Dr. Chuck Herring | Ezekiel 39:1-29The battle of Gog and Magog described in Ezekiel 38 and 39 is one of the most debated events in biblical prophecy…§ Some approach these chapters as non-literal, having only an idealist or figurative meaning, without any historical reality. § Others approach these chapters as having a literal fulfillment, being an invasion of some kind, but differ on its participants, location, and timing. Last week we moved to the deep end of the prophetic pool as we considered the war of Gog and Magog. The Bible predicts an end-time alliance between Russia, Iran and Turkey (along with other countries) that will come against Israel in the last days leading up to the return of Jesus. As they cover the land like a storm it will look like a slam dunk for the invading forces, that is until God steps in! We saw in last week’s study that God will not allow this invading force to prevail but will supernaturally wipe them out on the mountains of Israel. This turn of events will literally leave an unbelieving world gasping for answers! It will, the Bible says, be an event that will be used by God to make His name known again to both Israel and the nations of the world.In Hebrew literature, it was common to give an account and then to repeat it to give emphasis and to add a few additional details. Ezekiel 39:1-8 is a summary of what was described in Ezekiel 38. ÞChapter 38 concentrates on the danger this evil coalition presents to Israel.ÞChapter 38 concentrates on the defeat of Gog.ÞChapter 39 concentrates on the disposal of Gog.ÞChapter 39 concentrates on the deliverance of God’s people.Ezekiel 39:1–6… “And you, son of man, prophesy against Gog and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal; 2 and I will turn you around, drive you on, take you up from the remotest parts of the north and bring you against the mountains of Israel. 3 “I will strike your bow from your left hand and dash down your arrows from your right hand. 4 “You will fall on the mountains of Israel, you and all your troops and the peoples who are with you; I will give you as food to every kind of predatory bird and beast of the field. 5 “You will fall on the open field; for it is I who have spoken,” declares the Lord God. 6 “And I will send fire upon Magog and those who inhabit the coastlands in safety; and they will know that I am the Lord. Verse 4 reveals some new information not found in Ezekiel 38. It states that the armies associated with this evil coalition will fall on the Mountains of Israel and their bodies will be given to the birds and to the beasts to eat. This is similar to the events of Armageddon as described in Revelation 19:17-18. Some have suggested that the Gog and Magog invasion is actually describing the war of Armageddon. While there are similarities there are also some major differences. The most notable is that this war of Gog and Magog will come at a time when Israel is living in peace and security, in unwalled villages. This certainly WILL NOT be the case at the end of the tribulation as the inhabitants of Israel has to flee for their lives at the mid-point of the tribulation. (Matt 24:15-22, Rev 12:6,13-17)For another new piece of information look at verse 6. This verse speaks of a fire in Magog (Russia) itself. Let’s piece together the scenario we’ve already been presented…§ This massive army covers the mountains of Israel and bears down on the people of God.§ God sends an earthquake that wipes out a large segment of the troops.§ Chaos breaks out within the ranks of the remaining army, and they begin to kill each other. § Next, fire and hail are poured out on what remains of the invading army. This is a picture of the total devastation of a vastly superior army that attacked a noticeably inferior nation. Surely anyone in their right mind would assume that these events have the supernatural fingerprints of God all over them. Well, if that weren’t enough, God unleashes His judgment on Magog (Russia) itself. Fire falls from heaven. All doubt as to the source of this judgment is removed. This is the hand of Almighty God!“Not only is the Russian and allied army destroyed in Israel, but the land of Russia itself is devastated by the raining of brimstone, causing much destruction to the nation itself. It will cause Russia to cease being a political force in world affairs.” Arnold Fructenbaum, Footsteps of the Messiah, page 115.I want you to see how verse 6 ends—“…And they will know that I am the Lord, the Holy One of Israel.” Even hard-hearted unbelievers will finally recognize that there is a sovereign, holy, and righteous God to whom everyone must answer to. Ezekiel 39:7–8… “My holy name I will make known in the midst of My people Israel; and I will not let My holy name be profaned anymore. And the nations will know that I am the Lord, the Holy One in Israel. 8 “Behold, it is coming and it shall be done,” declares the Lord God. “That is the day of which I

Dec 16, 20231h 0m

Ep 120CFBC Wed Study | 12-06-23 | Israel, Prophecy and the Middle East | Session 6

Dr. Chuck Herring | Ezekiel 38:10-23Before 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 th

Dec 16, 202351 min

Ep 119Jesus, the Hope for a Weary World | 12-10-23 | Mighty God

Pastor A.J. Keyte | Isaiah 9:6; Mark 5:21-43

Dec 11, 202337 min

Ep 118Jesus, the Hope for a Weary World | 12-03-23 | Wonderful Counselor

Dr. Chuck Herring | Isaiah 9:6

Dec 4, 202342 min

Ep 117CFBC Sunday Bonus | 11-19-23 | Guest Speaker Dr. Roc Collins

Dr. Roc Collins

Dec 4, 202334 min

Ep 116CFBC Wed Study | 11-29-23 | Israel, Prophecy and the Middle East | Session 5

Dr. Chuck Herring | Ezekiel 38:1-9Without a doubt, this is the time to study Ezekiel 36-39. Tonight, Jewish families are still dealing with the brutal and evil attack that took place on October 7th. Many are mourning the deaths of loved ones. Others are nursing physical and emotional wounds that have left them devastated. The IDF has moved into Gaza searching for Hamas terrorists while at the same time giving innocent Palestinians multiple warnings and opportunities to move their families to safety. Even now, Israel has agreed to a cease fire and Palestinian prisoners are being swapped for innocent captives. Russia, Iran, and Turkey seem to be forming a new axis of evil. All three of them literally hate Israel. In fact, a new wave of antisemitism is sweeping through America, Europe, and the world. Israel has a target on its back and the Middle East appears to be a ticking time bomb that could detonate at any moment.John F. Walvoord commented…If Ezekiel 38-39 is studied carefully, it reveals a future invasion of the land of Israel by the armies of Russia (and its allies). Though sometimes confused with the battle of Armageddon, which will be a world conflict before the second coming, this war will be distinct in its objectives, its character, and its outcome. According to Scripture, the invaders will be completely destroyed. Undoubtedly this will have an effect on the world power struggle in which Russia is now a major factor. As this prophecy was written over 2500 years ago, the question remains whether this has ever been fulfilled in the past. A search of history finds no such battle or outcome….Though it may leave some questions unanswered, the study of these two chapters supplies an important segment of prophecy as it relates to the end-time period leading up to the second coming of Christ.[1]What did God reveal to Ezekiel about Israel and the nations in the last days? Here are a few prophecies that we’ve already discovered and discussed. § God’s plan for the nation of Israel in the last days§ The restoration of the nation of Israel (May 14, 1948)§ God will make His name known to Israel and the nations in the last days§ The Gog and Magog war with Israel that is sure to comeThis war will occur at some point between Israel becoming a nation again and the second coming of Jesus. As we shall see, the nations involved in this war are seriously moving into postion right now. Okay, let’s get into the text itself…Ezekiel 38:1–2… And the word of the Lord came to me saying, 2 “Son of man, set your face toward Gog of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him.These first six verses lay out the players in this end-time prophetic drama. Let’s examine these unusual names and see if we can identify exactly who these players are in today’s terms…GogIn all likelihood, this is not a personal name. It is more likely a title, like czar or prince. In the future, we should not expect a man named Gog to suddenly rise to prominence as a world leader. Whoever is leading Magog at the time of the invasion will be this 'Gog'. He is addressed several times in Ezekiel 38-39 such as 38:2, 38:14, 39:1.MagogFirst, let’s look at the Geographical Evidence. What does the Scripture reveal about the location of this “land?” Ezekiel 38:14–15… “Therefore prophesy, son of man, and say to Gog, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “On that day when My people Israel are living securely, will you not know it? 15 “You will come from your place out of the remote parts of the north, you and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great assembly and a mighty army…”A quick check of a world map shows that there are only 5 countries that are due north of Israel. These include Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Ukraine, and Russia. The one farthest north is Russia. This is the geographical evidence for assuming that the major player in this last days war will probably be Russia and the leader of Russia will be one spoken of here as Gog. Now, let’s take a close look at the Historical Evidence. Let’s go back to the time of Noah and his descendants.Genesis 10:1–2… Now these are the records of the generations of Shem, Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah; and sons were born to them after the flood. 2 The sons of Japheth were Gomer and Magog and Madai and Javan and Tubal and Meshech and Tiras. You can see from verse 2 that Magog, mentioned in Ezekiel, was the second son of Japheth, the son of Noah. So, he was the grandson of Noah. You see Tubal and Meshech mentioned, they are the fifth and the sixth sons of Japheth.§ Josephus, the first century AD historian and scholar, assures us that the descendants of Magog migrated to an area north of Palestine. Even before Josephus wrote those words, the famous Greek historian spoke about this matter…§ Herodotus in the fifth century BC, wrote that Meshech's descendants settled north of Palestine. § Jerome, who was an early Church Father, a prominent leader from AD 345 to AD 420, declared that

Dec 3, 202354 min

Ep 115CFBC | 11-26-23 | Thankful

Dr. Chuck Herring | 1 Corinthians 1:1-9

Nov 29, 202339 min

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