Chapter xxxviii.
The great restoration vision of the preceding chapter is followed by
another great prophecy concerning the last enemy of Israel, and how the
Lord will deliver His people and deal in judgment with the invading
hordes. This prophecy is in chapters xxxviii and xxxix. These two
chapters are of great interest and demand a careful study; they have
been misunderstood by many. Frequently the Gog and Magog have been
identified with the final revolt at the close of the millennium, when
Satan is loosed for a little season (Rev. xx:7-9). The text shows that
this is incorrect. The invasion which Ezekiel describes takes place in
the beginning of the millennium; the invasion of Gog and Magog in
Revelation is postmillennial. Ezekiel's invasion takes place from the
North and the nations are designated; the nations which gather under
Satan at the close of the millennium are from the four quarters of the
earth. The invaders in Ezekiel's vision fall on the mountains of Israel,
while those assembled after the millennium are devoured by fire from
heaven.
Others have identified these invading enemies with the nations gathered
in the revived Roman Empire. This also cannot be, for we find that the
nations Ezekiel names are outside of the territory of the restored Roman
Empire. We have to turn to the text itself to find the correct meaning
of this prophecy.