TIMING OF THE GOG/MAGOG WAR

The Problem with Prophecy -

Prophecy is like a jig-saw, it is scattered throughout the word of God, like jig-saw pieces on a table.

Most of the prophets commissioned by God to speak on His behalf, were given a little piece of information (sometimes about a range of subjects) and these were recorded, as God spoke to them, and through them, and eventually these prophecies became part of our Bible as we have it today.    However, as we now understand prophecy, none of them were given the “complete” picture, but just a “part” of the whole.   Thus the Apostle Paul said 1 Cor. 13:12  “For now we see through a glass darkly;  but then face to face;  now I know in part;  but then shall I know even as also I am known.”

Today, we have a record of those various prophecies which are scattered throughout the scriptures.   We can sometimes gather separate bits of individual scenarios, piece by piece and gain a better idea of parts of the big-picture, and some would even say that we can see and recognize almost all of the end-time “entities” but how they fit into the “big picture” time-line is very difficult, because no one has seen the complete picture.    Not one of us has all the “pieces”, and without the “big picture on the lid of the box” it is difficult to know what fits where. 

A further factor that contributes to the difficulty is that the prophetic jig-saw puzzle is double sided – one side of the puzzle deals with “events” which were fulfilled in the past, and the other side deals with “events” yet to be fulfilled in the future.   To make matters even worse, some prophetic events have “types” or more than one fulfilment.    How are we then to decide which pieces of the puzzle are to fit in the future, when we have never been there, and how do we identify the pieces of the puzzle which relate to the past, when sometimes historical records are sketchy to say the least.     In the last three centuries, since the invention of the printed page, and the publication of multiple copies of books, various people have tried to make it all fit according to the historical scenario in which they found themselves, and their ideas haven’t come to pass.     I guess it is the same today, those who are looking for Russia to come down from the North, see Russia as Gog and Magog.    Those who follow the genealogical traces of ancient people groups, find Gog and Magog in Western Turkey and associated areas.   But no one can look at a Map today and point with certainty to the land of Magog – however, one can easily identify their associates – i.e. Persia (modern Iran), Ethiopia and Libya.  

If we were living 600 years ago, prior to 1492 and Columbus, and we came across a prophecy that talked about a peaceful land of stars and stripes, inhabited by a race of mixed ethnic stock called Americans, that went to war in metal machines that flew like birds, it would all seem rather strange to us, unbelievable in fact, because no one had ever heard of America, and the very thought of men flying like birds was limited to men of vision like Leonardo da Vinci.   So likewise, no one has heard of Gog and Magog, except as named in prophecy in Ezekiel and Revelation; and as recorded in British folklore; being the survivors of a race of giants destroyed by Brutus, the legendary founder of Britain!

My New Bible Dictionary states about Gog and Magog “that the linkage with peoples at the extremities of the then known world suggests that we are to regard them as eschatological figures rather than as a historically identifiable king etc.   This is the interpretation in Rev. 20:8 and rabbinic literature.”

Could it be therefore, that this people group and their “chief prince” are so difficult to identify, because they are not a Nation yet, and will not be such until the millennial reign of Christ is nearing its conclusion???     After all, there was no such place as Thailand, until 1939 when it changed its name from Siam!    Or what about Myanmar – my old Enclopedia has no entry under that name, but it does under Burma!    The fact is that Nations change over time and perhaps Gog and Magog will appear in the future.   However, to get back to the topic…

Connecting Prophecies -

Discerning where prophecies “connect” is like the several blind men trying to describe an elephant by “touch” when they have never seen one.    They could describe the parts, - some bits were like rope, a snake, a tree trunk - but they couldn’t see the whole elephant or understand how the pieces fitted together.   However, just as the elephant’s “trunk” is connected to the head (where it is supported), and not to the tail (where it would fall on the ground!!), so I believe there are scriptures that show us where end-time events connect in the right place.

One of the scripture passages that we could describe as “connective” of some of the pieces comes right at the end of the Bible in Revelation 19:20 to 20:11.

The Gog-Magog War is one of those parts or “little” pictures, and where to place it in the timeline is a controversial subject for prophecy commentators

.

I once had a discussion with an uncle over the Gog-Magog war, asking him why some prophetic commentators insisted that the Gog-Magog war was prior to the Millenial Kingdom, when Rev. 20:3 states quite clearly that it comes afterwards.  He replied that there are TWO INVASIONS by Gog-Magog.    To this day, I still don’t understand why some say there must be a Gog-Magog invasion prior to the Millenial Kingdom, unless it is because of their particular interpretation of scripture, and their need to have a “7 year peace agreement” which is broken after 3 ½ years prior to the Tribulation.

If anyone out there can help me with the reasoning behind this, I would like to study their “scriptural” arguments, as against the “traditions”!

My first post on this subject was titled “Gog is NOT a Russian Leader” – (23 FEB 2006) – see

http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/feb2006/ear223.htm

I will also include here an update of my second  post regarding Gog and Magog (in which I promised to write this one), as it contains the scriptures referred to below -

GOG IS NOT EITHER OF THE BEASTS OF REV. 13 – (2 MAY 2006) http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/may2006/ear52-2.htm

If you follow the colour codes, you will see that the Beast and False Prophet, and Satan meet a totally different fate to that of Gog and Magog.

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GOG IS NOT EITHER OF THE BEASTS of Rev. 13 (First posted 2/5/06)

Rev. 19:20

And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he DECEIVED them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image.   These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

Rev. 20:1-3

And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.  And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years.   And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should DECEIVE the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled; and after that he must be loosed a little season.

1,000 YEAR MILLENIAL RULE OF CHRIST

What a wonderful age this will be.   Satan is unable to deceive the Nations during this whole time.

It is unimaginable for us that there will be no deception – that all people will be free to follow God.

Rev. 20:7-10

And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, and shall go out to DECEIVE the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle;  the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.   And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city; and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.  (i.e. Gog and Magog)   And the devil that DECEIVED them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, WHERE THE BEAST AND THE FALSE PROPHET ARE, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

It is plain from these scriptures that the beast, false prophet and Satan eventually end up in the lake of fire burning with brimstone, whereas Gog and Magog and the rebellious nations are destroyed by fire from heaven.    It is also clear that there are are two major end-time “Deceptions” outlined in scripture, which are orchestrated by Satan.

The verses above, show the sequence of events which are contained within these two periods of deception by Satan.

First Deception

The first deception is accomplished by the Beast and the False Prophet.  (Compare Rev. 13:14 “And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth…” and Rev. 19:20 “…with which he DECEIVED them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image..”.)  Their end is to be “cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone”.    After the first deception Satan is bound for a thousand years and cast into the bottomless pit where he is “sealed in”.     This is not the same place as that occupied by the Beast and False Prophet.

Second Deception

After the thousand years Satan is released and he once more deceives the nations of the earth – his main accomplices appear to be Gog and the people Magog.    These people are destroyed by fire out of heaven.    The Devil (Satan) is then cast into the lake of fire and brimstone (where the Beast and the False Prophet already are) where all THREE remain for ever and ever.

Satan therefore uses two different ENTITIES to deceive the Nations – His first “vehicles” are the Beast and the False Prophet, and his second “vehicles” are Gog and Magog.

Since the Beast and False Prophet are cast into the lake of fire and brimstone before the 1,000 years are fulfilled, and they are still there when Satan joins them a thousand years later after Gog and Magog  are destroyed by fire, they ARE NOT ONE AND THE SAME.   (END OF POST)

Therefore the “Timeline” in Rev. 20, supported by Ezekiel 38 and 39; is as follows –

• Satan has apparently already deceived the Nations using the Beast and False Prophet, who arise from the old Babylonian/Persian/Grecian Empires – i.e. Rev. 13:14 “And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast…”    Rev. 20:3 “…that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.”
• This deception was to come to an end after the Battle of Armageddon (Rev. 16:16) believed to be located near the coastal plain and the Plain of Esdraelon or Megiddo, somewhere on the Great Road linking Gaza and Damascus; after which the Beast and the False Prophet  “were both cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone” where they stay forever. (Rev. 19:20)  They are still there 1,000 years later when Satan joins them (Rev. 20:10).
• Satan is then bound for 1,000 years in the bottomless pit so that he is unable to deceive anyone. (Rev. 20:2-3)
• While Satan is bound – the souls who were beheaded for their witness of Jesus live and reign with Jesus for 1,000 years.  (Rev. 20:4)
• After the 1,000 years, Satan is loosed once more for a “little season” to “deceive the Nations which are in the four quarters of the earth”  which are so populous as to be numbered like the sand of the sea, and gather them to a battle where Gog and Magog are involved.  (Rev. 20:7-8).
• These Nations are listed as coming from the four quarters of the earth – i.e. 1) Gog and Magog from the North (Eastern Turkey etc.)  2) Persian (Iran) from the East.   3) Ethiopia from   the South, and 4) Libya from the West – all “four quarters of the earth” in relation to Israel.
• They surround the “beloved City” and the “Camp of the Saints”, (This is a new end-time “entity” and I presume this is the camp of the resurrected, martyred saints/people who have been ruling and reigning with Jesus from Jerusalem.) (Rev. 20:9)
• God destroys Gog and Magog and the gathered Nations with fire from heaven.  (Rev. 20:9) (Ezekiel 38:22 – 39:6)  They are destroyed in the valley of Jehoshaphat.  Jewish, Christian and Muslim “traditions” identify this place of Jehoshaphat (Yahweh has judged) as being in the Kidron valley between Jerusalem and the Mt. of Olives (Wadi al-Rabahi).   However, Ezekiel describes their burial place as the valley of the passengers on the east of the sea, called the Valley of Hamon-gog, which is a prophetic name for a place east of the Dead Sea. (Ezekiel 39:11)
• Israel burns their weapons with fire for seven years (Ezekiel 39:9, 12)
• All the mighty men of war are destroyed.  (Ezekiel 39:20)
• Satan is finally cast into the lake of fire and brimstone   (Rev. 20:10) where the Beast and False Prophet had been cast some 1,000 years previously (Rev. 19:20)
• Great White Throne Judgment (Rev. 20:11)

We may also assume from the above that these two people groups used by Satan arise from different geographical areas, at different times, and meet their end in totally different places in Israel’s precincts.

Further comments about Satan’s First Deception

Jesus warned in Matt.24:4b-5 (also Mark 13:5-6) in the Olivet discourse that there would come deceivers, claiming to be the Messiah..

“…Take heed that no man deceive you.  For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.”

The Apostle John in 2 John 1:7 also states that one of the traits of the anti-christ is Deception.  “For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh.  This is a deceiver and an antichrist.”   

The work of deception has been carried out by Satan since Adam and Eve, and in the last days, there are to be two final periods of deception.     The first is carried out by an entity called “the beast” and a man called the “false prophet” (Rev. 13).   For an exposition on Rev. 13 - see my earlier posts –

The urls are http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/oct2005/ear1012.htm

                    http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/oct2005/ear1019.htm

                    http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/oct2005/ear1026.htm

That period of deception and persecution which lasts for 1260 days, is followed by Armageddon, after which there is to be a time (1,000 years) when Satan is bound, and his influence ceases.

Rev. 20:1-3  “And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.  And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, and cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled;  and after that he must be loosed a little season…….

Notice here, that it is the Devil/Satan/old Serpent/Dragon that is cast and bound for a thousand years into the bottomless pit, that he should not deceive the nations during that period of time.    The implication is that prior to this binding of Satan he had deceived the Nations…

We know from the scriptures mentioned above, that this first deception period is conducted by courtesy of the “beast” and the “false prophet” who come to their destined end at the conclusion of what we call the tribulation.   Rev. 13:12-14  “And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.  And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men.  And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast;  saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.”

In between these two scriptures about Satan’s  two deceptions,  is a passage talking about the First Resurrection, which tells us about the ones beheaded for their witness of Jesus,  (Rev. 20:4)  who are destined to live and reign with Christ during the 1,000 years that Satan is bound. 

Rev. 20:4 “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them; and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years….. This is the first resurrection.   Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection…. but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.”

THEREFORE WE HAVE AN INTERVAL OF 1,000 years during which time those who have been beheaded for their witness to Christ reign with Christ on earth.   More on this subject below in the APPENDIX.

Further comments about Satan’s Second Deception

Rev. 20:7-10  …and when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, and shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle;  the number of whom is as the sand of the sea, And they went upon the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city; and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.  And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.”

The verses above clearly states that there is a 2^nd deception carried out by Satan – this time by the courtesy of Gog and his people Magog.

It is surprising that the scripture portrays a final deception and rebellion, following after the “golden” 1,000 year millennial reign of Christ; but there are clear statements in Revelation that Jesus Christ will need to rule with a “rod of iron”.            Rev. 2:27 “And he shall rule them with a rod of iron…”

Rev. 12:5 “…who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron…”

Rev. 19:15 “…and he shall rule them with a rod of iron…”

It is therefore implied that there must still be a residual malignant potential for rebellion in the World during this time.   Compare Zechariah 14:16-19 regarding the judgements on the surviving Nations for not keeping the Feast of Tabernacles.   However, it appears to be subtle and muted until Satan is released for his last effort at deceiving the World through Gog and Magog.

At the end of Satan’s second deception through Gog and Magog, these two “entities” are destroyed by fire from heaven, and Satan finally joins the beast and the false prophet in the lake of fire and brimstone forever.

The Land that was brought back from the Sword –

The only other reference to Gog and Magog in relation to a battle is found in Ezekiel 38 and 39.  And although there appears to be great preparation for this battle – I see no evidence that it actually occurs because God appears to pre-empt it with their destruction by fire from heaven.

The context of the Gog and Magog invasion is found in Ezekiel 38:8-11 as follows – 

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. 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 said 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.”

This context seems to agree that the invasion by Gog and Magog takes place after the 1,000 years of “peaceful Kingdom rule” as stated in Rev. 20.

The verses above also state that the land (of Israel) has been “brought back from the sword”, therefore the timing of this invasion is the “latter years” after Israel’s experience with “the sword”.

We might ask the question when did the land of Israel experience the “sword”?   The book of Revelation indicates that there are two swords mentioned.

·        The first is that which proceeds out of the mouth of the “one like the Son of man”  (Rev. 1:16,  Rev. 2:12,  2:16, Rev. 19:15, and Rev. 19:21)  This sword is wielded by Jesus Christ, the King of Kings against the Beast and the False Prophet and those who follow them.

·        The second is that sword which was given to the Rider on the Red Horse (Rev. 6:4, 6:8).   “And there went out another horse that was red; and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another; and there was given unto him a great sword.”   “…power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword…”

I believe these two references indicate  the “sword experience” from which Israel will recover during the millennium, and associate it with the deception by the Beast and the False Prophet just prior to the 1,000 year rule by Christ.    My understanding of this “sword experience”, is that of the near future battle between the “Zionist” “Crusader” Rider on the WHITE horse, and the ISLAMIC descendants of Ishmael and Esau (Edom), the Rider on the RED Horse.   To understand who the riders are on the White Horse and the Red Horse, see my posts – 

                                    WHITE HORSE and RED HORSE – Rev. 6:2-4 (9 FEB 2006)

http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/feb2006/ear29.htm

RED HORSE – REVELATION IS COLOUR CODED – (2 MAY 2006)

http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/may2006/ear52-1.htm

There are further references to those who are beheaded in Rev. 6:9 “And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held.”    Rev. 20:4 “…and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God…”   I don’t know of any other way to behead someone other than with a “sword” a blade or a knife.

• There is a third reference regarding the two different swords in Rev. 13:9-10 “If any man have an ear, let him hear.  He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity;  he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword  Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.”  This passage is right in the middle of Rev. 13 which in the first half reveals the Beast out of the Sea, and in the second half reveals the False Prophet 666.  I therefore associate the “sword experience” with the rider on the red-horse and/or these two end-time entities during the first period of end-time deception carried out by Satan.  

The result of these “sword experiences” is given in Rev. 19:21 “And the remnant (of  the people of the Beast and False Prophet) were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, (i.e. the KING OF KINGS AND LORD OR LORDS) which sword proceeded out of his mouth; and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.”    My conclusion is that those who were killing the saints with the sword associated with the Rider on the Red Horse (Rev. 6:4), and/or the Beast from the Sea and the False Prophet (Rev. 13:9-10), were themselves killed by the sword which the King of Kings wielded, i.e. the sword which proceeded out of his mouth (i.e. the Word of God – the truth).

This first deception period when the Sword is wielded by the Beast and False Prophet is the period which I believe explains  the “sword experience” of Israel from which they recover during the 1,000 millenial year reign.  Gog and Magog arise after this “sword experience”. (Ezekiel 38:8)

Population Explosion -

Rev. 20:8 referring to Gog and Magog seems to imply that there has also been a general “population explosion” during the 1,000 years of peace.  “…the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.”   This agrees with the sense of the verses below (Ezekiel 38:8-11)“…thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee”.

The context of  Ezekiel 38:8-11 therefore is - 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. 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 said 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.”

Israel dwelling safely at rest –

This description does not portray Israel’s rest as only being a brief period of peace, or in fact a “forced peace” as some believe is soon to take place.    If there is a forced peace, Israel will never be at rest!

It takes time to construct walls, bars and gates, (as we know from Israel’s current efforts) and it also takes time to remove them and assure people that they are living in safety and peaceful rest.   Israel has had no period of rest since she became a Nation in 1948, and in view of the nature of their neighbours, any idea that they should “rest” or “dwell safely” in the near future, is absolutely unlikely in my opinion!      Israel will never rest or dwell safely until the Beast and False Prophet are destroyed and Satan is chained and cast into the bottomless pit – THEN Israel can dwell safely during the Messiah’s Millenial reign.

There is an emphasis here on the “reality of their safety” – and not about any “vocal desire” for safety.   Compare 1 Thess.5:3 “For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape”.  This verse relates to the desire for safety just prior to the Tribulation, Day of the Lord and Christ’s Second Coming prior to the 1,000 year reign.   

Peace  for 1000 Years -Then War –

After the Tribulation “swords are beaten into plowshares” (Isaiah 2:4) “And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks;  nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.”  Compare  (Micah 4) as peace takes hold of the earth.

However, the reverse is also stated in Joel 3:10 – relating to the last battle between good and evil -  “Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears;  let the weak say I am strong….v.12 Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat, for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about.”

This beating of “plowshares into swords” would reinforce the idea that this final Gog and Magog battle (which takes place in the valley of Jehoshaphat - Ezekiel 38:22 – 39:6) for supremacy (described in both Ezekiel 38 & 39 and Joel chapter 3) when the “fortunes of Judah are restored” by God, and in which finally all the enemies of God and Satan are destroyed will take place after this 1,000 years of peace. 

The Ultimate Out-pouring of the Holy Spirit.  

According to Joel’s time-line, this Gog/Magog end “end-time” battle which occurs in the valley of Jehoshaphat, occurs after the ultimate “out-pouring” of the Holy Spirit both on the Israelites who have been re-gathered, and on all the people of God”.  (Joel 2:28:32).

This idea coincides with Ezekiel’s timeline and vision of the valley of the re-gathered dry bones, after the spirit is breathed into them, (Ezekiel 37:1-14) and after the two sticks of Judah and Ephraim are joined together,(Ezekiel 37:15-22) to make one Kingdom ruled by one King, (Ezekiel 37:23-28 and Isaiah 11) – i.e. the 1,000 year Millenial Kingdom. 

Revelation 20:7-9 puts the battle of Gog and Magog right there after the 1,000 years of peace, and since I have always wondered why there is no APPARENT description in the book of Revelation of what “happens” during this invasion; it is probable that the “happenings” are recorded elsewhere in scripture (i.e. Ezekiel 38  & 39) and many prophecy scholars have placed them in the wrong “time” setting.   

The Bible plainly states that the Beast Kingdom representative and the false prophet are cast into the lake of fire and brimstone at some earlier time (Rev. 19:11-20) by the one named King of Kings and Lord of Lords) – the remainder of their followers are destroyed by the one that sat upon the horse The KING OF KINGS using the “sword” proceeding out of his mouth.  

It is not until after Satan has been “bound for 1,000 years” (Rev. 20:2)  during which time the “Beheaded witnesses” rule and reign with Christ, that the battle of Gog and Magog takes place (Rev. 20:7-10).   Gog, and Magog and numberless people are destroyed by fire from heaven,  and the Devil is finally cast into the lake of fire and brimstone (where the other two “Beast and False Prophet” are still in existence), that the earth is finally cleansed of its evil scourge.

At the end of these events, chapter 21 of Revelation indicates the new heaven and new earth are established while the Holy City, New Jerusalem assumes ultimate authority because the “throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it.”  Rev. 21:1, 21:10, and 22:3.

Judgements against the enemies of Israel –

Ezekiel 38:17-18 seems to regard this final assault by Gog and Magog as having been prophesied earlier.  “Thus saith the Lord GOD; Art thou he of whom I have spoken in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, which prophesied in those days many years that I would bring thee against them?    And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, that my fury shall come up in my face.  For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken…”

Although I can find no trace of a particular judgement or earlier prophecy against the entities called “Gog and Magog”, there is a general judgement against the enemies of Israel.   The last prophecy made by Moses shortly before his death is recorded in Deuteronomy 32:41b-43 – “…I will render vengeance to mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me.   I will make mine arrows drunk with blood, and my sword shall devour flesh; and that with the blood of the slain and of the captives, from the beginning of revenges upon the enemy.   Rejoice, O ye nations, with his people; for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will be merciful unto his land, and to his people.”

Who are the People groups to the North of Israel?

Finally, the Old Testament prophets always associates the “North” with surrounding Nations  – see

Ezekiel 26:7 “For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will bring upon Tyrus Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, a king of kings, from the north….”   This refers to Babylon.

Ezekiel 32:30  “There be the princes of the north, all of them, and all the Zidonians…”  Sidon (modern Saida) was a city twenty-two miles north of Tyre in Lebanon, part of the old Seleucid Empire.

Jeremiah 50:3  “For out of the north there cometh up a nation against her which shall make her land desolate,…”   Refers to the Median/Persian Empire conquering Babylon.  V.9 “For, lo, I will raise and cause to come up against Babylon an assembly of great nations from the north country…”

Jeremiah 46:6  “Let not the swift flee away, nor the mighty man escape;  they shall stumble, and fall toward the north by the river Euphrates.”   Referring to Babylon and its conquest of Egypt.  v.20 “Egypt is like a very fair heifer, but destruction cometh; it cometh out of the north.”

Daniel 11 Refers to the King of the North who was embodied in Antiochus Epiphanes, the Seleucid ruler who came forth out of one of the four divisions of the Grecian/Helenic Empire, which equates to Syria today.

The end-time enemies of Israel are depicted as coming from these old Northern Empires of Babylon, Media/Persian, Seleucid, and Grecian Empires.   (Rev. 13:2) 

CONCLUSION:

Since it is my premise that it was Jesus who fulfilled the prophecy of Daniel’s 70 weeks (Daniel 9:24-27) I see no requirement for a rebuilt temple, nor a Roman ruler to strengthen a “covenant”.  Instead, I see a continuing deterioration in Israel’s relationships with her surrounding Islamic neighbours, which will lead eventually to the Battle of Armageddon, when the Zionist/Crusader forces of Judah and Ephraim, will be forced to fight against a composite “beastly” Radical Islamic Empire, which is rising  from the old Babylonian/Persian/Grecian Empires, who desire to seize control of the Holy Land, and reinstitute Islamic law throughout the Middle East and Europe.

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APPENDIX -     The Beheaded – TWO Groups of saints?

There are not a lot of scriptures that mention this word – so we can ask – who are these ones who are beheaded for their witness of Jesus?

There appear to be two main groups, which come from specific persecutions.

1^st Group

Four of the five New Testament references to “beheading” are about John the Baptist.  He was the first believer to be beheaded during Jesus tenure on earth.   (Matt. 14:10, Mark 6:16, 6:27, and Luke 9:9)

It is also clear that James the brother of John was beheaded by Herod “with the sword” (Acts 12:2).  This was the beginning of the persecution of the Church after the Day of Pentecost.

Since then others have been added to the group that dwells “under the altar” who were “slain” for their testimony.   History tells us that not all were beheaded.     At the time of the opening of the  5^th Seal there is already a large group under the altar …  waiting… 

Rev. 6:9,11 .“And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held…..and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow-servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.”

It would appear that this first group are martyrs beginning at the time of the early Church/Gentile age, until the 5^th Seal, who died because of their testimony to Jesus Christ.   They are crying out for justice – some of them have been waiting there since about 28 A.D.

Rev. 6:10 “And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?”.

We may conclude from the scripture above (Rev. 6:9-11) that there is another group of martyrs who will rise out of another future period of intense persecution, who will join them after a “little season” that will also be slain in the same manner to complete a pre-ordained number.    

2^nd Group

The final N.T. reference to beheading is found in  Rev. 20:4  “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them;  and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands;  and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years….. This is the first resurrection.   Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection…. but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.”

This group’s martyrdom is associated with the “beasts” of Rev. 13.  Logic tells me that this is the group that will make up the completed number under the altar.   The two groups will be united, will be resurrected after the tribulation, and will reign with Christ for a thousand years.   

This resurrection therefore is for the martyrs who will rule and reign with Christ during the Millenial Kingdom period.   These are the martyrs (two main groups of saints out of two particularly fierce periods of persecution,) who paid the ultimate price of remaining true to Christ during the complete Church Age during the 1^st period of Satan’s deception from John and Baptist up to the end of the “tribulation period” when the Beast and False prophet are cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, and the millenial reign of Christ is instituted.

The timetable of Rev. 19:20 - 20:1-11 etc. is therefore -

·        Church Age from Pentecost which began with intense persecution under ROME and slaying of the first group of martyrs, waiting under the altar – Rev. 6:11.

·        This age ends with another period of intense persecution and martyrdom, perpetrated by Satan’s deception via the rider on the Red Horse – Beast/Empire and False Prophet (ISLAM). Rev. 13.

·        The Beast and False Prophet are cast into the lake of fire and brimstone.  

·        Satan is bound bringing to an end his first period of deception.

·        !,000 Millenial rule of Christ and martyrs, during which time Israel recovers from “the Sword experience” and there is a World-wide population explosion on the earth.

·        Satan released to bring a second deception to still rebellious nations, via Gog and Magog, who come from the areas, roughly N.S.E. and West of Israel.  Turkey, Persia, Ethiopia & Libya.

·        God destroys Gog and Magog peoples with fire from heaven, as they surround the Camp of the Saints and the beloved City.

·        Satan is finally cast into the lake of fire and brimstone to join the Beast and the False Prophet.

·        Great White Throne Judgment.