CFBC Wed Study | 12-06-23 | Israel, Prophecy and the Middle East | Session 6

Dr. Chuck Herring | Ezekiel 38:10-23

Before we get into the text tonight, I want to call your attention to the placement of these important prophetic chapters.  For instance, in Ezekiel 37, the vision of the dry bones coming to life pictures the rebirth and reconstitution of the nation of Israel.  In AD 70, they were driven out their land and disbursed throughout the world.  This prophecy about their rebirth as a nation was fulfilled on May 14, 1948.  Here's a fact we can’t overlook or explain away.  The Jews are the indigenous people of this tiny strip of land.  God promised it to Abraham and his descendants…

Genesis 15:18… On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I have given this land, From the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates.

Ezekiel 40-48 speaks of the Millennial Kingdom when Jesus shall rule and reign from Jerusalem after His return.

Squeezed in between Ezekiel 37 and Ezekiel 40-48 are these two prophetic chapters (38-39) which depict a massive war that will take place in the last days.  Last week we drilled down into the first part of chapter 38 to identify the nations that will come against Israel before the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.  It seems that the three major players will be Russia, Turkey, and Iran.  The other nations that will join them will be Libya, Sudan (Ethiopia), and possibly Germany (Gomer).  The leader of this coalition of rabid antisemites will be Gog, who will likely be a Russian dictator or czar.  

I find it interesting that none of Israel’s neighboring nations are mentioned.  One possible explanation is that Psalm 83 pictures a war with the inner circle of nations that could result in the peaceful conditions that Israel experiences before the war of Gog and Magog.  

The nations involved in this end-time drama are moving into place even now.  Furthermore, we are witnessing a global resurgence of antisemitism.  According to University of Massachusetts professor of criminology Arlie Perliger… 

The U.S. is currently experiencing one of the most significant waves of antisemitism that it has ever seen. This wave predates the October 7 massacre that initiated the war between Israel and Hamas. In 2022, “Incidents of harassment rose 29% compared to 2021; acts of vandalism surged 51%; and physical assaults jumped 26% to an average of 10 reported incidents a day.” The week after Hamas terrorists attacked Israeli civilians, antisemitic incidents tripled compared to the same week in 2022.  

What’s the source of this incessant hatred of the Jewish people?  Ultimately, you can trace it back to Satan himself.  Consider these verses…

Revelation 12:1–6… A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; 2 and she was with child; and she cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth. 3 Then another sign appeared in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven diadems. 4 And his tail swept away a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child. 5 And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron; and her child was caught up to God and to His throne. 6 Then the woman fled into the wilderness where she had a place prepared by God, so that there she would be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days. 

“The woman” represents the nation of Israel.  This nation has repeatedly failed to honor God through the ages.  However, she belongs to God and through this nation God has provided a Savior for the world.  Jesus was born in Israel to Jewish parents.  He grew up in Israel and his ministry was centered there.  He died on the cross in Jerusalem.  He was buried there, raised from the dead there, and ascended back to heaven from there.  One day He is coming again, and He is coming to Israel and will rule there for 1000 years.

Romans 9:3–5… For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh, 4 who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons, and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises, 5 whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen. 

“The dragon” in Revelation 12 is none other than Satan.  His consuming passion is to exterminate the Jews.  This text speaks of the sufferings of the Jewish people.  John Stonestreet and Timothy Padgett observed, “The prince of darkness can never win his fight with heaven, but in defiant desperation, he incites people to commit evil and inflict pain, especially on those through whom God works in redemption.”  John Phillips wrote…

“No nation on earth has suffered so 
 severely and for so long as Israel.”

“The Son” is the Lord Jesus Christ.  He will rule the world!

As we approach Christmas, the continued existence of the Jewish people serves as a powerful witness to God’s power and to His faithfulness!

Ezekiel 38:10–12… ‘Thus says the Lord God, “It will come about on that day, that thoughts will come into your mind and you will devise an evil plan, 11 and you will say, ‘I will go up against the land of unwalled villages. I will go against those who are at rest, that live securely, all of them living without walls and having no bars or gates, 12 to capture spoil and to seize plunder, to turn your hand against the waste places which are now inhabited, and against the people who are gathered from the nations, who have acquired cattle and goods, who live at the center of the world.’ 

This section of Ezekiel focuses on the reasons for this invasion.  Given the increasing anti-Semitism in the world today, it is not hard to see these nations wanting to destroy Israel because of pure, demonically inspired hatred. Iran especially is famous for its constant decrees and threats of destroying the Jewish nation and driving them into the sea. 

Another reason is materialism.  That’s what verse 12 emphasizes—to capture spoil and to seize plunder.  The Lord indicates through this Scripture that a prerequisite for the War of Gog & Magog is that Israel will not only be rebuilt but will be thriving economically in the last days.  So, what could these riches possibly be?

ÞIsrael has discovered two massive gas fields in the last 10 years called 'Levia...