Jacob’s Trouble continued

“It shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen [or nations] may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes” (Ezek 38:8–12,14–16).

There are two ways in which we might envision God being hallowed in Gog before the eyes of the nations. The first is that suggested by Brother Shallieu.

“When these forces attack Israel, the eyes of the world will be upon them. Every nation will be watching. With modern satellite communications, Internet and television, this can be literally true.”

Yes it’s likely the attack upon Israel would be reported upon as would any other major event, but whether or not such reports would get through to other nations is debatable; remember that at the same time as this event is taking place in the Holy Land back at home the Lord has sent fire (trouble, calamity, anarchy) on the land of Magog and upon the coastlands. And then there’s the possibility of some type of limited nuclear exchange what effect this might have on communication networks, satellites, cable and telephone lines is unknown.

In the beginning maybe, but once worldwide anarchy breaks out, once commerce breaks down, such services as TV, internet and telephone would no longer be available.

Who’s going to be working at the TV station broadcasting such things in the middle of worldwide anarchy? Who’s going to be posting events online at the time?

Even if there were someone how exactly would they go about doing this without any power as it is very unlikely that anyone will be working at the power plant, working anywhere for that matter.

Now someone might suggest, ‘Well the government will ensure this.

The government, what government?

How exactly is the government going to be doing anything at the time when the elements (of society) are melting (being dissolved, broken down) in fervent heat (in the great turmoil then taking place)? How when the mountains (governments) are melting into the sea (the anarchist masses of the earth) shall they accomplish this?

The scriptures are quite clear as to the outcome at this time.

“As mountains and hills tower above the earth, so the civil powers of the earth are aptly symbolized by them, mountains being the great powers, and hills the lesser. “Therefore will we not fear though the earth [society] be removed [dissolved], and though the mountains [present governments and institutions] be carried into the midst of the sea [overthrown by a general uprising of the people, the ungovernable masses]: Though the waters [the discontented masses] thereof roar and be troubled [in great commotion], though the mountains shake [and are fearful, and begin to crumble] with the swellings thereof.” (Psa 46:2, 3)

It is certain that not long after the “great earthquake” of Rev 16:18 reaches its final stage there will be no more governments, all such having been dissolved into the sea.The likelihood of the world watching events unfolding in Israel on TV or over the internet at such a time seems highly unlikely.

Now the second way in which we envision God being hallowed in Gog before the eyes of the world seems a bit more feasible. That is the message will come by word of mouth from those who witnessed it firsthand.

As evidence of this we jump over to Isaiah Chapter 66 (AV) Excerpts taken from “The Book of Isaiah”, Brother Frank Shallieu

Verse 15 and 16 “For behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many.”

“For behold” and “For by” indicate that Verses 15 and 16 are an explanation of Verse 14, telling how God will manifest His wrath against Israel’s enemies.

“The hand of the LORD shall be known toward his servants and his indignation toward his enemies”

“By fire and … sword will the LORD plead with all flesh [with all who gather against Israel at the time of Jacob’s Trouble but primarily on the powers that come from the north].”

“God will fight with great powers, dramatic displays, and visible manifestations of nature: disease, plague, hail, overflowing rain, earthquake, etc. His “chariots [will be] like a whirlwind.” So great will the depth of the invasion be that the enemy will seem to approach and then cover the land like an ominous storm cloud. “Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee” (Ezek. 38:9). The terminology of likening God’s chariots to a whirlwind shows the fear and consternation that will be instilled in the enemy host when God begins to make manifest His judgments. Jehovah will come with fire and whirlwind chariots, He will render anger with fury, and He will rebuke with flames of fire.

“The slain of the LORD shall be many.” If seven months will be required to bury the dead and seven years to melt down the armaments, we get some idea of the extensiveness and intensity of the trouble in Israel (Ezek. 39:9,12).

Verse 17 “They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine’s flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the LORD.”

Those who “sanctify themselves” are Jews who will be on the scene in Jacob’s Trouble but who will not be part of the Holy Remnant. When certain events transpire and they realize at the last minute that God is going to help Israel, they will try to change their allegiance and become religious, but the Lord will not be fooled. Many Scriptures in the Old Testament show that at the end of the age God will weed out from among the Israelites those who are not in the proper condition of heart to be of the nucleus of His Kingdom. For them to try to change sides and feign allegiance at the very last minute when the visible signs of His power are being made manifest will not work.

This element who tries to sanctify and purify themselves behind a tree in the midst of gardens is an allusion to Adam’s and Eve’s hiding behind a tree in the Garden of Eden after committing sin. They heard the voice of the Logos crying out, “Adam! Adam!” When Adam responded, “Here am I,” the voice asked, “What are you doing over there behind the tree?” Adam replied, “I heard your voice and I was afraid. We are naked.” The comparison here is to the class of unfaithful Jews who have figuratively eaten “swine’s flesh [forbidden

pork], and the abomination, and the mouse” and have felt superior and justified in their disobedience. Many Jews in Israel today are atheists.

We continue with our examination of Isaiah Chapter 66 Verses 18 and 19 in our next post.