Many people find end time studies confusing. This is generally because they have the wrong framework for understanding the end times. Once they adopt the right framework, end time studies become much simpler.

 

Do you remember how much clearer Scripture became once you understood the Two House Theory? Once I understood Two House Theory, whole sections of Scripture (that had previously been closed) opened up to me. In just the same way, once we understand the Post-Millennial Return of Yeshua, end time events also become much simpler, because we quit trying to force agendas that just don’t work. This also causes us to quit ignoring the things that Yahweh wants His people to be doing (right now, today).

 

Just for one illustration, let us look at the two wars of Gog (and Magog). Once we realize that Yeshua does not return physically until the end of earth’s history, the two wars of Gog (and Magog) become much simpler to understand.

 

In the Nazarene Israel study we show how America is the prophetic descendant of Ephraim, while England is the prophetic descendant of Manasseh. Together these make prophetic Joseph. Then in The Post-Millennial Return we show how the Muslim people descend from Ishmael, and how Ishmael is described as an archer. The “archers” (i.e., the Muslims) are prophesied to “bitterly grieve” Joseph (i.e., America and England), although Yahweh will cause Joseph to prevail.

 

In The Post-Millennial Return we show other proofs that America (and her allies) will fight together with Israel against the Muslims in the Middle East, and win. It will be a major regional war that will lead to the establishment of a much-expanded millennial land of Israel. The expanded millennial land will extend from Gaza, into Egypt, then unto Jordan, and onward into Assyria.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We describe the expanded millennial land of Israel in more detail in The Post-Millennial Return, but it should be clear that the occupants of the millennial land will all have to believe in Yahweh. It may not sound nice, but after Egypt, Assyria, Lebanon and the Jordan are annexed with the State of Israel, the present Islamic occupants will either have to convert, relocate, or die. Since conversion is the most desirable result we should pray for it. We know that Yahweh wants them to convert, because Zechariah tells us that after the war of territorial expansion, many of the Philistines (i.e., “Palestinians”) will convert, and worship of Yahweh. (Note: Tyre is related to Babylon.)

 

 

But if the war of territorial expansion will lead to many Muslim conversions, then how will this war come about? We do not know the details in advance, but as we explain in Nazarene Israel, America is the lead tribe of the House of Ephraim. Most Americans still support Israel, and would likely demand that America stand by Israel in the event of a regional war. In contrast, many Islamic nations either already have nuclear, chemical and biological weapons capabilities, or they are seeking to acquire them. At the time of this writing, Pakistan has nuclear weapons, and they are not necessarily all accounted for. Iran is preparing to build nuclear weapons, and has stated that it wants to use them to annihilate Israel (and eventually dominate the world). Saudi Arabia has said that if Iran obtains nuclear weapons, they also will want to acquire them.

 

It is very realistic that the Islamic world would use nuclear, chemical and/or biological weapons against the United States, as the Muslims believe that their (false) “messiah” (the Mahdi) will come as a result of an apocalypse. Therefore the Muslims seek to hasten the arrival of the Mahdi, by hastening the coming of nuclear war. If the Islamic world were to attack America with chemical, biological and/or nuclear weapons, then no matter who was president, a majority of the American public would likely demand that “all necessary action be taken” to ensure that no further Islamic attacks of any kind ever arose from the Middle East ever again. Islamic lands would likely be occupied, and Islam would likely be outlawed (just as Nazism was outlawed after World War II). While we do not know if Israel will be asked to annex and/or administer these occupied Muslim lands, Ezekiel tells us that troops of the house of Israel/Ephraim (America and her allies) will occupy these lands during an extended “cleanup mission” following this first War of Gog (and Magog).

 

Ezekiel 38-39 speaks of two wars of Gog (and Magog). Ironically, the first war is listed second (in Ezekiel 39) while the second war is listed first (in Ezekiel 38). We will take them in chronological order here, dealing with the first war first.

 

While scholars differ as to who “he” is, Ezekiel 39 tells us that Gog dies along with his troops in the first war of Gog (and Magog).

 

 

Verse 11 tells us that the location will be the Valley of Hamon Gog (the multitudes of Gog, east of the Dead Sea (in Jordan). Verse 12 tells us it will be the House of Israel (American and allied troops) who cleans up the battlefield.

 

Next Ezekiel tells us that Yahweh will call all of the birds of the air and the beasts of the field to feast on the bodies of those who die in this battle, as a great “sacrificial meal.”

 

 

Notice the similarity of this sacrificial meal to Revelation 19-20, which seem to describe the same event.

 

 

A little later on we will see that this “Gog” is also the manifestation of Satan, and that when “Gog” is killed, Satan also becomes bound in the pit (Revelation 20:3, above).

 

In Ezekiel, Yahweh tells us that the house of Israel will come to the knowledge of their identity as a result of this war; and that they will even know why they went into captivity. This will be an excellent time, because once people know why they went into captivity (i.e., ignoring Yahweh’s Torah) they will likely seek to avoid incurring the same kind of punishment in the future).

 

Scripture (and especially prophecy) speaks of spiritual matters. What if “Gog” and “Satan” are both spirits which can sometimes inhabit people (meaning human beings can be possessed by these spirits)? Let us notice the similarities to Isaiah 14, which begins with a criticism that takes place just after the Ingathering. Satan is described as the king of Babylon (verse 4), a fallen cherub (verses 12-15), and then as a “man” who shook kingdoms (verses 16-17), as well as a military leader who died with his army (in verses 18-20). Notice how all of this dovetails with Ezekiel 39, and also with Revelation 19-20, as if they were three different tellings of the exact same events.

 

 

People can be possessed by spirits (such as the spirit of Gog or Satan), and in verse 25 Yahweh describes Gog/Satan as “the Assyrian.” While scholars disagree as to whether or not the leader of Syria is possessed by a “spirit of Gog” (or Satan), Syria’s leader (Bashar Al-Assad) is closely allied with the Iranians, and they are also massing missiles for an Islamic strike on Israel. If Syria’s leader does coordinate a joint Muslim assault on Israel, it might fulfill these prophecies.

 

While all of the above clearly takes place before the Ingathering (at the start of the Millennium), Revelation 20:7-9 tells us a second War of Gog will take place after the thousand years have expired (at the end of the Millennium, prior to Yeshua’s return). The Spirit of Satan will be released from his prison in the Pit, and will inhabit/possess another (different) human being, who will lead many nations against Israel.

 

This passage in Revelation is a parallel account of the “second war of Gog” as told in Ezekiel 38. Verse 22 even records the fire that is called down from heaven.

 

 

In verse 17, when Yahweh rhetorically asks, “Are you he of whom I have spoken in former days by My servants the prophets of Israel,” notice the similarities to Isaiah 14 (which speaks of Satan).

 

 

Notice also how the calling down of fire and brimstone in Ezekiel 38:22 and Revelation 20:9 (above) seems to follow the same pattern as the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, in which Yahweh on earth (i.e., Yeshua) called down fire from Yahweh in heaven (i.e., Yahweh the Father).

 

 

[For more information, please see the study, “Yeshua: Manifestation of Elohim,” which is part of Nazarene Scripture Studies Volume One.]

 

The reason Yeshua calls down fire on the earth at the second War of Gog (and Magog) is because Yeshua will be physically here on earth during that time. The reason He does not call down fire during the first war of Gog is that He is here with us in spirit during that time.

 

Since there is to be a Muslim coalition of nations that will attack Israel, we should also consider Satan’s Throne. We describe this in more detail in The Roman-Islamic Beast, but just as Yahweh is a Spirit with an earthly temple, Satan is also a spirit with an earthly temple. While Yahweh’s temple was built in Jerusalem, Satan’s temple was originally built in Pergamos (in modern-day Turkey), as a temple to Zeus. Elohim prophecies over it in Revelation 2:12-13.

 

 

 

While it is Yahweh who is all-powerful, we should not dismiss the power of Satan, or his artifacts. Satan’s Throne was moved to Berlin prior to World War One and Hitler’s rise to power. After World War Two, the Soviets stole Satan’s Throne, and took it to the Soviet Union, where it was during the reign of the Soviet empire. Today the Turkish government wants Satan’s Throne returned back to Turkey, to its original place in Pergamos. If it is moved there, it would be consistent with the idea of a revived Ottoman-Islamic caliphate as the Eighth Beast of Revelation 17. [For more details, please see “Satan’s Throne and the Eighth King,” which is part of The Roman-Islamic Beast.]

 

For more information on all of these matters, please see The Post-Millennial Return study, as well as The Roman-Islamic Beast.