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"The comparison between Ezekiel's prophecy and John's Revelation are stunningly similar. Yet, because the Revelation account doesn't fit their scenario, some teach that God isn't really saying what He means."
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The Biblical View of Gog And Magog
Brian Culliton
Not many Old Testament end-times prophecies are as easy to identify in the New Testament as portions of Ezekiel chapters, 38-48. The similarities between Ezekiel's prophecy and John's Revelation are remarkably clear. But regardless of how clearly the prophecies connect, many teach that they are referring to two completely different events. Middle East expert Dr. Mark Hitchcock is one who holds to such a view.
Two of Dr. Hitchcock's articles on Gog and Magog appear on the Pre-Trib Research Center website. In one of his articles titled, "When Will the Battle of Gog and Magog Occur?," Dr. Hitchcock examines several different views. Among them is the only view that accounts for the term "Gog and Magog" appearing in the New Testament. This view makes the simple connection between Ezekiel and Revelation in which the battle of Gog and Magog occurs after the millennium has ended. Dr. Hitchcock even calls this view attractive for that reason. However, Dr. Hitchcock sees problems with the view and makes the following remark:
"Gog and Magog in Ezek 38-39 is before the millennium which is described in Ezek 40-48; whereas, in Rev 20:7-10 the battle of Gog and Magog is after the millennium described in Rev 20:1-6."
This argument would have merit if Ezekiel 40-48 truly describes the millennium, but that's not what the prophecy appears to be about. When Ezekiel 38-48 is compared to John's post-millennium revelation, several remarkable similarities immerge.
The nations are deceived:
Ezekiel 38:10: "After many days you will be visited. In the latter years you will come into the land of those brought back from the sword and gathered from many people on the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate; they were brought out of the nations, and now all of them dwell safely. You will ascend, coming like a storm, covering the land like a cloud, you and all your troops and many peoples with you. Thus says the Lord GOD: 'On that day it shall come to pass that thoughts will arise in your mind, and you will make an evil plan.'"
Revelation 20:7-8: "Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea."
God's destruction of Magog:
Ezekiel 39:6: "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."
Revelation 20:9: "They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them."
The prophets see New Jerusalem:
Ezekiel 40:2: "In the visions of God He took me into the land of Israel and set me on a very high mountain; on it toward the south was something like the structure of a city."
Revelation 21:10: "And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God."
The gates of the city named for the 12 tribes of Israel:
Ezekiel 48:31-34: "The gates of the city shall be named after the tribes of Israel, the three gates northward: one gate for Reuben, one gate for Judah, and one gate for Levi; on the east side, four thousand five hundred cubits, three gates: one gate for Joseph, one gate for Benjamin, and one gate for Dan; on the south side, measuring four thousand five hundred cubits, three gates: one gate for Simeon, one gate for Issachar, and one gate for Zebulun; on the west side, four thousand five hundred cubits with their three gates: one gate for Gad, one gate for Asher, and one gate for Naphtali."
Revelation 21:12-13: "Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west."
The River of Life:
Ezekiel 47:1: "Then he brought me back to the door of the temple; and there was water, flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward the east, for the front of the temple faced east; the water was flowing from under the right side of the temple, south of the altar."
Revelation 22:1: "And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb."
The Tree of Life:
Ezekiel 47:12: "Along the bank of the river, on this side and that, will grow all kinds of trees used for food; their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month, because their water flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for medicine [or healing]."
Revelation 22:2: "In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations."
The Lord is there:
Ezekiel 48:35: "All the way around shall be eighteen thousand cubits; and the name of the city from that day shall be: THE LORD IS THERE [Hebrew: YHWH Shammah]"
Revelation 21:3-4: "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."
A post millennial Magog battle is also contested because some fail to understand that prophecy is not written like a storybook. Dr. Hitchcock provides an example:
"In Ezek 39 the bodies of Gog and his troops are buried for seven months and the weapons are burned for seven years after the battle, yet in Rev 20-21 the Great White Throne, new heaven and new earth, and eternal state immediately follow the battle of Gog and Magog. The post-millennial view would require the burying and burning to continue into the eternal state."
This view is based entirely on assumption. There is nothing to indicate that the Great White Thrown judgment immediately follows the battle. The judgment does follow in sequence, but it cannot be said that it follows immediately; that information cannot be ascertained from the sacred text.
Dr. Hitchcock attempts to disassociate John's mention of Gog and Magog from Ezekiel's by saying, "The words Gog and Magog in Rev 20:8 are probably used as someone today would apply the word "Waterloo" as a shorthand way to signal a crushing military defeat. During the millennium, the defeat of Gog and Magog in Ezek 38-39 will apparently become legendary among the nations. John applies this overwhelming defeat to a new historical situation. Satan will lead this final invasion and will meet his 'Waterloo'-his 'Gog and Magog.'"
Think about it; John, who wrote these prophecies to the church almost 2000 years ago, is using an expression, that to date has never been an expression to describe something that will happen at the end of the millennium? This makes absolutely no sense.
It is rather peculiar how some Bible teachers and Christian apologists, who remind us constantly to follow God through His word, tell us not to believe what we read in God's word. I don't think they mean to be doing that, but that is exactly what they are doing when they tell us that John is using Gog and Magog as a figure of speech. The comparison between Ezekiel's prophecy and John's Revelation are stunningly similar. Yet, because the Revelation account doesn't fit their scenario, some teach that God isn't really saying what He means.
Conclusion:
The Bible is not meant to be a complicated mystery for well educated theologians with good speaking and writing abilities. The Bible is meant to be the means by which we can come to know God. If we would all drop our theological biases and focus on learning of Him, I'm sure He would be pleased with us.
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