Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Adult Sunday School Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/bb/bb19940717.htm

EZEKIEL: BLOSSOMING DURING LIFE'S MOST SEVERE CRISES
Part XXI: God's Work To Precipitate His Depressed People's Spiritual Awakening
(Ezekiel 38:1-39:29)
  1. Introduction
    1. At times, sin can so strangle a person or people that they themselves give up hope of renewal.
    2. Following Israel's remarks that the nation was "dried bones" -- beyond death and hope of renewal (Ez. 37:11) -- God had Ezekiel predict an amazing historic event. This event would cauterize Israel's spiritual awakening, and it is yet to be fulfilled! It is laid out in Ez. 38:1-39:29.
  2. God's Work To Precipitate Israel's Latter Day Spiritual Awakening, Ezekiel 38:1-39:29:
    1. Following Israel's discouraged remark that it was a hopeless nation of "dried bones," Ez. 37:11, God promised to restore the nation and be sanctified in the eyes of the watching Gentiles, Ez. 37:27-28.
    2. To demonstrate how and when this would occur, God predicted the actual events precipitating the spiritual awakening of depressed, defeated, hopeless Israel in Ez. 38:1-39:29:
      1. (Note: The invasion of Gog and Magog predicts a Russian Confederation of nations invading Israel and being turned back in the first half of the 7 year Great Tribulation. Here is proof: (BKC,OT, 1300)
        1. Some of the countries mentioned by Ezekiel in Ez. 38-39 are located in what is now Russia.
        2. The armies come from the "far north," a reference to the crossing of the Caspian Sea land bridge.
        3. The burial of the dead taking 7 months cannot commence the perfect eternal state when all the dead are raised, cf. Rv. 20:7-9 with Ez. 39:9-10. Thus, the battle of Ez. 38-39 occurs before the "Gog and Magog" battle of Rev. 20.
        4. The effect of the battle draws Israel to God, something necessary before the Millennium, Ez. 39:7.
        5. The battle occurs when Israel is at peace, Ez. 38:8,11. Since Israel will be hunted by antichrist during the last half of the Tribulation Period, this must be before the second half period.
        6. The result of this battle will be the pouring out of God's Spirit on the nation, Ez. 39:29. Accordingly, it occurs during the 1st half of the Great Tribulation, Daniel 9's 70th prophetic week!)
      2. God predicted that Gog and Magog (Russia) and a confederation of Iran (Persia), Ethiopia, Libya and Turkey (Togarmah) would invade the Holy Land one day, Ez. 38:1-7. They would via land invasion with horsemen, forcibly being pushed by God's hand to invade for economic reasons, Ez. 38:4a with13.
      3. They will invade Israel when it is at peace in unwalled cities, Ez. 38:11-12. Surrounding Arab peoples will even be disturbed at this attack from all sides to take spoil, v. 13.
      4. However, this invasion will be supernaturally overcome as follows:
        1. In His divine wrath (Ez. 38:18-19 with Rev. 19:11-16), God will obstruct the invasion efforts with a severe earthquake in the land, 38:19b-20.
        2. This will produce great panic among the invaders, causing them to attack one another, cf. Ez. 38:21.
        3. Disease will afflict many soldiers, v. 22.
        4. God will rain torrents of rain with fire and brimstone, destroying the invaders, 38:22b,c.
        5. The force that comes to plunder will itself be plundered by the people of Israel: the weapons will be used as fuel by the nation for seven years (39:9-11). The bodies of the slain will take seven months to bu ry, in part due to apparent modified use of nuclear weapons, 39:12-16. God will call for birds of prey to enter Israel and consume the bodies of slain soldiers and horses, 39:17-20; Rv. 19:18.
      5. Consequently, there will be a worldwide recognition that the God of Old Testament Israel still exists!
        1. There will be an awareness that this event is the fulfillment of prophecy made by Ezekiel centuries before (at least 2,500 years before!), cf. Ez. 38:17; 39:8.
        2. The Gentiles will realize that the Hebrew people had been insignificant as a nation for centuries only out of divine judgment for their sins as a nation, Ez. 38:23-25.
        3. The Hebrew people will know the Lord from that day forward, Ez. 39:22, 25-29.
Lesson: God has the power spiritually to revive His people, no matter how faithless or defeated they are. (1) If we are defeated and don't believe that we will ever rebound again, think again! Trust God's promises to HIMSELF concerning our bright future, Rom. 8. (2) If someone we disciple is discouraged at his own failure, cheer him up with Ez. 37-39!