Hello John and Doves,

 

Recently Gino had a letter concerning the Gog and Magog wars - the one in Ezekiel and the one in The Revelation.  I'm certainly not going to clear anything up in this letter...just muddy the waters.

 

I wrote one letter earlier looking at Ezekiel 38 only (as in Gino's letter), then asked John not to publish it because, if I added Ezekiel 39 to it - it just didn't make sense.

 

I too have wondered about the 'unwalled villages, living at rest, dwelling safely'.  Have we ever really seen that with Israel since 1948??  And certainly not now...maybe somewhat before October 7, 2023.  ??  As Gino questioned, could this be referring to Israel during the Millennial reign of Christ?  It seems to fit if you just look at Ezekiel 38 and not Ezekiel 39.

 

Could Ezekiel 38 be the same war in Rev 20 - with very little detail given in Rev?  But what about Ezekiel 39 then?  Can the weapons be burned for seven years and into what follows the Millennial reign?  With a new heaven and a new Earth.  Doesn't seem likely....

 

Another problem I have with Ezekiel 38 is the end where in vs 23 God says "Thus I will magnify Myself, and sanctify Myself, and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the Lord."  This sounds more like after the Millennial reign and not right before the AC sets up his kingdom from Jerusalem.  What God says seems more like an 'ending'.  Who would set up their kingdom in God's Holy City after what He just did to Gog's armies???

 

Can Israel ever been 'unwalled, living at rest, dwelling safely' with Islam in the region?  The Iranian Revolutionary Guard, Houthis, Hezbollah, Hamas, various Islamic jihadi groups all want the Jews gone and Israel annihilated.  As long as they are in the area, there will be no peace.  Unless God steps in and there is peace...for a time.  Did we already see that time, before October 7?  And will the war going on now lead into the Gog and Magog war?

 

As I wrote, I just muddied the waters...because I can't 'get through this' without more questions....I'll 'settle for now' for the Gog and Magog war right before or at the start of the Tribulation period.  I can't 'square' everything in Ezekiel 38/39.   So there we have it.

 

Gino, thank you for your letter - your questions are always very thought provoking...and for me, usually lead to even more questions!  Maybe we'll have more revealed as we get closer to the start of the Tribulation period.  

 

Just some thoughts for now....I just spun my wheels....

 

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!

 

Maranatha!

 

Chance