18 February 2003

Text: Ezekiel 38

THE ESSENCE OF PROPHECY

Three features may be highlighted:-
1. Prediction and more
2. Revelation of the Future
3. All within God's Will

DIFFICULTIES IN INTERPRETING PROPHECY

1. Where names could have literal value
2. Where names are of symbolic value
3. Case in point- "Gog in the land of Magog" Ezekiel 38:2

DIFFERENT VIEWS SUGGESTED

1. 'Gog' is a literal name. This will be the name of the leader who will arise to fight with Israel in the future.

2. 'Gog' as a symbolic name. His name is the symbol of evil forces that will attack God's people. There will be an "axis of evil" against Israel:-
a) Persia (Iran)
b) Ethiopia (South of Egypt)
c) Libya (North Africa) are with them, all of them with shield and helmet.
d) Gomer (Armenia) and all its troops;
e) The house of Torgamah (Eastern Turkey) from the far north and all its troops

"Many people are with you"
Ezekiel 38:6

APPRECIATING PROPHECY

1. God is in Control

2. God's Sovereign power seen in Prophecy

3. God's Comfort to all who may be troubled by the thought of war

GOD'S KNOWLEDGE OF THE PLANS OF THE EVIL AXIS OF POWER

"Thus says the Lord God:
On that day it shall come to pass that thoughts will arise in your mind, and you will make an evil plan. You will say, 'I will go up against the land of unwalled villages; I will go to a peaceful people, who dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars or gates-
To take plunder or booty, to stretch out your hand against the waste places that are again inhabited, and against a people gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and goods, who dwell in the midst of the land."
Ezekiel 38:11-12 (Cf. Ezekiel 38:14-7- Full plans all known to God).

GOD'S JUDGMENT AGAINST THE AXIS OF EVIL

The wicked will be judged and punished.

"I will call for a sword against Gog…
I will rain down on him…flooding rain, great hailstones, fire and brimstone…"
Ezekiel 38: 21-22

All God needs to do is to use "nature" to attack! Man in all his powers have no defence against natural disasters!

GOD'S NAME WILL BE MAGNIFIED WHEN HE TRIUMPHS OVER EVIL

"Thus will I magnify Myself and sanctify Myself, and will be known in the eyes of many nations. They shall know that I am the Lord"
Ezekiel 38:23

PROPHETIC INSIGHT FROM THE BOOK OF REVELATION

"Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea"
Revelation 20:7-8

Satan is the one behind this evil plan to attack Israel.

GOD'S PROTECTION OF HIS CHILDREN

"And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them."
Revelation 20:9

1. God will not allow the wicked to succeed.
2. He will destroy the wicked.