Introduction Within the Abrahamic religions eschatology brings forth much debate, this is to include Ezekiel’s chapter 38-39 in reference to Gog and Magog. The prophecies from Isaiah to Revelation are interwoven therefore making it important to identify, and understand the accomplices, interludes, geography, and various elucidations which assist in accurately analyzing and understanding this prophecy. It is important to acknowledge that “the major interpretive difficulties in these two chapters are the identity of characters and places, as well as the time when these events occur.” There are vast elucidations regarding the invasion of Gog and Magog, therefore, requiring a concentration on Dispensationalism and various scholars interpretations to include: “John Walvoord, beginning of the tribulation; D.L. Cooper, before the tribulation; A.C. Gaebelein, beginning of the millennium; Charles Feinberg, end of the tribulation; and C.C. Ryrie, multiple fulfillments,” each having its own strengths and weaknesses, is the basis of this work. This being said, this paper will not postulate a conclusive resolution when concerning this prophecy, rather it will patron an culmination of the tribulation position, as many souls have disputed over this topic throughout the centuries. When considering elucidation and syntactical organization Ezekiel should be construed as “literal” because “there is not a syllable at the beginning of this chapter to alert us to explain the passage in any other than a literal method.” Mechanical arrangement of the two chapters can be demarcated in various ways, and may be prudent to utilize “four main divisions” which are branded by identified “four commands to the prophet: 38:2, 14 and 39:1, 17.” Contextuali... ... middle of paper ... ...l, 1997. Strong, James. Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries. Taken from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance by James Strong, S.T.D., LL.D., 1890. e-Sword, Version 9.5.1. Tanner, Paul J. 1996. Rethinking Ezekiel’s Invasion by Gog. Journal of the Evangelical Society.JETS 39-1 (March 1996). Thayer, Joseph Henry; Gerhard Kittel (ed). Thayer’s Greek Dictionary. Theological Dictionary of the New Testament. Revelation 20:9. n.d. e-Sword, Version 9.5.1. Walvoord, John F. The Revelation of Jesus Christ. Chicago: Moody, 1989. --- Walvoord, J.F. and R.B. Zuck (ed.) The Bible Knowledge Commentary; eds. 2 vols. n.d. e-Sword, Version 9.5.1 Wiersbe, Warren. Weirsbe’s Expository Outlines on the Old Testament; n.d. e-Sword, Version 9.5.1. Zodhiates, Spiros (ed). The Complete Word Study Dictionary, Gog. (Old and New Testaments). Chattanooga: AMG, 1993. E-Sword, Version 9.5.1.
LaHaye, Tim, and Ed Hindson. The Popular Encyclopedia of Bible Prophecy. Eugene, OR.: Harvest House Publishers, 2004.
Ezekiel lived in a time of international crisis and conflict. Assyria was the world power in the area under the rule of Tiglath-pilesar III. In 724 B.C Israel raged war upon Assyria, and Israel was no match for Assyria. In 627 B.C the last of the able Assyrian ruler, Ashurbanipal died. Right after the death of Ashurbanipal, Babylon under Nabopolassar wanted independence from Assyria. In 612 B.C the Assyrians under Nineveh surrendered to the rising Babylonians. In 605 B.C the Babylonians were at war against the Egyptians. The Babylonians won and they established themselves as the leading power in the area. During all of this Judea allied with the Babylonians and with this Judea kept her independence. During the last century before Judea was destroyed it was ruled by four rulers and of those rulers, all but Josiah were wicked. Josiah was committed to God and led Judea to him. All the others did not heed the warnings of Ezekiel and Jeremiah from God, and the rulers of Judea chose to rebel against God. God punished Judea by sending Nebuchadnezzar’s army to crush the nation of Judea and flatten the city of Jerusalem.
Smith, LaGard F.: The Daily Bible; New International Version: Harvest House Publishers; Eugene, Oregon 97402_1984. Pages 1449 – 1453.
Robinson, B. A. (2008, March 30). Books of the Hebrew Scripture . Retrieved May 7, 2011, from Religious Tolerance: http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_otb3.htm
The Book of Daniel is the only full-blown apocalyptic book in the Protestant recognized version of the Canon. A literary device divides the book into two halves. Chapters 1-6 are a collection of stories that introduces the reader to Daniel and three other Israelites as unwilling guests of the Babylonia Empire ruled by Nebuchadnezzar. The second half, Chapters 7-12 consists of apocalyptic imagery of deformed beasts and the heavenly court. The focus of this paper will be on chapter 7, which serves as a bridge of the two halves. Chapter 7 is the earliest of the visions as it identifies with the genre of 8-12 while through language and content it reverts to Daniel chapter 2. The linguistic break down is not as neat as the literary divide in that Dan. 2:4b-7:28 was written in Aramaic while other portions of the book is written in Hebrew.
Kevin Killeen and Peter J. Forshaw. "The Word and the World." Biblical Exegesis and Early Modern Science, 220-225.
New Revised Standard Version. New York: American Bible Society, 1989. Print. The. Russell, Eddie.
Correspondingly, other canonical prophetic books interpret Yahweh’s will during periods of social or political crisis.4 Many minor prophets wrote during one of the three critical periods: the Assyrian Crisis, the Babylonian threat, or the postexilic readjustment.5 During the Babylonian threat of the late-seventh century, Habakkuk served as a link between God and humanity. The Assyrian kingdom, led by Shalmanasar V, forced the people of Judah into harsh conditions through a heartless deportation. In time, political drama spread throughout the region. After 612 B.C.E. when Assyria fell to Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, Habakkuk wrote his prophetic book, focusing on the agony of humankind’s struggle to progress in such a wicked world. His message of faith and morality transcended the evil within society, ultimately revealing to the Israelites that justice would prevail.
Before Jerusalem Fell: Dating the Book of Revelation. Tyler, TX: Institute for Christian Economics, 1989. Mounce, Robert H. The Book of Revelation. Revised.
Kohlenberger, III, John R. and Barker, Kenneth L., eds. Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary: An Abridgement of the Expositors Bible Commentary. Chicago: Zondervan Publishing House, 1994.
Holy Bible: Contemporary English Version. New York: American Bible Society, 1995. Print. (BS195 .C66 1995)
The term millennium does not appear anywhere in Scripture. The idea originated from a thousand year period of time that characterizes the reign of the Messiah. In fact, the phrase “thousand years” is stated six times in Revelation 20. There are three main schools of thought based upon one’s view of the thousand-year reign of Christ. These views are: Amillennial, Postmillennial and Premillennial. Over the centuries these prophetic differences have caused conflict within the body of Christ and are still currently widely debated. Instead of the book of Revelation being the basis of comfort (1 Thess. 4:18) among Christians it has become a bone of contention. However, this controversy should not deter Christ’s disciples from receiving the blessings that Revelation has to offer (Rev. 1:3; 14:13; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6; 22:7, 14). Rather, one should study prophecy under the Spirit’s guidance and look at the data provided within the full context of the Word assessing each of the views for correct motives and presuppositions. Therefore, this paper will examine the nature, timing, and duration of the millennium as well as the occupants of the millennial kingdom and the relationship of Israel and the Church to the millennial kingdom. The aim of this paper is to address “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place” (Rev. 1:1, ESV).
Bray, Gerald. Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture. New Testament VI Romans. (Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 1998)
LaSor, W., Hubbard, D., Bush, F., & Allen, L. (1996). Old Testament survey: The message, form, and background of the Old Testament (2nd ed.). Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans
“Douglas, J. D., and Merrill C. Tenney.” “Authority.” NIV Compact Dictionary of the Bible. Grand