01/17/2025 – Week 12 of 13 – Ezekiel study (Nov 1st thru Jan. 24th) – Chapters 38 & 39 / Post 1 of 2// Nov 1st thru Jan 24th / For introduction – See 10/14/2025 post
Four sources for my quoted commentary excerpts, so far in our Ezekiel study, I have added (*D) this week for one commentary in chapter 28:
(*A) – Apologetics Study Bible
(*B) – My personal standby for this study: “Be Reverent – Bowing Before Our Awesome God – OT Commentary Ezekiel” Warren W. Wiersbe / ISBN 978-1-4347-0050-6
(*C) – “The Mid-East Beast: The Scriptural Case for an Islamic Antichrist” Joel Richardson – 2022 / ISBN – 979-8362037963
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Big picture again: Why a 13 week fellowship on Ezekiel? Ans.: 1) Embrace: “The LORD is unfathomable!” ; 2). The times: Then and now are strikingly similar. So…, how then shall we live! (Ephesians 6:13!)
And for this lesson: Why does it matter whether the Anti Christ comes from Europe (“humanist” worldview?) or from the Middle East (proliferating Islamic terrorism)?
I will set the stage for week 12 by opening a summarized commentary from (*A) over our reading this week:
“38:1 – 39:29 Interpreters have considered these two chapters to be one of the most difficult sections of the Bible. While other approaches are possible, this discussion will take the prophecies literally as referring to a future event of history within a premillennial eschatological framework. The discussion will consider other related biblical passages.
This section is a type of prophecy called “apocalyptic” which presents its messages in symbols and cryptic characters. Generally, the prophets of the Old Testament called for repentance and sought the reformation of human conduct. Apocalyptic prophets such as Ezekiel, Daniel, Zechariah, and John (in the book of Revelation) certainly shared these spiritual goals. But they believed God’s ultimate solution to evil was not reformation but revolution. They looked to the latter days when God would confront Satan and evil, transform the world, set up a perfect kingdom, and live and fellowship with his people forever.”
‘38: 8-16 This battle is to take place “after a long time” and “in the last days – both consistent references to the end-time (cp. Jeremiah 4:6, 13, 24-26; 5:15; 6: 1,22; 10:22; 23:20; Daniel 8:26; 10;14). The confederacy will come into the land “that has been restored from war and regathered. God will devise an evil plan against Israel. According to Revelation 20: 1-10, this battle may be in two parts: one at the end of history (Revelation 19: 17-21) and one after a thousand years of peace (Revelation 20: 1-3). God and Magog, along with Satan, will be fully and finally defeated (Revelation 20: 7-10). Ezekiel’s battle may be the first battle, or the second, or both. God will loot and plunder those who dwell in “open villages” at the center” (Hebrew tabor), possibly the region around Mount Tabor just north of the Valley Jezreel, site of the battle of Armageddon (Revelation 16:16). Motivated by vengeance and greed, God will attempt the annihilation of Israel (v. 16).”
“39: 25-29 The message parallels 38: 18-23, giving a summary of Gog’s defeat and exulting in the glory of Yahweh. This passage concludes the restoration section of the book of Ezekiel that began in 33:1. It forms an appropriate prelude to the vision of the coming Messianic King and kingdom in chapters 40-48.”
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I highly recommend “The Mid_East Beast: The Scriptural Case for an Islamic Antichrist” by Joel Richardson (*B)
First, go to Amazon.com, search the book by ISBN reference # (see (*b) above) or by title and author. Here is the summary for the book on the website:
“I am firmly convinced that Islam is the single greatest challenge the Church will face before the return of Jesus, yet most are still either asleep or in denial.” Mideast Beast completes and establishes the revolutionary argument introduced in Joel Richardson’s New York Times Bestselling Islamic Antichrist, namely that the Antichrist will be a Muslim, whose empire will arise out of the Middle East.
Whereas most students of the Bible have long held that some form of humanism or universalist religion would catapult the Antichrist to world power, Mideast Beast: The Scriptural Case for an Islamic Antichrist systematically proves from that the long awaited system of the Antichrist is even now before us and knocking at our door.
Through a highly scholarly, theologically grounded, yet simple presentation, Richardson thoroughly corrects the objections of critics, establishing beyond a doubt, the Biblical case for an Islamic Antichrist. With large segments of the Christian missionary movement embracing a heretical method of outreach to Muslims known as “Chrislam” or “The Insider Movement”, Mideast Beast cuts to the core of the matter, revealing the true nature and origins of Islam.
After finishing Richardson’s work, you too will be convinced concerning the challenge of Islam to the Church. Some topics covered and questions answered: –What about Psalm 83 & Isaiah 17? –Is Gog of Magog from Russia, or somewhere else? –What role does the nation of Turkey play? –Answers to critics. –What other scholars and commentators support this view? –Will Antichrist really claim to be YHVH God Almighty? –Why the Antichrist will not be a humanist. –What’s comes next in the Middle East? –What the Church must do now.”
Second, on this blog website, enter this into the search tool and hit enter using the title text:
“01/18/25 Day 209 Ezekiel 37-42 / Chapters 38 & 39” or just easier: Just search on “01/18/25” and this post will appear with at most a handful of results for that day.
So, Warren Wiersbe (*B) presents the view that the Anti-Christ will emerge from Europe (humanist worldview) while Joel Richardson presents the view that the Anti- Christ will come from the Middle East (Islamic).
I have the deepest respect for Warren Wiersbe but Joel Richardson offers 80 pages or so worth of convincing evidence for his view. Wiersbe’s counter argument consists primarily in one footnote about a paragraph long, footnote #1, pages # 251 – 252. (See #B) If this were a court case, with the comparative arguments before the jury, it would be no contest. But yet, Wiersbe’s position might very well still be the majority opinion amongst “reknowned” theologian sources.
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I can’t possibly articulate a pithy summary to Joel Richardson’s case. So I will cherry pick just a couple of key points for the “jury’s consideration”:
“The reason God’s methodology of creating and using false peace in order to destroy his enemies is precisely the same methodology as Antichrist is simply because the two are the same person.” (pgs. 225 & 226 , under Chapter 14 of Joel’s book)
In just this one excerpt, Joel provides supporting evidence of his premise with twenty different similar verse comparison themes between Ezekiel and primarily Revelation, but also from the Old Testament: Zechariah; Isaiah; Daniel; Psalms; 2 Kings; Joel; Micah; and Jeremiah! Let scripture testify to scripture! (see 2 Timothy 3: 16-17!)
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Still in Chapter 38 of Joe’s book, let’s look at the section of alleged differences between Ezekiel 38 & 39 vs. other Antichristic prophecies:
Arguments From Silence
“…many look to arguments from silence. For instance, Fruchtenbaum states, ” in the Ezekiel invasion, there is a protest against the invasion; in the Armageddon Campaign, there is no protest. (*d). In other words , because one passage contains information that the other does not, this proves that they are two different events. But this argument assumes that every passage is utterly comprehensive in its description. If this same logic were applied to the gospels, once would conclude that they are all different stories. One could say that one gospel account contained one detail that another did not, and therefore they are two different events. Yet we know that any such suggestion is foolish. Throughout the prophets, numerous Messianic prophecies present the reader with extremely summarized portrayals of the work of Messiah. Simply because one prophet informs us of certain details concerning a future event and another does not, in no way does this indicate that the two are describing different events. Arguments from silence are fallacious and should carry no weight whatsoever with careful and thoughtful students of Scripture.”
Both are Destroyed on the “Mountains of Israel”
“In attempting to show differences between Gog’s invasion and the invasion of the AntiChrist, Fruchtenbaum states, “the Ezekiel invasion is destroyed in the area between Petra and Jerusalem.’ (*d). Although this argument is made quite frequently with genuine seriousness, with all due respect to Dr. Fruchtenbaum, and others who have repeated his claim, it is simply a silly argument that has not been thought through. First, Fruchtenbaum seems to ignore the equally prominent verse in 39:5 where God informs God that, “You shall fall in the open field, for I have spoken declares the Lord God”. Likewise in 38:9 Gog is told, “you will advance, coming on like a storm, You will be llke a cloud covering the land, you and all your hordes.” So it isn’t even true that Gog’s armies will be somehow limited to the mountains of Israel…”
(*d) – “The Footsteps of the Messiah: A Study of the Sequence Prophetic Events, Rev. ed. (Tustin, CA: Ariel Ministries, 2003), p. 119)
Burning The Weapons
“Another argument frequently made against the Gog battle concluding at the return of Jesus, is that the victorious Jewish people burn the weapons of the fallen armies for seven months, which would be unnecessary during the millennium. Nathan Jones of Lamb and Lion Ministries says for instance,
“With Jesus then present to provide everyone’s needs, the curse partially lifted and the Earth reformatted by earthquakes , there would be no need for Israel to have to burn any weapons for fuel.” (*9)
(*9) – Nathan Jones, “Timing God-Magog: When will Ezekiel 38-39 be fulfilled? http://www.lamblion.com/articles/articles_tribulation2.php
But this claim fundamentally misunderstands the true nature of the age to come. During the millennium, for millions of people, a very earthly life will continue. The LORD does not destroy the earth. He restores it. There is a clear continuity between this age and the next. Zechariah for instance, describes previously unbelieving survivors from among the nations that will line as believers during the Millennium:
“Then everyone who survives of all the nations that have come against Jerusalem shall go up years after year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Booths.” – Zechariah 14:16
…” (*e)
(*e) – Note – Warren W. Wiersbe in fact makes this very argument within a comparatively short footnote 1 defense.. – pgs 251 – 252
Gog’s Invasion is Limited, While Armageddon Includes All Nations
Some claim that in the Battle of Armageddon, every nation is involved while God’s coalition involves a limited number of nations. But this distinction is not in accord with Scripture. In Chapter 3, we saw that the Antichrist coalition is primarily composed of ten nations with many others later joining. But we also saw that every last nation of the earth will not be aligned with the Antichrist. If the Antichrist ruled over every nation of the earth, we would have global peace – Pax Antichistus. yet Daniel 9:27 reveals that the Antichrist is at war until the very end. simply stated, war necessitates resistor militaries and governments. Daniel 11 speaks of actions that will be at war with the Antichrist, and others that will “escape his hand”. Any claim that every single nation of the earth will accompany the the Antichrist’s coalition against Jerusalem, ignores several relevant passages. The coalition of AntiChrist and the Battle of Armageddon will not include every nation in the earth as many claim. secondly, efforts to limit Gog’s coalition to the nations specifically named in Ezekiel 38-39 ignore the statement within the passage which says that “many” other nations will join those already listed.”
I encourage y’all to read these sections if and when you pick up the book:
ON THE Burial of God / AntiChrist
On the Death of Gog / Antichrist
Problems with the Popular Position: The Demographic Problem
“… According to the popular interpretation, the nations specified in Ezekiel’s prophecy include Russia, and several Middle Eastern, Central Asian, and North African nations. However, even if we included nation that has ever been suggested, this would still only represent less than one-third of the total Muslim world population. If every soldier in every one of these nations were destroyed, today this would represent less than 2% of the total 1.6 billion Muslims of the world… Any suggestion that Islam will disappear from the earth several years prior to the return of Jesus is simply an illusion. …”
I will close with the Conclusion of Joel’s Chapter 14: Ezekiel 38 & 39: Gog of Magog: Part II:
In considering all of the relevant texts, it has become abundantly clear that Antichrist and God are one and the same. The various arguments used against this view all fail. As has been the argument throughout this book, Ezekiel 38-39 is simply yet one more retelling of the same story that all the prophets tell:
A group of nations, led by Gog / Antichrist attack Israel and persecute Christians.
As a result, over a period of three and a half years, the nation of Israel experiences one final utter devastation with many being taken captive.
Through the Messiah, the LORD intervenes to rescue the survivors and deliver the captives.
The gentile nations turn to the LORD.
Israel turns to the LORD forever.
The Messiah rules from Jerusalem.
As Miller rightfully states:
The battle described from different perspectives in Ezekiel 38 – 39 and that of Daniel 11: 40 – 45 is best constructed as occurring immediately prior to the coming of the Lord and may be referred to as the Battle of Armageddon. (*14)
(*14): Stephen L. Miller, Daniel; The New American Commentary Series (Nashville, TN, Broadman and Holman, 1994), pp 310-311
And finally, as an essential point, we must acknowledge that until Christ returns, Islam is simply not going away. Despite the great efforts, and perhaps even the great desire of some interpreters, this notion is simply an illusion and wishful thinking. The sooner the Church acknowledges the fact that Islam represents the final and greatest challenge it will ever face, the sooner it can rise to meet the missionary challenge as opposed to sitting back and awaiting a pre-Messianic destruction of Islam that the Scriptures nowhere speak of. Having now seen the evidence that Islam will be here for the long haul, recognizing the future, now is the moment for the Church to rise up and plunge itself sacrificially into the front lines of the Church’s final and greatest challenge!
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Soli Deo Gloria!