What can we learn from the holiness, order, and guarded access of God's presence in the temple? How does this contrast with eternity? Let’s look at Ezekiel 41.
What did the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies look like, inside the visionary temple shown to the prophet Ezekiel?
Then he brought me to the sanctuary, and he measured the side pillars: six cubits wide on each side was the width of the side pillar. The width of the entrance was ten cubits and the sides of the entrance were five cubits on each side. He also measured the length of the sanctuary, forty cubits, and the width, twenty cubits.
Then he went inside and measured each side pillar of the doorway, two cubits, and the doorway, six cubits high; and the width of the doorway, seven cubits. And he measured its length, twenty cubits, and the width, twenty cubits, before the sanctuary; and he said to me, “This is the Most Holy Place.” (Ezek 41:1-4 NASB)
What was the design of the side-rooms surrounding the temple?
Then he measured the wall of the temple; it was six cubits thick, and each side room around the temple was four cubits wide. The side rooms were on three levels, one above another, thirty on each level. There were ledges all around the wall of the temple to serve as supports for the side rooms, so that the supports were not inserted into the wall of the temple.
The side rooms all around the temple were wider at each successive level. The structure surrounding the temple was built in ascending stages, so that the rooms widened as one went upward. A stairway went up from the lowest floor to the top floor through the middle floor. (Ezek 41:5-7 NIV)
What did the raised foundation of the temple look like?
I also saw an elevation all around the temple; it was the foundation of the side chambers, a full rod, that is, six cubits high. The thickness of the outer wall of the side chambers was five cubits, and so also the remaining terrace by the place of the side chambers of the temple.
And between it and the wall chambers was a width of twenty cubits all around the temple on every side. The doors of the side chambers opened on the terrace, one door toward the north and another toward the south; and the width of the terrace was five cubits all around. (Ezek 41:8-11 NKJV)
Was there a mysterious, large building on the west?
The building that was before the separate place at the side toward the west was seventy cubits wide; and the wall of the building was five cubits thick all around, and its length ninety cubits. So he measured the temple, one hundred cubits long; and the separate place, and the building, with its walls, one hundred cubits long; also the width of the face of the temple, and of the separate place toward the east, one hundred cubits. (Ezek 41:12-14 WEB)
What were the interior materials, and wood paneling of the inner building and galleries like?
Then he measured the length of the building facing the yard that was at the back and its galleries on either side, a hundred cubits. The inside of the nave and the vestibules of the court, the thresholds and the narrow windows and the galleries all around the three of them, opposite the threshold, were paneled with wood all around, from the floor up to the windows (now the windows were covered), (Ezek 41:15-16 ESV)
What were the interior walls of the temple carved with?
reaching to the top of the entrance, and as far as the inner temple and on the outside. On every wall all around, on the inside and outside, was a pattern carved with cherubim and palm trees. There was a palm tree between each pair of cherubim.
Each cherub had two faces: a human face turned toward the palm tree on one side, and a lion’s face turned toward it on the other. They were carved throughout the temple on all sides. Cherubim and palm trees were carved from the ground to the top of the entrance and on the wall of the great hall. (Ezek 41:17-20 HCSB)
What was the interior architecture of the main hall like?
The door posts of the main sanctuary were square. Each door post was identical in appearance to the others. The altar was made of wood, three cubits high and two cubits long. Its corners, base, and sides were of wood. He told me, “This table stands in the Lord’s presence.” (Ezek 41:21-22 ISV)
What did the large doors, carvings, and frames of the main hall look like?
And the temple and the sanctuary had two doors. And the doors had two leaves apiece, two turning leaves; two leaves for the one door, and two leaves for the other door.
And there were made on them, on the doors of the temple, cherubims and palm trees, like as were made upon the walls; and there were thick planks upon the face of the porch without. And there were narrow windows and palm trees on the one side and on the other side, on the sides of the porch, and upon the side chambers of the house, and thick planks. (Ezek 41:23-26 KJV)
Is God’s plan to eventually dwell openly among us forever?
And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them” (Rev 21:3 LSB)
What can we learn from the holiness, order, and guarded access of God's presence in the temple? How does this contrast with eternity? You decide!
Hope & Restoration (Ezekiel 40)
Do we measure our life? Do we guard our hearts? Are we moving closer to God? Do we trust that God has a blueprint for our future? Let’s look at Ezekiel 40.
In a vision where was Ezekiel taken, and what was he to declare to Israel?
In the twenty-fifth year of our exile, at the beginning of the year, on the tenth of the month, in the fourteenth year after the city was taken, on this very day the hand of the Lord was upon me and He brought me there. In the visions of God He brought me into the land of Israel and set me on a very high mountain, and on it to the south there was something like a structure of a city.
So He brought me there; and behold, there was a man whose appearance was like the appearance of bronze, with a thread of flax and a measuring rod in his hand; and he was standing in the gateway. And the man said to me, “Son of man, see with your eyes, hear with your ears, and pay attention to all that I am going to show you; for you have been brought here in order to show it to you. Declare to the house of Israel all that you see.” (Ezek 40:1-4 NASB)
How did Ezekiel begin describing his vision of a restored, ideal temple?
I saw a wall completely surrounding the temple area. The length of the measuring rod in the man’s hand was six long cubits, each of which was a cubit and a handbreadth. He measured the wall; it was one measuring rod thick and one rod high. Then he went to the east gate. He climbed its steps and measured the threshold of the gate; it was one rod deep. The alcoves for the guards were one rod long and one rod wide, and the projecting walls between the alcoves were five cubits thick. And the threshold of the gate next to the portico facing the temple was one rod deep. (Ezek 40:5-7 NIV)
What size was the vestibule of the gateway measured to be?
He also measured the vestibule of the inside gate, one rod. Then he measured the vestibule of the gateway, eight cubits; and the gateposts, two cubits. The vestibule of the gate was on the inside. In the eastern gateway were three gate chambers on one side and three on the other; the three were all the same size; also the gateposts were of the same size on this side and that side. (Ezek 40:8-10 NKJV)
How does Ezekiel describe the measurements and orientation of the inner porch of the gateway?
He measured the width of the opening of the gate, ten cubits; and the length of the gate, thirteen cubits; and a border before the lodges, one cubit on this side, and a border, one cubit on that side; and the side rooms, six cubits on this side, and six cubits on that side. He measured the gate from the roof of the one side room to the roof of the other, a width of twenty-five cubits, door against door. (Ezek 40:11-13 WEB)
How does Ezekiel describe specific architectural features of the gateway?
He measured also the vestibule, sixty cubits. And around the vestibule of the gateway was the court. From the front of the gate at the entrance to the front of the inner vestibule of the gate was fifty cubits. And the gateway had windows all around, narrowing inwards toward the side rooms and toward their jambs, and likewise the vestibule had windows all around inside, and on the jambs were palm trees. (Ezek 40:14-16 ESV)
How was Ezekiel guided through the outer court, highlighting its paved floor, thirty surrounding rooms, and the distance between the outer and inner gateways?
Next, he brought me into the outer court, where chambers and a paved area had been constructed all around the courtyard, with 30 chambers facing the pavement. The pavement to the side of the gates corresponded to the length of the gates. He also measured the width from the front lower gate to the front of the exterior inner court at 100 cubits to the east and to the north. (Ezek 40:17-19 ISV)
How did Ezekiel describe the measurement of the north gate?
And the gate of the outward court that looked toward the north, he measured the length thereof, and the breadth thereof. And the little chambers thereof were three on this side and three on that side; and the posts thereof and the arches thereof were after the measure of the first gate: the length thereof was fifty cubits, and the breadth five and twenty cubits.
And their windows, and their arches, and their palm trees, were after the measure of the gate that looketh toward the east; and they went up unto it by seven steps; and the arches thereof were before them. And the gate of the inner court was over against the gate toward the north, and toward the east; and he measured from gate to gate an hundred cubits. (Ezek 40:20-23 KJV)
How does Ezekiel describe the South Gate of the outer court?
Then he led me toward the south, and behold, there was a gate toward the south; and he measured its side pillars and its porches according to those same measurements. The gate and its porches had windows all around like those other windows; the length was fifty cubits and the width twenty-five cubits.
There were seven steps going up to it, and its porches were in front of them; and it had palm tree ornaments on its side pillars, one on each side. The inner court had a gate toward the south; and he measured from gate to gate toward the south, one hundred cubits. (Ezek 40:24-27 LSB)
How was the prophet Ezekiel guided into the inner court through its south gate? Did this symbolize a deeper, more elevated stage of approach into God's presence?
Then he brought me to the inner courtyard by the south gate; and he measured the south gate according to those same measurements. Its guardrooms also, its side pillars, and its porches were according to those same measurements. And the gate and its porches had windows all around; it was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide.
There were porches all around, twenty-five cubits long and five cubits wide. And its porches were toward the outer courtyard; and palm tree decorations were on its side pillars, and its stairway had eight steps. (Ezek 40:28-31 NASB)
How does Ezekiel describe the architectural and symbolic design of the east gate of the inner court?
Then he brought me to the inner court on the east side, and he measured the gateway; it had the same measurements as the others. Its alcoves, its projecting walls and its portico had the same measurements as the others. The gateway and its portico had openings all around. It was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide. Its portico faced the outer court; palm trees decorated the jambs on either side, and eight steps led up to it. (Ezek 40:32-34 NIV)
Did Ezekiel then describe an angel bringing him to the north gate of the inner court?
Then he brought me to the north gateway and measured it according to these same measurements—also its gate chambers, its gateposts, and its archways. It had windows all around; its length was fifty cubits and its width twenty-five cubits. Its gateposts faced the outer court, palm trees were on its gateposts on this side and on that side, and going up to it were eight steps. (Ezek 40:35-37 NKJV)
How does Ezekiel describe the stone tables and preparation areas?
A room with its door was by the posts at the gates. They washed the burnt offering there. In the porch of the gate were two tables on this side and two tables on that side, on which to kill the burnt offering, the sin offering, and the trespass offering.
On the one side outside, as one goes up to the entry of the gate toward the north, were two tables; and on the other side, which belonged to the porch of the gate, were two tables. Four tables were on this side, and four tables on that side, by the side of the gate: eight tables, on which they killed the sacrifices. (Ezek 40:38-41 WEB)
How does Ezekiel describe the specialized stone tables and wall-hooks built into the gateway chambers? Does it emphasize order, preparation, and the seriousness of worship?
And there were four tables of hewn stone for the burnt offering, a cubit and a half long, and a cubit and a half broad, and one cubit high, on which the instruments were to be laid with which the burnt offerings and the sacrifices were slaughtered. And hooks, a handbreadth long, were fastened all around within. And on the tables the flesh of the offering was to be laid. (Ezek 40:42-43 ESV)
How does Ezekiel describe specific chambers and measurements within the inner court of the restored temple in his sweeping vision?
From outside leading into the inner gate there were chambers for the choir. One was beside the north gate facing the south, and another was at the south gate facing the north. The angel told me, “This south-facing chamber is for the priests who maintain the Temple, and the north-facing chamber is for the priests who maintain the altar.
These are Zadok’s descendants, who, as descendants of Levi approach the Lord to minister directly to him.” He measured the court in the form of a square at 100 cubits long and 100 cubits wide. The altar stood in front of the Temple. (Ezek 40:44-47 ISV)
How does Ezekiel describe the architectural measurements of the porch leading into the inner sanctuary?
And he brought me to the porch of the house, and measured each post of the porch, five cubits on this side, and five cubits on that side: and the breadth of the gate was three cubits on this side, and three cubits on that side. The length of the porch was twenty cubits, and the breadth eleven cubits, and he brought me by the steps whereby they went up to it: and there were pillars by the posts, one on this side, and another on that side. (Ezek 40:48-49 KJV)
Is there a similar vision of New Jerusalem, the holy city?
And the one who spoke with me had a gold measuring rod to measure the city and its gates and its wall. (Rev 21:15 LSB)
Do we measure our life? Do we guard our hearts? Are we moving closer to God? Do we trust that God has a blueprint for our future? You decide!
In a vision where was Ezekiel taken, and what was he to declare to Israel?
In the twenty-fifth year of our exile, at the beginning of the year, on the tenth of the month, in the fourteenth year after the city was taken, on this very day the hand of the Lord was upon me and He brought me there. In the visions of God He brought me into the land of Israel and set me on a very high mountain, and on it to the south there was something like a structure of a city.
So He brought me there; and behold, there was a man whose appearance was like the appearance of bronze, with a thread of flax and a measuring rod in his hand; and he was standing in the gateway. And the man said to me, “Son of man, see with your eyes, hear with your ears, and pay attention to all that I am going to show you; for you have been brought here in order to show it to you. Declare to the house of Israel all that you see.” (Ezek 40:1-4 NASB)
How did Ezekiel begin describing his vision of a restored, ideal temple?
I saw a wall completely surrounding the temple area. The length of the measuring rod in the man’s hand was six long cubits, each of which was a cubit and a handbreadth. He measured the wall; it was one measuring rod thick and one rod high. Then he went to the east gate. He climbed its steps and measured the threshold of the gate; it was one rod deep. The alcoves for the guards were one rod long and one rod wide, and the projecting walls between the alcoves were five cubits thick. And the threshold of the gate next to the portico facing the temple was one rod deep. (Ezek 40:5-7 NIV)
What size was the vestibule of the gateway measured to be?
He also measured the vestibule of the inside gate, one rod. Then he measured the vestibule of the gateway, eight cubits; and the gateposts, two cubits. The vestibule of the gate was on the inside. In the eastern gateway were three gate chambers on one side and three on the other; the three were all the same size; also the gateposts were of the same size on this side and that side. (Ezek 40:8-10 NKJV)
How does Ezekiel describe the measurements and orientation of the inner porch of the gateway?
He measured the width of the opening of the gate, ten cubits; and the length of the gate, thirteen cubits; and a border before the lodges, one cubit on this side, and a border, one cubit on that side; and the side rooms, six cubits on this side, and six cubits on that side. He measured the gate from the roof of the one side room to the roof of the other, a width of twenty-five cubits, door against door. (Ezek 40:11-13 WEB)
How does Ezekiel describe specific architectural features of the gateway?
He measured also the vestibule, sixty cubits. And around the vestibule of the gateway was the court. From the front of the gate at the entrance to the front of the inner vestibule of the gate was fifty cubits. And the gateway had windows all around, narrowing inwards toward the side rooms and toward their jambs, and likewise the vestibule had windows all around inside, and on the jambs were palm trees. (Ezek 40:14-16 ESV)
How was Ezekiel guided through the outer court, highlighting its paved floor, thirty surrounding rooms, and the distance between the outer and inner gateways?
Next, he brought me into the outer court, where chambers and a paved area had been constructed all around the courtyard, with 30 chambers facing the pavement. The pavement to the side of the gates corresponded to the length of the gates. He also measured the width from the front lower gate to the front of the exterior inner court at 100 cubits to the east and to the north. (Ezek 40:17-19 ISV)
How did Ezekiel describe the measurement of the north gate?
And the gate of the outward court that looked toward the north, he measured the length thereof, and the breadth thereof. And the little chambers thereof were three on this side and three on that side; and the posts thereof and the arches thereof were after the measure of the first gate: the length thereof was fifty cubits, and the breadth five and twenty cubits.
And their windows, and their arches, and their palm trees, were after the measure of the gate that looketh toward the east; and they went up unto it by seven steps; and the arches thereof were before them. And the gate of the inner court was over against the gate toward the north, and toward the east; and he measured from gate to gate an hundred cubits. (Ezek 40:20-23 KJV)
How does Ezekiel describe the South Gate of the outer court?
Then he led me toward the south, and behold, there was a gate toward the south; and he measured its side pillars and its porches according to those same measurements. The gate and its porches had windows all around like those other windows; the length was fifty cubits and the width twenty-five cubits.
There were seven steps going up to it, and its porches were in front of them; and it had palm tree ornaments on its side pillars, one on each side. The inner court had a gate toward the south; and he measured from gate to gate toward the south, one hundred cubits. (Ezek 40:24-27 LSB)
How was the prophet Ezekiel guided into the inner court through its south gate? Did this symbolize a deeper, more elevated stage of approach into God's presence?
Then he brought me to the inner courtyard by the south gate; and he measured the south gate according to those same measurements. Its guardrooms also, its side pillars, and its porches were according to those same measurements. And the gate and its porches had windows all around; it was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide.
There were porches all around, twenty-five cubits long and five cubits wide. And its porches were toward the outer courtyard; and palm tree decorations were on its side pillars, and its stairway had eight steps. (Ezek 40:28-31 NASB)
How does Ezekiel describe the architectural and symbolic design of the east gate of the inner court?
Then he brought me to the inner court on the east side, and he measured the gateway; it had the same measurements as the others. Its alcoves, its projecting walls and its portico had the same measurements as the others. The gateway and its portico had openings all around. It was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide. Its portico faced the outer court; palm trees decorated the jambs on either side, and eight steps led up to it. (Ezek 40:32-34 NIV)
Did Ezekiel then describe an angel bringing him to the north gate of the inner court?
Then he brought me to the north gateway and measured it according to these same measurements—also its gate chambers, its gateposts, and its archways. It had windows all around; its length was fifty cubits and its width twenty-five cubits. Its gateposts faced the outer court, palm trees were on its gateposts on this side and on that side, and going up to it were eight steps. (Ezek 40:35-37 NKJV)
How does Ezekiel describe the stone tables and preparation areas?
A room with its door was by the posts at the gates. They washed the burnt offering there. In the porch of the gate were two tables on this side and two tables on that side, on which to kill the burnt offering, the sin offering, and the trespass offering.
On the one side outside, as one goes up to the entry of the gate toward the north, were two tables; and on the other side, which belonged to the porch of the gate, were two tables. Four tables were on this side, and four tables on that side, by the side of the gate: eight tables, on which they killed the sacrifices. (Ezek 40:38-41 WEB)
How does Ezekiel describe the specialized stone tables and wall-hooks built into the gateway chambers? Does it emphasize order, preparation, and the seriousness of worship?
And there were four tables of hewn stone for the burnt offering, a cubit and a half long, and a cubit and a half broad, and one cubit high, on which the instruments were to be laid with which the burnt offerings and the sacrifices were slaughtered. And hooks, a handbreadth long, were fastened all around within. And on the tables the flesh of the offering was to be laid. (Ezek 40:42-43 ESV)
How does Ezekiel describe specific chambers and measurements within the inner court of the restored temple in his sweeping vision?
From outside leading into the inner gate there were chambers for the choir. One was beside the north gate facing the south, and another was at the south gate facing the north. The angel told me, “This south-facing chamber is for the priests who maintain the Temple, and the north-facing chamber is for the priests who maintain the altar.
These are Zadok’s descendants, who, as descendants of Levi approach the Lord to minister directly to him.” He measured the court in the form of a square at 100 cubits long and 100 cubits wide. The altar stood in front of the Temple. (Ezek 40:44-47 ISV)
How does Ezekiel describe the architectural measurements of the porch leading into the inner sanctuary?
And he brought me to the porch of the house, and measured each post of the porch, five cubits on this side, and five cubits on that side: and the breadth of the gate was three cubits on this side, and three cubits on that side. The length of the porch was twenty cubits, and the breadth eleven cubits, and he brought me by the steps whereby they went up to it: and there were pillars by the posts, one on this side, and another on that side. (Ezek 40:48-49 KJV)
Is there a similar vision of New Jerusalem, the holy city?
And the one who spoke with me had a gold measuring rod to measure the city and its gates and its wall. (Rev 21:15 LSB)
Do we measure our life? Do we guard our hearts? Are we moving closer to God? Do we trust that God has a blueprint for our future? You decide!
Gog Gone (Ezekiel 39)
How does God picture the defeat of Gog, his multi-national coalition, and the spiritual restoration of Israel? Let’s look at Ezekiel 39.
What will God do to Gog as they invade Israel from the far north?
Son of man, prophesy against Gog and say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against you, Gog, chief prince of Meshek and Tubal. I will turn you around and drag you along. I will bring you from the far north and send you against the mountains of Israel. Then I will strike your bow from your left hand and make your arrows drop from your right hand. (Ezek 39:1-3 NIV)
Does God prophesy the total and humiliating defeat of Gog and his invading armies?
You shall fall upon the mountains of Israel, you and all your troops and the peoples who are with you; I will give you to birds of prey of every sort and to the beasts of the field to be devoured. You shall fall on the open field; for I have spoken,” says the Lord God. (Ezek 39:4-5 NKJV)
Is the climax of this prophecy God’s direct intervention and His ultimate purpose in this?
And I will rain down fire on Magog and on all your allies who live safely on the coasts. Then they will know that I am the Lord. In this way, I will make known my holy name among my people of Israel. I will not let anyone bring shame on it. And the nations, too, will know that I am the Lord, the Holy One of Israel. That day of judgment will come, says the Sovereign Lord. Everything will happen just as I have declared it. (Ezek 39:6-8 NLT)
What is the aftermath of God’s defeat of Gog's invading army against Israel?
“Those who dwell in the cities of Israel will go out and will make fires of the weapons and burn them, both the shields and the bucklers, the bows and the arrows, and the war clubs and the spears, and they will make fires with them for seven years; so that they will take no wood out of the field, and not cut down any out of the forests; for they will make fires with the weapons. They will plunder those who plundered them, and rob those who robbed them,” says the Lord Yahweh. (Ezek 39:9-10 WEB)
Will there be a massive cleanup and burial after God defeats Gog?
On that day, I will assign Gog a place for burial in Israel in the Travelers’ Valley east of the sea. It will block the travelers’ way, because Gog and all of his horde will be buried there. It will be called Hamon-gog Valley. For seven months, the house of Israel will bury them in order to cleanse the land. All the people of the land will take part in the burial, so they will make a name for themselves on the day that I glorify myself. This is what the Lord God says. (Ezek 39:11-13 CEB)
Is there a massive cleanup following the total defeat of Gog’s invading army?
After those seven months, the people will appoint a group of men to look for any dead bodies left unburied. This must be done for seven months to make sure that the land is no longer unclean. Whenever they find a human bone, they will set up a marker next to it. Then the gravediggers will bury it in “The Valley of Gog's Army” near the town of “Gog's Army.” After that, the land will be pure again. (Ezek 39:14-16 CEV)
Does God symbolically invite birds and beasts to feast on the corpses of defeated Gog?
As for you, son of man, thus says the Lord God: Speak to the birds of every sort and to all beasts of the field: ‘Assemble and come, gather from all around to the sacrificial feast that I am preparing for you, a great sacrificial feast on the mountains of Israel, and you shall eat flesh and drink blood. You shall eat the flesh of the mighty, and drink the blood of the princes of the earth—of rams, of lambs, and of he-goats, of bulls, all of them fat beasts of Bashan.
And you shall eat fat till you are filled, and drink blood till you are drunk, at the sacrificial feast that I am preparing for you. And you shall be filled at my table with horses and charioteers, with mighty men and all kinds of warriors,’ declares the Lord God. (Ezek 39:17-20 ESV)
Does God reveal His power to the whole world after defeating Gog?
I will display My glory among the nations, and all the nations will see the judgment I have executed and the hand I have laid on them. From that day forward the house of Israel will know that I am Yahweh their God.
And the nations will know that the house of Israel went into exile on account of their iniquity, because they dealt unfaithfully with Me. Therefore, I hid My face from them and handed them over to their enemies, so that they all fell by the sword. I dealt with them according to their uncleanness and transgressions, and I hid My face from them. (Ezek 39:21-24 HCSB)
Do we now shift from the defeat of hostile nations to a time of peace and safety, revealing God’s holiness?
Therefore this is what the Lord God has to say: “I’m going to restore the resources of Jacob and show mercy to the entire house of Israel. I’ll be zealous for my own reputation and for my holiness. They’ll forget their shame and all of their unfaithfulness by which they behaved so unfaithfully toward me. They will live on their land in confidence, not in fear.” (Ezek 39:25-26 ISV)
Does God promise to restore Israel, reveal His holiness to the nations, and pour out His Spirit?
When I have brought them again from the people, and gathered them out of their enemies' lands, and am sanctified in them in the sight of many nations; Then shall they know that I am the Lord their God, which caused them to be led into captivity among the heathen: but I have gathered them unto their own land, and have left none of them any more there. Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord God. (Ezek 39:27-29 KJV)
Does the defeat of Earth's armies at the Second Coming depict something similar?
Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the birds which fly in midheaven, “Come, assemble for the great supper of God, so that you may eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of commanders and the flesh of strong men and the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them and the flesh of all men, both free men and slaves, and small and great.” (Rev 19:17-18 LSB)
How does God picture the defeat of Gog, his multi-national coalition, and the spiritual restoration of Israel? You decide!
What will God do to Gog as they invade Israel from the far north?
Son of man, prophesy against Gog and say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against you, Gog, chief prince of Meshek and Tubal. I will turn you around and drag you along. I will bring you from the far north and send you against the mountains of Israel. Then I will strike your bow from your left hand and make your arrows drop from your right hand. (Ezek 39:1-3 NIV)
Does God prophesy the total and humiliating defeat of Gog and his invading armies?
You shall fall upon the mountains of Israel, you and all your troops and the peoples who are with you; I will give you to birds of prey of every sort and to the beasts of the field to be devoured. You shall fall on the open field; for I have spoken,” says the Lord God. (Ezek 39:4-5 NKJV)
Is the climax of this prophecy God’s direct intervention and His ultimate purpose in this?
And I will rain down fire on Magog and on all your allies who live safely on the coasts. Then they will know that I am the Lord. In this way, I will make known my holy name among my people of Israel. I will not let anyone bring shame on it. And the nations, too, will know that I am the Lord, the Holy One of Israel. That day of judgment will come, says the Sovereign Lord. Everything will happen just as I have declared it. (Ezek 39:6-8 NLT)
What is the aftermath of God’s defeat of Gog's invading army against Israel?
“Those who dwell in the cities of Israel will go out and will make fires of the weapons and burn them, both the shields and the bucklers, the bows and the arrows, and the war clubs and the spears, and they will make fires with them for seven years; so that they will take no wood out of the field, and not cut down any out of the forests; for they will make fires with the weapons. They will plunder those who plundered them, and rob those who robbed them,” says the Lord Yahweh. (Ezek 39:9-10 WEB)
Will there be a massive cleanup and burial after God defeats Gog?
On that day, I will assign Gog a place for burial in Israel in the Travelers’ Valley east of the sea. It will block the travelers’ way, because Gog and all of his horde will be buried there. It will be called Hamon-gog Valley. For seven months, the house of Israel will bury them in order to cleanse the land. All the people of the land will take part in the burial, so they will make a name for themselves on the day that I glorify myself. This is what the Lord God says. (Ezek 39:11-13 CEB)
Is there a massive cleanup following the total defeat of Gog’s invading army?
After those seven months, the people will appoint a group of men to look for any dead bodies left unburied. This must be done for seven months to make sure that the land is no longer unclean. Whenever they find a human bone, they will set up a marker next to it. Then the gravediggers will bury it in “The Valley of Gog's Army” near the town of “Gog's Army.” After that, the land will be pure again. (Ezek 39:14-16 CEV)
Does God symbolically invite birds and beasts to feast on the corpses of defeated Gog?
As for you, son of man, thus says the Lord God: Speak to the birds of every sort and to all beasts of the field: ‘Assemble and come, gather from all around to the sacrificial feast that I am preparing for you, a great sacrificial feast on the mountains of Israel, and you shall eat flesh and drink blood. You shall eat the flesh of the mighty, and drink the blood of the princes of the earth—of rams, of lambs, and of he-goats, of bulls, all of them fat beasts of Bashan.
And you shall eat fat till you are filled, and drink blood till you are drunk, at the sacrificial feast that I am preparing for you. And you shall be filled at my table with horses and charioteers, with mighty men and all kinds of warriors,’ declares the Lord God. (Ezek 39:17-20 ESV)
Does God reveal His power to the whole world after defeating Gog?
I will display My glory among the nations, and all the nations will see the judgment I have executed and the hand I have laid on them. From that day forward the house of Israel will know that I am Yahweh their God.
And the nations will know that the house of Israel went into exile on account of their iniquity, because they dealt unfaithfully with Me. Therefore, I hid My face from them and handed them over to their enemies, so that they all fell by the sword. I dealt with them according to their uncleanness and transgressions, and I hid My face from them. (Ezek 39:21-24 HCSB)
Do we now shift from the defeat of hostile nations to a time of peace and safety, revealing God’s holiness?
Therefore this is what the Lord God has to say: “I’m going to restore the resources of Jacob and show mercy to the entire house of Israel. I’ll be zealous for my own reputation and for my holiness. They’ll forget their shame and all of their unfaithfulness by which they behaved so unfaithfully toward me. They will live on their land in confidence, not in fear.” (Ezek 39:25-26 ISV)
Does God promise to restore Israel, reveal His holiness to the nations, and pour out His Spirit?
When I have brought them again from the people, and gathered them out of their enemies' lands, and am sanctified in them in the sight of many nations; Then shall they know that I am the Lord their God, which caused them to be led into captivity among the heathen: but I have gathered them unto their own land, and have left none of them any more there. Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord God. (Ezek 39:27-29 KJV)
Does the defeat of Earth's armies at the Second Coming depict something similar?
Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the birds which fly in midheaven, “Come, assemble for the great supper of God, so that you may eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of commanders and the flesh of strong men and the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them and the flesh of all men, both free men and slaves, and small and great.” (Rev 19:17-18 LSB)
How does God picture the defeat of Gog, his multi-national coalition, and the spiritual restoration of Israel? You decide!
Greedy Gog (Ezekiel 38)
Is greedy Gog led into a divine trap to make God’s name known to the entire world? Let’s begin in Ezekiel 38.
Does God warn about a confederacy of nations ruled by Gog?
Yahweh’s word came to me, saying, “Son of man, set your face toward Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him, and say, ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “Behold, I am against you, Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal. (Ezek 38:1-3 WEB)
What other nations are described as being in this coalition? Is God setting a trap for Gog?
I will turn you about, set hooks in your jaws, and lead you out, you and all your army, horses and riders, handsomely dressed, all of them, a great assembly, with buckler and shield, all of them wielding swords. Persia, Cush, and Put are with you, all of them equipped with shield and helmet. Gomer and all his troops, Beth-togarmah from the far north and all his troops; many peoples are with you. (Ezek 38:4-6 CEB)
Do we now shift focus from assembling the alliance to launching their assault against a peaceful, defenseless Israel?
So keep your troops prepared to fight, because in a few years, I will command you to invade Israel, a country that was ruined by war. It was deserted for a long time, but its people have returned from the foreign nations where they once lived. The Israelites now live in peace in the mountains of their own land. But you and your army will attack them like a fierce thunderstorm and surround them like a cloud. (Ezek 38:7-9 CEV)
Does God reveal the real motive, the greed that drives Gog to invade Israel?
Thus says the Lord God: On that day, thoughts will come into your mind, and you will devise an evil scheme and say, ‘I will go up against the land of unwalled villages.
I will fall upon the quiet people who dwell securely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having no bars or gates,’ to seize spoil and carry off plunder, to turn your hand against the waste places that are now inhabited, and the people who were gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and goods, who dwell at the center of the earth.
Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish and all its leaders will say to you, ‘Have you come to seize spoil? Have you assembled your hosts to carry off plunder, to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods, to seize great spoil?’ (Ezek 38:10-13 ESV)
Does God want to humble arrogant Gog and reveal that Israel’s ultimate security comes from Him, not a military or forts?
Therefore prophesy, son of man, and say to Gog: This is what the Lord God says: On that day when My people Israel are dwelling securely, will you not know this and come from your place in the remotest parts of the north—you and many peoples with you, who are all riding horses—a mighty horde, a huge army?
You will advance against My people Israel like a cloud covering the land. It will happen in the last days, Gog, that I will bring you against My land so that the nations may know Me, when I show Myself holy through you in their sight. (Ezek 38:14-16 HCSB)
Instead of a military victory is Gog walking directly into a judgment that God’s prophets had been foretelling for centuries?
This is what the Lord God says: ‘Surely you’re the one about whom I spoke years ago in the writings of my servants, Israel’s prophets, aren’t you? They predicted back then that I would bring you up after many years, didn’t they? So it will be that on that day, when Gog invades the land of Israel,’ declares the Lord God, ‘my zeal will ignite my anger. (Ezek 38:17-18 ISV)
Does God demonstrate His power through an incredible earthquake?
For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel; So that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground. (Ezek 38:19-20 KJV)
In this explosive climax, is the destruction of Gog’s army through supernatural means, to make God’s name known to the entire world?
“And I will call for a sword against him on all My mountains,” declares Lord Yahweh. “Every man’s sword will be against his brother. With pestilence and with blood I will enter into judgment with him; and I will rain on him and on his troops, and on the numerous peoples who are with him, a torrential rain, with hailstones, fire, and brimstone. And I will magnify Myself, I will manifest Myself as holy, and I will make Myself known in the sight of many nations; and they will know that I am Yahweh.”’ (Ezek 38:21-23 LSB)
Is Gog specifically mentioned in a prophecy at the end of the millennium?
When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison, and will come out to deceive the nations which are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war; the number of them is like the sand of the seashore. (Rev 20:7–8 NASB)
Is greedy Gog led into a divine trap to make God’s name known to the entire world? You decide!
Does God warn about a confederacy of nations ruled by Gog?
Yahweh’s word came to me, saying, “Son of man, set your face toward Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him, and say, ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “Behold, I am against you, Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal. (Ezek 38:1-3 WEB)
What other nations are described as being in this coalition? Is God setting a trap for Gog?
I will turn you about, set hooks in your jaws, and lead you out, you and all your army, horses and riders, handsomely dressed, all of them, a great assembly, with buckler and shield, all of them wielding swords. Persia, Cush, and Put are with you, all of them equipped with shield and helmet. Gomer and all his troops, Beth-togarmah from the far north and all his troops; many peoples are with you. (Ezek 38:4-6 CEB)
Do we now shift focus from assembling the alliance to launching their assault against a peaceful, defenseless Israel?
So keep your troops prepared to fight, because in a few years, I will command you to invade Israel, a country that was ruined by war. It was deserted for a long time, but its people have returned from the foreign nations where they once lived. The Israelites now live in peace in the mountains of their own land. But you and your army will attack them like a fierce thunderstorm and surround them like a cloud. (Ezek 38:7-9 CEV)
Does God reveal the real motive, the greed that drives Gog to invade Israel?
Thus says the Lord God: On that day, thoughts will come into your mind, and you will devise an evil scheme and say, ‘I will go up against the land of unwalled villages.
I will fall upon the quiet people who dwell securely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having no bars or gates,’ to seize spoil and carry off plunder, to turn your hand against the waste places that are now inhabited, and the people who were gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and goods, who dwell at the center of the earth.
Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish and all its leaders will say to you, ‘Have you come to seize spoil? Have you assembled your hosts to carry off plunder, to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods, to seize great spoil?’ (Ezek 38:10-13 ESV)
Does God want to humble arrogant Gog and reveal that Israel’s ultimate security comes from Him, not a military or forts?
Therefore prophesy, son of man, and say to Gog: This is what the Lord God says: On that day when My people Israel are dwelling securely, will you not know this and come from your place in the remotest parts of the north—you and many peoples with you, who are all riding horses—a mighty horde, a huge army?
You will advance against My people Israel like a cloud covering the land. It will happen in the last days, Gog, that I will bring you against My land so that the nations may know Me, when I show Myself holy through you in their sight. (Ezek 38:14-16 HCSB)
Instead of a military victory is Gog walking directly into a judgment that God’s prophets had been foretelling for centuries?
This is what the Lord God says: ‘Surely you’re the one about whom I spoke years ago in the writings of my servants, Israel’s prophets, aren’t you? They predicted back then that I would bring you up after many years, didn’t they? So it will be that on that day, when Gog invades the land of Israel,’ declares the Lord God, ‘my zeal will ignite my anger. (Ezek 38:17-18 ISV)
Does God demonstrate His power through an incredible earthquake?
For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel; So that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground. (Ezek 38:19-20 KJV)
In this explosive climax, is the destruction of Gog’s army through supernatural means, to make God’s name known to the entire world?
“And I will call for a sword against him on all My mountains,” declares Lord Yahweh. “Every man’s sword will be against his brother. With pestilence and with blood I will enter into judgment with him; and I will rain on him and on his troops, and on the numerous peoples who are with him, a torrential rain, with hailstones, fire, and brimstone. And I will magnify Myself, I will manifest Myself as holy, and I will make Myself known in the sight of many nations; and they will know that I am Yahweh.”’ (Ezek 38:21-23 LSB)
Is Gog specifically mentioned in a prophecy at the end of the millennium?
When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison, and will come out to deceive the nations which are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war; the number of them is like the sand of the seashore. (Rev 20:7–8 NASB)
Is greedy Gog led into a divine trap to make God’s name known to the entire world? You decide!
Bones & Sticks (Ezekiel 37)
What great hope did God give through a valley of dry bones and two sticks? Let’s look at Ezekiel 37.
What remarkable thing did Ezekiel see in the middle of a valley?
The hand of the Lord was on me, and He brought me out by His Spirit and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones. He led me all around them. There were a great many of them on the surface of the valley, and they were very dry. Then He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” I replied, “Lord God, only You know.” (Ezek 37:1-3 HCSB)
What did the Lord tell Ezekiel to do regarding these dry bones?
Then the Lord told me, “Prophesy to these bones. Tell them: ‘You dry bones, listen to the message from the Lord: “This is what the Lord God says to you dry bones! ‘Pay attention! I’m bringing my Spirit into you right now, and you’re going to live! I’m going to grow tendons on you, regenerate your flesh, cover you with skin, and make you breathe again so that you can come back to life and learn that I am the Lord.’”’” (Ezek 37:4-6 ISV)
What happened as Ezekiel prophesied to the bones in the valley?
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. 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.
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. 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. (Ezek 37:7-10 KJV)
Who did God say that these bones were, and what did He want Ezekiel to say to them?
Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel; behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope has perished. We are completely cut off.’ Therefore prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says Lord Yahweh, “Behold, I will open your graves and cause you to come up out of your graves, My people; and I will bring you into the land of Israel.
Then you will know that I am Yahweh, when I have opened your graves and caused you to come up out of your graves, My people. And I will put My Spirit within you, and you will come to life, and I will place you on your own land. Then you will know that I, Yahweh, have spoken and done it,” declares Yahweh.’” (Ezek 37:11-14 LSB)
What did Ezekiel taking two sticks and joining them as one represent?
The word of the Lord came again to me, saying, “Now you, son of man, take for yourself one stick and write on it, ‘For Judah and for the sons of Israel, his companions’; then take another stick and write on it, ‘For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim and all the house of Israel, his companions.’ Then put them together for yourself one to another into one stick, so that they may become one in your hand.
And when the sons of your people speak to you, saying, ‘Will you not declare to us what you mean by these?’ say to them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: “Behold, I am going to take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel, his companions; and I will put them with it, with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they will be one in My hand.”’ (Ezek 37:15-19 NASB)
What did God say that He would do with the scattered tribes of Israel?
Hold before their eyes the sticks you have written on and say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will take the Israelites out of the nations where they have gone. I will gather them from all around and bring them back into their own land. I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel.
There will be one king over all of them and they will never again be two nations or be divided into two kingdoms. They will no longer defile themselves with their idols and vile images or with any of their offenses, for I will save them from all their sinful backsliding, and I will cleanse them. They will be my people, and I will be their God. (Ezek 37:20-23 NIV)
Will they return to the land of their inheritance and live there forever under a new covenant?
David My servant shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd; they shall also walk in My judgments and observe My statutes, and do them. Then they shall dwell in the land that I have given to Jacob My servant, where your fathers dwelt; and they shall dwell there, they, their children, and their children’s children, forever; and My servant David shall be their prince forever.
Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them, and it shall be an everlasting covenant with them; I will establish them and multiply them, and I will set My sanctuary in their midst forevermore. My tabernacle also shall be with them; indeed I will be their God, and they shall be My people. The nations also will know that I, the Lord, sanctify Israel, when My sanctuary is in their midst forevermore.” ’ (Ezek 37:24-28 NKJV)
Does Revelation describe a similar thing happening to the two final witnesses?
But after three and a half days, God breathed life into them, and they stood up! Terror struck all who were staring at them. (Rev 11:11 NLT)
What great hope did God give through a valley of dry bones and two sticks? You decide!
What remarkable thing did Ezekiel see in the middle of a valley?
The hand of the Lord was on me, and He brought me out by His Spirit and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones. He led me all around them. There were a great many of them on the surface of the valley, and they were very dry. Then He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” I replied, “Lord God, only You know.” (Ezek 37:1-3 HCSB)
What did the Lord tell Ezekiel to do regarding these dry bones?
Then the Lord told me, “Prophesy to these bones. Tell them: ‘You dry bones, listen to the message from the Lord: “This is what the Lord God says to you dry bones! ‘Pay attention! I’m bringing my Spirit into you right now, and you’re going to live! I’m going to grow tendons on you, regenerate your flesh, cover you with skin, and make you breathe again so that you can come back to life and learn that I am the Lord.’”’” (Ezek 37:4-6 ISV)
What happened as Ezekiel prophesied to the bones in the valley?
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. 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.
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. 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. (Ezek 37:7-10 KJV)
Who did God say that these bones were, and what did He want Ezekiel to say to them?
Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel; behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope has perished. We are completely cut off.’ Therefore prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says Lord Yahweh, “Behold, I will open your graves and cause you to come up out of your graves, My people; and I will bring you into the land of Israel.
Then you will know that I am Yahweh, when I have opened your graves and caused you to come up out of your graves, My people. And I will put My Spirit within you, and you will come to life, and I will place you on your own land. Then you will know that I, Yahweh, have spoken and done it,” declares Yahweh.’” (Ezek 37:11-14 LSB)
What did Ezekiel taking two sticks and joining them as one represent?
The word of the Lord came again to me, saying, “Now you, son of man, take for yourself one stick and write on it, ‘For Judah and for the sons of Israel, his companions’; then take another stick and write on it, ‘For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim and all the house of Israel, his companions.’ Then put them together for yourself one to another into one stick, so that they may become one in your hand.
And when the sons of your people speak to you, saying, ‘Will you not declare to us what you mean by these?’ say to them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: “Behold, I am going to take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel, his companions; and I will put them with it, with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they will be one in My hand.”’ (Ezek 37:15-19 NASB)
What did God say that He would do with the scattered tribes of Israel?
Hold before their eyes the sticks you have written on and say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will take the Israelites out of the nations where they have gone. I will gather them from all around and bring them back into their own land. I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel.
There will be one king over all of them and they will never again be two nations or be divided into two kingdoms. They will no longer defile themselves with their idols and vile images or with any of their offenses, for I will save them from all their sinful backsliding, and I will cleanse them. They will be my people, and I will be their God. (Ezek 37:20-23 NIV)
Will they return to the land of their inheritance and live there forever under a new covenant?
David My servant shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd; they shall also walk in My judgments and observe My statutes, and do them. Then they shall dwell in the land that I have given to Jacob My servant, where your fathers dwelt; and they shall dwell there, they, their children, and their children’s children, forever; and My servant David shall be their prince forever.
Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them, and it shall be an everlasting covenant with them; I will establish them and multiply them, and I will set My sanctuary in their midst forevermore. My tabernacle also shall be with them; indeed I will be their God, and they shall be My people. The nations also will know that I, the Lord, sanctify Israel, when My sanctuary is in their midst forevermore.” ’ (Ezek 37:24-28 NKJV)
Does Revelation describe a similar thing happening to the two final witnesses?
But after three and a half days, God breathed life into them, and they stood up! Terror struck all who were staring at them. (Rev 11:11 NLT)
What great hope did God give through a valley of dry bones and two sticks? You decide!
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