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(Final Part)

As I said in the first part of this study, these two chapters were part of my daily reading on October 5th & 6th. On the previous occasions that I have come upon these chapters in my annual reading my way through the Bible, I have pondered  their contents.

I can recall frequent discussions with my late wife, Ann, who was a very astute and knowledgeable student of Holy Scripture. The basis of these articles are the conclusions we came to following our joint studies.

Myths

The names ‘Gog AND Magog’ have been surrounded by many myths, fancies and ostentatious notions as to their identity and that which they will be engaged in.

In truth, these two chapters in Ezekiel provide all that that we need to know about them, given us of God by inspiration.

The events recorded in these chapters will take place, I believe, during the millennium reign of Christ on his earth.

I believe I gave ample proof of the Bible’s revelation of that wonderful time of blessing and peace in my first article.

Central to Christ’s second advent will be the spiritual salvation of Israel and her restoration to her land, long promised to her by the Lord.

“And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon. And the land shall mourn, every family apart; the family of the house of David apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart; The family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart; the family of Shimei apart, and their wives apart; All the families that remain, every family apart, and their wives apart. In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness,” Zechariah 12:10-13:1.

The Millennial Reign of Christ will be an unequalled period of grace amongst the nations but not all on the earth will be saved.

I. ALTHOUGH THE DEVIL WILL BE ‘SHUT UP IN THE BOTTOMLESS PIT’ AND UNABLE TO DECEIVE MANKIND, MAN IS STILL AN ACTIVE SINNER.

Satan being bound he will not be able to hinder the great work of evangelism amongst the nations. However, man being a sinner by nature and practice, does not need the devil in order to sin! (more…)

Ezekiel chapters 38 & 39

I read these two chapters on October 5th & 6th. I have thought upon  these chapters now for quite a few years, as I come upon them every year in my reading through the Bible annually.

I can recall frequent discussions with my late wife, Ann, who was a very keen and knowledgeable student of Holy Scripture.

Myths

The names ‘Gog AND Magog’ have been surrounded by many myths, fancies and ostentatious notions as to their identity and that which they will be engaged in.

In truth, these two chapters in Ezekiel provide all that we need to know about them, given us of God by inspiration.

I. AS I HAVE STUDIED THESE CHAPTERS I BELIEVE THAT THEY REFER TO EVENTS IN THE MILLENNIAL REIGN OF CHRIST.

My reasons for coming to this conclusion are as follows.

1. The Bible reveals a wonderful time when Christ shall reign of the earth for 1000 years — His Millennial Reign.

The announcement of the beginning of that reign is given us in Revelation 12:15.

“And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.”

The time when “The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord” is at the sounding of the “seventh angel.”

This is the sounding of the seventh trumpet. The sounding of that trumpet marks the end of this age.

“And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer: but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets,” Revelation 10:5-7.

2. It is a time in which Christ shall reign over all the earth with His redeemed.

“And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years,” Revelation 20:4.

Please note that the Lord repeats the number “a thousand years” six times in the verses 2-7. That ought to be enough for us to realise and understand that the Lord is referring to “a thousand years”!  It is rather egotistical of anyone to dare to replace that God inspired and repeated and emphasised period of time with a period of their own invention!

Symbolism

There is no indication in this passage that the Lord is using ‘symbolism’, as some would say! The respectful Bible student will simply take God at His Word and believe that this is truly a period of 1000 years!

3. It is that time when the promise of Christ, given in Matthew 5:5, will be fulfilled.

“Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” The word “inherit” literally means ‘obtain by inheritance.’ (more…)

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds,” Hebrews 12:2-3.

Paul exhorts us to be “followers of God, as dear children,”Ephesians 5:1. The word “followers” in the Greek is mim-ay-tace. It is the word from which we get the English word ‘mimic’.

We can only imitate the Lord by constantly observing Him and reading the divine records of His words and ways. Thus Paul in our text urges upon us to ‘Look” unto the Lord Jesus, Who is God, and consider Him.

The two words, “look” and “consider” are very informative. The first one means to ‘to turn the eyes away from other things and fix them on Him.’ The second word means: ‘to think over, consider, ponder.’

The Psalmist gives us an illustration of just what it is Paul is urging upon us.

“But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night,” Psalm 1:2.

“My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips: When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches,”Psalm 63:5-6.

“My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD,” Psalm 104:34.

“I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word,” Psalm 119:14-16.

I wish to set forth the blessed truth that Christ, as He faced the fury of His enemies at the cross, at the close of His earthly ministry, presents to us a picture of that which those who would live and walk as He did, will face as this age draws to a close.

1. From the beginning of His earthly sojourn, the Saviour faced the opposition and hated of evil men.

We are surely familiar with the scheming pretences of Herod as he enquired “diligently” (Matthew 2:1-8) of the wise men just when the ‘star’, that led them from the east, had first appeared. He claimed he wished to worship Him but it was murder he was planning!

“Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men,” Matthew 2:16.

The spirit of Herod is illustrative of the opposition the Saviour encountered during His three year ministry. (more…)