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!

 

Just one verse?

For today, yes. And it is a “hard” one to interpret, at that. I know what I “hope” it means, but that does not count! I know what the army of “commentators” say of it, but they are often wrong! So we must study the words, the names, and see how the Lord leads us.

But we also need to keep 2 Peter 1:20 in mind. “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.” I have not the right to demand that my unique little “idea” is infallible! That I “alone, privately, without any consultation” can decide with all authority what this little verse means! I require (in my human frailty) the Holy Spirit’s illumination! And the wisdom of others (godly men) who have through the years studied this amazing Text.

But, what Text?

“Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee (Russia and her allies), Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil?” Ezekiel 38:13, to decimate little Israel?

First, let’s see if we can first determine the identity of these places. “Sheba” is a Semitic word meaning “seven,” or an “oath.” It can also be a proper name. It is thought to be a nation in southern Arabia.

“Dedan” is also oriented toward the “sons of Shem,” meaning “low country,” the place is likely another smaller Arab nation who refuses to take part in the upcoming invasion. For whatever reason, we are not told.

Then “Tarshish,” which really means “precious stone.” This is probably a European nation! Some say “Spain.” Others believe “England!” (This is how it was taught when I was a younger Bible student!) “England” with all her “young lions,” with all her “offspring.” Members of the once mighty British Empire! (If this interpretation is accurate, the United States would be included under that “umbrella!”)

I pray so!

Because these national entities at least “question” what Gog and Magog and that wicked horde are planning to do! “Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil?” As in: “What do you think you are doing? Your aggression is illegal, a violation of international law!”

Opposition … to Russia (clearly much of the area covered by the former USSR) and her allies … may have just surfaced!

I pray America always stands as a supporter of Israel. As a lover of the people from whom Jesus our Lord was born, humanly speaking. (“Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: and I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing … and I (the Lord) will BLESS them that BLESS thee, and CURSE him that CURSETH thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” Genesis 12:1-3)

Now, it would only be honest for me to tell you I have shared (taught) today what is a “minority” view. Increasingly so, in fact. Many today believe that Sheba, Dedan and Tarshish are merely trying to invite themselves to the “spoil,” to the booty of Russia’s conquest. Just 3 more voracious predators!

Other “scholars” now do not see Spain or England or any other European nation in the mix, not at all. But many of these “professors” are not pro-Israel any longer, either! And some may not even be saved!

I’m sticking to my upbringing! To the old fashioned Preachers of bygone years.

“Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish (Britain), with all the young lions (members of her once-mighty Empire) thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil?” Ezekiel 38:13, maybe they’ll not just “say” … but “do something” stronger!

I must close for today.

But let’s at least observe (obey) this verse today. “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.” Psalm 122:6, where “pray” is indeed an “imperative” verb!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

 

Israel seems to have had enemies, perpetually!

As long as there has been a Jew, there has been someone to hate that Jew.

One reason being the Jewish people are the family through which God sent His Son into the world.

The nearly supernatural (world-wide) despite for that little nation is PROOF to me my Bible is the Truth. At least one of the (many) proofs I have used to buttress my faith.

Today in Ezekiel 38:9-12 this fact is further elucidated. God is here telling the anti-Semitic armies, a confederacy of vast proportions, some things …

“Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee. Thus saith the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought: and thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates, to take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land.” King James Version, word for word.

Now, King James Version, but I have placed (in parentheses) some brief comments further explaining the sense of the Paragraph.  “Thou (Russia and her allies) shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land (Israel), thou, and all thy bands (cohorts), and many people (united nations, against Israel) with thee. Thus saith the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought (God even knows our thoughts): and thou shalt say (and our words), I will go up to the land of unwalled villages (less protected); I will go to them that are at rest (at peace), that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates, to take a spoil (loot, riches), and to take a prey (living things); to turn thine hand upon (against) the (once) desolate places that are now inhabited (a repopulated Israel), and upon the people that are gathered out (no longer scattered) of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods (God has again blessed them materially), that dwell (have homes) in the midst of the land (the Holy Land).”

Does God know the future, or what?

And folks, this has NOT yet happened, not literally. But it will some day. When Israel is “at peace.” (Personally I believe during the Tribulation, its first half. When the anti-Christ has signed a “peace treaty” with Israel. One which he will “break” of course, he being a liar.)

This further indicates that in those latter days, Russia will again be (or still be) a major world power! (If our interpretation of “Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal” be right, quoting Ezekiel 38:2-3, yesterday’s lesson.)

One preacher defines “prophecy” as: “History written in advance!”

Well then, we have a fine example of such in today’s Text!

And tomorrow, more, the Lord willing.

Looks like someone just might stand up for Israel!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

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