Few texts have seen so many attempts to be literally interpreted in light of current events as Ezekiel 38-39: The Goths of the fourth century, the Arab armies of the seventh century, the Mongol hordes of the thirteenth century, the Pope and the Roman Emperor of the seventeenth century, and most recently Communist Russia of the twentieth century. And there is good reason for this (as we'll see), the text speaks of end times events that are yet to happen (as made evident in Revelation 20). But what is the function of this passage in the context of the book of Ezekiel? How would the original readers have understood this passage? And are the names and places to be understood with a wooden literalism or in some other way? Let's see if we can find out!
THE STRUCTURE OF THE BOOK OF EZEKIEL
The book of Ezekiel centers around the comings and goings of God's presence. The initial unveiling of God's presence comes in chapter 1 where God's glory is riding in a 'pimped out' chariot - a 'God-mobile' (so to speak). This chariot (under the control of the spirit) has wheels with rims full of eyes (which symbolize omniscience) and is being driven by fiery creatures (cherubim) with four faces (of a human, lion, ox, and eagle who represent supremacy in their various domains - creation in general, the animal kingdom, domesticated animals, and flying creatures, respectively). But as we see in Ezekiel 7, this 'God-mobile' is not providing protection for God's people. NO. It is coming from the north to destroy Jerusalem and conquer God's people. In fact, the sound of its movement resembles that of rushing waters and the footsteps of an approaching army. Might this 'God-mobile' be leading an army toward Jerusalem with the intent to conquer God's people as judgment for their sin?
The answer comes quickly in chapters 8-11. YES! God will be coming to judge His people! Why? They have been polluting His Temple by using it to worship other gods! And this ultimately prompts God's presence to leave the Temple. Ezekiel then continues to expose Israel's sin through his prophetic parables, allegories, and symbolic acts in chapters 12-24. But it is not just Israel who has rebelled against God...so too have the nations. And so Ezekiel exposes the sin of the nations through God's oracles of judgment in chapters 25-32. But then good news arrives for God's people! A future hope is given to Israel in chapters 33-48 where God's presence returns. In fact, a new Temple is described. This new Temple is designed to prevent the past sins of chapters 8-11 from ever happening again. After this Temple is described, Ezekiel states that the future city he just described will be named "The Lord Is There." Clearly, at this point, God's presence has once again returned to His people!
EZEKIEL 38-39 IN ITS CONTEXT
There is no greater proof that God's presence will return to His people than in Ezekiel 38-39! This is a passage about the complete and utter defeat of the evil nations on account of the protection afforded by God's presence. So why is this passage about the nations not given earlier during Ezekiel's oracles against the nations (chapters 25-32)? SIMPLE. This oracle is unique from the others: 1.) It depicts an alliance of ALL nations (not just an individual nation) from the four corners of the land and 2.) It is describing a war in the distant future (NOT the near future) that will bring an end to ALL of the evil nations that pose a threat to God's world and the 'restful' existence of His people.
EZEKIEL 38-39: LITERAL OR NOT?
So should we take the details regarding this final war literally? In other words, should we be awaiting a leader (literally) named Gog from the land of Magog who will form an alliance with countries with the (literal) names of Rosh (as translated in the footnotes of the NIV and ESV), Meshek, Tubal, Persia, Cush, Put, Gomer, and Beth Togarmah? Well, that's your decision to make. But there is good reason NOT to interpret this account with wooden literalism. Why?
First, 'Rosh' is the common Hebrew term for the word 'head.' This term is used in Numbers 3:32 and 1 Chronicles 7:40 to denote a title of rank (for example, the 'head' priest). And it probably has this meaning in Ezekiel 38:2 especially in light of the fact that finding a location with the name 'Rosh' has (as of yet) alluded scholars (hence the reason the NIV and ESV translate it as a title of rank and NOT a place-name). Therefore, identifying 'Rosh' (literally) with Russia is unlikely.
Second, the symbolic number seven is prevalent in Ezekiel 38-39. If 'Rosh' is understood as a title of rank and not a location (as suggested here) then Gog, the 'head' prince, rules as the 'head' over a seven nation alliance that includes Meshek, Tubal, Persia, Cush, Put, Gomer, and Beth Togarmah. The weapons of these seven nations burn for seven years (39:9). And the burial of Gog's army of seven nations takes seven months (39:12, 14). Also, there are seven references to knowing God (38:16, 23; 39:6, 7, 22, 23, 28). Since the number seven is frequently used throughout Scripture in a symbolic way to denote 'completeness', might it be functioning in that same way here? If so, this passage is suggesting that 1.) The complete world is involved in this future invasion (seven nation alliance), 2.) They will endure complete destruction (seven month burial), 3.) Complete peace ('rest') will be established (seven years of burning weapons) and 4.) The nations will gain a complete knowledge of God (seven references to knowing God).
Third, the alliance of seven nations listed in Ezekiel 38 surrounds the Promised Land from all directions and therefore symbolically represents "nations that are at the four corners of the land" (Rev. 20:8). How do we know this? Modern research has determined the locations of each of these nations at the time of Ezekiel with a high degree of certainty. From the NORTH (in modern-day Turkey) will come Tubal (NOT to be confused with Tobolsk, Russia), Gomer, Beth Togarmah, and Meshech (NOT to be confused with Moscow, Russia). From the SOUTH will come Cush (modern-day Ethiopia). From the southWEST will come Put (modern-day Libya). And from the EAST will come Persia (modern-day Iran). And so the author is trying to communicate that in the future, evil nations from all four corners of the globe will attack God and His people.
Fourth, all of the nations listed in this passage (with the exception of Persia) are references back to the table of nations in Genesis 10:2, 6 and the Tower of Babel incident. Why would the author be making an allusion back to the Tower of Babel? SIMPLE. In the future, the prideful nations will once again attempt to 'make a name for themselves' by outdoing God through an act of rebellion. This has been the desire of ALL evil nations throughout history. But Ezekiel is telling us that the threat of evil will all come to an end in the future and that God will be crowned as the undisputed champion of the world!
THE BOTTOM LINE
So how does this relate to our lives today? Whether you read this passage literally or symbolically, the application is the same. One day God will completely remove evil and pain from this world. And so no matter what suffering or pain you are enduring today or will endure in your lifetime, you have a hope-filled future awaiting you! And so may you find hope TODAY in God's promised FUTURE reality (a reality free from ALL pain)!
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