As a long time student of eschatology (study of the end times), I along with many others, have been intrigued by the description of the invasion of Gog and Magog outlined in Ezekiel chapter 38. Many commentators locate this event near the rapture of the Church, either shortly before or after. A few have placed it concurrently with the rapture.
While this post is not intended to deal with all the differing views of the event of the rapture, we can definitely see where the events on the stage of geopolitics seem to be aligning themselves with the Biblical end time scenario. With anti-Israel sentiments we see so wide spread in the world, many commentators are taking a closer look at the 38th chapter of Ezekiel. Many seem to believe we are at the very doors of this event.
We may well be. With only a minimal amount of research, one can discover that the players listed by nation, are still in existence today. The names are changed, but the game remains the same. The passage lists a roll call of nations that invades Israel near the End Of Days, and are summarily destroyed by God. Many students of eschatology equate this with the infamous Battle of Armageddon. For reasons too many to list, I do not subscribe to this view. I see it as a separate event, one that evidently sets the stage for Armageddon.
Looking at the geopolitics of the Middle East at the time of this writing, one could easily conclude that the passage of Ezekiel 38 is right around the corner. Yet, the passage itself is somewhat problematic given the current situation. Let's examine them more closely:
After many days you will be visited. In the latter years you shall come into the land turned back from the sword, gathered out of many peoples, on the mountains of Israel, which have always been waste. (But he has been brought out of the peoples, and they shall dwell securely, all of them.)
(Eze 38:8)
At the outset of the Ezekiel 38 campaign we see Israel brought back from war and spared from destruction. Moreover it states that the land is dwelling securely. This is far from being the case at this time. Israel is bordered on all of it's landward sides by hostile enemies determined to erase Israel from existence. In Ezekiel 38, we see that all of the nations gathered against her are farther away, not necessarily bordering her. Also their motivation has always been somewhat perplexing to Bible students:
And you shall say, I will go up to the land of open spaces. I will go to those at ease, who dwell securely, all of them dwelling without walls, and there are no bars nor gates to them, in order to take a spoil, and to steal a prize; to turn your hand on the inhabited waste places, and on the people gathered out of the nations, who have gotten cattle and goods, who dwell in the midst of the land.
(Eze 38:11-12)This is quite literally a conquest of pillage. The invaders wish to take the land, the resources, and the riches of the land. Today, Israel's antagonists seek noting but the utter destruction of Israel. Could it be then that the Ezekiel 38 campaign speaks of a different conflict? Possibly even a later stage of the conflict?
Perhaps we find the answer in the Psalms. There is a long held, but perhaps not a widespread school of thought, that the Psalms are full of prophetic passages. This is borne out in the 22nd Psalm as regards the crucifixion of Jesus. It is referred to multiple times in the gospels.
It is the 83rd Psalm that might hold some clues to a conflict that might possibly precede Ezekiel 38. This short passage not only lists the players that we see holding a finger to the trigger today, but it also reflects their attitude toward Israel, as well as the current political climate. Let's take a look:
For lo, Your enemies roar; and those who hate You have lifted up their head. They take shrewd counsel against Your people, and plot against Your hidden ones. They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, so that the name Israel may be remembered no more. For with one heart they have plotted together; they have made a covenant against You--
(Psa 83:2-5)
It sounds as if the conspiracy to destroy Israel today, was reported upon thousands of years ago. The antagonists have made themselves the enemy of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They have been the enemy of His people. They seek her utter destruction. 'With one heart' they have conspired against Israel and any that dare to ally themselves to her. Let's read on:
the tents of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarites; Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the people of Tyre; and Assyria has joined with them; they have helped the sons of Lot. Selah.
(Psa 83:6-8)This roll call differs from that of Ezekiel 38 in that these nations all border Israel and always have. The names are given in their aboriginal form, but are still composed of the same geographical areas and ethnic groups today. To call all the indigenous people of the Middle East 'Arabs', makes as much sense as calling all Americans white. There are many many ethnic groups in the area, each having a long history and ethos. And many of them feel they have an axe to grind with Israel that goes back for thousands of years.
Let's take a closer look at the players. I have provided a breakdown of the nations listed with a small description. Included is the names rendered in Hebrew, pronunciation, the translation of the names with a small Bible synopsis. I have done this courtesy of a free Bible study program called e-sword which is available for free download. The Bible translation that I have been using is the Modern King James Version. Strongs Concordance numbers are also provided for further study. The bullet statements are mine:
Notes on Psalm 83
The Players:
1.) Edom H123 אדום אדם 'ĕdôm 'ĕdômed-ome', ed-ome' From H122; red (see Gen_25:25); Edom, the elder twin-brother of Jacob; hence the region (Idumaea) occuped by him: - Edom, Edomites, Idumea.
- Edom as a nation was founded by Esau, brother of Jacob. He married two Hittite women out of rebellion against his father Isaac. And Esau was forty years old when he took to wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite; who were a grief of spirit to Isaac and to Rebekah. (Gen 26:34-35)
- The Edomites became subjugated by Israel later in the conquest of Canaan. The Edomites were given the choice to convert to Judaism, leave, or die. The ones that converted became known as Idumeans, and to outsiders were viewed as Jewish. Israelites never considered them to be so.
- The area of Edom is encompassed by the modern nation of Jordan, along the eastern shore of the Dead Sea.
- Later, the Edomites were driven west into the Negev by the Nabateans. They became known as Idumeans
- The Herodians were Idumean, and were the ruling class in Israel at the time of Jesus. Interestingly, The mother of Caesar Nero was Herodian.
- The first born son of Abraham by Hagar, Sarah's Egyptian maidservant.
- Ishmael was rejected by God as the child of promise. This sparked conflict in the household of Abraham, so much so that he felt compelled to send Hagar and Ishmael away.
- The Ishmaelites are commonly regarded as the progenitors of what is collectively known as Arabians. They are probably more properly identified as Bedouins.
- After the fall of Sodom and Gomorrha, Lot and his two daughters were bereaved of their spouses. The daughters deceived Lot by getting him drunk on wine, then each in turn laid with him.
- Each had a son, one was named Moab, and became the founder of the nation of Moab. The other was Ammon, the father of the Ammonites.
- The territory of Moab now is in Modern day Jordan, along the eastern shores of the Dead Sea.
- Unsure, possibly Egypt or a portion of Egypt
- Chuck Missler seems to believe that Hagar moved back to Egypt after the account of her in Genesis
- See Edom
- See also Moab
- Half brother of Moab, became the father of the Ammonites.
- a)See also Edom
- Originally Greek invaders. After being repelled by Egypt, they settled along the southern coastal area of the Mediterranean sea. Israel never fully subdued the Philistines.
- The Latin rendered the area as Palestina, and after 70AD, renamed the entire province Palestina as an insult to the defeated Jews.
- Northern coastal area of the Mediterranean sea. Much is said in Scripture concerning Tyre and Sidon.
- In modern times this area is known as Lebanon, with it's capitol, Beirut. There has been considerable conflict in this area concerning Israel. Much of it fomented by terrorist interests in Syria and Iran.
- Assyria predates Babylon and is now encompassed in the areas of northern Iraq and Iran.
- Could refer to Syria, operating as a client state of Iran, as seems likely in today's geopolitics.
Do to them as to Midian, as to Sisera, as to Jabin at the torrent Kishon; who perished at Endor; they became as dung for the earth. Make their nobles like Oreb, and like Zeeb; yea, all their princes like Zebah, and like Zalmunna; who said, Let us take possession for ourselves of the houses of God. O my God, make them like a wheel; like the stubble before the wind. As the fire burns a forest, and as the flame sets the mountains on fire, so pursue them with Your tempest, and make them afraid with Your storm. Fill their faces with shame, that they may seek Your name, O Jehovah. Let them be ashamed and troubled forever; yea, let them be put to shame, and lost; so that men may know that Your name is JEHOVAH, that You alone are the Most High over all the earth.
(Psa 83:9-18)
The message seems clear. God has not, nor will He ever abandon His covenant people Israel. Although things may look bleak, never fear for He is with you, an ever present help in time of trouble. Taken together, the Psalm 83 and the Ezekiel 38 passages actually paint a pretty dismal picture for the Islamic world. After the restitution of Psalm 83, Ezekiel foretells an utter decimation of the confederation that would come later:
Therefore, son of man, prophesy against Gog and say, So says the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the chief ruler of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal. And I will turn you back, and lead you on. And I will bring you up from the recesses of the north, and I will bring you on the mountains of Israel. And I will strike your bow out of your left hand, and will cause your arrows to fall out of your right hand. You shall fall on the mountains of Israel, you and all your bands, and the people with you. I will give you for food to the birds of prey of every kind, and to the beasts of the field. You shall fall on the face of the field, for I have spoken, says the Lord Jehovah.
(Eze 39:1-5)
He concludes with a wonderful promise to Israel:
Therefore so says the Lord Jehovah: And I will return the captivity of Jacob, and will have mercy on the whole house of Israel, and will be jealous for My holy name; after they have borne their shame and all their sins by which they have sinned against Me, when they dwell securely in their land and no one terrifies; when I have brought them again from the peoples, and gathered them out of their enemies' lands, and am sanctified in them in the sight of many nations; then they shall know that I am Jehovah their God who exiled them among the nations. But I have gathered them to their own land, and have not left any of them there. Nor will I hide My face from them any more, for I have poured out My Spirit on the house of Israel, says the Lord Jehovah.
(Eze 39:25-29)
So, the point of all this is that there is no use to all this squabbling over land in Israel. God has already decided the outcome. To be on the wrong side of history in this era is to invite His terrible wrath. And you can be assured that it it is on it's way. Here's a little homework for you fellow Bereans: Look at all the 'natural' disasters that are occurring all over the world. Take note of the dates. Then get on Google and check those dates and places against political maneuvering to attempt to pressure Israel into some kind of land settlement. I can promise you it draws a very startling picture. The future of Israel is in God's hands and is completely off limits to the governments of men.
God told Abraham this back in the very beginning:
And I will bless those that bless you and curse the one who curses you. And in you shall all families of the earth be blessed.
(Gen 12:3)
Do you want to be blessed? I do. I support Israel in every way I can. I urge my government to do the same. To do otherwise is to lead a cursed life. There are a list of nations in the passages we just discussed who are about to discover just how bad it is to go against God.
Let us not be among them.
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