Gog Unmasked: The Antichrist And The Two Wars That Many Confuse

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[music] [music] >> [music] [music] >> Praise the Lord. Lord is good. Amen. All right. We've been going through the book of Acts. Having a couple topical things on the way. Uh excited to get into this with you. Uh praise the Lord. Hopefully people are still coming in. Uh I know the rapture didn't happen. Was only out a couple times, guys. Went back east. We had a great men's retreat back there. 60 to 70 guys. And uh it's amazing, man. Just people from most people flew in and drove in from other states. And it's just awesome to see God at work because sometimes you feel like, man, there's so many people that are just church is so liberal now. You really can't call the church liberal because if you're going to be liberal and say the Bible is not the word of God and it's okay to kill babies and and uh all kinds of other things, that's not really the church at that point. But it's just neat because there's there's a remnant, man. I I personally believe there are millions and millions of believers all over the world uh that love Christ. You just won't meet him till you get to heaven. But one thing we found at that man's retreat, which we see at every man's retreat, and many of the guys were new, is there's a lot of people that love the Lord out there, man. They're on fire for Christ. And some of you are watching. It was great to see you guys at the men's retreat. Uh I mentioned we will do a message. We've been looking at the second coming of the Lord and so forth a bit. Name of the fellowship is Blessed Hope Chapel. We're longing for Christ. He is our blessed hope. And that passage speaks of his return. Amen.

But what we're going to look at today uh is I wanted to spend a little bit more time on Acts 1 where it talks about the same Jesus that you had seen as we'll descend in like manner uh before we move on into the rest of Acts. But I mentioned and I got to I want to keep my word that we will uh look at Gog and Magog. They are in the news right now. A lot of people believe Gog and Magog refers to a war that is just prior to the tribulation period or kicks off the tribulation period. Uh they don't believe it refers to the coming antichrist and the Armageddon scenario. And the scriptures have a lot to say about this. Ezekiel 38 and 39 talk expressly about this Gog and Magog war. And some confuse it because Gog and Magog are mentioned later in Revelation chapter 20. And some think it's the same exact war. But there are incredible distinctions that we need to see in scripture to rightfully divide the word of truth to say, "Hey, what when does a Gogg war mentioned in Ezekiel 38-39?" Because it's all tied to the Lord's second coming. When does that take place? Uh that's one question. Is it before the tribulation or near the beginning of the tribulation? Or is it at the end of the tribulation? That's one thing we're going to study and you're going to leave here, I believe, knowing pretty clearly from scripture of when that war takes place because many, if you watch the left behind series, not only do they have the rapture at the beginning of the tribulation period, they also have the Gog Mog war at the beginning of the tribulation period. In fact, Kirk Cameron, who plays the main actor, uh, a journalist, he's covering the Gog Magog War. It's happening. You You see missiles flying, if I remember right, and so forth. And they're reporting it as the Gog Magog war. And that's or that's what you're meant to believe that it is. And that is so unscriptural. Just like the idea that we're going to have a secret rapture we're taken before the tribulation starts is a false unbiblical narrative. It's also false to say that this war happens before uh you know the Armageddon. It's actually speaking the Gog Magog war is Armageddon. And Gog I believe is clearly my understanding of scripture. I'm going to show you why refers specifically to the antichrist. And we'll be looking at that. We'll also be looking at something else. The Gog Magog war that happens at Ar or which is really Armageddon. Is it the same war that's spoken of in Revelation chapter 20? I believe it absolutely is not. Sometimes terminology is borrowed and used uh the Holy Spirit uses it to show patterns that we see in prophecy. For instance, the Old Testament you see uh battles that are called the day of the Lord, but they're a picture of the ultimate day of the Lord. And there's many other examples like that. I'll give a few of those examples as uh we go through this message.

So father we do pray in your son's name that you would by your holy spirit speak to us and help us to understand your word better. Father you have stated in your word that in the last days uh that knowledge would increase that uh people go to and fro and as we go to and fro through your word rightfully dividing it. May we have a deeper appreciation of what your word says about the end times. Many are concerned about these things even as I speak. Millions of Christians are saying, "What in the world is going on? The world is going crazy and your word says it would." But we may we study your word, Father. The prophecies that were meant to be studied and understood. May we understand them. And may you be wonderfully glorified. In your son's name we pray. Amen.

Okay, please take your Bibles and turn to Ezekiel chapter 38. So the first question we're looking at uh is in the name of this message is Gog unmasked and basically the antichrist and the two wars that many confuse. I know that's kind of a long message. Gog unmasked and the antichrist and the two wars that many confuse. And wouldn't you like to have handle on these things? I mean they're written for a reason. They're written not to, oh that's for certain people to get into. No, we're supposed to study the whole council of God and we're supposed to understand the times in which we live and the players and so forth. So, the first question I want to look at is just give you scriptures and you're not just going to learn that yes, God refers to the antichrist. You're going to understand timing better. You're going to understand what the end of the age looks like, what's going to be taking place with the nation of Israel, which is inc in the news today. Uh, and the very things that we'll be looking at pertain to the questions. You've seen Candace Owens lately totally attacking Israel. Tucker Carl Car Carlson totally attacking Israel. I've warned for years, watch out for many of the conservative talking heads. I've been warning this for years and years and years because that's where people sometimes feel they're being edified because they often share our viewpoints on certain areas. They might speak of being pro-life, although that seems to be more and more rare with many of these folks. They might be speaking of traditional marriage in a godly way, it sounds like. And so you start to bend your ear saying, "Wow, we've got a friend in the media that, you know, sounds pretty scriptural at certain points." And then guess what? I've been warning you for a long time off and on that those guys can take you down a rabbit hole where you get way away from the scripture. And sure enough, we're seeing it. Candace Owens is a rabbid anti-semite in many ways. She appears to be uh Carlson, you know, uh is very similar uh to her. I'm not saying he believes all the weird conspiracies that she comes up with, but uh it's just interesting because they are two of the biggest conservative talking heads. And uh when you start to understand these scriptures and you start to understand what's taking place in scripture, you start to say, "Wow, this is exactly where the Bible says we would be."

So, is Gog the Antichrist? And if he is, we know the antichrist, the scriptures reveal that he would appear at the end of the age, just before the end of the age. And he would rule for 42 months. Jesus spoke of the abomination of desolation that would be, you know, standing in the holy place and revealed in the book of Revelation that he would have an image that the false prophet would have made in his image and you'd have to to buy or sell you'd have to take his mark on your right hand or or forehead and there'd be an image that would enforce this that would speak even though it's not a human but it's given life in some way. Sounds a lot like AI, doesn't it? Pretty incredible.

So the first point I want to make uh is in regard to Gog referring to the antichrist is number one he's the head of a massive a massive international coalition. God is. And now I'm not saying any one of these reasons by in of itself is conclusive that we just go to one, but you could just we could just go to a few, man. But this is accumulative. You see 10 evidences accumulative uh that uh I believe you reach an inescapable con uh conclusion that Gog refers to the antichrist. In Ezekiel 38:2 says, "Son of man, set your face toward Gog and the land of Magog, the prince of Rash, Mashek, and Tubal, and prophesy against him." Prophesy against what? Him. It's a person. And say, "Thus says the Lord God, behold, I am against you, oh Gog, prince of Ros, Mashek, and Tubal. I will turn you about, put hooks into your jaws, and bring you out. And all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them splendidly attired, a great company with buckler and shield, all of them wielding swords. Persia, first nation on the list is Persia. Right now in the news, Persia or modern day Iran is being absolutely decimated in regard to the military power. Although I just read that we even our 5,000lb bunker buster bombs cannot really destroy uranium uh basically underground uh protection for the nuclear program where they might need to put men on the ground, boots on the ground, which the Trump administration is incredibly reluctant to do uh because they don't want to get in a quagmire and especially with the you know midter terms coming up later this Uh there's a huge concern that this could hurt the uh Republican party and the liberals could take control of the House and so forth. And don't tell me they're not thinking of that at all. Believe me, they are. But what I'm saying is Persia is in play in the end of days or Iran. And uh it's interesting because you have incredible religious zealots there that will not let go unless you take them over by force and you put a bunch of boots on the ground, which our country doesn't seem totally willing to do now. If they do, it can get really ugly for our nation. A lot of people will die. That should be something that we're obviously concerned about. But at the same time, uh it's interesting too, you [clears throat] know, because the Ayatollah Kmeni, when I grew up, they always called him the Ayelah Kmeni is how they pronounce it in the news, you know. Yeah. Now it's a little different. Remember that? It's how we always heard it when I was young. Uh his son is supposed to be the one who's taking over. summer saying he got radically wounded, you know, close to death, but he's surviving. And now the headlines are he's gay, too, which is interesting because of how the Iranians treat gay people. They hang them from big cranes and so forth. So, you have a a coming leader of Persia who's been wounded as unto death who doesn't like women. That sounds interesting. Is he the antichrist? I'm not going to say that, man. You'd have to see a lot of stuff happen. Uh al I mean, you look at what Trump's doing right now and trying to bring this world peace. You got to look at everybody, you know. I always joke I even watch my wife, I say. You know, so I don't like to be super dogmatic on these types of things, but uh and no reason to watch my wife. She's an angel. Well, she's not an angel either because she's human, but she's more like an angel than anything. Anyway, uh got to make good with her before I get home, you know. [laughter] Uh but notice Ezekiel 38 2-6. And again, my emphasis is here is many put this war at the beginning of the what? Tribulation. It's rush at the beginning of the tribulation. I don't believe you could put this at the beginning of the tribulation. And I love my preacher brothers who do that. You know, we can differ on things. You know, in prophecy, we should, you know, study it and and land where we believe it says and discuss it. But we also need to love one another and be able to uh talk about our different viewpoints together because iron sharpens iron. Son of man, set your face toward Gog of the land of Magog, the prince of Rash, Mes, and Tubal, and prophesy against him and say, "Thus says the Lord God, behold, I am against you, oh Gog, prince of Rash, Mess, and Tubal. I will turn you about, put hooks into your jaws, and bring you out, and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them splendidly attired, a great company with buckler and shield, all of them wielding swords, Persia and put and so forth. And I I read most of this and it just goes on. It talks about many different nations and and then it says at the end, you know, uh you know, from the remote parts of the north with all the troops and many people with you. So, it goes beyond the nations even mentioned. And why this matters because Gog is not simply a leader of a local coal a local nation or two or three. He is a central leader of a vast multi- international confederacy uh gathered against the people of God gathered against Israel in the end of days. And why does this suggest the antichrist? Because the Bible reveals to us that the final world ruler, just read the book of Daniel, it's over and over again. Uh and the the son of man in the clouds of heaven when he returns defeats the antichrist. And the antichrist, his body is given over to the flame in Daniel. We see in the book of Matthew when the abomination desolation is set up in the holy place. That period of time is consummated with Christ's second coming immediately after the tribulation period not seven years before the second coming. So this is all important. Uh so what we see here in Ezekiel is that God functions in Ezekiel in many ways uh like a personal embodiment of the end time rebellion. Okay. Uh and more than a say a passing military excursion. It it looks it's multinational, multi-international I should say and it ties well with Revelation chapter 19 and Revelation 16. In Revelation chapter 16 verses 14-16 what do we read? We read that three spirits come out of the mouth. One out of the mouth of the false prophet. One out of the mouth of the beast. One out of the mouth of of the dragon Satan. And they're issued forth. They go forth to the kings of the earth to gather them together to the battle of the great day of God, Armageddon. Okay, so it's a the nations are gathered together and they go to Israel and they go to the land of Megiddo. Armageddon. Amen. Praise God. It's great seeing everybody showing up now, you know. Praise God. Some of you guys are driving a long way like angel, man. Got a long drive. Uh anyway, so what we see is this convergence of nations at the end of days under the antichrist. And we know this is for the end uh and not seven years before the end because in Revelation 19 verse 11 when Jesus Christ come backs he comes back on a white horse. Amen. And he comes back with the armies of heaven and it's such a glorious picture of his return. And when he comes back, he defeats the antichrist. And it says the beast is taken with him, the false prophet, and they're thrown alive in the lake of fire. And God calls the fowls, the birds of the air to come and munch out and eat at the supper of God. You know, uh, and then we know that's the end because guess what happens? That's right after that happens. Then it talks about Satan being bound for a thousand years and Christ reigning. It says for a thousand years. He begins his reign at that time. So Armageddon happens just before the millennial kingdom is inaugurated and it happens at a time uh when the nations have joined together to fight against Christ. In fact, 10 nations specifically in Revelation 17 are said to give their power to the beast to make war against Christ at his second coming. That's amazing that that's in their heart as though Satan thinks he has a fleeting opportunity to maybe defeat Christ at his second coming. He knows his time is short. He comes down having great wrath just before that and up and until that point.

So point number one showing that Gog refers to the Antichrist is what the point number one is that God is the head of a massive international coalition against God's people. And that's what we see in Revelation 19 with regard to Armageddon. Point number two, God Gog Gog's invasion has the profile of a ending, a a final assault that's seen elsewhere in prophecy. It has that profile, that same profile. Uh Ezekiel chapter 38:es 8 and N. Go ahead and look at that. After many days, you will be summoned. In the latter years, you will come into the land that is restored from the sword. And it's interesting, they will be summoned. That's a lot like Revelation 17 where God will put in the hearts of the 10 nations that give their power to the beast to fight against the Lord at Armageddon. And it says, whose inhabitants, now this is interesting, after many days, you will be summoned in the latter years, catch that, you will come into the land that is res that is what? restored after Israel is restored. Okay. From the sword whose inhabitants have been what? Gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel which has been a continual waste. So Israel after it had become a continual waste for many many many years will be uh restored. Now, keep in mind when we go to Israel, it's a trip, man. Because you're on a land that Mark Twain, who was not a believer, we're not a follower of Christ, he says he's the land of Israel is so desolate, he's never seen anything like it. It's hard to believe that the Jews actually live there. You It's I've read his quotes before from his writings on the Jews. Yet, the scriptures say that it would be rebuilt. It would be restored, and it would even be treasured by the people around it. And Israel would have hostile enemies. It says who whose inhabitants have been gathered from many nations. I used to say, but it's more than 70 nations. Israel is from all kinds of different nations. You go to Israel and it's a trip, man. You see people from everywhere. You know, I remember we've took pictures of of Jewish soldiers who are totally black. They're from Ethiopia and they're Jewish. They're just from everywhere. You're just you're blown away. It's like wow. And it says uh after many days you will be summoned. That's Gog and Magog. In the latter years you will come to into the land that is restored from the sword whose inhabitants have been gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel. This has never happened. This has never been fulfilled which has been a continual waste. But its people were brought out from the nations and they are living securely. All of them. Notice they're not just brought back from Babylon. They're brought back from all these many, many nations, which is what happened in 1948, May 14th. You will go up and you will come like a storm. And this is talking about Gog and Magog. And you'll be like a cloud covering the land, you and all your troops and many peoples with you. Now look at verses 15 and 16. You will come down from your place out of the remote parts of the north. You and many peoples with you, all them riding horses, a great assembly, and a mighty army. That's, you know, they couldn't talk about modern tanks and things like that in biblical times. So, it uses imagery that they were familiar with. And you will come up against my people. You will come against my against my who? >> My people Israel like a cloud to cover the land. And it will come about in the what? last days that I will bring you against my land so that the nations now this is interesting so that the nations may know me when I am sanctified through you before their eyes oh Gog want to ask you a question has this happened all these nations come against Israel and have the nations do they nations now know since this war that Yahweh is God is that what the nations say today yes or no this obviously hasn't happened yet and it'll become clear and clear as it goes. Why this matters? It matters because the scene explicitly states in the latter years, in the last days, it's a massive end time assault on Israel by many nations. Okay? Uh and why does this suggest the antichrist again uh in the last days at the end of the tribulation period there'll be this or near the end of the tribulation period there'll be this great rebellion. The antichrist is repeatedly tied to this great rebellion uh this great climactic assault which we've talked about earlier. So this becomes stronger when compared with the broader prophetic pattern that the nations gather against Jerusalem. God intervenes directly, the enemies are crushed and God's glory is finally revealed to not just Israel but the nations. Those this is a profile of Antichrist final war. Number three, the third point showing that Gog is the Antichrist and not some Russian leader right before the tribulation period. The scale of God's judgment on Gog is cosmic. Now, I'm not not talking about the all the nations now. Talking about his judgment, it's cosmic and apocalyptic. Chapter 38:es 19 through13. In my zeal and in my blazing wrath, I declare that on that day there will surely be a great earthquake in the land of Israel. the fish of the sea, the birds of the heavens, the beasts of the field, all the creeping things that creep on the earth, and all the men who are on the face of the earth will shake at my presence. The mountains also will be thrown the what? The mountains also be what? Thrown down, and the steep pathways will collapse, and every wall, every wall will fall to the ground. I will call for a sword against him on all my mountains, declares the Lord God. Every man's sword will be against his brother with p. Now keep that in mind. It's this huge earthquake that's gonna the mountains will be pulverized. Every wall will be knocked down. And every man's sword will be against his brother with pestilence and with blood. I will enter into judgment with him. And I will rain on him on his and on his troops and on many peoples who are with him a torrential rain with hailstones, fire and brimstone. I will magnify myself. What's he going to do? I will magnify myself. sanctify myself and make myself known in the set of many nations and they will all know that I am the Lord. So notice that this isn't some smallcale judgment guys of one or two or three nations. It's a co it's cosmic in tone. There's this massive earth earthquake that collapses mountains you know pestilence and blood and hailstones and fire and brimstone and worldwide trembling before the Lord. Now, what's interesting is how is this tied into the coming of the Antichrist? Man, all you have to do is read the sixth seal, the seventh trumpet, and the seventh bowl. The sixth seal brings you to the very end of the tribulation period. It's a picture of the end. And when the sixth seal is open, it's right after the fifth seal. Okay? And then in the fifth seal, you see the saints under the altar crying out, "How long, oh God, until you avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" And they're given white robes, told to wait a little while. And then under the sixth seal, so the sixth seal of the seven sealed scroll is popped. Then you get another picture, another revelation, and it shows the answer to that question. Now, there's a lot more to the answer to the question because when he pops the seventh seal, the whole scroll opens up. It gives the details that lead to the very end. But the sixth seal gives him a picture of the end. And guess what you read under the sixth seal? You read that all the mountains are destroyed. You read that there's this great earthquake like never before. You really read about the stars falling from heaven. You read how the the the sky is rolled up like a scroll. Every m every island is moved out of its place. Has that happened yet? You read all these things take place and you read that the kings of the earth cry out for the rocks to crush them as they try to hide from the wrath of the coming of the Lord because the great it says the great day of his wrath has come. It's the very end. It's a picture of the very end. Now, we're going to get more detail on what leads up to that right after the sixth seal. It's going to show you what leads up to that. But guess what? Instead, now what happens during the tribulation period? What does the antichrist do? Is he running to the mountains saying, "Crush me rocks. Hide me from the wrath of him who says life." No, he's blaspheming God. Even during the, you know, not just the seals and the trumpets, but the bowls, even the last bowls when it's mentioned, you have the Antichrist blaspheming God, his kingdom is darkened and he's all upset and angry at God. But man, when the sixth seal is open, which corresponds with the seventh trumpet, which corresponds with the seventh bowl, all three of these describe the same end, the same uh coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Guess what you see in all three of these? Sixth seal, seventh trumpet, and seventh bowl. You see the stars falling or sometimes it says this these huge hellstonones, okay? Because stars, it doesn't mean literal stars. The Greek words asteros, which speaks of heavenly bodies, not necessarily stars, of course. And in each of these passages, you hear that you see the the the falling from heaven. You see this huge earthquake like never before. You see the very end, and that's when the kings of the earth will no longer be fighting it. Let's march to Meganto. Let's fight Yahweh. No. Now it's like, uhoh, here he comes. Let's book and hide. Crush us rocks. Hide us from the wrath of the lamb. Amen. That's what you see. That's at the very end. Are you with me? That's what Ezekiel is describing. Same deal. Do you think John was lost about that? Oh, it just is a coincidence. They're using all the same language. Are you following this with me? This stuff I I I hope and pray that you get excited about God's word. Like, wow, this is what he do. really believe God's word and you say, "Wow, this is what he says is going to happen. This is this is heavy. I'm trying to show you how it fits together." Okay? Pro study prophecy. Study God's word. Study all of his word. And by the way, the prophets and the prophecies, the scriptures say when you read what's coming, what manner of lives ought we to be living so that we're not judged with the wicked. Amen. How much how much should more should we be making sure our faith is in Christ? says, "He that has his hope of Christ coming purifies himself even as he the Lord is pure. Amen. We want to make sure we're right with God." I'm glad you came tonight because you're thinking, "Hey man, I want to know God's word more. I want to walk with Jesus." Amen. I want to be right with him and I want to talk about what's going on in the world and all this crazy stuff. There's a lot of questions we get during these times when there's so much uncertainty. I mean, what was it? You know, I felt bad. I part of me I wanted to go and be with the brothers, you know, in uh at the men's retreat. many I knew I'd never met and and do a great retreat. That of course is in my heart. But at the same time, I'm torn, you know, I was torn to stay here too because for different reasons, but one reason was that I the all of a sudden the notice came out that Israel or that the California might be attacked by drones. Did you hear that news? And I'm like I think it was like the next day or so. I'm like I'm going to leave my wife here. You know, I don't know if that's a false report or not, but I was prayerful. You know, I told her where to hide in the closet. No, I didn't. You [laughter] know, we just we just pray, you know, and and and so forth. But, uh, crazy time. And I was so glad when I got there and just started seeing all the brothers. It's like, man, like, you know, brothers and sisters here, you talk to them and there's this excitement the brothers and sisters have here that you don't get at most churches. I mean, it's a trip when you're in our fellowship. When the service is over, it's like, I've been in churches where just everybody just leaves afterwards. Here, it's like people start flicking off the lights two hours later. Hey, it's time to leave, guys. you know, it's pretty that's a good sign, you know. So, it's it's exciting. But that's how the brothers were over there. It just shows me that God's at work. You know, it was such an excitement. Now, uh this is very interesting because we see the judgment of the nations and that's what we see in Matthew 24 when Christ comes back immediately after the tribulation. You know what it says the nations will do? the nations of the earth will mourn. That's what we see in Matthew 25. He brings the nations before him and separates them as a a shepherd she separates separates the sheep from his the goats and the the sheep are put in his right hand. The goats are put on his left hand and he enters into judgment against the nations upon his second coming. Number four, after Gog falls, nations, now this is important and I alluded to it already, but this is actual number. Now, in our list of like 10 reasons that a Gog refers to the Antichrist, after Gog falls, the nations come to know Yahweh in a climactic way. After Gog falls, the nations come to know Yahweh in a climactic way. Look at Ezekiel 39:es 6 and 7. And I will send fire upon Mog and those who inhabit the coastlands in safety. And they will know. They will know what that I am the Lord. My holy name I will make known in the midst of my people Israel. So it's not just the nations, it's also Israel, which we're going to get to that in a little bit. And I will not let my what? Holy name be what? Profigned anymore. And the nations will know what? That I am the Lord. The Holy One where? The Holy One in Hawaii. The holy one in the white house. No, the holy one in what? Israel. Because when Jesus ascended, we look, we were studying Acts chapter 1 verses 6-9. In verse 9, why do you keep looking up? He that as they watched him go into a cloud, the same Jesus will come in the same way as you've seen him ascend and will return in the same way. And where were they standing? On what mountain? The Mount of Olives. Amen. Then they left the Mount of Olives. And according to Zechariah 14, when he comes back, he will stand on the Mount of Olives. He will rule. Many scriptures say from Jerusalem. Okay? And here the nations will know that he's the Lord and that the Lord is where? In Israel. Thus saith the Lord. Now, why does it matter? Because in the aftermath of go of Gog's destruction, it's not merely a military battle. It's not just military. It's revvelatory. It's not just a military deal. It's a revelatory deal. God says that the nations will know that he is Yahweh. Do the nations know that God is Yahweh who rules in Israel yet? Yes or no? Not not by any stretch of the imaginations. In fact, the nations hate Israel right now. They want her destroyed, which is exactly what the scriptures say would happen in the end of days. So, it's very interesting because that's the holy name that no will no longer it says no the name of the Lord will no longer be what? Profigned. [clears throat] Has that happened yet? Have you noticed that you're at work and nobody profains the name of the Lord anymore and you say, "Hey," and everybody says, "Praise Yahweh." Yeah, good to see you, man. How you doing, Rich? Good to see you. Praise God. Yahweh rules in Jerusalem. Is that happening right now? Or is his name being profaneed? All the time. And not only that, guess what? During the tribulation period, the name of the Lord will be profaneed like no other time in history. Because in the book of Daniel, it says that the Antichrist will speak great things, horrible things against the most high God. And it says this over and over again. He'll magnify himself above all other gods. And in the book of Revelation, it says that the beast, the Antichrist, will blaspheme the God of heaven. You know that, right? So, it's going to get worse before it gets better. It's not going to change until guess what? Yahweh judges the nations and he rules in Jerusalem. Are you with me? So this is very very clear in scripture. This happens at the close of the age. Now uh number five and I'm going at a pretty good clip because I want to make sure we get all of these in and then also to show you a distinction between Gog and Magog and Ezekiel 38 and 39 and Gog and Magog in Revelation 20. Not the same battle, not the same word. Similar terminology. God uses patterns but not the same war. Number five, Gog is destroyed on the day. Why is that significant? Gog is destroyed on the day spoken of by the prophets. >> Yeah. Specifically on the day immediately. Chapter 39:8. Behold, it is coming and it shall be done, declares the Lord. 39:8. Behold, it is coming, and it shall be done, declares the Lord God. That is the day on which, now look at this. This, I'm sorry, that is the what? The day on which I have spoken. Okay, why does this matter? It matters because this is one of the most significant lines I believe in the passage in this passage because God says of God's destruction, that is a day in which I have spoken. It's a day that he has already spoken about that there's going to be a certain day that Gog is destroyed. Why does this suggest the antichrist? Because throughout the prophets that day and the day is often a loaded esqueological term often referred to as the day of the Lord, the day of Christ that evokes the day of the Lord imagery, the great day of divine intervention, uh judgment and vindication of God's holy name. And and that's very important to understand. And so that's exactly how what one would expect the scriptures and how the scriptures would speak of the destruction of the antichrist. Not some earlier invasion that happens years before the true climax, but speaking of a specific day. And Daniel speaks of that day. When you look at Ezekiel, you look at Daniel, they're written in close proximity and so forth. They speak of this day uh the antichrist is destroyed. And this points again uh because Ezekiel is again is not really saying this is a day. This is a day, but this is the day which I have spoken. And I think that's important. Number six, Gog's destruction results. Now, this is important. Gog's destruction results in the end of Israel's estrangement from God. Right now, would you say that? Would you say Israel knows God? Yes or no? >> No. Now, there's always a remnant. Remember Elijah is like, I'm the only one who's not bowed the knee to B. I'm the only guy. What does God tell him? >> No, Elijah, there's 7,000 men who have not bowed the knee their knee to Ba or Baal. Okay, 7,000. So, there's there's always a remnant and there's a remnant in Israel. I've spoken there. Brother Ted Walker, um Ted and Lind have been such a blessing to this church and us for many, many years. We love you guys. They watch almost all of what we do. We consider this their fellowship way out away from it Israel, you know. Uh, but we just love you guys. And what's interesting is, uh, Ted actually set up speaking engagements where I've spoken at, I don't know, four or five different churches one trip in Israel. Messianic churches, people that love Jesus. There's a lot of Jews there that love Jesus. There's dozens and dozens, dozens and dozens of Christian churches, many of them filled with Jews that love Jesus. But the nation itself, the descendants of the 12 tribes, the nation as a whole, you don't look at Benjamin not Netanyahu and say, "Why? What a God-fearing man. He just loves Yahweh. He loves the Lord Jesus." No, they're like our politicians in many ways. I mean, they're fighting for their survival, you know, and uh I wouldn't put them with the Muslims who want to annihilate everybody or everybody that doesn't believe like them. Uh but I want to say that uh they're not it's not a nation that is fully dedicated to Yahweh yet. So number six, God's destruction though, this is what's interesting. It results in the end of Israel's estrangement from God. Look at Ezekiel 39. This is what's going to happen because of this war. Ezekiel 39 21 and 22. and I will set my glory among the nations and all the nations will see my judgment which I have executed at uh and my hand which I have laid on them. And then look what it says. Listen. And the house of Israel will what? The house of Israel will know that I am the Lord their God from that day onward. Brothers and sisters, the house of Israel will know that Yahweh is the Lord from that day onward. Does the house of Israel know that Yahweh is the Lord? Yes or no? >> Yes or no? >> No. So, could this prophecy have been fulfilled yet? >> Because it says when they come to know him, it'll be when he destroys all the nations that are trying to destroy them, which hasn't happened yet. And when it does happen, they will know him from that day onward. Amen. >> So, obviously, that could not have happened yet, unless you're saying, "Oh, yeah, Israel, they all know the Lord now." And keep in mind the context of chapter 38 and 39 has to do with the land of Israel. Okay? Has to do with a people group that's there. Okay? So this why does this matter? It matters because it's not just a military deliverance. Remember all the nations will know that Yahweh is your Lord. That's not happened yet either. Amen. But specifically, he revealed himself to Israel. And this is important. And it matters because it's not just military deliverance. It's a covenant transformation. Israel comes to know Yahweh from that day forward. From the time he intervenes and destroys Gog or the Antichrist. Why is this important? Because during the tribulation period, does Israel know the Lord during the tribulation period? No. It says we call it, it's called in scripture Jacob's trouble. They have to be humbled. Right now, Israel has a lot of military capability. Close to the top militarily militarily capable nation on the planet Earth, which is a trip since they've been a country less than 100 years again. But guess what? They rely on that. They rely on the United States. There's going to come time when all the nations surround them, they can't rely on us anymore because we're one of those nations that surround them. So, they finally have to cry to Yahweh. And it says that they will go through the fire in in Ze Zechariah 13. And twothirds of them will perish. Most of Israel, I'm sorry, that's what the the Jewish scriptures say, will perish, but onethird of them will be will be purified like silver is pur purified. And that's Jacob's trouble. Just like Joseph's brethren who rejected him had to be humbled before they cried out to him and they end up bowing down before Joseph. The Jews will one day bow before their Messiah who saves them, Yeshua Hamashiach, Jesus the Messiah. And that's going to be a glorious time. But guess what? In Zechariah 12, they'll be in the wilderness hiding from the Antichrist and the nations that are trying to destroy them for 1260 days. That's three and a half years. That's the second half of Daniel's 70th week. They'll be hiding there crying out to the Lord. But guess what? Well, I don't want to get ahead of myself, but this is quite crazy when you think about it. Uh number seven. Number six in itself, we could just close. We could have just looked at number six, right? But you know, number seven, God says he will no longer hide his face uh from Israel, but will pour out his spirit on them. At Armageddon, God says he will no longer hide his face from Israel. Because when you go through the Old Testament, when Israel rebels as a nation, he hides his face from them. He gives them over to judgment. They go through things and then what? They cry out to him. Then he reveals himself to him again. But right now, God is hiding his face from Israel. Israel is not a godly nation. We recognize that God has a promise that will be fulfilled. But it but God's going to have to do a lot of things to get their attention and humble them just as he had to humble us. Amen. How many of you had to be humbled by the hand of Yahweh before you bent the knee to him? Amen. That's what's going to have to happen. So he says he'll no longer hide his face from Israel, but will pour out his spirit on them. And I think this is interesting because when does he pour his spirit on them? at the very end at ar after Armageddon. In fact, look at Ezekiel 36:24-29. This doesn't give you the when, but this gives you some timing before you get to the when. Ezekiel 36:4 says, "For I will take you from the nations." And he's done that. In fact, he actually says, "I will put you on the back of Gentiles and bring you back from the lands." And I remember when I was with Ted Walker, you know, Hifa or there a big ships coming full of Jews from Russia, the north and Ted's like, "Do you want to go down here?" Because I think it might have been like it was one of those operations where you have all kinds of Jews being brought back on the backs of Gentiles. And Ted go I go, "You kidding? I would love I'll be seeing prophecy fulfilled, Jews coming back into the land." [clears throat] And then we're on this big ship and there's all these Jews and I'm being introduced by Ted to them and Ted's speaking in Hebrew and they're Russian Jews coming back to this is like brand new. They don't even know they've never seen Israel before. And then I like Ted, I want to witness to these guys. So I'm sharing the scriptures with them. Look, Gentiles would bring you back. Their eyes are getting big like saucers because that's what's happening to them on their backs. Ted took pictures of we put some of their kids on our backs. Well, guess what? Ted, this is a long story. Hopefully when we do our Israel video, we're going to go to Israel, Lord willing, if he wills it, and shoot a video. Uh, guess what? Ted saw those folks we witness to later and they came to Messiah and he knows them now. He's got pictures of he showed them pictures of the kid, their kids now. They're a lot older on our backs. Pretty crazy. Amen. Wow. So God says he'll no longer hide his face. So Ezekiel 26 verse or 36 verse 24, for I will take from the nations, gather you from all the lands, and bring you into the land, your own land. Then I will sprinkle clean water on you. Now, first he's going to bring them back into the land. Then what? Now doesn't say when.

He's going to do this. He just says he's going to bring them back in the land. Then, meaning when they're in the land. A little bit later in Ezekiel, he tells us when he does this.

"Then I will sprinkle clean water on you and you will be clean and I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols." Has that happened to Israel yet? No. They got a lot of idols. There's more new-agers in Israel than than Jews that follow Yahweh at this point.

"Verse 26. Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh. And I will give you a heart of flesh. I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes and you will be careful to observe my ordinances." That's not yet happened in Israel, guys.

"You will live in the land and I will give it to your I'm sorry. You will live in the land that I gave to your forefathers." Okay? He's talking about the church here. He's talking to Jews. You'll live in the land, Israel, that I gave to your father forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. So, you will be uh my people because they're being restored back to the land. We didn't used to live in the land. He's talking about to the people of Israel. um you will live in the land that I gave to your forefathers. So you will be my people and I will be your God.

"Moreover, verse 29, I will save you from all your what? Uncleaness, and I will call for you uh for the grain to multiply in it." Wow, I love that. Call uh for the grain and multiply it, and I will not bring a famine on you.

But when when's this going to happen? He's going to bring them back in the land, but then when he brings them back, when's he finally going to cleanse them and put his spirit upon them? Well, look at chapter 39 of his of Ezekiel. We're talking about Gog and Magog in chapter 38 and 39.

Look at verse 21. "And I will set my glory among the nations, and all the nations will see my judgment, which I have executed, and my land which I have laid on them." Drop down to verse 29. "I will not hide my face from them any longer."

"For I will what? I will have poured out my spirit on the house of Israel, declares the Lord God." Now, because guess what? They're in the wilderness. "Save us, Yahweh." And Jesus says, "You will not see me again until you say what? Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord." They have to be broken. You're not going to see me again. I'm hiding my face from you.

"If you would have known the day of your peace," Jesus said, "but your house is being left to you desolate." And guess what? The Romans came in in 70 AD. That wasn't the coming of the Lord because they won't see Jesus again. And Jesus come back when they say, "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord." They weren't following the Lord. That's why they're being judged. But now they'll be repentant. The nations will surround them. They'll cry out to Yahweh. "Save us, Yahweh. Save us." And then he will reveal himself to them and not hide his face from them any longer.

And obviously this suggests the time of the antichrist because it's during the time of the antichrist that all the nations are brought together against Israel at Armageddon and they hide in the wilderness from the antichrist. The Lord reveals himself. He destroys the antichrist and so forth.

So number eight. Number eight. Wow. We're getting doing make doing some good time. Number eight, this matches God revealing himself and no longer hiding his face to the nation of Israel. This matches Zechariah's final battle at Armageddon. Nations are destroyed. Israel repents and the spirit is poured out.

And in Zechariah uh chapter 12, you can go there, Zechariah chapter 12. And uh it's interesting because when you look at Zechariah chapter 12 uh go ahead and look at verse one. "The burden of the word of the Lord concerning Israel. Thus declares the Lord who stretches out the heavens, lays the foundations of the earth and forms the spirit of man within him." Lays the foundation of the earth and forms the spirit of man within him. This is the creator of all things.

"Behold, I'm going to make Jerusalem a cup of a cup that causes reeling to all the peoples around." Think of what's going on right now with the Gulf States and the nations that are around Israel and Jerusalem. They're like, [snorts] "Don't mess with Israel." Uh, and he goes on to say, "And when the siege is against Jerusalem," because guess what? There will be a siege against Jerusalem. It will also be against Judah.

"Verse three, And it will come about in that day that I will what? Make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples. All the peoples be like, 'Well, this is a heavy stone. We can't move it.' Because they want to move it. They want to change the landmarks. They want to make it an international city right now. Or they want to make it a Muslim country and a Muslim city, a heavy stone for all the peoples and all who lift it will be severely injured." You try to mess with Israel, you'll be severely injured. Just look at the history of what's happened to the nations that have come against Israel even before Armageddon.

And all now look at this. "And some of the nations, many of the nations, no. All the nations of the earth will be gathered against it. All of the nations." This is no long nowhere recorded in history. Okay? By the way, if it was in history, you would see it all over the place in Jewish writings, okay? They'd be really proud of it.

"Verse four. In that day, not a day, but that day, declares the Lord, I will strike every horse with bewilderment and his rider with madness. But I will watch over the house of Judah, while I strike every horse and the peoples with blindness." I love this because people say, "How could we be here when the wrath of God takes place? We have to be raptured, otherwise we would be destroyed in God's wrath." No. Look what God says he's doing. I'm going to watch over the house of Judah while I strike every horse of the peoples with blindness. What's he saying? I can strike everybody with blindness that I want, but still protect the people that I have my eye on. Right?

In fact, guess what? Is God capable of doing that? By the way, look at how he protected Israel, the the Hebrews in the land of Goshen during the 10 plagues that fell upon Egypt. But they did not fall upon Israel. Amen. The descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel. Their descendants were in the land, and God protected them. Amen. And by the way, in Revelation 7, there's 12,000 from 12 different tribes. Guess what? They're sealed. So they don't partake of God's wrath during the tribulation period. Amen.

Well, what about us? Won't we be sealed? Are you a believer in Jesus Christ? You've already been sealed. You're sealed by the Holy Spirit. Amen. You're covered by the blood. They had the Passover blood of the lambs that made a form of a cross point on the doorpost in the lintel and the death angel would go by and the firstborn would live if the blood was there. But could I have that Passover lamb blood? You have something better than the blood of those lambs. You have the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, the ultimate lamb of God covering you. Amen. You are not appointed to God's wrath. You're sealed by the Holy Spirit. You're covered by the blood of Christ. Or if you're not, make sure you are. Otherwise, you will suffer God's wrath.

Well, what if God doesn't come? What if this stuff doesn't go down in my days? Well, guess what? You'll suffer God's wrath at Christ's second coming. Or if you die, you'll suffer it forever if you don't turn to Christ because he says there'll be no rest day and night forever and ever. You know, so make sure you know Jesus. That's very, very important.

But notice this that in this final battle, it matches Ezekiel, matches Zechariah. Remember what we're looking at. And that at the very end when he destroys Gog and the nations around it, then he pours out his spirit on Israel. Not before that, not right now. He brings them back into the land. He says, "After I bring them to the land," he goes, "I'll bring them in the land." So that's where they are. Then after they're in the land, I'll pour my spirit on them when at Armageddon. And that's just what we see because look at verses 8 and 9.

"In that day, the Lord, there's that day again. In that day the Lord will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And the one who is feeble among them in that day will be like David. And the house of David will be like God, like the angel of the Lord before them."

"And in that day I will set about to what? To destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem." That's Armageddon. Remember Revelation chapter 17. Remember Revelation 16 and 17. These demons go forth to gather the nations together to fight against the Lord in Jerusalem. They go to Megiddo. They go not just to Megiddo. They go to Jerusalem. They go to the valley of Jehoshaphat. I mean, there's different scriptures that show you that they're all over the place. They're like hordes covering the land in Ezekiel. Sometimes mentioned specific places where I believe in uh Jehoshaphat, you'll probably have a commune of a confederacy of leaders. We don't know exactly how that will shake out, but in that day, I will set about to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. This is nowhere recorded in the history. It hasn't happened yet.

"And I will look at verse 10. And I will what? This is important. And I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the what? The spirit of grace." There it is. When does he do that? When he saves at Armageddon. That's when he pours his spirit on them. But where do they have to be before he pours his spirit upon them in this context? In the land. They're already in the land. But are they followers of Christ? Are they followers of Messiah before this? No. So, they obviously come into the land in unbelief like Ezekiel 36 says. And like Ezekiel 39 says, it's at Armageddon when they're at repentant and he no longer hides his face from them, but reveals himself to them that they see him.

In fact, guess what? Here it says the spirit of grace and the supplication so that they will look on me whom they have what? >> This is the Old Testament. This is a great verse to show Jews. They're going to look on me, the Lord says, because now I'm going to show my face to them, but they're going to see the one they pierced. Wow.

Remember what happened to Joseph? What did his 12 brothers do or his 11 brothers representing the tribes of Israel? What did they do? They rejected him. They sold him into slavery to the Gentiles for money. Judah hatched that idea. His name means Judas. And Judas sold Jesus and he was given over to the Gentiles. God used Joseph to feed the world bread. Jesus was rejected and now he feeds us the bread of life. Millions take communion every Sunday because they've entered into a relationship with Christ. A picture of his death, burial and resurrection. Yet he says he they'll no longer hide his face because he says when you say blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, then he says I'll return. Jesus said that's not where the Jews are at today. They have to be broken first. And when they're broken, they'll say "Lord save us. Yahweh save us." Then he says, "I'm going to pour my spirit upon you and you're going to see the me the one whom you have pierced."

And now listen what it says. "And they will mourn. They will mourn for him as one mourns for an only son." That's interesting language, isn't it? Because he's the only son of God. Amen. The only begotten son. "And they will weep bitterly over him. Like the bitter weeping over a firstborn. Wow. In that day, there will be great mourning in Jerusalem." Let's talk about Jerusalem again. Okay, that's where he's protected them. "Like the mourning in uh Haladrian in the plain of Megiddo, the land will mourn every family." Now, this is interesting. The land will mourn every family by itself, not just a family here or there. Remember, two-thirds will perish, man. Many are going to follow the Antichrist. They'll be destroyed. Jesus says, "I come by my Father's name to the Jews and you receive me not. If another one comes in his own name, him you will receive." So many Jews are going to say, "I'll take the mark, man." Okay, you can because you can sit in the temple of God saying that he's God. Others, a third of them will come for the fire and be purified, be brought to repentance. Okay? And he says there'll be this this weeping over the firstborn.

"In that day, there will be great mourning in Jerusalem. Like the mourning I read that then the land will mourn." Remember Jesus says when he comes back the nations will mourn but not just the nations. Revelation 17 and it's speaking of his second coming at Armageddon says "Behold he comes with the clouds and every eye shall see him and they also which pierced him the Jews and all the nations of the earth it says will mourn because of him." That's all going to happen. When he died on the cross, all the nations weren't mourning because of him. You know, they crucify him. You know, and it's interesting because he goes on to talk about repentance here when they see the one they pierced. But it's not just a few people repenting. It's the 12 tribes. It's national repentance. It's the nation repenting.

In fact, look at verse 12. "The land will mourn. Every family by itself, the family of the house of David by itself and their wives by themselves. The family of the house of Nathan by itself and their wives by themselves. The family of the house of Levi by itself and their wives by themselves. And the family of the the Sheimeites by itself and their wives by themselves. All the families that remain, the remnant, every family by itself, and their wives by themselves." That hasn't happened yet. Okay?

Now, when Christ died on the cross, there was a partial fulfillment where they saw him on the cross, but that was a condition where he was pierced. Revelation chapter 1 in the old book of Revelation was written in the 90s long after that and in the context of his second coming "Behold he comes with the clouds." It's in the context of his second coming not the cross there every eye shall see him and they also which pierced him when he comes in the clouds and that's Armageddon and that's the greater fulfillment of that. And the scriptures are clear that the nations will turn to I'm sorry the Jews will turn to him and now they'll repent. They're finally at repentance and now Ezekiel says what? He'll pour his spirit on them and they'll be cleansed from their sins.

Well, look at chapter 13:1. And keep in mind, Zechariah does not make put chapter 13. Now, no, it's just he continues writing. What does he say? "In that day, a fountain what? Will be open for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and impurity." Okay? Then they'll be cleansed from their sins. Just like it says, he will no longer hide his face. I'm h he's hiding right now. "Your house has left you desolate. If you'd only known what made for peace. Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem who kills the prophets and destroys those who are sent to her. How often I would gather gather together hands, but you were unwilling. You will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'" Guess what? They're not saying that yet. They're still not saying that. But one day they'll say, "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord." And then he will no longer hide his face from them. He'll reveal himself to them.

According to Ezekiel, it's at that time when the nations come to know he's Yahweh. That nation of Israel will know that. They'll repent and he'll pour his spirit upon them. But guess what? They have to be in the land for that to happen. And here it shows them in the land. In Ezekiel, it shows them in the land in unbelief until that time happens. Are you following me or am I going way too fast? >> I'm going way too fast. >> I'm sorry. I'll slow down a little bit. I got 12 minutes. >> He's like a rabbit. [laughter] >> You know, it's so funny because uh we went to this Amish area at the men's retreat and it was so funny. Uh we go in and there's all this food being sold and all kinds of trinkets and it's like you're stepped into a time warp. It's really a trip. See all this stuff and it's not just Amish, it's Mennonites and it's a lot of just most the non-Amish and Mennonites but different people at the stores and there was auction going on of just things like you want to buy a stool it'll be $4. And you're like, you're like, whoa, this is kind of strange. And people are all there, all these older folks, younger people. And then I heard a couple some of the people saying, man, he preaches as fast as Pastor Joe. [laughter] H.

Okay, so number eight, uh, this matches Ezekiel's final battle. Nations destroyed, Israel repents, and the spirit is poured out, as I've mentioned, and we just looked at that and then the cleansing that goes on.

So number nine, Gog is identified as the very enemy foretold in the earlier prophets. Gog is identified as the very enemy foretold in the earlier prophets. Ezekiel 38:17, "Thus says the Lord God, are you the one of whom I spoke in the former days through my servants, the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in those days for many years that I would bring you against them." Think about that. In other words, the prophets of the Old Testament spoke of this coming figure that would come in the end times. Did they speak of some just strange figure that would just show up before the tribulation period in some war that everybody forget? No. They spoke about the coming antichrist and Armageddon. That's why this matters. It's a it's a striking statement because uh Ezekiel, God is basically saying through Ezekiel that you are the one I have been talking about all along. Daniel talks about this coming world leader, the antichrist and so forth. And this is who when you go to the book of Revelation or even before that we go to the New Testament the Lord Jesus Christ says "When you see the abomination of desolation as spoken of by the prophet Daniel standing in the holy place. Let the reader understand." They spoke of this coming world leader who is yet to come and that is a reference to the antichrist himself.

So, I've given you 10 reasons, nine so far, uh, that the last that Gog is a reference to the antichrist himself. I'm making that point slow uh, faster because I realize I have like 10 minutes left. And uh but that's why that's why many Bible scholars, many of those who are into biblical prophecy also, not just myself, but they believe there's strong internal uh identifiers throughout the Gog and Magog references in chapter 38 and 39 uh to the antichrist. And uh Gog is not just like uh any enemy. He's the final enemy. He's the one who the prophets have identified and warned about all along. And when you go to uh Daniel, you'll see that when you go to other passages, uh the king of Babylon in in Isaiah chapter 14, other passages.

Number 10, this is important. The whole aftermath of Gog's destruction, the whole aftermath of God's destruction when Gog is destroyed and the nations with Gog, it looks like the arrival of the kingdom, not a setup for a later antichrist that comes on the scene. It looks like the very end. In fact, look at Ezekiel 39:25-29.

"Therefore, thus says the Lord God, Now I will restore the fortunes of Jacob and have mercy on the whole house of Israel, and I will be jealous for my holy name. They will forget their disgrace and all their treachery which they have perpetuated against me." Right now, Israel is perpetuating treachery against the Lord. Okay? I don't defend all the actions of Israel. I say Israel needs to know Jesus. They're they've got politicians just like us. We do. Amen. You ever look at Congress and the Senate? You know what a lot of them are involved in? You look at the nations. I mean, we've got you. You think we got some problems? We do. Look at the other nations, man. And their politicians. Amen. In fact, we've actually done our nation uh we've actually stepped in in wars that weren't even ours to begin with, you know, to help people out. We also have problems, too.

"They will forget their disgrace." Who? He's talking about Jacob and all their treachery which they have perpetuated against me when they live securely. Listen to this. "When they live securely on their own land with no one to make them afraid." What's going to happen? When he saves Israel in the end of days, there's going to be no one around them to make them afraid. Is that how it is now? Yes or no? No. That hasn't happened yet.

"When I bring them back from the peoples and gather them from the lands of their enemies, then I shall be sanctified through them in the sight of the many nations." Has that happened yet? Is Yahweh sanctified through the witness of Israel among the many nations now? Yes or no? No, it hasn't happened yet. Never did happen. It will happen.

"Then they will know that I am the Lord their God because I made them go into exile among the nations and then gathered them again to their own land. And I will leave none of them there any longer." Wow. He's going to make he they've come back, but he's going to bring more back, too. "I will not hide my face from them any longer, for I will have poured out my spirit on the house of Israel, declares the Lord God."

Okay, so this matters because the great conclusion of the entire prophecy is the atmosphere. No more suspense, no buildup to a tribulation. Uh and uh that no things are going to get worse. He doesn't say that. Not at all. There's restoration, right? There's mercy. Amen. There's security. There's covenant healing that the Lord brings. There's national repentance. Just like we read in Zechariah 12 that all these the different tribes these different tribes are going to repent. Uh and there's the outpouring of the spirit just like in Zechariah 12 through 14. So this is interesting because this shows a consummation and uh that's you know this what happens. I'll just some bullet points. The great enemy has been crushed. Gog. Amen. Uh God's name has been vindicated. Amen. God's name is glorified among the nations. Amen. Israel will be restored. Amen. God will no longer hide his face from them. Amen. God will pour his spirit out upon them. Amen. And the covenant promises are now breaking out into full openness where he restores his people. And it says there'll be war no longer. It'll be over. He's he's uh blessed them. And that is yet to come. So this is the atmosphere of the messianic turning point when the Lord Jesus Christ returns. uh uh so this is quite interesting when you think about all of this.

Now I had mentioned to you that I wanted to show how these two wars are different and I don't want Gog and Magog is different than the Gog and Magog war mentioned in Revelation 20. Now I have two things I could do. I could do a whole message on that or I could take five minutes and go through it real quick which I prefer to do. I want to get back to Acts, okay? Chapter 1. Okay, so I'm just going to hit it real quick and you can look at it and see now I might become the auctioneer again who's just talking real fast. Okay, but there's two ways. Uh there's there's there's two wars, one name. And Ezekiel 38 and 39, Revelation 20 cannot be the same battle. Okay, let me mention some things really quick. Sometimes God will use names or terminology for two different events. There's prophecies, for instance, that are patterns. Their echoes and so forth typologies with multiple horizons. Uh for instance, when we read about Jesus, often you see the Messiah's coming, the Messiah is coming, but ultimately it was talked about how many comings? One or two? Two comings. His first and second. Okay. Other examples, Joel's outpouring of the Holy Spirit. You see that happen on Pentecost, but you also see uh the scriptures refer to the end of days when he pours out the spirit upon all flesh and the sun is darkened and the moon turns to blood and there's columns of smoke and so forth before the great and terrible day of the Lord. Uh the abomination of desolation, you see a prior fulfillment in Antiochus Epiphanes long before Jesus comes on the scene. And then you see Jesus reference it speaking of the final antichrist as though it's still to come as well. As though that was a typology. Babylon historically the city was destroyed. But guess what? The system of Babylon is destroyed in Revelation 17 and 18, several centuries later at uh in concert with Armageddon. David is spoken of as a historical figure who will reign. But then we find out, guess what? It's a son of David, Jesus, who fulfills uh many of those prophecies. Okay, so a distinction between the Gog Magog wars.

Lord, please help me because I just burned two and a half of those five minutes letting you know there's a pattern that goes on. Amen. Uh the first one is Israel is in unbelief in Ezekiel 38 and 39. Amen. During Gog and Magog war, right? They're in unbelief when they're getting attacked, right? They don't come to the Lord until the end. The battle itself is a turning point that brings the nation to faith. Amen. You understand that, right? It's they're in the tribulation. They're running from the Antichrist. They're hiding. They're finding Yahweh save us and he reveals himself. Well, guess what? That's not the case in Revelation 20. In Revelation chapter 20, we've been caught up to meet the Lord in the air. Amen. We're reigning with the Lord. And it says that the apostles will judge the 12 tribes of Israel. Uh re Matthew chapter 19. And Israel, guess what? They're no longer in rebellion to the Lord. They rule with the Lord for a thousand years. And then this battle of Gog and Magog happens in Revelation 20. Totally different. Okay? Do you get that? They've already been restored right before the millennium, right before the thousand-year reign, during the Gog and Magog war. This other Gog and Magog mention has to do with after we've reigned with Christ for a thousand years and Israel and the church are ruling.

Number two, and I'm just going to give you three of them. I'll give you 10. I'm giving you three. So, I got a chance here to get really close anyway. The timing is separated by at least a thousand years. The timing of these wars in Ezekiel 38 and 39, it occurs before the millennial kingdom. Amen. Because it happens when? At Armageddon. It happens when Christ comes to defeat the Antichrist. And then when he defeats the Antichrist, Revelation 19, and the beast is taken with him, the false prophet, and they're thrown alive into the lake of fire. Then Christ sets up his kingdom for a thousand years. So Gog and Magog finds its fulfillment, God's destruction at Christ's second coming. Then Christ reigns for a thousand years. Then guess what happens? Satan's let loose for a short time and then he gathers the nations at the end of that thousand years like the sands of the sea as Gog and Magog to go up against the Lord who's reigning from Jerusalem. At that point, there's a thousand-year difference. Are you with me? So, Israel's in a totally different setting, and there's a thousand years difference.

Number three, the aftermath is measurably and irre irreconcilably different. Do you know what happens? Listen to what it says. That's when Armageddon takes place. What? Listen to what happens. Look what the aftermath is of that war. "Then those who inhabit the cities of Israel will go out and make fires with the weapons and burn them. And for seven years, they will make fires of them." Wow. "For seven months, the house of Israel will be burying them in order to cleanse the land." And then it goes on to say, "They will set apart men who will constantly pass through the land, burying those who are passing through." That's a seven-month period, guys. Do you think that's symbolic of something really strange that we just can't get? No. There's going to be a lot of stuff going on because now the millennial kingdom, God's cleaning things up there. But guess what? In Revelation 20, when the Lord when Gog and Magog after the millennium, Satan comes and brings the people like the sands of the sea against Jesus who's reigning in Jerusalem and we're reigning with him. What's going to happen there? He's going to wipe him out. It actually says the God the Father will rain fire down from heaven and they'll be consumed. And you know what happens after that? No cleansing the land for seven months of weapons and burying them for seven months. No. Then there's a great throne judgment and a new heaven and new earth and no more death. Totally different aftermath. Are you with me?

>> I could give you 10. Three is enough, right? We've already went through 10 on the other deal. I can't believe I'm looking at the clock. It says 8:30. Thank you, Jesus. Let's pray.

Father God, we come before you. We thank you for your great goodness. Father, I pray in your son's name that these times are getting really ugly. We're being hated by the nations as your son said. Father, that all believers, those who follow Christ, would be hated because of his name's sake. Father, the Jews are being hated. Father, we've been saying this for years that your word says there'd be anti-semitism that would just grow. And it's there's far more hatred in the world toward Jews than the Muslims. Then so many of the Muslims want to destroy everyone. Lord, it's just crazy. We pray, Father, in your son's name that our eyes would be open. But we pray most of all, Father, that each and every one of us would know Jesus. That we'd bow down before him now. We'd humble ourselves before him and call him our Lord God, our King. For your word says that you give grace to the humble, but you resist the proud. Father, Father, we pray that you help us obey Peter who said, "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, and he will exalt you in due time." Father, we humble ourselves. We confess Jesus Christ as Lord. For your word says if we confess Jesus Christ as Lord and we believe that God, you father had raised him from the dead, we shall be saved. Make sure you confess Jesus Christ as your Lord, you guys, if you haven't. And if you're listening by way of live stream, we love you. Make sure you're following Jesus, man. Stay in the book. Stay in the word. And we love all you guys. Let's continue to stick in the word together and stay by each other in Jesus name. Amen. Praise God.

Can we all please stand? Oh, praise the Lord, man. I feel like I ran a race. [laughter] >> God is good. I did. Yeah. In a way, he's good. Amen. Uh you guys, our Lord reigns. He's got a plan. Amen. And you're in it. You're all everyone's part of the plan. You're either with him or against him, but you're part of the plan. Make sure you're with him. Amen. Let's give the Lord thanks for saving us. Amen. We thank you, Lord. Give him thanks. Give him praise cuz he is so worthy of praise, you guys. We love you, Lord God. We praise your holy name. Help us to make sure, Father, that our hearts are constantly seeking you. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Love you guys. Give somebody a big hug. God bless you guys. Let's press on in Jesus.