(4) GOG AND MAGOG: Ezekiel 38-39 - YouTube
Andy Woods (Sugar Land Bible Church) adds a novel interpretation to various eisegetical speculations concerning the Gog/Magog battle in Ezekiel 38 and 39. He originally presented this view in 2015, and it is also included in the latest episodes of his recent series Middle East Meltdown - YouTube
Woods' view on the timing of the Ezekiel 38-39 battle is known as the "two phase view" which he has adopted from Harold W. Hoehner. Essentially, Woods locates Ezekiel 38 at the opening of the second seal of Revelation (Revelation 6:3), and Ezekiel 39 at the end of the 70th week of Daniel. (Revelation 19:19-21,16:16). Those who support a Gog/Magog battle during the early part of the 70th week of Daniel include John Walvoord, J. Dwight Pentecost, Charles Ryrie, Herman Hoyt, Charles Dyer, and Mark Hitchcock. As far as I can ascertain, apart from Woods, no other bible teacher supports Hoehner's two-phase view. I do not necessarily reject minority views, but the fact that bible scholars generally do not give any weight to Hoehner's view indicates that it is problematic.
Constable's Expository Notes: Harold W. Hoehner, "Ezekiel 38 refers to events in the middle of the Tribulation and chapter 39 to events at the end of the Tribulation.] Some advocates equate Gog with the king of the North (Daniel 11:40). Some of Ezekiel’s descriptions of Gog’s invasion recur in Revelation 19:17-21, which describes the end of the Tribulation. However other aspects appear in Revelation 20:7-10, which describes the end of the Millennium. Israel is dwelling securely in the land that Gog will invade, but at the end of the Tribulation Israel will have been under intense attack for three and a half years Daniel 9:27)." {1}
To avoid confusion, I will clarify some pre-trib definitions for the sake of anyone reading their material. The pre-trib camp define the entire 70th week of Daniel as "the tribulation", and when they speak about the rapture, they refer to a "pre-tribulation rapture". The prewrath position, which is my view, refers to "the tribulation" or "the great tribulation" biblically as 1260 days or 42 months. This period takes place during the second half of the 70th week of Daniel. (Daniel 12:7; Matthew 24:21; Revelation 12:6,14; 13:5). The prewrath position maintains that the rapture takes place between the sixth and seventh seal of Revelation.
Woods suggests that Ezekiel 38 and 39 follow a progressive pattern rather than a single event. The reasoning behind the two-phase view is that Ezekiel often describes eschatological events as part of a prolonged process. Woods: "For example, in Ezekiel's vision of the valley of dry bones (Ezek. 37:1-14), the prophet describes the bones assembling, the flesh appearing on the bones, and finally the breath of life entering this newly formed body. Most would not understand this as being fulfilled in a singular prophetic event. Rather, it is likely a prophecy involving a prolonged process. First, Israel is returned to her homeland beginning in 1948. Then, she will experience a time of discipline known as the Great Tribulation. Through such discipline, she will come to know Christ and will consequently be regenerated leading to the millennial age. So in Ezekiel 37:11-14, Ezekiel foresaw a singular in a singular prophecy spanning arguably several decades. The same prolonged process is also in view in the prior chapter (Ezek. 36:24-28). Ezekiel 36:24 describes the Jews first being regathered back to their own land. Then the prophet narrates Israel's spiritual regeneration (Ezek 36:25-28) as a result of the Tribulation period. Notice, once again, Ezekiel is making reference to a process arguably beginning in 1948 and then spanning several decades." {2}
Whilst a prolonged process is indicated in the dry bones prophecy of Ezekiel 37, I am doubtful that we can separate Ezekiel 38 and 39 and make the presumption that assumes a "process" of two distinct phases, or whether this interpretation conveniently solves a difficult problem for Woods. There is no biblical evidence to corroborate the theory that the Gog/Magog battle is anything other than a single event.
Mark Hitchcock: "Harold Hoehner contends that Ezek 38–39 will be fulfilled in two phases.[40] He believes that Ezek 38 will be fulfilled early in the tribulation and that Ezek 39 will be fulfilled at the end of the tribulation. The strength of this view is that it harmonizes the text well with other related texts such as Rev 19. However, the main weakness of this view is that Ezek 38 and 39 appear to be describing the same invasion and its aftermath not two distinct phases separated by several years." {3}
According to Woods, the Gog/Magog battle will occur after Israel's initial regathering in unbelief, but before her final restoration. He bases his argument on Ezekiel 38:8b and Ezekiel 39:22,29.
After a long time you will be summoned. In the latter years you will enter a land that has recovered from war, whose people were gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate. They had been brought out from the nations, and all now dwell securely. (Ezekiel 38:8).
From that day forward the house of Israel will know that I am the LORD their God... And I will no longer hide My face from them, for I will pour out My Spirit on the house of Israel, declares the Lord GOD.” (Ezekiel 39:22,29).
Problems with this view
Woods' reasoning is that this battle will occur following the period of pseudo peace initiated by the Antichrist at the beginning of the 70th week of Daniel when Israel is apparently dwelling securely. (Ezekiel 38:14-16). Woods claims that the first seal represents peace, and that this peace is shattered by the unleashing of the second seal i.e. the red horse of war. (Revelation 6:2-4).
And he shall make a strong (gābar) covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator.”(Daniel 9:27).
The Hebrew verb
gābar suggests that the Antichrist imposes a
strong covenant with many for seven years, which he will break at the mid point of the
"week". "Many" suggests that he does not have the support of
"all". The covenant appears to relate primarily to the protection of Israel and the reinstitution of the sacrificial system. It may be that an uneasy peace is imposed upon Israel by the Antichrist, and that Israel agrees to it, perhaps under coercion. In any event, the
"security" claimed does not appear to be the unsurpassed security spoken of in Ezekiel 38:11:
‘I will go up against the land of unwalled villages. I will fall upon the quiet people who dwell securely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having no bars or gates..
For Gog and his coalition to come against Israel at the breaking of the second seal would necessitate a challenge to the covenant between the Antichrist and Israel. The strong covenant the Antichrist makes with Israel at the beginning of the 70th week of Daniel is a critical point in the prophetic timeline that sets in motion the final events leading up to the end of the present age. There is no indication in the scriptures that a coalition of nations will attempt to derail the critical covenant between the Antichrist and Israel. The first seal sees the Antichrist coming out conquering and to conquer. (Revelation 6:2). During the first half of the 70th week, the Antichrist will invade many countries sweeping through them like a flood. The only countries that escape the Antichrist's attention are Edom, Moab and the leaders of the Ammonites (modern day Jordan). As such it is unlikely that a coalition of nations will be in a position to attack Israel or to contemplate "taking the spoil". (Ezekiel 38:13).
At the time of the end, the king of the South will engage him in battle, but the king of the North will storm out against him with chariots, horsemen, and many ships, invading many countries and sweeping through them like a flood. He will also invade the Beautiful Land, and many countries will fall. But these will be delivered from his hand: Edom, Moab, and the leaders of the Ammonites. He will extend his power over many countries, and not even the land of Egypt will escape. He will gain control of the treasures of gold and silver and over all the riches of Egypt, and the Libyans and Cushites will also submit to him. (Daniel 11:40-43 cf. Revelation 13:4).
In Ezekiel 38, it appears that
Gog's intention to invade Israel is unopposed. There is perhaps a weak objection from Saudi Arabia and the merchants of Tarshish (Spain?), but there is no tangible opposition that deters Gog and his hordes from attacking Israel. (Ezekiel 38:13). Hoehner's two-phase view completely overlooks (or underestimates) the obstacle of the Antichrist's strong covenant with Israel.
Israel is under the "protection" of the Antichrist during the first half of the 70th week, so where is Gog's motivation to invade?
The mid point of the 70th week of Daniel marks the end of the period of pseudo peace initiated by the Antichrist. The abomination of desolation event will occur in the middle of the "week" when the Antichrist seizes control of the Jewish temple and proclaims himself to be god. This will mark the onset of the period known as Jacob's trouble i.e. the great tribulation. (2 Thessalonians 2:4; Matthew 24:21; Daniel 12:1). Many Jews and Christians will flee to the mountains (Matthew 24:16), and two thirds of the Jewish people who remain in the land will perish. (Zechariah 13:8). Hoehner's ill-conceived two-phase view assumes that the progressive nature of Gog's invasion will continue throughout this period, and that it will also continue during the devastating trumpet and bowl judgements.
The sacrificial bird feast
At the 2:08 point of his 2015 video, Woods changes tack from the "Where" question in relation to Ezekiel 38 and 39 to the "What" question. This is where his reasoning becomes totally irrational.
Although there are some similarities between the sacrificial bird feast described in Ezekiel 38:4,17-20 and the feast described in Revelation 19, the differences demonstrate that these two passages do not describe the same event. Woods describes the sacrificial bird feast as the "aftermath" of the Gog Magog battle in Ezekiel 39. Problematically for Woods, Revelation 19 refers to Armageddon and involves the beast (the Antichrist) and his forces, not Gog.
The beast (the Antichrist) and his armies gather at Armageddon to make war against Jesus Christ and his visible armies. The beast and the false prophet are captured and thrown alive into the lake of fire. The remainder of the armies of the Antichrist are slain by Jesus Christ Himself. There is no mention of pestilence, torrential rains, hailstones, fire and sulfur in Revelation 19. The Gog Magog armies will fall on the mountains of Israel, in the open field, and Gog and all his multitude will be buried in the Valley of the Travelers in Israel.
Ezekiel 39:2-6,11
And I will turn you about and drive you forward, and bring you up from the uttermost parts of the north, and lead you against the mountains of Israel. Then I will strike your bow from your left hand, and will make your arrows drop out of your right hand. You shall fall on the mountains of Israel, you and all your hordes 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 in the open field, for I have spoken, declares the Lord GOD. 6I will send fire on Magog and on those who dwell securely in the coastlands, and they shall know that I am the LORD.. “On that day I will give to Gog a place for burial in Israel, the Valley of the Travelers, east of the sea. It will block the travelers, for there Gog and all his multitude will be buried. It will be called the Valley of Hamon-gog.
Ezekiel 38:22
With pestilence and bloodshed I will enter into judgment with him, and I will rain upon him and his hordes and the many peoples who are with him torrential rains and hailstones, fire and sulfur.
Revelation 19:19-21 cf. Revelation 16:16
And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army. And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.
Woods' baffling presentations on this subject are short on specifics. The irrational view that a "progressive two-phase Gog/Magog war" will continue to develop right through the entire period of the 70th week of Daniel, culminating with the bird feast of Revelation 19 (Armageddon) is untenable. Hoehner's two-phase view is one of most improbable interpretations of Ezekiel 38 and 39 I have heard to date.
The house of Israel shall know that I am the LORD
Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: Now I will restore Jacob from captivity and will have compassion on the whole house of Israel, and I will be jealous for My holy name. They will forget their disgrace and all the treachery they committed against Me, when they dwell securely in their land, with no one to frighten them. When I bring them back from the peoples and gather them out of the lands of their enemies, I will show My holiness in them in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the LORD their God, when I regather them to their own land, not leaving any of them behind after their exile among the nations. And I will no longer hide My face from them, for I will pour out My Spirit on the house of Israel, declares the Lord GOD.” (Ezekiel 39:25-29).
Expositors Bible Commentary:
"39:25-29.-The closing verses do not strictly belong to the oracle on Gog. The prophet returns to the standpoint of the present, and predicts once more the restoration of Israel, which has heretofore been assumed as an accomplished fact. The connection with what precedes is, however, very close. The divine attributes, whose final manifestation to the world is reserved for the far-off day of Gog’s defeat, are already about to be revealed to Israel. Jehovah’s compassion for His people and His jealousy for His own name will speedily be shown in "turning the fortunes" of Israel, bringing them back from the peoples, and gathering them from the land of their enemies. The consequences of this upon the nation itself are described in more gracious terms than in any other passage. They shall forget their shame and all their trespasses when they dwell securely in their own land, none making them afraid. The saving knowledge of Jehovah as their God, who led them into captivity and brought them back again, will as far as Israel is concerned be complete; and the gracious relation thus established shall no more be interrupted, because of the divine Spirit which has been poured out on the house of Israel." {4}
Conclusion
Mark Hitchcock recognizes, but understates, the problem of "varying opinions" regarding the Gog/Magog prophecy in Ezekiel 38 and 39. Hitchcock: "Unfortunately, varying opinions have been offered by capable Bible scholars on this point, and there has been considerable disagreement." {3}
While many conservative teachers rightly condemn the charismatic/NAR movement for their dangerous speculations and unbiblical practices, I wonder whether there is an element of hypocrisy at play here. There is no benefit to the body of Christ when conservative teachers speculate on matters they don't fully understand, and when they manipulate the scriptures to suit their own presuppositions. (Proverbs 30:6; Revelation 22:18-19). I find the arrogance of some of these teachers very difficult to deal with. (Isaiah 5:21). They literally spend hours and hours teaching and defending questionable theories that reflect nothing but their own imaginations. The pre-trib rapture theory is another one of Woods' pet doctrines that he spends an inordinate amount of time defending. Woods is a tragic example of a supposedly sound bible teacher misleading believers regarding critical eschatological events.
At the end of his life, after almost completing Summa Theologiae, Thomas Aquinas likened his work to straw. {5} There is a lesson here for some of us. (1 Corinthians 3:12-15).
Further Link
J Paul Tanner: Daniel's "King of the North": Do we owe Russia an apology?
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