Gog and the Boys July 5, 2017
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Ezekiel 38:4-9 Page 1
Last week we began our excursion into the prophecy found in Ezekiel 38 and 39 dealing with a war that is yet to take place with participants who are just a bit strange and difficult to identify.
Ezekiel 38:1–3
And the word of the LORD came to me saying, “Son of man, set your face toward Gog of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him and say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal.” (NASB95)
We determined that Rosh is not the name of a country, but means prince…probably.
Ezekiel 38:1–3
The word of the LORD came to me: “Son of man, set your face toward Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him and say, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal.” (ESV)
We determined Gog is a strange term.
We know this Gog is not the son of Joel referenced in 1 Chronicles 5.
We also know there is a reference to Gog in Ezekiel as well as in Revelation.
Gog would have been perceived as either a figure empowered by supernatural evil or an evil quasi-divine figure from the supernatural world bent on the destruction of God’s people.
Michael S. Heiser, The Unseen Realm: Recovering the Supernatural Worldview of the Bible, First Edition (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2015), 365.
Since Gog is referenced in two places in the scriptures and the time periods are different, I lean more toward the idea that this is someone who is supernaturally empowered by a fallen divine being.
Ezekiel has made references to these beings several times in the book, I think it is the power behind the throne.
We are shown where the person being empowered comes from,
One more thing…in the LXX Gog also appears in Amos 7:1.
Amos 7:1
“Thus the Lord God showed me and behold, the offspring of locusts is coming early, and behold, one locust is Agag, the king.” (LES)
Agag is also translated Gog.
We do know he is ruler over Magog and has aligned himself also with Meshach and Tubal – this is Turkey.
Tubal and Meshech, the Tabali and Mushki of the Assyrian monuments, were the representatives of eastern Asia Minor. Their territory originally extended far to the S. In the time of Sargon and Sennacherib, the territory of the Tabali adjoined Cilicia, while the Mushki inhabited the highlands to the E of them, where they were in contact with the Hittites. In later days, however, Meschech had retreated to the N, and the classical geographers place the Tibarêni and the Mushki not far from the Black Sea. Merrill Frederick Unger, R. K. Harrison, et al., The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1988).
We also determined that this battle would be after one predicted in Psalm 83
We have already covered the details of that as well as the involvement of Israel in the equation as well.
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We also now know that Russia is not explicitly named, it is possible they may be involved since they are north, but that reference may be more about spiritual warfare than we know.
We also looked at, with the connection to the spiritual warfare angle, the issue involving the tribe of Dan.
But again, back to the supernatural angle that Ezekiel has used in the past and may be making use of here.
Significantly, it is the king of the north being described in these verses (Daniel 11 and Isaiah 14). Gog is described in the same terms— the great destroyer from the north. As noted earlier, the immediate historical referent of Daniel 11 is the Seleucid King Antiochus IV. It was Antiochus IV who invaded Jerusalem in the Second Temple Period, desecrated the temple and its altar, and exalted himself above its God, Yahweh. Gog, the king of the north, is thus cast as an imitator or personification or agent of the lord of cosmic evil.
Heiser, Michael S.. Reversing Hermon: Enoch, the Watchers, and the Forgotten Mission of Jesus Christ (Kindle Locations 2938-2941). UNKNOWN. Kindle Edition.
Ezekiel 38:2–6
“Son of man, set your face toward Gog of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him and say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal. I will turn you about and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them splendidly attired, a great company with buckler and shield, all of them wielding swords; Persia, Ethiopia and Put with them, all of them with shield and helmet; Gomer with all its troops; Beth-togarmah from the remote parts of the north with all its troops—many peoples with you.” (NASB95)
Let’s take a look at the ESV since we have already made note of the Rosh issue.
Ezekiel 38:2–6
“Son of man, set your face toward Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him and say, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. And I will turn you about and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed in full armor, a great host, all of them with buckler and shield, wielding swords. Persia, Cush, and Put are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; Gomer and all his hordes; Beth-togarmah from the uttermost parts of the north with all his hordes—many peoples are with you.” (ESV)
Notice right at the very beginning, as Ezekiel turns and faces toward what is for him a bit northwest, as he faces towards Magog, we see that God is against Gog.
This has been a common message in Ezekiel.
Back in chapter 5 God was against His own people due to their following false gods.
Again in chapter 13 God states He is against the false prophets.
The common theme so far is He is against those who have abandoned Him for someone else.
Later in chapter 13 He is against the magic bands, a reference to what was taught by the fallen angels who descended to Mount Hermon
1 Enoch 8:3
Shemihazah taught spells and the cutting of roots. Hermani taught sorcery for the loosing of spells and magic and skill. Baraqel taught the signs of the lightning flashes. Kokabel taught the signs of the stars. Ziqel taught the signs of the shooting stars. Arteqoph taught the signs of the earth. Shamsiel taught the signs of the sun. Sahriel taught the signs of the moon. And they all began to reveal mysteries to their wives and to their children.
[Nickelsburg, George W.E.; VanderKam, James C.. 1 Enoch: The Hermeneia Translation (pp. 25-26). Fortress Press. Kindle Edition.
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In chapter 21 God is against Jerusalem, much as for the same reason He was against the Nation.
Then God turns His attention to nations surrounding Israel and announces He is against them.
Tyre in chapter 26
Sidon in chapter 28
Two times against Egypt in chapter 29
Edom (Mount Seir) in chapter 35
And now, He is against Gog the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal
The reason we know it is against Gog is because God says, “I’m against you.” This makes it different from any other nation, because God has said this about nations already in existence that have exhibited enmity and rejection of Him, but this nation hadn’t even come into existence when Ezekiel gave this prophecy. Yet God says he is against it.
J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible Commentary, electronic ed., vol. 3 (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1997), 513.
Daniel 10:18–21
Then this one with human appearance touched me again and strengthened me. He said, “O man of high esteem, do not be afraid. Peace be with you; take courage and be courageous!” Now as soon as he spoke to me, I received strength and said, “May my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.” Then he said, “Do you understand why I came to you? But I shall now return to fight against the prince of Persia; so I am going forth, and behold, the prince of Greece is about to come. However, I will tell you what is inscribed in the writing of truth. Yet there is no one who stands firmly with me against these forces except Michael your prince.” (NASB95)
Romans 8:38–39
“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (NASB95)
The conflict will inevitably touch Israel, but what Ezekiel envisages is essentially a duel between Yahweh and Gog. Unlike most of the previous occurrences of the challenge formula, which had generally been followed up with threats of severe divine punishment, the opening frame sounds more like a summons to battle. Indeed, the emphasis is on Yahweh’s direct and deliberate manipulation of Gog, calling him into the fray (vv. 4–6), and announcing the military strategy he is to pursue (vv. 7–9). Daniel Isaac Block, The Book of Ezekiel, Chapters 25–48, The New International Commentary on the Old Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1997–), 438.
For YHWH, this is personal. He is the one who will personally put a hook and drag this Gog empowered down to Israel.
Stop and think about this for a moment, if this does take place after the Rapture but before the beginning of the Tribulation, but distinctly after the Psalm 83 war, why would anyone in their sane mind attack a nation that just put down large combined armies that constitute most of the Middle-East Islamic powers?
YHWH will draw them out into the ultimate kill zone and into a place where He will receive all of the glory, and they will be destroyed.
The northern coalition comes into the land of Israel confident of victory, but they are walking into a trap. Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Reverent, “Be” Commentary Series (Colorado Springs, CO: Chariot Victor/Cook Communications, 2000), 174.
Remember, what we are dealing with is supernatural evil and God’s overall plan to ultimately destroy it, reclaim Planet Earth, restore Eden in the area we recognize today as Israel and place Jesus Christ on the throne.
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Jehovah is about to mislead Gog to a crusade against His people Israel, and summons him to prepare for the invasion of the restored land of Israel.
Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch, Commentary on the Old Testament, vol. 9 (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1996), 331.
This also points out something else, especially when we consider it in light of everything the Bible teaches, God knows everything, nothing takes Him by surprise.
He knows what it will take to draw out the supernaturally led team.
The Lord would reverse the fortunes of this ruler, take him captive, and bring him and his vast, impressive army out of his homeland. Putting hooks in his jaws pictures control that he would not be able to resist. The Lord would be the first cause of this action, but doubtless there would be secondary causes as well, such as Satan’s influence and human decisions. Tom Constable, Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible (Galaxie Software, 2003), Eze 38:3.
Ezekiel 38:4
“I will turn you about and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them splendidly attired, a great company with buckler and shield, all of them wielding swords;” (NASB95)
This is a mobile force and the terms being used reflect that they are coming with what is a full commitment of forces to the battle.
In verse 4 Ezekiel alludes to the divine control of Gog. Like a sea-monster Gog will be turned by the hooks in his jaws to do the bidding of Jehovah. The same imagery was used of Pharaoh in Egypt (29:4). Gog also is compelled to do the will of God.
Bert Harold Hall, “The Book of Ezekiel,” in Isaiah-Malachi, vol. 3, The Wesleyan Bible Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1969), 471.
They are all wearing full battle gear, splendidly attired reflects that the forces are wearing all of the armor at their disposal. They are locked and loaded.
When you begin to look at current developments to improve overall battle armor for military forces, you begin to see the picture that Ezekiel is laying out for us.
The expression kol-ḥêlekā, which may be translated “all your wealth” (26:12; 28:4–5) or “your entire army” (cf. 17:17; 27:10; 32:31), functions as a thesis statement, encompassing both the inventory of military hardware provided in v. 4 and the catalogue of Gog’s allies in vv. 5–6. According to v. 4b Gog’s forces are not only well dressed but also well armed. They will sweep through the land mounted on steeds (sûsîm) and driving teams of chariots (pārāšîm), armed with defensive (buckler and shield) and offensive weapons (swords). V. 5 adds helmets (qôbāʿ) to the list. The portrait is that of a superbly equipped force, fearfully efficient against unsuspecting targets.
Daniel Isaac Block, The Book of Ezekiel, Chapters 25–48, The New International Commentary on the Old Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1997–), 439.
Where do the allies of Gog come from?
Ezekiel 38:5–6
“Persia, Ethiopia and Put with them, all of them with shield and helmet; Gomer with all its troops; Beth-togarmah from the remote parts of the north with all its troops—many peoples with you.” (NASB95)