Timing of war of Gog and Magog

“And it will come to pass on that day that there will be great consternation, sent by the Lord upon them; each one shall seize the hand of the other, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of the other.” (Zechariah 14:13)

Just as the Bible includes two scenarios for the War of Gog and Magog, so too do today’s rabbis have different approaches to events that mark the End of Days.

Two main Biblical prophets – Zechariah and Ezekiel – foretold messages about the War of Gog and Magog, a key event that sets the stage for the imminent arrival of the Messiah.

The prophet Zechariah lived after the destruction of the First Holy Temple in Jerusalem and his prophecy about the War of Gog and Magog is the darker of the two. According to Zechariah, the Jewish people will be the focus of Gog and Magog, with the battle being waged in Jerusalem.

“I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem for war. The city will be captured. The houses will be destroyed and the women violated. Half the city will go out into exile and the rest of the people will not be cut off from the city.” (Zechariah 14:2)

There are two Biblically prophesied wars before the last return of Jesus Christ. These are: –

1. Gog and Magog war and
2. The Armageddon battle

Differences between Gog and Magog war and the Armageddon battle

1. Gog and Magog war will take place in the Mountains of Israel while Armageddon battle will be in the valley of Megiddo
2. The Armageddon battle involves all world nations while Gog and Magog war involves only selected nations led by Russia
3. China is not in the Gog and Magog war but in the Armageddon battle
4. Antichrist is taking part in the Armageddon battle but not seen anywhere in the Gog and Magog battle
5. Jesus Christ stands on Mount Olives at the end of Armageddon battle but nowhere do we see Jesus Christ appearing physically to the world in Gog and Magog war

(These are just but a few differences)

Another broad difference between the two battles is their prophetic timings.

Armageddon battle happens in the end of the age when Jesus Christ returns to judge and for the Millennium Reign but when is the Gog and Magog war happening?

Prophetic Timing of Gog and Magog war

Ezekiel who prophesies the Gog and Magog war (Russia with a great multitude coming against Israel) gives us the prophetic timing of the war. In His prophecy, Ezekiel reveals a lot for us to know the time of the war.

When is Gog and Magog war happening?

1. In the latter years

Ezek 38:8: After many days you shall be visited: in the latter years you shall come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them.

The latter years are the end years to the return of Jesus Christ. Latter years are different from the End Times. End Times speak of a time while latter years go specific to the end years.

2. In the latter days

Ezekiel goes from speaking of years to days

Ezek 38:16: And you shall come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes.

Ezekiel specifies that the Gog and Magog war will take place in the end years in the end days.

3. When Israel has been re-gathered and given their father’s land

Ezek 38:8: After many days you shall be visited: in the latter years you shall come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them.

Ezekiel prophesied Israel re-gathering and being given their father’s land before the Gog and Magog war. See prophecy of Israel re-birth

Israel was re-gathered and given their father’s (Abraham) land in May 15th 1948. It is when the Mountains of Israel stopped being desolate (in waste) and where inhibited.

…to turn your hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, (Ezek 38:12)

Ezekiel prophesied Gog and Magog war to take place after Israel is re-gathered and given their father’s land which is after May 15th 1948. After Israel re-birth we are yet to see the war.

4. When Israel dwell safely

Ezekiel tells us that Israel will be ‘dwelling safely’ (Ezek 38:8, 11). The word in the original Hebrew for dwelling safely, ‘betach’ can have a meaning of feeling safe but not necessarily being safe; a false confidence and security.

There is a false feeling of safety in Israel now. It could be reasonably argued that Israel is living more safely today than at any other time in her 63 years ago.

5. When Israel is a land of unwalled villages

Ezekiel mentions that Israel will be living in a land of ‘unwalled villages’ and ‘dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates’.

Ezek 38:11: And you shall say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates

In the ancient times of Ezekiel and throughout history up until 1900 AD, virtually all villages and cities in Israel had strong walls. Ezekiel had never seen a village or city without defensive walls.

Yet, the Israel of today lives in a land of unwalled villages except for the 400+ miles long wall separating her and portions of the West Bank that helps keep terrorist snipers from shooting into Israel. Vast majority of Israel dwells in unwalled villages (without walls and having neither bars nor gates).

Culled from www.christiantruthcenter.com/