My holy name s sake, which you have profaned among the nations wherever you went. Ezk. 36:22 b) Yahweh will be acknowledged by many nations. vs. 23b 1)) Notice carefully, many, not all, at the particular battle. 2)) The complete acknowledgment will be at the Second Coming!

11 c) Yahweh will be acknowledged as the covenant God. vs. 23c 1)) This again has to be the overarching end result at the Second Coming. 2)) The reason being is that at the beginning of the seven years when this battle takes place, the world is acknowledging the Anti-chirst as the false Messiah. Rev. 6: