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| Chap 39 Timeline |
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Ezekiel: Chapter 39 |
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Setting Ezekiel 39 is a continuation of Ezekiel 38, and provides more details of the invasion and of the aftermath. In all, this chapter demonstrates the Lord's sovereignty over mankind's activities, while at the same time preserving the right by every person to choose to follow the Lord or not. Outline of this chapter Similar to the first two chapters of Genesis, Ezekiel 39 restates, and builds upon the information presented in Ezekiel 38, but with the focus on Gog. As before, the Lord is declaring that He is against Gog, and again provides the context of Gog's geographic origin. The passages in these chapters illustrate a rapid deployment and insertion of forces to the point of leading to a paralysis of decision or response by other countries. In comparison to the months that lead up to the assembly of forces prior to the last two Gulf Wars, this will appear to establish a new bar for efficient execution of such operations. Ezekiel 39:2 is of particular interest in that the Authorized King James Version (KJV) of the Bible is the only one to interpret the passage referencing a sixth part of Gog, in contrast to other modern translations and the New King James Version (NKJV). The Authorized KJV translates the section of verse as “…and leave but the sixth part of thee ….” The other translations do not even contain words that would suggest that a sixth part of Russia will escape and return to their land. Dr. J Vernon McGee in his commentaries on this section suggest that another way to interpret this is the affirmation of the Lord’s six judgments or plagues presented in the previous chapter, as shown in the following table.
It is quite clear from Ezekiel 38:19-22 that there are six plagues that will be visited upon the invading armies under Gog. However, another way to view Ezekiel 38:2 from reviewing the other translations and the Greek words used in this verse, is that the Lord is leading Gog on to his divine appointment for his judgment by the Lord. In Ezekiel 39:2 the Lord is turning Gog around, as in Ezekiel 38:4, but in this chapter the Lord reveals that Gog has a divine appointment on the mountains of Israel and the Lord is making sure that he and his confederates arrive on time. This divine appointment is also made with the 200,000,000 million man army during the seven years of tribulation. This is revealed with the blowing of the sixth trumpet when the release of the four angels from the river Euphrates occurs, Revelation 9:13-16, and with the drying of the Euphrates river to facilitate the crossing of the eastern army, so that they will be able to make their divine appointment with the Lord on their judgment, Revelation 16:12. Ezekiel 39:2 identifies the location of Gog, who is from the “FAR” north. This distance is emphasized since many of the invading armies through Israel’s history originated from the East of Israel, traveled around the crescent valley along the Euphrates River, eventually heading Southward toward Jerusalem to fight against them. Gog's origin, in contrast, is directly North. The destination of this vast army that Gog will be able to amass is the mountains of Israel as an assembly area. This scenario is similar to the days of King Hezekiah and the invasion of King Sennacherib of Assyria. In Isaiah 36:13-15, the blasphemy of the Assyrian commander is recorded, and the Lord’s response the king's inquiry through Isaiah is provided in Isaiah 37:6-7. The Assyrian commander then abandoned the siege of Jerusalem to support the King of Assyria in his battle at Libnah, south of Jerusalem, Isaiah 37:8. In an attempt to keep fear upon the people within the walls of Jerusalem, the King of Assyria sent a letter to King Hezekiah saying for them not to depend on God, Isaiah 37:10. The king's attempt was a complete affront to the Lord, and the Lord did respond through Isaiah stating that He would put His hook in the nose of the king, and a bridle in his lips, and turn him back by the way that he came, Isaiah 37:28-35. Thereafter, the destruction of the Assyrian army by the Lord is given in Isaiah 37:36-37. The important point to capture here is that the army of Israel never engaged the Assyrian army, but the whole event was the Lord's. The argument is that this scenario will be repeated in our modern times for the purposes that the Lord reveals to Ezekiel and us, in the remainder of this chapter. Continuing with the thought from the previous verse, in Ezekiel 39:3 the battle that will take place is the Lord’s. He will disarm the armies and make all of the weaponry ineffective, as shown in the descriptive language of the Lord knocking the bow out of their left hand, and causing the arrows to fall out of the hand of their strength. All of the weaponry that they had built, trained on over countless hours, and their munitions will become nothing, and their ability to use them will suddenly evaporate. They will not be able to strike at Jerusalem as they intended with their evil thought. Another example from the Old Testament is during the time of the Lord’s battle for Judah when they were invaded by Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir during the days of King Jehoshaphat. Their response to the report of a vast army attacking them was to seek the Lord, as King Hezekiah did a few generations later, 2Chronicles 20:1-4. The end of the prayer to God by King Jehoshaphat may be the same that is lifted by Israel when Gog's armies invade, with his coalition of Muslim countries, 2Chronicles 20:12. The Lord’s response and deliverance is given to King Jehoshaphat and the men and women of Judah, 2Chronicles 20:13-17, and 2Chronicles 20:21-25. Ezekiel 38 and Ezekiel 39 gives the Lord's response to His people in advance when Gog's invasion occurs. In Ezekiel 39:4-5 the invading armies will not be able to ingress against Jerusalem, but remain in the open on mountains of northern Israel where they had assembled. This is where the assembled armies will be destroyed, as was done through Elijah, 2Kings 1:10-13. Their flesh will be given to the birds and animals, similar to the battle of Armageddon, Revelation 19:17-21. The carrion are needed to eliminate diseases from pervading across the land from the decay of so many bodies. This part of the chapter is repeated later in Ezekiel 39:17-20. In Ezekiel 39:6, the subject shifts back to Gog and the country he rules, Magog. Not only will the assembled armies in northern Israel be destroyed, but the Lord will send his fire upon the country and upon the people Gog rules over, similar to Sodom and Gomorrah, Genesis 19:17-25. No mention is made of the other countries, but if they are judged, there would be a significant impact on the world’s economy due to the destroyed oil infrastructure that exists in Russia and the Muslim countries. As a result of this judgment, they will know that the God of Israel is Lord over all, though they may not act appropriately on that belief. This may be like the events described with the pouring out of the fifth bowl judgment, and the people recognized that the judgment came from God, but they would not repent, Revelation 16:10-11. The purpose for all of this judgment is provided in Ezekiel 39:7-8. The Lord will make His name known to Israel and to the nations, and His name will no longer be profaned. The association between the Lord and Israel will be recognized by the world. The holiness of the Lord and His sovereignty over His creation will be evident to all who are alive at that time, and all of the events describe in Ezekiel 38 and Ezekiel 39 will happen, because the Lord has spoken it. The spoil of the invading armies
The place of burial for the invading armies Ezekiel 39:11 provides further information concerning the location for the burial of the dead, which is on the east side of the Dead Sea. It is an interesting note that this is ground claimed by Jordan today, but this is God’s land and His to dispose of as He wills. The area for burial will be renamed the Valley of Hamon Gog and a town there will be called Hamonah, Ezekiel 39:15-16. Ezekiel 39:12 indicates that the numbers of the dead in the invading army is so significant that it will take seven months to locate the bodies who were buried in the debris and landslides during God's judgment against them. Their bodies will be buried in God’s designated area in order to cleanse the land of Israel. In Ezekiel 22:23-26, the Lord is concerned about the land being cleansed (showered in the NIV), and for the lack of that cleansing, the nation of Israel was judged during the three invasions of King Nebuchadnezzar. In Ezekiel 36:8-12, the purpose of the Lord concerning the land is for it to produce and supply the needs of the growing population of Israelites in the land. As a result, the mass burial site will be on the east side of the Dead Sea. Ezekiel 39:13 shows that all the people of the land will help to bury the dead, which may include other peoples besides the Jews. The day of this battle will also become a memorial day or feast day as the other days celebrating the important events in Israel’s history, such as the Passover and the feast of lights. In Ezekiel 39:14-16 the Lord reveals through Ezekiel that there will be continuous cleansing of the land. Men will be continually employed to go throughout the land and cleanse the land. They will travel through the land to locate and bury any remains of the invaders. After seven months of burying those that are on the ground, these men will begin their search for the remainder of the dead. It is interesting to note the details in this prophesy. A marker will be placed over the area where dead men’s bones are discovered so that they will be buried in the designated area, near the city called Hamonah. Again, this is the process God has instituted to cleanse the land. The ultimate result of rebellion against God In Ezekiel 39:17-20 demonstrates the complete futility of any rebellion against the Lord. The assembled armies of Gog were enemies of God and suffered severely for it. Every kind of bird and wild animal will eat their flesh (to control the spread of diseases from the rotting flesh). There will be no respect given to one’s political stature or rank, all will be treated the same. Again, the location of this great battle is on the mountains of Israel. In Ezekiel 39:21-23, the Glory of the Lord over His enemies will be known and viewed by all nations. From that day forward, Israel will turn from being essentially a secular nation to one that once again believes in God. As a nation, Israel will still not accept Jesus Christ as their Messiah. That will occur at the time of abomination of desolation when the false prophet erects a statue of the Antichrist in the tribulation temple, Matthew 24:15-19, Revelation 12:13-16, and Ezekiel 20:32-38. At that time all the nations will understand how the history of Israel was a testament of God's dealing with Israel's iniquity, and that their captivity in the hands of their enemies and the sword going after them throughout the millennia under the Gentile era was not a result of Gentile efforts, but is God's judgment against the rebellion of Israel. Ezekiel 39:24 continues to show that the Lord dealt with Israel according their uncleanness and their offenses. The Lord hid His face from them, Ezekiel 36:22-25, but the Lord returned Israel to their land for His holy names' sake. Even in judgment, Israel profaned His name in the nations where they were dispersed. But because of His name, the Lord will take His people from the nations, as is occurring today. The Lord will be hallowed before the nations, as in this event in Ezekiel 38 and Ezekiel 39, and the people will be cleansed. Looking forward concerning God's relationship with Israel The events in these remaining verses are arguably fulfilled during Israel's preservation in the last half of the tribulation, Revelation 12:13-16, and during the Millennial reign of Christ, Ezekiel 40 - Ezekiel 48. In Ezekiel 39:25-26, the Lord states that he will bring the captives of Jacob to the land and have mercy on the whole house of Israel. The association between Israel with the Lord is because He is jealous for His holy name. He made several covenants with Israel through their history, and He will be faithful to them. Once their time for shame has been fulfilled for their unfaithfulness to the Lord, they will again dwell safely in their own land, and no one will make them afraid again. In Ezekiel 39:27 the Lord will show himself through Israel to the nations by His physical presence in the Holy temple in the city called “The Lord is there,” Ezekiel 48:35, formally named Jerusalem. This will occur during His millennial reign. In Ezekiel 39:28, the Lord will gather ALL His people from throughout the world to populate their land, and they will know Him, as he will put a new spirit in their heart, Ezekiel 36:26-27. Finally, in Ezekiel 39:29 the Lord describes the time of complete reparation with Israel. He will no longer hide His face from His people, but pour out His Spirit on the house of Israel, Zechariah 8:20-23. |
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Copyright (c) 2001, 2005, 2008, J.E. Huntley. All rights reserved.
