Enemies of God

At this point in Revelation, with God’s Church safely off the earth, the nations of Gog and Magog will descend like a cloud upon peaceful Israel (in the Great Battle of Ezekiel 38-39).  Israel, it is written, is recovered from war, has been gathered to the mountains of Israel and is living in safety. 

Time out. If Jesus already returned and was ruling for a Millennium on an earthly kingdom, is there a SECOND “Second Coming” and final war that comes from Ezekiel 38 and in Revelation 20:1-3, 7-9 with Gog and Magog?

What if it is a Millennium of Jesus’ uncontested reign on earth … as it is in heaven? With Satan incapacitated, mankind experiences the kind of peace that man alone can bring–at best–when spiritual realm evil is sidelined. To display that man in his own power and strength and wisdom…can never bring enduring peace. Only Christ can do that.

Perhaps it’s an odd view of the Millennium, but somehow one must expect that even after the Antichrist (Beast) is killed in Revelation 19:19-21, there is yet another war against Satan after a time of peace (which clearly the Middle East is not experiencing at present).

The two tandem passages are:
Revelation 20:7 When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth– Gog and Magog– and to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. 9 They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God’s people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them.

Ezekiel 38:8 In future years you [Gog and Magog] will invade 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 now all of them live in safety.  9 You and all your troops and the many nations with you will go up, advancing like a storm; you will be like a cloud covering the land.

Here’s how it happens:

Ezekiel 38:10 “‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: On that day thoughts will come into your mind and you [Gog and Magog] will devise an evil scheme. 11 You will say, “I will invade a land of unwalled villages; I will attack a peaceful and unsuspecting people– all of them living without walls and without gates and bars.”

Suddenly the nations of Gog and Magog (just as in Revelation) show up to invade for the final battle, coinciding with the release of the dragon (Satan) from the Abyss. 

Exactly who are Gog and Magog? 
First, they’re aligned with Satan which tells you they’re not good. 

Interestingly, scholars point out the names from Ezekiel 38 and 39 as being an alliance between Black Sea regions/Russia, Iran, Turkey, and/or the nations from Psalm 83 that currently encircle modern Israel.  Either way, they’re God’s enemies…or more accurately, God is their enemy.

I often wonder how much of that is a scholarly superimposing of our modern world, but the truth is no one actually knows for sure which nations will rise against the Messianic Kingdom in the end, only that it will happen. That battle will be happening on this earth as a dim reflection of what’s been going on in heaven, now with the final defeat of evil.

Scene shift: in heaven, there is silence (Revelation 8:1-4) before the Seventh Seal is opened, and before the bowls of wrath are poured out on the unbelieving world who hated Christ. The prayers of the saints are heard. Particularly there are prayers for protection and vindication and reminding God that ultimately every enemy of the Jews is foremost God’s enemy.

Isaiah 64:8 You, LORD, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand. 9 Do not be angry beyond measure, LORD; do not remember our sins forever. Oh, look on us, we pray, for we are all your people.

Psalm 83:1 O God, do not remain silent; do not turn a deaf ear, do not stand aloof, O God. 2 See how your enemies growl, how your foes rear their heads. 3 With cunning they conspire against your people; they plot against those you cherish. 4 “Come,” they say, “let us destroy them as a nation, so that Israel’s name is remembered no more.” 5 With one mind they plot together; they form an alliance against you.

God’s people know that their enemies are first and ultimately God’s enemies,
so the saints invite God’s final vindication
of the faithful ones among their countrymen in Israel and of God Himself. 
God will not remain silent forever.
Patience has an end.