Steven,
Hello again and greetings from Montana. I hope you are doing well today.
A question on the Gog-Magog invasion. What would be the approximate time line for this military campaign from the initial onset to Gog’s defeat. What I am understanding is that the invasion is to be very short lived. Also, how much time will pass after Gog’s defeat before the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ? In Ezekiel 39- 9, the scriptures speak of a 7 year period wherein the weapons will be burned. (One might interpret this 7 year period as the tribulation period.) And in verse 12 the scriptures tell of a 7 month period that the house of Israel will be employed in burying Gog and his multitude.
On a personal note, I am new to Billings, MT and I am interested in finding a church in my area who understands who true Israel is. If you know of one, or know someone who may know of such a church, please let me know.
I enjoy and benefit greatly from your studies and current blogging. It strengthens my faith.
God Bless
Frank
MYREPLY
Steve
Greetings Frank,
Thanks for your very good questions. First I’ll respond to the questions about Ezekiel 39:9 and 12. Ezekiel 39:12 mentions that it will take seven months to bury the dead remains of the Gog-Magog army that fell in the final World War III. Verses 12-16 indicate that some of the remains will be reduced to bones, but the comment about the stench “stopping the noses” of people indicates that many corpses will still include rotting flesh. Ezekiel 39:9 refers to a period of seven years to dispose of all the weaponry of the armies which will lay scattered everywhere on the landscape after the war. Applying this to modern realities, the phrase about “burning them with fire” could easily be understood to be the melting down of modern metallic weapons into useful tools for agriculture, construction, etc. This would fit very well with the prophecy of Micah 4:2-4 that metal weaponry (i.e.”swords” and “speartips”) will be converted into civilian tools. It will take blast furnaces to melt down metallic weaponry into such tools.
Regarding the time frame for the Gog-Magog invasion, there are several variables to consider. I used to think that the entire invasion and World War III would occur within the three and 1/2 days during which the Two Witnesses will lie dead before they are resurrected. That is still a plausible option because a war with nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction could reach the point of endangering “all flesh” (Matthew 24:22) within mere hours. That would also satisfy the prophecy in Matthew 25:1-13 that believers at the end of the age will be surprised to realize that the end-time events have come upon them and that Christ is returning far quicker than they had assumed. However, I’ve realized another scenario is possible which is also consistent with the parable of Matthew 25. When a “bridegroom” (Christ) comes for his “bride” (his believers), there is inevitably a “honeymoon” period of time during which they are undisturbed. If we apply this aspect of the parable to end-time prophecies, the final Gog-Magog war may not begin until after the Two Witnesses (and the rest of the faithful) are resurrected and taken to the heavenly realm for a “honeymoon” period. There is an enigmatic prophecy in Daniel about periods of time involving 1290 and 1335 days during the “time of the end.” Many are familiar with the 1260 day periods of time for the beast power to reign (Rev. 13:5) and the Two Witnesses to perform their ministry (Rev. 11:3). The key question re: the Daniel 12 periods of prophetic time are whether the extra 30 and 45 day periods of time will involve events prior to or after the death of the Two Witnesses. If believers are taken to a heavenly “honeymoon” with the bridegroom (also called the “wedding supper of the Lamb”–Matthew 22:1-14) just after the dead are resurrected and taken up into the clouds (Rev. 11:12), there could be a subsequent period of time on earth (the “30” and “45” day time periods of Daniel 12) during which the Gog-Magog war will occur until it reaches the point of the imminent extinction of “all flesh” which triggers Christ’s ultimate return with his saints and angelic armies (Rev. 19:11-21).
Joel 2 also describes a great war at the end of this age when “Israel” (verse 27) and the “people of God” (verses 17-18) are invaded by an army coming from the north (verse 20). The similarities between this prophecy and Ezekiel 38 are obvious. However, Joel 2:15-18 prophesy that God is not coming to rescue his people until after his people deeply humble themselves and beseech God to intervene and save them. This scenario allows for a war of weeks or months to cause the people of the modern Israelite tribes to reach the point that they realize they cannot win or survive this Gog-Magog war without Divine intervention and they turn to God with all their hearts.
Again, you posed a very good question. I don’t claim to be the ‘last word” on this subject, but I hope the above alternatives give you food for further thought.
I do not know of a congregation to meet with in the Billings area. Thanks also for your positive feedback about my blogs.
Steve
