SCRIPTURE: Ezekiel 38
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
When Gog attacks the land of Israel, my hot anger will be aroused, declares the Sovereign LORD. In my zeal and fiery wrath I declare that at that time there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel. The fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the beasts of the field, every creature that moves along the ground, and all the people on the face of the earth will tremble at my presence. The mountains will be overturned, the cliffs will crumble and every wall will fall to the ground. [Ezekiel 38:18-20]
Ezekiel seems to be warning about the final judgment day, the very end of time when the forces of evil attempt one last attack against God’s kingdom people.
At that time, God Himself will arise and wipe out this gathered foe, once and for all.
“When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near… There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” [Luke 21:20,25-28]
Jesus also refers to the end of time like this, the very end when all that remains of hell’s power unites against God’s kingdom people – and He comes on the cloud with His armies to complete the victory (redemption), and destroy the devil.
When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—and to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God’s people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. [Revelation 20:7-9]
John has the same vision, and even refers to Gog in his message: at the end of time, the powers of hell will organize against God’s kingdom, and they will be defeated.
What they are all saying is that the crises of war and persecution that we experience now are just the beginning, things will get worse before they get better.
You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains. [Matthew 24:6-8]
Though this is hardly comforting, it is a reminder that when things get harder, we are assured that it’s all according to the plan.
We need to hang on, to persevere, because our redemption is drawing near.
Stand firm, and you will win life. [Luke 21:19]
PRAYER:
Lord, this is not a pleasant thought – that things will get harder before they get better! Help me to stand firm through it all, that I may win life!