Gog/Magog War (the results)

What will happen as a result?

Essentially, the “what” is answered next.

Ezekiel 38:17-18 (NIV)¹⁷ “‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Are you not the one I spoke of in former days by my servants the prophets of Israel? At that time they prophesied for years that I would bring you against them. ¹⁸ This is what will happen in that day: When Gog attacks the land of Israel, my hot anger will be aroused, declares the Sovereign LORD.

The end result of the attack is that God’s “hot anger” will be aroused against the attackers.  While the text informs us that God ultimately is behind the attack for his own glory, the attackers desire to loot and plunder Israel of their own sinful accord.  God’s anger will bring him to rise against the attackers in a most impressive way. 

Ezekiel 38:19-23 (NIV)¹⁹ In my zeal and fiery wrath I declare that at that time there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel. ²⁰ The fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the beasts of the field, every creature that moves along the ground, and all the people on the face of the earth will tremble at my presence. The mountains will be overturned, the cliffs will crumble and every wall will fall to the ground. ²¹ I will summon a sword against Gog on all my mountains, declares the Sovereign LORD. Every man’s sword will be against his brother. ²² I will execute judgment upon him with plague and bloodshed; I will pour down torrents of rain, hailstones and burning sulfur on him and on his troops and on the many nations with him. ²³ And so I will show my greatness and my holiness, and I will make myself known in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the LORD.’

God’s retaliation against the attackers begins with a massive earthquake.  In this quake, even the fish of the sea and the birds of the air are impacted.  The statement “mountains will be overturned” certainly invokes a realization of the stark magnitude of this event.  It will be very impressive and “all the people on the face of the earth will tremble” at God’s presence.  While earthquakes occur daily throughout the earth, rarely is one so significant that it draws world-wide attention.  In this case, the whole Earth will take note and will fear God, at least in that moment.

With the earthquake drawing the world’s attention, what God does next will have a captive world audience, so that his glory can truly be seen by all.  Following the quake, the armies begin a conflict within their own ranks.  “Every man’s sword will be against his brother,” perhaps from the panic of the quake itself or from the fear of God’s presence which follows it.

Following the civil conflict is a series of plagues of Old Testament reminiscence.  “Torrents of rain, hailstones and burning sulfur” will be rained down from the heavens upon the enemy of Israel.  This is done “in the sight of many nations.”  Surely in a modern setting the earthquake itself will draw international attention.  News crews and dignitaries will flock to the sight.  How impressive it will be to see burning sulfur raining down from heaven on the seven o’clock news.  Indeed, God will make himself known and “they will know that I am the LORD.”