Gog, the Prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal, along with his people, will make the same ill choice. They will persist in their hardness against God. Thus, God will give them over to Satan to do the kinds of evils that Satan does against God and God’s people for a season. But eventually, their experiment with evil will yield horrific results for them. They will be destroyed. The Lord reveals this outcome to us in Ezekiel 39 and in Revelation 20.
In the Book of Revelation, Jesus reveals to God’s servants what will happen in the last days before He returns to create a new heaven, new earth, and new Jerusalem.
In Revelation 6:9-11, the Lord speaks of people who were slain for the Word of God and for the testimony which they held. They ask the Lord with loud cries how long until He judges and avenges their blood. He gives them white robes and urges them to rest a little while longer until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers are killed as they were.
To me, this is one of the greatest signs of God’s compassion for lost sinners. He gives those who are nearest and dearest to Him to be witnesses unto death for the sake of saving some of the souls of His enemies from eternal hell. But the Lord does eventually avenge their blood.
In Revelation 8:1-5, the Lord reveals an golden altar in heaven which contains the prayers of His holy people. The Lord reveals an angel with a golden censer filled with incense. The angel takes the prayers of God’s holy people and offers them before God’s throne along with incense from his golden censer. Then, the angel fills his censer with fire from the altar and throws it to the earth. The immediate result is noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake, but a series of great tribulations follows after that upon the kingdoms of the world.
In Revelation 20:4-5, the reveals souls who had been beheaded for their witness for Jesus and for the Word of God. They had refused to bow and worship the bully leader of the satanic kingdom on earth. They would neither take his brand on their foreheads nor on their hands. They are now sitting on thrones in heaven and living and reigning as priests with Christ.
In Revelation 20:8-10, Prince Gog and the descendants of Magog gather a mighty army, the likes of which this world has never seen. Much greater than Pharoah’s army during the days of Moses! Magog was the grandson of Noah via his son Japheth. His descendants settled north of Israel and spread out to the ends of the earth.
It is likely that many descendants from Noah’s sons Shem and Ham join with Magog to attack believers in God. The Jewish people are descendants of Shem and the African and Arab people are descendants of Ham. See Genesis 10-11 for more details.
Faith in Jesus Christ is not primarily a miracle of geography, language, culture or race. Faith in Christ is a miracle of God! A person hears the Gospel. God works in him or her to will and do His good pleasure. God’s good pleasure is for people to believe in His Son Jesus. Jesus is the Messiah and Savior of the world. No one can believe in Jesus apart from the Father revealing Him to them.
John wrote of Jesus in his Gospel, writing in John 1:10-13...
“He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
Salvation is always a miracle of God from start to finish. No one can hold faithfully to Christ by his or her own volition. Peter found that out. Peter told Jesus that he would never deny him, but denied Jesus three times. Jesus told Peter in Luke 22:32, “I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail.” God with us, Emmanuel, is the only way any one of us can remain faithful to professing Jesus Christ as God’s Son, and our Lord and Savior.
In 2 Corinthians 10:4, Paul wrote, “The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds.” In Ephesians 6:10, Paul wrote that we need to “be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” In Ephesians 6:11, we need to “put on the whole armor of God... to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Revelation 12:10-11 tells us that those who overcame the “accuser of the brothers” did so “by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.”
So, about three thousand years ago the Lord gave Ezekiel the following prophecy:
“And you, son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal; and I will turn you around and lead you on, bringing you up from the far north, and bring you against the mountains of Israel. Then I will knock the bow out of your left hand and cause the arrows to fall out of your right hand. You shall fall upon the mountains of Israel, you and all your troops and the peoples who are with you; I will give you to birds of prey of every sort and to the beasts of the field to be devoured. You shall fall on the open field; for I have spoken, says the Lord God. And I will send fire on Magog and on those who live in security in the coastlands. Then they shall know that I am the Lord. So I will make My holy Name known in the midst of My people Israel, and I will not let them profane My holy Name anymore. Then the nations shall know that I am the Lord, the Holy One in Israel. Surely it is coming, and it shall be done, says the Lord God. This is the day of which I have spoken.” Ezekiel 39:1-8
God leads Gog’s mighty army to the outskirts of Israel, then, deals to him the knockout blow. They become bird and animal food. The Lord God sends fire on Magog and on those who live in security in the coastlands. At that time, they no longer doubt God. “Then they shall know that I am the Lord.” Through this miracle, God will make His holy Name known in the midst of His people Israel, and they will no longer profane His holy Name anymore. The nations shall also know that He is the Lord, the Holy One in Israel. The Lord declares, “Surely it is coming, and it shall be done.”
It is impossible to rightly interpret the Book of Revelation without understanding God’s faithfulness to the descendants of Noah’s son Shem. God chose them not because they were the mightiest of Noah’s descendants, but because they were the least. Deuteronomy 7:7 says, “The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples.” They were so unfaithful to the Lord throughout their history, but nevertheless, through them God brought His Word to earth and through them God brought the testimony of Jesus. Jesus, born of the line of Shem, is Messiah.
In Revelation 7 and 14, we learn that these descendants of Shem finally stand up for Jesus their Messiah, and in Revelation 7:9, John sees, “a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hand.”
Salvation is always a miracle of God from start to finish. No one can hold faithfully to Christ by his or her own volition. Peter found that out. Peter told Jesus that he would never deny him, but denied Jesus three times. Jesus told Peter in Luke 22:32, “I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail.” God with us, Emmanuel, is the only way any one of us can remain faithful to professing Jesus Christ as God’s Son, and our Lord and Savior.
In 2 Corinthians 10:4, Paul wrote, “The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds.” In Ephesians 6:10, Paul wrote that we need to “be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” In Ephesians 6:11, we need to “put on the whole armor of God... to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Revelation 12:10-11 tells us that those who overcame the “accuser of the brothers” did so “by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.”
So, about three thousand years ago the Lord gave Ezekiel the following prophecy:
“And you, son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal; and I will turn you around and lead you on, bringing you up from the far north, and bring you against the mountains of Israel. Then I will knock the bow out of your left hand and cause the arrows to fall out of your right hand. You shall fall upon the mountains of Israel, you and all your troops and the peoples who are with you; I will give you to birds of prey of every sort and to the beasts of the field to be devoured. You shall fall on the open field; for I have spoken, says the Lord God. And I will send fire on Magog and on those who live in security in the coastlands. Then they shall know that I am the Lord. So I will make My holy Name known in the midst of My people Israel, and I will not let them profane My holy Name anymore. Then the nations shall know that I am the Lord, the Holy One in Israel. Surely it is coming, and it shall be done, says the Lord God. This is the day of which I have spoken.” Ezekiel 39:1-8
God leads Gog’s mighty army to the outskirts of Israel, then, deals to him the knockout blow. They become bird and animal food. The Lord God sends fire on Magog and on those who live in security in the coastlands. At that time, they no longer doubt God. “Then they shall know that I am the Lord.” Through this miracle, God will make His holy Name known in the midst of His people Israel, and they will no longer profane His holy Name anymore. The nations shall also know that He is the Lord, the Holy One in Israel. The Lord declares, “Surely it is coming, and it shall be done.”
It is impossible to rightly interpret the Book of Revelation without understanding God’s faithfulness to the descendants of Noah’s son Shem. God chose them not because they were the mightiest of Noah’s descendants, but because they were the least. Deuteronomy 7:7 says, “The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples.” They were so unfaithful to the Lord throughout their history, but nevertheless, through them God brought His Word to earth and through them God brought the testimony of Jesus. Jesus, born of the line of Shem, is Messiah.
In Revelation 7 and 14, we learn that these descendants of Shem finally stand up for Jesus their Messiah, and in Revelation 7:9, John sees, “a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hand.”
If Jesus kickstarted the Church movement with just twelve Jewish disciples, it is hard for us to imagine what He will do in the end times with 144,000 faithful Jewish disciples, but we know from this passage, that He will win many souls to Himself... even during the darkest days in earth’s history.
“Then those who dwell in the cities of Israel will go out and set on fire and burn the weapons, both the shields and bucklers, the bows and arrows, the javelins, and spears; and they will make fires with them for seven years. They will not take wood from the field nor cut down any from the forests, because they will make fires with the weapons; and they will plunder those who plundered them, and pillage those who pillaged them, says the Lord God.” Ezekiel 39:9-10
It will take God’s people seven years to smelt the metal and burn the wood leftover from Magog’s defeat. At that point, the Lord’s Word in Isaiah 2:2-5 will be fulfilled, “Now it shall come to pass in the latter days... He shall judge between the nations and rebuke many people. They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.”
“It will come to pass in that day that I will give Gog a burial place there in Israel, the valley of those who pass by east of the sea; and it will obstruct travelers, because there they will bury Gog and all his multitude. Therefore, they will call it the Valley of Hamon Gog. For seven months the house of Israel will be burying them, in order to cleanse the land. Indeed all the people of the land will be burying, and they will gain renown for it on the day that I am glorified, says the Lord God. They will set apart men regularly employed, with the help of a search party, to pass through the land and bury those bodies remaining on the ground, in order to cleanse it. At the end of seven months they will make a search. The search party will pass through the land; and when anyone sees a man’s bone, he shall set up a marker by it, till the buriers have buried it in the Valley of Hamon Gog. The name of the city will also be Hamonah. Thus, they shall cleanse the land.” Ezekiel 39:11-16
Revelation 14:18-20 speaks metaphorically of Magog’s destruction as grapes being thrown into the winepress of God’s wrath. The blood flows up “to the horses’ bridles for 1,600 furlongs.” 1,600 furlongs is equal to 200 miles. This imagery is used to convey the sheer depth and scale of the bloodshed.
“And as for you, son of man, thus says the Lord God, speak to every sort of bird and to every beast of the field: assemble yourselves and come; gather together from all sides to My sacrificial meal which I am sacrificing for you, a great sacrificial meal on the mountains of Israel, that you may eat flesh and drink blood. You shall eat the flesh of the mighty, drink the blood of the princes of the earth, of rams and lambs, of goats and bulls, all of them fatlings of Bashan. You shall eat fat till you are full, and drink blood till you are drunk, at My sacrificial meal which I am sacrificing for you. You shall be filled at My table with horses and riders, with mighty men and with all the men of war, says the Lord God.” Ezekiel 39:17-20
When the disciples asked Jesus where the prophecies of which He spoke in Matthew 24 would take place, He responded in Matthew 24:28, “Wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.” Revelation 19:21 says, “And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh.”
“I will set My glory among the nations; all the nations shall see My judgment which I have executed, and My hand which I have laid on them. So the house of Israel shall know that I am the Lord their God from that day forward. The Gentiles shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity; because they were unfaithful to Me, therefore I hid My face from them. I gave them into the hand of their enemies, and they all fell by the sword. According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions I have dealt with them and hidden My face from them.” Ezekiel 39:21-24
The Lord will be glorified among the nations. Israel will know that Jesus is the Lord from that day forward. In terms of the exile and the return of Israel to the Promised Land, God will reveal to the nations that they experienced this falling away, and tribulation because of their lust for sin. A good lesson for all people everywhere, not to take the Lord lightly, and not to embrace a sinful lifestyle.
“Therefore, thus says the Lord God: now I will bring back the captives of Jacob and have mercy on the whole house of Israel; and I will be jealous for My holy Name—after they have borne their shame, and all their unfaithfulness in which they were unfaithful to Me, when they dwelt safely in their own land and no one made them afraid. When I have brought them back from the peoples and gathered them out of their enemies’ lands, and I am hallowed in them in the sight of many nations, then they shall know that I am the Lord their God, who sent them into captivity among the nations, but also brought them back to their land, and left none of them captive any longer. And I will not hide My face from them anymore; for I shall have poured out My Spirit on the house of Israel, says the Lord God.” Ezekiel 39:25-29
The events of Israel’s exile to Babylon and their return to the Promised Land, and the events which happen to Israel in the last days run parallel with one another. The events in the last days are on a much grander scale. Instead of Babylon being one nation in the Middle East, Babylon will be a global empire that opposes Christ and His followers. Instead of a return to an earthly Promised Land, God’s people will receive a heavenly Promised Land which they will never again lose, but the rather, dwell in forever with God. A new heaven, new earth and new Jerusalem!
“Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.’ Then He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ And He said to me, ‘Write, for these words are true and faithful.’” Revelation 21:1-5
“Then those who dwell in the cities of Israel will go out and set on fire and burn the weapons, both the shields and bucklers, the bows and arrows, the javelins, and spears; and they will make fires with them for seven years. They will not take wood from the field nor cut down any from the forests, because they will make fires with the weapons; and they will plunder those who plundered them, and pillage those who pillaged them, says the Lord God.” Ezekiel 39:9-10
It will take God’s people seven years to smelt the metal and burn the wood leftover from Magog’s defeat. At that point, the Lord’s Word in Isaiah 2:2-5 will be fulfilled, “Now it shall come to pass in the latter days... He shall judge between the nations and rebuke many people. They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.”
“It will come to pass in that day that I will give Gog a burial place there in Israel, the valley of those who pass by east of the sea; and it will obstruct travelers, because there they will bury Gog and all his multitude. Therefore, they will call it the Valley of Hamon Gog. For seven months the house of Israel will be burying them, in order to cleanse the land. Indeed all the people of the land will be burying, and they will gain renown for it on the day that I am glorified, says the Lord God. They will set apart men regularly employed, with the help of a search party, to pass through the land and bury those bodies remaining on the ground, in order to cleanse it. At the end of seven months they will make a search. The search party will pass through the land; and when anyone sees a man’s bone, he shall set up a marker by it, till the buriers have buried it in the Valley of Hamon Gog. The name of the city will also be Hamonah. Thus, they shall cleanse the land.” Ezekiel 39:11-16
Revelation 14:18-20 speaks metaphorically of Magog’s destruction as grapes being thrown into the winepress of God’s wrath. The blood flows up “to the horses’ bridles for 1,600 furlongs.” 1,600 furlongs is equal to 200 miles. This imagery is used to convey the sheer depth and scale of the bloodshed.
“And as for you, son of man, thus says the Lord God, speak to every sort of bird and to every beast of the field: assemble yourselves and come; gather together from all sides to My sacrificial meal which I am sacrificing for you, a great sacrificial meal on the mountains of Israel, that you may eat flesh and drink blood. You shall eat the flesh of the mighty, drink the blood of the princes of the earth, of rams and lambs, of goats and bulls, all of them fatlings of Bashan. You shall eat fat till you are full, and drink blood till you are drunk, at My sacrificial meal which I am sacrificing for you. You shall be filled at My table with horses and riders, with mighty men and with all the men of war, says the Lord God.” Ezekiel 39:17-20
When the disciples asked Jesus where the prophecies of which He spoke in Matthew 24 would take place, He responded in Matthew 24:28, “Wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.” Revelation 19:21 says, “And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh.”
“I will set My glory among the nations; all the nations shall see My judgment which I have executed, and My hand which I have laid on them. So the house of Israel shall know that I am the Lord their God from that day forward. The Gentiles shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity; because they were unfaithful to Me, therefore I hid My face from them. I gave them into the hand of their enemies, and they all fell by the sword. According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions I have dealt with them and hidden My face from them.” Ezekiel 39:21-24
The Lord will be glorified among the nations. Israel will know that Jesus is the Lord from that day forward. In terms of the exile and the return of Israel to the Promised Land, God will reveal to the nations that they experienced this falling away, and tribulation because of their lust for sin. A good lesson for all people everywhere, not to take the Lord lightly, and not to embrace a sinful lifestyle.
“Therefore, thus says the Lord God: now I will bring back the captives of Jacob and have mercy on the whole house of Israel; and I will be jealous for My holy Name—after they have borne their shame, and all their unfaithfulness in which they were unfaithful to Me, when they dwelt safely in their own land and no one made them afraid. When I have brought them back from the peoples and gathered them out of their enemies’ lands, and I am hallowed in them in the sight of many nations, then they shall know that I am the Lord their God, who sent them into captivity among the nations, but also brought them back to their land, and left none of them captive any longer. And I will not hide My face from them anymore; for I shall have poured out My Spirit on the house of Israel, says the Lord God.” Ezekiel 39:25-29
The events of Israel’s exile to Babylon and their return to the Promised Land, and the events which happen to Israel in the last days run parallel with one another. The events in the last days are on a much grander scale. Instead of Babylon being one nation in the Middle East, Babylon will be a global empire that opposes Christ and His followers. Instead of a return to an earthly Promised Land, God’s people will receive a heavenly Promised Land which they will never again lose, but the rather, dwell in forever with God. A new heaven, new earth and new Jerusalem!
“Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.’ Then He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ And He said to me, ‘Write, for these words are true and faithful.’” Revelation 21:1-5
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