Ezekiel 39

[Mich68]

According to Revelation 20:1-10, the timing of the “Gog-Magog” war described in Ezekiel 38-39 occurs at the very end of the millennium, correct?

I am struggling to understand the meaning of Ezekiel 39, specifically verses 9-16, which says the weapons of Gog’s army will be burned for seven years and “for seven months the house of Israel will be burying them, in order to cleanse the land.” What is the necessity of this event when, after the end of the millennium and God devouring them with fire, the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15) will take place?

[Timothy]

IMO, Rev. 20 requires that this war is at the end of the Millennium. How exactly all of the details given in Ezekiel will play out, your guess is as good as mine.

The difficulty seems to be with the statement in Rev. 20:9, “They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them.” The word translated “devoured” (κατέφαγεν) may imply that they are totally consumed so that nothing is left. But it does not necessarily mean this. Note what happened to Nadab and Abihu when they offered profane fire before the Lord: “Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them. So fire went out from the LORD and devoured them, and they died before the LORD” (Lev. 10:1-2 NKJ). The same Greek word is used in the LXX. Yet, in verses 4-5, it is clear that their burnt corpses still had to be disposed of. “And Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel the uncle of Aaron, and said to them, “Come near, carry your brethren from before the sanctuary out of the camp.” So they went near and carried them by their tunics out of the camp, as Moses had said” (Lev. 10:4-5 NKJ).

[Mich68]

Thanks, what you’ve explained helps.

[Author]

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