Ezekiel 38 – 41

What comes to mind anytime you hear the word “apocalyptic”? Usually, if not exclusively, folks immediately think about the destruction at the end of the world. So, we read in scripture what we are told are “apocalyptic writings” using “apocalyptic language” presenting “apocalyptic prophecies” and we jump to “the end times”. Although not exclusive to them, Ezekiel, Daniel and John are most commonly associated with this genre of Bible literature. This style of writing uses powerful, symbolic imagery to present messages of judgment and salvation “hidden” in the words.

But on that day, the day that Gog shall come against the land of Israel, declares the Lord GOD, my wrath will be roused in my anger. 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. And the mountains shall be thrown down, and the cliffs shall fall, and every wall shall tumble to the ground. I will summon a sword against Gog on all my mountains, declares the Lord GOD. Every man’s sword will be against his brother. With pestilence and bloodshed I will enter into judgment with him, and I will rain upon him and his hordes and the many peoples who are with him torrential rains and hailstones, fire and sulfur. So I will show my greatness and my holiness and make myself known in the eyes of many nations. Then they will know that I am the LORD.

Ezekiel 38:18-23

Tragic misinterpretations resulting from immediately assuming this is a reference to “the end times” abound. It then causes good people to say things like, “Hey, did you hear about the earthquake in Turkey? And, all the reports about the Zika virus? We must be living in the end times, since the Bible predicted this would happen right before Jesus comes back!”

The truth is that somehow we got the meaning of the word twisted. It simply means a revealing of what was once hidden, and thus the “Apocalypse” of John is rightly called the “Revelation”. That’s it. “Apocalyptic” simply means “revealed”. Using apocalyptic language, the prophets of God reveal divine truth of future events, but not necessarily events at the end of time. Notice in the book of Acts on the day of Pentecost …

But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

Acts 2:14-21

Did you catch that? With the Holy Spirit upon Peter and directing his words, he tells the folks assembled there that the miraculous speaking of languages by the Galilean disciples was the fulfillment of an apocalyptic prophecy uttered by Joel. “Blood, fire, vapor and smoke” and “the last days” send many people to the “end times” in their thinking, but this was clearly being fulfilled almost 2000 years ago and had nothing to do with the physical destruction of the world. Instead, the old “way” was destroyed and the “new way” was being ushered in. The words about to be preached by Peter were a revealing of what Yahweh accomplished in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. Nothing more, nothing less.

Back in Babylon the Judean exiles are being told by Jeremiah and Ezekiel to endure the punishment that has come upon them. They are thinking of their nation, beloved Jerusalem and the glorious temple of Solomon and wondering what will become of all of this. There is uncertainty because the future is hidden in mystery. Yahweh begins teaching them and giving them hope for the future using apocalyptic prophecies rich with apocalyptic language, such as the enemy Gog coming at the peaceful people of God from his kingdom Magog. Thereafter, visions of a new temple are presented to them. What does it all mean?

Once again, we live in a day where folks are trying to identify Gog and the nation of Magog. Is it Russia? If we can just figure this out we will be able to read the internet stories and know when Jesus is coming back so we won’t be left behind.

The simple truth is the Jews needed assurance that the unfolding plan of God had both purpose and faithfulness to His promises to Abraham and David. “Israel” would indeed inhabit a chosen “land” again and see the glory of Yahweh living in His “temple” in their midst. With the walls of Jerusalem lying on the ground, Yahweh needed them to know this new home would be without walls. He needed them to know that even with enemies all around them, they would know true peace. Even when Gog attacked them, Yahweh would defeat any and all enemies.

And you, son of man, prophesy against Gog and say, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. And I will turn you about and drive you forward, and bring you up from the uttermost parts of the north, and lead you against the mountains of Israel. Then I will strike your bow from your left hand, and will make your arrows drop out of your right hand. You shall fall on the mountains of Israel, you and all your hordes and the peoples who are with you. I will give you to birds of prey of every sort and to the beasts of the field to be devoured. You shall fall in the open field, for I have spoken, declares the Lord GOD. I will send fire on Magog and on those who dwell securely in the coastlands, and they shall know that I am the LORD. “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. Behold, it is coming and it will be brought about, declares the Lord GOD. That is the day of which I have spoken.

Ezekiel 39:1-8

You see, Yahweh was revealing to them something hidden from their immediate view. Messiah’s kingdom – the mountain of the House of the LORD, the church – would not be in a physical land, but would be among the nations. Unlike the old Jerusalem, the new Jerusalem would not need walls for the LORD is her wall. Unlike the stone, gold and cedar temple of Solomon, the body of Christ would become the habitation of God and the saints would be the living stones indwelled by Yahweh. No enemy can defeat us – not Babylon, not Rome – because we are more than conquerors. Satan is the real enemy, and in Christ, he cannot touch us.

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. And the nations shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity, because they dealt so treacherously with me that I hid my face from them and gave them into the hand of their adversaries, and they all fell by the sword. I dealt with them according to their uncleanness and their transgressions, and hid my face from them. “Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Now I will restore the fortunes of Jacob and have mercy on the whole house of Israel, and I will be jealous for my holy name. They shall forget their shame and all the treachery they have practiced against me, when they dwell securely in their land with none to make them afraid, when I have brought them back from the peoples and gathered them from their enemies’ lands, and through them have vindicated my holiness in the sight of many nations. Then they shall know that I am the LORD their God, because I sent them into exile among the nations and then assembled them into their own land. I will leave none of them remaining among the nations anymore. And I will not hide my face anymore from them, when I pour out my Spirit upon the house of Israel, declares the Lord GOD.

Ezekiel 39:21-29

I need not worry about figuring out exactly when Jesus will come again, since my assurance is in the truth that He came the first time. Since the day of Pentecost – as Peter by inspiration of the Holy Spirit said – we are in the “last days”. The glory of God is among the nations everywhere His church – heirs to the promise given to Abraham – can be found. His name and His Spirit dwell among us. That sounds downright apocalyptic … because it IS!

Consider His nature.  Consider His ways.  Strive to love Him more!