It’s a confederacy!

A whole “bloc” of nations (from large to small) ready to strike Israel! Sometime in the future, when (finally) that little Land is at peace, at rest.

Such a story, a prophecy, gives Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39.

Our job today is to try identifying these aggressors.

“Son of man, set thy face against GOG, the land of MAGOG, the chief prince of MESHECH and TUBAL, and prophesy against him, and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O GOG, the chief prince of MESHECH and TUBAL: and I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords: PERSIA, ETHIOPIA, and LIBYA with them; all of them with shield and helmet: GOMER, and all his bands; the house of TOGARMAH of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee. Be thou prepared, and prepare for thyself, thou, and all thy company that are assembled unto thee, and be thou a guard unto them. After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them.” Verses 2-8 of Ezekiel 38.

In Hebrew “Gog” just means “mountains.” But this could be a proper name, or a title to a ruler of a certain land called “Magog.” That’s not much to work with, grammatically, etymologically. But every conservative textbook I can find tells me that these people likely lived somewhere in Asia Minor, NORTH of Israel. (Between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, says one annotated Bible.) On a map locate “Georgia,” formerly part of the USSR, that general area.

“Meshech” is clearly a “chief prince,” thus a man. The City “Moscow” may preserve this name, as “Tubal” well may identify present-day “Tbilisi.” (Any map of that area will show you.) We could be talking (I believe so) about the vast Russian Nation and its environs! Still, north of Israel and clearly (once again) a world power! Furthermore, these people are descendants of Noah’s son Japheth. “The sons of Japheth; GOMER, and MAGOG, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and MESHECH, and Tiras.” Genesis 10:1, King James Version

But this force has company! Allies! “Persia” is certainly “Iran.” And “Ethiopia” and “Lybia” still exist and are more easily identified. These nations (yet) despise Israel, even questioning her right to exist!

“Gomer,” at least all my life as a student of Scripture, has been identified with the Germanic people. But one trustworthy set of notes locates Gomer in Crimea, that area. With “Togarmah” being near Armenia.

Here come attackers toward little Israel from the north, east and south! The Mediterranean Sea is directly to her west. Surrounded by her foes! A massive army, apparently! Sometime during the Tribulation, its last half, probably. I’ll explain this later.

Notice the phrases like “a great company” and “all of them” and “all his bands” and “many people.” Sounds like half the world against God’s chosen people, the “apple” of God’s Eye!

But, did you see this? God has already told us the result of this impending battle, prior to the first shot being fired! “I am AGAINST thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: and I WILL TURN THEE BACK, and PUT HOOKS INTO THY JAWS, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords.” Defeat, promised!

Putting hooks into the jaws of one’s prisoners-of-war was a common (and cruel) ancient practice. Painful and humiliating, debilitating as well. Like a “caught” fish on a line!

What a chapter! (One of the most difficult, along with chapter 39, passages in the whole Book of Ezekiel, the teachers all say!)

More tomorrow morning, the Lord willing. Maybe even with a few people trying to “withstand” this onslaught, these “bullies” ganging up on a nearly “helpless” victim.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Psalm 83 describes another united war against Israel! But the nations described there “touch” the Land of Israel, are much closer. While the nations depicted in our Ezekiel Text are further away, not directly touching that Holy Land! Yet there could be some conformity between the two Texts, between Ezekiel 38-39 and Psalm 83.

 

Today we begin our study of a “pair” of chapters from Ezekiel, probably his “prophetic” magnum opus! Ezekiel 38 and 39 concern Bible prophecy, for sure. A denunciation of a bloc of nations, all of whom “hate” Israel!

“And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, set thy face against ….” Ezekiel 38:1, negative indeed! ” AGAINST …!  (Against these godless peoples, but very much FOR the Jews!)

Today I want to tell you “about” this vast Text (again chapters 38 and 39, all 52 verses) before (tomorrow) we begin a more detailed discussion of this Material.

I feel as if I almost have a “history” with this Portion of Scripture.

Two of my Uncles were Preachers, Evangelists actually, and one of them (Dr. Jack Green) loved this Part of Ezekiel. In fact, both delighted in Bible Prophecy! I remember as a young Pastor driving across Atlanta one evening to hear him preach (at a combined Service, a number of Churches participating) Ezekiel 38 and 39, which he entitled “When Russia Marches South!”

Furthermore, as a young boy (probably 13-14 years old, if that) I have memories (sweet ones) of my Grandma Green and Aunt Sadie, their strong love for the Bible. And they let me read some material on Ezekiel 38 and 39 published by Dr. Theodore Epp (a Bible Teacher of that day). I recall trying to catalogue this list of nations, getting into my mind their locations and associations. And delighting to think that my Country (the USA) might stand WITH Israel in those dark days!

Now much later … as an Evangelist myself, I still feel “captivated” by this marvelous Text! And I believe God wants me to preach this two-chapter Unit in God’s Word! To preach it again, having tried several times in my years in the Ministry, back in my days as a Pastor.

I have already ordered the “booklets,” small “Bible Portions” with these two chapters printed therein, a handy way of encouraging folks to repeatedly read the Text as a Revival week proceeds.

So now … the Lord (since we have been traveling through Ezekiel anyway) has given me the opportunity to begin studying this horde of enemies and their attack on the Land of Israel. Pray with me please about this planned preaching endeavor. I KNOW it is of the Lord.

Get ready now.

A lot of “geography” must be discussed, in Ezekiel 38 and 39.

And quite a bit of detail. In fact, it will take several days to cover these two chapters. Taking a “literal” view of its content, not trying to “explain it away,” not merely “spiritualizing” it!

Tomorrow morning, the Lord willing, we shall try to identify these aggressors. We shall all leave that Lesson (I suspect) astounded at the relevance of this part of Ezekiel, its clear connection to the geo-political landscape we’re facing right now on planet earth!

God’s Word, what a Book!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

As we traveled this week to our Revival Meeting (which began yesterday morning, this being Monday), Debbie was up front driving. And I was in the back seat reading, studying for the upcoming Sermons. That’s when I saw the “connection!”

How very (inordinately) many ways the Prophet Ezekiel seems to be like the Prophet Moses! This theme will occupy a whole lesson (if not two) at the end of the Ezekiel Series, I suspect.

But today, in Ezekiel 37:15-28, we see one of this similarities.

God instructions are simple, clear: “The word of the LORD came again unto me (Ezekiel), saying, Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah (the southern kingdom), and for the children of Israel his companions … then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim (the northern kingdom), and for all the house of Israel his companions.” Verses 15-16, these wood pieces being “emblems” of two kingdoms long ago separated by civil war! So much so that multitudes (scholars included) have called Ephraim “the LOST ten tribes” of Israel! (Not lost to God, apparently!)

Our Lord immediately continues: “And (Ezekiel) join them (these two pieces of timber) one to another into one stick; and THEY SHALL BECOME ONE in thine hand.” Verse 17, which I would certainly call a “miracle!” Fusion! Instant grafting! Unification! (Incidentally, this is the last of a long series of “action sermons” that God asked Ezekiel to preach.)

Note: Moses performed some miraculous “action sermons,” too! Exodus 17:6, for one example. “Behold, I (the Lord) will stand before thee (Moses) there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt SMITE THE ROCK, and there shall COME WATER OUT of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.” Yes, I do believe it. (Think of the “rod” that became a “serpent,” too!)

But for now, back to Ezekiel. “And when the children of thy people shall speak unto thee, saying, Wilt thou not shew us WHAT THOU MEANEST by these? Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and MAKE THEM ONE STICK, and THEY SHALL BE ONE in mine hand.” Verses 18-19, this (to me) being as exciting as the dry bones coming together! A bright future awaits the people of God, the Jews! Harmony yet again! (Sort of gives Psalm 133 “fresh” meaning, too!)

But it gets even better! God is going to send them a King! (King Jesus!) “And the sticks whereon thou writest shall be in thine hand before their eyes. And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and WILL GATHER THEM on every side, and bring them into their own land: and I WILL MAKE THEM ONE NATION (!!!) in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and ONE KING (!!!) shall be King to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all.” Verses 20-22, King James Version, Wow! Jesus is coming again!

Here’s God cleansing them now! “Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I WILL SAVE THEM out of all their dwellingplaces, wherein they have sinned, and WILL CLEANSE THEM: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God.” Verse 23, “I WILL SAVE THEM,” see that?

National Salvation!

Sinners born again, one by one!

Next, the Millennium: “And David (Jesus as the Root and Offspring of David) my servant shall be KING over them; and they all shall have ONE SHEPHERD: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them. And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children’s children for ever: and my servant David shall be their prince for ever.” Verses 24-25, “forever” and “forever!”

Chapter’s end: “Moreover I (God) will make A COVENANT OF PEACE with them; it shall be AN EVERLASTING COVENANT with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set MY SANCTUARY (TEMPLE) in the midst of them for evermore. My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And the heathen (Gentiles) shall know that I the LORD do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore.” Verses 26-28, what glorious news!

I am amazed, thrilled, thankful to have been allowed of God to write these words today!

Hallelujah!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Folks, a whole nation just got saved!

 

Ezekiel 37:1-14 may be the best-known Text in all the Book of Ezekiel. The vision of the valley of dry, dead bones! Bones which suddenly came to life … on the command of God!

Notice that Ezekiel is here said to be “in the spirit.” And God gives him a “tour” of this vast valley of death. “The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones, and caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry.” The first two verses of the chapter, where such a collection of dry (dead) bones must have once been a battlefield! One in which these “victims” were slaughtered en masse! Nearly a whole army, just as well say a whole (though small) nation!

Then God asks His Prophet a question. “Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest.” Verse 3, “live?” What a miracle that would be! (Sometime study the questions God asks in the Old Testament! Or Jesus asked in the New Testament. Enlightening!)

The Lord continues His instructions: “Prophesy (preach) upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live: And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.” See here that God is the CAUSE behind this miracle! God is rebuilding this army, this nation! Miraculously, again I emphasize, verses 4-6. (Bones to be overlaid with muscle, flesh and skin!)

So Ezekiel (as usual) obeys: “So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a NOISE, and behold a SHAKING, and the bones came together, bone to his bone. And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them.” Wow, verses 7-8. I would be interesting to study the “noises, sounds” God’s mighty acts produce! As on the Day of Pentecost! And as when the Rapture occurs!

Get ready now! “Then said he  (the Lord) unto me (Ezekiel), Prophesy unto the WIND (“ruach” often meaning “spirit” too), prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O BREATH, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live. So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.” Verses 9 an 10, the very Breath of God, I suspect!

Remember when God “breathed” into a pile of dirt (in Eden) … and Adam became a “living soul?” (Genesis 2:7 … “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”) Same principle here!

Then God explains the vision, the experience: “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts.” The Jews, all 12 tribes, verse 11, the “whole” house of Israel.

Wow, national resurrection!

Then in the next verse (12) God sort of changes metaphors a bit. From dead bones in an open field to (still dead) bones, but now in some grave! “Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your GRAVES, and cause you to come up out of your GRAVES, and bring you into the land of Israel. And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your GRAVES, O my people, and brought you up out of your GRAVES, and bring you into the land of Israel.” Amazing, what Grace and Mercy and Love! God here again calls them “My people!”

Bring the scattered ones “back” to Israel!

But there’s more, even better too! Salvation ahead for Israel! “And ye (the Jewish population) shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves.” Well, I guess so! No longer blind, verse 13.

Still, in verse 14 it gets sweeter! “And I (the Lord) shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD.” That’s being “born-again,” folks! God’s Holy spirit, within!

What hope this must infuse into the hearts of the Jewish people, yet today! At least some of them.

Truly for the Israelites … “For His anger endureth but a moment; in His favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Psalm 30:5

One word, Hallelujah!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

After an opening (short) paragraph promising more judgment on wicked nations (with Edom still being an example, a representative) … Ezekiel chapter 36 is one of the “brightest” chapters in the Book. At least, so far!

The chapter almost gives the “plan of salvation!”

It begins, of course, with sin. “Son of man, when the house of Israel dwelt in their own land, they defiled it by their own way and by their doings (sins): their way was before me as the uncleanness of a removed woman.” Verse 17

Next is discussed God’s “Pity, Grace.” (Ironically “Pity” for His Own Name’s Sake, as much, if not more, than “pity” for Israel! Compare this thought to Ephesians 4:32 … “Even as God FOR CHRIST’S SAKE hath forgiven you.” Wow!)  Verse 21 of Ezekiel 36 … “But I had pity for MINE HOLY NAME, which the house of Israel had profaned among the heathen, whither they went.”

Then God makes a move, the first move, toward Israel’s salvation! “For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.” The regathering of a scattered people, verse 24. (God made the first move when I was saved, too. Having the Holy Spirit “convict” me of sin. At which point I trusted Him as my Saviour!)

The comes “cleansing!” Ezekiel 36:25 … “Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.” Perhaps the “Water of the Word,” like Paul mentioned in Ephesians 5:26.

After which comes the Holy Spirit, His Ministry! “And I (the Lord) will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.” Verse 27, yes this is Salvation, undoubtedly!

Then … clean living (sanctification, we’d call it today), followed by blessing upon blessing! “I will also SAVE YOU from all your uncleannesses: and I will call for the corn, and will increase it, and lay no famine upon you. And I will multiply the fruit of the tree, and the increase of the field, that ye shall receive no more reproach of famine among the heathen. Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations.” Verses 29-31, signs of spiritual growth already! (Like Paul’s “chief of sinners” mentality!) Regret over not coming to God earlier!

Surely we’re looking into the future, here! (Israel is NOT saved yet, folks, not by a long shot!) This is Millennial in nature: “Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day that I shall have cleansed you from all your iniquities I will also cause you to dwell in the cities, and the wastes shall be builded. And the desolate land shall be tilled, whereas it lay desolate in the sight of all that passed by. And they shall say, This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are become fenced, and are inhabited.” Verses 33-35, note the historical reference to Eden, please.

God’s future (salvation) plan for His people, the Jews!

Chapter’s close: “I the LORD have spoken it, and I will do it.” Verse 36, its last line.

All I can say is … “WOW!”

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

One more thought. Although God’s Plans here are clearly “set in stone,” unchangeable, steadfast … He still wants Israel (and her friends) to PRAY for these things to happen! “I the LORD have spoken it, and I will do it. Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will yet for this BE ENQUIRED OF (“darash” meaning “sought, consulted, begged, required, asked”) by the house of Israel, to do it for them.” Apparently, God LOVES to hear us pray! Oh, the power of intercession!