The
campaign starts in the last half of the tribulation and culminates when
Christ returns to deliver Jerusalem.
I.
THE TIME
1. The Day of the Lord (Zechariah 14:1) and the second coming (Zechariah
14:5).
2. When all nations
are gathered in Armageddon (Revelation 16:14-16) and when
Christ returns with the saints (Revelation 19:11-21).
2. The valley of Jehoshaphat (Joel 3:2, 12). This is the name of
a deep ravine outside Jerusalem, separating the holy city from the
mount
of Olives. It was not called such until the fourth century after
Christ.
It can read in the Hebrew “The Valley of Jehovah’s judgment.”
3. Valley of passengers (Ezekiel 39:11). Probably the same area
now called the valley of Johoshaphat.
4. Edom and Idumea (Isaiah 34:1-6; 63:2-6).
This is south of Jerusalem.
5. The mountains of Israel (Ezekiel 39:2-6).
6. Jerusalem is to be the center of conflict (Zechariah 14:2).
7. It will take in the whole land of Palestine (Ezekiel 38:9, 16;
Revelation 14:20).
III.
THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE CAMPAIGN
1.
The invaders of Palestine
(1) The
northern confederacy (Ezekiel 38:1-12). Gog is the
ruler of Magog (Russia), Mesheck and Tubal (Moscow and Tobalski),
Persia
(changed to Iran in 1935), Ethopia (Sudan), Libya, Gomer (Germany),
Togarmah
(Turkey), and many people (Poland, Romania, Czechoslovakia, etc.).
(2) The kings of the east (Revelation 16:12). This points to
Japan,
China, Korea, India, and surrounding countries.
(3) The king of the south (Daniel 11:40). This is Egypt
and
other Arab nations.
2.
The allies of Palestine
(1) The ten kingdom, of federated nations under the Beast (Daniel
2:40-45;
7:23-27;
Revelation 13:1-10; 17:13). Antichrist will make
a
covenant to protect Israel (Daniel 9:27).
(2) Other nations will protest and maybe help (Ezekiel 38:13).
Tarshishwas
the farthest limits of the western world as known to the Hebrews. This
is Great Britain, the old lion with the young lions such as the United
States, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, etc. which came out of the
British
Empire. Sheba and Dedan are Iraq and Saudi Arabia.
2. The King of the revived Roman Empire comes to defend Israel, a
province
of his kingdom (Daniel 11:40-44).
3. The northern, eastern, and southern confederacies invade Palestine (Ezekiel
38:14-16;
Zechariah 12:2-3; 14:2).
4. It appears all hope for Israel is lost (Zechariah 14:2), and
then Christ comes with all the saints and the angels (Zechariah 14:3-9;
Revelation 19:11-16;
Ezekiel 38:18-23).
5. Antichrist is destroyed (Daniel 7:11; II Thessalonians 2:8;
Revelation 19:19-20).
6, The great slaughter (Revelation 14:20; Isaiah 63:1-6;
Ezekiel 39:8-15;
Revelation 19:15, 21).
7. The fowls eat the fools (Ezekiel 39:17-22; Revelation
19:17-18, 21).
Conclusion:
This is the last war
of the “times of the Gentiles” and it ends with the smiting
stone
of Daniel 2:35 ushering in the 1,000 year reign of Christ.