Eschatology, a Broad Perspective From Genesis to Revelation 7/03/20161

Our Considerations The Northern Invasion: Ezek Conditions at the Time of the End: Mk 13, Matt 24-25, Lk 21 The Great Apostasy: II Thess 2, II Tim 3, II Pet 3 The Rapture of the Church: I Cor 15, I Thess 4, Rev 4:1 Christ with His Church in the Parable of the Wedding Feast The Book of Revelation 7/03/2016 2

Ezekiel 7/03/2016 3

The Invasion of Gog (38: 1-16) Gog is the leader of the coalition; Magog is his land (v 2-4) – Region N. & NE. of Black Sea and E. of Aral Sea – Chief prince of Meshech & Tubal (modern Turkey) – “I will turn you about”—note God’s direct involvement (v 4) Other Allies (vv 5,6) – Persia (modern Iran) – Ethiopia (northern Sudan) – Put (modern Libya) – Gomer (eastern Turkey, Ukraine, Armenia) Israel will be “living securely” (vv 8,11,14) Wealth of Israel is the prize the invaders will seek (v 12) – God allows the evil greed of humanity to gain control of these coalition leaders 7/03/2016 4

Lay of the Land 7/03/2016 5

God’s Purpose v 16: “and you will come up against My people Israel like a cloud to cover the land. It shall come about in the last days that I will bring you against My land, so that the nations may know Me when I am sanctified through you before their eyes, O Gog.” Notice the purpose of God allowing this treacherous invasion. God will manifest Himself, His power, glory, and holiness for all to see (Isa. 43:8-13) This theme (i.e., "know Me") is recurrent! God wants His highest creations to return to Him (cf. 36:23; 37:28; 38:23) 7/03/2016 6

The Victory over Gog (38: 17-39: 29) 7/03/ Metaphors of God’s passion for His people & their enemies – My fury & anger (v 18)…zeal & blazing wrath (v 19)…earth will shake at My presence (v 20) Cosmic Upheavals – Earthquake (v 19)…animals tremble, mountains & walls fall (v 20)…pestilence, torrential rain, hailstones, fire & brimstone (v 22) Note the verbs that speak of God’s actions (39: 2-6) – Turn you around…drive you…take you up…bring you against…strike your bow…dash down your arrows…give you as food

Victory over Gog (cont) 7/03/ God’s Holy name will be known to all the earth (vv 7,8) Huge number of invading coalition army (vv 9-16) – 7 years to burn the weaponry (v 9) – 7 months to bury the bodies (v 12) God’s judgment (vv 17-20) – This banquet for the birds of prey & carnivorous animals is symbolic of the judgment of God YHWH will reveal Himself (vv 21-29) – His people were not exiled because of His lack of power, but because of their covenant disobedience (vv 21-24) – He restores His people & destroys all opposing human armies (vv )

God’s Glory Returns 7/03/ God will be known through His judgment & restoration – He is sovereign over heaven & earth “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. ‘And I will not hide My face from them any longer, for I shall have poured out My Spirit on the house of Israel,’ declares the Lord God.” (vv 28, 29)

Observations 7/03/ Three interpretive views – A symbolic picture of the attempt of the nations of the world to destroy Israel – A picture of the culmination of the great conflict between the Church and her opposition – A literal attack on Israel by a group of nations in the last days Four possible times – Pre-Tribulation – First half of Tribulation – End of Tribulation – End of the Millennium Contextual Insights – As far as history, to whom do these nations refer? Are they symbolic of evil in general or specific geographical nations (or directions)? – As far as the literary unit, are chap one unit or several? Are they all related to the post-exilic period or beyond? Is there a temporal relationship between chaps and 38-39? Is restoration followed by a final attack (Rev 19 & 20)?

Observations (cont) 7/03/ One thing is sure, history is teleological (has an apparent purpose, directive principle, or goal) – there will be a final conflict between fallen mankind and its Creator This invasion is not because of restored Israel’s sin, but the greed of Gog and his followers Evil was already defeated in Christ at the Cross, but will one day be revealed & removed from creation Chaps 38 & 39 are more about God’s honor than Israel. Israel & Judah were exiled in shame, but restored Israel, faithful Israel cannot be defeated because God fights on her behalf – the hero of the OT is God, not Israel!

Takeaways 7/03/ When all is said and done, we cannot be 100% certain of the “who” and “when” of chaps 38 & 39 Caution: Prophecy cannot be read beside the morning newspaper/on line newsfeed without the great danger of reading our day, our history into every event! “…I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will take His stand on the earth. Even after my skin is destroyed, Yet from my flesh I shall see God; whom I myself shall behold, and whom my eyes shall see and not another. My heart faints within me” (i.e. I’m overwhelmed at the thought!) Job 19: 25-27

The Next Several Weeks Jul 10Conditions at the Time of the EndChris Jul 17The Great ApostasyJim Jul 24The Rapture of the ChurchJon Jul 31Christ with His Church in the Parable of the Wedding FeastTBD And then begins the Revelation of John 13 7/03/2016

SEE YOU NEXT WEEK! 7/03/