Divine Intervention (Ezekiel 38–39)

A ruined city, a scattered people, and an ancient promise that refuses to die—Ezekiel 38–39 reads like a paradox until you see the timeline come into focus. We walk through the prophet’s vision of a secure Israel suddenly targeted by a northern coalition, and we explain why this dramatic conflict is not Armageddon and not the final rebellion after the millennium. Instead, it likely unfolds early in the tribulation, after the rapture and under the temporary calm created by the Antichrist’s covenant. That framing unlocks the logic of the passage and turns a frightening war into a window on God’s faithfulness.

We map the players Ezekiel names to modern regions—Gog of Magog from the north, with partners like Persia, Cush, and peoples from Anatolia—and dig into motives that blend religious hostility with the lure of plunder. Then we slow down for the turning point: God’s decisive intervention. Earthquake, confusion, torrential rains, hailstones, fire—judgment that leaves no doubt who holds the script. The collapse of the invading alliance sets the stage for something bigger than survival. Israel awakens to the Lord’s hand and moves toward a Spirit‑led renewal that anticipates the Messiah’s reign.

Across the conversation, we outline a clear end‑times sequence: Christ gathers the church, a global leader rises and promises peace, Israel enjoys real security, the invasion strikes and fails, and history rolls forward toward the visible return of Jesus and the millennial kingdom. Rather than stoke fear, this vision aims at confidence. If God keeps promises across centuries, he can keep you steady this week. Join us as we connect prophecy to hope, theology to daily courage, and headlines to the larger story of a King who will reign.

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Transcript

Ezekiel’s Future Hope For Israel

When Does This Prophecy Happen

End‑Times Timeline And The Rapture

Antichrist’s Covenant And Secure Israel

Gog, Magog, And The Northern Alliance

Motives: Religion, Plunder, And God’s Plan

God’s Judgment And Israel’s Revival

Millennial Kingdom And Final Regathering

Living With Hope And Purpose Today

SPEAKER_00 0:54

Around 4,000 years ago, the Lord gave some promises to Abraham's descendants. Those promises included land, land we know today as Israel. Well, at this point in our study, through the book of Ezekiel, the Jewish people are no longer in that promised land. They're exiles in the land of Babylon. Their homeland has been decimated. Jerusalem has been burned to the ground. But as bad as that seems, and as unlikely as it seems for God's promises to ever come true, Ezekiel begins to prophesy of a glorious future for Israel in this land of promise. The prophecy of Ezekiel, chapter 38 and chapter 39, offers a divine assurance that ultimately Israel will indeed possess this land forever. They don't yet, but they will one day. Now these chapters describe for us a future invasion of Israel and God's miraculous defense of his chosen people. This is an amazing prophecy here, but it does raise a number of questions. The first question is this. Well, down here in verse 8 of chapter 38, we're told it takes place in the latter years or the latter days, verse 16 puts it that way. Now this points us to the end times. Since nothing in history matches what's described here, we know it's still in the future. But okay, when in the future. Well, verse 8 tells us that it takes place when Israel will dwell securely in their land. So does this reference to war here in this chapter describe the final battle of Armageddon? No, it doesn't. Neither is it the Satan-led rebellion described over in Revelation chapter 20, even though we find the names of Gog and Magog both there and here in Ezekiel 38. Well, let me just help by pulling over for a few moments here and setting forth what I believe is the proper chronology of God's plan for the end times, and when this battle referred to here in Ezekiel chapter 38, is going to fit into that picture. If you're a wisdom journey partner or would like to be, this timeline is provided in the transcript for today's lesson. But let me just sort of deliver verbally the timeline. First, the Lord Jesus is going to come in the clouds for his church. That is all born-again believers of this church age we're living in right now, that's been going on for the past 2,000 years since the church was created on the day of Pentecost, back in Acts chapter 2. Those believers who have died during the church age will have their bodies raised from the dead, reunited with their spirits, which have been with the Lord all this time. Then Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians chapter 4 that all the rest of the believers who are still alive at that time will be snatched from the earth to join the Lord in the clouds and be taken to the Father's house in heaven. We call that event the rapture. And it can happen at any time, it could happen today. Now, following the rapture will be a seven-year period we call the tribulation. It's going to be a time when God brings terrifying judgments upon the earth as he prepares the way for Christ's millennial kingdom, which will follow the tribulation. That is when Christ returns. Now, this time, not in the clouds, but he returns all the way to earth. According to Revelation chapter 20, the Lord doesn't return to earth for the believers. Well, we're picturing Jesus as John describes in Revelation 20, returning with believers. And that's because the believers, the redeemed, the church is already with him. Now the tribulation period, which again follows the rapture, doesn't begin with war. It doesn't begin with destruction or suffering. It actually begins with a powerful world leader emerging on the scene. We know him as the Antichrist. And he originally, initially, brings peace. He makes a covenant that gives Israel security in their land. Now he's going to break that covenant midway through the tribulation. But during the early part of the tribulation, Israel is going to enjoy a period of time when they will dwell securely in their land. And I believe it's during this period of calm, early in the tribulation, when the attack, the war described here in Ezekiel chapter 38 takes place. By the way, this attack corresponds with the red horse mentioned over in Revelation chapter 6 and verse 4, a horse that brings a brief time of war against Israel. Now, the next question to answer would be this Who is it here in Ezekiel 38 that's attacking Israel? Well, the first six verses of Ezekiel chapter 38 give us the answer. It's a coalition of nations uniting to invade Israel. And most of these names are frankly unfamiliar to us today. We're told here in verse 2 that the leader will be Gog of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshach and Tubul. Well, they're coming out of the north, according to verse 6. I believe the land we know today as Russia, there in the north of Israel, is represented by Gog and Magog. Other nations joining in the invasion are Persia, this is modern day Iran, and Cush, this is modern day Sudan, along with modern day Turkey. These are going to form an alliance and march against Israel. Now here's another question. What's the purpose of this invasion? Well, let me tell you quite frankly, uh, today the religion of Islam is predominant in many of these lands mentioned here that will invade Israel. Islam has a long-standing animosity against Israel, and undoubtedly they're driven by their religion. But there's more to it than religion. In fact, verse 12 tells us they want to seize the spoil and carry off the plunder. In other words, they are coveting the wealth of Israel, which even today, beloved, is far greater than the nations surrounding them. But there's another reason for this attack, and that's revealed again here in Ezekiel's prophecy. The Lord says to these nations here in verse 16, I will bring you against my land. See, this is all part of God's plan. The purpose is not only to draw Israel back to himself, but he says here in verse 16, his purpose includes this, that the nations may know me, even through you, O God, I vindicate my holiness before their eyes. You see, it's going to be through God's supernatural protection of Israel in this attack that these nations will be given just another undeniable testimony of God's power and holiness. Well, there's a fourth question we need to address, and it's this what is the outcome of this invasion? And the text is very clear on this. The Lord says here in verse 19 through verse twenty two. In my blazing wrath I declare, on that day there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel, and all the people who are on the face of the earth shall quake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the cliffs shall fall, and every wall shall tumble to the ground. I will summon a sword against Gog on all my mountains, declares the Lord God, every man's sword will be against his brother. With pestilence and bloodshed, I will enter into judgment with him, and I will rain upon him and his hordes and the many peoples who are with him, torrential rains and hailstones, fire and sulfur. In other words, the complete destruction of this enemy coalition is going to have a profound effect on Israel herself. Oh, let me tell you, Israel will experience a national revival and come to trust the Word of God and ultimately believe the Son of God, Jesus Christ, is indeed their true Messiah. So chapter 39 now ends with the final regathering of Israel at the end of the tribulation. And by the way, this perfectly coincides with Jesus Christ's return to earth to establish his millennial kingdom. In fact, God says here in verse 29, I will pour out my spirit upon the house of Israel. Can you just imagine this final scene when the nation of Israel welcomes their Messiah as he slowly descends to earth to set up his kingdom? This isn't the quick rapture of the church. That's a in the twinkling of an eye, this is the slow descent all the way to earth. This is the glorious destiny of Israel described here in these chapters. Well, now in the meantime, Ezekiel prophesies that Israel will face still more suffering and scattering in the centuries ahead. But they can be certain that in the end God's promise will finally and fully and forever come to pass. Beloved, God's purpose is in human history, past, present, and future, is to bring glory to Himself as people recognize that He is the Lord of the universe. Now I don't know what you're going through today, my friend, but I don't want you to forget. I don't think God wants us to forget. That's why He's given us books like Ezekiel. Don't forget this coming day, when every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, when he reigns on his throne one day in his kingdom. So let's make it our purpose in everything we do to glorify him and declare to our world that he is Lord of our lives today. Until our next wisdom journey, beloved, may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.