The Battle of Gog and Magog - Pastor Daniel Batarseh

Good morning. Let's pray one more time and ask the Lord to help us as we open up his word together. Father, we thank you that we have victory in your son. And Lord in this place, we wanna sense that victory not just in the emotions, but Lord in the spirit, in the fruit of our lives. Lord, thank you that you have been faithful to us.

You have been good to each of us in this place. Regardless of what we are facing today, if we can look back and realize what you have done, we will conclude you are good always. And if you've been good to us up to this point, you will be good to us now and until we see you face to face. Thank you, Lord, that in this house, there is no famine of the word, but a feast that we can eat together, and that you are faithful in providing bread from heaven. We ask, Lord, that this word would come in power, in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Lord, we know that power does not come from volume. Power does not come from mere intellect or eloquence. It comes from your spirit. And we ask that the Holy Spirit would glorify Christ through this message, and that glorify Christ through our obedience. We come to you now with submissive hearts and attentive minds.

In Jesus' name we pray. Amen and amen. I'm sure you would agree that the events of 2020 has taught the church, the capital c Church, many lessons about many things. And an interesting observation that I have made about many local churches in response to this unforgettable year was this launch into many conversations and even sermon series around the end times. Commonly from the book of Revelation.

And you have different ministries and congregations that did not hesitate to investigate the word of God to try to make sense of what's happening on the earth today. Things that we have been facing, things that we are still facing. And from time to time, I believe that it is good for the soul. To be able to see what's happening, especially on a global scale, and then come to the word of God to try to find a way to interpret it from his perspective. Now I'm not talking about cracking hidden codes and every news headline you try to find a prophetic passage that it fulfills.

That's dangerous. But what I am saying is about being open and actually having a reflex to come to the scriptures and to allow what we witness before us to nudge us and remind us what God has to say concerning certain themes and truths found in the scriptures. For what purpose? To sanctify us. To sanctify us.

Let me give you an example. The world coming together in 2020 to battle against this COVID thing, raise the antennas of many believers to point to the coming reality of the book of Revelation that speaks of a new world order. That's in the Bible, that's not conspiracy theory. That the world will come together, there will be a new system, there will be a new leader that will guide the world into false peace, and what we've seen in 2020, we've never seen in world history before, and that's the world collaborating and working together for fulfilling specific goals. Or the masks, that's another thing too.

Right? The mask mandates where you have to do something, you have to wear something in order to be a candidate for basic services in society. That that points to that pulls us towards what will be a reality under the universal mandate of the mark of the beast. I'm not saying the mask or the vaccine have anything to do with what we see in Revelation, but I will say this confidently, we have been in a dress rehearsal. We have been.

And 2020 didn't stop with 2021, because as we've leaked into this year, there have been many other global events that have immersed, that have captivated the world's attention and stirred emotions afresh, and one of those things is the ever sensitive subject of the Israeli Palestinian conflict. And throughout the years, whenever breaking news of a fresh scrimmage between Israel and Palestine erupts, you have many that will point to it as a sign that this is the red carpet that will usher in the tribulation period. And I don't think that's necessary because the only issue with that is that there's always been conflict, ever since Israel has been a nation, from the bible and even in modern history. Nevertheless, I believe that it is crucial that the believing community understands the spiritual implications of the reality of Israel's existence today. And I think that what's been happening lately provides a good opportunity for us to get clarity on an important subject in the word of God.

And I want us to turn there in Romans chapter 11 verse 25, please. And if you're scared that I'm gonna be preaching politics, don't be scared. It's gonna be Bible, and and then you can do with the bible what you want. I just advise that you obey it. Romans 11 chapter 25.

Read with me here what Paul says to this church and to all churches for all ages. Lest you be wise in your own sight. I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery brothers. A partial hardening has come upon Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And in this way, all Israel will be saved as it is written, the deliverer will come from Zion.

He will banish ungodliness from Jacob and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins. Did you notice the first two phrases of this verse in chapter 11 verse 25? He says, lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery. You know what the Holy Spirit is saying? I don't want the believing community to be in the dark about a certain subject.

And the subject that the Holy Spirit has in mind at this portion of the word of God, is the mystery God's dealing his sovereign work with the ethnic people of Israel. You have to do origami with the bible to think that this is speaking about a spiritual Israel. We're talking about the actual people, the race. And you know what the Holy Spirit is saying? I don't want you to be unaware.

And the the mystery that God has in mind here specifically, is that due to the rejection of the Messiah when he entered into this world to come as their king, the Gentiles have received the gospel. Their rejection became the open door for the world to receive the gospel. And then once the last Gentile gives his life to Christ, in God's mind, he will seal that deal, and then his work will return back to Israel as a people to do a saving work in them as a nation. That's the mystery. That's the mystery.

But we can broaden this verse to ask ourselves a very important question. How many Christians today are unaware of how Israel relates to our faith? Because he says, I don't want you to be unaware. And he says that in two other places in the bible, and it's quite interesting where where he says it. Well, that's for another message, for another time.

But here in this place, he says, I don't want you to be unaware, misinformed. And then he goes on to say, lest you be wise in your own sight. Meaning, lest you have your own opinion about it. There are a lot of people who have a lot of opinions. But what he's saying here is, I'm pulling you into what God has to say about this matter and it's important for us to understand it because we must have a biblical perspective on God's relationship with this people group.

Not for political purposes, but for theological ones. The main purpose of this message this morning is not to answer every question about this topic because it is too vast, but to get a grasp that God's word speaks of the future as much as it does the past. In other words, the bible is very bold to make predictions about things not yet come to pass. Very bold. And what's amazing is that when you study the bible carefully, you will realize that much of the prophecies about the future beyond our day have to do with Israel.

You can't deny it. And it is my prayer that through a message like this, we will be stirred to worship God. The God who doesn't just tell us what has happened in the past, but what will happen in the days to come. So let us turn to a prophecy in the book of Ezekiel, please. And what I want us to do here is to just see and use this recent battle that we've been seeing on the news that has ceased for some time now, a few days, to turn us to another battle that and the significance of what is being said here.

Ezekiel 38, let's read together, and I want us to break down this message in in three ways. Who is involved? Who is involved? When will this happen? And why will it happen?

Very simple. Right? Let's read a little bit first few verses. The word of the Lord came to me. Verse one.

Son of man, set your face toward Gog of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him. And say, thus says the Lord God, behold I am against you, oh Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. And I will turn you about and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed in full armor, a great host, all of them with buckler and shield, wielding swords. Persia, Cush and Put are with them. If you have a different translation, it would say Ethiopia and Libya are with them.

All of them would shield them in helmet. Gomer and all his hordes. Bethphigormah, from the outermost parts of the North with all his hordes. Many peoples are with you. Be ready and keep ready, you and all your hosts that are assembled about you, and be a guard for them.

After many days, you will be mustered. In the latter years, that's an important phrase. In the latter years, you will go against the land that is restored from war, the land whose people were gathered from many peoples upon the mountains of Israel, which has been a continual waste. Its people were brought out from the peoples and now dwell securely all of them. All of them.

The Lord tells Ezekiel, hundreds of years before our time, to prophesy against an individual named Gog. He is, according to these verses, the chief prince and one who rules the land of Magog and different regions around that area called Meshech and Tubal. Now, we learned that other nations are in partnership with Gog and the list is more identifiable than him and his region. Again, some translation Persia. Right?

That's modern day what? Iran. You have Libya, you have Ethiopia, some would say that's modern day Sudan. And so we see that there's an alliance being made here, and what's important is that the alliance, the nations that are lying with them are Islamic background. They are Muslim countries mainly.

And they're in partnership with this mysterious figure named Gog, from Magog. And you can imagine that over the centuries how Gog and Magog has caused much debate between scholars to try to identify him. But this may surprise you that one clue that has left many people to identify Gog and Magog as modern day Russia, comes from what we see in verse 15 in Ezekiel 38. You will come from your place out of the uttermost parts of the North. You and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great horse, a mighty army.

So they would say, well if Israel as we know it today is the central point of direction, then if you if you go North directly, check it out on Google Maps, where are you going to land? Russia. That's why many people hold to that view, and they would also include southern parts of Russia, and even Turkey itself. Now, we can't be safe with that because the Bible is not clear, and that's just speculation based on little clues that we can't be dogmatic about. But I think the idea, the fact that Gog and Magog are mysterious people, actually is to our benefit to the authenticity of this prophecy.

Why? What are some of the ancient enemies to Israel as known in the Word of God? Egypt, Assyria, Babylon. Right? The Amalekites, the Canaanites, but there is no record, there is no history.

I mean, just look it up in your word, and you'll see that there is no correlation, there's no relationship between Gog and Magog ever up to this point. There is no type of friction. There's no type of record of a battle between them, And that is quite interesting. The only place mentioned Magog is in Genesis 10, and that has to do with an individual. Which means something quite fascinating, doesn't it?

That this prophecy speaks of a battle led by a new, previously unknown people that will become an enemy to Israel from the distant North. And the players of this war don't end there. Come down with me here to verse 13. Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish and all its leaders will say to you, so say to Gog, these these other nations will say, Have you come to see spoil? Have you assembled your host to carry off plunder?

To carry away silver and gold? To take away livestock and goods? To seize great spoil? So now you have different people groups that are not in participation with this war, but what are they doing? They are realizing what's about to take place, and they are in favor of it.

And they're wondering that this battle will actually be to their personal gain as leaders of nations. That they will profit from this plunder themselves. And so what you have is beyond this alliance, you have people outside of that, nations beyond that, that are cheering this invasion on. And they're saying, go for it. Ransack them.

Take over. You're saying, what's so significant about that? Because it's becoming very clear in this prophecy, that at this point in history, you will have nations that will not be hesitant to speak against this people and even come against this people, while nobody seems to be standing with them. You read this prophecy and you realize that nobody comes to their defense, Nobody comes to back them up, and it's describing a hopeless scene for Israel. Really.

Nations will not be hesitant. There will be plans and there will be a partnership amongst many to say, let's come against them. And how will it look? Look at verse nine. You will advance, coming on like a storm.

You will be like a cloud covering the land. You and all your hordes and many people with you. This confederation of armies will come like a storm. It will be quick, it will be executed fast, it will be an invasion that will catch the world by surprise almost. That's why they're asking, like, what are you guys doing?

Are you guys going live? Go for it. And they will be so overwhelming. This is not a small thing, it will be so overwhelming that it will cause all the witnesses of the earth at this time to say, they're finished. They're finished.

And so realize that this is speaking about an event that has not taken place yet. It hasn't taken place in the history books yet. It's yet to come. It's yet to happen. Which brings us to our next point, when will this happen?

I'm sure that's what most people are curious about when it comes to prophecy in the Bible. When? When? When? And there are some elements that are disputed and some that are undeniable, and the undeniable element here is found in verse eight.

After many days, you will be mustered in the latter years. In the latter years. Now go to verse 16 of the same chapter. You will come against, up against my people Israel like a cloud covering the land in the latter, what? Days.

Now, if you interpret the Bible with the Bible, you will know that that phrase is exclusively used to speak about the end times. The culmination of all human history. It speaks about the the last chapters before God rolls up the scroll of the earth and ushers in his reign and the eternal age. And so this is undoubtedly about things to happen still, and it's talking about the end times, which some may object and say, well, Hebrews one tells us that the end days, the last days have begun since Jesus walked on the earth in his earthly ministry. Right?

Hebrews one two. So what are you talking about the last days? It's been two thousand years. But there is something in this verse, verse eight of chapter 38, that tightens the type time frame for us, to help us understand at what point in history this will happen. Look what it says.

After many days you will be mustered. In the latter years, you will go against the land that is restored for war, the land whose people were gathered from many peoples upon the mountains of Israel. This future battle will take place in the end times, after the Jewish people have been gathered from all around the world to occupy their ancient land. And we know that there was a Babylonian exile, and then they came back, and then once Jesus came on the scene after they occupy that land and rejected their Messiah, they punished they were punished for that. They were dispersed throughout the whole earth, and would you know it, in 1948, a miracle took place.

That these Jews were gathered and became an independent state, and if that doesn't peak your interest, nothing in bible prophecy will. You're saying, what's the significance of land? Because when you talk about land, especially especially amongst those from middle eastern culture, people get tight. Because they're thinking politically. Put your politics aside and come to the Bible.

What does the Bible say? Not your opinion. Not what people say. Not what the news says. What does the Bible say?

You're Christian. Right? What does the Bible say? And this is what the Bible says, that the physical restoration of Israel in the land precedes the spiritual revival of that people. The physical restoration of that land precedes the spiritual revival of that people.

In other words, you can't have Romans eleven twenty five and twenty six, all Israel shall be saved until Israel has a land. Opinion? Bible. Let's go together. Ezekiel 36 verse 24, and look what God says.

Now, this is where the ESV does this service. Who here has a New King James? Lift your hand. Who here has the King James? King James.

Okay. Who here has the NASB? Who here has ESV? Okay. This is where the ESV does a disservice and I'll show you how.

Let's read verse 24. I'm gonna read it from the King James and you're gonna notice a difference in your ESV. Ezekiel thirty six twenty four, For I will take you from among the heathen, he's speaking to the Jews, and gather you out of all countries. All countries and will bring you into your own land. Now what is verse 25 saying to ESV?

I will take you. Right? My King James people, what does the word say before I? For, and other places would say, then. Then I will sprinkle clean water upon you, in verse 25.

Then I will sprinkle clean water on you and ye shall be clean from all your filthiness and from all your idols will I cleanse you. You see that word then? Is that there in the ESV? No. But it's an important word.

It's a crucial word, because it describes a series of events. Does it not? He says, I'm going to bring you into this place from all countries. When was this fulfilled? Partially with the Babylonian exile, because Ezekiel here speaking to those who are in Babylonian exiles, but the greater prophetic fulfillment is from all countries, all the four corners of the earth.

Isn't that what it say? All countries? And will bring you to this place. And when they're brought to this place, then the Holy Spirit says, then I will do a spiritual work in you guys. So this is why it's important because the spiritually revived people that will experience the power of the new covenant is something that comes much later after the land is restored.

So what's the connection between Israel's salvation and recognizing the Messiah and the land? One simple fact, that God is just fulfilling his promises. And he wants to fulfill every promise that he's made to this people. And one promise that he made to this people is what? That you will have this land forever.

The Abrahamic covenant. Now, this is where people again, they're getting tight, man. They're getting sweaty and uncomfortable. Because it's giving the idea that you favor a people, and that you are esteeming a nation that sins, that creates injustice. So is God showing favoritism?

Is God calling one people greater than all their peoples? I'll let God answer it for himself. Look at verse 22 of chapter 36. Therefore, say to the house of Israel, thus says the Lord God, it is not for your sake, oh house of Israel, that I'm about to act, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations to which you came. You know, when you start talking about like this, people call you all these names, Zionist, this and that.

You favor them. Look at all the things that they're doing to them, and look at all the things they're doing to them. Listen, God is not approving of any behavior. God is not celebrating anything. God is not on the side of unrighteousness whether you're Jew or Gentile.

Why is God doing this? For his name's sake. His name's sake. He's doing it because he declared a word of promise and he's not gonna break that promise. You say, well, we're in a different covenant and and we're the church.

Absolutely. But let me shatter something that is a great misconception amongst many. If God is willing to break his promise with Israel, what makes you think that he's not willing to break his promise with the church? Get out of the political realm, brothers and sisters, as tempting as it is. And let's look at God's reason for this.

This is much more about the character of God than about boundaries and real estate. And so this is significant. As I said, because it deals with the nature of God. And that's why Paul wrote Romans nine, ten, and 11, by the way. Because let's turn there.

He goes on to describe the wonderful relationship that God has with this people from the old covenant, and we know that in the new covenant that wall of hostility was brought down and there's neither no Jew or Gentile. We're all one in Christ. But then after describing how this people have the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises, Look what he says here in Romans nine verse six. But it is not as though the word of God has failed, for not all who are descendant from Israel belong to Israel. What is he trying to say?

He he's getting into the mind of the reader, and is assuming that they will bring up this protest. Well, you're describing how wonderful God is in relating to this people, but our question is, did he fail? Did his word not come to pass? Why would they say that? Because the Messiah comes, the Messiah that these Gentiles believed in, but who didn't believe in him?

Israel. And so Paul is trying to defend the case. Romans nine, ten, and 11, the centrality, the thesis is about Israel and God's dealing with them. And what is he saying here in Romans nine six? I'm about to prove to you that God's word didn't fail.

Just because they rejected Christ doesn't mean God's finished with them. And then he goes on to to explain why and then it culminates in Romans 11 where he says, do you realize that a hardening because they rejected the Messiah, a hardening comes upon them where they're still rejecting the Messiah and in that hardening, I'm softening the hearts of the Gentiles. And I'm winning them one by one and they're it's going to the nations. And the moment in God's calendar and in God's mind, he has a number in mind where he says, that's it. He seals the work with the Gentiles and then he returns in the book of Revelation to work with the Jews to win their hearts to the Messiah.

So you see. Right? Do you see that Paul in himself is is realizing that this whole deal is about the character of God, the faithfulness of God, the authenticity of his word, the never changing God? If we get that, a lot of tension will be eased. So he says here, you have to understand that God did not fail, but God has plans and they will be fulfilled.

Now, we might think, well, do we have more specifics? I mean, you're saying the latter times, but, give me some dates, man, which I'm not. And if anybody does, kick them out the door. But you have people who hold different views on when this will take place within the latter times. And would you know it?

Oh, we have people with different opinions on this. And guess what? If you're on either one of those sides, you're not a heretic. So you can take a deep breath. You have some people, if we come back to Ezekiel 38, that will say this battle of Gog and Magog will take place before the tribulation period.

Now, this is a different sermon, doesn't it? It feels like it's more Bible study. That's okay. So let's pull back. Here's here's a timeline for us here.

We're in the church age. When the church age is complete, you have what? The tribulation period, which lasts what? Seven years. And then you have at the end of that seven years, the second coming of Jesus Christ.

And after the second coming of Jesus Christ, what do you have? A thousand year millennial reign, where Jesus Christ physically reigns on the earth. And after that thousand years, what do you have? The eternal age. The new heavens and the new earth come in and then we are where God wants us to be.

You have people that will say, well, where does this Gog and Magog thing take place? And they'll say, look at verse nine of chapter 38. Excuse me, of chapter 39, which is the same sequence of the prophecy. Then those who dwell in the cities of Israel will go out and make fires of the weapons and burn them, shields and bucklers, bow and arrows, clubs and spears, and they will make fires of them for seven years. So you see what's happening, after God intervenes and he wipes out the enemies that are coming against this people, there will be so much weaponry.

And and Ezekiel is using his language of understanding weapons for his days, for his people to understand. We have no fear to think that this is speaking about an ancient battle because there's bows and arrows. No, it's just a way of interpreting what he is seeing for his people. There's going to be so much weaponry, that these people are going to say, what are we going to do with it? And they begin to recycle it, and they use it for different purposes, and they make fires out of it, and they turn the material for something else.

And you know how long that's going to take? Seven years. That's how much it's going to be. Seven years. Now, does that ring a bell?

It does. Because that's the period of the tribulation, seven years. And so people will say that this battle will have some kind of part in trib in triggering the tribulation period. And they would go on to say, well, it fits really well because if you have this war and a humiliating defeat towards the enemies, which many of them are neighboring nations, then it would make sense for Israel to have the confidence now to do what? Build a temple.

Now is our chance. Let's build the house of God, so that we can worship God. And it would also make sense for the Antichrist to enter into the scene and to offer what? A peace treaty. After this war is said and done, and the smoke rises, the Antichrist can step and say, listen, this is getting too messy, guys.

We have to we have to finish this once and for all. And he shows up into the world as a false messiah. And he writes and he offers a seven year peace tree that he will break halfway through, which causes people to believe that this can't happen before the tribulation, but in the middle of the tribulation. And why would people say that? We'll come here to verse 11 of chapter 38.

Ezekiel 38 verse 11. And look at the description of Israel before this war. And say, he's speaking about what Gog, this prince ruler is thinking, and say, I will go up against the land of unwalled villages. I will fall upon the quiet people who dwell securely. All of them dwelling without walls and having no bars or gates.

So, at whatever point of history Israel is at here, we know one thing, they feel secure. They feel safe. They feel like there is no need to put up a shield, to have walls, to have a defense system. They feel so confident, even with all the threats that they've known throughout history, to actually be at a place where they don't need to have weapons or any kind of thing to to guard them. And here's what you and I know, that's never happened, nor will it ever happen for Israel.

They will never come to a place where they feel this secure, unless unless there is one slot in history that would give them that kind of confidence. And when would it be? When the Antichrist comes, and he makes a peace treaty with them, and he make sure that he will protect Israel. In the beginning of the tribulation, will they'll say, okay. We're secure.

And they let their guard down, and what you're gonna what you're gonna happen is, near the midpoint, you're gonna see nations rise up when they see them like a sitting duck and say, let's go after them. Because when you read Revelation, at the halfway point of the tribulation, there is a war that breaks out against this people. And someone say, this is part of it. And then there are others who say, no. No.

No. No. No. No. It's not gonna be before the tribulation.

It's not gonna be in the middle of the tribulation. It's gonna be at the end, not of the tribulation, but when? The millennium. Say, where are they getting that idea from? Well, let's go to Revelation chapter 20 and see.

So remember, there are some who would say, no, no, no. This is not happening even during the tribulation. This is gonna happen after Jesus comes back, rules for a thousand years, and sets up his kingdom, and the idea is not from thin air, it comes from a text. In Revelation 20 verse seven, and when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison. Now, hold on for a second.

Verse eight says, and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, To gather them for battle, their number like the sand of the sea. So you see where they're drawing the connection from. Right? But before we even go there, I can't help but look at this and realize how stupid Satan is. I'll tell you why.

Think about this. All it took is one angel to bind this beast into an abyss for a thousand years. One angel, read the verses prior to this. And after that thousand years, he has the confidence to arise, deceive the nations, and try to dethrone Christ. What do you need to learn before you realize that you're not gonna win?

What's motivating this fallen angel? I'll tell you what it is. A combination of deep pride and deep hate. And when you have such a level of demonic hatred residing in a heart, There is no telling to the degrees in the campaigns that you will make to make sure you get what you want in your hatred. This hatred is so powerful, it is blinding to his own weakness and his failed attempts in the past, where he is foaming at the mouth and he will do everything he can with every bit of strength he has left to make sure that he has Christ underneath his feet.

And I can't help, when I read that I thought to myself, if hatred looks like this, it looks outrageous, it looks reckless, it looks like faith to believe the impossible, what can love do? If if hatred made Satan crawl out of the abyss and try to war against Christ again. Do you wanna know what perfect love looks like? Christ leaving his throne and coming to the world to be slain by sinners so that he can save those same sinners. Satan crawls out of a pit in hatred.

Christ comes down from glory and serves. That's love. That's love. And you know what's amazing? Reading this, I can't help but think, Satan and his hatred wants to deceive nations while Christ and his love wants to win nations.

And that same love that Jesus had in his heart can be in our hearts as well. I saw this and I contrasted it with with God's love and I thought to myself, where can love take us if we allow Christ to dominate our hearts? You know what Paul said in second Corinthians chapter five verse 14? For the love of Christ controls us. For the love of Christ controls us.

And you know what he says after he knows that Christ's love controlled him? In verse 15, he died for all that those who live might no longer live for themselves, but for him who for the sake died wasn't raised. When you allow the love of Christ I mean, you and I look into this world and we see this perversion. We live in a city where there's murders every weekend. And we think, what kind of hatred can possess people to do such a thing?

Well, they're reflecting the father, the devil. If hatred can take people so far, what can Christ love do to his people? And Paul says, it controls me and it controls you to the point you know, you know when Christ love controls you, when you can say here, I don't live for myself. That's what the love of Christ does in you. It makes you sacrificial, it makes you look outward.

You esteem others people's feelings and needs and wants above yours. So you and I have an opportunity to show the world the opposite of what Satan shows the world, that we can win people to Christ by example, by love, if we allow it to control us. Coming back to the main point, Gog and Magog are mentioned here. And for many people that's it, that's a case closed right there. It's there's no there's no argument there.

These are the main two places in all of scripture that Gog and Magog are mentioned. But here's why if you make a careful study, you can challenge that thought even, which is not making it easier for you, I'm sure to know where you're gonna land on this. Firstly, in Ezekiel 38, we have a description of mainly an enemy from the North that is coming down with an alliance of other nations. Here, we read that it's going to be the nations from the four corners of the earth. Secondly, as we come in Ezekiel 38, we're told that it's gonna take seven years to burn these weapons and listen, seven months to bury the bodies.

Now, here's the question. If this is happening at the end of the millennium and after the end of the millennium, what do you have? The judgment. The Great White Throne Judgment, where God judges those whose names are not written in the Lamb's Book of Life. If you have that coming right after this, what's the point of taking seven years to burn weapons?

And what's the point of taking seven months to bury bodies? God is gonna raise everybody up anyway and then judge those into eternal damnation. And lastly, we come here and we realize that one of the purposes of Gog and Magog in Ezekiel 38, one of the purposes is to get Israel's attention. But in Revelation 20, he already has their attention. Christ is ruling and reigning from Jerusalem.

There's no need for that. So then why Gog and Magog mentioned then? They're mentioned by name. And I think the way to explain it is, that the Bible is trying to make a connection between the rebellious spirit that operated in Gog, in Revelation, rather in Ezekiel 38, is duplicated now in this final battle before the eternal age. It's the same spirit.

It's the same rebellion. It's the same hatred for Christ that's operating then, and now it's operating here. So you see that in the Bible with the use of the word Babylon. Babylon is a physical place in the Bible, but it's also a word used to describe a spirit, an ideology that is anti God, a system that is raised in society that profanes and blasphemes Christ. So Gog and Magog here is not perhaps the literal Gog and Magog we see in Ezekiel 38, but the same operation of the spirit behind it.

So, enjoy picking a position. What's more important is that it will happen. It will happen. And the question is, why will this happen? Why is this war that's been prophesied thousands of years ago?

Why is this going to take place? And the answer is, there's two reasons, a natural reason and a spiritual reason. When you come back to Ezekiel 38, you'll see the natural reason behind it. The natural reason is in the thoughts of Gog. Verse 10 of Ezekiel 38, thus says the Lord God, on that day, thoughts will come into your mind and you will devise an evil scheme.

Verse 12, to see spoil and carry off plunder, to turn your hand against the waste places that are now inhabited, and the people who are gathered from the nations who have acquired livestock and goods, who dwell at the center of the earth. It's a political move. Come into your mind, the dog will see them in a secure place, defenseless, without arms, and they will say, this is our chance to use our power for greater prosperity. It's just a political move. So they're operating here like how nations operate today.

You go to war for greater power and greater prosperity. That's what they're that's what they're attempting here. But verse four shows us the spiritual reason. Look what God says. And I will turn you about and put hooks into your jaws, And I will bring you out and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed in full armor, a great host.

All of them with a buckler and shield, wielding swords. And so in Gog's mind, and the nations that are in partnership with him, they're saying, we got this. We're taking it to the bank. Easy peasy. This will be effortless.

And they think they're in control, And you just read who's really in control. God is orchestrating this. God is sovereign over this. God is the one who is moving the pieces. And he's saying, I'm gonna put a hook in your jaw and pull you towards this.

In violation to the free will of Gog? No. But in partnership with it. God God was determined to do this, and God says, you wanna do this? I will raise you up so that I can show my power.

And he draws him to his own judgment, because of his own evil scheme and evil desires. He did that with Pharaoh. And so we see here that there is a spiritual element to this. And now what you see here, in the natural reason, seems political, it seems like just warfare, but behind the scenes, there's something else going on. God is the Lord of host who reigns over every nation.

He's the one who has the story penned out already of how all of this is gonna turn out, and he knows how it's gonna end and we know how it's gonna end. God is the one who is in control over the affairs that you and I and many people are witnessing. Here's why that's important. Because this proves that God is in control, not just of our world, but of the unseen world. You want proof of that?

So this is Gog and Magog. I know there's a lot of Bible today. It's Bible study. It's okay. When you realize there's another battle and it's not Gog and Magog, there's another battle in Revelation.

Tell me the name of it. Battle of what? You're right. Good. Good students.

Battle of Armageddon. It's a different fight than this one. Now in preparation for that war, just listen to what the Holy Spirit says about the battle of Armageddon. In chapter 16 of verse 14 of Revelation, for they are demonic spirits. They are demonic spirits performing science who go abroad to the kings of the whole world to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty.

Who's behind it? Demonic spirits. You have demons that will deceive people on that day because the demons know what is coming down the pipe. What's coming down the pipe in Revelation? Christ is gonna split the sky open, plant his feet on the Mount Of Olives and establish his throne in Jerusalem.

And the demons feel it. The demons know their Bibles and they realize it's coming. Let's gather the kings, and they gather all the nations to come to Armageddon in Israel to fight against Christ. Who's the one energizing these leaders? Demonic spirits.

But who's really behind it? Go to Zechariah. I hope this will stir you to see how exciting the bible is. In Zechariah chapter 14, another prophecy of the end times, God speaks about the same battle, the battle of Armageddon. Verse one, behold, the day is coming for the Lord when the spoil taken from you will be divided in your midst.

Now look at this verse two. For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city shall be taken, and the houses plundered, and the woman raped. Who is gathering the nations? I I will gather them, but I just thought in Revelation it was the demonic spirits. It's God giving the demonic spirits permission.

And these demons have leashes on them. Go, go tempt them. And who's behind it? The same God behind the battle of Gog and Magog. He is sovereign.

He's in control. And the world is gonna be watching news headlines and think this is crazy, this is out of control, and there is someone occupying a throne that knows what's gonna happen. And so we realized that there's a spiritual element to this. You might be wondering, well, can you give me reasons why this is significant? I'll give you reasons.

Number one, this battle is important because it proves that Satan wants to overthrow God's promises and plans. You heard in Revelation 20, he has a tenacious, fake confidence that he can actually obstruct and obscure what God had said would happen. He did it with Egypt, with Moses. A deliverer was gonna be raised because Satan knew the years that were counting down before God took Israel out of Egypt and brought him into this land, and what did he do? He tried to cause a massacre amongst the children.

Then you have the greater Moses, the greater deliverer, not from a place, but from our sins, who was born in Bethlehem under the rule and reign of who? Herod. And what happens there? Another massacre. Trying to do what?

Eliminate the seed of the Messiah. Now that dispensation is over, and we're in the church age, and the gospel is being proclaimed to all nations, and that's Satan's main ambition, to restrict, to halt, to fight against the spreading of the gospel. But he has different purposes as well. And one of them is this, if Jesus Christ said he would rule and reign physically in that land, do you think he's gonna have a problem with that land? I'll leave that for you to figure out.

There's no wonder that it's the hottest piece of real estate in the world today. There is no question why there are so many in the four corners of the earth that have an opinion about this land. Because there's somebody else that realizes something that some professing Christians don't even believe. That Christ will come and plant his feet and rule with a rod of iron from that place. And guess what Satan doesn't want?

I want to rule and reign this world. What does first John five tell us? That the world lies in the power of the evil one. And when Jesus comes, yes, he defeated him on the cross, but he's gonna come and stick his rod in his face and say, I'm now ruling and reigning this world. And Satan doesn't want that.

And he wants to make God look like a liar. And you had a lot of people had a different opinions about this whole subject that I'm presenting you today before 1948. When 1948 happens, some people went, what? Be careful of using every headline to try to find it in in the Bible. Just stick with the word of God and you'll be safe.

But there's a second reason. God will use this war in thirty eight and thirty nine of Ezekiel to display His glory to the world. Go to chapter 39 and look with me here in verse 21. After all is said and done, after this war is complete, look what the Lord says in chapter 39 verse 21. And I will set my glory among the nations, and all the nations shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid on them.

For lunch, fill your belly. You probably skipped breakfast today, I'm assuming most of you. Fill your belly, take the time to read Ezekiel thirty eight and thirty nine, especially 38. When you read 38, you will realize that when God intervenes, it is a supernatural intervention. You will read that he will use natural sources and supernatural sources to actually even bring these people, these enemies that are surrounding this land to such confusion where they actually now commit friendly fire and start killing each other.

And read carefully, you'll notice that Israel in this war does not lift one finger. And here, this nation and the world will be watching an obvious intervention from heaven. And God declares, when this happens and when it's all said and done, the nations will not be able to debate that this was something apart from the natural. How did this happen? Hell, fire, these these people that came together are now shooting each other.

People are committing suicide on the hills of Israel. How? And God says, I'm gonna display my glory through this judgment. Why? Because when you read Revelation, you realize every catastrophe, every supernatural disaster, everything that has taken place is to cause the people to repent before it's too late.

To have one final chance before that millennial reign comes and before the eternal judgment comes. One chance and he'll use disasters and supernatural intervention to get people's attention. He will display his glory and the world will have a choice to either say, this book is true or I hate this God. Read Revelation, you'll realize that even after all the signs, it says that the people will bite their tongues, and gnaw, and refuse to repent as they curse God. That's how wicked we are, apart from Christ.

God will use this to display his glory to the world. But lastly and thirdly, God will use what Ezekiel prophesies here to get the attention of his people. Ezekiel thirty nine twenty one, look at Ezekiel thirty nine twenty two. The house of Israel shall know that I am the Lord their God from that day forward. From that day forward.

Meaning what? That after this takes place, God moves on their behalf, they're gonna look at one another, and their hearts will begin to be stirred, and then they're gonna look up. And I believe this is the beginning of that work that Paul speaks of in Romans 11, where they're gonna realize that there is a God. And maybe we missed his messiah. They're gonna recognize God and that's interesting.

Right? Because between the period of the restoration of their land and this moment, many years have passed by. Many years have passed by. But there is gonna come a time where there will be a stirring in the spirit, and God will use this to get their attention and say, do you realize who I am now? Do you realize that despite your wickedness and your sin, that I'm still keeping my promise to you?

And then somehow the connection is gonna be made and Christ will be recognized and Paul says, all Israel shall be saved. Not that every Jew will be saved, but that the nation of Israel as a whole will recognize Jesus Christ as the anointed one. Why do I bring this message to you today? Because for many reasons. One, I want you to look at things like Ezekiel thirty and thirty nine and not be intimidated by it.

I want you to see the glory behind it. I want you to realize that the Bible has much to say about prophecy, things to come to pass, and just wet your appetite. Wet your appetite. Not to be conspiracy theories, or to again look at every news blog and breaking news and say, it's here. It's in this verse.

No. Not to do that, but to be encouraged by a reality of who we serve. And here's the reality, Isaiah 40 six:nine and 10, Remember the former things of old, for I am God and there is no other. I am God and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning. And from ancient times, things not yet done, saying my counsel shall stand and I will accomplish all my purpose.

You have a book that doesn't just tell you what has happened and what you're supposed to do today, but tells you what will happen. And Isaiah says, that should be a reason for you to worship. And let me put it this way, If you're not right with God, you better get right with God. You better get right with God, man. Because he has things planned in the future and they're already set.

And the thing that you need to worry about more than whether this is going to happen before the tribulation, mid tribulation, post tribulation, end of millennium, is if you're on his side. So are you? Let me encourage you. Everything that the prophet said about the first coming of Christ was dead on. Do you think he's gonna mess up on the second one?

You better get right with God. And I'll tell you how you get right with God. You receive the Messiah. And I'll tell you about the Messiah. Whether you're Jew or Gentile, you need him.

The cross provides a level ground. We're all equal at the foot of it. Just because you are from a Jewish race doesn't mean that you're more favored by God than anybody else. You need Christ. You need his saving work.

Don't be like the Pharisees and say, Abraham is my father. You know how Jesus respond to that. He says, you know, you think so, right? No. Actually, your father is the devil.

And whether you're Jew or Gentile, if you put any other confidence in anything else except Christ, your father is the devil. You need to receive the Lord Jesus Christ. And I bring this word to you from Ezekiel to stir your heart and realize things are coming to pass. Prophecy will be fulfilled. And the way things are looking, I'm not here setting dates, so don't throw stones at me at lunch.

You can see the budding of the fig leaves. The platform, the stage is being set. It's no wonder that local churches of every denomination almost is going to the book of Revelation. Good for them. They're preparing the people.

Brother, isn't the rapture gonna take place and we're gonna escape all this? I hope for a preacher rapture, but I'm preparing for a mid one. Whatever hold of the rapture you have, you still need to get right with Christ. Because there's nothing in the Bible that says that just because you hold to a preacher rapture view that you won't suffer before then. And so I make a call from this text for you to repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Because he has set history in his prophetic calendar and nobody will change it. In fact, when you read Ezekiel 38 at lunch with your friends, you're gonna see that even through the Prophet that God calls the people to remember that he said this prophetic word. He's like, don't you realize that I said this? Don't you realize that I already declared this from of old? Don't you realize that Gog was the one that I spoke about many years ago?

He says that in the text. Why is prophecy given? Just to peak our interest? Just so we can hide in our basements? Just so we can have some conversation and some debate?

No. I'll tell you one reason why we understand prophecy and it's found in the book of first John. You don't have to turn there, but listen to John. Chapter three verse two. Beloved, we are God's children now and what will be has not yet appeared.

But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him because we shall see him as he is. Now look, and everyone who does hopes in him, purifies himself as he is pure. If you hope, if you believe that he's gonna return, there's a purifying work in that belief. A purifying work and understand that I'm gonna see him face to face. He's gonna come and he's gonna deal with Israel and he's gonna deal with the Gentiles, And it's not about him having this political view, and he believes that Israel should have these neighborhoods and Palestine.

No. It's about his character, his faithfulness, what he has said, and it's all about the gospel underneath. It's all about the gospel of Jesus Christ. It's all about even a text like this to draw your heart to him and to realize that things are gonna happen and you need to get ready. And so how do you pure your purify yourself?

Well, if you're a Christian, you sanctify yourself by the spirit. But if you're not a Christian, the only way you can be pure in the sight of Christ is receiving his blood and being washed by his blood. See, you coming to Christ is not you doing something to impress him. Christ took your place and he impressed the father on your behalf. And he took your judgment and he took your wrath and he took your hell and he made the payment for your iniquities and he calls you to embrace him and believe that you have nothing within yourself to offer God to have eternal life.

But Christ himself, your gift of salvation is all that God requires. So you receive that gift. You embrace that gift. And as you embrace it, the right attitude is, I don't want the sin that put him on the cross. I don't want the sin that grieves him to be a part of my life.

So you repent of your sin and you walk with Jesus from a place of approval and not for approval. Have you done that yet? Have you done that yet? What are you waiting for? Another pandemic?

What are you waiting for? Another lockdown? What are you waiting for? The mark of the beast? If we're gonna be there for that?

What are we waiting for? Today is the day of salvation. Yeah. Many people say ridiculous things. Well, if the rapture happens, then I know this whole thing is real, then I'll accept Christ.

Really? That's your plan. You clearly haven't read the book of Revelation to realize you have trouble going into a store without your mask and people yelling at you to put it over your nose. What happens when you can't buy food or drink unless you have the mark of the beast on your hand or your forehead? What happens when you can't get even your supply of food because you have not made your allegiance to the Antichrist?

You know, you're gonna have people on that day in their living rooms looking at their starving children. Their ribs are starting to show. It's been three days, four days, three weeks now without food, just water and pieces of bread, and they're gonna have to make a decision. Honey, let's just take the mark. Our kids are dying here.

Let's just do this and get it over with. We're we're dying. See, the antichrist is so pathetic that he can't win the hearts of the people like Jesus does, that he has to coerce them and pressure them and use an incentive like food and water. He is so desperate for worship, the devil. He is so that's why we see him with such intensity wanting to restrict Christ from coming and fulfilling his plan.

Jesus Christ is coming. Let's pray and prepare our hearts. Father, thank you for stirring our hearts through a text that perhaps would have intimidated us or hold no significance or value to our present day life. Lord, thank you that in the cross, there is no Jew or Gentile. Thank you that in the new covenant, we are all one, and we are equal in your sight.

Thank you that according to Romans 11, we are grafted into the olive tree as Gentiles. Thank you that you've used what seemed to look like a failure when the Messiah came to his own and they did not receive him, to actually give us a chance to be a part of your family. Lord, we pray that in this place, we would realize that we serve the God who knows the end from the beginning, who has declared the end from the start, who knows what will happen before it even happens and has told us about it. Lord, we rejoice in you. We rejoice in you, oh God, and we pray for the present crisis in Israel with Palestine, and we ask for one thing, souls to be saved.

People to come to the knowledge of Jesus Christ. People to realize that apart from Christ, there is no peace whether in land or in their hearts. And so both Jew, Gentile, Israeli, Palestinian, and everybody beyond that. May they see the need for Christ, the Prince of Peace. Lord, in this place together, we rejoice in knowing that we are on your side by faith through grace.

We will be on the side of victory at the end of it all. Thank you Lord, that you are the all knowing God. And Lord, if you know what will take place in The Middle East many years from now, you know what will take place in our own lives. You have a plan for each of us. And Lord, we pray that we would not be like the foolish virgins, and not take up oil, especially in these days where it is getting dark.

And help us Lord, be faithful servants with all that is happening in the world. Lord, we come to you and rejoice in your presence, for you are the God who speaks. In Jesus name we pray. Amen and amen. Let's stand and worship the Lord together with with a sense of rejoicing, knowing that even in a short prophecy like this, we know so much about who God is.