Eze 38:21-22 | KingComments | STEP | For the fourth time the words “thus says the Lord GOD” ( ) are heard. Gog is reminded of an earlier speaking of the LORD. We have no record in Scripture of those prophecies; at least the name Gog is not mentioned anywhere in the prophecies or by prophets. It may mean that this refers to statements of the prophets about the north as the direction from which judgment is coming. We can take the reference to what the prophets have said about Russia in this way that what the LORD has said about and against Assyria ( ) also applies to Russia. We can compare this to what the Lord Jesus says about John. The Lord calls him “Elijah who would come” ( ). Malachi announced Elijah ( ). That announcement is fulfilled with the coming of John, for he is Elijah in a spiritual sense. He preached repentance to make the people ready to receive the Messiah. But the people have not repented. Therefore, Elijah must come again. This happens at the coming of the two witnesses in Jerusalem in the end time of whom he is one ( ). Elijah is not one of those witnesses personally, but one of those witnesses exhibits his characteristics. We see this with Russia which has the characteristics of Assyria. There is a strong connection between Russia and Assyria. In fact, Russia is the driving force behind Assyria’s actions. We read this in Daniel 8 ( ), specifically in the phrase, “His power will be mighty, but not by his [own] power” ( ). By “his power” is meant the power of Assyria, and by “not by his [own] power” is meant that he is helped by the power of Russia. There is a distinction, however, already pointed out above, and it is well to repeat it in this context. Other nations, especially Assyria, that have gone up against Israel have triumphed because God has used them as a disciplinary tool for His people. That the LORD brings Magog or Russia upon His land does not happen as a threat to His people because they have departed from Him, for all deviation has come to an end. They are now living in rest in the land under the blessing and protection of their Messiah. Gog is not used as a disciplinary tool, but is judged because of his rapacious desires, particularly targeting God’s people. In the day that Gog comes into God’s land, the LORD’s fury will mount up in His anger against him ( ; ). In His anger, He will shake the land of Israel by a severe earthquake, so that the mounted armies will not know where to go and what to do ( ). All nature will tremble, not only the beasts of the land and all the men, but also the fish of the sea and the birds of the heavens ( ). Every place where the enemies might seek shelter will be thrown down. It will be so, that the land will tremble only in the places where the enemies are, while the rest of His people will not be disturbed. We see something similar in the plagues that God brings upon Egypt, while He exempts His people living there from those plagues ( ). On all the mountains, which the LORD calls “My mountains”, where the enemies are unjustly located, He will call the sword against them ( ). That will be their own sword. He will make the sword do its deadly work, in that the enemies, dazed and blinded by terror, will kill one another (cf. ; ). The pestilence will also break out ( ). Through this and through the blood that the sword makes flow, God will carry out His justice against Gog. Also, God Himself will actively participate in the battle by sending down from heaven “a torrential rain, with hailstones, fire and brimstone” on him. And not only on him, but also on all his troops and the many nations that accompany him on this expedition. With the judgment on Gog, God gives a final proof of His greatness and holiness in the sight of many nations ( ). By this they will all know that He is the LORD. This battle and this judgment of the LORD take place when the Lord Jesus is already in Jerusalem. A comparison with the governments of David and Solomon can help understand this situation. David and Solomon together are a picture of the Lord Jesus. David is a picture of the Lord Jesus as the suffering and also ruling King and Solomon is a picture of Him as the Prince of peace. With both David and Solomon we see that not everything is immediately peace when they are king. Even then there are opponents who must be overcome before there is true peace in the kingdom. Another consideration is that Gog has never cared about God and His Christ. He has always denied the existence of God and Christ and will continue to do so. Therefore, he will be totally unimpressed by the fact that Christ has established His throne in Jerusalem. God said something similar about Edom a few chapters back. He knows that Edom is boldly claiming: “’We will possess them,’ although the LORD was there” ( ). Thus Gog foolishly does not believe in His supremacy. To him, only a man rules there, though a man of enormous power. Directed and blinded by satan, he carries out his own wicked intentions. What God is doing with Russia is reminiscent of what He once did through Elisha with the army of the king of Syria ( ). It is a similar history with a completely opposite ending. The king of Syria sends a large army to capture one man, Elisha. At Elisha’s prayer, God strikes that great army with blindness. Then Elisha brings this army “in the midst of Samaria” ( ). The king of Israel wants to kill the enemies, but Elisha wants them to have food and be able to return to their lord. In the time of Elisha, there is grace for the Syrians. There is no such grace for Russia in the time of which Ezekiel speaks. They are brought by God “on the mountains of Israel” ( ), which is in the middle of the land, which includes Samaria. It is in that area that they are put to death by God. Syria and Russia are closely linked in the time of which Ezekiel speaks. We see in our days that this close connection is revealing itself more and more clearly in the political field of forces. The fulfillment of the prophecy of Ezekiel 38-39 is casting its shadow.

‏ Ezekiel 38:21-22

Gog Judged by the LORD

For the fourth time the words “thus says the Lord GOD” (Eze 38:17) are heard. Gog is reminded of an earlier speaking of the LORD. We have no record in Scripture of those prophecies; at least the name Gog is not mentioned anywhere in the prophecies or by prophets. It may mean that this refers to statements of the prophets about the north as the direction from which judgment is coming. We can take the reference to what the prophets have said about Russia in this way that what the LORD has said about and against Assyria (Isa 10:5-34) also applies to Russia.

We can compare this to what the Lord Jesus says about John. The Lord calls him “Elijah who would come” (Mt 11:14). Malachi announced Elijah (Mal 4:5). That announcement is fulfilled with the coming of John, for he is Elijah in a spiritual sense. He preached repentance to make the people ready to receive the Messiah. But the people have not repented. Therefore, Elijah must come again. This happens at the coming of the two witnesses in Jerusalem in the end time of whom he is one (Rev 11:3-6). Elijah is not one of those witnesses personally, but one of those witnesses exhibits his characteristics.

We see this with Russia which has the characteristics of Assyria. There is a strong connection between Russia and Assyria. In fact, Russia is the driving force behind Assyria’s actions. We read this in Daniel 8 (Dan 8:21-27), specifically in the phrase, “His power will be mighty, but not by his [own] power” (Dan 8:24). By “his power” is meant the power of Assyria, and by “not by his [own] power” is meant that he is helped by the power of Russia.

There is a distinction, however, already pointed out above, and it is well to repeat it in this context. Other nations, especially Assyria, that have gone up against Israel have triumphed because God has used them as a disciplinary tool for His people. That the LORD brings Magog or Russia upon His land does not happen as a threat to His people because they have departed from Him, for all deviation has come to an end. They are now living in rest in the land under the blessing and protection of their Messiah. Gog is not used as a disciplinary tool, but is judged because of his rapacious desires, particularly targeting God’s people.

In the day that Gog comes into God’s land, the LORD’s fury will mount up in His anger against him (Eze 38:18; Psa 18:8 ; 15). In His anger, He will shake the land of Israel by a severe earthquake, so that the mounted armies will not know where to go and what to do (Eze 38:19). All nature will tremble, not only the beasts of the land and all the men, but also the fish of the sea and the birds of the heavens (Eze 38:20). Every place where the enemies might seek shelter will be thrown down. It will be so, that the land will tremble only in the places where the enemies are, while the rest of His people will not be disturbed. We see something similar in the plagues that God brings upon Egypt, while He exempts His people living there from those plagues (Exo 8:22 ; Exo 9:4 ; 26 ; Exo 11:7).

On all the mountains, which the LORD calls “My mountains”, where the enemies are unjustly located, He will call the sword against them (Eze 38:21). That will be their own sword. He will make the sword do its deadly work, in that the enemies, dazed and blinded by terror, will kill one another (cf. Jdg 7:22; 1Sam 14:20). The pestilence will also break out (Eze 38:22). Through this and through the blood that the sword makes flow, God will carry out His justice against Gog.

Also, God Himself will actively participate in the battle by sending down from heaven “a torrential rain, with hailstones, fire and brimstone” on him. And not only on him, but also on all his troops and the many nations that accompany him on this expedition.

With the judgment on Gog, God gives a final proof of His greatness and holiness in the sight of many nations (Eze 38:23). By this they will all know that He is the LORD.

This battle and this judgment of the LORD take place when the Lord Jesus is already in Jerusalem. A comparison with the governments of David and Solomon can help understand this situation. David and Solomon together are a picture of the Lord Jesus. David is a picture of the Lord Jesus as the suffering and also ruling King and Solomon is a picture of Him as the Prince of peace. With both David and Solomon we see that not everything is immediately peace when they are king. Even then there are opponents who must be overcome before there is true peace in the kingdom.

Another consideration is that Gog has never cared about God and His Christ. He has always denied the existence of God and Christ and will continue to do so. Therefore, he will be totally unimpressed by the fact that Christ has established His throne in Jerusalem. God said something similar about Edom a few chapters back. He knows that Edom is boldly claiming: “’We will possess them,’ although the LORD was there” (Eze 35:10). Thus Gog foolishly does not believe in His supremacy. To him, only a man rules there, though a man of enormous power. Directed and blinded by satan, he carries out his own wicked intentions.

What God is doing with Russia is reminiscent of what He once did through Elisha with the army of the king of Syria (2Kgs 6:8-23). It is a similar history with a completely opposite ending. The king of Syria sends a large army to capture one man, Elisha. At Elisha’s prayer, God strikes that great army with blindness. Then Elisha brings this army “in the midst of Samaria” (2Kgs 6:20). The king of Israel wants to kill the enemies, but Elisha wants them to have food and be able to return to their lord.

In the time of Elisha, there is grace for the Syrians. There is no such grace for Russia in the time of which Ezekiel speaks. They are brought by God “on the mountains of Israel” (Eze 39:1-2), which is in the middle of the land, which includes Samaria. It is in that area that they are put to death by God.

Syria and Russia are closely linked in the time of which Ezekiel speaks. We see in our days that this close connection is revealing itself more and more clearly in the political field of forces. The fulfillment of the prophecy of Ezekiel 38-39 is casting its shadow.