To Take a Spoil, and to Take a Prey
Ezekiel 37-39
The Bible not only said that the Lord would gather the Jews back to their homeland again but that Jerusalem would be theirs and that city would be the source of conflict in the end times. Jerusalem is at the heart of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict (Zechariah 12:2). But God gave Israel and the city of Jerusalem to the Jewish people.
Israel, Jerusalem in particular, is God’s prophetic time clock. The conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Arabs will focus more and more attention on Jerusalem. Jerusalem is the city to watch. God says will be at the center of end-time events and it is happening today just as the Bible promised it would. Nations from the north will unite against Israel, “To take a spoil, and to take a prey.”
I. Dry Bones Come Alive:
a. (Ezekiel 37:1-6, 11-14). This is where God speaks about the regathering of the Jews again. We see the regathered nation of Israel in her land, and we see that God is saying this will happen according to “My Word.” Then Ezekiel 38:1-12 speaks of a large and powerful nation to the north of the newly established Jewish homeland along with several of her allies invading Israel. This has not yet happened.
b. Some say Magog is modern-day Russia. Magog was the second son of Japheth, who settled north of the Black Sea. Tubal and Meshech, in Ezekiel 38, were the fifth and sixth sons of Japheth whose descendants settled south of the Black Sea. Gomer was the eldest son of Japheth, whose descendants settled in modern-day Germany. They all intermarried and became known as Magog and settled north of Israel.
c. (Ezekiel 39:2) So we have the return of the Jews to their homeland. The return of Jerusalem to the Jews in their homeland. A large force from the north identified as Magog will attack Israel. It will happen. Why are they going to do it? For resources, land, religion? God says He will put a hook in their jaw. When will it happen? If what we’re witnessing escalates, it could happen at any time.
II. The Rapture of the Church:
a. I believe the church will be caught away just before Ezekiel’s war, and because of that event (the rapture), Russia, and her allies will see it as their golden opportunity to attack Israel. All of Israel’s Christian ally nations will be crippled due to the catching away of the Church and unable to come to her aid. And when it happens, it will happen in rapid succession. All of these things will transpire one after another: The catching away of the church, Ezekiel’s War, the man of sin (the antichrist) is revealed, and the Tribulation Period begins before the world knows what hit it!
b. Jesus Christ is coming back! It could happen at any moment. (Matthew 24:37-43) Yes, some people will be left. Who? The ones who do not believe in Jesus. Who will be taken? The ones who do believe in Jesus. Do you? Do you have the confidence and certainty right now that you would go to heaven if you were to die? If not, let’s resolve that right now. It is time to repent of that, and it is time to start walking with God. Time is short. Jesus is coming. I pray now that you will make your decision to receive Christ as Lord and Saviour.