Nuggets from "Judgment Day: Islam, Israel, and the Nations" by Dave Hunt

Nuggets from “Judgment Day: Islam, Israel, and the Nations” by Dave Hunt

The majority of Christians do not believe that Ezekiel 38 and 39 describe Armageddon but that they refer to some lesser war. Most Bible commentators interpret this passage as a preliminary attack by Russia and Muslim nations (either just before the Great Tribulation or in the midst of it) against Israel, during which they will be destroyed miraculously by God. The destruction described is so complete, however, that it would be unimaginable for anyone ever to attack Israel again. Who would dare to do so? That is one of the major problems in denying that this war is Armageddon.

Referring to Antichrist and the armies of the world attacking Israel with him, God says, I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me [and] my fury shall come up in my face…” (Ezekiel:38:16-18 [16] And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes. [17] Thus saith the Lord GOD; Art thou he of whom I have spoken in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, which prophesied in those days many years that I would bring thee against them? [18] And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, that my fury shall come up in my face.
See All...). Clearly this is a special event in which God has a climactic purpose. The description of what will happen at Armageddon is terrifying. The language could not possibly refer to a preliminary war but only to the grand finale!

God declares, “Surely in that day, there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel; so that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things…and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down…and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD” (Ezekiel:38:19-23 [19] For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel; [20] So that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground. [21] And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord GOD: every man's sword shall be against his brother. [22] And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. [23] Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD.
See All...).

My presence? Yes! God is coming to this earth and everything – animate and inanimate, and every person – will tremble like leaves on a tree, shaking in a violent storm! What the Bible describes as “judgment from the Almighty” is going to fall upon those who have attacked. The invading armies will be miraculously and totally destroyed by Jesus Christ, whom Israel will at last recognize as the Messiah who was “pierced” for their sins: “They shall look upon me [says the God of Israel] whom they have pierced” (Zechariah:12:10And 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.
See All...). In the throes of this cataclysm, God will prove Himself to all creation as Sovereign. Clearly, what is being described could not be a preliminary war. This can only be Armageddon itself.