Cleansing the Land

Ezekiel 39:1-2 (RSV)1 And you, son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal;2 and I will turn you about and drive you forward, and bring you up from the uttermost parts of the north, and lead you against the mountains of Israel;

Revelation 20: 7-97 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle…9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down out of heaven, and devoured them.

McClintock and Strong’s Definition of GOG

To be high or overtopping: Figuratively, gigantic, great of stature, powerful, warlike.

Ezekiel 39:8-16 (A combination of several translations for clarity of

understanding. Primarily RSV, + Rotherham, Leesar, NIV, NE, LB) 

(8) Behold it is coming! It will surely take place, declares the Sovereign LORD. This is the day I have spoken of.

Ezekiel 3:9,109) Then those who dwell in the towns of Israel will go out and use the weapons for fuel and burn them up—the small and large shields, the bows and arrows, the war clubs and spears. For seven years they will use them for fuel. (10) They will not need to gather wood from the fields or cut it from the forests, because they will use the weapons for fuel. And they will plunder those who plundered them and loot those who looted them, declares the Sovereign LORD.

Ezekiel 39:11(11) And it shall come to pass in that day that I will give to Gog a place of memorial for burial in Israel, in the Valley of the

Travelers east of the dead sea. It will block the travelers, for there Gog and all his multitude will be buried; it will be called the Valley of the Multitude of Gog.

Ezekiel 39:12,13(12) For seven months the house of Israel will be burying them in order to cleanse the land. (13) All the people of the land will bury them, and it will redound to their honor on the day that I show my glory, says the Lord GOD.

1. Ezekiel tells us that in that day they will burn their weapons for fuel in their homes sufficient to last for seven years. But weapons today are not made of wood that can be burned as fuel, let alone sufficient to last for seven years.2. Then we’re told for seven months they would be burying their dead. But we realize that if dead bodies were allowed to lay exposed for seven months waiting for burial, disease would be rampant throughout the earth.

1. We will endeavor to show that these verses are a change of scene – a parenthesis in this chapter.2. Gog in verses 8-16 symbolically refers to everything that is in opposition to God that will ultimately be removed from the face of the earth and be symbolically buried.The burial process begins after Jacob’s trouble and continues throughout the Mediatorial Reign and Little Season.

1.Weapons today cannot be burned as fuel.

2.Bodies cannot be left unburied for 7 months.

3.In the many prophetic passages that refer to the slain in Armageddon and Jacob’s Trouble the dead are never buried – but rather are consumed by the fowl of the air, the beasts of the field, or by fire.

Ezekiel 39:4,6 (RSV)4 Thou shalt fall upon the mountains of Israel, thou, and all thy bands, and the people that is with thee: I will give thee unto the ravenous birds of every sort, and to the beasts of the field to be devoured.6 And I will send a fire on Magog, and among them that dwell carelessly in the isles: and they shall know that I am the LORD.

Ezekiel 39:7,8 (RSV) 7 And my holy name I will make known in the midst of my people Israel; and I will not let my holy name be profaned anymore, and the nations shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel.8 It is coming! It will surely take place, declares the Sovereign LORD. This is the day I have spoken of.

Ezekiel 39:9,10 (NIV)(9) Then those who live in the towns of Israel will go out and use the weapons for fuel and burn them up--the small and large shields, the bows and arrows, the war clubs and spears. For seven years they will use them for fuel.(10)They will not need to gather wood from the fields or cut it from the forests, because they will use the weapons for fuel. And they will plunder those who plundered them and loot those who looted them, declares the Sovereign LORD.

Revelation 19:2,3 (NAS)2 For true and righteous [are] his judgments: for he hath judged the great harlot, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.3 And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.

Ezekiel 39:9,10 (NIV)(9) Then those who live in the towns of Israel will go out and use the weapons for fuel and burn them up--the small and large shields, the bows and arrows, the war clubs and spears. For seven years they will use them for fuel.(10)They will not need to gather wood from the fields or cut it from the forests, because they will use the weapons for fuel. And they will plunder those who plundered them and loot those who looted them, declares the Sovereign LORD.

Ezekiel 39:10 (NIV)(10)They will not need to gather wood from the fields or cut it from the forests, because they will use the weapons for fuel. And they will plunder those who plundered them and loot those who looted them, declares the Sovereign LORD.

Ezekiel 39:11-13(11) And it shall come to pass in that day that I will give to Gog a place of memorial for burial in Israel in the Valley of the Travelers east of the dead sea. It will block the travelers, for there Gog and all his multitude will be buried; it will be called the Valley of the Multitude of Gog.  12) For seven months the house of Israel will be burying them in order to cleanse the land.  (13) All the people of the land will bury them, and it will redound to their honor on the day that I show my glory, says the Lord GOD.

Ezekiel 39:11(11) And it shall come to pass in that day that I will give to Gog a place of memorial for burial in Israel, the Valley of the Travelers east of the dead sea.

Revelation 16:12And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.

Ezekiel 39:11(11) And it shall come to pass in that day that I will give to Gog a place of memorial for burial in Israel, the Valley of the Travelers east of the dead sea.

Numbers 20:17 Please let us pass through your land. We will not pass through field or through vineyard; we will not even drink water from a well. We will go along the king’s highway, not turning to the right or left, until we pass through your territory.

Isaiah19:23-2523 In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians.24 In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land:25 Whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance.

Isaiah 35:8-108 And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; 9 No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast;10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Ezekiel 39:11And it shall come to pass in that day that I will give to Gog a place of memorial for burial in Israel in the valley of the Travelers, east of the dead sea. It will block the travelers, for there Gog and all his multitude will be buried.

Ezekiel 39:12-1312) For seven months the house of Israel will be burying them in order to cleanse the land. (13) All the people of the land will bury them, and it will redound to their honor on the day that I show my glory, says the Lord GOD.

Ezekiel 39:14,15(14) At the end of seven months, they will appoint men to search the land systematically; going through the country and searching for any left above ground that remain on the face of the earth, so as to cleanse it. (15) And when these pass through the land and any one sees a man's bone, then he shall set up a sign by it, till the buriers have buried it in the Valley of the multitude of Gog.

Revelation 20: 7-107 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle:9 ...and they went up on the breath of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city; and fire came down out of heaven, and devoured them.

Ezekiel 39:14-16(14) At the end of seven months, they will appoint men to search the land systematically; going through the country and searching for any left above ground that remain on the face of the earth, so as to cleanse it. (15) And when these pass through the land and any one sees a man's bone, then he shall set up a sign by it, till the buriers have buried it in the Valley of the multitude of Gog. (16) A city named Multitude is there! And so the land will finally be cleansed.

Ezekiel 39:14-16(14) At the end of seven months, they will appoint men to search the land systematically; going through the country and searching for any left above ground that remain on the face of the earth, so as to cleanse it. (15) And when these pass through the land and any one sees a man's bone, then he shall set up a sign by it, till the buriers have buried it in the Valley of the multitude of Gog. (16) A city named Multitude is there! And so the land will finally be cleansed.

Strongs For City – 5892A place guarded by a watch

GeseniusA place guarded by a

Watchtower

Ezekiel 39:15-16(15) And when these pass through the land and any one sees a man's bone, then he shall set up a sign by it, till the buriers have buried it in the Valley of the multitude of Gog. (16) The Memorial Burying Ground will be guarded by Watchtowers, and it will be called the Multitude.

Psalms 102:15-18 NIV15 The nations will fear the name of the LORD, all the kings of the earth will revere your glory.16 For the LORD will rebuild Zion and appear in his glory.17 He will respond to the prayer of the destitute; he will not despise their plea.18 Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the LORD:

Ezekiel 39:1616) The Memorial Burying Ground will be guarded by Watchtowers, and it will be called the Multitude.

And so the land will finally be cleansed.

1 1 Cor. 15:24-28 RSVRSV24 Then comes the end, when he

delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power.

25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet…

28 …When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things under him, that God may be everything to every one.

Ezekiel 39:1616) The Memorial Burying Ground will be guarded by Watchtowers, and it will be called the Multitude.

And so the land will finally be cleansed.

Ezekiel 39:3,4 (RSV) 3 then I will strike your bow from your left hand,

and will make your arrows drop out of your right

hand. 4 You shall fall upon the mountains of Israel, you and all your hordes and the peoples that are with you; I will give you to birds of prey of every sort and to the wild beasts to be devoured.

5 You shall fall in the open field; for I have spoken, says the Lord GOD.6 I will send fire on Magog and on those who dwell securely in the coastlands; and they shall know that I am the LORD.7 And my holy name I will make known in the midst of my people Israel; and I will not let my holy name be profaned any more; and the nations shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel. 

1. We will endeavor to show that these verses are a change of scene – a parenthesis as it were in this chapter. 2. Gog in verse 8-16 symbolically refers to everything that is in opposition to God and his principals during the entire Mediatorial reign and the Little Season that will ultimately be removed from the face of the earth and be symbolically buried.

Isaiah 34:6,8-10 (NAS)6 The sword of the LORD is filled with blood, 8 For it is the day of the LORD’S vengeance, and the year of recompences for the controversy of Zion.9 And the streams thereof shall be turned into pitch, and the dust thereof into brimstone, and the land thereof shall become burning pitch.10 It shall not be quenched night nor day; the smoke thereof shall go up for ever:

Revelation 20:1010 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

Ezekiel 39:14-16(14) At the end of seven months, they will appoint men to search the land systematically; going through the country and searching for any left above ground that remain on the face of the earth, so as to cleanse it. (15) And when these pass through the land and any one sees a man's bone, then he shall set up a sign by it, till the buriers have buried it in the Valley of the multitude of Gog. (16) A city named Multitude is there! And so the land will finally be cleansed.

Revelation 20:14,1514 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Ephesians 1:9,10 (NE)He has made known to us his hidden purpose... namely that the Universe, all in heaven and on the earth, might be brought into a Unity in Christ.

Jeremiah 25:32,3332 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Behold, evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth.33 And the slain of the LORD shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the ground.

Revelation 5:13 (NAS)And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the

sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, [be] blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.

earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, “To Him who sits

Malachi 4:2But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

Isaiah 40:44 Every valley shall be

exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain

Isaiah 40:33The voice of him that

crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

Colossians1:20 (NE)Through him God chose to reconcile the whole universe to himself... to reconcile all things, whether on earth or in heaven, through Him alone.