The End Times: The Battle of Gog and Magog: A Revived Israel

There is an important battle that will involve several nations in a coalition against Israel. In the Bible this battle is known as the battle of Gog and Magog. Most of the details for this fight are found in Ezekiel 37-39. 

Scholars and teachers have a variety of opinions as to the timing of this battle. I think that it is best to stick with the interpretation that best fits the context of scripture.  

Dead dry bones scattered in a valley.

Ezekiel 37:1-2  The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones, 2) And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry. 

Ezekiel lets us know that Jehovah is showing him a vision of future events. Remember that he was a priest and as a young man was taken into captivity. He was a contemporary with Jeremiah, Habakkuk and Obadiah. Using language similar to that used by John, we learn that Jehovah's hand was upon him and carried him away in the Spirit of the LORD (See Revelation 1:10; 4:1-2).

Ezekiel was transported by the Spirit and was set down in the middle of a valley full of bones. The idea is a valley where a battle was fought and the fallen soldiers bodies were never buried. In ancient Israel not burying bodies of the dead was disrespectful and disgraceful. Furthermore, being exposed to a dead body or exposed bones was ceremonially unclean, especially for a priest.  

He makes a point to tell us that this valley is full of many bones that were sun bleached and dried out. Ezekiel painted a vivid picture of death and disgrace with no hope of life. 

A promise of resurrection power.

Ezekiel 37:3-6  And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest. 4) Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. 5)  Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live: 6) And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD. 

Ezekiel must have been shocked when Jehovah asked him if he thought the lifeless bones could live again. God told him to prophesy upon the bones. Ezekiel prophesied according to the word of Jehovah that God would resurrect the bones with new bodies. 

We can see this is a picture which looks forward to the resurrection of life that Jesus spoke about (John 5:24-29). Thus, this is an encouragement for all believers about the hope that awaits us.

Dead bones form living bodies. 

Ezekiel 37:7-10  So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone. 8) And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them. 9) Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live. 10)  So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army. 

Ezekiel prophesied as commanded and the results were immediate and dramatic. Ezekiel heard a noise as soon as he finished prophesying which reminds us when the Spirit of God came to birth the Church at Pentecost (Acts 2). After the noise Ezekiel saw and heard shaking like an earthquake as all the bones came together at the Creator's command. 

Then, Ezekiel saw tendons, muscles and skin form but the reconstructed bodies were not alive. Jehovah commanded His prophet to prophesy again for the wind to come and blow upon the bodies. He was obedient and did as he was instructed. Again, there was an immediate result. Breath poured into them and a massive army stood before the prophet.

Genesis 2:7  And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. 

What Ezekiel saw is very similar to Creation when God breathed life into Adam and he became a living soul.

Future Restoration & Resurrection Hope.

Ezekiel 37:11-14  Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts. 12)  Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. 13) And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves, 14) And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD. 

Now, although this is a beautiful and vivid picture of resurrection power, God is going to give us the interpretation. The valley of dry bones represented all of Israel. The nation was divided into Israel (ten tribes) and Judah which included the holy city of Jerusalem. Israel and Judah sometimes fought against each other and sometimes cooperated together. Both Israel and Judah consistently fell into idolatry and were judged by Holy God. The nation was sent into captivity by the Assyrians and Babylonians, which was to last 70 years. 

Therefore, Ezekiel's vision is one about the future restoration of the nation. 

Stages of Israel’s Restoration
Ezekiel’s description	Historical fulfillment
Scattered dry bones	Israel dispersed among nations
Bones connected, new ligaments, tendons	Israel’s gathering prior to 1948
Flesh or muscle on bones	Israel a nation (present status)
Skin forms	Israel in tribulation
Breath in body, a living army	Israel after national conversion

Ezekiel tells us that Israel will see a resurrection with bodies coming out of the graves and that He will put His Spirit in them. (See Ezekiel 11:19-20; 18:31;  36:26-28).

Ezekiel saw another vision where he took two sticks, one with the name Israel and the other with Judah. He was told to put them together and they became one stick. God told Ezekiel that this was a promise that He would not only restore the nation, He would unite it into one kingdom as it was in the days of David and Solomon. God promised to bring Israel into the land that He promised to give Abraham and his offspring (Ezekiel 37:15-28). 

Thoughts to Ponder...

The kingdom will be restored and the legal descendant of King David will sit upon the throne, which will be Jesus Christ. Ezekiel 37 ends with many promises of future blessing and peace from God. 

This is the necessary context for looking into the battle of Gog and Magog and understanding where it fits in with regard to Revelation and Daniel's 70th week. 

Believers can be reassured that God will always do what He promised to do. Faith is taking God at His Word instead of struggling with doubts or becoming distracted by current circumstances. Remember, things are going to wax worse and worse until the very moment when Christ returns to earth to rule and reign.

As the new year draws closer I pray that God will stir us to love and serve Him with greater zeal.

Bob