What are the comparison of the verses Psalm83:1-8,Ezekiel 38:7-16, Zechariah 14:2-3,and Revelation 20:8-9--are they the same in meaning?
Will start with the Old Testament scriptures first.
Psalm 83 is a battle between natural Israel and her Arab neighbors. This is the next event we anticipate in the Middle East. We believe that Israel’s victory over the Arabs will bring about a universal hatred for Israel (which is pretty much at that point already). Perhaps they will use Nukes on the Arabs which will eliminate their threat, and also accessibility to their oil which will enrage the rest of the world. This is speculation, but something will happen to bring about the condition of “unwalled villages”.
When we have thought of this prophecy in the past we used to just think the “unwalled villages” meant that Israel was at rest, they were not worried about the Arabs, but since that time they have built actual walls—and that action brings new meaning to the prophecy about the unwalled villages.
Ezekiel 38, 39 (Gog from Magog) is another name for Jacob’s Trouble, Armageddon and this is also described in Zechariah 12 and 14 as well as Dan. 12:1, Jer. 30, Joel, Isa. 4:3, Isa 31:4,5, Zeph 3:8)
We see it is the “unwalled villages” that attracts them:
Eze_38:11 And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates,
When we look at the players in Psalm 83 we see that they are local peoples, whereas in Ezekiel they come from the North. We believe they also are Islamic, but not Arabic.
Jacob’s Trouble is the last part of the Great Tribulation (Great Time of Trouble). Jesus also spoke of this time period and told us how devastating it will be. It is shorted (stopped) when God fights for Israel—once they recognize Jesus as Messiah (Zech 12:10)
Mat 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
Revelation 20 is a different setting. We see that Satan is bound for a millennium, and that the Bride of Christ is complete and reigning with their Lord. It is at the end of the millennium that Satan is released and goes out to deceive. Notice in Revelation it is Gog and Magog—whereas in Ezekiel it is Gog (a person) from the land of Magog. Revelation is a play on words. The invasion of Gog is known for the immense number of people. Joel describes it as a locust plague. Before them the garden of Eden and behind the waste.
Joe_2:3 A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them.
So, when the reference is used at the end of the Millennium it is another way of saying the horde that then chooses to follow Satan is in number as the sands of the sea.
It shows that even after the thousand year reign of Jesus and his bride (as Kings and priests) in the Kingdom we pray for. When “all shall know the Lord from the least unto the greatest (Jer. 31:34)” and that the highway of holiness that is open (Isa. 35) that even the fool can’t mess it up—there will be a great number who will, at the end, not “bow the knee (Php 2:10; Deut 18:15; Acts 3:22, 7: 37)” to that prophet (Jesus).
Psalm 83 is a battle between natural Israel and her Arab neighbors. This is the next event we anticipate in the Middle East. We believe that Israel’s victory over the Arabs will bring about a universal hatred for Israel (which is pretty much at that point already). Perhaps they will use Nukes on the Arabs which will eliminate their threat, and also accessibility to their oil which will enrage the rest of the world. This is speculation, but something will happen to bring about the condition of “unwalled villages”.
When we have thought of this prophecy in the past we used to just think the “unwalled villages” meant that Israel was at rest, they were not worried about the Arabs, but since that time they have built actual walls—and that action brings new meaning to the prophecy about the unwalled villages.
Ezekiel 38, 39 (Gog from Magog) is another name for Jacob’s Trouble, Armageddon and this is also described in Zechariah 12 and 14 as well as Dan. 12:1, Jer. 30, Joel, Isa. 4:3, Isa 31:4,5, Zeph 3:8)
We see it is the “unwalled villages” that attracts them:
Eze_38:11 And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates,
When we look at the players in Psalm 83 we see that they are local peoples, whereas in Ezekiel they come from the North. We believe they also are Islamic, but not Arabic.
Jacob’s Trouble is the last part of the Great Tribulation (Great Time of Trouble). Jesus also spoke of this time period and told us how devastating it will be. It is shorted (stopped) when God fights for Israel—once they recognize Jesus as Messiah (Zech 12:10)
Mat 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
Revelation 20 is a different setting. We see that Satan is bound for a millennium, and that the Bride of Christ is complete and reigning with their Lord. It is at the end of the millennium that Satan is released and goes out to deceive. Notice in Revelation it is Gog and Magog—whereas in Ezekiel it is Gog (a person) from the land of Magog. Revelation is a play on words. The invasion of Gog is known for the immense number of people. Joel describes it as a locust plague. Before them the garden of Eden and behind the waste.
Joe_2:3 A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them.
So, when the reference is used at the end of the Millennium it is another way of saying the horde that then chooses to follow Satan is in number as the sands of the sea.
It shows that even after the thousand year reign of Jesus and his bride (as Kings and priests) in the Kingdom we pray for. When “all shall know the Lord from the least unto the greatest (Jer. 31:34)” and that the highway of holiness that is open (Isa. 35) that even the fool can’t mess it up—there will be a great number who will, at the end, not “bow the knee (Php 2:10; Deut 18:15; Acts 3:22, 7: 37)” to that prophet (Jesus).
