Week of Monday April 21 - April 27
Armageddon’s Aftermath – Man as Instructor
"And I will set my glory among the nations, and all the nations shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid on them. The house of Israel shall know that I am the Lord their God, from that day forward." - Ezekiel 39:21-22
Ezekiel 38-39 predicts what many Bible scholars describe as the Battle of Armageddon. In these chapters, a multi-national military coalition headed up by a “Gog” from Magog who commands armies that invade a reconstituted nation of Israel sometime in the future, and God himself steps in to defend Israel and destroy this threatening coalition. The peoples and players in this evil alliance have names that go all the way back to Genesis 10, and yet they will take part in this end times battle described not only here in Ezekiel but at the end of the Bible in Revelation. These nations go by different names now, but they come from the same roots. Today, they are known as: Russia, Iran, Turkey, Sudan, Libya, et al.
Interestingly, there are also nations listed who will sympathetically watch this attack on Israel (38:13), apparently in real-time, which implies impressive, technological advances that we only enjoy today. Some interpreters identify the far away port of Tarshish with latter day England. In fact, note the trade goods from there in Ezekiel 27:12: “Tarshish did business with you because of your great wealth of every kind; silver, iron, tin, and lead they exchanged for your wares.” Greek historian Herodotus (430 BC) wrote about what the Greeks later called the Cassiterides, literally the “tin islands,” "from which we are said to have our tin." The only place to get tin of any quantity in the ancient world was Britain, specifically mines in what is now Devon and Cornwall, which supplied tin ore to the world for 2,500 years. And we know that the Phoenicians imported tin to melt it and mix it with copper to produce bronze, which was a hot commodity in the ancient world.
So Tarshish could be England, who is currently an ally with Israel, and by connection, one of its “young lions” is America (see also Gen. 10:4-5) also an ally. So, this may be the one of the only veiled references to the America in Bible prophecy. But think about the alliances and think about the antagonists. Who would question an invasion of Israel? I would like to think that Britain and her young lions, including the United States, would object since we are historical allies of Israel.
It is important for us men as Instructors to help those we love and lead them to an understanding of where we are in the timeline of prophecy. We are starting to see these alliances form as predicted, setting up for Gog and his coalition arrayed against Israel, and those allies questioning or objecting to this attack on Israel, but apparently doing nothing to stop it. But Himself steps in to defend His people. God says in Ezekiel 39:3-6 that He’s going to take out their weapons, they will fall on the mountains, their dead bodies will become food for vultures and vermin, and then He will send fire on Magog and the coastlands. Consequently, God Himself single handedly defends Israel and defeats Gog and his multi-national coalition.
Back in 1973 there was an invasion of Israel called the “Yom Kippur War,” and it lasted a total of 18 days. In 1967 there was something called the “Six Day War,” and it lasted, you guessed it, 6 days. But this coming battle will likely be the “One Day War.” It will be over almost as soon as Gog and his bunch pull the trigger, because God is going to wipe them out. Afterward, God is going to call scavengers of the sky and the land to come and feast on the dead bodies of the enemy (Ezekiel 39:17-20) as a sort of grotesque sacrificial meal. In the book of Revelation, John is told of a similar sacrificial feast in the aftermath of the battle of Armageddon and with the defeat of the Antichrist and his forces (Revelation 19:17-21).
Yet what is God’s goal in all of this? The goal is not only for the nations, but for Israel to know that He is God. That means something is going to happen to the Jews spiritually in the aftermath of Armageddon. In fact, it’s going to happen all together. Paul declares in Romans 11:25-26: “Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And in this way all Israel will be saved…” That can only happen through Jesus! So, God promises to turn His face toward them with mercy, defeat their enemies, and the result will be that many Jews apparently will come to know Jesus as Lord and God will pour out His Spirit on them. Come quickly Lord Jesus!
Armageddon’s Aftermath – Man as Instructor
"And I will set my glory among the nations, and all the nations shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid on them. The house of Israel shall know that I am the Lord their God, from that day forward." - Ezekiel 39:21-22
Ezekiel 38-39 predicts what many Bible scholars describe as the Battle of Armageddon. In these chapters, a multi-national military coalition headed up by a “Gog” from Magog who commands armies that invade a reconstituted nation of Israel sometime in the future, and God himself steps in to defend Israel and destroy this threatening coalition. The peoples and players in this evil alliance have names that go all the way back to Genesis 10, and yet they will take part in this end times battle described not only here in Ezekiel but at the end of the Bible in Revelation. These nations go by different names now, but they come from the same roots. Today, they are known as: Russia, Iran, Turkey, Sudan, Libya, et al.
Interestingly, there are also nations listed who will sympathetically watch this attack on Israel (38:13), apparently in real-time, which implies impressive, technological advances that we only enjoy today. Some interpreters identify the far away port of Tarshish with latter day England. In fact, note the trade goods from there in Ezekiel 27:12: “Tarshish did business with you because of your great wealth of every kind; silver, iron, tin, and lead they exchanged for your wares.” Greek historian Herodotus (430 BC) wrote about what the Greeks later called the Cassiterides, literally the “tin islands,” "from which we are said to have our tin." The only place to get tin of any quantity in the ancient world was Britain, specifically mines in what is now Devon and Cornwall, which supplied tin ore to the world for 2,500 years. And we know that the Phoenicians imported tin to melt it and mix it with copper to produce bronze, which was a hot commodity in the ancient world.
So Tarshish could be England, who is currently an ally with Israel, and by connection, one of its “young lions” is America (see also Gen. 10:4-5) also an ally. So, this may be the one of the only veiled references to the America in Bible prophecy. But think about the alliances and think about the antagonists. Who would question an invasion of Israel? I would like to think that Britain and her young lions, including the United States, would object since we are historical allies of Israel.
It is important for us men as Instructors to help those we love and lead them to an understanding of where we are in the timeline of prophecy. We are starting to see these alliances form as predicted, setting up for Gog and his coalition arrayed against Israel, and those allies questioning or objecting to this attack on Israel, but apparently doing nothing to stop it. But Himself steps in to defend His people. God says in Ezekiel 39:3-6 that He’s going to take out their weapons, they will fall on the mountains, their dead bodies will become food for vultures and vermin, and then He will send fire on Magog and the coastlands. Consequently, God Himself single handedly defends Israel and defeats Gog and his multi-national coalition.
Back in 1973 there was an invasion of Israel called the “Yom Kippur War,” and it lasted a total of 18 days. In 1967 there was something called the “Six Day War,” and it lasted, you guessed it, 6 days. But this coming battle will likely be the “One Day War.” It will be over almost as soon as Gog and his bunch pull the trigger, because God is going to wipe them out. Afterward, God is going to call scavengers of the sky and the land to come and feast on the dead bodies of the enemy (Ezekiel 39:17-20) as a sort of grotesque sacrificial meal. In the book of Revelation, John is told of a similar sacrificial feast in the aftermath of the battle of Armageddon and with the defeat of the Antichrist and his forces (Revelation 19:17-21).
Yet what is God’s goal in all of this? The goal is not only for the nations, but for Israel to know that He is God. That means something is going to happen to the Jews spiritually in the aftermath of Armageddon. In fact, it’s going to happen all together. Paul declares in Romans 11:25-26: “Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And in this way all Israel will be saved…” That can only happen through Jesus! So, God promises to turn His face toward them with mercy, defeat their enemies, and the result will be that many Jews apparently will come to know Jesus as Lord and God will pour out His Spirit on them. Come quickly Lord Jesus!
- Are you recognizing the connection between biblical prophecy and what is currently happening with the nations lining up in coalitions against Israel?
- As you take the Bible and help those you lead put the pieces of the prophetic puzzle together in what looks to be fulfillment after fulfillment, don’t let the talk about a world war in the end times discourage you, let the nearness of Christ’s coming encourage you.
- Ask God to give you insight into biblical prophecy, the skill to communicate what He is showing you, and to use you to bring the hope that is in Jesus.