Gathering the Nations to Arma heap of sheaves

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

Daniel 11: 1 -39 – an overview V 1: Darius the Mede Kg of North Kg of South V 2: 3 more kings follow Darius, then a 4 th who stirs up the ire of Greece V 3: Alexander; Greeks replace Persians as world rulers V 4: Alex dies childless and empire ruled by 4 generals (“not of his posterity”) V 5 -35: 2 of the 4 generals depicted as “king of the north” and “king of the south”; constant battles V 36 -39: Roman empire replaces Grecian, a new religion to emerge, led by a ‘strange god’ who introduces new forms of worship

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

Battle between the kings of North and South continue to latter day – vv 40 -45 “At Same 2 territoriesthe to be at war in the latter days The Replication Principle: God time of the end…” symbol uses the same historical for a latter day power because the conditions are the same Seleucid – King of North Present day countries: Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan Ptolemaic – King of South

Battle between the kings of North and South continue to latter day/end times – vv 40 -45 Present day countries: Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan Ptolemaic – King of South

A comparison of Ezek 38 and Dan 11 1. Invasions occur in the same time period Ezek: in the latter years, the latter days (v 8, 16) Dan: the time of the end (11: 40) 2. 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 3. 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) 4. The invader moves at a devastating speed, mounts an overwhelming attack Ezek: like a storm to cover the land (v 9) Dan: like a whirlwind (11: 40) 5. 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)

A comparison of Ezek 38 and Dan 11 6. He is confederate with the same allies Ezek: Ethiopia and Libya (38: 5) Dan: Ethiopia and Libya (11: 43) 7. His motivation is for financial taking each of the The method of wealth (38: 12, 13) (11: 43) Ezek: to take a spoil and a prey; to carry away silver and gold prophetic pieces and adding them Dan: he seeks the gold and silver and precious things of Egypt 8. 9. together, to form a single, composite picture that He enjoys killing Jews tells the same end of the Ezek: has an evil thought, a key a prey (people) (38: 10, 12) story becomes seeks to understanding Dan: to destroy withprophecy; Ezek 38 and Dan latter day great fury, to make away many (11: 44) 11: 40 -45 must destroyed by The invading army is miraculouslyharmonize 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 10. 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)

Daniel 11: 40 -45 adds additional details 1. Israel isn’t the only nation invaded, many countries are as the King of the North moves south, “overflowing and passing over” (v 40) 2. The invader comes “like a whirlwind” (tornado) 3. Gog comes with a navy (v 40) 4. Gog doesn’t stop at Israel, Egypt is also a target 5. Jordan (Edom and Moab) escape the invasion 6. The destruction of Gog doesn’t happen until after he has passed through the Holy Land, conquered Egypt, and then returns to Israel 7. Jerusalem will be captured by Gog and be the focus of his attention when he is destroyed

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

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

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 spiritually by their conversion Israel’s repentance and conversion is a new detail added to Ezek 38 and Dan 11

Joel’s vision of Armageddon – ch 3 • Their destruction likened to a harvest – v 13 • v 14 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 – v 2, 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 – vv 2 -5 • The ‘shapat’ (judgment) of the nations also noted in Ezek 38: 22

Joel’s vision of Armageddon – ch 3 • Their destruction likened to a harvest – v 13 • v 14 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 – v 2, 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 – vv 2 -5 • The ‘shapat’ (judgment) of the nations also noted in Ezek 38: 22

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” (v 25), 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 (v 4), 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 (v 15 -17) & God saves them • Invaders had arrived declaring “a holy war” (crusade) in one final anti-Semitic act– v 9 (unique to Joel)

Micah’s vision of Armageddon – 4: 11 -13 • Same imagery of threshing – vv 12 -13 • It is God who gathers the nations – v 12 • The invaders seek to defile Israel (heb = to soil in a moral sense), to shame/humiliate her – v 11 • 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 – v 13 (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

What is the evidence Ezek 38 occurs before the Kingdom is established? 1. The Jews do not return to God’s favor until after the Gogian host is destroyed (39: 22) 2. If Ezek 38 occurs after Jesus reigns in Jerusalem, then Israel suffers through two invasions (cp Zech 12, 14) 3. Gogian invasion is a punishment for Israel’s tres-passes (39: 26); nonsensical if Christ is already ruling 4. If ch 38 chronologically follows ch 37, then Israel is invaded after God has sanctified them (37: 28). 5. If Christ is already on the throne, how could Gog view Israel as being defenseless and an easy prey? 6. Why would the Gentile (Tarshish) powers feel the need to resist Gog if Christ is already Israel’s king? 7. 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