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Book of Ezekiel
Chapter 39
I believe that the Tribulation period, will be a terrifying time. I simply cannot understand how some people say that GOD'S TRUE children, the redeemed ones, will go through the Tribulation. The Bible makes it clear that those who will be witnessing on the Earth during this time will be the 144,000 Jews (Rev.7), NOT the church!
GOD, having dealt in judgment with the enemy that invaded Israel from the north, allows Antichrist to be the world ruler for the remainder of the Tribulation period. Then the Lord JESUS CHRIST will come to the Earth to establish His Kingdom (Rev.19), and in Revelation Chapter 20, the Kingdom of CHRIST, the Millennium, begins.
With these incredible events in mind, we would be wise to pause a bit and consider what the Bible says. With three of the Major Prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel, certain great principles emerge which a fourth prophet, Daniel confirms. These principles have an ageless application for nations of the world and for TRUE believers, those who have trusted the Lord JESUS CHRIST as their SAVIOUR and LORD and believe that the Bible is the Holy Word of God.
In the Book of Ezekiel we have seen GOD dealing with Israel. Dear one, when GOD says Israel, He means Israel! He does NOT mean the church. The church has NOT replaced Israel! The church is made up of Christians, of which there are a few Jews who have believed GOD and accepted His only begotten Son, JESUS; and Israel is Israel! http://www.worldlychaos.org/w_c_what_is_replacement_theology.htm
GOD means what He says and we must realize that He has been dealing in these prophecies with the literal people of Israel. That is the correct interpretation. The principles GOD has used in dealing with His own people Israel are eternal, for they are joined to the character and attributes of GOD.
I do not think that any other prophet emphasizes the glory and the holiness of GOD more than Ezekiel. He SAW the glory of GOD (Chapter 1), and He never forgot it. We should not forget it either. Ezekiel therefore stresses the judgment of GOD. The Lord GOD is longsuffering, not willing that any should perish, and He warned His people over and over again that if they did not turn to Him, He would judge Jerusalem. They did not turn to Him, and Jerusalem was destroyed, and Ezekiel offered the people encouragement as they looked into the future. But, he said, another enemy is coming.
This Chapter continues the prophecy of the destruction of Gog, which is both repeated, and more largely described (39:1), then follows an account of the burning of Gog’s weapons of war, which mass will last seven years in burning, during which time there will be no need of the use of wood (39:9), and of the burial of Gog, and many of his army, the place and the time that it will take to do this is seven months (39:11). All fowl and beasts of the field are called upon to feed on the flesh of those that are left unburied (39:17) . . . and by all this the glory of the LORD will be seen, known and acknowledged, both by the heathens, and by the house of Israel (39:21), and the heathen shall know that the present captivity of the Jews has been for their sins and transgressions (39:23), and the chapter ends with a Promise of their return from captivity, when they shall know the LORD, and love and obey Him, who will after this no more hide His Face from them, but pour out His Spirit upon them, and under His influence they shall forever continue (39:25).
Theme: The Assault of Gog, and GOD'S Judgment on Him, continued.
Chapter 39 continues the prophecy against Gog and gives additional details about the destruction of this terrible enemy.
Results of the Invasion = Destruction of Gog (39:1-10)
The LORD will make the most careless and hardened transgressors know His Holy Name, either by His righteous anger, or by the riches of His awesome mercy and grace. NO weapons brought against Israel shall prosper. Even though this prophecy is to be fulfilled in the latter days, it is absolutely certain to be fulfilled! From the language Ezekiel uses, it seems that the army of Gog will be destroyed by a miracle from GOD.
Ezekiel 39:1 Therefore, thou son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: (KJV)
Therefore, thou son of man, prophesy against Gog . . . as Ezekiel had been ordered to do before, and must still continue to do (38:1).
Behold, I am against thee, O Gog . . . this is repeated to confirm it, and to inject terror into Gog; for it is indeed terrible to have GOD against anyone.
The chief prince of Meshech and Tubal . . . (38:2). Some versions add Rosh.
Ezekiel 39:2 And I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee, and will cause thee to come up from the north parts, and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel: (KJV)
And I will turn thee back . . . not from the land of Israel; for there it is said before that He would bring him (38:4); the meaning is that He would turn him about, in his own land, and lead him about at GOD’S pleasure, and bring him out of it, into the land of Israel. This indicates that the wisdom of GOD would be greatly concerned in this event; and in which much glory would be brought to Him by the destruction of such a powerful enemy of His people; which is the plan of bringing him out (38:4).
And leave but a sixth part of thee . . . a sixth part (4:11; 39:2; 45:13; 46:14), seems to mean not that only a sixth part would escape the vengeance of GOD, and but a sixth part be destroyed in the land of Israel; for it looks as if the whole army of Gog would be utterly destroyed, and none left; and when he would come out of his own country upon this expedition, only a sixth part of his subjects would be left behind; for five out of six would accompany him. So numerous would Gog’s army be, that his country would be drained by this boldness of his.
Some render this phrase; I will judge thee with six judgments, pestilence, blood, an overflowing rain, hailstones, fire, and brimstone (38:22), while others say this is wrong being that as yet the account of his punishment has not come; for this account only is given how and by what means he shall be drawn out of his own land; so it seems much better in the Targum: I will persuade thee, and I will seduce thee; which agrees with other versions, I will lead thee, and agrees with what follows:
And will cause thee to come up from the north parts . . . (38:15), will cause thee to come up; by his all wise providence, GOD will arrange things so, that Gog shall deliberately choose this expedition. GOD will bring Gog exactly where GOD wants him (38:4, 8, 15, 21).
And will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel . . . not to inherit them, but to die upon them (39:4).
*****The Septuagint is a Greek version of the Hebrew Bible (or Old Testament), including the Apocrypha, made for Greek-speaking Jews in Egypt in the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC and adopted by the early Christian Churches.
The Targum, targumim were spoken paraphrases, explanations and expansions of the Jewish scriptures that a rabbi would give in the common language of the listeners, which was then often Aramaic. That had become necessary near the end of the 1st century BCE, as the common language was in transition and Hebrew was used for little more than schooling. The Targums were explanations of the Hebrew Scriptures in Chaldaic (Western Aramaic) for the benefit of those Jews who had partially or completely ceased to understand the sacred tongue.
Ezekiel 39:3 And I will smite thy bow out of thy left hand, and will cause thine arrows to fall out of thy right hand. (KJV)
And I will smite thy bow out of thy left hand . . . I will smite thy bow, weaken his hand so it would not able to hold the bow, and his heart unclear, not daring to take it up again. What is said of the bow being made useless, is to be understood of all his weapons of war, not just the bow.
And I will cause thine arrows to fall out of thy right hand . . . the right hand is where the arrows are usually held when put into the bow, and then the bow is drawn with it; indicating that although he would come into the land of Israel, he would not succeed; he would be stripped of his armor. Bows and arrows are put for all kind of warlike weapons; and are mainly mentioned because they were what was used in war when this prophecy was delivered.
Ezekiel 39:4 Thou shalt fall upon the mountains of Israel, thou, and all thy bands, and the people that is with thee: I will give thee unto the ravenous birds of every sort, and to the beasts of the field to be devoured. (KJV)
Thou shalt fall upon the mountains of Israel, thou, and all thy bands . . . thou shalt fall, Gog and his army shall be overthrown and slain. Thou, Gog himself the leader of this army, and all thy bands; thine own soldiers, the old trained soldiers. The Targum is, upon the mountains of the land of Israel thy carcass shall be cast. Gog and his army shall be slain, and their carcasses shall fall on the mountains of Israel. Their unburied carcasses shall be ripped apart and mangled by every ravenous beast and bird of the air, for these wild beasts range over the mountains for their prey, and shall eat them, as in (32:4-5). Many shall be denied a burial.
Ezekiel 39:5 Thou shalt fall upon the open field: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD. (KJV)
Thou shalt fall upon the open field . . . parts of Gog’s army would fall on the mountains, and others on the plain, but wherever they would be, they all will be destroyed, either by the sword of the Jews and Christian Kings, or by GOD'S judgments from Heaven.
For I have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD . . . anything that GOD says will happen, shall absolutely come to pass, exactly as He has stated! I simply cannot see why people refuse to believe this. Since no Word of His has ever failed in the past, since GOD does NOT change (Mal.3:6); His Promises for the future shall also be fulfilled to the letter! Please do NOT doubt GOD! He cannot lie (Tit.1:2).
Ezekiel 39:6 And I will send a fire on Magog, and among them that dwell carelessly in the isles: and they shall know that I am the LORD. (KJV)
And I will send a fire on Magog . . . in the land of Magog (38:2), while Gog is in the land of Israel, and he and his army shall perish there, his country shall be destroyed by fire, or by some judgment or judgments of GOD, which shall consume like fire. I will send an unusual judgment a fire, either civil rebellions, such as when Egypt was consumed by (30:16), or else a destroying pestilence, which always carries with it a burning fever; or the fire and brimstone mentioned (38:22). Whatever this fire was, it would devour and make desolate.
And among them that dwell carelessly in the isles . . . them that dwell carelessly, who possibly thought their situation would be their safety; even though Gog fell on the land, the ships and isles might escape . . . not so, for the same Hand will send the fire on the isles and their inhabitants. Maybe the Tyrians and Sidonians may be aimed at. Those that dwell in the islands, think they are safe and secure, and so live carelessly and in self-confidence. The isles, nations or people dwelling in regions by the sea, who had helped Gog with fleets and troops, shall be visited with the fire of GOD’S wrath in their own lands.
And they shall know that I am the LORD . . . by the things executed upon them by Almighty GOD.
*****I think that verses 5 and 6 are here to assure us of the TRUTH of what shall indeed happen, since many might think it unbelievable that so large an army would be destroyed. But dear one, this tells us that GOD will send an unusual judgment, a fire; either civil rebellions, such as Egypt was consumed by (30;16), or else a destroying deadly disease, which always carries with it a burning fever; or that fire and brimstone mentioned (38:22). Whatever this fire was, it shall devour and lay all desolate.
Many think that a loving GOD would not kill people. Dear one, The LORD is SO holy and pure, that He CANNOT tolerate any evil or sin of any kind. Consider the following places, where Almighty GOD did put to death many people:
Global Flood (Gen.7:17-22)
Destruction of Nineveh (Nah.1 & 3)
Ten Plagues of Egypt (Ex.7-12)
Crossing the Red Sea (Ex.15:4-5)
Destruction of the Amorite Coalition (Josh.10:1-43)
185,000 in Assyrian army killed (2 Ki.19:35)
Future Invasion of Israel (Eze.38-39)
Ezekiel 39:7 So will I make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel; and I will not let them pollute my holy name any more: and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel. (KJV)
So will I make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel . . . meaning His perfections, His holiness and His justice in punishing their enemies; His truth and His faithfulness in fulfilling His Promises to them; His power in inflicting judgments on Gog and his army; and His goodness in preserving and protecting Israel.
And I will not let them pollute my holy name any more . . . My holy name . . . the LORD threatens destruction against the wicked for their hatred against His Holiness, because GOD is Holy and He shall protect it. Heathens blasphemed His Holy Name, saying that GOD was not able to deliver His people from such a potent enemy; but now their mouth will be stopped, and they will not dare to speak like this anymore. This could also refer to the Israelites, who shall be so influenced by the grace and goodness of GOD to them, so that they fear (reverence) the LORD and His goodness, and would not dare commit the sins they did before, which polluted His Name and blasphemed it among the heathens.
And the Heathen shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel . . . they shall know, by these judgments and providences, that He, and He alone is the only true GOD, and they shall admit and confess it; and that He is a Holy and just GOD, and dwells in Israel, and grants His gracious and powerful Presence to His people; nor shall they ever molest them again (39:6).
*****The LORD’S faithfulness is here applauded and illustrated. I will not let them pollute my holy name any more; for He will give them a new spirit, and due to His mercy on them, they shall not as they did before, blaspheme and profane His Holy Name ever again among the heathen (20:9; 38:23).
Ezekiel 39:8 Behold, it is come, and it is done, saith the Lord GOD; this is the day whereof I have spoken. (KJV)
Behold, it is come, and it is done, saith the Lord GOD . . . meaning the salvation of His people, and the destruction of their enemies. The prophecy concerning all this shall come to pass, and all of it shall be accomplished; so, because of the certainty of it, it is demonstrated here as if the time was actually come, and the thing was really done . . . for when GOD says something, you can be assured that it shall come to pass, exactly as He has stated, this event is as SURE as if it was now fulfilled!
This is the day whereof I have spoken . . . by the prophet Ezekiel and others (38:17). This day, that notable day of recompenses against the last great enemies of Israel and the church.
Ezekiel 39:9 And they that dwell in the cities of Israel shall go forth, and shall set on fire and burn the weapons, both the shields and the bucklers, the bows and the arrows, and the handstaves, and the spears, and they shall burn them with fire seven years: (KJV)
And they that dwell in the cities of Israel shall go forth . . . out of their houses into the streets, where Gog's soldiers will lie dead, with their armor beside them; or maybe out of their cities, where they dwelt safely and were secure from the enemy. These people seem to be separate from the army of Israel, engaged in battle with Gog. These were the citizens that will stay at home, and yet share in the spoil and plunder (Ps.68:12), and these, after the battle is over, and the victory obtained, of which they will have been informed, will then march out without fear into the open fields and mountains, where the army of Gog will fall (39:4).
And shall set on fire and burn the weapons . . . the armor of Gog's army, which they shall find by the dead, or on them, or which those that flee will throw away. These they shall gather together, and put in a heap and burn, as often was the practice of conquerors; or they shall take them to their own houses, and use them for fuel, and burn them instead of wood out of the fields and forests, as the following verse show.
Both the shields and the bucklers, the bows and the arrows . . . which were the weapons that Gog and his companions used (38:4).
And the handstaves, and the spears . . . handstaves were either half pikes or truncheons, as some think, or javelins.
And they shall burn them with fire seven years . . . seven years, which some take to be a number for the uncertain, and others think is just an expression; but when it is considered how great an army of Gog's will be, and what unusual numbers of weapons of all sorts must be carried by them, and the little use of fire in those hot countries . . . it may be taken in a literal sense, because so great will be the amount of war weapons that will be found and gathered, that they will serve for fuel for the time of seven years.
Ezekiel 39:10 So that they shall take no wood out of the field, neither cut down any out of the forests; for they shall burn the weapons with fire: and they shall spoil those that spoiled them, and rob those that robbed them, saith the Lord GOD. (KJV)
So that they shall take no wood out of the field . . . take no wood out of the field during the seven year period, for they shall have no need to do so, because of the amount of armor.
Neither cut down any out of the forest . . . out of the forest of Lebanon, or any place where they cut wood for their necessary uses. So great a quantity of armor and weapons shall now be brought home by them to their houses, which they would have no need to go to the trouble and expense of cutting wood from the forests.
For they shall burn the weapons with fire . . . they will have no reason to cut wood, for when this battle is over, which seems to be the same as that at Armageddon, there will be a total destruction of all the enemies of CHRIST and His people; the world will be cleared of them, and there will be no more war, and so thereb would be no more need of deadly weapons. This will be the last battle that will be fought (Isa.2:4).
And they shall spoil those that spoil them, and rob those that robbed them, saith the Lord GOD . . . they shall not only take their weapons and burn them, but strip them of their garments, and take away their gold, silver, jewels and everything of value they shall find around them.
Ezekiel 39:11 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will give unto Gog a place there of graves in Israel, the valley of the passengers on the east of the sea: and it shall stop the noses of the passengers: and there shall they bury Gog and all his multitude: and they shall call it The valley of Hamongog. (KJV)
And it shall come to pass in that day . . . meaning when this destruction of the army of Gog takes place.
That I will give unto Gog a place there of graves in Israel . . . I will give unto Gog a place in Israel, a grave! He that thought he could subdue the whole land, and take possession of it, shall have no more of it than just a place for a grave to be buried in.
And it shall stop the noses of the passengers . . . the passengers (travelers) shall hold their noses, because of the foul smell of the dead bodies. For GOD’S judgment arrived, and they shall no more blaspheme the GOD of Israel, when they shall see this monumental example of His almighty power in the destruction of His and His people's enemies.
And there shall they bury Gog, and all his multitude . . . bury Gog and all his army, that which the fowls and beasts had not consumed, and the bones they had left, not only his army, but Gog himself, and the general of his mighty army.
And they shall call it the valley of Hamon-gog . . . Hamon means a multitude; and this name will be placed on the place of Gog's tomb, because of the multitude slain and buried here, and to preserve the memory of it. There has never yet been a place of this name in the land of Israel, which shows that this event is yet future.
Ezekiel 39:12 And seven months shall the house of Israel be burying of them, that they may cleanse the land. (KJV)
And seven months shall the house of Israel be burying of them . . . so long a time will the burial of Gog's army take, because of the size of it, and because their bones will be scattered everywhere, which will take time to gather them and bring them to one place. The reason of the burial of them will be, partly out of human kindness, which is the Christian belief, which will then be embraced by the Jews, and partly because of the nauseating sight and foul smell of the dead bodies of the slain, and to prevent the air being infected, which might cause harmful diseases. One commentator gives the reason of it, because Gog is of the seed of Japheth, who covered his father's nakedness (Gen.9:23), and therefore was worthy of a funeral, but I think a better reason follows,
That they may cleanse the land . . . not from ceremonial uncleanness, a place being unclean, by the ceremonial law, where dead carcasses, or the bones of dead men, lay; for the ceremonial law, as it is revoked, will now be abandoned by the Jews when converted; but from natural pollution, as before mentioned.
Ezekiel 39:13 Yea, all the people of the land shall bury them; and it shall be to them a renown the day that I shall be glorified, saith the Lord GOD. (KJV)
Yea, all the people of the land shall bury them . . . meaning a great number of the common people of the land of Israel, especially of those that dwell near the field of battle, shall be busy in burying the slain; and which they will be very willing to do, for the reasons above mentioned.
And it shall be to them a renown . . . or for a remembreance, they shall be praised for their humanity to their enemies, and shall be spoken of with honor, as being the peculiar people of GOD (Ex,19:5; Deut.14:2; 26:18), whom He has so remarkably appeared for, protected, and defended.
The day that I shall be glorified, saith the Lord GOD . . . the day that will be famous to them will be the day when they shall give all the glory to GOD; whose greatness, goodness, power and wisdom, will be seen in saving His people, and destroying their enemies.
Ezekiel 39:14 And they shall sever out men of continual employment, passing through the land to bury with the passengers those that remain upon the face of the earth, to cleanse it: after the end of seven months shall they search. (KJV)
And they shall sever out men of continual employment . . . meaning the main ones of the house of Israel, their magistrates and governors, shall select certain persons, to be daily employed in the following work, until the job is done.
Passing through the land to bury with the passengers those that remain upon the face of the earth, to cleanse it . . . these men will be appointed to go through the land of Israel, to gather up such carcasses and bones of dead men as remain anywhere after the seven months' burial, as before observed; and all travelers shall assist, both in pointing where any such carcasses and bones may lie, and in bringing them to the common place of burial; so that the land may he carefully cleansed from such offensive things.
After the end of seven months shall they search . . . when seven months are ended, in which the people in general will be employed in burying the dead; these men mentioned here will be sent out into each part of the land, to search in caves, dens and ditches, among thickets, thorns and briers, where the slain may have fallen, or where soldiers, being wounded, might hide and die; or their carcasses or bones may have been be dragged and left by beasts and fowls. They were to search everywhere to find them and bring them to the place of burial.
Ezekiel 39:15 And the passengers that pass through the land, when any seeth a man's bone, then shall he set up a sign by it, till the buriers have buried it in the valley of Hamongog. (KJV)
And the passengers that pass through the land . . . travelers, not those with the searchers, but that travel through it upon business in it, or in other lands.
When any seeth a man's bone, then shall he set up a sign by it . . . as he passes along, if he sees a human bone in the way, he shall stop and lay a stone, or a heap of stones by it, or some such mark or token, indicating that a man's bone lies there.
Till the buriers have buried it in the valley of Hamon-gog . . . which sign shall stay until the searchers come that way and take the bone, and carry it to be buried in the valley of Hamon-gog; for carcasses and bones were not to be buried in the place where they were found, but to be brought and buried in this common place of burial.
Ezekiel 39:16 And also the name of the city shall be Hamonah. Thus shall they cleanse the land. (KJV)
And also the name of the city shall be Hamonah . . . the name of the city nearest to this place, where Gog and his multitude shall be buried, shall be called Hamonah, which means a multitude; a place where many graves are; or maybe a new city will be built near this place, and so called, to perpetuate the memory of it; or else, as one thinks, that Jerusalem will be so called, from the multitude of those that will be slain near it. We must consider, no city in the land of Israel has ever had any such name; so this has to be yet in the future.
Thus shall they cleanse the land . . . carefully and completely, so that not a bone shall be left unburied.
Ezekiel 39:17 And, thou son of man, thus saith the Lord GOD; Speak unto every feathered fowl, and to every beast of the field, Assemble yourselves, and come; gather yourselves on every side to my sacrifice that I do sacrifice for you, even a great sacrifice upon the mountains of Israel, that ye may eat flesh, and drink blood. (KJV)
And thou, son of man, thus saith the Lord GOD . . . what the prophet is ordered by the LORD to say is to creatures not yet in being, and were they, they could not understand his words; but when the time comes, partly by instinct in nature and partly by a precise direction of wisdom, they will be gathered together to this tremendous a slaughter of men.
Speak unto every feathered fowl, and to every beast of the field . . . this must be understood only of birds and beasts that consume dead carcasses, because not all birds and animals feed on dead flesh. A similar invitation is given after the battle at Armageddon (Rev.19:17), the only difference is, there an angel is said to cry, here it is the prophet; there to the birds only, here to the beasts of the field too. There is no doubt respect here to that Passage.
Assemble yourselves, and come; gather yourselves on every side to my sacrifices that I do sacrifice for you . . . such a slaughter of men is called a sacrifice, because there is a likeness between that and the killing of beasts for sacrifice; besides, these enemies of GOD and His people will fall a victim to His justice, as well as be a meal for fowls and beasts, who are invited, as to a great feast, to feed upon them; and there being so much revealed of the power and providence of GOD in all this, it is accredited to Him, and is called the supper of the great God (Rev.19:17).
Even a great sacrifice upon the mountains of Israel . . . where Gog's army will fall (39:4), and in such huge numbers, that it may well be called a great sacrifice; the sacrifice of a great army by the great GOD, and for such large number of creatures.
That ye may eat flesh, and drink blood . . . the flesh and blood of the sacrifices, the slain men, which meat-eating creatures delight in. The Targum is, draw near everywhere round about to the slain, which I slay for you with a great slaughter upon the mountains of Israel, and ye shall eat the flesh, and drink the blood.
Ezekiel 39:18 Ye shall eat the flesh of the mighty, and drink the blood of the princes of the earth, of rams, of lambs, and of goats, of bullocks, all of them fatlings of Bashan. (KJV)
Ye shall eat the flesh of the mighty . . . of the soldiers, men of strength and courage, and fit for war, with which the army of Gog will abound.
And drink the blood of the princes of the earth . . . both the princes of Gog’s own family and court, and those of his allies that will come along with him.
Of rams, of lambs, and of goats, of bullocks . . . which the Targum and others interpret of kings, princes, dukes, rulers and governors; and so does the apostle John in the Revelation, of kings, captains, and mighty men (Rev.19:18).
All of them fatlings of Baasha . . . Baasha was a very fruitful country in Israel, full of lush pastures, where many fat cattle were kept, and to which these great persons in Gog's army are compared, for their bulk, strength and wealth. The Targum is, all of them rich in substance.
Ezekiel 39:19 And ye shall eat fat till ye be full, and drink blood till ye be drunken, of my sacrifice which I have sacrificed for you. (KJV)
And ye shall eat fat till ye be full . . . eat fat of, such as before described generally are fat, and of which they shall have enough; and because they are gluttonous and greedy creatures, shall eat until they are full.
And drink blood till ye be drunken . . . as men are with wine, who become mad with it; and so birds and beasts of prey grow fiercer by drinking blood . . . meaning they would have their fill of the flesh, fat and blood of the slain men.
Of my sacrifice which I have sacrificed for you . . . the Targum is, of the flesh of the slain, which I have slain for you. See (39:17).
Ezekiel 39:20 Thus ye shall be filled at my table with horses and chariots, with mighty men, and with all men of war, saith the Lord GOD. (KJV)
Thus shall ye be filled at my table with horses and chariots . . . with the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, as John interprets it (Rev.19:18), as well as other versions. So this table of the LORD is called the supper of the great God (Rev.19:17). This is further explained,
With mighty men, and with all men of war, saith the Lord GOD . . . meaning with the flesh of valiant men, generals, captains, officers of all kinds and common soldiers, even of all men, great and small, bond and free (Rev.19:18).
Ezekiel 39:21 And I will set my glory among the heathen, and all the heathen shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid upon them. (KJV)
And I will set my glory among the heathen . . . the glory of His divine perfections, especially His power and His goodness in destroying the enemies of His people, and saving them. This shall indeed be very clear to the heathen, that they cannot but see and admit it; and this is the final end of this strange event, as it is of all that the LORD does, even His own glory, secondary to which is His people's good.
And all the heathen shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid upon them . . . GOD’S vengeance and power, as some say; the punishment inflicted by His mighty Hand on Gog and his army. These heathens are the pagan kingdoms who follow the Islamic prophet Muhammad, who will be converted to the Christian religion, as a result of this event. This will make way for the sounding of the seventh trumpet; and when these kingdoms will become CHRIST'S, and way be made for the kings of the east to come over to him (Rev.11:15).
Ezekiel 39:22 So the house of Israel shall know that I am the LORD their God from that day and forward. (KJV)
So the house of Israel shall know that I am the LORD their God . . . that has chosen them, redeemed them, called them, established His covenant love and grace to them, and protected and defended them: this destruction of their enemies will be proof of it; and they will then be led into a richer knowledge of Him, and of His goodness to them; and they will make firmer and perpetual profession of Him.
Even from that day and forward, to the end of time; for after this the Jews will never turn their back of GOD again, but will forever remain the people of GOD and CHRIST, their MESSIAH.
Israel Will One Day Be Favored Again (39:23-29)
The LORD shall have mercy on the whole house of Israel, and convert them to Christianity, and when they shall have tolerated the shame of being cast off for their sins, it shall be then the heathens shall learn to know, worship and serve Him. Then Israel too, shall know the LORD, as revealed in and by CHRIST JESUS. No past events answer to this. The pouring out of the Spirit is a pledge that GOD'S favor will continue to the Jews. He will no longer hide His Face from those on whom He has poured out His SPIRIT. When we pray, we should pray that GOD will never cast us from His Presence. We must sincerely pray this, so that He never turn His Back to us.
Ezekiel 39:23 And the heathen shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity: because they trespassed against me, therefore hid I my face from them, and gave them into the hand of their enemies: so fell they all by the sword. (KJV)
And the heathen shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity . . . the heathen thought contemptibly of the GOD of Israel, and thought the Jews went into captivity because the people with a greater god had by the power of their god prevailed against Israel's GOD and His people . . . but by this defeat given to Gog, they shall see it was not weakness in Israel's GOD, but the iniquity in Israel's people, that put them into captivity.
Because they trespassed against me . . . trespassed, committed sin disobediently, continually, and with boldness.
Therefore hid I my face from them . . . hid my face, the LORD withdrew His favor from them because of their continual sin. He would no longer regard them, and soon it was a dark night of trouble to them.
And gave them into the hand of their enemies . . . into the hand, into the power of their enemies, which could not have hurt Israel IF Israel had not first forsaken their GOD, but it was GOD who forsook them.
So fell they all by the sword . . . when the LORD withdrew His Presence from them, they were defenseless, and they fell under the sword of the enemy; for it was GOD that subdued enemies and gives victory.
Ezekiel 39:24 According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions have I done unto them, and hid my face from them. (KJV)
According to their uncleanness . . . not ceremonial law, but moral law; they were an impure and adulterous generation, as our Lord JESUS calls them (Mat.12:39).
And according to their transgressions have I done unto them . . . or rebellions, as the Targum renders it. They rebelled against the King MESSIAH; they deserted Him; they had contempt of Him, they rejected His yoke, and disobeyed His ordinances . . . so according to the wages of such crimes, the LORD dealt with them. The Targum is, took vengeance on them, as in the destruction of their nation, city and Temple. The LORD hid His face from them or caused His Shekinah to remove from them. See Special Comments in Chapter 19 for Shekinah. http://www.godcannotlie.org/book_of_ezekiel_ch19.htm
Ezekiel 39:25 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Now will I bring again the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel, and will be jealous for my holy name; (KJV)
Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD . . . the Jews have long been punished for their sins; and they will be in the latter days be brought to repentance for them, and to faith in CHRIST, their MESSIAH whom they have been rejecting.
Now will I bring again the captivity of Jacob . . . or the people of Israel, that have been carried captive into all lands; these shall be gathered from the nations, and brought into their own land.
And have mercy upon the whole house of Israel . . . the whole house of Israel, all twelve tribes.
Upon the whole house of Israel . . . on the ten tribes and the two.
And will be jealous for my holy name . . . the LORD is zealous, for the glory of His Holy Name, that it no longer be blasphemed among the heathen; and that it be glorified among His own people. And all this is in passion for His Holy Name.
Ezekiel 39:26 After that they have borne their shame, and all their trespasses whereby they have trespassed against me, when they dwelt safely in their land, and none made them afraid. (KJV)
After that they have borne their shame . . . borne their shame and disgrace in the nations where they are scattered, being captives and exiles in distress and affliction, and under the clear signs of the divine wrath and vengeance of the Lord GOD. After they bear their shame and repent, the LORD shall do good to them and not do to them according to their wickedness, for they shall bear their shame, not able to lift up their face. As repenting persons, under a sense of GOD’S wrath, they blush and are ashamed to look up to GOD (Ezra 9:6). Then shall they have their sins, which caused shame, forgiven them, and they shall then rejoice (Ps.32:11), and they shall carry with them, and make mention of their shame they had in captivity.
And all their transgressions whereby they have transgressed against me . . . meaning the punishment of all their trespasses in their captivity, and the shame of them, being now brought to repentance; and which will be worse to them, when they remember that these sins were committed by their forefathers, and also approved of by them.
When they dwelt safely in their land, and none made them afraid . . . as they did in the times of CHRIST; when they were in perfect peace, with no enemy to disturb them; and were in the possession of their own land, enjoying the blessings of it, and had religious as well as civil liberties . . . and yet totally rejected the MESSIAH, His doctrine, His ordinances and salvation by Him alone (Jn.14:6; Acts 4:12). His own people turned on Him (Jn.1:11) so repulsively as to condemn Him to death on that horrendous cross (Lk.23:21; Jn.19:6, 15).
Ezekiel 39:27 When I have brought them again from the people, and gathered them out of their enemies' lands, and am sanctified in them in the sight of many nations; (KJV)
When I have brought them again from the people . . . meaning when the LORD brings them out from where they are scattered, then shall they be ashamed, and repent of all their trespasses and sins.
And gathered them out of their enemies’ lands . . . the LORD shall gather the Jews from all the countries of their enemies, collecting them together out of each of the nations where they are now scattered, and brought back again to their own land. That land belongs to Israel!
http://www.hisservants.org/israel_promised_land_h_s.htm
And am sanctified in them in the sight of many nations . . . only when the Jews sanctify (set apart) the LORD in their hearts and lives, only when they shall publicly repent of their sins, and forsake them, and seek the LORD their GOD, and their King MESSIAH, and embrace and joyfully profess Him, and admit that GOD has been righteous and holy in all His dealings with them will this happen. This is still future, for this has not yet happened.
Ezekiel 39:28 Then shall they know that I am the LORD their God, which caused them to be led into captivity among the heathen: but I have gathered them unto their own land, and have left none of them any more there. (KJV)
Then shall they know that I am the LORD their God . . . (39:22).
Which caused them to be led into captivity among the heathen . . . because of their sins and transgressions: the Targum is, because they sinned before me.
But I have gathered them into their own land . . . for now they repented for their sins, and believed in the MESSIAH, the Targum is, and now, because they are converted, I have gathered them.
And have left none of them any more there . . . there, in the land of captivity, among the heathen, or in the land of their enemies; everyone, all of them shall be returned to the land of Canaan, wherever they may be, just as when they came out of Egypt. This is typical of the salvation of GOD'S elect, or spiritual Israel; not one of them shall be lost or perish, but all shall be brought to repentance: this again shows, that this prophecy is still future.
But I have gathered them . . . but I now have done more for them than when I brought them out of Babylon, when the two tribes (but not all of them, for some stayed behind) and a few of the house of Israel returned; but here the entire twelve tribes shall be gathered.
Unto their own land . . . that country they so dearly loved, to a certain extent for their fathers' sake, whose ancient seat it was, but more for the goodness of the land, which flowed with milk and honey. None shall be left, this recovery shall be much more widespread than the former in Zorobabel's time, and as coming out of Egypt . . . not one feeble person shall be left behind.
Ezekiel 39:29 Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD. (KJV)
Neither will I hide my face any more from them . . . the Jews, in this future conversion, will always have the worship of GOD among them, and His Presence with them. He will always take notice of them; they will forever be under His protection and care. He will never remove His Shekinah from them ever again! Again, this is further proof that this refers to future times, because after their return from Babylon, GOD did hide His Face, and remove His Presence from them, and left them to ruin and destruction by the Romans.
For I have poured out my Spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord . . . this does not refer to the outpouring of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost, but to one that is yet to come, when the Jews will be converted in the latter day; after which God will never again depart from them, nor shall they depart from Him (Zec.12:10).
Special Comments
When will Ezekiel 38-39 be fulfilled?
Prophecies of the battle: Over 2,000 years ago, Ezekiel unveiled the prophecy the Lord GOD had divulged to him about the future of the nation of Israel. Recorded in Ezekiel chapters 36 and 37, the prophet revealed that GOD would fulfill His Promise to regather the Jewish people from all the countries (36:24) of the world where they had been dispersed and bring them back to the land promised to their forefathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Gen.17:7; 1 Chron.16:17-18; Ps.105:8-11; Rom.9:4).
Like dead, dry bones re-animated into a living person, Israel did indeed become a nation once again on May 14, 1948, after nearly 1900 years since the Romans destroyed Jerusalem in 70 A.D and scattered the Jewish people across the Earth. After all these centuries, this prophecy has been fulfilled in our time!
But GOD was not through unveiling the future of Israel to Ezekiel, because the Chapters 38 & 39 picture a great trial for the newly established nation of Israel . . . the Gog-Magog Battle. Because of the exceptional characteristics and the great detail in which chapters 38 and 39 describe this battle, history shows the Gog-Magog Battle is a prophecy yet to be fulfilled.
The Information about the Gog-Magog Battle is set between a huge association of nations descended from Noah’s sons Japheth and Ham against Israel (Gen.10:2-7). The nations are from the territories of ancient Rosh, Magog, Meshech, Tubal, Persia, Cush, Gomer and Beth-togarmah. Their leader is called Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal (38:2-3). The place of the battle is on the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate (38:8). The reason for the invasion is to plunder and loot and destroy the people of Israel (38:12, 16).
The end result of an invasion by such a seemingly invincible army on an apparently unprotected Israel will surprise the invaders and shock the world. The invading nations are really being manipulated by GOD, pulled out of their lands like fish, with hooks in their jaws (38:4), so that those nations can feel the fury of the Lord GOD (38:18). GOD drags these specific nations to the mountains of Israel to execute judgment upon Gog with pestilence, hailstones and burning sulfur on him and on his troops and the many nations with him (38:22). GOD’S purpose of personally interceding using the supernatural destruction of such a massive army is not just its destruction, but so GOD will magnify Himself, and to make Himself known in the eyes of many nations. Then they will know that I am the LORD (38:23).
By His supernatural victory in the Gog Magog Battle, GOD reintroduces Himself and lets the world know that He is personally defending Israel. Should the people of the world doubt it, they only have to look at Israel who will go out and burn the weapons for seven years (39:9), and for seven months Israel will be busy burying Gog (39:12), in the newly named valley of Hamongog (39:11), by a newly built “town called Hamonah (39:16).
The leader (38:2-3) gives the prophetic name of the leader of this coalition of nations: Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal. Whether Gog is a real name like in (1 Chron.5:4) or is a title for a supreme position such as king or president remains to be seen.
Book of Ezekiel
Eze.Ch.1 . . Eze.Ch.2 . . Eze.Ch.3. . Eze.Ch.4 . . Eze.Ch.5 . . Eze.Ch.6 . . Eze.Ch.7 . . Eze.Ch.8 . . Eze.Ch.9 . . Eze.Ch.10 . . Eze.Ch.11 . . Eze.Ch.12 . . Eze.Ch.13 . . Eze.Ch.14. . Eze.Ch.15 . . Eze.Ch.16 . . Eze.Ch.17 . . Eze.Ch.18 . . Eze.Ch.19 . . Eze.Ch.20 . . Eze.Ch.21 . . Eze.Ch.22 . . Eze.Ch.23 . . Eze.Ch.24 . . Eze.Ch.25 . . Eze.Ch.26 . . Eze.27 . . Eze.28 . . Eze.29 . . Eze.30 . . Eze.31 . . Eze.32 . . Eze.33 . . Eze.34 . . Eze.35 . . Eze.36 . . Eze.37 . . Eze.38 . . Eze.39 . . Eze.40 . . Eze.41 . . Eze.42 . . Eze.43 . . Eze.44 . . Eze.45 . . . Eze.46 . . . Eze.47 . . . Eze.48 . . . Eze. Millennial Temple . . . Eze.Special Comments . . . Eze.What is Shekinah Glory? . . . Home Page
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