JOE SCHIMMEL: MUSLIM ANTICHRIST DEBUNKED

(58) The Coming Muslim Antichrist & the False Prophet? - YouTube

Very sadly Joe Schimmel has joined the speculators and has not taken the time to do his due diligence regarding the subject of the Antichrist. Many so-called "prophecy experts" have had a knee-jerk reaction to the recent tragic events in Israel and are engaging in sloppy exegesis. Schimmel's eschatology has always been problematic and he has mistaught the book of Revelation for years. In general terms, Schimmel's teaching has deteriorated, and his badly prepared sermons are delivered at warp speed in an almost crazed manner. The reason given for his failure to deliver clear concise teaching is that he is working against the clock. However, it seems the more likely cause of his poor presentation technique is due to a lack of discipline and preparation.  

The people of the prince who is to come 

And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing. And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed. (Daniel 9:26)

The Arab auxiliaries mentioned by both Tacitus and Josephus were about 6,000 in number, compared to the 60,000 Roman soldiers who came against Jerusalem in 70AD. Chris White points out that only about 10% of the soldiers in 70AD could have been considered non-Roman. 

Chris White: "It should be noted here that the reason people joined the auxiliaries was so they could be awarded Roman citizenship at the end of their term of service. The other 54,000 men were all Roman citizens from the 3rd, 5th, 10th, 12th , 15th , and 18th Legions. Since it was required that a soldier must be a Roman citizen to be in the legionnaires, we can be pretty sure that these 54,000 men were, in fact, Roman citizens.." 

David Reagan: “A good example of [this kind of] tortuous logic can be found in [an] attempt to explain away the meaning of Daniel 9:26.. This is really grasping at straws in the wind! It doesn’t matter whether or not the legions were composed of Australian Aborigines, it was the Roman government that decided to destroy Jerusalem, it was the Roman government that gave the orders, and it was Roman generals who carried out the destruction. Rome was the rod of God’s judgment and it is from the Roman people that the Antichrist will arise.” 1  

Daniel 11:40-45

Schimmel fails to even mention Daniel 11:40-45. In this critcal passage, the Antichrist turns against the Muslim enemies of Israel and he destroys Egypt, Libya, and an Arab coalition including Iraq, Iran, Syria, Afghanistan, and others. Furthermore, when the Antichrist invades Israel to take his throne, his primary targets are the Islamic nations surrounding Israel.

At the time of the end, the king of the south shall attack him, but the king of the north shall rush upon him like a whirlwind, with chariots and horsemen, and with many ships. And he shall come into countries and shall overflow and pass through. He shall come into the glorious land. And tens of thousands shall fall, but these shall be delivered out of his hand: Edom and Moab and the main part of the Ammonites. He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape. He shall become ruler of the treasures of gold and of silver, and all the precious things of Egypt, and the Libyans and the Cushites shall follow in his train. But news from the east and the north shall alarm him, and he shall go out with great fury to destroy and devote many to destruction. And he shall pitch his palatial tents between the sea and the glorious holy mountain. Yet he shall come to his end, with none to help him. (Daniel 11:40-45).

We arrive at sound eschatology from the scriptures, not by making false comparisons with the Quran!

I recommend Chris White's comprehensive critique of this view:

Islamic_Antichrist_Debunked_Chris_White.pdf (bibleprophecytalk.com)

1. Daniel 9:26 and a Muslim Antichrist - The Christian Thinker (christianworldviewpress.com)

JOE SCHIMMEL'S APPALLING ESCHATOLOGY

 (71) NAR, Seven Mountains and Witchcraft in the Church - YouTube

I agree with Joe Shimmel's assessment of the NAR and I have no issues with his presentation in this respect. However, it is regrettable that he rushes through his material. A number of Christians are now knowledgeable about the NAR thanks to people like Holly Pivec and Doug Geivett etc. Those with some knowledge of the NAR can probably follow Schimmel without too much difficulty. However, I think those who are new to this subject will find it very difficult to digest the information Schimmel rattles out at break-neck speed, and they may even abandon the video. In my view, a slower pace would benefit the people who need this information the most. I don't know why Schimmel and Davidson feel that they have to rush through presentations and impose unrealistic time limits upon themselves.

Schimmel is something of a double-edged sword in that while his teaching is sound in many respects, his eschatology leaves much to be desired and is counterproductive. An essential principle for teachers to follow is to ensure that their own theology is sound, otherwise, they simply give ammunition to false teachers, with the inevitable result that further damage and confusion ensues. Schimmel's rapture theory is a stark example of inadequate research and sloppy exegesis. See the link below for Schimmel's "traditional" post-trib view regarding his concurrent-recapitulation view of the sixth seal, sixth trumpet, and sixth bowl.

In the above video, another glaring example of Schimmel's poor eschatology is exposed. Shimmel: "He lets His own children, by the hundreds of millions perhaps, go through the tribulation period.." (57:30 mark)

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.
Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. (Revelation 7:9-14).   

The logical event that defines the appearance of the great multitude in heaven is the prewrath rapture following the sixth seal cosmic disturbances. (Revelation 6:2-17). The great multitude consists of the full number of living and dead believers from all generations, rather than those who specifically go through "the great tribulation" of Matthew 24:21. In my view, not too many believers will "go through" the great tribulation since many of them will have been persecuted and martyred. (Matthew 24:9-10,22; Revelation 13:7,15-17; Revelation 20:4). Following the deliverance (rapture) of the great multitude, the seventh seal is opened. After about half an hour of silence, the wrath of God is executed chronologically from heaven by the seven angels: When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. (Revelation 8:1-2).

Ellicott: "Are we to limit the expression to the special and peculiar afflictions of the last great trial? There is no doubt about the emphasis which the definite article (unfortunately, ignored in our English version) gives: it is the great tribulation; but while there may yet be in store for the Church of Christ trials so great that they may be called, in comparison with those which went before, the great tribulation, it yet seems out of harmony with the spirit of the Apocalypse and the complexion of this vision to limit the phrase to some special season of trial. Is not the great tribulation the tribulation which those must encounter who are on the side of Christ and righteousness, and refuse to receive the mark of worldliness and sin on their heart, conscience, and life? In all ages it is true that we must through much tribulation enter the Kingdom of God; and the vision here is surely not of those who will come safe out of some particular trials, but of the great multitude from every age and every race who waged war against sin, and who, in the midst of that protracted conflict, endured the great tribulation which is to continue until Christ’s return." 1

Pulpit Commentary: "The repeated article is especially emphatic. The question arises What is 'the great tribulation' referred to? Probably all the tribulation which has been passed through by the redeemed, all that which pertained to the life through which they have passed. This tribulation is now completed and past, and is therefore referred to as 'the great tribulation.' 'These are they which have passed through the great tribulation of their life on earth.'" 1

1. Revelation 7:14 Commentaries: I said to him, "My lord, you know." And he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. (biblehub.com)

Further Links

WOLVES IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING: FALSE PROPHETS AND BIBLE TEACHERS IN THE LAST DAYS: Joe Schimmel Blessed Hope Chapel (bewareofthewolves.blogspot.com)
Articles for Posttribulationism to Consider | ESCHATOS MINISTRIES (alankurschner.com)

OLIVIER MELNICK: "WHAT IF WE ARE WRONG ABOUT THE PRE-TRIB RAPTURE?"

 (55) WHAT IF THE RAPTURE WAS A MYTH? WHAT IF IT NEVER HAPPENS? ARE WE WRONG ABOUT ALL THIS? - YouTube

In the above video, Olivier Melnick asks the critical question: "What happens if I have been wrong about the rapture for the last 40 years? It is possible."  

Melnick is the Southwest Regional Director of Chosen People Ministries and is very popular with the pre-trib camp, often appearing as a guest of Andy Woods, Tom Hughes etc.1  

No one in their right mind wants to suffer the unprecedented persecution that will evidently take place during the great tribulation and I do not blame anyone for wanting to escape it. (Matthew 24:21). My difficulty is that there is no way around the fact that the scriptures teach that the church will indeed enter the tribulation, and as such, believers should be prepared to endure it. (Revelation 12:17; 13:10; 14:12). 

Melnick rightly points out that to deny the rapture entirely is unbiblical given the various scriptural references to it. He then turns his attention to the traditional post-tribulation view of the rapture. Melnick is right when he points out the inherent difficulties posed by traditional posttribulationists. However, it seems highly unlikely that he is ignorant regarding the critical distinctions between the prewrath rapture and traditional posttribulationism! Pre-trib believers should not be deceived by attempts to portray the prewrath position and the traditional post-trib as synonymous.

A number of traditional post-trib views do not find biblical support:

The resurrection takes place in Revelation 20
The second coming begins in Revelation 19
The second coming begins when Jesus physically comes to earth
The seals, trumpets, bowls occur concurrently
The rapture happens at the seventh trumpet
Paul’s “last trump” refers to the seventh trumpet in the book of Revelation
The great tribulation is 3.5 years long
The Day of the Lord is a literal 24-hour day
After the rapture, God’s people immediately descend to earth2

Unfortunately teachers within the traditional post-trib rapture camp refuse point-blank to tackle the theological difficulties associated with their view. I refer to teachers like Joe Schimmel (Blessed Hope Chapel) and Sam Adams (Independence Baptist Church). Teachers like Schimmel and Adams give ammunition to the pre-trib camp, and their stubborn refusal to address legitimate post-trib theological problems is a hindrance to the discussion and is injurious to the Body of Christ.

In common with other pre-trib teachers, Melnick does not make the correct distinction between the persecution of the Antichrist (tribulation/thlipsis) and the wrath of God (wrath/orgé). (Revelation 6:17; Matthew 24:29). Melnick also errs in that he espouses a "signless rapture", whereas the scriptures specifically speak of the sign of the Son of Man associated with the gathering of the elect (the rapture). The pre-trib denial of the application to believers of the Olivet Discourse and their misinterpretation of other rapture passages is very concerning. Melnick: "How could a rapture happen at the end of the period of seven years be unknown and imminent?"  Imminency is yet another flawed pre-trib doctrine. These are all very significant errors that have been addressed many times by prewrath scholars. (See Further Links)

Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. (Matthew 24:29-31).

Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us—whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter—asserting that the day of the Lord has already come. Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness[a] is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. (2 Thessalonians 2:1-3).

In his early days as a believer, Melnick swallowed the hype of prophecy huckster Hal Lindsey, the author of The Late Great Planet Earth in 1971.3 I believe Lindsey is now on his third or fourth wife and is disqualified from the ministry. Lindsey puts me in mind of many current pre-trib date setters who all but name the time of the rapture.4 Lindsey: "..the decade of the 1980s could very well be the last decade of history as we know it."5  It is understandable that a new Christian would believe this nonsense, but surely it is time to grow up. (1 Peter 2:2; Ephesians 4:15). I do not want to insult Melnick, but forty years of bible study does not qualify him as a prophecy expert. Many prominent bible teachers remain in significant error all their lives! No matter what the claims and boasts of various teachers, it is always necessary to test the spirits. (1 John 4:1). Even Paul submitted himself to this principle. (Acts 17:11).

I believe that if Melnick were to study the prewrath position minus his current confirmation bias, then he would recognize the pre-trib rapture as a false doctrine. 

1. CPM Southwest - Chosen People Ministries
2. Replies to the Post-Tribulational Rapture View (alankurschner.com)
3. The Late Great Planet Earth - Wikipedia
4. WOLVES IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING: FALSE PROPHETS AND BIBLE TEACHERS IN THE LAST DAYS: BRITT GILLETTE: THE DANGEROUS SPECULATIONS OF THE PRE-TRIB "PROPHECY EXPERTS" (bewareofthewolves.blogspot.com)
5. The Late Great Planet Earth - Wikipedia

Further Links

(58) 7 Pretrib Problems and the Prewrath Rapture (Full Movie) - YouTube
Microsoft Word - Prewrath - Early Church Fathers.docx (alankurschner.com)
Articles for Posttribulationism to Consider | ESCHATOS MINISTRIES (alankurschner.com)

JOE SCHIMMEL BLESSED HOPE CHAPEL: RECAPITULATION VERSES TAKEN OUT OF CONTEXT!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2fetze4xBU

Rev Series: God's Grace Through the Book of Revelation

I have never heard Joe Schimmel give any kind of explanation as to why he teaches the recapitulation of the sixth seal, the seventh trumpet and the seventh bowl in the book of Revelation. However, in this sermon, he does give a few very questionable reasons.

According to Schimmel, the sixth seal is a picture of the very end of the age i.e.Armageddon. (1:18 mark). However, there is no indication of Armageddon in Revelation 6. We see all the people hiding in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. There is no battle in Revelation 6. The only indication of the wrath of God is verse 17: the great day of Their wrath has come i.e. Their wrath is imminent.  

And when I saw the Lamb open the sixth seal, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black like sackcloth of goat hair, and the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars of the sky fell to the earth like unripe figs dropping from a tree shaken by a great wind. The sky receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved from its place. Then the kings of the earth, the nobles, the commanders, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and free man hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. And they said to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the One seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb. For the great day of Their wrath has come, and who is able to withstand it?” (Revelation 6:12-17).

Schimmel: "This is proof that it backs up.. In chapter 7, he shows who is protected and sealed before the great day of his wrath comes so they can stand through it..  First he shows the 144000...  until the 144000, twelve tribes from each of the tribes of Israel are sealed in their foreheads before the trumpets blow.. In that way they won't partake in God's wrath because they will be sealed from it.. If you are a Christian you have already been sealed by the Holy Spirit..  If you are sealed and you are abiding in Christ you are protected.." 

After this I looked and saw a multitude too large to count, from every nation and tribe and people and tongue, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice. “Salvation to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. (Revelation 7:9-11).

Schimmel's eisegesis of Revelation chapter 7:9-17 is abysmal! According to Schimmel, because the multitude are standing, they are standing during the wrath of God on the earth. Note that the angels are also standing in Revelation 7:11. Schimmel conflates Revelation 7:9 with stand/withstand in Revelation 6:17 which has an entirely different context: "Who is able to stand" (Revelation 6:17 cf. Malachi 3:2). 

The multitude are literally standing in heaven before the throne of God. It is interesting that they are wearing white robes and have palm branches in their hands, which indicates that they have resurrected bodies.

Why would the throne of God be located on earth in Revelation 7:9 when other passages both preceding and following this verse locate the throne in heaven? Revelation 6:16 refers to the One seated on the throne. Heaven is the backdrop to the unfolding events - Revelation 6:14: The sky (heaven/οὐρανὸς) vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up. The wrath of God is orchestrated from the throne of God in heaven. Revelation 8:1-4: When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and they were given seven trumpets. Then another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, along with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, rose up before God from the hand of the angel. Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it to the earth; and there were peals of thunder, and rumblings, and flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.

Isaiah's Apocalypse (Isaiah 24-27)

Schimmel continues to demonstrate the folly of taking verses in isolation and out of context. In this case, he quotes Isaiah 26:20 in isolation. Schimmel: "We have been saved from the wrath to come, Amen. So we are not appointed to wrath.. Is there any scripture that kinda uses that imagery of us being protected at that time? (1:26 mark) Schimmel refers to the Passover when the wrath of God passed over the people of Israel due to the blood on their doorposts of lintels. (Exodus 12: 21-27). Undoubtedly there are parallels between the plagues described in the book of Exodus and the eschatological wrath of God in Revelation 15-16. However, Isaiah 26 demonstrates that the chambers are located in heaven and that the resurrection (rapture) precedes the eschatological wrath. In context, the resurrected saints enter their chambers in heaven. (John 14:2). The Lord "comes out from his place" i.e. heaven to administer the wrath. Instead of providing a proof text for his argument, this passage is very problematic for Schimmel's post-tribulation view.  

Your dead shall live; their bodies shall rise. You who dwell in the dust, awake and sing for joy!
For your dew is a dew of light, and the earth will give birth to the dead. Come, my people, enter your chambers, and shut your doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until the fury has passed by. For behold, the LORD is coming out from his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity, and the earth will disclose the blood shed on it, and will no more cover its slain. (Isaiah 26:19-21)

Schimmel's increasingly chaotic sermons are delivered at warp speed with many deviations and errors. I think that someone with little knowledge of the Book of Revelation would have a hard time keeping up with him. Schimmel admitted that he did not open his bible prior to delivering this sermon: "I just meditated and thought about each chapter.. and began to seek the Lord this morning."  (1:13 mark) I would suggest that in the future he does bother to open his bible and prepare properly! 

While it is a good thing to refute the pre-trib rapture, it is pure folly to replace error with error! Schimmel has mistaught the Book of Revelation for years. He seems oblivious to the fact that his eisegesis of the Book of Revelation is likely to cause confusion to those believers who are seeking a right understanding of the rapture. (2 Timothy 2:15).

Further Links 

 

Articles for Posttribulationism to Consider | ESCHATOS MINISTRIES (alankurschner.com)
THE REVELATION PROBLEM | 7 Pretrib Problems and the Prewrath Rapture
Why Isaiah 26:19–21 Supports the Prewrath View - Ep. 171 | ESCHATOS MINISTRIES (alankurschner.com)
WOLVES IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING: FALSE PROPHETS AND BIBLE TEACHERS IN THE LAST DAYS: Joe Schimmel Blessed Hope Chapel (bewareofthewolves.blogspot.com)

JOE SCHIMMEL: BELIEVERS INCOMPLETE AFTER THE RESURRECTION? NOW I AM REALLY CONCERNED!

(5) Rev Series: Three Trees and a River - YouTube

Over the years I have been encouraged by Joe Schimmel (Blessed Hope Chapel) due to his stance against OSAS (Once Saved Always Saved), Calvinism, Ecumenism etc. However, I have always had issues with his post-tribulation rapture position. More recently, these issues have begun to bleed into other areas and my concerns have escalated. 

A few months ago, Schimmel was heading in the same disastrous direction as false teacher Joel Richardson and the unbiblical view that Gog is the Antichrist. I anticipated that Schimmel would persist with this nonsense after his initial video on the 22nd of March and I wrote a couple of posts debunking this view. {1} Schimmel followed up this false teaching on the 3rd of April with a further video about the alleged Gog/Magog battle. It should concern believers that this error remains online and uncorrected on Schimmel's YouTube channel.

In addition, Schimmel has made no attempt to justify his use of Victorinus as a valid source for his faulty view of the eisegetical recapitulation view of the trumpet and bowl judgements in the book of Revelation. {2} Many believers have realized that the prewrath rapture view is more coherent than the pre-rib and post-trib views. Those who persist in teaching the concurrent/recapitulation theory willfully ignore the obvious problems associated with this view.

The leaves of the tree for the healing of the nations..

Schimmel: "I have told you, the book of Revelation is kinda like the back of my hand. I know this book by the grace of God really good. If you ask me just about any verse in the book of Revelation, pretty much any verse, I am able to give you, I believe, a very good biblical explanation."  Really! Essentially Schimmel has mistaught the book of Revelation for years regarding the recapitulation of the sixth seal, the seventh trumpet and the seventh bowl. This particular error throws the whole book of Revelation out of kilter! Schimmel admits that he has never understood Revelation 22:2 despite his professed expertise in exegeting the book of Revelation. Revelation 22:1-2 and its parallel in Ezekiel 47:12 describe the millennial river, not the eternal state as Schimmel submits. (See also Joel 3:18 and Zechariah 14:8). 

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. (Revelation 22:1-2).

Along both banks of the river, fruit trees of all kinds will grow. Their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. Each month they will bear fruit, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will be used for food and their leaves for healing. (Ezekiel 47:12).

Schimmel: "Why are the leaves for the healing of the nations when everybody has already been resurrected? You are already in the Lake of Fire or resurrected, and when Jesus talks about the resurrection, there is no more death. And why is the tree of life there for the healing of the nations? How are the nations being healed? 

A couple of mornings ago I woke up just after 4am and this scripture was on my heart and I began to seek to Lord on it and cry out to Him.. and pray.. And it is really interesting, I felt I got some insight on this..  and then I began to cry .. I was just so grateful because I saw so much beauty that I hadn't seen in New Jerusalem as a result of those prayers.."  

Schimmel's latest dubious suggestion: Believers are somehow incomplete after they are resurrected during the millennium! (1:00:00 mark).

I have noticed that Schimmel uses a similar technique as many false teachers in that he diverts our attention back and forth and intersperses all kinds of unrelated stories and personal experiences into his teaching. This is quite disarming and throws his hearers off track. Schimmel eventually gets back on track and drops the bombshell! (1:31:00 mark)

Schimmel: "We have been healed physically when we get resurrected bodies, but even when we are resurrected we are still not home yet. We are still not home. Now we are with Jesus at one point when we are resurrected Amen, but we are not in New Jerusalem until after the thousand-year millennial period right? Then there is a new heaven and a new earth. Total healing I believe comes (won't we be healed fully - absolutely) but we will still be lacking something. Total and absolute intimacy with the Father and the Son in New Jerusalem will not take place until it happens in New Jerusalem and God designed us to partake of the tree of life..  And if we are not partaking of the tree of life and the leaves, we don't have all that God had ordained for us. It is not until we have all that He has ordained for us that we have; we have total peace, but guess what, there is grace beyond grace and I believe that comes from partaking of the tree of life and the healing that comes from the leaves.." 

This is the stuff of heresy.. or at the very least it is how heresy begins! Schimmel has based his eisegetical assumptions on various alleged "insights" and "emotions".

What do the scriptures say?

Putting aside Schimmel's supposed direct personal revelation, it is vital that we actually test what he is teaching against the scriptures. (1 John 1:4).

When we are resurrected, we are not "with Jesus at one point", we will always be with the Lord.

Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:17).

..but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:2).

The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. (Revelation 22:2).

God's people are never referred to as "the nations". Strongs: "Nations (ἐθνῶν) as distinct from the true Israel of God." (Galatians 6:16). {3} Revelation 22:2 refers to unresurrected people during the millennium who will receive healing from the leaves of the tree, with the caveat "to the thirsty". (Revelation 21:6-7). 

Alan Kurschner's view that the bride of Christ will come back within the new Jerusalem before the millennium does provide a cogent answer to this question. The prewrath view teaches that Christ will take believers before the Father (Revelation 7 and 14). Kurschner ties in John 14: I go to prepare a place for you and Revelation 21:10 which describes the New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God and coalescing with the earth. According to Kurschner, this happens before the millennium. Revelation 20:7-10 describes the events that happen at the end of the thousand years i.e. the Gog/Magog battle and the destruction of Satan. After these events, God's judgement is extended globally. (Revelation 20:11-15). Revelation 22 and 23 revert back again to the millennial period. As Kurschner points out, the leaves for the healing of the nations makes no sense when applied to the eternal state. The context necessitates that we view this passage as applicable to the millennium when the nations will need healing. This passage does not apply to the residents of the New Jerusalem. Revelation 22:14-15 specifically identifies those outside the city: But outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. This verse is highly problematic for those who believe that the New Jerusalem will descend at the end of the millennium since it cannot possibly refer to the eternal state. The lesson here is that we should be wary when making assumptions about the chronology of the book of Revelation. I suggest that readers of this post take a little time to listen to Kurschner on this fascinating question: (1) The Bride Comes with the New Jerusalem BEFORE the Millennium - YouTube

New Jerusalem - our mother?

Schimmel proceeds to push the envelope even further: "Do you know that you have a Father and a Mother in heaven? I am talking about Jerusalem the city. It is called a bride.." (1:37:40 mark )

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. (Revelation 22:1-3).

If we accept Kurschner's view, the bride of Christ within the New Jerusalem will descend before the millennium, hence the expression "as a bride".

 

But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. (Galatians 4:26).

Schimmel does not teach Galatians 4:26 in its proper context. Paul teaches that Sarah and Hagar are allegorical depictions of the two covenants. Hagar represents Mount Sinai in Arabia which Paul compares with the present Jerusalem in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem above is free and represents the freedom that there is in Christ. These cities are "mothers" in the sense that they are locations and have citizens. Mike Winger explains in the video below that we might refer to "mother Russia" in similar terms. If we take the New Jerusalem above as our literal mother we have gone beyond allegory and we are in danger of straying into dangerous heresy. An extreme example of this is The World Mission Society Church of God cult (WMSCOG) who take Galatians 4:26 as a key proof text for their "Mother God" heresy.

Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. (Galatians 4 24-26).

I highly recommend the following video on Mike Winger's YouTube channel. Winger tackles Galatians 4:26 in context towards the end of the video at the 1:48:00 mark when he is asked: "How do WMSCOG members interpret Galatians 4:26, and how can we respond to that verse, offering them an explanation of its proper context?" (1) The Secret History of the Fast Growing “Mother God” Cult (with NEW info I've never shared before) - YouTube  

Despite his boast, Schimmel is not the expert he claims to be and his understanding of the book of Revelation is very much wanting. He is definitely not the go-to person for a sound eschatological perspective.  

This paragraph has nothing to do with the eschatological issues above, but I think it needs to be said. While all the funny stories about Schimmel's grandchildren were superficially entertaining and diverting, it didn't seem to have occurred to anyone in the chat replay that there was something lacking in his care for them. One child was chasing the others around the trampoline with a rubber donkey, an item that is not permitted on a trampoline. This behaviour caused another child to dive off the trampoline and land on her head resulting in a mild concussion. Even though she was sleepy and nauseous, Schimmel didn't bother to seek medical help for her. One of the boys was shooting arrows with metal tips and inadvertently caught another boy on his head, and another boy attempted to start a fire while Schimmel was in his office! Am I the only person who came to the conclusion that Schimmel was not adequately supervising the children in his care? It is not enough to say "do not fire metal arrows" or "do not light fires" etc. There should be a responsible adult present to make sure that young children are safe. I am surprised that nothing more serious happened to any of the children supposedly in his care. After hearing this account I would not entrust a child of mine into Schimmel's care. 

1. WOLVES IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING: FALSE PROPHETS AND BIBLE TEACHERS IN THE LAST DAYS: JOE SCHIMMEL: GOG MAGOG ISLAMIC ANTICHRIST ARMAGEDDON (bewareofthewolves.blogspot.com)
1. WOLVES IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING: FALSE PROPHETS AND BIBLE TEACHERS IN THE LAST DAYS: JOE SCHIMMEL GOG MAGOG ARMAGEDDON AND ISLAM (bewareofthewolves.blogspot.com)

2. WOLVES IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING: FALSE PROPHETS AND BIBLE TEACHERS IN THE LAST DAYS: JOE SCHIMMEL BLESSED HOPE CHAPEL: VICTORINUS IS UNRELIABLE (bewareofthewolves.blogspot.com)

3. Strong's Greek: 1484. ἔθνος (ethnos) -- a race, a nation, pl. the nations (as distinct from Isr.) (biblehub.com)

Further Link

Seals, Trumpets, Bowls – At the Same Time or One After the Other? (i.e. Concurrent-Recapitulation or Consecutive-Progressive?) (alankurschner.com) 

JOE SCHIMMEL: GOG MAGOG ISLAMIC ANTICHRIST ARMAGEDDON

 (6) Rev Series: The Gog and Magog War - Who? - YouTube

This is the second video released by Joe Schimmel promoting the questionable doctrine of Gog Magog, Armageddon and the Islamic Antichrist. It is true that Schimmel has released some good teachings in the past and that he has built up trust amongst many believers. Nevertheless, no matter how much we esteem certain teachers, it is essential to test the spirits. (1 John 4:1; Acts 17:11). The Islamic Antichrist teaching has some significant errors that can easily be identified. (1 John 4:6).  I have already debunked this false teaching in previous posts, but I will address the main points of Schimmel's sermon below. 

Where does this teaching come from?

Prior to the early 1990's the Islamic Antichrist theory was entirely unknown. This new teaching was introduced in response to contemporary issues and concerns about the growth of Islam, in other words, it is based upon "newspaper eisegesis" rather than on the scriptures. When we go down the rabbit trail, the Islamic Antichrist teaching is promoted by known false teachers. It is vital that we test the character of anyone introducing a new or novel teaching into the church.

In 1993, pre-trib teacher Phillip Goodman wrote a book called The Assyrian Connection with the subtitle The Roots of the Antichrist and the Signs of Armageddon. Goodman falsely identifies Psalm 83 as a pre-Magog event and Ezekiel 38-39 as the Magog-Islamic Invasion of Israel. Goodman's impressive sounding arguments and elaborate charts can be found on the following link: Ezekiel 38 and Psalm 83: Relationship and Timing - by Phillip Goodman - The Pre-Trib Research Cente

In 1992 false prophet Perry Stone began to teach the prospect of an Islamic Antichrist. In 2007, Perry Stone's associate, Joe VanKoevering, actually named the Antichrist as Crown Prince El Hassan bin Talal of Jordan in Unveiling The Man Of Sin. In 2011, Perry Stone released "Unleashing the Beast - The coming reign of terror by a fanatical Islamic dictator and his ten-nation coalition."  I am assuming that readers of this post are familiar with Perry Stone's reputation.

These days the main proponent of the Islamic Antichrist theory is Joel Richardson. I have written a few posts critiquing Richardson's teaching and also his questionable associations. Richardson openly admits that the catalyst that started his "ministry" was a "prophetic endorsement" by "Latter Rain" false prophet Paul Cain. {1} Richardson regularly appears with various false teachers on CNN and TBN, many of whom are ecumenical and apostate.

In 2006 Richardson released his book The Antichrist - Islam's Awaited Messiah, later republished as The Islamic Antichrist. In 2008 Joel Richardson and Walid Shoebat co-authored God's War On Terror -  Islam Prophecy and the Bible. 

Details regarding Walid Shoebat's tenuous claim to be a PLO terrorist was reported by the Jerusalem Post in 2008. {2} I have added some links at the end of this post regarding Shoebat's colourful history and irregular hermeneutics. Richardson's latest associate, Dalton Thomas (Frontier Alliance International), also has some very questionable teachings and is disqualified from the ministry: mikereynolds.org

Rome or Islam?

Be wary of those who deride the assertion that the fourth beast in Nebuchadnezzar's vision is Rome. Richardson and other Islamic Antichrist proponents promote the Islamic Caliphate as Daniel's fourth beast, and they disdain anyone who identifies Rome with such phrases as: it is out of date and no longer relevant.

Babylon, Medo-Persia and Greece are the first three kingdoms definitively identified in Nebuchadnezzar's vision. The text of Daniel 2 implies that successive kingdoms will come into existence following Babylon: But after you, there will arise another kingdom, inferior to yours. Next, a third kingdom, one of bronze, will rule the whole earth. Finally, there will be a fourth kingdom as strong as iron; (Daniel 2:39-40) If we allow Islam to be the fourth kingdom, then there is a significant gap of over seven hundred years between Greece, which fell to the Romans in 146 BC, and Islam which was founded in the 7th century (ca. 570–632 AD). Since the Roman Empire directly succeeded the Grecian Empire, Rome has been traditionally identified as the fourth kingdom. Richardson et al reject the logical implications of the scriptures regarding successive kingdoms, and they do not consider a gap of more than seven hundred years to be problematic. Richardson's argument that the Parthian Empire is also excluded from Nebuchadnezzar's vision is spurious. The Parthian Empire was never a world empire. 

The skewed logic of Shoebat and Richardson

Most scholars believe that the Antichrist will in some sense be of Roman derivation based on Daniel 9:26: And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. 

The case for an Islamic Antichrist is based on evidence that the Roman legions that carried out the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in 70 AD comprised primarily of Arabs, mainly Syrians and Turks. This is yet another example of the skewed logic of Shoebat, Richardson and other Islamic Antichrist proponents.

Chris White: "..after the Assyrian Empire conquered a country, they simply forced people to fight in their army or die, but when we hear about Assyrian armies in Scripture, we do not have to stop and think, 'Well, where were the Assyrian soldiers in this particular battle stolen from originally?' No, we simply accept that Assyrian soldiers are part of the Assyrian Empire regardless of where they were born  If the Scripture had said that the prince— that is, Titus in this view— destroyed the temple, it would have been factually inaccurate. Instead, it says 'the people of the prince' destroyed it." {3} 

David Reagan: "A good example of Shoebat’s tortuous logic can be found in his attempt to explain away the meaning of Daniel 9:26. The plain sense meaning of this passage is that the Antichrist will come from the people who will destroy the Temple. Shoebat and Richardson argue that the Roman legions that carried out the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in 70 AD were composed primarily of Arabs, mainly Syrians and Turks. They therefore conclude that the Antichrist will arise from the Syrians or Turks and will be a Muslim. This is really grasping at straws in the wind! It doesn’t matter whether or not the legions were composed of Australian Aborigines, it was the Roman government that decided to destroy Jerusalem, it was the Roman government that gave the orders, and it was Roman generals who carried out the destruction. Rome was the rod of God’s judgment and it is from the Roman people that the Antichrist will arise." {4}

*Reagan is pre-trib, but he makes a good point.

Josephus

There are various interpretations of just how far north the Japhethites migrated from the Black Sea, and whether they migrated to neighboring Russia. Turkic peoples such as Meshech, Tubal, and Togarmah—and/or eastern Europe, rather than Russia, are implicated by Ezekiel 38. Herodotus identifies Armenia. The obsession many have with Gog/Magog and Russia is exaggerated out of all proportion and is another example of "newspaper eisegesis". Gomer and all his hordes; Beth-togarmah from the uttermost parts of the north.. (Ezekiel 38:6,15). Gomer is identified with the Cimmerians, a nomadic people, most likely of Iranian origin. Togarmah is identified as the Armenians. {5} Schimmel's assumption that "the uttermost parts of the north" has to be Russia is purely speculative.

Jewish historian Flavius Josephus identified Meshech as an area in modern Turkey (Asia Minor).

Josephus: ..and the Mosocheni were founded by Mosoch; now they are Cappadocians. {6}

Josephus: Magog founded those that from him were named Magogites, but who are by the Greeks called Scythians. {6}

Herodotus: "Then, for the first time, we won the friendship of the Moschi, a nation which became pre-eminently attached to Rome, and they overran the wilds of Armenia." {7}

According to Herodotus, the Scythians originally inhabited Asia. They were pushed west by a hostile tribe and eventually reached the Black Sea region and the eastern outskirts of Europe. In the first century BC Greek writer Diodorus Siculus claimed that the Scythians moved north into the steppe region from the south, possibly from the modern area of Armenia or even farther south along the western border with India.

Heroditus: "There is yet another story, to which account I myself especially incline. It is to this effect. The nomadic Scythians inhabiting Asia, when hard pressed in war by the Massagetae, fled across the Araxes river to the Cimmerian country (for the country which the Scythians now inhabit is said to have belonged to the Cimmerians before).." {8}

According to the non-canonical book of Jasher, the children of Meshech built cities by the Caspian Sea (Jabus Sea) which lies to the east of the Caucasus Mountains and to the west of the vast steppe of Central Asia. The river Cura (Kura?) is situated in the South Caucasus.

And the children of Meshech are the Shibashni and the children of Tiras are Rushash, Cushni, and Ongolis ; all these went and built themselves cities ; those are the cities that are situate by the sea Jabus by the river Cura, which empties itself in the river Tragan. (Jasher 10:14). {9}

Peace and Safety / Unwalled Villages? (Ezekiel 38:11).

How is is possible to claim that Israel will be dwelling in peace and safety prior to Armageddon?

The Antichrist's covenant of false peace with Israel at the beginning of the 70th week of Daniel cannot be identified with Armageddon. (Daniel 9:27). At the mid point of the week, the so called "false peace" will be shattered when the abomination of desolation event takes place. (Daniel 12:11; Matthew 24:15). This event occurs 3.5 years prior to Armageddon. Following the abomination of desolation event, the Antichrist will launch the greatest persecution of all time against the Jewish people. In other words, there is no peace and safety in Israel prior to the battle of Armageddon i.e. during the second half of the 70th week of Daniel. (Matthew 24:21).

The time of "Jacob's trouble" during the second half of the 70th week identifies unprecedented distress for Israel.

Alas! That day is so great there is none like it; it is a time of distress for Jacob; yet he shall be saved out of it. (Jeremiah 30:7).

In the whole land, declares the LORD, two thirds shall be cut off and perish, and one third shall be left alive. (Zechariah 13:8).

At the time of the end, the king of the south shall attack him, but the king of the north shall rush upon him like a whirlwind, with chariots and horsemen, and with many ships. And he shall come into countries and shall overflow and pass through. He shall come into the glorious land. And tens of thousands shall fall, but these shall be delivered out of his hand: Edom and Moab and the main part of the Ammonites. He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape. He shall become ruler of the treasures of gold and of silver, and all the precious things of Egypt, and the Libyans and the Cushites shall follow in his train. But news from the east and the north shall alarm him, and he shall go out with great fury to destroy and devote many to destruction. And he shall pitch his palatial tents between the sea and the glorious holy mountain. Yet he shall come to his end, with none to help him. (Daniel 11:40-45 cf. Revelation 13:4; Revelation 6:2).

And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown to the earth, he pursued the woman (Israel) who had given birth to the male child. But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle to fly from the presence of the serpent to her place in the wilderness, where she was nourished for a time, and times, and half a time. (Revelation 12:13-14).

The only realistic explanation for Gog's attack against "unwalled villages" in Ezekiel 38:11 is when God's enemies have been destroyed and Satan is incarcerated in the abyss during the millennium when true peace will be established by Jesus Christ. At the end of the millennium, when Satan is released, he will deceive the nations for the final battle. (Revelation 20:7-10).

There are similarities between the Gog/Magog event in Ezekiel 38 and 39 and Armageddon, but the differences are too significant to gloss over. Similarities between events do not indicate an identical situation.

The danger of this teaching is that the Antichrist, in his initial role as "protector of the Jews", will be misidentified either as a powerful friend and ally of Jews and Christians, or perhaps even the Messiah himself. His wars with Islamic nations in the Middle East during the first half of the 70th week will no doubt strengthen those beliefs. We should be prepared for a powerful delusion. (2 Thessalonians 2:11). I am very surprised and alarmed that Joe Schimmel has jumped onto this particular bandwagon.

1. WOLVES IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING: FALSE PROPHETS AND BIBLE TEACHERS IN THE LAST DAYS: JOEL RICHARDSON ENDORSES PAUL CAIN # CHARISMANIA! (bewareofthewolves.blogspot.com)
2. The Palestinian 'terrorist' turned Zionist - The Jerusalem Post (jpost.com)
3. The Islamic Antichrist Debunked | A Comprehensive Critique by Chris White (bibleprophecytext.com)
4. muslim antichrist | Daily Prophecy Digest (wordpress.com)
5. Ezekiel 38:6 Commentaries: Gomer with all its troops; Beth-togarmah from the remote parts of the north with all its troops-- many peoples with you. (biblehub.com)
6. Josephus: Antiquities of the Jews, Book I (uchicago.edu)
7. Cornelius Tacitus, The Annals, BOOK XIII, chapter 37 (tufts.edu)
8. Herodotus, The Histories, Book 4, chapter 11, section 1 (tufts.edu)
9. Microsoft Word - Ancient Book of Jasher.1st_ed.1840.v14.docx (archive.org)

Further Links

Christian Right's Favorite Ex-Terrorist Walid Shoebat Caught In Plagiarism Dispute - YouTube(6)
Will The Antichrist Be A Muslim by Keith Malcomson - YouTube
'Ex-terrorist' rakes in homeland security bucks - CNN.com

Microsoft Word - ISJ 2014-15 Fall Issue - Leung Edits.docx (squarespace.com)

39-1-pp029-046_JETS.pdf (etsjets.org)

JOE SCHIMMEL GOG MAGOG ARMAGEDDON AND ISLAM

(13) Rev Series: The Gog and Magog War- When? - YouTube

I am very sorry to see Joe Schimmel join the bandwagon with other "prophecy experts" who feel that they just have to fit Gog and Magog in somewhere before the end of the present age. Schimmel is, in all probability, correct in his belief that this battle cannot occur prior to, or during, the 70th week of Daniel. However, to situate Ezekiel 38-39 at Armageddon is very problematic. I have recently written a few posts debunking the main proponent of this view, Joel Richardson, who has some very questionable teachings and associations. I am surprised that Schimmel gives this man any credibility. We should probably take into account that Gog/Magog is not mentioned at all in the epistles. The epistles warn of "many antichrists" and false teachers, but Gog is conspicuous by his absence. (1 John 2:18).

Schimmel claims to have some kind of insight that Islam will play a prevalent role in eschatological events. However, he needs to prove this assertion from the scriptures! Eisegetical comparisons with Revelation 16 are not sufficient evidence to convince anyone. 

The concern amongst many Christians over the growth of Islam is of course a major factor in the particular teaching that the Antichrist will be Islamic. However, the scriptures clearly state that the religion of the Antichrist will bear no resemblance to any previous religion or belief system. Irrespective of his background or nationality, the Antichrist will follow a different god entirely:

He shall honor the god of fortresses instead of these. A god whom his fathers did not know he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly gifts. (Daniel 11:38). 

I think it is a reasonable deduction that the Antichrist will suppress Islam during the first half of the 70th week of Daniel prior to the abomination of desolation event. He will humiliate the king of the south (Egypt) during that period and he will invade many countries. (Daniel 11:40 cf. Revelation 13:4; Daniel 11:22). Barnes: "Like a flood he shall spread his armies over these countries." {1} Perhaps we should consider whether the incessant fear mongering concerning Islam amongst some "prophecy experts" is a red herring after all?

At the time of the end, the king of the south shall attack him, but the king of the north shall rush upon him like a whirlwind, with chariots and horsemen, and with many ships. And he shall come into countries and shall overflow and pass through. (Daniel 11:40).

I have contacted Blessed Hope a few times over different issues in the past, and every time I have done so I have been disappointed. Various people, myself included, reached out to Schimmel concerning the severe problems caused by Jacob Prasch some time ago. A number of believers were very hurt and damaged by Prasch's viscous attacks and slanderous accusations and would have benefitted from some support. However, there was no response whatsoever from Schimmel. This was disappointing considering the seriousness of the issues involved, and the fact that Schimmel had teamed up with Prasch in the past. I personally was slandered by Prasch, but I have not suffered as others have. Having survived the abuses of charismania, I seem to be immune to personal attacks from unwholesome characters thank God. 

I also reached out to Good Fight Ministries with concerns about their problematic post-trib rapture view. I did initially receive a response from a member of their team, and I was led to believe that Schimmel would address this subject in a future programme, but he failed to do so. I contacted Blessed Hope again to question Schimmel's approval of alleged "Church Father" Victorinus, who is definitely unreliable. Once again I was ignored. I have also unsuccessfully challenged Schimmel's repeated use of the term "tribulation" to refer to the entire 70th week of Daniel. This may seem like a small detail to some, but this terminology is used by the pre-trib camp, and it is unbiblical and confusing. Should we be using incorrect terminology and pander to the false ideas of those who are misled? (1 Thessalonians 2:4). Recently I left a comment on one of Schimmel's videos suggesting that their viewers refer to J Paul Tanner's publication: Daniel's "King of the North": Do We Owe Russia An Apology? JETS_35-3_315-328_Tanner.pdf (etsjets.org) but my comment was removed. I find that Blessed Hope Chapel's practice of ghosting anyone who attempts to politely challenge Schimmel is very odd indeed and I shall not attempt to reach out to them again. Blessed Hope's modus operandi appears to be to completely ignore anyone who questions them. This makes them no better than any other ministry promoting questionable doctrines whilst loudly praising the Lord and ignoring genuine questions and concerns! The Hillsong crowd are a good example of this. Schimmel does go after low hanging fruit, but he tends to ignore the more insidious false teachers, and at times he even praises them! 

Below are excerpts from my recent post concerning the Gog/Armageddon view as promoted by Joel Richardson. I recommend that readers of this post refer to Chris White's book The Islamic Antichrist Debunked which he reads aloud on YouTube: (13) The Islamic Antichrist Theory Debunked - FULL 8 HOUR - AUDIO BOOK - Bible Prophecy - YouTube This video is quite involved and lengthy, but it is definitely worth considering White's points. His eye opening exposé of Walid Shoebat, who co-authored the book God's War on Terror with Richardson, should send believers scurrying away from these two characters posthaste. Another man who has exposed Richardson and Shoebat is Keith Malcomson. Notwithstanding Malcomson's Gog/Magog view, this video is an excellent exposure of Richardson and Shoebat: (13) Will The Antichrist Be A Muslim by Keith Malcomson - YouTube  Malcomson aptly points out that believers should take pains to carefully examine novel teachings before adopting them into their belief system. (1 John 4:1). Richardson's latest associate, Dalton Thomas (Frontier Alliance International), also has some very questionable teachings and is disqualified from the ministry: mikereynolds.org

Richardson: End Time Talks 14: Six Reasons Gog is the Antichrist - YouTube

The only verse in the NT that specifically mentions Gog and Magog is Revelation 20:8: ..and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle. A plain reading of the text suggests that the Gog/Magog conflict occurs at the end of the millennium. There are similarities between the Gog/Magog event in Ezekiel 38 and 39 and Armageddon, but the differences are too significant to gloss over.  

Joel Richardson's six reasons why Gog is the Antichrist debunked. (1 John 4:1).

1. The Lord's name will no longer be profaned or blasphemed following God/Magog's alleged defeat at "Armageddon".

And my holy name I will make known in the midst of my people Israel, and I will not let my holy name be profaned anymore. And the nations shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel. (Ezekiel 39:7).

Richardson repeatedly fails to make a distinction between Israel and the nations in his eisegesis of Ezekiel 39:7. When the Gog/Magog event is applied to Armageddon there is a huge problem. Ezekiel 39:7 consists of two clauses: During the millennium Israel will no longer profane the Lord's holy name as they formerly did. (Ezekiel 36:23 cf. Leviticus 22:32; Ezekiel 20:9; 38:23). The second part of this verse  ..and the nations shall know that I am the Lord is a separate clause. The KJV makes this even clearer:

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. (Ezekiel 39:7 KJV).

Ezekiel 39:21-22 confirms and personalizes Israel's unique relationship with the Lord following the defeat of Gog/Magog. Israel shall know that I am the LORD their God.. However, the nations relationship with God is markedly different: they will know that I am the Lord (notice the absence of "their God"). During the millennium, all forms of defilement and sin are excluded from Jerusalem. God's unique relationship with Israel is one of intimacy and is infinitely superior to the relationship He has with the nations. Sin will continue to exist on the earth amongst unregenerate people outside Jerusalem. This situation comes to a climax at the end of the millennium when Satan gains numerous supporters. (Revelation 20:8). As such it it undeniable that two distinct people groups exist during the millennium ~ God's people Israel and the nations. 

And I will set my glory among the nations, and all the nations shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid on them. The house of Israel shall know that I am the LORD their God, from that day forward. (Ezekiel 39:21-22 cf. Ezekiel 36:36).  

Problematically Richardson trivializes the events of Revelation 20:8 in favour of his Armageddon theory. There are indications that Armageddon and the Gog/Magog battle are related in some way, but similarities between two events do not indicate an identical situation. Revelation gives a clear indication that the fulfilment of Ezekiel 39:7 occurs at the end of the millennium. I believe that Richardson makes a similar error to the preterists in that he confuses short term and long term fulfilment of prophecy. In the case of the preterists, they confuse the end of the age and the destruction of Jerusalem in the Olivet Discourse, whereas Richardson does the same thing with Armageddon and the Gog/Magog battle. 

Further evidence

It is by no means a "given" that all the heathen nations will willingly follow the Lord during the millennium. The unconverted nations inclination towards passive resistance to Jesus' rule is anticipated in the scriptures: And if any of the families of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, there will be no rain on them. (Zechariah 14:17). There will be peace on the earth at that time due to Jesus' "iron rule". The "rod of iron" primarily applies to the day of the Lord i.e. God's wrath. This period extends into the millennium during Jesus' theocratic rule. (Revelation 19:15; Psalm 2:9; Revelation 12:5). Many nations willingly acknowledge the Lord during the millennium, but there do appear to be exceptions. (Micah 4:2; Isaiah 2:3). The definition of profanity is irreverence or disrespect. The warning in Zechariah 4:17 anticipates irreverence and passive opposition to Jesus' rule by at least some of the heathen nations during the millennium. At the end of the millennium Satan will be released from the Abys to deceive the nations (Gog/Magog). At that time God's name will be openly profaned. (Revelation 20:3,7-9). The sheer numbers who are deceived by Satan at the end of the millennium is staggering.. their number is like the sand of the sea. (Revelation 20:8 cf. Isaiah 11:6-9). This demonstrates that the relationship between some of the nations and Jesus during the millennium is tenuous at best, and that their propensity to be deceived and to openly rebel is activated by Satan with apparent ease within a short period of time. (Revelation 20:3,7-8). If the above observations are correct, then Richardson has misinterpreted Ezekiel 39:7 by inserting the nations into a statement specifically applicable to Israel.

2. The Gentile nations will be judged after Armageddon

This point is easily refuted. The Gentiles nations ..will know that I am God.. Ezekiel 39:6-7 does not equate to repentance and a personal relationship with God (as above). The Gentile nations will be judged before the great white throne judgement after the Gog/Magog battle and after Satan's final defeat. The destruction of the Antichrist's armies at Armageddon leaves the nations forces decimated and unable to muster any further resistance to the Lord's return. (Revelation 20:21). This event is significant, but the judgement of the nations does not occur until the end of the millennium:  

And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. 

Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:7-15).

3. The Lord is physically present in Israel (Ezekiel 39:19-20)

For in my jealousy and in my blazing wrath I declare, On that day there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel. The fish of the sea and the birds of the heavens and the beasts of the field and all creeping things that creep on the ground, and all the people who are on the face of the earth, shall quake at my presence (pe-nei). And the mountains shall be thrown down, and the cliffs shall fall, and every wall shall tumble to the ground. (Ezekiel 38:20). 

No one with premillennial beliefs would dispute that Jesus will be physically present in Israel following Armageddon, during the millennium and throughout the eternal state. 

A number of pre-trib rapture premillennials hold the view that the Gog/Magog battle will occur prior to Armageddon. For instance, Bill Salus proposes that Ezekiel 38 and 39 are about to be fulfilled. Andy Woods (Sugar Land Bible Church) teaches that Ezekiel 38 happens at at the beginning of Daniel's 70th week when the second seal is broken. While I disagree with these views, Richardson's argument that Hebrew pe·nei = face in Ezekiel 38:20 proves God's physical presence is disingenuous. In fact pe-nei occurs a number of times in the Old Testament in contexts that do not in fact denote the Lord's physical presence. For instance: The face (pe-nei) of the LORD is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth. (Psalm 34:16). David sought the face (pe·nei) of the Lord in 2 Samuel 21:1 etc. I only add this detail to demonstrate Richardson's weak exegesis. There are valid reasons that the Gog/Magog event will not happen either prior to or during the 70th week of Daniel, but this is not one of them.

Every living creature in the sea?

If Ezekiel 38:20 does refer to Armageddon then there is a difficulty. The first six bowls of God's wrath, specifically the second bowl, involves the death of every living creature in the sea:    

The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became like the blood of a corpse, and every living thing died that was in the sea. (Revelation 16:3).

The fish of the sea and the birds of the heavens and the beasts of the field and all creeping things that creep on the ground, and all the people who are on the face of the earth, shall quake at my presence. (Ezekiel 38:20).

Richardson fails to resolve the fish of the sea quaking at God's presence and the death i.e. the non existence of all the fish of the sea in Revelation 16:3 prior to Armageddon. Once again, this is a tangible problem that Richardson fails to address.

4. The text specifically says that Gog is judged and destroyed at the Day of the Lord

Behold, it is coming and it will be brought about, declares the Lord GOD. That is the day of which I have spoken. (Ezekiel 39:8).

The period known as the Day of the Lord begins after the prewrath rapture of the church during the seventh seal trumpet and bowl judgements. (Revelation 8-11). This period also applies to the thousand year period of Jesus' rule. As such there is no contradiction with the view that Gog is judged at the Day of the Lord at the end of the millennium. There is no preliminary event described in the scriptures that would allow for Gog's judgement at an earlier point, including the problematic Armageddon theory. (Revelation 8:1-13).  

5. All Israel is saved following the defeat of Gog/Magog

The house of Israel shall know that I am the LORD their God, from that day forward. (Ezekiel 39:22).

Israel shall know that the Lord is, and will always continue to be, their God. Ezekiel 39:25-29 summarizes the entire six night messages contained within the book of Ezekiel. 

6. The Lord tells Gog that he is the Antichrist

Thus says the Lord GOD: Are you he of whom I spoke in former days by my servants the prophets of Israel, who in those days prophesied for years that I would bring you against them? (Ezekiel 38:17).

The problem with this argument is that no existing prophecy prior to Ezekiel's time actually mentions Gog by name. Various commentators have surmised that either Ezekiel refers to prophecies known in his day, but are no longer extant, or that Gog is prefigured in earlier prophecies.

Ewald cites Isaiah 10:6; Isaiah 17:4; Smend adding Micah 5:11; Zephaniah 3:8; Keil, Isaiah 25:5, 10; Jeremiah 30:23, 25; Joel 4:2, 11, etc.; Hengstenberg, Deuteronomy 32; Isaiah 24-27; Isaiah 34; and Fairbairn, Numbers 24:17-24; Isaiah 14:28-32; Isaiah 18; Joel 3; Daniel 2:44, 45; {2} 

The Antichrist has a number of titles and names in the scriptures, but he is never referred to as Gog. e.g. the beast (Revelation 11:7); the lawless one (2 Thessalonians 2:89; Daniel 7:25); the man of sin (2 Thessalonians 2:3); the son of perdition (2 Thessalonians 2:3); the little horn (Daniel 7:8,24; Daniel 8:9) the worthless shepherd (Zechariah 11:16-17).

Further points

 
The additional points below are not exhaustive by any means. There are many additional problems with Richardson's view that I have not included here. 

In the latter years

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. (Ezekiel 38:8).

The phrase "the latter years" is a frequent prophetic phrase denoting the Messianic era. (Genesis 49:1; Numbers 24:14; Isaiah 2:2; Daniel 10:14; Micah 4:1).

The prophecy against Gog

On that day, thoughts will come into your mind, and you will devise an evil scheme and say, ‘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,’ to seize spoil and carry off plunder, to turn your hand against the waste places that are now inhabited, and the people who were gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and goods, who dwell at the center of the earth. Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish and all its leaders will say to you, ‘Have you come to seize spoil? Have you assembled your hosts to carry off plunder, to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods, to seize great spoil?’ (Ezekiel 38:10-13).

Unwalled Villages

The Antichrist's covenant of false peace with Israel at the beginning of the 70th week of Daniel cannot be identified with Armageddon. (Daniel 9:27). At the mid point of the week, the so called false peace will be shattered at the abomination of desolation event. (Daniel 12:11; Matthew 24:15). Subsequently the Antichrist will launch the greatest persecution of all time against the Jewish people. In other words, there is no peace in Israel prior to the battle of Armageddon i.e. during the second half of the 70th week of Daniel. (Matthew 24:21).

The only possibly explanation for Gog's attack against "unwalled villages" in Ezekiel 38:11 is when God's enemies have been destroyed and Satan is incarcerated in the abyss during the millennium when true peace will be established by Jesus. At the end of the millennium when Satan is released he will deceive the nations for the final battle. (Revelation 20:7-10).

For the Spoil

The Antichrist is victorious at the mid point of the 70th week of Daniel when he demands worship and declares himself to be God. (2 Thessalonians 2:4; Matthew 24:9,15-22). By the time Armageddon occurs, the Antichrist has already taken control of Jerusalem, he has put an end to sacrifice and offering; he has demanded worship and he has implemented the mark of the beast globally. (Daniel 9:27; Revelation 13:4,12-17). Apart from pockets of protection (i.e. the 144,000 and those who flee to the wilderness (Revelation 7:1-8,12:6)), Israel will be under the complete control of the Antichrist. Presumably, any "spoil" will have been seized at the mid point of the 70th week of Daniel or shortly thereafter. Are Israel "a quiet people who dwell securely" prior to Armageddon? At this point, the Jews have suffered the worst persecution imaginable and two thirds of them will have been slaughtered. (Zechariah 13:8). Jacobs trouble: And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. (Daniel 12:1 cf. Matthew 24:21). In other words, the argument that the Antichrist will come against Israel for plunder is a non-starter since he already has Israel (and the whole world) under his control. 

The inconsistency of the Armageddon/Gog argument cannot be more obvious than it is in Ezekiel 38:10-13.

The problem of location

And they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon. (Revelation 16:16).

And they marched across the broad expanse of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. (Revelation 20:9).

Tel Megiddo is frequently identified as the site where the kings of the earth prepare to wage war on the forces of God under the satanic leadership of the Antichrist at the end of the present age. Armageddon Har-Magedon (probably Hebrew Hill of Megiddo), is located some 56 miles north of Jerusalem. The precise location of Armageddon is debated because the first syllable ar stands for either ir (city) or har (mountain). Michael Heiser and others argue that there is no mountain called Megiddo, and therefore the plain of Megiddo is not the location of the final battle. Heiser's convoluted proposal is that Armageddon is a corruption of the Hebrew Har Mo'ed (mount of assembly; cf. Isaiah 14:13), or of Har Migdo (God's fruitful mountain) which he speculates is Zion. There is evidence that Isaiah 14:13 refers to Zaphon, not Zion. I view Heiser with a certain amount of suspicion as he appears to be part of the NAR and he does not believe in a literal millennium. {3} Commentators generally agree that Armageddon alludes to the hill country surrounding the plain of Megiddo where many previous battles were fought by Israel. (Judges 5:19; 2 Kings 23:29; 2 Chronicles 35:22, cf. Zechariah 12:11). The object of the Antichrist's stand at Armageddon is to come against Jesus Christ and His visible armies (Revelation 19:19), it is not to take Jerusalem. If the location of Armageddon (above) is accurate, the Antichrist will fall on the plains of Megiddo. In Revelation 20:9 the enemies of God surround the beloved city (Jerusalem). Gog and his armies will fall "on the mountains of Israel" (Ezekiel 39:4 cf. Ezekiel 39:17). This information exposes another inconsistency in the Antichrist/Gog theory.

Primitive weapons (Ezekiel 39:9)

It seems doubtful that the Antichrist will utilize primitive weapons at Armageddon. The Antichrist will have access to all the worlds sophisticated weaponry, and arguably he will also have access to fallen angel technology. If this is the case, the weaponry of the Antichrist will be incredibly advanced. The spectacular success of the Antichrist and his unstoppable conquest of many nations indicates that he is an evil genius. (Daniel 8:3). After his apparent or real resurrection, he will literally become the incarnation of Satan. As such, nothing, including the earths weaponry, will be unavailable to him. (Revelation 13:13 cf. Matthew 4:9). 

In contrast, it is conceivable that primitive weapons will be used at the end of the millennium by Gog and his hordes. During the millennium there will be no wars. As such weapons of war will be non existent and the technology for the production of modern weaponry will be inaccessible.

He shall judge between many peoples, and shall decide disputes for strong nations far away; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore; (Micah 4:3).

Thrown alive into the lake of fire or buried?

The Antichrist and the false prophet are thrown alive into the lake of fire without undergoing bodily death. (Revelation 19:20). This seems to correspond to the earth swallowing up Korah and his company alive. (Numbers 16:33 cf. Daniel 7:11). 

The unequivocal statement that the Antichrist and false prophet are thrown alive into the lake of fire conflicts with the prophecy against Gog in Ezekiel 39. Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, will fall in the open field. Subsequently Gog and his multitude will be buried in the Valley of Travelers east of the sea. These details are very specific:

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. I will send fire on Magog and on those who dwell securely in the coastlands, and they shall know that I am the LORD. (Ezekiel 39:4-6).

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 39:12).

My response to Richardson's feeble attempt to resolve this contradiction can be found at the end of this post. 

If Richardson were to submit his thesis for evaluation by an unbiased academic body, it would be rejected outright due to its contradictions and lack of convincing evidence. (1 John 4:1). A strong case can be made that the Gog Magog event happens at the end of the millennium. At least that is what my bible says!

And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. (Revelation 20:7-10).

1. Daniel 11:40 Commentaries: "At the end time the king of the South will collide with him, and the king of the North will storm against him with chariots, with horsemen and with many ships; and he will enter countries, overflow them and pass through. (biblehub.com)
2. Ezekiel 38:17 Commentaries: Thus says the Lord GOD, "Are you the one of whom I spoke in former days through My servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in those days for many years that I would bring you against them? (biblehub.com)
3. Michael Heiser: Warning Signals (narwatchisrael.info)
3. (11) Premillennial and Amilllennial: Ruling and Reigning - Michael Heiser - YouTube

Further Reading

WOLVES IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING: FALSE PROPHETS AND BIBLE TEACHERS IN THE LAST DAYS: DOES GOG MAGOG REFER TO RUSSIA? (bewareofthewolves.blogspot.com)

WOLVES IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING: FALSE PROPHETS AND BIBLE TEACHERS IN THE LAST DAYS: JOE SCHIMMEL BLESSED HOPE CHAPEL: VICTORINUS IS UNRELIABLE (bewareofthewolves.blogspot.com)

WOLVES IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING: FALSE PROPHETS AND BIBLE TEACHERS IN THE LAST DAYS: JOEL RICHARDSON: FALSE TEACHING THAT THE ANTICHRIST WILL BE KILLED (bewareofthewolves.blogspot.com)

WOLVES IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING: FALSE PROPHETS AND BIBLE TEACHERS IN THE LAST DAYS: THE SEVEN YEAR TRIBULATION FALLACY (bewareofthewolves.blogspot.com)