Prior Book | Prior Chapter | Prior Verse | Next Verse | Next Chapter | | Viewing NASB and Amplified 2015 | |
NASB | Revelation 20:8 and will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war; the number of them is like the sand of the seashore. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Revelation 20:8 and will come out to deceive and mislead the nations which are in the four corners of the earth--[including] Gog and Magog--to gather them together for the war; their number is like the sand of the seashore. [Ezek 38:2; 39:1, 6] |
Bible Question: Which war is this? |
Bible Answer: This is a good question. This war is clearly after the 1000 year reign of Christ, as the context shows (v. 7). It is my understanding that Armageddon happens just prior to the millenium, when Christ returns to rapture believers, then pour out His wrath upon the wicked. I do not know that this battle in Rev 20:8 has a name. Although I am very interested in prophecy, I am not at all sure that we have a clear understanding of which prophecies apply to the return of Christ and which apply to the passage you referenced. Most would say that Ezekiel 38-39 will be fulfilled prior to the millenium. Events in 39:9-12 (burning weapons for fuel for seven years, burying the dead for seven months) would seem to indicate that this occurs before the eternal state which will follow the millenium. But the references to Gog and Magog seem to parallel Rev 20:8 which is clearly at the end of the millenium (Rev 20:7). The passage in Ezekiel also ties in with many other "day of the Lord" passages (ie. Joel 2). One possible way to reconcile the apparent name/timing conflict is that Gog is a fallen angel. Angels can be associated with nations (Dan 10:12-13, Dan 10:20-21). I wish I could give you a staightforward, definite answer. My gut feeling though, is that the relationship between the return of Jesus, "the day of the Lord", Armageddon and the rebellion at the end of the millenium is more complex or at least different than we now expect. Perhaps we are somewhat like the Jewish believers before Jesus came, who may have been unable to reconcile the "suffering servant" of Isaiah 53 with the king on David's throne of Isaiah 9:7. Notwithstanding all that, Jesus is comming back. It will be the best thing that could happen, and at the worst time in time in the history of the world. Isaiah 40:4 Every valley shall be exalted And every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight And the rough places smooth; 5The glory of the LORD shall be revealed, And all flesh shall see it together; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken." Come quickly, Lord Jesus. |