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6) Ezekiel 38-39
What do Ezekiel 38, Daniel and Revelation have in common?
In the sixth century BC Daniel, rising to prominence, lived through the years of the Babylonian Captivity and Ezekiel, an Israeli Priest, was a captive of Babylon. Both were given prophecies related to the destiny of the nation of Israel. Daniel’s prophecy was concerned with the rise of the nations that would follow the prophesied fall of Babylon, and, Ezekiel’s was specifically related to the nation of Israel and its destiny. Both prophecies culminate in the “time of the end” when “many shall run to and fro” and “knowledge shall be increased” (Daniel 12:4) and “a time of trouble such as never was” (Dan 12:2) and in “the latter years when Israel is brought back from the sword and gathered out of many nations and dwell on the mountains of Israel”. (Ezek 38:8)
It is at that time a confederacy of nations from the north would arise to invade Israel and there it would be destroyed on the mountains of Israel.
Daniel prophesied of the emergence of the nations that would follow the Babylonian Empire: Medo-Persia, Greece and then the iron power of Rome. These would be followed by the drying up of the Euphrates, which was symbolically the Ottoman Empire. Ezekiel’s prophecy goes beyond the fall of the Roman Empire and the Ottoman Empire. We see migration today from where there are wars, but there has been the constant movement of tribes throughout the world for thousands of years as a result of conflicts, popuation growth, tribal wars and the search for land. Ezekiel’s prophecy specifically relates to the developments in northern Europe that followed the decline of the Roman Empire after 400AD.
The nations of Ezekiel 38
Ezekiel 38 names nations which were unknown in the time in which the prophet was writing.
The word of Yahweh came to me saying, Son of man set your face toward Gog of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal and prophesy against him. (Ezek 38:2) (NASB)
There has been much controversy concerning the nations referred to in these opening verses, but the prophecy clearly gives the time period. One Bible student in 1848 declared that “no portion of scripture has been more mangled”. A primary source that clarifies the text in the Hebrew comes from the Jews who were appointed by Ptolemy Philadelphus, King of Egypt to translate the OT into Greek. The original Hebrew was rendered as “Gogue, Prince of Ros, Mesoch and Thobal, with Ros being a proper name and the phrase is “prince of Ros” and not “chief prince” as in the KJV.
In the sixth century BC these nations did not exist but the prophecy requires these nations to be established by the time designated and appointed by the prophecy. Daniel calls it the “time of the end” (Dan11:40) and Ezekiel calls it the “latter years” and when Israel is “dwelling safely on the mountains”. (Ezel 38:11) (Compare Ezekiel 36: 1,4,6,8-9)
Analysis of verses 1-6 of Ezekiel 38
Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,
Son of man, set your face toward Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him, and say, Thus says the Lord Yahweh: Behold, I am against you, Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal: and I will turn you around, and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, with all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed in full armor, a great company with buckler and shield, all of them handling swords;
Persia, Cush, and Put with them, all of them with shield and helmet; Gomer, and all his hordes; the house of Togarmah in the uttermost parts of the north, and all his hordes; even many peoples with you. (Ezekiel 38:1-6 [WEB])
Gog
This is a puzzling name as it is not to be found in Hebrew. It is thus then a Gentile word and is a name, an appellation. In the context it is representing a proper noun
The land of Magog
Magogue and Gomer are the names of two sons of Japheth. Josephus records, by the repute of the Jews, that these two sons retained their names and migrated from the mountains of Taurus to Asia and the River Tanais (ie Don) and from there entered Europe and migrated as far as the Straits of Gibralter and into uninhabited lands. Magog then refers to the vast land mass of northern Europe in which the tribes descending from these two men settled. We are looking at a time period of almost two thousand years in which the tribes grew in number and size.
Gomer
Retaining his name Gomer founded the Gomari,whom the Greeks called Galatae, and, Magog founded the Magogae, whom the Greeks callrd Scythae. The scythians were also called Getae or Gothi, who subdued the Roman Empire after 400AD and settled from Hungary to the Rivers Don and Danube, the region we recognise as Germanic, the region of Germany. Gomer also includes France which was overrun by the Franks and their name of Gaul was superseded by that of France.
Ros
Ros is the most ancient name for Russia in History/. The Danish dictionary gives Russia as “Rusland” the Greeks earliest historians stated that the Ros are a Scythian nation bordering on the Taurus and derived their name from a valiant man, who saved them from their tyrants.
Meshech (Mesoch)
The ancient names of Russian cities, Mosc or Musc are discernable in Moscwa or Moscow.
Tubal
In Tobl, Tubl or Thobel can be discerned the River Tobol and the city of Tobolium or Tobolski, which is the region of Siberia.
We go into more detail Why Ezekiel 38 refers to the nation Rosh /Ros
A defence of why Rosh is Russia
The other nations of the confederacy (Ezekiel 38:5-6)
With the force of Gog are also the following nations:
Persia: Modern day Iran, Ethiopia (Cush and Put WEB), and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet: Gomer is France and Germany, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah, a son of Gomer, who did not go west as the other descendants of Gomer but spread themselves over the north quarters, north of Israel. It is Russian and independent Tartary that supplied millions of horses for the Turcoman cavalry and is most likely the eastern areas of Russia (Georgia and north of Turkey). and all his bands: and many people with thee. This is supported in Ezekiel 27 in relation to the traders with Tyre.
They of the house of Togarmah traded in thy (Tyre’s) fairs with horses and horsemen and mules. (Ezekiel 27:4 [KJV])
Isaac Newton witnesses the emerging Tsarist Regime in the 1600’s
Isaac Newton (1642-1727) saw the Ottoman Empire at its height in his day and further north a struggling Tsarist Empire only becoming identifiable in the 1700’s under Peter the Great. In the 1800’s it was among the powers of the age. He refers in his writings to the end of the 6th Trumpet in Revelation which states “there should be “time no longer”. He believed that Daniel’s prophecies were sealed in his day, but he saw the beginning of the “last times”as in Rev: 10:6.
And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer: Rev10:5-6
Isaac Newton believed that the time period for the end of man’s rule on earth was beginning.
The next greatest event of the prophecy of Revelation was the symbolic earthquake of the French Revolution, which opened the gateway to the three “spirits of liberty, equality and fraternity” that produced the cry for “human rights” ie Humanism, which is causing great tension in our world. We are now seeing the last stage of man’s rule on earth since 1789, a time period of 230 years in which mankind has embraced the immorality of Sodom and of violence like the age of Noah.
In Ezekiel, Daniel and Revelation there is prophecy related to ‘the last times’, ‘ time of the end’ and ‘time no longer’. With so much scripture devoted to a period of time presented in these terms it, would seem that serious attention should be given to a consideration of these prophets. It’s clear that it has relevance to us today considering that 230 years have passed since the French Revolution when it’s stated there would be ‘time no longer.’ Time left for what? Despite the increase of knowledge man is creating a world which is destroying the beauty of Yahweh’s creation, obsessed with man’s pride, his inventions and disobedience of the precepts of Yahweh.
Ezekiel and the latter years
Ezekiel’s confederation of nations is identifiable today and will be formed in the near future as we see the EU in a state of weakness. We also see Russia becoming more powerful, aggressive and interferring in other nations such as Syria and Ukraine. It is displaying its military might and countries such as Poland are fearful. Her submarines are freely exploring the coasts of the north and it is alleged she has a secret militia engaged in conflicts in other nations. We might suggest that Russia is the most likely nation to take the place of US and UK in the affairs of Europe.
The nations listed in Ezekiel 38 :1-6 are predominately those of Europe with some Muslim countries. Their target is the land brought back from desolation and a remnant of their people from dispersion and persecution over 2000 years. This land is of course Israel, which is the land south of Russia. Why would they want to invade Israel which is dwelling safely on the mountains?
“Prepare for thyself, thou, and all thy company that are assembled ... 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.” (Ezekiel 38:7-8)
This is a very clear description of the confederacy’s preparation for war and their target. There is little doubt that this is Israel which was supported by the USA under President Trump.
And Gog shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; ... to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, ... 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. Ezekiel 38:11-12
We may wonder what the spoil may be, but Israel has a lot of gas, intellectual expertise and the thing that these European nations represent are the Catholic and Orthodox Churches, which have had dialogue recently for the first time in 1000 years and have a desire to obtain sites in Israel and covet Jerusalem as the property of the church. Putin has relations with and supports the churches.
There is another confederacy in the south, which is also identifiable in our modern world.
Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tashish, 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?
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? Ezek 38 13-14
These nations that will challenge the northern confederacy are also identifiable to day. Sheba and Dedan signify Arabs and the Merchants of Tarshish are British as they were the great traders and colonisers for several centuries and established colonies known as the young lions. Britain is similar to the ancient trading nation of Tyre and known as the Lion nation. The young lions are the USA (as their first colonies were British), Australia, Canada and NZ. It is significant today that Britain is attempting to leave the EU. This will happen and allow a strong alliance between the USA and the UK. Britain is struggling to leave, possibly because of her treatment of the Jews and her failure to abide by the terms of the Balfour Declaration and the Mandate since 1922. She can yet redeem herself in an alliance with President Trump and return as a trading nation again.
Gog’s Destiny?
The concluding section of Ezekiel describes the invasion and its aftermath and needs little comment.
It is a great army from the north against Israel, in the Latter Days. Why?
That the heathen might know Yahweh and his great power.
Thou shalt come from thy place out of the northparts, ...a mighty army: ... 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. Ezekiel:15-16
The role of the Prophets of Israel
Thus saith the Lord GOD; Art thou he of whom I have spoken in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, which prophesied in those days many years that I would bring thee against them? Ezekiel 38:17
The fury, wrath and jealousy of Yahweh displayed and a great shaking of the land, earthquake.
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. Ezekiel 38:18-20
The violence against the army with rain, hail and fire
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. (Ezekiel 38:21-22)
Ezekiel 39 continues with the destruction that comes upon Gog and there is the warning
And I will send a fire on Magog, and among them that dwell carelessly in the isles: and they shall know that I am the LORD. So will I make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel; and I will not let them pollute my holy name any more: and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel. (Ezekiel 39:6-7)
If the words of a prophet come to pass then we know that he was indeed a prophet
The prophet which prophesieth of peace, when the word of the prophet shall come to pass, then shall the prophet be known, that the LORD hath truly sent him. (Jeremiah 28:9)
We have seen the prophets prophesying of things that have come to pass:
The fall of Babylon
The rise of the nations that would follow
The rise of European nations
A time of trouble such as never was
The scattering of Jews and their persecution
Their regathering into their homeland
And that they will dwell on the mountains of Israel in safety starting under Trump
The nation of Britain will again be a trading nation
Knowledge increased
Many shall run to and fro
From the Messiah, who is greater than the prophets, we have the prophecy in Luke 21
And they (the Jews) shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
(This was fulfilled in 1967 when Jerusalem was once again restored to the Jews from the ravages of waves of invaders who left the land a desolation.)
And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars;
and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. (Luke 21:24-26)
So much prophecy has been fulfilled, that the prophecy related to Gog deserves our close attention.
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