Peaceprocess_05
After its decisive victory over the Arabs (Isaiah 11:14; Zephaniah 2:4-10; Ezekiel 36:7), Israel will dwell in peace and "unwalled villages" as symbolized in Ezekiel (38:11). At this juncture, Gog and the nations listed will invade Israel (Ezekiel 38:3-6). Here we disagree with many of our "born-again" Christian friends. We do not believe in a so-called "second holocaust"—in which nine-tenths of the Israelis will be eternally condemned when slain by the forces of Gog and only a one-tenth holy remnant remain.
Is the purpose of Gog's invasion to once and for all teach Israel a lesson of God's sovereignty? Or is it to teach the Gentile nations which attack the Land the sovereignty of the God of Israel? The answer is "Yes" to both questions. But the way God accomplishes this lesson is different in each case. On Israel's behalf He fights for them as He did in ancient times, "Then shall the LORD go forth and fight against those nations as when he fought in the day of battle" (Zechariah 14:1-3) In their spectacular deliverance the LORD says, "I will bring again the captivity of Jacob and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel...for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel..." (Ezekiel 39:25,29). On the other hand, the way God will sanctity Himself "in the eyes of many nations" so that "they shall know that I am the LORD" is by defeating them (Ezekiel 38:23). They will be so dumbstruck by Israel's extraordinarily outstanding victory, that they will have no choice but to glorify God. "For I am with thee, saith the LORD, to save thee, though I make a full end of all nations [governments, not the people] whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee..." (Jeremiah 30:11).
Actually, Ezekiel's prophecy does not indicate how many Jews are killed during Gog's invasion. But great emphasis is given to the Lord's destruction of the forces of Gog. By contrast is Israel's prospect, "Now I shall restore the fortunes of Jacob and have mercy on the whole house of Israel" (Ezekiel 39:25, NAS). A parallel prophecy speaks of half of Jerusalem being exiled (not destroyed) but the rest of the people would remain (Zechariah 14:2,3). What becomes of those who went into exile? The prophet Isaiah shows a further regathering of Jews to Israel after the invasion of Gog (Isaiah 66:19,20; 60:4-9). The "half" who are taken into exile during the invasion will return in this post-Gog invasion regathering.
This concept of the destruction of nine-tenths is based on the Revised Standard Version's (1952) gross mistranslation of Ezekiel 20:37 which among several errors implies the "rod" that Israelis pass under is a shepherd's counting rod. The New Revised Standard Version has corrected its former mistranslation and shows that the thought of counting or numbering is not contained in the Hebrew text. The Hebrew word "shebet" is translated "rod" in the King James rendering of this text, but it can be translated also "staff" or "scepter." The thought of counting is not contained in "shebet" even though "second holocaust" commentators unfortunately couple it with tithing (Leviticus 27:32,33).
The Hebrew word "shebet" (here rendered "rod") is often translated "scepter" when the thought of a reigning king is in the context. Actually the context of Ezekiel 20:37 presents God as reigning over the Jewish people during their regathering (vs. 34). That is why some Bibles have "scepter" in the margin as an alternative rendering of "shebet."
In any case, under the Law when every tenth animal was tithed—given to God (Leviticus 27:32,33) the tenth animal was not to be inspected and determined better than the rest. Even if the animal was bad, blemished or defective, it was still the Lord's. This procedure does not fit as a picture of "Jews of faith" as a tenth part being delivered out of Gog's invasion as some claim.
Since every tenth animal in the flock or herd was given to the Lord, what happened to the other nine-tenths? Were they killed? No. They remained alive as the flock or herd of the shepherd. Therefore, the nine-tenths of living animals cannot portray the death of nine-tenths of Israel in Gog's invasion. In fact, nothing in the description of Gog indicates such a massive destruction of Jewish life. Rather the outcome of the invasion will be glorious for Israel, "the whole house of Israel" (Ezekiel 39:25, NAS).
The several Hebrew words translated "remnant" mean "remainder, descendants, survivors." The thought of a minority is not implicit in these Hebrew words. The meaning for "remnant" can refer to either a minority or a majority. When a tenth part of an ephah (1½ bushels) of flour is given to the priest for a sin-offering, he only used one handful of the flour as an offering upon the altar. The leftover flour (still more than a bushel) is referred to as a "remnant" (Leviticus 5:11-13; 2:3). Here the "remnant" (Hebrew "yathar") is significantly the larger portion.
Another example in the New Testament of a remnant being the larger portion is in the Apostle Peter's discourse (Acts 15:14-17). When the Apostle described the "residue of men" who will seek the Lord in His Kingdom, he quotes from the Old Testament which renders the phrase, "remnant [Hebrew word "she'eriyth"] of Edom" (Amos 9:11). In the Hebrew "Edom" means "reddish, Adam or man." Conversely, "Adam" or "man" means "reddish." Hence the phrase, "residue of men," in Peter's discourse refers to the overwhelming majority of the human race who will be on trial for eternal life in the Kingdom. Since both of these Hebrew words ("yathar" and "she'eriyth") are used in Scripture to refer to the "remnant of Israel," obviously, the thought of "a minority" is not inherent in the phrase, "remnant of Israel."
The Prophet Micah (2:12) gives insight as to the size of the "remnant of Israel" in three different instances:
I will surely assemble, O Jacob, all of thee; I will surely gather the remnant of Israel; I will put them together as the sheep of Bozrah, as the flock in the midst of their fold: they shall make great noise by reason of the multitude of men.
First, "Jacob" always refers to natural Israel. Therefore, "O Jacob, all of thee," whom the Lord assembles or gathers to the Land equals the "remnant of Israel" in the next phrase. This internal equation demonstrates "remnant" is not a small 1/10 minority. Second, this "remnant of Israel" is like a flock of sheep of Bozrah. Bozrah was not only noted for large sheep but for very large flocks of sheep. Third, this sheepfold is noisy because it is crowded with men. Therefore the remnant must be a large flock.
The Rotherham translation speaks of this "remnant" as "sheep in distress." This rendering locates the context at the time of Gog's invasion when Israel will be surrounded by enemies. The next verse shows how these sheep of Israel are delivered (Micah 2:13):
The breaker is come up before them: they have broken up [out], and have passed through the gate, and are gone out by it: and their king shall pass before them.
The Hebrew for "breaker" is the "one who breaks out or through." Their king will deliver them from the forces of Gog. Only those who are "feeble" (Hebrew, "bend the knee"), that is, turn to the Lord in prayers of faith will be delivered (Zechariah 12:8). Those lacking this faith will be killed (Ezekiel 20:38) and not immediately share in the special blessings of the remnant or flock that are brought through the trouble safely. But even these lacking faith who die will come forth from their graves in the general resurrection of the "unjust" to a fair trial or "judgment" (John 5:28,29 NAS).
Only after their deliverance from Gog's invasion will the Messiah or Christ reveal himself to Israel by pouring God's spirit upon them (Zechariah 12:9-14). Those who accept Christ at this time are described as "all families [of Israel] that remain." Therefore, all the "remnant of Israel," who are a large flock, shall recognize their Savior who died for them...and there will be "great mourning" throughout the Land. But the very next verse shows a wonderful opportunity will be opened, "In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness" (Zechariah 13:1).
Not only is there a pre-Gog invasion gathering of Jews, but also a post-Gog invasion regathering. This further regathering after the destruction of Gog is prophesied in Isaiah 66 & 60 and also Ezekiel 36. The Isaiah 66 prophecy parallels the time after Gog's defeat when the Gentile nations see the Lord's glory through the great destruction He brings upon them (Isaiah 66:15,16,18 and Ezekiel 39:21). This prophecy in Isaiah additionally explains that some Gentiles escape "...I will send those that escape of them unto the nations...and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles. And they shall bring all your brethren...out of all nations...to my holy mountain Jerusalem" (Isaiah 66:19,20).
Similarly, the prophecy in Isaiah 60 reveals that the Gentiles shall see God's glory upon Israel and they come into harmony with God's Kingdom in Israel, "and the Gentiles shall come to thy light." After the trouble is over and the Kingdom is set up in Israel, there is a further regathering, "Thy sons shall come from far" on "ships" to Israel and "to the Holy One of Israel, because he hath glorified thee" (Isaiah 60:2-9).
The parallel passages in Ezekiel 36 supply added details (vss. 23-38). Specifically, vs. 23 focuses on the time after Gog's defeat, "I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD God, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes" (Ezekiel 36:23 and Ezekiel 39:21-23, 27). After the heathen nations see the Lord in the miraculous deliverance of Israel from their invading forces, a further regathering is expected, "For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you and ye shall be clean..." (Ezekiel 36:24,25). Significantly, it should be noted that these Jews gathered after the invasion of Gog are "cleansed with water" just as those gathered before the invasion are cleansed in the "fountain...for sin" (Zechariah 13:1). Also, at this time the newly gathered flock will receive the Holy spirit as did the flock of Israel who was already in the Land and delivered during Gog's invasion (Zechariah 12:9,10).
The "remnant of Israel" which was a large flock before Gog's invasion (Micah 2:12) is now increased in size to include these cleansed Jews regathered after Gog's defeat. "I will increase them with men like a flock." This combined flock that is now increased in size is described as a "holy flock" (Ezekiel 36:37,38).
The "second holocaust" commentators believe all of the Jewish people will return to Israel before Gog's invasion. But the nine-tenths ratio of judgment on the Jews in the Land during Gog's invasion becomes meaningless if there are still Jews outside of Israel who will return (also Isaiah 66:18-20; 60:4-9 and Ezekiel 36:23-28). The nine-tenths destruction becomes even more pointless since during Gog's invasion, "half of the city shall go forth into captivity [exile]" (Zechariah 14:2). These recently exiled Jews will be also part of the grouping of Jews who return after Gog's invasion is over. They will have the opportunity to be cleansed, receive the Holy spirit and be part of the "holy flock" together with those who lived through Gog's invasion.
Both segments of this flock—those that lived through Gog's invasion and those who are gathered to Israel after Gog's defeat—accept the Savior, are washed and receive the Holy spirit. Therefore, it is a "holy flock," a sanctified flock, that is set aside to God's service, God's destined purpose. For what service is the "holy flock" sanctified?
This large and cleansed holy flock, the descendants of Jacob, is the earthly seed of Abraham ("sand which is upon the sea shore") which will work with the spiritual seed, Christ and his Church ("stars of the heaven") to bless all the families of the earth (Genesis 22:16-18; Galatians 3:16, 27-29). All the Land promised from the Euphrates to the River of Egypt will then belong to these descendants, the remnant of Jacob (Genesis 13:15,16; 15:18) for Jerusalem will be the capital of God's Kingdom and the Land of Israel its operational base.
"All Israel shall be saved" then is not a gross exaggeration on the part of the Apostle Paul (Romans 11:26). How are they saved? Israel is "saved" by the Deliverer, the Christ, that comes out of Zion, the Kingdom of God. The Deliverer saves them by turning "away ungodliness from Jacob." By Christ's death they are saved from Adamic death and the condemnation of the Mosaic Law. Why are they saved? "They are beloved for the fathers' sakes. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance" (Romans 11:28,29).
Then the fathers of Israel—Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, Samuel, Elijah and the rest—will constitute the government of Israel and will be "princes" on earth, "children" of the King and of his Bride Psalm 45:10-16). God will restore (by raising from the dead) their "judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning" (Isaiah 1:25,26). What will begin as God's Kingdom on earth in Jerusalem and Israel will eventually extend to the ends of the earth (Isaiah 2:2,3):
And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain [Kingdom] of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths; for out of Zion [the spiritual seed of blessing] shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem [the natural seed of blessing].
The whole world—the Arab peoples too—will come up to worship the God of Jacob in Jerusalem. Peoples of all national tongues will come to pray to the LORD God of Israel because they will understand God is blessing Israel (Zechariah 8:3, 21-23):
...Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth, and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain...O house of Judah and house of Israel; so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing; fear not, but let your hands be strong....It shall yet come to pass that there shall come people and the inhabitants of many cities,....saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts...ten men shall take hold out of all the languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.
God's own peace process will succeed when man's has failed. The peace God will give Israel and the whole world will be all-comprehensive and permanent. All peoples, both Jews and Gentiles, even Israelis and Arabs who faithfully drink of the "water of life freely" and who overcome "shall inherit all things" (Revelation 22:17; 21:7).
Introduction * Chapter 1 * Chapter 2 * Chapter 3 *
Chapter 4 * Chapter 5 * Endnotes