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EZEKIEL 39
LESSON #34
THE RESULTS OF THE GREAT RUSSIAN WAR
v MEMORY VERSE: PSALM 9:10
v EZEKIEL 39 TELLS US THE OUTCOME AND THE FINALRESULTS OF THE RUSSIAN WAR. FROM EZE 39, WE CAN GAIN FURTHER INSIGHT INTO HOW THIS WARWILL AFFECT THE WHOLE WORLD.
v READ EZE 39:1-22
Ø THE DEVASTATION OF RUSSIA AND HER ALLIES
§ GOD IS AGAINST THE RUSSIANLEADER BECAUSE HE REPRESENTS THE NATION OF RUSSIA. BECAUSE OF ALL OF HER HISTORY OFPERSECUTION AGAINST GOD, THE JEWS, AND THE CHRISTIANS, RUSSIA WILL LOSE THE WAR SHEINITIATES. (1,7)
· LEAVE BUT THE SIXTH PART OFTHEE (2)
¨ THIS PHRASE LITERALLY MEANS = DRIVE YOUFORWARD TO AFFLICT YOU WITH SIX PLAGUES. THIS SIX PLAGUES ARE: PESTILENCE, BLOOD,OVERFLOWING RAIN, GREAT HAILSTONES, FIRE, AND BRIMSTONE. (EZE 38:22) THESE ARE THE SAMEELEMENTS THAT DESTROYED SODOM AND GOMORRAH.
¨ THE RUSSIAN ARMY AND HER ALLIES WILL DIE INTHE MOUNTAINS OF ISRAEL. (2)
§ THE RUSSIAN HOMELAND WILLSUFFER DEVASTATION BY FIRE. (6)
· THE BIBLE DOES NOT EXPLAIN HOWTHIS HAPPENS.
¨ PERHAPS IT IS A SUPERNATURAL EVENT OF FIRETHAT SWEEPS THE NATION.
¨ PERHAPS IT IS A NATURAL EVENT OF FIRE THATSWEEPS THE NATION.
¨ PERHAPS IT IS THE RESULT OF BOMBS THAT FALLON THE NATION OF RUSSIA, SENT BY THE ANTI-CHRIST AND PERMITTED BY GOD.
Ø THE EFFECTS OF THE RUSSIAN WAR ON ISRAEL:
§ THE PEOPLE LIVING IN ISRAELWILL TAKE 7 YEARS TO BURN ALL THE RUSSIAN WEAPONS AFTER THE WAR. (9-10)
· THE STATEMENT ABOUT 7 YEARS MAYGIVE US SOME INDICATION OF WHEN THE RUSSIAN WAR OCCURS.
¨ WE KNOW FROM DANIELS PROPHECIES THATTHE TRIBULATION PERIOD LASTS 7 YEARS. THEN THERE WILL BE 30 DAYS TO CLEAN UP THE EARTHAFTER THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON AT THE END OF THE TRIBULATION, AND 45 DAYS TO SET UP CHRISTSKINGDOM. (DAN 9:27 DAN 12:11-12)
¨ WE KNOW FROM SCRIPTURE THAT ONE OF THEPURPOSES OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD IS TO PUT PRESSURE ON THE JEWS THAT THEY MIGHT COME TOKNOW JESUS CHRIST.
¨ WE KNOW FROM SCRIPTURE THAT THE JEWS WILLCOME TO KNOW JESUS AS THEIR MESSIAH AT THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST, AT THE END OF THETRIBULATION.
§ THEREFORE, WE CAN ASSUMETHAT THE RUSSIAN WAR IS IN SOME WAY RELATED TO THE TRIBULATION PERIOD OF 7 YEARS THATHIS PEOPLE MIGHT KNOW HIM. (7)
· IN FACT, SIX TIMES IN THISCHAPTER, AND FOUR TIMES IN CHAPTER 38, GOD SAYS THAT THIS IS HIS PURPOSE FOR MIRACULOUSLYSAVING ISRAEL FROM DESTRUCTION IN THE RUSSIAN WAR.
¨ WHO WILL KNOW THIS FACT?
Ø ISRAEL
Ø ALL OTHER NATIONS
§ BECAUSE IT TAKES 7 YEARS TODESTROY THE WEAPONS, THE RUSSIAN WAR WILL OCCUR JUST BEFORE THE TRIBULATION PERIOD, ORIMMEDIATELY AFTER THE TRIBULATION BEGINS.
§ THERE IS A QUESTION THATALWAYS RAISES ITS HEAD REGARDING BIBLE PROPHECY.
· THE PROPHET TALKS ABOUT WARFARETHAT INVOLVES HORSES, CHARIOTS, SWORDS, SPEARS, BOWS, ARROWS, SHIELDS, ETC. THESE ARE NOTTHE WEAPONS OF TODAYS WARFARE, SO HOW CAN THE PROPHETS MESSAGE RELATE TO SOMEEVENT THAT IS STILL IN THE FUTURE FOR US TODAY?
¨ A PROPHET USES THE VOCABULARY FOR THE TIMEPERIOD IN WHICH HE LIVES. IF HE USED SUCH NON-EXISTENT WORDS LIKE, NUCLEAR, CHEMICAL,BIOLOGICAL, TANKS, ROCKETS, BOMBS, MISSLES, ETC., THEY WOULD BE MEANINGLESS TO THE PEOPLEOF EZEKIELS DAY. THEREFORE, WHEN WE READ A PROPHECY ABOUT WAR THAT WILL OCCUR ATSOME FUTURE DATE, WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE WEAPONS MAY HAVE CHANGED OVER TIME, BUT THE ACTOF WAR AND THE EVENT OF A BATTLE IS CLEARLY DESCRIBED.
Ø THE VALLEY OF HAMON-GOG (11)
§ THERE WILL BE A VALLEYWHERE THEY BURY ALL THE DEAD FROM THIS BATTLE.
· THE NAME OF THIS GRAVEYARD WILLBE HAMON-GOG, WHICH MEANS = THE MULTITUDES OF GOG (THE RUSSIAN LEADER).
· SOME BELIEVE THAT THE VALLEYOF TRAVELERS EAST OF THE DEAD SEA WILL BE THE LOCATION FOR THESE GRAVES.
§ EZEKIEL TELLS US THAT ITWILL TAKE 7 MONTHS TO BURY THE DEAD. (12) WHY SO LONG?
· NOTICE THAT IT SAYS IN VERSE 14THAT SPECIAL PEOPLE WILL BE APPOINTED TO BURY THE DEAD AND THAT PEOPLE WILL MARK BODIES TOBE BURIED.
· NOTICE THAT IT SAYS IN VERSES 12AND 16 THAT THE LAND WILL NEED TO BE CLEANSED.
· BECAUSE OF THESE VERY STRANGEDETAILS, IT IS A STRONG POSSIBILITY THAT THIS WAR WILL INVOLVE SOME KIND OF NUCLEAR,CHEMICAL, OR BIOLOGICAL WEAPON THAT WILL REQUIRE EXPERTS TO DEAL WITH THE CONTAMINATIONTHAT REMAINS.
§ THE CALL TO THE FEAST(17-20)
· NUMEROUS TIMES IN SCRIPTURE THEREIS REFERENCE TO BIRDS BEING CALLED TO EAT THE BODIES OF THE DEAD. IT IS AN ILLUSTRATIONTHE PROPHETS USED TO INDICATE GODS JUDGMENT.
¨ ISA 34:6 JUDGMENT ON EDOM
¨ JER 46:10 JUDGMENT ON EGYPT
¨ ZEP 1:7-8 JUDGMENT ON JUDAH
¨ REV 19:17-21 JUDGMENT ON NATIONS AT THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON.
v READ EZE 39:23-29 EZEKIELS BROAD PERSPECTIVE OVER TIME
Ø EZEKIEL REVERTS BACK TO HIS OWN PERIOD OFTIME IN VERSE 23.
§ ALL THE NATIONS OF THEWORLD WILL KNOW THAT GOD HAS DONE A GREAT MIRACLE FOR ISRAEL IN THE FUTURE RUSSIAN WAR.
§ ALL THE NATIONS OF THEWORLD WILL KNOW THAT GOD DID NOT DELIVER ISRAEL IN THEIR BATTLE AGAINST BABYLON BECAUSETHEY DESERVED GODS JUDGMENT BECAUSE OF THEIR IDOLATRY.
Ø EZEKIEL SAYS THAT GOD WILL BRING CAPTIVITY TOTHE JEWS AGAIN. (25)
§ THIS FUTURE PROPHECY REFERSTO THE TRIBULATION PERIOD WHEN THE ANTI-CHRIST WILL TURN AGAINST THE JEWS IN THE MIDDLE OFTHE TRIBULATION. HE WILL PERSECUTE THEM AND CAUSE MANY OF THEM TO BE HELD CAPTIVE INEGYPT.
Ø AT THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST, THE JEWS WILLKNOW THAT HE IS THEIR LORD (28). THEN JESUS CHRIST WILL GATHER THEM FROM EVERY NATION ANDRETURN THEM TO ISRAEL ONE LAST TIME.
Ø NEITHER WILL I HIDE MY FACE ANY MOREFROM THEM (29)
§ FROM THE BEGINNING OF THENEW TESTAMENT AGE, GOD HAS HIDDEN HIS FACE FROM THE JEWS.
· READ 2COR 3:11-18 2COR 4:3-4
¨ WHY HAS GOD HIDDEN HIS FACE FROM THE JEWS FOR2,000 YEARS?
Ø THEIR OWN UNBELIEF HAS BLINDED THEM TO THETRUTH OF GOD.
§ GOD GAVE THEM THE PROPHETSAND HIS WORD IN THE OLD TESTAMENT. THEY SHOULD HAVE RECOGNIZED JESUS CHRIST WHEN HE CAMEINTO THE WORLD 2,000 YEARS AGO. BECAUSE THEY REJECTED THEIR MESSIAH, GOD BLINDED THEM TOTHE TRUTH.
§ INSTEAD, GOD HAS WORKED FOR2,000 YEARS AMONG THE GENTILES, WAITING FOR THE FULLNESS OF TIME.
¨ WHEN JESUS CHRIST RETURN S A SECOND TIME TOTHIS EARTH, HE WILL LIFT THE VEIL FROM THEIR EYES. THEN, THE JEWS WILL RECOGNIZE HIM ASTHEIR SAVIOR. (29)
v THE EFFECTS OF THE RUSSIAN WAR ON THE REST OF THEWORLD
Ø IN EZE 38:19-20, THE PROPHET TELLS US THATTHERE WILL BE A GREAT EARTHQUAKE FELT AROUND THE WORLD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RUSSIAN WAR.THAT WILL GET THE ATTENTION OF THE NATIONS. THEN WHEN RUSSIA IS MIRACULOUSLY DEFEATED, ALLTHE NATIONS OF THE WORLD WILL KNOW IT IS A MIRALCE FROM GOD.
§ DOES THAT MEAN EVERYONEWILL GIVE GOD CREDIT FOR THIS MIRACLE? NO. SOME PEOPLE WILL RECOGNIZE THE MIRACLE IS FROMGOD, OTHERS WILL RATIONALIZE IT AWAY.
§ THE EARTHQUAKE WILL CAUSEGREAT FEAR AND CONFUSION ON THE BATTLEFIELD. REMEMBER THE RUSSIAN ARMY WILL BE MADE UP OFMANY DIFFERENT NATIONS THAT WILL UNDOUBTEDLY TURN ON EACH OTHER IN THE CONFUSION.
· WILL THE EARTHQUAKE BE THERESULTS OF SOME NUCLEAR BLAST? PERHAPS OR PERHAPS IT IS ONE INITIATED ONLY BY GOD.
v THE EFFECTS OF THE RUSSIAN WAR ON THE SCHEMES OFTHE ANTI-CHRIST
Ø AT THE BEGINNING OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD,THE ANTI-CHRIST ENSURES THE PEACE OF THE MIDDLE EAST. HE WILL PROMISE TO PROTECT THE JEWS.
Ø WHEN RUSSIA AND HER ALLIES MOBILIZE FOR WAR,THE ANTI-CHRIST ONLY DEALS WITH EGYPT AND THE SOUTHERN BLOC OF NATIONS IN A SHOW OF GOODFAITH TO HIS OWN PEACE TREATY.
§ WHY WILL HE NOT DEAL WITHRUSSIA?
· PROBABLY BECAUSE HE WILL SEE THATHE CAN USE THE SITUATION FOR HIS OWN BENEFIT.
Ø WHEN GOD DEFEATS THE RUSSIAN ARMY, THEANTI-CHRIST WILL ATTEMPT TO TAKE THE CREDIT.
§ REMEMBER THAT THE NAME,ANTI-CHRIST, HAS TWO MEANINGS:
· AGAINST CHRIST.
· IN PLACE OF CHRIST.
¨ BECAUSE HE WILL PUT HIMSELF IN THE PLACE OFCHRIST, THE JEWS WILL CONTINUE TO TRUST HIM FOR THEIR PROTECTION UNTIL THE MIDDLE OF THETRIBULATION.
§ GOD WILL ALLOW THISDECEPTION BY THE ANTI-CHRIST TO DIVIDE PEOPLE INTO TWO GROUPS THOSE WHO TRULY TRUSTGOD AND THOSE WHO DECEIVE THEMSELVES INTO BELIEVING THAT THE ANTI-CHRIST IS GOD.
v SUMMARY:
Ø IT IS EVIDENT IN EZE 38 AND 39 THAT GOD IS INCONTROL. HE IS BRINGING GOOD AND EVIL TO THEIR ULTIMATE LEVELS THAT MEN MIGHT MAKE A FINALCHOICE BETWEEN GOD AND SATAN, BETWEEN CHRIST AND ANTI-CHRIST.
Ø THE DETAILS OF THE RUSSIAN WAR AND OTHEREVENTS OF THE TRIBULATION ARE NOTHING MORE THAN THE SIDE-LINE FORCES THAT MOVE PEOPLE INTOTHEIR CHOSEN PLACES FOR THE FINAL BATTLE, THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON.
Ø REMEMBER THAT BIBLE PROPHECY HAS A DOUBLEFULFILLMENT. THE PROPHECY OF THE RUSSIAN WAR IS NO EXCEPTION.
§ THE RUSSIAN WAR NEAR THEBEGINNING OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD IS THE FIRST FULFILLMENT.
§ THE SECOND FULFILLMENTOCCURS AT THE END OF THE MILLENNIAL REIGN OF JESUS CHRIST ON EARTH.
· THE MILLENNIAL REIGN OF CHRISTWILL LAST 1,000 YEARS. DURING THIS TIME SATAN IS BOUND. (REV 20:2-3)
· DURING THE 1,000 YEARS THE EARTHWILL LIVE IN PEACE UNDER THE RULE OF CHRIST.
¨ THERE WILL BE NO DEATH EXCEPT FOR THEREBELLIOUS DISOBEDIENT PEOPLE.
· THERE WILL BE MANY NEW BABIESBORN DURING THE MILLENNIUM. THEY WILL ABIDE BY THE LAW OF CHRIST OR ELSE THEY WILL DIEPHYSICALLY.
¨ HOWEVER, BECAUSE MAN IS GIVEN FREE WILL,SATAN WILL BE LOOSED AT THE END OF THE 1,000 YEARS TO TEST THE HEARTS OF THOSE WHOOUTWARDLY OBEYED FOR 1,000 YEARS BUT WHO INWARDLY REBELLED.
§ THE FINAL WAR WILL BEBETWEEN CHRIST AND THOSE WHO MAKE A DECISION AGAINST GOD TO FOLLOW SATAN. THIS WAR WILL BEAT THE END OF THE MILLENNIUM. IT IS CALLED THE GOG AND MAGOG WAR.
· READ REV 20:7-10
· WHY DOES REVELATION MENTION GOGAND MAGOG AGAIN?
¨ IT IS THE SECOND FULFILLMENT OF EZE 38 AND39.
¨ IT IS A BATTLE OF EVIL AGAINST GOOD.
¨ IT IS A BATTLE INITIATED BY UNBELIEVINGNATIONS OF PEOPLE (LIKE RUSSIA).
¨ THE WAR ENDS WITH MIRACULOUS FIRE FROM HEAVENTHAT DESTROYS SATAN AND THOSE WHO FOLLOW HIM.
HOMEWORK
v EZEKIEL 40
THIS IS A SELF-STUDY. PLEASE DO NOT SEND HOMEWORK ANSWERS TO THE TEACHER FORCORRECTION.
v APPLICATION OF EZE 39
Ø THE MOST IMPORTANT DECISION YOU CAN MAKE INTHIS LIFE IS THE DECISION TO TRUST IN JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR. IF YOU BELONG TO HIM,HE WILL WORK IN YOUR LIFE IN MIRACULOUS WAYS. HOWEVER, MANY TIMES WE RATIONALIZE GODSMIRACLES INTO NOTHING MORE THAN COINCIDENCES OR ACCIDENTS OF NATURE.
§ GOD WANTS US TO RECOGNIZEHIS MIRACLES IN OUR LIVES. GOD WANTS US TO GIVE HIM THE GLORY FOR THESE MIRACLES.
· MAKE A BRIEF LIST OF SOMEIMPORTANT MIRACLES YOU HAVE OBSERVED IN YOUR OWN LIFE.
v PREPARATION FOR EZE 40
Ø READ EZE 40:1-49
Ø READ REV 11:1-2
§ NOTICE THAT IN REVELATION,A PORTION OF THE TEMPLE IS NOT MEASURED. THERE IS NO MENTION OF THIS IN EZE 40. WHY?
v MEMORY VERSE: 1CORINTHIANS 13:12
