I Am Against Thee, O Gog

Bobservations Column

Pastor Bob Lawrenz

As with the previous chapter, today’s opens with a clear statement: “I am against thee, O Gog.” It gives Gog, and his country Magog a clear warning. And when we read this line, it’s impossible to not know who is speak, and to whom these words are directed.

In Exodus 3, Moses is speaking with God, and asks God, who shall I say to has sent me to the Israelites when they ask, what is Thy name? God responded and said, “I AM THAT I AM. Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me to you.” (Genesis 3:13,14)

In a rough translation, it means “the self-existent One.” But here in Ezekiel 38 and 39, God speaks to Gog, the chief leader of Magog, and says, “I AM against thee, O Gog.” Quite literally, Jehovah God has drawn a line in the sand, and established the battle lines against a powerful world leader, and his country.

Gog is described as Chief Prince of Meshech (Moscow) and Tubal (Tubolsk), both cities of modern-day Russia. In verse 2 of this chapter, we are told that Gog’s attack shall come from the north parts, and if there is any doubt, please check a map, for Moscow is due north of Jerusalem, nearly on the same Meridian.

This 39th Chapter of Ezekiel is among the most graphic depictions of war and its aftermath, and from the “symptoms,” and clean-up operation described, we can conclude it is likely to be a nuclear war with wide-spread radiation.

With Israel being the focus of Bible prophecy, we can understand that this is the day-of-the-Lord, the great battle of Armageddon, in the Valley of Megiddo, Israel. The horrors of this chapter are unsettling, but the true Christian needs to be comforted in the knowledge that we shall not see it, nor experience it. Only the doubters, the nay-sayers, and the non-believers with go through these events. Yet God shall be glorified, and His name will be known; and the ones who know it and Him will become the Tribulation Saints, those that are saved through the Great Tribulation.

Believers that were on the Earth prior to the beginning of these events are those that have escaped the wrath of God, and find themselves suddenly in heaven with the Lord. We are saved from the Great Tribulation.

“For God hath not appointed us wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.” ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:9

Today's Audio Message:

Ezekiel 39:1-29 - "I Am Against Thee, O Gog"

Summary Notes:

In last week's study of the Gog and Magog invasion that the Bible predicts an end-time alliance between Russia, Iran and Turkey (along with other countries) that will come against Israel in the last days leading up to the return of Jesus. As they cover the land like a storm it will look like a sure-thing win for the invading forces- that is until God steps in!

From our study we know that God will not allow this invading force to prevail but will supernaturally wipe them out on the mountains of Israel in an event that will literally leave an unbelieving world gasping! It will, the Bible says, be an event that will be used by God to make His name known again to both Israel and the nations of the world.

In Ezekiel 39:21–29, the Lord states His plan for the nations and for the future of His ancient, beloved Israel:

"And I will set my glory among the heathen, and all the heathen shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid upon them."(v. 21).This word comes directly on the heels of God’s promised destruction of Israel’s enemy, Gog of the land of Magog. The Lord draws a figurative line in the sand and states clearly and concisely that He is serving notice on the nations of the world that they can expect to see judgment from His hand and His glory in their midst.

As one of the more pivotal End Times events, the invasion into Israel by Gog and its allies is important to understand as we study eschatology and look for signs of the latter days within our current, geopolitical climate. As we examined Ezekiel 38 last week, today we will begin our study in chapter 39 verse-by-verse, as we drill down to understand the major players, the key elements, and why God is orchestrating this significant event.

Future prophecy frequently has both a near and far fulfillment in view, and it is the Bible student’s responsibility to rightly divide or cut straight these prophecies.

These future events take place after the Church has been raptured (I Thessalonians 4:13-18)

And we are reminded of the great comfort and protection that God has for those who have put their faith in Him.  "Wherefore comfort one another with these words” (verse 18).

Here Paul is speaking of the rapture of the Church. The term “rapture” comes from the Greek word harpazō, meaning to seize, carry off by force, to snatch out or away.

The rapture of the church is the event in which God “snatches away” all believers from the earth in order to make way for His righteous judgment to be poured out on the earth during the tribulation period. The rapture is a glorious event that all true believers should be longing for.

There is coming a time when the world, all that we know, will be on the verge of total collapse. Jesus warned us in Matthew 24:22 that if those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, not this world, and not the people in it.

Ezekiel 39, though written more than a couple of millennials ago, is written for all of us today.  As we read the headlines or watch the news, we are seeing the birth pangs of the coming events foretold in scripture. The rise of the Gog of Magog alliance is a major sign of the end times and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

Russia – the predominant nation and her leader “Gog” – is directly to Israel’s far north. As we see today, God has already drawn the Russian forces, along with Turkey and Iran (the other two major players in this invasion), into Syria, which is directly on Israel’s northern border, seemingly ready to initiate this invasion, which is detailed in Ezekiel 38.

God will cause confusion among the invading horde: these invading forces will be devastated “upon the open field” in and around Israel’s mountains.

Many in the generally secular nation of Israel will recognize that God’s hand of protection – as well as the weapons God’s sovereignty had supplied to them to beat back this invading horde – was with them mightily in defeating the enemy.

God “will not let” Israel “pollute” His “holy Name any more” and many will at least acknowledge the God of their fathers. But they will not have received, up to this point, Yeshua as their Messiah. This is not to say that the nation’s overall state of affairs will change. Their government and laws will remain secular and progressive, but many in the community will at least recognize God’s provision and think of the LORD God differently than they had before.

This will be the first step to bringing God’s people back to Himself in His Son, with the final step, of course, being the Great Tribulation.

In addition, the heathen will certainly “know the [God of Israel] is the LORD” because, once again, Israel defeats her foes against all odds.

The Israelis, after turning back and destroying the invading armies, will take the spoil of what’s left from those who intended to spoil them (Ezekiel 38:12-13).

It is very interesting that the travelers or passengers will be stopped, blocked, or obstructed (different translations) from this area and not be able to pass over. This seems to be temporary due to the burial process, or it might be because of some kind of fallout to “cleanse the land” – it’s hard to tell...  seven months to bury the dead.

The Valley of Hamon-Gog - literally means “Valley of the multitudes of Gog, the place where all of Israel buries the five-sixths of the army of Gog and Magog that are struck down by God.

The name of the city SHALL BE Hamonah - The name of the city in the valley of Hamon-Gog near which Ezekiel 39:16 says that the forces of God will be defeated after their attack on Israel.

(Verses 17-20) The Lord not only caused this massive sacrifice, but will use the unclean birds of the air to cleanse the land.

Throughout Israel’s history, over and over again, the Lord uses the enemies of Israel to bring judgment on Israel, to get them to wake up, to repent and return to Him. Then the Lord destroys their enemies, because they are His enemies.

Why? “So the house of Israel shall know that I am the Lord their God from that day and forward.” (vs22)

Here, from Ezekiel 39:17-29, the prophecy jumps forward seven-plus years into the future to the Lord’s Second Coming.

Verse 25: “Now will I bring again the captivity of Jacob.” Jacob, or Israel, will not be in captivity during and immediately following the Gog/Magog invasion, but will be in captivity during the time of Jacob’s trouble (Jer. 30:7) in the Great Tribulation (the last three and one-half years of the seven-year Tribulation).

The Lord states: “Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord God” (Ezekiel 39:29). 

In Zechariah 12:9-14 - Scripture tells us that at the Lord’s Second Coming they will realize the One whom they have pierced, this is their Messiah, and they will mourn.

Joel 2 speaks of the invasion of Israel. Compare it to Ezekiel 38-39.

God’s prophetic Word is speaking to every generation. A word of warning, a call to repentance, and turning back to the Lord.

A Prophet Among the Captives

Bobservations' Column

Pastor Bob Lawrenz

The Prophet Ezekiel was a priest among the Jews. His book is divided into several major divisions, and minor divisions. Each major prophetic strain is identified by “The hand of the Lord was upon me…” Each minor division is identified by “And the word of the Lord came unto me…” These are clearly identified in the text of all 48 chapters.

The Prophet/Priest himself was among the captives carried away into Babylon, and his mission was to teach about the future: an Israel restored and reunified into one people and one nation again. In the future, there would be no division between the northern and southern Tribes, they would be one. This view was especially important to the generation of Jews born during the captivity, giving them hope while living in a land not-their-own.

Those prophets that came before spoke to either Judah, or to the northern tribes. Jeremiah is a perfect example, for he spoke to Judah, from the City of Jerusalem, while Ezekiel’s prophesies are addressed to the whole House of Israel from the captivity. God’s plan for them is restoration and a reuniting of the 12 Tribes under the banner of Jehovah God (Jehovah-nissi, (Exodus 17:8-15).

Last week we looked at Jesus’ Prophecy of the end times in Luke 21, and the signs to look for as each sign is identifiable in the world. With Matthew 24 and Mark 13, we are given an overview of the end times and the last days. “Nation shall be against Nation,” and “Kingdom against Kingdom,” with false prophets and false teachers among the people.

And oddly enough, this description is nearly identical the Ezekiel’s warnings too Israel during the captivity. Babylon had been raised up and invaded Israel, eventually carrying away the majority of its people; only a remnant was left behind in Israel. The false prophets of Israel were there in Babylon, teaching lies. And today, as then, Israel is surrounded by powerful enemies that desire to see an end to God’s land, and its people. We shall read the prophets words, and learn the names of the ancient lands and which are now nations. We will be reminded of King Solomon’s words, “There is nothing new under the sun.” The Holy Spirit is our true prophet.

“Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.” - John 15:15

Progressive intimacy:

John 13:13 - Servants; 15:15 - Friends; 20:17 - Brethren

Today's Audio Message:

Ezekiel 38:1-23 - "A Prophet Among the Captives"

Summary/Notes:

Today we will look at chapter 38 of Ezekiel, one of the most well-studied chapters amoung Bible prophecy students. Chapter 38-39 provide the climax to a great supernatural war that is coming, one that threatens the very existence of Israel as a nation. The Gog and Magog war will occur somewhere between Israel becoming a nation again and the return of Jesus. And, as we shall see, the players involved in this war are seriously moving into position in our day.

As we look at what Ezekiel saw for Israel and the nations in the last days, we've seen that God has some pretty big events in store! One of the main themes that has been mentioned through Ezekiel, (34-39), is the emphasis of God making His name known in the last days. He will make His name known to the nation of Israel and the nations of the world. Now that is pretty exciting! The Western nations especially live in a post-modern, post-Christian world. The thought of God is often mocked, ignored or not seen as relevant in this day. Yet God has events in store where He will, on a global stage, make His name known again. One such great event is before us in this study on Ezekiel 38 .

Who are the players? Ezekiel 38:1-6 - The coming alliance of countries, people, peoples and ethnicities, that are against Israel, God’s chosen people.

• Gog: Leader of Magog (Whoever is leading Magog at the time of the invasion. See: Ezekiel 38-39 such as 38:2, 38:14, 39:1)
• Magog: Southern Russia - (Genesis 10:2 - Magog was a son of Japheth, grandson of Noah. The descendants of Magog settled to the far north of Israel. They are later known as the Scythians. The Jewish Historian Josephus confirms this, “Magog founded Magogians, called Scythians by the Greeks."  The people of Magog are described as skilled warriors.)
• Rosh: Russia
• Meshech and Tubal: Present day Turkey
• Persia: Iran (Persia was renamed Iran in 1935)
• Ethiopia/Cush: Sudan/Ethiopia - (Historically located south of ancient Egypt, scholars believe it to be Ethiopia or Sudan today.)
• Put: Libya (possibly Somalia)
• Gomer: Central Turkey (The historian Josephus identified the Gomerites with the Galatians who lived in central Turkey.
• Togarmah: Eastern Turkey/Armenia

Russia, Turkey, Iran, Libya, Sudan, and Somalia will descent upon Israel from the north. Iran will come from the east. Libya from the southwest. And Sudan and Somalia will rush from the south. Israel will be entirely surround by her enemies.

Currently we are witnessing many of these main players coming together, strengthening military and financial alliances. The war in Syria has even drawn Russia and Iran close to the border Israel, in a joint effort to control the Middle East. Turkey, who is supposed to be aligned with the West, has deepening ties with Russia, and moving away from a secular society to an Islamic one.

We know that the other countries mentioned above are not friends of Israel today. They are hotbeds of Islamic fundamentalism and strongly anti-Israel.

The future invasion of a coalition of nations against Israel are written in the prophetic books of scripture. Even Jesus warned us of the coming signs of the end before His return. While the nations decide to invade Israel, Israel will be under the protection of God. He has promised His divine intervention, with devastating results for Israel’s enemies. God remains true to His Word. He is faithful to His promises.

"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.

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;

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.

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.

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.

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."  - Ezekiel 38:17-23

Of Course, all of this is part of God's bigger plan for Israel. The battle in Ezekiel 38-39 is used by God to bring Israel back to Him (Ezekiel 39:21-29).

 

Prophecy Update: Israel In A Parable

Bobservations' Column

Pastor Bob Lawrenz

Jesus’ teachings are filled with parables. In and of themselves, they are a fulfillment of prophecy. In Psalm 78:2, we learn why Jesus taught in parables, for Israel had gone astray, rejecting not only God’s prophets, but the light of Word of God itself! The culture of Egyptian society exposed them to other gods and turned them from Him during their 400-year captivity there. The Israelites brought that with them coming out of Egypt. And like Eve in the Garden, Israel allowed the words of an earthly being to plant a seed of doubt in her heart.

After their later captivity in Babylon for 70 years, the 400 years of God’s silence came on the heels of The Prophet Malachi’s words from God. In returning from Babylon, it was not a mass exodus as in the days of Moses. Many chose to remain in Babylon, for life was good there in Babylon’s heydays, but for those that did chose to return to Israel, their homeland, Babylonia influence still came with them. Other gods, false gods, and idol worship had subtle influences on the Israelites. It is noteworthy that 400 years comes up again, until we realize that the number "4" is the number of Judgement in scriptures.

But it was before Babylon when Isaiah wrote his prophecy in chapter 6:6, 10, “…Go, and tell this people, ‘Hear ye indeed, but understand not; see ye indeed, but perceive not.’” Plain language was lost on them. God had shut their ears to God and blinded them from seeing things as God saw them. God was silent to them for those 400 years.

It is the same problem today. God’s Word has again been rejected, and even made illegal for public display in some countries. As our world falls apart all around us, it is because man has once again believed the lies originally told to Eve, that we “shall be as Gods, knowing good and evil.”

The serpent’s words echo in our halls of justice. While the people know good and they know evil, they do not cling to the good and eschew the evil. Both are a means to the people’s end.

Having just finished Ephesians 6, let Paul’s words resound in our hearts, for “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against… spiritual wickedness in high places.”

“I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old.” Psalm 78:2

Today's Audio Message:

Luke 21:5-38 - "Israel in a Parable"

Summary/Notes:

This morning we are looking at what is really an introductory to the rest of this very important chapter in Luke 21. Starting in verse 5, we come to a section of Scripture that runs nearly to the end of the chapter, all the way to verse 36, in which our Lord speaks concerning His return, His Second Coming, His coming to judge and to reign upon the earth. This is our Lord's own sermon on His Second Coming.

This morning’s reading in Matthew 13:13-17 really captures the state of the Jews. Wherever Jesus went, great multitudes followed Him. They had heard of His claims, His miracles and like anything notable or unusual, they wanted to see Him. Were they looking for their Messiah? No, just there to see the show.

In Matthew 13, Jesus spoke to them in parables, letting them wonder about the meaning, and before interpreting the parable, one of His disciples asked Him why He spoke in parables. His answer is revealing. He answered, “Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.” In other words, those who truly desire to know God’s truth will receive it in abundance, because they belong to Him. Being a Jew didn’t mean they naturally loved God, and followed Him, in fact, just the opposite. They held to a corrupt religious system, their hearts were far from God, they didn’t know His Word, and what they did know they rejected or distorted. Jesus said, “They are dull of hearing.” They don’t really want to know. They weren't waiting for the Messiah to come, He was present with them and they didn’t know Him.

The same is true of many who self-identify as Christians, but in reality they are Christians in name only. Christ has no bearing in their lives. They may attend church, show up at potlucks, but they are completely ignorant of God’s Word, the gospel of salvation, and the Savior who laid down His life to redeem them. Like the Pharisees, many are “religious” in outward appearance only, but their hearts are far from God. Just like the Jews, many see the gospel and hear the gospel, but it never reaches their hearts, nor has any place in their lives. Many simply are not looking for Him, because they have no desire to know God’s truth, His Son, and the plan He has for their lives.

They weren’t looking for Him at His first coming, and they are not looking for Him at His second coming.

Beginning In Luke 21:5, we find Jesus, the Messiah, at the temple in Jerusalem, and a discussion begins with his disciples. The people beheld the beauty and the marvel of this glorious temple. They were in love with the idea of the temple, yet Jesus foretells of a time when this building, so beautiful and so strong would be left in ruins.

Let’s set the scene a little bit to put this in context. Again, it’s Passion Week. This is the last week of our Lord's life before His crucifixion, followed by His resurrection, forty days of teaching and appearing to His own, and followed by His ascension.

Jesus is in the temple which He had cleansed just the day before, throwing out the buyers and the sellers, the corrupt money changers and those who were extorting money at exorbitant prices out of people by disqualifying the sacrifices they brought and making them buy sacrifices from them. There is no question that they had defiled the temple, and the whole system was corrupt.

The disciples, for the most part, affirmed Jesus as Messiah, they believed in Him, followed Him, were taught by Him. In fact, Jesus had exposed the corruption of the Jewish religious system, rebuked the Sadducees, Pharisees, the scribes and religious leaders. They knew exactly what Jesus thought of their religion and their works. Jesus had just finished rebuking the leaders of Israel in which He pronounced repeated judgment and damnation and curses upon their heads. The temple would be destroyed, the people judged, the nation would bear the judgement, and this would mean the destruction of the temple itself.

This begins what has come to be known as Christ’s Olivet discourse, prophesying of the things to come, beginning with the imminent destruction of the temple, then the worldwide dispersion of the Jews (vs.24), the course of the ensuing age, climaxed by the second coming of Christ (vs. 27). This discourse is also reported in Matthew 24 and 25, Mark 13:1-17 and of course Luke 21:5-36. In order to really see it in its entirety, we must carefully study all three accounts. Jesus’ teaching in this discourse is in reference to Israel and not the Church. Christ was speaking of God’s future program for Israel.

Like Matthew 24, Luke chapter 21 carries a sobering message about the signs of future events before Jesus second coming, otherwise known as the end times. The end times began at Pentecost, some 2,000 years ago, with the escalation of the signs of the end given in scripture, and all of the fulfilled biblical prophecies, we can be sure that we are living in the last days. 

His somber words speak of a time of trouble that is coming, the like of which has never been seen before in all human history. It will be a time of incredible distress and great peril to human life. A time of staggering atrocities, bloodshed and horror such as mankind has never seen before.

Luke 21: 11 lists some of the natural signs that will occur before the Lord’s second coming: there would be an increase in natural disasters, earthquakes, famines, and pestilences in various places and great distress. Iniquity will abound and the love of many will wax cold (Matthew 24). There would be persecution, rejection and many false leaders. The hatred of God, His Word and Christians will grow exponentially.

Jesus warned His disciples that the age between then and His second coming will be marked by great religious deception. Many will be deceived in the last days by false leaders, teachers, prophets and messiahs. Add to that the many false leaders on the world stage, social, political, and global. Those who disregard the Word of God will no doubt fall in with those who will lead them into death and destruction.

The signs which the unbelieving world either distorts or denies, are the same signs that the saints will heed. The signs which bring terror and fear to the unbeliever, will bring courage and hope to the saint, Thus, Jesus instructs believers to STAND UP and LOOK UP, because these signs precede the return of the Lord Jesus, and His return in great power and glory. “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh” (vs 28).

Is Jesus coming back? No question about it! Will all that He said here be fulfilled? Certainly! Will these events happen in a short period of time? Absolutely! These things are surer than the continuation of heaven and earth which, by the way, Jesus says will not continue but will pass away. God's Word is eternal, and it will stand forever!