Gathering the Nations to Arma- (heap of sheaves) gai- (in the valley) don (of judgment)

1. Gathering the Nations to Arma- (heap of sheaves) gai- (in the valley) don (of judgment)

2. Daniel 11:1-39 – an overview Kg of North Kg of South V1: Darius the Mede V2:3 more kings follow Darius, then a 4th who stirs up the ire of Greece V3:Alexander; Greeks replace Persians as world rulers V4:Alex dies childless and empire ruled by 4 generals (“not of his posterity”) V5-35:2 of the 4 generals depicted as “king of the north” and “king of the south”; constant battles V36-39:Roman empire replaces Grecian, a new religion to emerge, led by a ‘strange god’ who introduces new forms of worship

3. Daniel 11 describes the continuous battles between the kings of North and South Antigonid Helenistic Seleucid – King of North Ptolemaic – King of South

4. Battle between the kings of North and South continue to latter day – vv40-45 The Replication Principle: God uses the same historical symbol for a latter day power because the conditions are the same “At the time of the end…” Same 2 territories to be at war in the latter days Seleucid – King of North Present day countries: Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan Ptolemaic – King of South

5. Battle between the kings of North and South continue to latter day/end times – vv40-45 Present day countries: Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan Ptolemaic – King of South

6. A comparison of Ezek 38 and Dan 11 • Invasions occur in the same time period Ezek: in the latter years, the latter days (v8,16) Dan: the time of the end (11:40) • Israel is the nation invaded (38:8,14,16,18) (11:41,45) Ezek: upon the mtns of Israel, land of Israel, my people Israel Dan: he shall enter the glorious land…the glorious mountain • The description of the invader is identical (38:4,15) Ezek: all thine army, horses, horsemen, a great company Dan: with chariots and with horsemen (11:40) • The invader moves at a devastating speed, mounts an overwhelming attack Ezek: like a storm to cover the land (v9) Dan: like a whirlwind (11:40) • The invader comes out of the north Ezek: from thy place out of the north (38:6,15; 39:2) Dan: the king of the north (11:40)

7. A comparison of Ezek 38 and Dan 11 The method of taking each of the prophetic pieces and adding them together, to form a single, composite picture that tells the same end of the story becomes a key to understanding latter day prophecy; Ezek 38 and Dan 11:40-45 must harmonize • He is confederate with the same allies Ezek:Ethiopia and Libya (38:5) Dan: Ethiopia and Libya (11:43) • His motivation is for financial wealth(38:12,13) (11:43) Ezek: to take a spoil and a prey; to carry away silver and gold Dan: he seeks the gold and silver and precious things of Egypt • He enjoys killing Jews Ezek: has an evil thought, seeks a prey (people) (38:10,12) Dan: to destroy with great fury, to make away many (11:44) • The invading army is miraculously destroyed by divine intervention (38:21-22) (12:1) Ezek: I will call for a sword against him…will plead against him Dan: at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince • The destruction of the invader occurs in the same location Ezek: upon the mountains of Israel (39:4) Dan: (in land of Israel) between the seas + glorious mtn (11:45)

8. Daniel 11:40-45 adds additional details • Israel isn’t the only nation invaded, many countries are as the King of the North moves south, “overflowing and passing over” (v40) • The invader comes “like a whirlwind” (tornado) • Gog comes with a navy (v40) • Gog doesn’t stop at Israel, Egypt is also a target • Jordan (Edom and Moab) escape the invasion • The destruction of Gog doesn’t happen until after he has passed through the Holy Land, conquered Egypt, and then returns to Israel • Jerusalem will be captured by Gog and be the focus of his attention when he is destroyed

9. Rev 16:16 “And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.”

10. Armageddon – the watershed moment in future world events • All latter day symbols/powers participate • A cataclysmic event, the turning point in world affairs at time of the end • It precipitates the establishment of the Kingdom of God on earth • Israel’s enemies are exposed and eliminated • It is called “the great and terrible day of the LORD” for good reason

11. Joel’s vision includes Israel’s repentance • Setting: the people are unfaithful • God brings a northern invader who conquers Israel, captures Jerusalem and Jews go into captivity • Following the defeat, God calls Israel to repent • They repent and in turn cry to God for help • God responds to Israel’s repentance by destroying the invader (in the valley of Jehoshaphat) • The nation is blessed naturally through the land and spiritually by their conversion Israel’s repentance and conversion is a new detail added to Ezek 38 and Dan 11

12. Joel’s vision of Armageddon – ch 3 • Their destruction likened to a harvest – v13 • v14 Multitudes gathered by God in the valley of decision (threshing) to be threshed/cut apart • God’s judgment (Heb: shaphat) upon the nations is emphasized – v2, 12 • Heb for ‘multitudes’ = ‘hamown’ = Gog’s burial place in Ezek 39:11 – “the valley of Hamongog” • The invading nations to be judged for their crimes against God’s people – vv2-5 • The ‘shapat’ (judgment) of the nations also noted in Ezek 38:22

14. Joel’s vision of Armageddon – ch 3 • Their destruction likened to a harvest – v13 • v14 Multitudes gathered by God in the valley of decision (threshing) to be threshed/cut apart • God’s judgment (Heb: shaphat) upon the nations is emphasized – v2, 12 • Heb for ‘multitudes’ = ‘hamown’ = Gog’s burial place in Ezek 39:11 – “the valley of Hamongog” • The invading nations to be judged for their crimes against God’s people – vv2-5 • The ‘shapat’ (judgment) of the nations also noted in Ezek 38:22

15. Joel, Ezekiel, Daniel all agree • A latter day prophecy (2:19,26) from the north (2:20) • Called “the LORD’s army” (2:11), “my great army” (v25), because it will execute God’s will • Joel also sees 2 battles: Israel capture then contrasted with her deliverance; God roars in both instances • The invader’s army described as horses and horsemen (v4), arriving with rapid speed and overwhelming power (2:5-10), Jerusalem is taken • God appeals to Israel: you must become a new people with a new heart/walk (2:12-14) • Israel repents, is converted (v15-17) & God saves them • Invaders had arrived declaring “a holy war” (crusade) in one final anti-Semitic act– v9 (unique to Joel)

16. Micah’s vision of Armageddon – 4:11-13 • Same imagery of threshing – vv12-13 • It is God who gathers the nations – v12 • The invaders seek to defile Israel (heb = to soil in a moral sense), to shame/humiliate her – v11 • As in Joel 3, God will judge them because of their severe mistreatment of His people • The Jews (following conversion) will be used by God to tread the nations – v13 (tipped hooves – Deut 25:4) • It is the Messiah who brings peace (5:5); the peace existing at Gog’s invasion was only a psuedo peace • Hab 3:12-14 – also uses imagery of threshing and reveals the invaders rejoice over mistreating Israel

18. What is the evidence Ezek 38 occurs before the Kingdom is established? • The Jews do not return to God’s favor until after the Gogian host is destroyed (39:22) • If Ezek 38 occurs after Jesus reigns in Jerusalem, then Israel suffers through two invasions (cp Zech 12,14) • Gogian invasion is a punishment for Israel’s tres-passes (39:26); nonsensical if Christ is already ruling • If ch 38 chronologically follows ch 37, then Israel is invaded after God has sanctified them (37:28). • If Christ is already on the throne, how could Gog view Israel as being defenseless and an easy prey? • Why would the Gentile (Tarshish) powers feel the need to resist Gog if Christ is already Israel’s king? • Gog’s destruction teaches Israel (39:22) and the gentile nations (38:16,23; 39:21) that Israel’s God is Supreme; nonsensical if Christ is already ruling