III. THE ATTACK OF GOG, MAGOG, AND OTHER NATIONS

UPON THE JEWS.-(Ezek. chap. xxxviii., and xxxix.

The period of the fulfilment of this prophecy is so plainly stated, as to occasion surprise how it could be referred to the close of the Millenium. Its distance from that of its delivery is denoted by the expressions "after many days,"-" in the latter years." That it is subsequent to the yet future restoration of the Jews is equally certain: "Thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste." Here are the present long-continued desolation of the territory, and the still future restoration of the nation, distinctly recognized as past,-" is brought back." But another fact respecting the prophecy is as plainly revealed, though it has been generally questioned; I refer to its fulfilment previous to the Millenium. In proof of this, I allege the circumstance, that the conversion of the Jews themselves is expressly dated from the period of the destruction, and ascribed instrumentally to that event; "The house of Israel shall know that I am the LORD their God from that day and forward,"-(chap. xxxix. 32.) "So will I make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel; and I will not let them pollute my holy name any more.”—(ver. 7.) From these and similar passages it is clear, that this battle is the era and the means, under God, of the entire conversion of the Jews. Other passages plainly intimate, that the tremendous results of the conflict, will prove instrumental in diffusing the knowledge and glory of God throughout the world, which implies that the Millenium had not yet commenced.—(chap. xxxviii. 23, and xxxix. 7—21.) The attack of Gog and MAGOG, in the Apocalypse, though a similar, is therefore quite another event.

The prodigious multitudes composing this host is a particular, strongly and often stated; "Thou shalt ascend and

come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou and all thy bands, and many people with thee."—(chap. xxxviii. 9.) But that which most strikingly exhibits their numbers are the facts, that the weapons of the discomfited hosts shall serve the Jewish nation for firewood SEVEN YEARS, and that the time occupied in burying the bodies of the slain, shall be SEVEN MONTHS.

The object of this invasion of the Holy Land, so far at least as GoG is concerned, is "to take a spoil and to take a prey, to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited;" "Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil?" The defenceless condition of the Jews, just restored to their own land, without regular armies or fortifications, in connexion with the proverbial wealth of that people, is one, though not the only, cause of this expedition,—“ I will go up to the land of unwalled villages,....all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates."

The conflict itself is not mentioned by Ezekiel; but the results are fully stated. The immediate issue of the battle is contained in chap. xxxviii. 21, 22,-" And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, every man's sword shall be against his brother. And I will plead against him with pestilence and blood,....overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone;" so that they will not be slain by the Jews, but by each other,-(see Zech. xiv. 13; Hag. ii. 22; compare also 2 Chron. xx. 23-25

The remote consequences of this conflict are stated (chap. xxxviii. 19, 20), to be "a tremendous earthquake in Judæa, which extends to the whole earth, and overthrows every mountain, and steep place, and wall." This, of course, is figurative,

and denotes a universal overthrow of all existing governments and powers. The Battle of Armageddon would naturally produce this result in two ways:-First, the slaughter of such prodigious multitudes upon multitudes, must itself be the downfal of many governments and powers; and secondly, the ultimate influence of such an utterly unprecedented destruction of mankind upon the minds of men, must evidently be of the most powerful and practical nature :—“ Thus will I magnify myself in the eyes of many nations." "And I will set my glory among the heathen, and they shall see my judgment which I have executed, and my hand which I have laid upon them." The slaughter of "all nations, and the armies thereof" in one day,-and that not by opposing forces, but by their own swords, in connexion with horrible pestilence and supernatural judgments, agreeing with the long-uttered predictions of Scripture, will so strikingly exhibit the RIGHTEOUSNESS, FAITHFULNESS, and TRUTH of the Deity, that the whole earth must at once confess and glorify God.

The "angel standing in the sun," identifies this Battle with Armageddon; so does the "earthquake" (which is clearly the same as that of the seventh vial), and the destruction of all existing governments throughout the earth. Whilst in the place and period of the conflict, the most entire agreement is observable.

IV. ZECHARIAH'S PROPHECY OF AN ATTACK OF ALL NATIONS UPON JERUSALEM.-(chap. xii., and xiv).

This is the most full and minute account of the assault upon the city which Prophecy contains. The xiv. chapter plainly states, that the Battle of Armageddon will, in the first instance, be decidedly favourable to the Beast, and the Kings of the earth,-" The city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, &c., and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off

66

from the city."-(ver. 2). The destruction of surrounding nations by the Jews at this period, is also stated,-" They shall devour all the people round about on the right hand and on the left." Compare Obadiah, ver. 18. The figurative appearance of Christ the Lord is strikingly declared," Then shall the Lord go forth and fight against those nations, as when He fought in the day of battle, and his feet shall stand upon the Mount of Olives." That a personal appearance, however, is not denoted, is plain from its being said, as when he fought in the day of battle." No record exists, that any personal conflict of God with men has ever occurred, therefore this passage simply denotes, that, as on a similar occasion (Josh. x. 14), "THE LORD FOUGHT FOR ISRAEL." The spiritual conversion of the Jews after the battle, is clearly stated, "I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn."-Zech. xii. 10.

V. THE COMING OF THE LORD WITH FIRE TO PLEAD

WITH ALL FLESH.

"For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury and his rebuke with flames of fire. For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many. They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine's flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the LORD. For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory. And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that

L

draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles. And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the LORD out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the LORD, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD.”—Isaiah xlvi. 15-20.

This coming of Jehovah is clearly the same as is described in the vision of the WORD OF GOD (Rev. chap. xix). The gathering of all nations and tongues is to the Battle of Armageddon, and the glory of the Almighty, denotes His Omnipotence, Holiness, and Truth, displayed in that fearful overthrow. The fugitives from the field of slaughter, are made messengers to carry the great tidings to their respective nations, and thus is the divine glory diffused throughout the world. The natural result of this is, that the utmost promptitude and zeal are displayed by all the people of the earth in accomplishing the purposes of Jehovah, so unequivocally revealed in the recent interposition on behalf of His people, and for the overthrow of their foes. A second, or further restoration of the Jews takes place, including all "out of every nation" who have not yet joined their brethren.

Zeph. iii. 8-20, is another prediction of Armageddon. That the battle is closely connected with the Jews, is plain from verse 8,-" Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey!" It thus appears, that the Battle of Armageddon, denotes an attack upon the Beast and the Kings of the whole world upon the Jewish nation, soon after their return to Judea. It issues in an unprecedented slaughter of the invading hosts, and in the overthrow of all the Goverments, both Spiritual and Civil throughout the earth, and its object is, to punish the nations of the earth for their treatment of the Jews.