Articles by Edward Thomas

This is a future war in the latter days. There is much debate about whether this war occurs before the rapture, before the tribulation, at the beginning of the tribulation, at the middle or end of the tribulation, before the 1000 year reign of Christ and after the 1000 year reign of Christ.

Gog/Magog Invasion and other prophetic events

1. Gog/Magog war-Who is Gog? I believe he is an satanic angelic being that gives power to the leader of this coalition. Just like the “Prince of Persia” mentioned in Daniel 9, he is the power behind it.

Introduction:  summary of proposed placement of Gog/Magog Wars.  There are two Gog/Magog wars described in scriptures. The one in Revelation 20 is at the end of the millennium.  The one described in Ezekiel 38-39 could occur before the tribulation, at the beginning of the tribulation or possibly even in the period of time after the tribulation but before the 1000 year reign of Christ.

Principles:

1. Taking a literal approach
   1. The events described are future and literal
   1. If you do not take the prophecies literally, then everyone gets their own  symbolic interpretation. As a result interpretations are all over the place and the truth becomes diluted.  The incredible nature of the accuracy of God’s prophecies lose their power and meaning.
   1. All of the prophecies of Jesus first coming were fulfilled literally.  It only makes sense that the prophecies about his 2^nd coming are also fulfilled literally.
   1. If the plain sense makes sense, seek no other sense or you end up with nonsense.
   1. After 300 AD the regathering of Israel (as stated in the biblical prophecies of the Old and New Testament) seemed impossible, so a symbolic interpretation was the only way to manage these prophecies.  Augustine adopted this approach called Amillenialism and it is the most dominant view today.  But with Israel regathered in 1948, the literal approach has become more popular. 
   1. The angel told Daniel that in the last days the prophecies would be unsealed.  That is happening today.  We are seeing the restoration and regathering of Israel and see how the increase in technology makes it possible for some prophecies (worldwide mark of the beast, everyone sees two witnesses dead in the street, every eye sees Jesus return) to happen.  This  strongly argues for a literal interpretation of the prophecies.

• Concept of an increasing Kingdom that never stops increasing (Isaiah 9:7)-ESV
  • Not everyone will accept this new King…it will take time and goes into eternity. 
  • He will rule them with a rod of iron (an indication of dissenters)
  • He will send rain on nations that do not come annually to worship the King in Jerusalem (Zechariah 14:18-19)
  • There will never be a time when God’s Kingdom is complete. It will be forever increasing
• The two Gog/Magog wars are not the same war (described in Ezekiel 38-39   and Revelation 20:7-9)
  • The Ezekiel invasion has army destroyed in the northern mountains of Israel
  • The Revelation 20 invasion has the army surrounding the city of Jerusalem before they are destroyed
  • The Ezekiel invasion shows the hordes carrying weapons and horses
  • The Revelation 20 does not mention any weapons or horses
  • The Ezekiel invasion shows invaders from the north-a limited number of nations described by name
  • The Revelation 20 show invaders from all 4 corners of the earth
  • The Ezekiel invasion shows the invading nations come to take a spoil
  • The Revelation 20 shows the invaders coming to defeat Jesus once for all

Supporting Points that the Gog/Magog battle may occur after the tribulation but before the 1000 year reign of Christ:

1. This invasion occurs in the latter days as mentioned in Ezekiel 38:8

• From this point on, no one will profane the Holy name of the Lord God (only after the 7 year tribulation will this be true as the anti-christ and the nations profane His name all during the tribulation)

• They will not profane the Holy One in Israel (shows that Jesus has already returned to earth as He is “in” Israel)

• Before the judgement of the nations in Matthew 25, the Gog/Magog coalition attempts to test this new king before His actual inauguration and come down upon Israel to take a spoil of great riches from Israel’s water, oil and massive natural gas reserves.

• Ezekiel mentions that walls and gates are torn down within Israel.  Right now Israel is one of the most walled nations in the world.  These walls will not be torn down until Jesus comes back and Israel’s enemies are defeated.

• Ezekiel says Israel will be an unsuspecting people when this invasion occurs.  This cannot happen until Israel’s enemies are defeated.  Their mantra right now is “never again” which refers to the holocaust.  Their mindset is that they will never be defeated by war and will always be alert.  This may not happen until Jesus returns and they feel protected by their Messiah! Or perhaps the 7 year covenant confirmed by the anti-christ gives them the perception that they can let down their guard. Yes, the timing of this battle has strategic implications.

• Jerusalem will dwell in security (Zechariah 14:11 says this will not happen until the millennial kingdom)

• Ezekiel says that Israel will be regathered and a people recovering from war.  This is still ongoing as thousands of Jews are still returning to Israel every year.  This will not be totally fulfilled until the return of Jesus and the end of the 7 year tribulation when Jesus gathers all the Jews (the elect) from all over the world.   (Matthew 24: 30-31)  They will also be recovering from the campaign and war of Armageddon. 
• Some say there is not enough time after the glorious return of Jesus and the start of His 1000 year reign from Jerusalem for the Ezekiel 38 invasion to take place.  But we know that His reign will not begin immediately after He returns.  And remember that this invasion is not really a war and will be over in days.  The armies are all destroyed in the northern mountains of Israel. So only a few days is enough time for this invasion to happen.  We know the 2^nd half of the tribulation ends after 1260 days from the abomination of desolation.  However, Daniel mentions that blessed is he who makes it to the 1335^th day.  Why the extra 75 days? Here are things that could happen in that 75 days assuming Jesus reign starts at the end of these additional 75 days:

-cleansing of the temple that has been desolated

-throwing the anti-christ and false prophet into the lake of fire

-sheep/goat judgement of the nations to see who is allowed to enter

-stop any possible rebellion by the survivors of the 7 year tribulation

-organize a new government and set up new national boundaries

-restore the devastation of what is left of the planet

-put an end to war

1.  Test the new King before His reign gets started.  The Ezekiel coalition may seek to pounce on Israel to take a spoil during the transition and set up of Jesus government.  Jerusalem is rebuilding from the tribulation chaos.  Israel is in disheaval.  The army is non existent.  Their guard is down and this is a perfect time to test this new King and take a spoil before the coming judgments of the nations mentioned in Matthew 25.  The modern weapons of war have been devastated at the battle of Armageddon so all they have left are horses, swords and shields. It is a risky advance from the north (Russia, Iran, Turkey, former Soviet provinces and others) but they have no choice.  Their economies and land have been devastated by war and the 7 year tribulation judgements and they desperately need the resources (oil, natural gas, and water) that Israel still has.

Prophetic Observations:

1. Israel burns weapons for 7 years after Ezekiel 38 war:
   1. In the aftermath of the Ezekiel war there will be 7 years of burning weapons are a reminder to Israel of the time of Jacobs trouble that will never happen again! What a great way to start the millennium…commemorating what the Lord has done! Will the burning of these weapons be during the 7 year tribulation or during the first 7 years of the millennial kingdom?  Perhaps there could be some overlap.  Perhaps the burning of these weapons will be 3.5 years before the 7 year tribulation and 3.5 years up to the midpoint of the tribulation.  Or perhaps it will be the first 7 years of the 1000 year reign of Christ.  I suspect that as we get closer to this event it will become clearer. I imagine that the timing is all part of battle strategy.

• Invading horde brings horses, shields, swords, and spears (this is literal, not symbolic)
  • An EMP, Volcanic eruption, a catastrophic asteroid, huge sunspot, or a world wide earthquake could make modern weapons obsolete.  If this battle occurs during the beginning of the millennium, then a decree by Jesus to eliminate all war, would make modern weapons useless.