Bones and Bodies
Ezekiel 39:11-16 is an account (apparently symbolic) of the burying of the bodies of the remnants of Gog’s invasion of Israel. This article’s purpose is to suggest a possible interpretation of the symbolisms of bodies, graves, passengers, Hamon-gog, Gog, and the seven months.
Concerning the symbolic use of bodies and their parts, we suggest that Ezekiel 37:1-14 will aid in understanding Ezekiel 39. In Ezekiel 37, body parts coming together represent the restructuring of the polity of the Jewish nation. Using this as a clue, it seems likely that the decomposition of bodies in Ezekiel 39, and the disintegration of bodies in Zechariah 14, would each represent the destruction of polity-one gradual (decomposition), the other sudden (disintegration). If this is true, Zechariah 14:12 represents a sudden governmental breakdown followed (verse 13) by anarchy. However, Ezekiel 39 seems to represent the tedious task of doing away with all remnants of former governmental concepts during the first 210 years (7 months) of the peaceable Kingdom.
The burying would represent the attempt of mankind to hide and forget all traces of the former ways of government. Those involved full time in this work are Israel (verses 12-14), and they are aided by “passengers” It seems logical that the Ancient Worthies and restored Israel as the leaders of the new order would, indeed, be engaged full time in eradicating the old order. The passengers, however, may be those who are coming to Jerusalem to learn in Zechariah 14:16-19 and 8:20-23. Their learning ability will become so acute that they can readily point to remnants of the ways of the old order (Ezekiel 39:15), and they will be expected to do so. It is interesting that these “passengers” have a valley named for them. (Ezekiel 39:11) It seems probable that this valley represents the peaceable Kingdom of Zechariah 14:4-5.
If the above symbolisms are correct, the symbolism of Gog and Hamon-gog also become clearer. If the three chapters examined all describe incoming or outgoing polity, they are politically oriented prophecies (as distinguished from prophecies dealing with the religious aspects of Babylon). Therefore, the decomposition of Gog represents the gradual fading of earth’s political influence in the lives of individuals. Bible students have generally agreed that the invasion by Gog was an invasion of an irreligious force. This is civil government’s last stand. (almost!)
The words of Revelation 20 seems to confirm this conclusion. Here again Gog is mentioned (20:8). It is not reasonable to suppose that these are the same individuals who participated in Jacob’s trouble. Rather, Gog here has the same symbolism as he did in Ezekiel: civil power’s advocates. Civil power has long been Satan’s tool (compare Rev. 12), and it will apparently form the kernel of his final hour at the little season. Bro. Russell cautions several times that we recognize Revelation 20 as being primarily about Satan’s governmental deceptions rather than primarily about his person. Revelation 19 records the beast and false prophet being cast into the lake of fire; but what about the third part of the trio–the dragon? (Compare Rev. 16:13.) The dragon is not destroyed until the end of the Millennium (Rev. 20:7-10) although he is bound during that period. He works through Gog at both ends of the age!
NOTE: The “kings of the earth” of Rev. 19 do not represent the dragon, as can be confirmed by a careful comparison with Revelation 16:13, 14. Even if they did, it will be noticed that they are not destroyed in the lake of fire in 19:20. Only two entities are: the beast and the false prophet. Ezekiel 39:11,15 mention Hamon-gog (margin: The Multitude of Gog). Perhaps this clarifies the distinction between the dragon and Gog of Revelation 20. Both represent facets of Satan’s deception through civil power. The dragon, however, represents civil power as a unit, as a philosophy, as a tool of the devil. Gog, on the other hand, represents the cooperating individuals (the multitudes). Thus we have portrayed in Scriptures the multitudes (Gog) who serve Satan’s governments, and the multitudes (hosts, as in “Lord of Hosts”) who serve God’s government. The ideas of the former shall be buried; those of the latter shall prosper forever.
– David Doran