When Will the Battle of Gog and Magog Occur?

Dr. Mark Hitchcock

Introduction

Outlineof Ezekiel

Ezekiel 1-24 Judgment on Judah

25-32 Judgmenton Judah's Near Enemies

33-48 Blessings on Israel

Chs. 38-39 are dividedinto seven sections each beginning with the

ominous words "Thussays the Lord God" (Adoriat Yahweh)

(38:3,10,14,17;39:1,17,25)

A helpful teachingoutline is the journalist's questions Who, What, When, Where, How and Why. Thefocus of this study is the "When question."

There are six main viewson the timing of this invasion among conservative, premillennial scholars: 1)before the tribulation; 2) near the beginning of the tribulation; 3) sometimejust before the middle of the tribulation; 4) at the end of the tribulation; 5)during the "transition period" between the end of the tribulation andthe actual establishment of the millennial kingdom; and 6) at the end of themillennium.

I. The General Identification of theTime

A.The Placement of Chapters 38-39 in Ezekiel

B.The Chronological Terms

1. "latter years" ('acharith hashshantm38:8)

2."last days" ('acharith hayyamim 38:16)

Thewords 'acharith hayyamtm are used fourteen times in the OT: Gen 49:1; Num24:14; Deut 4:30; 31:29; Isa 2:2; Jer 23:20; 30:24; 48:47; Ezek 38:16; Dan2:28; 8:23; 10:14; Hos 3:5; Mic 4:1.

Whileone could make a case for all of these occurrences referring ultimately toeither the tribulation or the millennium, in several passages this term isclearly a technical term which refers to the consummation of history or whatScripture calls the 70th week. (Ezekiel 38:8,16; Dan 2:28; 10:14). HorstSeabass, Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament, 1:210-12.

C. Conclusion

Theplacement of chapters 38-39 in Ezekiel and the chronological terms usedeliminate two of the above views as viable alternatives: 1) before thetribulation; 2) at the end of the millennium.

The"transition period" view can also be eliminated because it isinconceivable that Israel could be fully restored to the land, wealthy, livingsecurely and that this vast horde of nations could assemble their massive armyand invade Israel all in a period of 75 days.

II. The Specific Identification of theTime

  • The Regathering of Israel (Ezek 36-37)

  • The Rest of Israel (38:8,11,14; cf. Dan9:27)

  • The Response of Israel (39:22)

  • The Retribution of God (39:7)

  • The Return to Ancient Weapons (39:7)

  • The Relationship of Ezekiel 38-39 and Daniel11:40-45

  • the same time period

    • a. Dan 10:14

    b. Ezek 38:8,16

    c.Dan 11:40-12:1

    Theevents in Daniel 11:40-45a seem to occur just before and at the mid-point ofthe 70th week. Several points support this conclusion. First, as a result ofthe destruction of the king of the South and king of the North, the willfulking invades Israel. This Is consistent with Daniel 9:27. Second, the willfulking begins his persecution of Israel at this point. Third, the entire contextof vv.40-45 pictures the ascension of the willful king to power which theScriptures reveal will begin at the middle of the tribulation (Rev 13:4-5).Fourth, at this point the willful king establishes his headquarters inJerusalem and desecrates the temple (1 1:45a; 9:27) Fourth, the greattribulation is clearly mentioned in the following context in 12:1.

    2.the same geographical areas

    a. a northern confederation of nations

    Ezek38:1-6 Magog,Rosh, Meshech, Tubal,

    Persia, Gomer, Togarmah

    Dan11:40-45 the king of the North

    (theSeleucid empire in

    Dan11:5-35)

    b. a southern confederation of nations

    Ezek38:5 Cush,Put

    Dan11:40-45 the king of the South(the

    Ptolemaicempire in Dan 11:5-35)

    Dan.11:43 specifically mentions

    Libyaand Cush.

    c. Israel

    3.Daniel and Ezekiel were contemporaries

    Conclusion