This Ezekiel 38-39 Text does unfold rather slowly.
Today’s verses add to the Story, however.
Here God is (still) speaking: “Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say unto Gog, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In that day when my people of Israel dwelleth safely, shalt thou not know it? And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army: and thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes.” Ezekiel 38:14-16
Same Text now, with a few notations …
“Therefore, son of man (Ezekiel), prophesy (preach) and say unto Gog (a Jew hating alliance), Thus saith the Lord GOD; In that day when MY PEOPLE (a term of endearment) of Israel dwelleth safely, shalt thou not know it? And thou shalt come from thy place out of the NORTH PARTS (much of the former Soviet Union, likely including Russia), thou, and many people with thee (allies), all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a MIGHTY ARMY: and thou shalt come up AGAINST my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the LATTER DAYS (the Tribulation, its first half), and I WILL BRING THEE against MY LAND (God apparently holding the Deed to this Holy Land), that the heathen (Gentiles) may know me, when I shall be sanctified (acknowledged, recognized), in thee, O Gog, before their eyes.” Ezekiel 38:14-16
The Text opens with an example of espionage! Spies at work! Russia and her allies “know” of Israel’s peaceful state! “In that day when my people of Israel dwelleth safely, shalt thou not know it?” The question’s implied answer is YES. Reconnaissance!
During the first part of the Tribulation the Anti-Christ will pretend to be at peace with little Israel. The in the middle of that seven year period he will “break” his covenant with them! “And he (anti-Christ) shall confirm the covenant (peace treaty) with many for one week (one “unit” of sevens, seven years): and in the midst of the week (at the 3 1/2 year point) he shall cause the sacrifice (on the altar in the Jewish Temple) and the oblation to cease (seeking to stop the Jews worshipping), and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate ….” Daniel 9:27 (Folks, the anti-Christ beast will demand that the Jews worship HIM thereafter!)
So, during that time of “false peace” Israel dwells (she thinks) in relative safety! That’s … “The day when my people of Israel dwelleth safely.”
Then look, apparently out of greed (as well as hatred of anything Jewish). It is the personal decision of these “enemies” to attack Israel. “THOU SHALT COME (of their own free-will) from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army: and thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land.”
Bad decision!
But then almost immediately God proclaims: “It shall be in the latter days, and I WILL BRING THEE against my land.” Now God is the Cause of the invasion! He (the Lord) will do this thing! Fulfilling another aspect of His end-time Plan, His perfect Will!
But these aggressors are still culpable, still accountable, still “guilty,” still going to be severely “judged of God” … in fact, they are ALL about to die!
Greed and hatred motivated them … but then God allowed them … why?
The text has the answer. With God still speaking … “that the heathen MAY KNOW ME, when I SHALL BE SANCTIFIED in thee, O Gog, before their eyes.”
All this … for God’s glory!
Which results, ultimately, in the salvation of thousands, if not millions!
Including, the whole little (remaining, the remnant) of Israel!
Wow!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
Paul in 1 Corinthians 10:31 … “Whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”
Amazing!
But do keep in mind, God’s GLORY includes his LOVE and KINDNESS and MERCY too!
He is perfectly Holy, Righteous!