Chapter 5: WHAT does God do, and HOW does He do it? - Part B

In one day, God will completely destroy this invading force! He will do it as a Sign to the nations, to fulfil His purpose to reveal (sanctify and magnify) Himself to all the nations, that they might KNOW that He, and He alone, the God of the Bible and of Israel, is the true God! Since the invading army will be totally destroyed without the help of other nations, God's Purpose is successfully achieved. He is indeed sanctified in the eyes of many people. All the world will momentarily stand in awe of the supernatural God in Heaven who has spoken in terms that even the most unbelieving can understand. This act will also bring many in Israel to believe in their God, bringing them closer to receiving their true Messiah, Yeshua. 

*This will give believers a wonderful opportunity to preach the Gospel and bring people (especially Muslims) to faith in Christ.

Then, Ezekiel 39:1-16 retells the story, giving details of the cleanup operation required afterwards: 

Ezekiel 39:1,2: “Son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the Prince of Rosh (RUSSIA), Meshech, and Tubal; and I will turn you around and lead you on, bringing you up from the FAR NORTH, and bring you against the mountains of Israel.” 
The invading armies are said to fall specifically on the mountains of Israel. They extend the length of the centre of the country, beginning at the southern point of the Valley of Jezreel at the town of Jenin in Galilee (biblical Ein Ganim), and continuing south until they peter out at a point north of Beersheba in the Negev. These mountains contain the famous biblical cities of Dothan, Shechem, Samaria, Shiloh, Bethel, Ai, Ramah, Bethlehem, Hebron, Debir, and most importantly, Jerusalem, which seems to be the goal of this army.

Here is an example of the Six Day War in June 1967 setting the stage for the fulfilment of Prophecy. Before that, all of the mountains of Israel, except for a small corridor of West Jerusalem, were entirely in the hands of Jordan. Only since 1967 have the mountains of Israel been in Israel, thus setting the stage for the fulfilment of this prophecy. The mountains are mainly in the West Bank - are these invading armies trying to liberating it? 

There is a mistranslation in the KJV of v2, where it indicates that 1/6 of the invading army is left alive: “And I will turn thee back and leave but the sixth part of thee.” This is not in the Hebrew text and has not been translated that way by subsequent translations. It is not true that 1/6 of the invading army will survive. The entire invading army will be destroyed when they invade Israel and nothing will remain. Modern versions translate the Hebrew verb as: “lead thee on” (ASV),“drive you on” (NASB), “drag you along” (NIV), and “drive you” (NLT). These translations are to be preferred.

Ezekiel 39:3: “Then I will knock the bow out of your left hand, and cause the arrows to fall out of your right hand.” 

God will disarm them, causing their arrows (missiles and bullets) and bows (launchers and guns) to fail.

Ezekiel 39:4,5: “You shall fall upon the mountains of Israel, you and ALL your troops and the peoples who are with you; I will give you to birds of prey of every sort and to the beasts of the field to be devoured. You shall fall on the open field; for I have spoken,” says the Lord GOD.” 

This whole army will be destroyed in a day. They will fall on the mountains of Israel, which extend along the length of the country.

The land of Russia and the other invading nations will also be devastated by FIRE (this may be from human weapons, but more probably is more Divine Intervention using the elements of nature):

Ezekiel 39:6: “I will send FIRE on Magog (Russia) and on those who live in security in the Coastlands. Then they shall know that I am the Lord.” This says that Judgement is coming not only to the invading armies, but also on Russia and the other nations with her, and possibly even upon those who stood by and allowed this attack on Israel. Not only is the Russian and allied army destroyed in Israel, but the land of Russia itself is devastated by the raining of brimstone, causing much destruction in the nation itself. It will cause Russia to cease being a political force in world affairs. This fire coming on those living securely in the coastlands could be a direct Judgement from God, or it could describe a war triggered by this invasion, involving an exchange of missiles (perhaps even nuclear)! Likewise for the ‘sword’ (38:21) and ‘hailstones and fire’ (38:22). 

The word translated “carelessly” is betach, which means in false confidence. The word translated coastlands or isles in the Hebrew is 'iy. The word was used by the ancients in the sense of continents today. Parallel usages seem to suggest remote, pleasant places. It designated the great Gentile civilisations across the seas, which were usually settled most densely along the coastland - just like America. 

Some believe this hints at a nuclear exchange, for example US missiles coming on Magog; and the US (“dwelling carelessly in the coastlands”) may suffer retaliation in return. Perhaps America, by refusing to defend Israel from the invasion, will experience nuclear warfare, especially on its coastlands, where most of them live today? 

The result will be a revival of faith, both in Israel and the nations: 

Ezekiel 39:7,8: “So I will make My holy Name known in the midst of My people Israel, and I will not let them profane My Holy Name anymore. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord, the Holy One in Israel. Surely it is coming, and it shall be done, says the Lord God. This is the day of which I have spoken.”