In this issue of The Prophetic Messenger we will discuss why Ezekiel's Chapter 38 & 39 prophecy is not Armageddon and what the Bible says about this war.

A. Ezekiel Chapter 38 & 39 is not Armageddon
There are some in the church who believe that Ezekiel's prophecy is talking about Armageddon. The prophecy of Ezekiel 38 and 39 is not Armageddon. We will show many examples by comparing the two wars to show that they are completely different. In each of the sub-topics below, part (a) will show Ezekiel 38 & 39 prophecy and part (b) will show the battle of Armageddon.

1. What Is The Reason For The War?
a) Ezekiel 38 & 39
In Ezekiel's prophecy it shows Gog, the leader of Magog, and the other nations with him coming to take a spoil. In Ezekiel 38:12-13 it says "12 To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land. 13 Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil?"

b) Armageddon
In the battle of Armageddon it shows God Almighty defeating satan and all who are with him. In Revelation 16:13-14 it says "13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty."

2. When Will The War Start
a) Ezekiel 38 & 39
In Ezekiel's prophecy it shows that this war starts before the tribulation period. I will show you two examples why. First, Ezekiel's prophecy says they will burn the weapons of war for seven years after the war. In Ezekiel 39:9 it says "And they that dwell in the cities of Israel shall go forth, and shall set on fire and burn the weapons, both the shields and the bucklers, the bows and the arrows, and the handstaves, and the spears, and they shall burn them with fire seven years:" Second, they are burying the dead for seven months. In Ezekiel 39:12 it says "And seven months shall the house of Israel be burying of them, that they may cleanse the land." These two events occurring after the war could not happen in the tribulation because the battle of Armageddon is the second to last event at the end of the tribulation. I will share more in section (b).

b) Armageddon
The battle of Armageddon at the almost the end of the seven years of the tribulation. It will happen at the sixth vial which is the wrath of God on the ungodly world. (For more information on the seven years of tribulation see the July/August 1999 edition of The Prophetic Messenger newsletter and read the article titled "Why The Book Of Revelation Is Not In Chronological Order"). From the July/August 1999 chart in this newsletter, you can see why the seven years of burning weapons and seven months of burying the dead cannot be in the tribulation period.

3. At What Place Does The War Start
a) Ezekiel 38 & 39
In Ezekiel's prophecy the place the war starts is in the north parts or thru Syria. In Ezekiel 38:15 It says "And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army:" Also in Ezekiel 39:2 it says "And I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee, and will cause thee to come up from the north parts, and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel:"

b) Armageddon
The battle of Armageddon shows us that Armageddon is a place in Israel. In Hebrew the word Armageddon means Megiddo which is a city at the foot of Mount Carmel. (Note 1)

4. Who Is Fighting In The War
a) Ezekiel 38 & 39
In Ezekiel's prophecy, the nations fighting against Israel are Magog , Gomer, Togarmah (Former U.S.S.R. and part of Turkey), Meshech and Tubal (Turkey), Persia (Iran), Ethiopia (Ethiopia), Libya (Libya) and Syria. (For more information on the nations involved in this war order our book titled Why Are So Many Christians Confused About Bible Prophecy? See page 5 for ordering information). These nations are mentioned in the following scriptures. In Ezekiel 38:2,5-6 and 15 it says "2 Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him,.....5 Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet: 6 Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee.....15 And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army:"

b) Armageddon
In the battle of Armageddon we see satan, the antichrist, the false prophet, the kings of the earth and of the whole world against Jesus Christ and his saints (which are the Christians). In these passages of scripture we will show satan and those that are with him. In Revelation 16:13-14 it says "13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty." In Revelation 19:18-19 it says "18 That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. 19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army." The following scriptures show Jesus Christ with the saints. In Jude 1:14-15 it says "14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him." In Revelation 19:11-14 it says "11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean."

5. How Many Die In The War
a) Ezekiel 38 & 39
In Ezekiel's prophecy it says that out of all the nations that come against Israel only the sixth part of them will live. In Ezekiel 39:2 it says "And I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee, and will cause thee to come up from the north parts, and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel:"
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b) Armageddon
In the battle of Armageddon a very large number of deaths will occur on the earth. In Revelation 14:20 it says "And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs." We see from this passage of scripture that blood was up to the horses bridle for 1,600 furlongs which is equal to 182 miles.

B. What Is Armageddon?
Armageddon is a place in Israel at the foot of Mount Carmel and where God will destroy his enemies. This is not only a physical battle but a spiritual battle. In Revelation 16:12-16 it says"12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared. 13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. 15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. 16 And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon." In this battle we see Jesus Christ and his saints destroying the enemies of God. In Revelation 19:11-21 it says "11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. 17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;18 That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. 19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. 20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh." We see after the battle of Armageddon satan is bound for 1,000 years. In Revelation 20:1-3 it says "1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, 3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season." We also see that the beast or antichrist and the false prophet will be cast into the lake of fire. In Revelation 19:20 it says "And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone."

In closing, we see that no matter what the test or trial that we face today that in the end we will rule and reign with Jesus Christ and God the Father. We have an audio tape available titled "What Is Armageddon?" If you are interested in ordering it, email us , or write us for the price and ordering information.

NOTES
Note 1: References from Unger's Bible Dictionary and Crudens Dictionary.

This Gospel Of The Kingdom. Read this article in the next issue of The Prophetic Messenger.

As Christians if we want to live in victory and if we want to be able to share the Word Of God with others we must know the Word of God ourselves. Let's see what the Bible says about this. "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee." Psalm 119:11. " If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." John 15:7. "Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed." John 8:31. We encourage you to put the following scriptures in your heart: Psalm 97:9, I Peter 4:16, Psalm 33:4, I Kings 10:23, Romans 5:6, Isaiah 61:1-3, I Corinthians 1:27-29, Lamentations 3:41, I Peter 5:4, Psalm 37:37. Use only the Old King James version of the Holy Bible. (If you have any questions about this please see the book New Age Bible Versions, by G.A. Riplinger ©1993, ISBN 0-9635845-0-2.)

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