Is the Ezekiel 38 War on Israel Imminent?

Many Bible prophecy commentators insist that an attack on Israel led by Gog of Magog described in Ezekiel 38 will transpire before the start or at the start of the tribulation. This teaching is prevalent, but is it correct? In this article, I critique the teaching that the Gog and Magog war will occur before the start or at the start of the tribulation.

Ezekiel 38 Video Analysis

Overview of the Gog and Magog War

Ezekiel 38 and Ezekiel 39 describe the efforts of Gog, from the land of Magog, against Israel. The most popular view states that Gog will lead an attack against Israel before the start of the tribulation:

  • The attack will involve many nations. Some suggest that Russia, Iran, and other nations hostile to Israel will take part in the attack.
  • Israel at the time will experience great prosperity and will be caught off guard by the surprise attack by Gog and his allies.
  • The invasion of Israel by Gog will usher in many end time events.

The Challenge of Timing

There’s two big issues that make it hard to place the events of Ezekiel 38 and Ezekiel 39 in an end times timeline.

  • These chapters contain details that can arguably fit the events described in different time frames other than the start of the tribulation.
  • Revelation 20:7-9 refers to a war during a final revolt led by Satan at the end of the Millennium.

“(7) And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, (8) And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. (9) And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.” (Revelation 20:7-9)

As a result, there are differing views about when Ezekiel 38 and Ezekiel 39 will take place. Some reject that the war will take place before or at the start of the tribulation. Instead, they argue that the war will take place after the Millennium, at Armageddon, or at the midpoint of the tribulation.

The Geopolitics of the War

Many these days try to relate the geopolitics of our time to the events of the Gog and Magog war. For instance, some have tried to relate this war to the recent conflict involving Russia and Ukraine or the current tensions between Israel and Iran. I want to caution you that this is NOT the best approach to take. You risk misreading what’s taking place in our world.

For example, I have a tract about Ezekiel 38 and Ezekiel 39 that a church handed out in the 1970s. The tract warned of an imminent war between Israel and the Soviet Union. The tract hyped the events of that time to make readers think that an attack was imminent. Reading the tract now, it’s clear that the authors of the tract were wrong about the events that took place at the time.

It’s best to understand the geopolitics of the war based on what Scripture tells us about the time of the attack. We will soon see how the events of Ezekiel 38 will take place when Israel is enjoying great peace and prosperity, developments that are not in place yet. 

Ezekiel 38:1-7: The Modern Nations Gog Leads

Ezekiel 38 contains the first direct reference to Gog, from the land of Magog. Gog is the leader of a military coalition that will attack Israel. Some claim that Gog is the Antichrist, while others believe Gog is a different leader than the Antichrist who will oppose Israel.

Ezekiel 38:1-7 lists the nations that will join Gog in the war against Israel:

“(1) And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, (2) Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him, (3) And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: (4) And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords: (5) Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet: (6) Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee. (7) Be thou prepared, and prepare for thyself, thou, and all thy company that are assembled unto thee, and be thou a guard unto them.” (Ezekiel 38:1-7)

You will see a lot of disagreement about where the allies of Gog will come from. For instance, many believe that Gog will emerge from Russia. In fact, it was popular to relate Meshech to Moscow and Tubal to Tobolsk back when the Soviet Union existed. Similarly, people will now claim that Gomer is Germany or Ukraine.

Many nations surround Israel.
No consensus exists about where Gog and his allies come from.

The reason there’s a lot of disagreement about the location of Gog’s allies is that many have been trying to track where nations (or people groups) have migrated to over thousands of years. I can tell you from experience that this is NOT the method to use.

I often visited a research library with 3 million books when I was a college student. I spent countless hours going through books in that library trying to track where different nations migrated to. Eventually, I found it was an exercise of futility. Historians lost track of where many nations moved to while some nations joined other groups.

There’s simply not a reliable way to track where nations have migrated to over thousands of years. Anyone who claims to know where a certain nation migrated to is just speculating.

A far more reliable method is to identify where Gog’s allies lived at the time of Ezekiel. There’s a few advantages to this method:

  • We have writings and records that give us a good sense of where the nations resided at the time.
  • This method gives us the same understanding that the people of Ezekiel’s time had about where the allies of Gog will come from.
  • We are protected from being caught up in the political biases of our time. In other words, we will avoid identifying a certain country as an ally of Gog simply because they are in the news now.

Using this method, we can identify where Gog’s allies will come from in the Ezekiel 38 and Ezekiel 39 war.

NationModern Day Location
MagogTurkey
MeshechTurkey
TubalTurkey
GomerTurkey
TogarmahTurkey
PersiaIran
LibyaParts of North Africa, including Libya
EthiopiaNorth Sudan

From this list, we can see that Gog will likely come from Turkey and he will lead a coalition of Mideast and North Africa countries.

Ezekiel 38:8-18: Israel Before the War

Ezekiel 38:8-18 describe the inhabitants of the land of Israel and the mountains of Israel enjoying great peace and prosperity when Gog invades.

“(8) After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them. (9) Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee. (10) Thus saith the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought: (11) And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates, (12) To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land. (13) Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil?” (Ezekiel 38:8-13)

Some argue that the peace and prosperity in the land of Israel and in the mountains of Israel described by Ezekiel 38 is related to either:

  • A great victory that Israel will have over its neighbors prior to the start of the tribulation.
  • Israel living under a false sense of security before the start or at the start of the tribulation.

Israel does not enjoy such great peace and prosperity now.

Israel not at peace
  • Many who believe the events of Ezekiel 38 and Ezekiel 39 are imminent suggest that geopolitical events will soon unfold to allow Israel to experience these conditions before the tribulation.
  • Others believe that Israel will enjoy these conditions after they make a 7-year treaty with the Antichrist, the covenant with many of Daniel 9:27.

My counterpoint to those ideas is that the safety and prosperity described in Ezekiel 38 is consistent with what occur during the Millennium in Israel.

Ezekiel 38:8: Dwelling Safely

Ezekiel 38:8 states that the inhabitants of Israel will dwell safely at the time when the war begins.

“(8) After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them.” (Ezekiel 38:8)

The Hebrew word for “safety” (betach) appears in verses that refer to the security that Israel will have in the Millennium. Ezekiel 34:25-29 is a good example where betach shows up three times:

“(25) And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods. (26) And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing. (27) And the tree of the field shall yield her fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase, and they shall be safe in their land, and shall know that I am the LORD, when I have broken the bands of their yoke, and delivered them out of the hand of those that served themselves of them. (28) And they shall no more be a prey to the heathen, neither shall the beast of the land devour them; but they shall dwell safely, and none shall make them afraid. (29) And I will raise up for them a plant of renown, and they shall be no more consumed with hunger in the land, neither bear the shame of the heathen any more.” (Ezekiel 34:25-29)

Other examples include Jeremiah 23:5-7, Jeremiah 32:37-39, and Zechariah 14:10-11. Jeremiah 23:5-7 and Jeremiah 32:37-39 are displayed in the following table:


Dwelling Safely in the Millennium

Jeremiah 23:5-7: (5) Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth (6) In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. (7) Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that they shall no more say, The LORD liveth, which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt;

Jeremiah 32:37-39: (37) Behold, I will gather them out of all countries, whither I have driven them in mine anger, and in my fury, and in great wrath; and I will bring them again unto this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely: (38) And they shall be my people, and I will be their God: (39)  And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them:


Some may wonder why the people of Israel will feel safe. Ezekiel 28:24-26 states they will dwell safely after the Lord judges their enemies:

“(24) And there shall be no more a pricking brier unto the house of Israel, nor any grieving thorn of all that are round about them, that despised them; and they shall know that I am the Lord GOD. (25) Thus saith the Lord GOD; When I shall have gathered the house of Israel from the people among whom they are scattered, and shall be sanctified in them in the sight of the heathen, then shall they dwell in their land that I have given to my servant Jacob. (26) And they shall dwell safely therein, and shall build houses, and plant vineyards; yea, they shall dwell with confidence, when I have executed judgments upon all those that despise them round about them; and they shall know that I am the LORD their God.” (Ezekiel 28:24-26)

It’s easy to imagine why the inhabitants of Israel will feel safe. They will know that they have a Protector who can destroy anyone who may pose a threat to them.

Ezekiel 38:11: Unwalled Villages & Cattle

Zechariah 2:1-5 is a passage about the Millennium. It states that Jerusalem will be a city without walls because of the large population and the cattle that live there:

“(1) I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand. (2) Then said I, Whither goest thou? And he said unto me, To measure Jerusalem, to see what is the breadth thereof, and what is the length thereof. (3) And, behold, the angel that talked with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him, (4) And said unto him, Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein: (5) For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.” (Zechariah 2:1-5)

These details align with Ezekiel 38:11, which describes Israel as a land of unwalled villages and a land where its inhabitants own cattle:


Unwalled Villages and Cattle

  • Unwalled
  • Cattle

Ezekiel 38:11: And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates,  12  To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land.

Zechariah 2:4-5: (4) And said unto him, Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein: (5) For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.


As was just mentioned, cities in Israel will have no need for protective walls and barriers during the Millennium because the Lord will serve as the land’s walls and bulwarks (see also Isaiah 60:16-18):

“(1) In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks. (2) Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in. (3) Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. (4) Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:” (Isaiah 26:1-4)

7 Years to Burn Weapons

Some suggest that the war must come near the start or at the start of the tribulation because people will take seven years to burn the weapons used in the invasion:

“(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: (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.” (Ezekiel 39:9-10)

This view makes little sense because the people of Israel will be persecuted during the tribulation. In contrast, I do not see any reason why the people in Israel could not simply clean up the weapons in the land during the Millennium.

A Complete Gathering of Israel

The biggest reason why I do not believe that the Gog and Magog war will come prior to the start or at the start of the tribulation relates to the aftermath of Gog’s defeat described in Ezekiel 39. Ezekiel 39 mentions that there will be a complete gathering of Israel from the nations after the defeat of Gog:

“(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. (22) So the house of Israel shall know that I am the LORD their God from that day and forward. (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. (24) According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions have I done unto them, and hid my face from them. (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; (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. (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; (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. (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.” (Ezekiel 39:21-29)

Many passages indicate that this gathering will occur near the start of the Millennium. For instance, Isaiah 11:11-12 describe a global gathering of the Lord’s people after He has returned:

“(11) And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. (12) And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.” (Isaiah 11:11-12)

In addition, Isaiah 66:18-20 describes the gathering of the surviving nations to Jerusalem and the survivors will bring the remnant of Israel with them:

“(18) For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory. (19) And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles. (20) And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the LORD out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the LORD, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD.” (Isaiah 66:18-20)

Let’s also consider Deuteronomy 30:1-6 and Ezekiel 36:21-26. The similarities between these passages and Ezekiel 39:25-28 are shown in the table below:


The Global Gathering of the Remnant of Israel Before the Millennium

  • Gathering of Israel
  • Change in Heart
  • Trespasses

Ezekiel 39:25-28: (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; (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. (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; (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.

Deuteronomy 30:1-6: (1) And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath driven thee, (2) And shalt return unto the LORD thy God, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul; (3) That then the LORD thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath scattered thee. (4) If any of thine be driven out unto the outmost parts of heaven, from thence will the LORD thy God gather thee, and from thence will he fetch thee: (5) And the LORD thy God will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possess it; and he will do thee good, and multiply thee above thy fathers.(6) And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.

Ezekiel 36:21-26: (21) But I had pity for mine holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the heathen, whither they went. (22) Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name’s sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went. (23) And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes. (24) For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. (26) A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.


Therefore, “they shall dwell safely all of them” in Ezekiel 38:8 refers to the gathering of Israel that will take place near the start of the Millennium”.

“After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them.” (Ezekiel 38:8)

Multiple Invasions by Gog?

Recall that many believe that the war will start before the tribulation. I have shown you overwhelming evidence that Ezekiel 38 and Ezekiel 39 do not depict an attack on Israel before or at the start of the tribulation:

  • Ezekiel 38 has many details about Israel in the Millennium (some of which I did not mention in this article for the sake of keeping this article from being twice as long). This means that Ezekiel 38 is about a war at the end of the Millennium described in Revelation 20:7-9.
  • Ezekiel 39 has details about Israel just before the start of the Millennium (i.e. the defeat of Gog paves the way for the Lord to gather His people from around the world). This means that Ezekiel 39 is about a war at the time of Armageddon when the Psalm 83 war against Israel takes place.

Therefore, it is likely that Ezekiel 38 and Ezekiel 39 depict two wars. One war will take place at the time of Armageddon. The other war will take place at the end of the Millennium.

It is not unprecedented in the Bible for a prophecy to have dual fulfillments. We see a similar phenomenon with Jeremiah 50 and Jeremiah 51 covering the fall of old Babylon and the fall of end time Babylon.

A Final Word

When I was new to Bible prophecy, I wanted to believe that these wars would take place soon. But, the more I studied, the more I realized that I could no longer accept the popular view on the timing of these events. I had to share with you my findings so you could see that the popular view is not the correct view.

Many key Bible prophecy topics are similar to the topic we looked at in this article. The popular view is often not the correct view. Please explore my other writings to see why many other popular teachings about the end times have flaws.

Do You Want to Study Bible Prophecy? Get My Free eBook!

Join my mailing list, and as a special welcome gift, I’ll send you my eBook guide to studying Bible prophecy. You’ll also get my latest articles and updates delivered to your inbox.

End of Post Newsletter Form Signup

Your privacy is valued. For more information, please read the Privacy Policy.

Prophecy Proof Insights Guide to Studying Bible Prophecy
Share This Post
Wayne Croley
Wayne Croley

Hi! I’ve studied and written about Bible prophecy since I was a teenager. My goal is to make Bible prophecy easy for you to understand while avoiding the sensationalism seen elsewhere. I am the author of several end time books, including Prophecy Proof Insights on the End Times, a comprehensive book about the end times. I hold an M.B.A. and degrees in Managerial Economics and Political Science.

33 Comments

Leave a Reply to WayneCancel Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  1. > Thus saith the Lord GOD; Art thou he of whom I have spoken in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, which prophesied in those days many years that I would bring thee against them?
    Ezekiel 38:17

    It seems like this rhetorical question will be answered “yes” — doesn’t this make it likely that the “Gog” of this passage is the famous end-times persecutor who is prophesied in Isaiah and Daniel, aka “man of sin”?

    • In part of Ezekiel 38 and 39 that may refer to Armageddon, Gog dies on the mountains of Israel and receives a burial (Eze 39). The Antichrist receives no burial and is instead cast alive in the lake of fire (Isa 14 and Rev 19). Furthermore, Isaiah refers to two distinct end time figures:

      The end time king of Babylon who is the Antichrist (see Isa 14).

      A figure known as the Assyrian (see Isa 10, the end of Isa 14). I believe the Assyrian refers to Gog.

      Also, Daniel 11:40 refers to a war involving the king of the north and the king of the south against the king of Daniel 11:36-39 (the Antichrist). Daniel tells us that the king of the north will come with many nations with him. I believe the king of the north is Gog.

      Therefore, I don’t believe the wording of verse 17 is implying that Gog is the Antichrist.

      • Thank you, that is an intriguing possibility. I previously assumed The Assyrian was another name for the king of Babylon.

  2. Firstly I just want to say Wayne thank you for your spiritual insight and revelations into the study of eschatology (study of the end times) its given me much food for thought about what is to come approaching these perilous times and I stand with you in agreement with your conclusions regarding many topics discussed on your website. I just want to add I’ve come across some teachings where the Northern forces of Gog and Magog is Russia what’s your take on this?

    Many thanks and blessings in Christ our Lord
    Brother Luke

    • The location issue centers on whether we should track where people groups migrated over time or whether we should rely on where people groups were located at the time of Ezekiel. The challenge with tracking where people groups migrated to over time is that it is an incredibly difficult task. This is why there is disagreement on where some people groups are today.

      With regards to Magog, if we identify where they were in Ezekiel’s time, they would likely be in Turkey.

      If we try to track where they moved to, my best guess would be Alania/Ossetia, which is practically a part of Russia. Josephus linked Magog with the Scythians. A National Geographic article from 1996 tracked the descendants of the Scythians to Alania/Ossetia. Interestingly, Joseph Stalin was half-Ossetian according to Trotsky.

      Nevertheless, I think it’s wiser to rely on where the people groups were located in the time of Ezekiel. Therefore, I lean towards the position that Magog is in Turkey. But, I do not believe that Gog is the Antichrist. I believe Gog and the Antichrist are separate individuals.

  3. this is such truth, I have read 38 and 39 with the revelation and all the verses now fit and support this truth. thank you for presenting this it has greatly blessed me.

  4. That’s a good article with lots of supporting evidence, nicely done. I agree that Ezekiel 38:1 – 39:16 is one time frame and then Ezekiel 39:17-29 is likely Armageddon and the Millennium.

    However, I submit that Ezekiel 38 is *not* the Millennium or Armageddon, although it certainly does have parallels as you’ve pointed out. The big difference is how the dead are treated in the 3 time frames (Ezek 38, Armageddon, and the Millennium).

    In Ezek 38/39 the dead are buried and every bone is accounted for (Ezek 39:11-16). This is likely because of rotting flesh and potential for stench and disease.

    After Armageddon the dead are left to rot and cover the earth. Ezek 39:17-20, Rev 19:17-18, Jeremiah 25:33 and Isaiah 66:24.

    After the Gog/Magog revolt at the end of the Millennium fire comes down from heaven and incinerates the enemy in Rev 20:9. No flesh left to rot and no bones, just ash.

    There’s a lot of parallels in these time frames but how the dead are treated is explicit and clear. That’s the key to deciphering the exclusiveness between these events.

    • I separate Ezekiel 38 from Ezekiel 39. I do not view Ezekiel 39:11-16 as a continuation of Ezekiel 38. I view Ezekiel 38 as primarily dealing with the Millennium for the reasons I cited and more. As I hinted, I have other reasons to support the view that Ezekiel 38 relates to the Millennium. For instance, I didn’t go over the detail in this article about the people of Israel possessing the mountains of Israel as the predominant population group there. Many passages indicate that doesn’t happen until the Millennium.

      Ezekiel 39 references the burial of Gog’s army specifically. I acknowledge that Gog’s army gets buried, but Gog’s army isn’t the only military force that participates in Armageddon. Many more armies will also participate in Armageddon, but they don’t necessarily have to get buried after Armageddon.

      • It’s possible that the burial reference refers to only part of the Armageddon dead, but not likely. If you look at Isa 66:24 I think that indicates even the dead in Israel won’t be buried after Armageddon.

        If both Zech 2 and Ezekiel 38 refer to the Millennium regarding Israel living securely in unwalled cities it is possible that there’s an invasion early in the Millennium and they are supernaturally destroyed, but I tend to not favor this option.

        I see Ezek 38 as a prior time, even happening soon. Israel has partition walls today, but each city isn’t encircled by a wall. Israel is in a unique position today being able to defend itself (successfully in a couple wars) so even though there is terrorism, in general they live in prosperity and security from invading armies.

  5. Its fascinating that this generation finds increasing critical confusion in what was clearly understood as mainstream eschatology from Morgan and Moody, Scofield and Spurgeon, Larkin and Ironside, up through Vernon McGee’s Church of the Open Door. For me and my house, we will stand with the fundamentalist fathers of faith.

  6. It is interesting to note here that the prophet Joel speaks about the opposite scenario as in Isaiah 2;4

    Joel 3; 10
    Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong.

  7. For the longest I had been thinking EZ 38 and 39 were in reverse order, in regards to the 2nd coming in Rev 19, and the start of the millennium in Rev 20. IOW the EZ 38 prophecies concern the latter, while the EZ 39 prophecies concern the former. But then I had to ask myself some of the following questions.

    Ezekiel 38:19 For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel;
    20 So that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground.
    21 And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord GOD: every man’s sword shall be against his brother.
    22 And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone.
    23 Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD.

    Assuming Christ is already back on the earth, a thousand years in this case, how does that then square with verse 21 and 23? Look what verse 23 says…and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD. Why wouldn’t they clearly already know this the fact Christ has been dwelling among them for the past 1000 years, and that He is the Lord?

    Now let’s look at verse 21 with the following perspective in mind.

    Isaiah 2:4 And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

    Let’s compare something here then…and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more….And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord GOD: every man’s sword shall be against his brother. Logically then, how can Isaiah 2:4 precede Ezekiel 38:21, when it seems like it should be the other way around?

    Now let’s look at something in Ez 39.

    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.
    12 And seven months shall the house of Israel be burying of them, that they may cleanse the land.

    Logically then, how can there still be a Gog and his multitude later on? Why does it say…and there shall they bury Gog and all his multitude..if it doesn’t really mean that literally?

    • Question 1: Assuming Christ is already back on the earth, a thousand years in this case, how does that then square with verse 21 and 23? Look what verse 23 says…and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD. Why wouldn’t they clearly already know this the fact Christ has been dwelling among them for the past 1000 years, and that He is the Lord?

      Answer 1: The nations are deceived by Satan when he is released from imprisonment at the end of the Millennium. The nations might need a reminder of who is in charge after being deceived.

      Question 2: Now let’s look at verse 21 with the following perspective in mind.

      Isaiah 2:4 And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

      Let’s compare something here then…and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more….And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord GOD: every man’s sword shall be against his brother. Logically then, how can Isaiah 2:4 precede Ezekiel 38:21, when it seems like it should be the other way around?

      Answer 2: The nations won’t have weapons in the Millennium but what is to stop them from making weapons at the end of the Millennium when they are deceived by Satan?

      Question 3: Now let’s look at something in Ez 39.

      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.
      12 And seven months shall the house of Israel be burying of them, that they may cleanse the land.

      Logically then, how can there still be a Gog and his multitude later on? Why does it say…and there shall they bury Gog and all his multitude..if it doesn’t really mean that literally?

      Answer 3: This is difficult issue, but why could there not be another leader named Gog at the end of the Millennium?

      • According to Rev.20:7-8, there is a Gog and Magog at the end of the 1000 years. “And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.”

          • hi wayne,

            consider the great supper prepared by God for the carrion birds. this keywords are both mentioned in ezekiel 39 and revelation 19, thus making the gog and magog of ezekiel 39 happening at the armageddon war. and you are right about ezekiel 38 placing it at the end of the millennium.

          • Also try to analyze the following:
            1. Trumpets happening at the end of the millennium. The keywords are the angel/beast from the abyss, time to judge the dead (rev.11), seal of God on the forehead, 200 million Gog and Magog Army
            2. The Seventh Seal/Half Hour Silence in Heaven as the Millennium. 1 John 2:18/Rev.8, both books is written by John the Apostle
            3. Seventh Bowl and the other bowls happening in the Sixth Seal. Keywords are every island and mountains fled and cannot be found/removed from its place. Rev. 6/Rev.16
            4. Divide the Book of Revelation into two segments Rev. 1-11, Rev. 12-22. Considering the above views, try analyzing the resemblance of the two segments in its common essence and substance. Its like Jesus presented the entire revelation timeline to be seen into two different angles.

      • The Gog and Magog of Revelation 20.

        Gog is Satan, the Eight King, who once was, now is not, but will ascend from the bottomless pit, who is of the seven heads, without an empire (head), because his rule among the deceived nations will be short lived at the end of the millennium.
        Magog is the 200 million army from among the deceived nations, probably the riders on the horses (locusts/fallen angels). Seeing the 200 million army on the horizon from the mountains of God can be likened into as many as the sand in the seashores.

  8. I heard about Gog and Magog and England before. I wouldn’t feel comfortable with the idea that Gog and Magog were the protectors of my city if I lived in London.

  9. Hello Wayne! Ive been absent from your blog for many months now! But finally I have the time again to read and research again. Great that you are still informing us. !

    I want you to Google Gog and Magog annual procession in England! Mind boggling!!!!!! The statues of Magog and Gog are carried through the streets. Even a well-known building have two pillars called Gog and Magog! What on earth!!!?

  10. I don’t understand the title, you say you think it’s imminent, but then say it’s during the mil. If during the mil it would be a long time after, near the end of all things so to speak, that’s not imm. at all.

  11. Yeah, I’m not married to any position, which people sometimes think is a weakness as it implies that they are waffling on an issue. However, I’m not perfect so I’m willing to change my views if I am shown clear evidence that some different position is correct.

  12. Thank you for your comment. I’m glad you’re able to understand what I’ve written. I spend a large percentage of the total time devoted to producing each article just revising an initial draft to make sure that people can understand what I’m saying-whether they are someone who has spent years studying or someone who is new to the subject.

    • Matthew 24 KJV
      37 But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
      38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
      39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

      I find it very interesting that everyone is searching for the end signs and Matthew 24 stands out to me…
      People will miss it, because it won’t be what everyone thinks it will be…

      Luke 21 KJV
      20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
      21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.

      Can you be absolutely without a doubt 100% sure that Ukraine is not that city compassed with armies spoken about?
      Many are searching signs… and yet I do believe only God’s people will know, the rest will be oblivious.

      Matthew 13 KJV
      11 “He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.”

      Isaiah 6 KJV
      9 And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.
      10 Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.
      11 Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate,
      12 And the Lord have removed men far away, and there be a great forsaking in the midst of the land.

      1 Thessalonians 5 KJV
      But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
      2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
      3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
      4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

      Matthew 24 KJV
      11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

      I do not know for sure if it is or isn’t… however, I do find some of the articles that come up when you google (or duckduckgo) “Kyiv New Jerusalem” very, very interesting.

      • Yes, I can say without a doubt that Jerusalem is Jerusalem of Luke 21. Luke 21 parallels Matthew 24 and Mark 13. Those chapters refer to the mountains of Judaea, a location that is specific to Israel. These chapters also refer to the abomination of desolation when armies surround the city, which is an event that will take place in Jerusalem when the Third Temple is present.

  13. Wayne, you bring up very valid point here. In fact your entire site has excellently written objective viewpoints, not jumping on the latest so called revelation from these so called “Watcher”s etc but yet you also examine them and see where they may have merit. I like that you are so hardened to only one position but readily willing to examine each.

    I was just going through all my bookmarks collected over the years and realized I had not been back here since first bookmarking site but glad I did. Yes, your posts do though require a lot time to really read but I can see myself coming here in the future when wanting to understand future events from at least one well researched Biblical perspective.

    Thanks and great job. It is soooo refreshing too to have a blogging believer who can actually write! So much out there is terribly written that I can’t get past the first few sentences. Keep up the good work. Thank you.

    • The Bible specifically notes that the antichrist will not have the lust for women. That surely counts him out. The antichrist then could be gay or or may have a condition that leaves him impotent.

  14. You’re right to note the weapons ban during the Millennium and connecting it to the weapons burning in Ezekiel 39. It’s something I didn’t think of when I wrote the article, so thanks for mentioning it.

  15. A great article as usual Wayne which express my conclusions perfectly. I couldn’t have put it better myself. It may be worthwhile also noting that the weapons that will be used in this period are made out of wood. This confirms the fact that Jesus bans and cause to be destroyed all other metallic and material type of weapons during the millennium as in Isaiah 2:4 and Psalm 46:9