by Leonard V. Johnson
GREETINGS Everyone! A few weeks ago I had mentioned that there are several online religious sources that are proclaiming that a war involving Russia and the United States of America, along with the United Kingdom is soon coming and is prophesied in the Book of Ezekiel chapter 38 – called the Prophecy of Gog and Magog. But are they correct!?
No.
In our FREE online seven-part series of articles “God’s Promises To Abraham,” we explain that the United States of America and the United Kingdom and her Commonwealth Nations, along with the democracies of northwestern EUROPE, are in fact the modern nations of the house of ISRAEL – descended from the “lost” ten tribes of the house of Israel.
Again, a great many falsely teach that the prophecy of Ezekiel 38 speaks of a soon-coming invasion of North America from Russia.
But this is not correct.
Yet, what Ezekiel 38 proclaims and foretells is absolutely amazing!
Now, it is true that prophet Ezekiel’s message is for this end-time – a grave prophetic warning for the United States of America and the United Kingdom and her Commonwealth Nations in this day.
The prophet Ezekiel was called to go out and to preach to the house of Israel, having seen in vision a scroll and written within were lamentations, mourning’s and woe – cf. Ezekiel 2:9-10. And he was to take this message and – as it were – “eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.” And, of course, we know why – because of the message of men like Moses, who just before his death spoke to the children of Israel and said, “for I know your rebellion and your stiff neck. If today, while I am yet alive with you, you have been rebellious against the LORD, then how much more after my death? … 29) For I know that after my death you will become utterly corrupt, and turn aside from the Way which I have commanded you. And evil will befall you in the latter days, because you will do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke Him to anger through the work of your hands.” – cf. Deuteronomy 31:27, 29.
And so Moses, for that reason, wanted to give testimony before all the witnesses of what is going to happen if you turn away from Almighty God.
Now, this is not a pretty message to have to preach. And it’s not one that I get a lot of alacrity out of having to write up and proclaim to you. It’s actually a message which brings me great sorrow. I ask Father God and our Lord Jesus always, “Why this Message!? Why not a message which is positive, uplifting, and immediately relevant to everyday life!?” It’s certainly not because I want to preach this message. But if we’re honest with the living word of God – we must report what it says! The Word of God, the Truth of God, and the Plan of God – no matter what befalls, and let Almighty God guide this Word of the Eternal. I am fulfilling what is commanded of me – cf. Ezekiel 33:3-9.
But to fully understand the time, the place, and all the facts of this prophecy in Ezekiel 38, we need to begin in the 1st chapter of Ezekiel. Because there is actually a time sequence of events.
The prophet Ezekiel was under the Old Covenant priesthood, he had been a priest. Now, he was among the captives by Babylon along with other Jews – Ezekiel chapter 1 –
Verse 2 – “On the fifth day of the month, which was in the fifth year of King Jehoiachin’s captivity, 3) the word of the LORD came expressly to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the River Chebar; [another name for the Euphrates River in Chaldea – Southeast Iraq] and the hand of the LORD was upon him there.”
So it is a powerful PROPHECY! Ezekiel was being shown things in vision of things far into the future.
While this is different than what the apostle John saw centuries later in which he wrote in the Book of Revelation, the prophet Ezekiel, in vision, was seeing the very throne of God. And he would go on to write a MOST IMPORTANT PROPHETIC WARNING FOR US IN THIS END-TIME!
Chapter 2 –
Verse 1 – “And He [the LORD, the very One who would become Jesus Christ] said to me, ‘Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak to you.’ 2) Then the Spirit entered me when He spoke to me, and set me on my feet; and I heard Him who spoke to me.”
Verse 3 – “And He said to me: ‘Son of man, I AM sending you to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against Me; they and their fathers have transgressed against Me to this very day. 4) For they are impudent and stubborn children. I AM sending you to them, …’”
“The children of Israel” basically are our peoples of the modern Western world – The “children of Israel” did here, and does today, include all twelve tribes – with the inclusion of Joseph, (Ephraim, and Manasseh) – making THIRTEEN.
And as we see in Chapter 3, the prophet Ezekiel was sent specifically “to the HOUSE OF ISRAEL” – a term which refers ONLY to the people who were of the northern kingdom of Israel – of what would become known as the “lost” ten tribes. They were never referred to as Jews.
So, Ezekiel was a prisoner. His country, Judah, had been invaded, and he was among the prisoners of war in a prison camp next to the River Chebar in the nation of Babylon when he was writing this.
But the HOUSE OF ISRAEL – the very nation to which he was being sent to – had been taken captive more than a hundred and forty years before in roughly 734-732 BC! The HOUSE OF ISRAEL had been taken captive to Assyria on the southern shore of the Caspian Sea. Yet, here’s a twist – even before the prophet Ezekiel was taken prisoner, the Assyrians themselves had been taken into captivity – together with the Israelites. Where the Israelites would eventually migrate and be “sifted” into other lands!
The lamentations, mournings, and woe of the message to be carried to the “HOUSE OF ISRAEL” never occurred in the prophet Ezekiel’s lifetime or anytime later! Ezekiel - and not, as they say, “The Men of the Great Assembly” – merely received and wrote this warning message. It truly was a prophecy for this END-TIME!
Message to House of Israel – Not Judah!
In chapter 4, the prophet Ezekiel is to place before him a tablet, and portray upon it a city – Jerusalem. And then lay siege against it! The sins pictured are those of Jerusalem – the rightful capital of JUDAH. And “This will be a sign to the house of Israel” – verse 3. And then what follows is a key to understanding the method of reckoning prophecy – “the number of the days,” a year for each day.
Let’s get to the crux of the prophet Ezekiel’s WARNING! Turn with me if you will to the 5th chapter of the Book of Ezekiel –
Verse 7 – “Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: ‘Because you have multiplied disobedience more than the nations that are all around you, have not walked in My statutes nor kept My judgments, nor even done according to the judgments of the nations that are all around you’ – 8) therefore thus says the Lord GOD: ‘Indeed I, even I, AM against you and will execute judgments in your midst in the sight of the nations. 9) And I will do among you what I have NEVER DONE, and the like of which I WILL NEVER DO AGAIN, because of your abominations!’”
Logic itself dictates there can be only one time of trouble more severe than any before or since. And, the prophet Ezekiel wrote the nature and the extent of this soon-coming trouble – again, this is a dire WARNING for the United States of America and the United Kingdom and her Commonwealth Nations respectively – for THIS END TIME!
A Forced Subjugation Of Israel Yet Future!
Let us notice more of this grave warning –
Verse 11 – “’ Therefore, as I live,’ says the Lord GOD, ‘surely, because you have defiled My sanctuary with all your detestable things and with all your abominations, therefore I will also diminish you; My eye will not spare, nor will I have pity. 12) ONE-THIRD OF YOU SHALL DIE OF THE PESTILENCE, and be CONSUMED WITH FAMINE in your midst; and ONE-THIRD SHALL FALL BY THE SWORD [by WAR; and to a great extent, a nuclear war!] all around you; and I will SCATTER ANOTHER THIRD to all the winds, and I will draw out a sword after them.’”
Though most will be but subjugated within their own land, there will be a third which will be taken captive, removed from their own land, and scattered around the world – so says the living word of the Eternal. God is going to allow this grave trouble to come upon our peoples, more than any others, because they have KNOWN HIS WILL – but have ignored it and have rebelled against Him!
When we turn to chapter 6, the vision shifts to “the mountains of Israel” – the mountainous land of Palestine. Yet, in this dual prophecy, it is for the United States of America and the United Kingdom and her Commonwealth Nations – today!
Verse 3 – “’ and say, ‘O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD! Thus says the Lord GOD to the mountains, to the hills, to the ravines, and to the valleys: ‘Indeed I, even I, will bring a sword against you [meaning, WAR!], and I will destroy your high places. … 5) And I will lay the corpses of the children of Israel before their idols, and I will scatter your bones all around your altars. 6) In all your dwelling places the cities SHALL BE LAID WASTE [nuclear war!?], … 7) … and you shall know that I AM the LORD.”
A “REMNANT WILL ESCAPE!”
And, just a small remnant will escape and be spared – verse 8. And I want you to properly understand this so often misunderstood verse.
Our Lord Jesus Christ said of this ‘great tribulation’ that – Matthew chapter 24 –
Verse 22 – “’ … unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved [and the Moffett translation adds, ‘alive’]; but FOR THE ELECT’S SAKE those days will be shortened.’”
And we can compare this with the Book of Revelation chapter 12 –
Verse 13 – Now when the dragon [Satan the devil] saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted THE WOMAN who gave birth to the male Child.”
"The woman" is JUDAH, the nation today called Israel.
Verse 14 – “But THE WOMAN was given two wings of a great eagle [cf. Exodus 19:4], that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time [3 ½ years], from the presence of the serpent.”
Keep in mind, the resurrection occurs on the SEVENTH TRUMP. The seven last plagues follow that. So, we will already be in “low earth orbit” in the clouds being with Jesus Christ, in preparation for the time He, Jesus Christ, directly engages humankind.
In Verse 17 – “And the dragon was enraged with THE WOMAN, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony [the gospel] of Jesus Christ.”
Now, there will be physical people of the HOUSE OF ISRAEL – again, the United States of America and the United Kingdom and her Commonwealth Nations - who will come to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior, and will “keep the commandments of God and have the testimony [the gospel] of Jesus Christ” during this period of intense persecution by Satan the devil and his followers – hence the final ‘beast’ power, and the final false prophet.
Minister Michael C. Garrett writes concerning “’ but for the elect’s sake’” -
“A certain group of people who are very near and dear to the hearts of God the Father and Jesus Christ – referring to the physical people of the House of Israel. Once named Jacob. There was Abraham, Isaac, Jacob (who had twelve sons; he eventually had his name changed to Israel), and those twelve sons became the progenitors of different tribes of people. And those people live in many of the so-called Western world. And many of those descendants came here to America. Some of them were the establishing people of the British Isles. Some of those people ended up in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa. And those physical people God has always loved – always wanted to help – but they haven’t been very good about returning that favor. Often rebellious, bull-headed, just refusing to do what God wants them to do. Well, they will suffer. But they’re not going to die out, because ‘for the elect’s sake’ Jesus Christ is indeed going to come back to this earth and put a stop to what would be, probably, massive thermal nuclear warfare! “…’ those days will be shortened.’” Now that’s the truth we are attempting to tell you. And we’re attempting to use the prophecies of the Bible to show you what is said, why it is said, and where it is going.”
(Garrett, M.C. God’s Promises To Abraham – a seven-part series part six, 2019; Italic added for emphasizing).
“Now, I’ve always thought: well, IF God resurrects His people – His spiritual people; the spiritual House of Israel – ON THE SEVENTH TRUMP, and we know that the Battle of Armageddon is about the Sixth of the Seven Last Plagues – the Day of the LORD, theoretically, everyone who should have been resurrected has already been resurrected, so, to whom was He referring!? I think most of the decades I’ve been around … it was sort of assumed, and I think incorrectly, that those ‘elects’ were somehow the Church members. But keep in mind, IF you properly understand the order of events, the Church members – the people who have God’s Spirit – will at that time have been resurrected already. So, who is the ‘elect’? Well, notice what it says in Isaiah 45:4 – “’ For Jacob My servant’s sake, And Israel My elect, …’” Who’s He saving the earth for!? … He’s saving the elect as in physical Israel. For the sake of the physical people of Israel those days will be shortened.”
(Garrett, M.C., Feast of Trumpets – ‘Thy Kingdom Come’ 29 Sept. 2019).
Now, most remnant churches of God do not, or refuse, to see this passage in this way – even including many Protestant church groups. As I cover in my latest sermon, “The Wise Shall Understand,” that in this end-time “many shall run to and fro, and KNOWLEDGE shall increase.” Yet, so many announce, “I don’t want to learn any more than I did in 1972! – don’t confuse me!” Again – let us keep in mind, the resurrection occurs on the SEVENTH TRUMP – cf. Revelation 11:15! This indicates here the physical people of the HOUSE OF ISRAEL, not the Church of God!
STILL FUTURE!
As I previously said, this is not a popular message. And it is likely you have never heard it before. The majority of this world’s ministers and false prophets proclaim there is “peace” coming – cf. Ezekiel13:10; Micah 3:5; 1 Thess. 5:3.
But, unlike what former Prime Minister of the UK Neville Chamberlain announced in 1938 – there will be no peace for our time! Thus the Lord GOD says, “’ Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing! … they have envisioned futility and false divination, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD!’ BUT THE LORD HAS NOT SENT THEM! … Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: ‘Because you have spoken NONSENSE and envisioned lies, [saying to your flock as well as to the world, “All is well!”] therefore I AM indeed against you’”!
The reader will do well to heed!
But notice the TIME – it is IMPORTANT!
It is a time of economic collapse – Ezekiel chapter 7 –
Verse 1 - “Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2) ‘And you, son of man, thus says the Lord GOD to the land of Israel: [the people of the United States of America and the United Kingdom and her Commonwealth Nations - Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa (having been re-admitted to the Commonwealth in 1994) – the places where those people eventually settled] ‘An end! The end has come upon the four corners of the land. 3) Now the end has come upon you, And I will send My anger against you; I will judge you according to your ways, And I will repay you for all your abominations. 4) My eye will not spare you, Nor will I have pity; But I will repay your ways, And your abominations will be in your midst; Then you shall know that I AM the LORD!’”
Verse 12 – “The time has come, The day [the Day of the LORD] draws near. ‘Let not the buyer rejoice, Nor the seller mourn, For wrath is on their whole multitude’”
Here, God is talking about the world's economy.
When this complete collapse of our economy does occur, our peoples will cry out for true servants of God – but it will be too late! For then shall be the time spoken of by the prophet Amos – “Behold, the days are coming,’ says the Lord GOD, ‘That I will send a famine on the land, Not a famine of bread, Nor a thirst for water, But of HEARING the words of the Eternal’” – Amos 8:11.
Already God’s true servants are being attacked, moderated, and even banned by the likes of Facebook and YouTube!
Now, there will come, possibly twelve, end-time prophets, which God will raise up, preaching this very gospel message of the soon-coming kingdom of God throughout the world (Matthew 24:9-14), to dignitaries, to the United States of Europe’s civic leader (the final prophesied beast), to the false religious leader (the final prophesied false prophet), and the very “god of this earth” (Revelation 11:3-12).
Verse 13 – “’ For the seller shall not return to what has been sold, Though he may still be alive; For the vision concerns the whole multitude, And it shall not turn back; No one will strengthen himself Who lives in iniquity. 14) They have blown the trumpet and made everyone ready, But no one goes to battle; …’”
A nation has a WARNING MESSAGE – a trumpet blast goes out – and this message says, ‘get ready for war because the enemy is coming!’ And no one goes out!
What does this say to you about this nation!?
- Unable because of the economics of this nation.
- Unwilling to go out to war.
Verse 19 – “’ They will throw their silver into the streets, And their gold will be like refuse; Their silver and their gold will not be able to deliver them IN THE DAY [the DAY OF THE LORD] of the wrath of the LORD; …’”
Let us compare this with the Book of Zephaniah chapter 1 –
Verse 1 – “The great day of the LORD is near; It is near and hastens quickly. … 15) That day is a day of wrath … I [the LORD our God] will bring distress upon all men … Neither their silver nor their gold Shall be able to deliver them In the day of the LORD’s wrath.’”
They are both speaking of the same time – a time shortly before us here, in this present evil generation!
“’ KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD GOD!’”
If God says something more than once, it is worth paying ATTENTION! In His living word, when you see something repeated over and over, you NEED to realize that God is truly trying to get you to wake up and to understand that this thing is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT!
Chapter 13 –
Verse 2 – “’ Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who prophesy [speak against the religious leaders of the modern-day house of Israel!], and say to those who prophesy out of their own heart, ‘Hear the word of the LORD!’”
Now, is God talking about the physical house of Israel or the spiritual house of Israel – the living Body of Christ!? It could very well mean both. It’s more related to the fact that our great God is disappointed when He sees His physical and spiritual people misled, taken away from the narrow gate, and confused.
When one of these so-called followers of Christ gets behind a lectern they are claiming to represent the LORD God. And they certainly have a choice to make – they can either speak the living words of the Eternal or, as God says here, “prophesy out of their own heart.” Now, they may think that they’re talking about and for God and what He wants, but truthfully, they’re only talking about what they want.
These false prophets and teachers in this world who prophesy “out of their own heart” have not made the house of Israel, nor the living Church of God stronger. They have only added confusion. And in the end, they have actually made it weaker – and it is not my job to point out to you who is speaking God’s truth and who is not. But it is YOUR job to make sure that you are not stuck in one of those groups or organizations in which your religious leaders are not telling you the truth! Be CAREFUL what you believe. Your eternal life depends upon it.
Verse 4 – “’ O Israel, your prophets are like foxes in the deserts 5) You have not gone up into the gaps to build a wall for the house of Israel to stand in the battle ON THE DAY OF THE LORD’”
Again, they are not properly WARNING the house of Israel – the United States of America, the United Kingdom, and her Commonwealth Nations!
Verse 6 – “’ They have envisioned futility [absolute worthlessness] and false divination, …’”
These false prophets and teachers claim that something is “holy,” or “this is what you are supposed to do,” or “this is the way that religion should be.” When in fact it is falsehood – false divination.
“ … ‘saying, Thus says the LORD!’ But the LORD has not sent them; …’”
Now, how do you know whether a person is a true prophet or a false prophet? Well, as our Lord Jesus Christ says in a couple of different places, “’ you will know them by their fruit.’” And He was certainly speaking about false prophets. Certainly, this could easily mean – are they teaching from the Holy Bible, and only from the Bible!? Or, are they just using the Bible as a salt shaker? In other words, every so often just sprinkling a message to make people think, O’ they’re talking from God! Well, you truly need to study and think about this! And you NEED to prove it one way or another! – cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:21. And how do you find out!? You go to the Book – the living word of the Eternal.
“ … ‘yet they hope that the word may be confirmed.’”
So many people hope that what their false prophets, ministers, priests, rabbis, and imams – and all their other differing titles – you hope, and you presume, that what they are telling you is the truth. Yet, they are all different messages! Isn’t it possible that none of them is correct!? The only place in which truth can be found is from God’s living word – the Holy Bible! – cf. John 17:17-23.
Verse 9 – “’ My hand will be against the prophets who envision lies; they shall not be in the assembly of My people, …’”
God, someday very soon, is going to rip them out of their places and cause them to die.
“ … ‘nor be written in the record of the house of Israel. …’”
These false prophets, ministers, priests, rabbis, imams, and the like will be forgotten.
“ …’ nor shall they enter into the land of Israel. Then you shall know that I AM the Lord GOD.’”
Certainly, in this dual prophecy, a reference to the kingdom of God!
The prophet Ezekiel continues warning of this soon coming Day of the Lord in chapter 22 –
Verse 18 – “’ Son of man, the house of Israel has become dross to Me; they are all bronze, tin, iron, and lead, in the midst of a furnace; … 20) As men gather silver, bronze, iron, lead, and tin into the midst of a furnace, to blow fire on it, to melt it; so I will gather you in My anger and in My fury, and I will leave you there and melt you.’”
And to be perfectly clear, God is speaking of the people – not the earth.
“’ The house of Israel’” – again, about the physical people of the house of Israel, the physical descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. But, also certainly, a reference to the spiritual house of Israel – the living Body of Christ. And, if you think about all this folderol which orbits around these worldly churches – that they ought to go to church on Sunday; that they ought to worship Jesus with a pagan holiday name – Ishtar; that they’ve got to go to church on the Mass-of-Christ to celebrate His “birth” day. And, I might add, that you have to confess your sins to a priest, as Henry Reagan stated, of the most Catholic show I’ve ever watched on television, Blue Bloods – “You confess your sins. You say your three Hail Marys. You drop some change in the poor box on your way out. But the priest, he’s left with your sins. He absorbs your sins. He prays for you. And he has nothing but smiles and good cheer for the cheating husband and his innocent family when he sees them at church after Mass on Sunday. This costs a priest; times all the sinners, times all the years.” It is sad to hear that they have indeed replaced our Lord Jesus Christ – our rightful High Priest – with their own! – cf. Hebrews 4:14-16.
Well, all that is quite a conspiracy!
But also, even within these remnant churches of the Church of God, there are groups and leaders who indeed become deeply involved in prophesying and speaking “out of their own heart.”
Verse 26 – “’ Her priests [prophetically speaking of modern-day nations of Israel] have violated My Law and profaned My holy things; … and they have hidden their eyes from My Sabbaths, so that I AM profaned among them.’”
This is a pretty POWERFUL statement from the Lord our God! Again, He is certainly talking about the modern-day nations of Israel – the United States of America and the United Kingdom and her Commonwealth Nations. But it is even more than that – He is also talking about the innumerable remnant churches of God – the groups and organizations which claim to represent God, but in this present evil age – do not!
Then, at this point the prophet Ezekiel digresses – to prophesy against a number of foreign Gentile nations who have come in direct contact with the house of Israel.
Chapter 33 – again, talking about end-time events, end-time prophecies. And when these prophecies take effect, our people have already been subjugated and taken into captivity. They are already going through their own personal ‘day of the Lord.’ A day of torment, of pain and suffering!
Verse 1 – “Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2) ‘Son of man, speak to the children of your people, and say to them: ‘When I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from their own territory and make him their watchman, …’”
So, at a time of impending war, the LORD God is saying that you need to have a watchman watching for you. And the prophet Ezekiel continues pleading with the children of his people –
Verse 11 – “’ Say to them: ‘As I live,’ says the Lord GOD, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?’”
In chapter 34 the Lord GOD commands him to “prophesy against the shepherds of Israel.” Again, this is for this end-time!
Verse 2 – “ … ‘prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD to the shepherds: ‘Woe to the shepherds of Israel WHO FEED THEMSELVES! …’”
Now, this very prophecy came to the forefront of my mind as I was watching an episode of Blue Bloods on television in which conservative Police Commissioner Frank Reagan proclaimed that the Catholic Church was “behind the times” when it came to homosexuality being allowed in their church. Later stating to a reporter, what I personally believe is in the heart of this world’s false prophets, ministers, priests, rabbis, and imams, and the like – “What men do in private is their own business.” The reporter quipped, “So, you only condemn homosexuality on Sunday?” The episode also proudly featured a lesbian turned Catholic nun and a scheming Cardinal who used a threat of ex-communication on the police commissioner unless he capitulated. The scene ends with Reagan kissing the Cardinals' ring.
Meaning, these so-called shepherds are feeding themselves. These progressive churches are not properly feeding the flock, they are capitulating, they are conforming to this world’s way!! They are preaching what the people want to hear (2 Timothy 4:3-4) in order to keep people from leaving their church or to keep their salaries.
The Soon-Coming Return of Jesus Christ!
Now the Eternal our God inspired the prophet Ezekiel to proclaim the very return of the Messiah – Jesus Christ!
Verse 10 – “’ Thus says the Lord GOD: ‘Behold, I AM against the shepherds, and I will require My flock at their hand; I will cause them to cease feeding the sheep, and the shepherds shall feed themselves no more; …’”
Again, over and over in the living word of God, He is going to deal with people exactly the way they deserve to be treated. And, of course, this judgment comes first upon the Church of God, upon His people – the Body of Christ, the “flock.”
Verse 11 – “’ For thus says the Lord GOD: ‘Indeed I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out. 12) As a shepherd seeks out his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep, so will I seek out My sheep and deliver them from all the places where they were scattered ON A CLOUDY AND DARK DAY.’”
Speaking of the Day of the LORD!
Continuing – Verse 13 – “’ And I will bring them out from the people and gather them from the countries and bring them to their own land [speaking about Palestine here], … 14) I will feed them in good pasture, and their fold shall be on the high mountains of Israel. … 15) I will feed My flock, and I will make them lie down,’ says the Lord GOD. 16) ‘I will see what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick; but I WILL DESTROY THE FAT AND THE STRONG, and feed them in judgment.’”
This, of course, fits perfectly with what our Lord GOD says in Matthew 25:31-46.
Chapter 35 is a short prophecy involving Esau, Edom – or rather O Teman, meaning Ottoman. The end of the Turkish nation! Be sure to read our FREE online booklet
“TURKEY is going to betray HIS BROTHERS!” which covers this important prophecy.
Verse 1 – “Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2) ‘Son of man, set your face against Mount Seir and prophesy against it.”
Mount Seir is but another name for Esau.
Verse 3 – “’ and say to it, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: ‘Behold, O Mount Seir, I AM against you; I will stretch out My hand against you, And make you most desolate; …’”
Now, in the Book of Obadiah, seemingly, TURKEY is utterly destroyed and apparently laid waste! And that no one survives! Just a most stunning prophecy!
Verse 4 – “’ I shall lay your cities waste, And you shall be desolate. Then you shall know that I AM the LORD. 5) Because you have had [a perpetual] hatred, and have shed the blood of the children of Israel by the power of the sword at the time of their calamity, when their iniquity came to an end, …’”
Truly talking about the end-time!
Verse 6 – “’ therefore, as I live,’ says the Lord GOD, ‘I will prepare you for blood, and blood shall pursue you; since you have not hated blood, therefore blood shall pursue you. 7) Thus I will make Mount Seir most desolate, and cut off from it the one who leaves and the one who returns.’”
Again, complete eradication of the Turkish people!
God is love and God is loyalty. And God highly prizes loyalty. He does not take kindly to disloyalty. He said to Abraham – ‘I will bless them that bless you, and I will curse them who curse you.’ And here, Turkey turns treacherous and cruel against the descendants of Isaac and Jacob - as their fathers have in the past.
Now, I didn’t want to go into great depth within these chapters, I only want to skim thru them very briefly – remember we are wanting to get to the Gog and Magog prophecy.
In
chapter 37 – and we do have online articles which cover more fully chapter 37, like
“Do you understand Ezekiel 37,” and
“The Apple of God’s Eye” – the first part pictures the “Valley of Dry Bones.” And this represents, as God Himself tells us in
verse 11 – “’ these bones are the whole house of Israel’” – including JUDAH! Yet, as we know, it also has a dual meaning. It pictures the re-birth of the modern-day nations of Israel into ONE NATION, from subjugation and captivity, and it also pictures the literal bodily resurrection of the individual who has long since died – after which the “books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of life. And the dead [are] judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.”
When we come to the 15th verse we come to the two sticks which represent the two houses – or kingdoms, Judah and Israel being united once again – under Jesus Christ at His second coming in glory and power!
Verse 21 – “’ Then say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: ‘Surely I will take the children of Israel [the peoples of the United States of America originally descended from the British Isles, such as Great Britain and Northwestern Europe as well as our peoples of the United Kingdom and her Commonwealth Nations, like Scotland, New Zealand, Canada, Australia, South Africa, along with JUDAH - the nation of Israel in the Middle East], from among the nations, WHEREVER THEY HAVE GONE, and will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land; 22) and I will make them ONE NATION in the land, … they shall no longer be two nations, nor shall they ever be divided into two kingdoms again. 24) David My servant shall be king over them, … 26) Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them [the New Covenant], and it shall be an everlasting covenant with them; …’”
The Prophecy of Gog and Magog
Notice, now, the story-flow – the time-sequence. We are at the beginning of the Millennial reign of Jesus Christ!
Again, the Book of Obadiah chapter 1 –
Verse 15 – “’ For the day of the LORD upon ALL NATIONS is near; … 17) But on Mount Zion [referring to a future Jerusalem and the city of our God] there shall be deliverance, And there shall be holiness; The HOUSE OF JACOB shall possess their possessions.’”
Upon the return of our Lord Jesus Christ, our peoples of JACOB – the people of the United States of America, the United Kingdom and her Commonwealth Nations – who physically survive the Day of the LORD – at the very beginning of the Millennium join forces, led and protected by God Almighty and Jesus Christ and by the resurrected King David, and they regather militarily in the Middle East and they wreak vengeance upon all the nations which have surrounded Israel. This is a glorious revelation that so few people have ever heard!
Turn with me if you will to the Book of Jeremiah chapter 4 –
A reference to a great trumpet call! Verse 5 – Declare in Judah and proclaim in Jerusalem, and say: ‘Blow the trumpet in the land; Cry, ‘Gather together,’ And say, ‘Assemble yourselves, And let us go into the fortified cities.’”
Here speaking of the Gentile nations who have fortified themselves. They think that in their fortified position they will not be eliminated.
The Day of the LORD. The beginning of the end of Satan the devil’s rule over the governments of this world. It is also about the time when our Lord Jesus Christ set’s forth and directly engages with humankind. So, we have a 3 ½ year period when our Lord must remold and reshape the world. And one of the initial things which He does is to ELIMINATE the people who are wicked and incorrigible! The people who will NOT LISTEN, will NOT PAY ATTENTION, will NOT OBEY GOD! Who, in their heart, hates Jesus Christ!
Our Lord Jesus Christ speaks of this “day” – the Day of the LORD in Matthew 24:21-22.
Turn now to the Book of Zephaniah chapter 2 –
Verse 1 – “’ Gather yourselves together, yes, gather together, O undesirable nation, 2) Before the decree is issued, Or the day passes like chaff, Before the LORD’S fierce anger comes upon you, Before the day of the LORD’S anger comes upon you!’”
Now, understand, if you are a resurrected saint, you do not need to worry about this day of God’s anger – because you will be a spirit being.
And again, something of great importance that Minister Michael C. Garrett wrote:
“If you realize in the peace and the quiet of your own home that your religious leaders have NOT taught you this, they don’t even know enough to be confused by it, because they are ignorant of it, you have to ask the question: What else do they not know!? What else have I not been taught!? What else has been hidden from my eyes and my ears!?”
ALL THESE WARNINGS ARE GIVEN. God says He won’t do anything unless it is declared from His prophets! Not only has He declared it through His prophets, but He’s also declared it through His WORD!
Turning to the Book of Revelation chapter 20, it speaks of this prophecy pertaining to Gog and Magog. Again, this is immediately AFTER the Millennial reign of our Lord Jesus Christ!
In an instant – Verse 7 – “Now WHEN THE THOUSAND YEARS HAVE EXPIRED, Satan will be released from his prison 8) and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog [meaning, Siberia, China, and the Russian Confederation] to gather them together to battle, …”
A battle against God’s beloved city of God and of the saints! A THOUSAND YEARS OF PEACE WILL BE INSTANTLY SHATTERED WHEN SATAN IS LOOSED!
Ezekiel chapter 38 finds the house of Israel restored in Palestine! “In the latter years [at the end of the age] you will come into the land of those brought back from the sword and gathered from many people on the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate; they were brought out of the nations, and now all of them DWELL SAFELY.” “ … ‘against a land of unwalled villages’” – verse 11.
So, this prophecy no longer pictures the United States of America or the United Kingdom and her Commonwealth Nations! It pictures the land of Palestine. It pictures our peoples having been gathered out of the nations in which they were subjugated, captured and taken to, and scattered, now UNITED once again and wealthy with goods!
So, notice this prophecy is AFTER the glorious and powerful second coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ – AFTER the Great Deliverer has come and rescued His people and restored them to Palestine – AFTER the house of Israel and the house of Judah are united!
Our people shall have regained so much wealth that “Gog and Magog” – again, the likes of Siberia, China, and the Russian Confederation – along with numerous Gentile allies – shall gather their armies to take “booty, to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods, to take great plunder” – verse 13.
Again, this invasion will not come until AFTER the glorious and powerful second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. And, the writing up of this article certainly confronts you with the fact that the greater majority of people of this world have not heard this vital information – it seems preposterous to many.
Partly because we have been accustomed to merely ASSUME things are not true unless we hear it directly from our minister, priest, or rabbi. Most have merely ASSUMED that when our Lord Jesus Christ comes, there will be no opposition. Every person and power on earth will just simply submit willingly to the King of kings and Lord of lords in full submission.
But that is not true!
The Gentile nations which had fought and schemed to rule the world – they will not submit until forced to. Now, let me be clear: the SEVEN SEALS of the Book of Revelation are the symbolic, prophetically, of the early ‘troubles’ which will befall this world, and in particular, the House of Judah and the House of Israel. And the FIRST SIX of the SEVEN TRUMPETS are a progression of those ‘troubles.’ And the SEVENTH TRUMP of the seven trumps is indeed, directly related to the concept of the resurrection of the saints. The blowing of the SEVENTH TRUMP! And following that, in the Book of Revelation – Chapters 15 & 16 – you read about the SEVEN LAST PLAGUES. The SIXTH PLAGUE of the seven last plagues is the so-called – that great battle at Tel Megiddo, also known as Armageddon. The armies of this world will gather together to literally blast each other to oblivion. Then, turn their sights onto a returning “alien from outer space” – the very throne of God the Father and of Jesus Christ and the resurrected saints! Keep in mind, the resurrection occurs on the SEVENTH TRUMP. The seven last plagues follow that. So, we will already be in “low earth orbit” in the atmosphere being with Jesus Christ, in preparation for the time He, Jesus Christ, directly engages humankind. In a fierce judgment.
But again, Gog and Magog - Siberia, China, and the Russian Confederation – who know not God or Christ, shall still have to be brought to submission!
Gog is RUSSIA
Without going into much detail here – and as Minister Guy LaMar wrote:
“It is probable that Meshech is the Hebrew term from which came the name Moscow. Tubal is considered by some as being in association with the Russian peoples.”
It is generally agreed among students of prophecy, that “Gog, of the land of Magog” is speaking of RUSSIA.
I want you to notice the allies who come with the Russian Confederation in this future battle are “Gomer and all its troops; the house of Togarmah from the far north and all its troops” identified in Genesis chapter 10 –
“The sons of Japheth were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras” – Genesis 10:2.
“GOMER (the firstborn of JAPHETH) was the first to settle central Europe, but at the End of the Age, we find his descendants in Asia — in the Far East. In Ezekiel 38:1–6, we find GOMER associated with MAGOG, MESHECH, TUBAL, PERSIA, ETHIOPIA (eastern CUSH, of the Hindu KUSH), PHUT in India and Ceylon (not as the KJV states as Libya). This means that GOMER and all his bands long ago became Asiatic powers, and they are still Asiatic powers at the End-Time.”
Any biblical map will show that the descendants of Japheth migrated north and northeast into the territories occupied today by Russia and the Oriental races. Therefore, this prophecy of Ezekiel chapter 38 shows us that it is RUSSIA who shall finally succeed in marshaling the Oriental races into a massive invasion upon our people.
“You [the Eternal One says of the Russian Confederation] will ascend, coming like a storm, covering the land like a cloud, you and all your troops and many peoples with you” – Ezekiel 38:9.
There will be such a vast amount of military troops the land is completely covered over – “like a cloud”!
The End of Mankind’s Rule!
The question could be asked, “why is Satan the devil released along with his demons for a short season to stir up these Gentile nations – ‘to gather them together to battle’?”
Well, Minister Michael Garrett answers this question so succinctly:
“because immediately he goes out to the four corners of the world – to Gog and Magog (Siberia, China, Russia area) to gather them together to battle against the beloved city of God and of the saints. And will be DESTROYED. And dead bodies will be piled high when the “Great White Throne” resurrection occurs.” ibid.
This will be the final great effort of a rebellious, God-resisting world – in the lust for power and material wealth!
Our people – a united house of Israel – shall be armed and ready! “Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say to Gog, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: ‘On that day when My people ISRAEL dwell safety, will you not know it? 15) Then you will come from your place out of the far north, you and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great company and a mighty army. 16) You will come up against My people ISRAEL like a cloud, to cover the land. It will be IN THE LATTER DAYS that I will bring you against My land, so that the nations may know Me, when I AM hallowed in you, O Gog, before their eyes” – Ezekiel 38:14-16.
But, our Lord Jesus Christ and His holy saints gets involved in this battle. We know from the Wedding Supper of the Lamb that the saints – the resurrected saints – and Jesus Christ, and God the Father, and the holy angels have ALREADY spent some time in New Jerusalem – the throne of GOD – in low earth orbit. Again, and I can’t stress this enough: the RESURRECTION is on the SEVENTH TRUMP the LAST TRUMP, and then you’ve got the SEVEN LAST PLAGUES which is another name for the Day of the Lord, now you understand that during the Day of the Lord the resurrected saints are ALREADY in the Kingdom of God. Already members of the Family of GOD.
Verse 18 – “’ And it will come to pass at the same time, when Gog comes against the land of Israel,’ says the Lord GOD, ‘that My fury will show in My face. 19) For in My jealousy and in the fire of My wrath I have spoken: ‘Surely in that day there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel, … 22) And I will bring him to judgment with pestilence and bloodshed; I will rain down on him, on his troops, and on the many peoples who are with him, flooding rain, great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. 23) Thus I will magnify Myself and sanctify Myself, and I will be known in the eyes of many nations. Then they shall know that I AM the LORD’
Sadly, these Gentile nations, even today, DO NOT see, nor do they properly understand
JESUS CHRIST’S DIVINITY (the Russian Orthodox Church – largely a socio-political, rather than a spiritual institution – along with their doctrines, has more in common with Roman Catholicism) they proclaim to the world, “St. Patrick explained the trinity in this way. He picked up a clover and showed that all 3 leaves were seperate (sic) and individual yet all 3 make up the 1 clover. The trinity is not something that is easily (if ever) fully understood. But John helps when he writes in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. You see our Lord Jesus Christ is the Incarnate Word. Although he is fully God by nature he is also himself. Once you read that paper by St. Athanasius I’m sure it will be clear as mud.” (
“Orthodox's view on Christ's Divinity,” gorion, 24 April 2005, Retrieved 23 February 2022).
And, they will NOT properly understand His divinity even AFTER He has returned. He has to teach them that “’ I AM the LORD!’” – as He was trying to teach the Pharisees of His day in John 8:58! □
