Brethren have long studied the prophetic sequence of the invasion of Israel described in Ezekiel 38. God’s purpose in allowing the land to be invaded is described in the closing verse. “And I will magnify myself, and sanctify myself, and I will make myself known in the eyes of many nations; and they shall know that I am Jehovah.”

THE CONFLICT CONTINUES

Israel’s final conflict then continues into Ezekiel 39. “And thou, son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal: and I will turn thee about, and will lead thee on, and will cause thee to come up from the uttermost parts of the north; and I will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel; and I will smite thy bow out of thy left hand, and will cause thine arrows to fall out of thy right hand. Thou shalt fall upon the mountains of Israel, thou, and all thy hordes, and the peoples that are with thee: I will give thee unto the ravenous birds of every sort, and to the beasts of the field to be devoured. Thou shalt fall upon the open field; for I have spoken it, saith the Lord Jehovah. And I will send a fire on Magog, and on them that dwell securely in the isles; and they shall know that I am Jehovah” (Ezekiel 39:1-6).

This destructive scene describes the forces of Gog falling on the mountains of Israel and being consumed by fowl, beasts, and fire. It is this overwhelming demonstration of power that causes the nations to learn that Jehovah is God. This sets the stage for the blessings to follow the destructive conflict. “And my holy name will I make known in the midst of my people Israel; neither will I suffer my holy name to be profaned any more: and the nations shall know that I am Jehovah, the Holy One in Israel” (Ezekiel 39:7).

The instruments of war are then repurposed. “And they that dwell in the cities of Israel shall go forth, and shall set on fire and burn the weapons, both the shields and the bucklers, the bows and the arrows, and the handstaves, and the spears, and they shall burn them with fire seven years: So that they shall take no wood out of the field, neither cut down any out of the forests; for they shall burn the weapons with fire: and they shall spoil those that spoiled them, and rob those that robbed them, saith the Lord GOD” (Ezekiel 39:9, 10).

The burning of weapons is a symbolic description indicating that wars will cease and the resources and energy used for war redirected for beneficial purposes. Burning for seven years indicates the memories that will endure from the permission of evil. Mankind will benefit from its experience with war and senseless destruction. These memories will provide a needed resource as people learn to love and do good to one another.

The prophecy says, “those that spoiled” in this life will then be spoiled and those that “robbed” will be robbed themselves. In other words, those who previously hurt their fellow man must make amends and be a blessing to others. It will be a role reversal for all those who took unfair, often unscrupulous, advantage of others in this life.

A MEMORIAL PLACE

“And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will give unto Gog a place of memorial for burial in Israel in the Valley of the Travelers, east of the Dead Sea. It will block the travelers for there Gog and all his multitude will be buried; it will be called The valley of Hamongog [Multitude of Gog]. And seven months shall the house of Israel be burying of them, that they may cleanse the land” (Ezekiel 39:11, 12, NLV, Rotherham).

The Valley of the Travelers refers to a highway east of the Dead Sea called The King’s Highway. When journeying to the Promised Land, Israel requested permission from the Edomite king to travel the King’s Highway. It was the main route that united Egypt to Assyria. It is referred to here as “The Valley of Travelers” and represents the Highway of Holiness (Isaiah 35:8-10).

A memorial burial ground for Gog will be created on that highway. But the burial site blocks (or stops) travelers on the highway. The destruction of Gog will cause those on the Highway of Holiness to stop and consider the events that transpired when Gog invaded the Promised Land. The memorial lessons for all traveling the highway will recall the consequences for those who fought against God. All rebellion will be a cause of remembrance as they also reflect on the dire effects of sin.

It is unlikely that this description of corpses being buried for seven months is literal. It may simply indicate that mankind will metaphorically bury everything personified by Gog, including hatred, pride, and selfishness. The act of burying does not remove the memories associated with that which was buried. The memories are important as they provide what was lacking in the Garden of Eden. Man will then “know” good and evil by experiencing the painful results of sin.

The prophecy indicates that seven months are required to bury the dead. Being scripturally connected to the Law, the seven lunar cycles here suggest that the New (Law) Covenant will be in operation. It will provide the righteous standard for measuring dead works and will explain why the events of the past ended in death. Its work will be to bury the desire for sin in the heart of man and leave only the memory.

“Yea, all the people of the land shall bury them; and it shall be to them a renown in the day that I shall be glorified, saith the Lord Jehovah” (Ezekiel 39:13).

THE LITTLE SEASON

“At the end of seven months, they will appoint men to search the land systematically; going through the country and searching for any left above ground that remain on the face of the earth, so as to cleanse it. And then these pass through the land and if any one sees a man’s bones, then he shall set up a sign by it, till the buriers have buried it in the valley of Hamon-Gog (Multitude of Gog)” (Ezekiel 39:14, 15, NLV).

The Prophet Ezekiel

The end of seven months may represent the end of the Mediatorial kingdom. All obvious sin will have been removed. But one last search will be required, a picture of the Little Season, described in Revelation 20:7-10. The burying of these last few vestiges of sin will be the final judgement of each individual by The Christ. A sign will be placed, indicating the exposure of all hidden sin. No one will be able to question the final judgments of The Christ. All will know that the judgments were fair and good.

A MEMORIAL CITY

“And Hamonah [i.e. Multitude] shall also be the name of a city. Thus shall they cleanse the land” (Ezekiel 39:16).

In the invasion of Gog, the dead were symbolically buried in a memorial burying ground. Here too, in the Little Season, after a final cleansing, the dead are buried in the same memorial place. It is now termed a city and named “Multitude.” The word city (Strong’s 5892) means, “a place guarded by a watch.” It will be called “Multitude” because the multitude of God’s enemies will have been destroyed. Sin and death will be vanquished forever.

The watchers of the city suggests that every individual will be on guard and will never again allow sin to enter the heart. Humanities experience will also serve as a witness to all future intelligent creations. It will be a repository for the lessons of sin for “a people not yet created” (Psalms 102:18, NIV) Verse 16 ends with the simple, yet remarkable prophetic words, “And so the land was finally cleansed” (NLT).

— Adapted from a 2021 discourse by Br. George Tabac

 

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