when is Ezekiel's War?





I want to briefly explain why it is that I believe Ezekiel's War (described in Ezekiel chapters 38-39) MUST occur very near unto the time of the Rapture of the Church.

It is of foremost importance to understand that, for some as yet mysterious reason(s), the natural descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (aka the Jewish People) appear in Scripture to have a unique role in the purposes of God.  I believe it is impossible to rightly interpret much of the Bible, without understanding that God has special dealings with the Jews as such.  While it is true that God is not a "respecter of persons"; God is not therefore constrained from acting according to His own will regarding His dealings with humanity in general or nations in particular.

One important aspect related to the foregoing has to do with the Biblical distinction between "Jew" and "Gentile".  Such distinction persists in Scripture not only in the Old Testament but as well throughout the New Testament.  Proofs of which, in Scripture, are so numerous and plain in their meaning as to make it unnecessary to mention them here.  Though it is necessary ~ for the purpose of my argument herein, to point out that that distinction, between Jew and Gentile, is especially relevant to the proper interpretation of Bible prophecy.  "In Christ", the Bible explicitly states, "there is neither Jew nor Greek" (Galatians 3:28; Colossians 3:11) ~ whereat the term "Greek" stands for 'Gentile'.  There are not then "Jewish Christians" and "Gentile Christians"; but, there are only individuals who are in Christ Jesus ~ regardless of their earthly parentage.

Even so, it does appear that God's purposes, involving Jesus Christ and the Jewish People, are somehow unique with respect to the manner in which God both historically and prophetically deals with the Jews as Jews.  Why that is so, remains a deep mystery to me.  Nevertheless, I take that distinction as a Biblical truth.

The distinction between Jew and Gentile is so profound in its implications that it is difficult even to describe succinctly.  It must suffice me to say that, for His own reasons, God does not deal with the "Jews" and the "Gentiles" (all non-Jews), as Peoples, at the same time (I admit that is a very ambiguous statement).  Christ first came to the Jews; after which as a People they rejected him, the Gospel was then afterward opened unto the Gentiles: whilst the Jews, as a People, were then "blind[ed] in part..., until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in" (Romans 11:25).

I am convinced the Bible teaches that the same thing is soon going to happen, again, albeit in somewhat of reverse order.  That is to say, that God shall once again open wide the doors of grace and mercy unto the Jews as a People ~ but not until the "fullness of the Gentiles be come in" (Romans 11:25).  (Which is also to say, not until the majority of all other Gentiles have rejected Christ.)

All of the foregoing is central to my argument that Ezekiel's War MUST occur in very close proximity to the time of the Rapture.  For, the Rapture of the Church indicates, far more certainly than could anything else, that the "times of the Gentiles" shall indeed then have been "fulfilled".  And, recall, that "blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in" (Romans 11:25).  Can it then be that Israel will remain partially blinded to the Person of Jesus Christ, until the end of the Millennial Kingdom Age?  Jesus himself will be bodily present and reign as Israel's King throughout that coming thousand-year period.  How could Israel remain in any measure blind to the Person of Christ during that millennium?  Or, should we suppose that "the fullness of the Gentiles" shall not "be come in" ~ until the Millennial Kingdom Age has run its course?  The answer to both of those questions is a resounding "No!".

The singular most important outcome of Ezekiel's War is explicitly stated by God Himself: where, upon Israel's miraculous deliverance and protection from that massively overwhelming force that shall have come to destroy them, God said: "So [by these means] the house of Israel shall know that I am the LORD their God from that day and forward" (Ezekiel 39:22).  To my mind, that verse of Scripture marks more clearly than does any other passage of Scripture the spiritual turning point for the Jews as a People.  It is obvious that God's returning to deal with the Jews as a People has intimately coincided with these closing days of the Church Age.  It makes no sense whatsoever to suppose that Ezekiel 39:22 will not be fulfilled until the end of the Millennial Kingdom Age.

As I have elsewhere on this blog written, I believe the consummate reason for God pouring out judgments upon Israel during the coming Tribulation period, is because that the Jews will embrace the Antichrist ~ upon the very heels, as it were, of the great deliverance which God shall just have wrought for them in the context of Ezekiel's War.  The greatness of God's mercy and the awfulness of His wrath with be displayed together on the world stage ~ with Israel at the center of it all.

There are of course other reasons why I believe Ezekiel's War must occur at or near the time of the Rapture.  One of which has to do with the coming of Antichrist and the institution of his political empire.  Contrary to popular prophecy teaching and widespread belief, Antichrist is never going to rule the world.  The Bible clearly reveals there shall continue to exist a multiplicity of nations throughout the coming Tribulation and even throughout the Millennial Kingdom Age which follows.  During the Tribulation, the leading world powers shall strive one against another for global dominance.  In fact, I perceive that the seven or so years of the Tribulation shall essentially entail World War III.  The former two world wars respectively lasted for several years; thus shall it be the case in the coming world war.

Ezekiel's War is logically necessary ~ as well as it is consistent with sound Scriptural exegesis, as a precursor to Antichrist's coming to power.  The "ten kings" that shall comprise the initial form of Antichrist's dominion are expressly revealed in Scripture to be elements of the ancient Greco-Roman empire.  (The notion that the entire world shall be subdivided into ten regions which shall collectively be ruled by a single world government ~ though that may well be the desire of many elites, does not comport with Scripture.)  That empire encompassed what today is known as Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East.  Moreover, those "ten kings" are represented by "ten toes", five on each of two feet: signifying, that the ancient Greco-Roman empire, as that shall be reconstituted during the Tribulation, shall be composed of five 'kings' from the Western division, and five, other 'kings' from the Eastern division, of that ancient empire.  The later Greco-Roman empire was divided East and West.  Today, the Western portion is European; whereas, the Eastern division consists as North Africa and the Middle East.  Significantly, the Western division today embodies secular Europe; whilst the Eastern division is almost entirely Islamic.  Scripture reveals that the "ten toes" would be of two very different substances which, though they will mingle themselves together, yet they shall not cleave to each other.

I don't want to lose sight of the point I want to make with all of that.  Which is that, in order for those "ten kings" ~ five from secular Europe, and five from Islamic North Africa and the Middle East ~ to bind themselves together in a NEW political alliance under Antichrist, there must first occur a dissolution of the existing political Order in those regions.  Ezekiel's War is going to create a huge power vacuum right in the heart of the ancient Greco-Roman empire.  Not insignificant to the reordering of that region, is the fact that the great bulk of the world's energy resources with its vast associated infrastructure, is located right where Ezekiel's War is soon to occur.

Ezekiel's War, together with the Rapture of the Church: those two great events are necessary to set the stage for Antichrist's coming to power ~ and for the initiation of World War III which shall quickly follow in the wake of those events.

Unhappily, some Bible students and prophecy teachers have been misled in their interpretation of the timing of Ezekiel's War, among other things by the Bible's description of Israel's security status just prior to the onset of Ezekiel's War.  Whereas many suppose that Israel is presently very far from enjoying a state of secure and peaceful existence such as is described in Ezekiel 38; yet, there are life-long residents and natural Jews who themselves have said that, today, they feel safer in Israel than anywhere else on earth.  Israelis take security seriously; they have been forced to.  Their repeated victories in war; together with their superior technological, military and economic prowess; as well as their vigilant posture with respect to safeguarding Israel's streets and homeland; I suppose, has served, over the course of successive generations, to instill in many if not most Israelis (according to their own words) a sense of comparative safety.  Compared, that is to say, to most other societies.

I believe that such expressions as, for examples, "unwalled villages", "dwelling at ease", etc., are used in Scripture to describe not so much the absolute, comprehensive security of Israel at the time of Ezekiel's War; but, rather, to characterize the prevailing attitude of most Israelis at that time ~ that is to say, an attitude of false security and peace . . . an attitude, if you will, of complacency.  In the light of which, that great invasion shall come upon them if not wholly unexpectedly, at least, they shall not ~ for whatever reasons ~ be adequately prepared.  Today, Israel is mired in the quagmire of political machinations between deeply hostile factions.  Israel's government is thus hamstrung at best, unable to function effectively.  Israelis doubtless have a sense of security ~ notwithstanding they are confronted by many threats.  They have been conditioned by the experiences of many generations to be survivors.  Today, the Jews are prospering wonderfully ~ in their own nation; with their own, powerful military, with an unbroken record of extraordinary military victories.  Recently, Israel has discovered, and is currently developing, some of the world's richest deposits of oil and natural gas.  Israel's relations with a number of her neighboring Islamic countries have lately been trending more and more toward a state of peaceful coexistence.  I say that the current state of Israeli society corresponds very meaningfully with the description of Israel as given in Ezekiel 38.

Once again, I find myself saying, "This subject could fill a book".  I will conclude for now with a few comments about "Gog".  Gog is definitely a personification.  The identity of that individual has perplexed many.  I believe Gog must be a demonic spirit, and not any human person.  Gog appears as an enemy of God and, particularly, of the Jewish People, both in connection with Ezekiel's War as well as in connection with the final uprising against Christ at the end of the Millennial Kingdom Age.  Which has (mis)led some to suppose that Ezekiel's War is identical with that final uprising at the end of the Millennial Kingdom Age.  But they are two different wars.  Among other proofs of which, is, the manner in which each of those two wars, respectively, is concluded.  Ezekiel's War ends by military conquest, followed by a massive cleanup operation.  Whereas, the final uprising at the end of the Millennium ends by fire from God out of heaven ~ and no cleanup operation is mentioned.  Still there are other proofs, which I forebear to elaborate upon....

The fact that "Gog" appears to lead both of those wars against God's People, is easily explained ~ if, as I believe it is the case, Gog is a demonic spirit.  We know from Scripture that EVERY demon spirit is going to be bound in the "bottomless pit" ~ from a time just prior to the beginning of the Millennial Kingdom, until a time just prior to the end of that same Kingdom Age.  Those spirits shall be "loosed for a little season" at the end of the Kingdom Age.  Those facts perfectly fit with the idea that Gog could lead two different invasions separated in time by nearly a thousand years!  Whereas, the only possible way to make Gog to be a human being, were to surmise that Ezekiel's War is identical with the final uprising at the end of the Millennial Kingdom Age.  Only the identity of "Gog", together with the object of Gog's hatred, is the same in Ezekiel and in the Revelation; though all other factors related to the wars (plural) associated with Gog, in Ezekiel and Revelation, respectively, are significantly different.

Ezekiel's War is imminent.  That is very important to understand ~ because, as I have briefly explained, the occurrence of Ezekiel's War is intimately connected with the timing of the Rapture of the Church, as well as with Antichrist's coming to power.  If we cannot perceive those connections, it were then impossible to connect current geopolitical realities with Bible prophecy.  If Ezekiel's War shall not occur for yet another thousand-plus years: then, what is the meaning of all that is going on RIGHT NOW, with respect to Iran, Turkey, Russia, Libya ~ and several other nations that are aggressively conspiring to destroy Israel from being a nation?  And how shall a new political union comprised of ten European and North African/Middle Eastern nations arise ~ in the midst of the presently existing political institutions in those same areas . . . without and apart from the occurrence of Ezekiel's War?  Such a radically new political Order in Europe and the pan-Mediterranean region were not feasible in lieu of Ezekiel's War.

I could go on, but I won't.  God's war with Satan and his followers is both long-standing and long-ranging.  Earth and her inhabitants, though they are important actors in that still ongoing War, are not ultimately the only objects of God's purposes and work.  Gog is evidently a particularly hateful belligerent to God.  Ezekiel's War is but one, albeit a very important, battle in that War; a war that God shall finally conclude in eternal victory ~ though not for still another thousand years to come.....