The Burial Of Gog’s Army
Some will die and others will be driven south from Jerusalem along the western side of the Dead Sea. In Joel 2:20 it is written: “I will remove far off from you (Zion or Jerusalem—verses 1,15) the Northern Army, and will drive him into a land Barren and Desolate, with his face Toward the east (or Dead Sea), and his hinder part toward the utmost (or Mediterranean Sea) and his stink shall come up” etc. His position, as he comes back from Egypt as the result of the divine tidings, would be as described here. From this verse it seems that Gog’s army will perish on the western side of the Dead Sea in Israel.
In Ezekiel 39:11 more detail is given: “And it shall come to pass in that day that I will give unto Gog a place there of graves In Israel, the valley of the passengers on the east of the (Dead) sea.” Here we have to be very careful not to cause a discrepancy between the two statements of Scriptures. The two statements (Joel 2:20 and Ezekiel 39:11) must harmonize. It is to be noted that the place of graves is to be in Israel which would seem to indicate that the western side of the Dead Sea is meant.
Gog will be buried in Israel. “Thou shalt fall Upon The Mountains Of Israel, thou and all thy bands and the people that is with thee” (Ezekiel 39:4). “I will give unto Gog a place there of graves IN Israel (Ezek. 39:11). “A great sacrifice Upon The Mountains Of Israel” (Verse 17). The region south of Jerusalem along the western side of the Dead Sea is very mountainous. Assuming that the frontier of Israel will remain as it now is until then, the place of burial must be on the western side of the Dead Sea, for it is to be in Israel.
But what about the phrase in Ezekiel 39:11 “on the east of the sea?” A statement from a Jewish commentary on this verse may be both interesting and instructive. We are told that the word “on” is added to make sense. The word “on” is not in the original and can just as well be “to” or “toward” the east of the sea. In the SONCINO Books of the Bible Commentary on Ezekiel, page 39 we find these words: “The Valley Of Them That Pass Through,” i.e. the valley through which one passes TO (there is nothing corresponding to ON in the text) the east of the sea, viz. the Dead Sea. An alternative explanation given by Davidson is: The expression is probably a proper name; the “valley of the passers through” may have been so named as the usual route of communication between the east and west of the sea. The valley where the slain are to be buried is the thoroughfare for traffic between east and west. At any rate the translation could just as well be “to” or “toward”, because the original can logically carry this meaning according to some commentaries. This would make the verse agree with Joel 2:20.
From what is told us in Ezek. 39:11, 15, the burying place of Gog’s army will be in the valley of the passengers, or of those that pass through to the east of the sea. Since the interstate highway passes the southern end of the Dead Sea connecting Egypt with Syria, it seems that in the spot or area where the highway passes the southwest end of the Dead Sea is where the memorial graveyard of God will be situated. This city of the dead is termed “Hamonal”. (See Ezek. 39:15, 16.) Worshipers on their way to Jerusalem during the Millennium will probably pass by this memorial of God’s judgments against the offender, and will serve as an object lesson to all. This area has been described by a writer as being one of the most desolate and barren places on earth. This would be close to the spot where the original Sodom and Gomorrah once stood. And so the graveyard of the great Gogian army will be, appropriately enough, adjacent to the Dead Sea; the city of the dead by the body of water which figuratively represents the dead.
All The Heathen Shall See
News of this destruction will, of course, be circulated throughout much of the world, and will cause many to ponder and wonder. The purpose of the plagues upon Egypt and the destruction of Pharaoh’s army in the Red Sea was to cause to be declared throughout all the earth, the great power and might and glory associated with God’s holy Name. (See Exodus 9:16). All the nations around heard about the destruction of Pharaoh’s army. (See Josh. 2:10,11). The purpose of the destruction of Gog’s army is given in Ezekiel 38:16: “That the heathen (nations) may Know me, When I shall be sanctified in thee, 0 Gog Before Their Eyes.” And in verse 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.” But whereas the nations of old only Heard of the destruction of Pharaoh’s army, the nations will See the result of the destructive judgments of God on Gog’s army, and be eye witnesses of it. “All the heathen shall See my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid upon them” (Ezek. 39:21).
Who Is This?
Those of Israel in the land will ask: “Who is this that cometh From Edom, and with dyed garments From Bozrah ?” They are informed, “I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save” (Isa. 63:1-6). This is, of course, Christ. The glorified saints are with Him (Zech. 14:5). He reveals Himself as Jesus of Nazareth to Israel, and informs them of His mission to tread down the nations in His anger. and subdue them. He identifies Himself as Jesus of Nazareth by the mark of the wounds in His hands (Zech. 13:6). Order is restored to Israel. As they begin to realize that Jesus of Nazareth is their true Messiah, whom they have rejected for centuries, and who has now become their Saviour in delivering them out of the hand of the invader, there will be a general and a national, as well as an individual mourning for what was done to their Messiah because of their request (Zech. 12 :10-14 ) . Abraham, Moses and others will be with Jesus.
The Jews will then rally around Christ and accept Him nationally and officially as their long promised Messiah and Savior (Ezek. 39:22). The tents of Judah, or the land outside of Jerusalem will be restored before Jerusalem itself for the reason given in 7ech. 12:7. The city of Jerusalem with all of its religious shrines will at this time be in ruins, due to the Olivet earthquake (Ezekiel 38:20).
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One