"And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea.
(Revelation 20:7-8)
Though bound for the gospel age—the thousand years—the time will come when the Lord God will release Satan from his prison. Here is God exercising sovereign authority in releasing Satan for the purpose of ultimately, exercising final judgment on Satan and all that reject the gospel of Christ.
Gog and Magog represent an ancient enemy of Israel that Ezekiel spoke of in chapters 38-39.
William Hendriksen comments that Ezekiel’s use of Gog and Magog “refers…to the terrible persecution under Antiochus Epiphanes, ruler of Syria” in the Seleucid Kingdom. John is not identifying one or two nations but rather uses this epitome of adversaries to refer metaphorically to the entire world, vast in number, in hostile opposition to Christ and His Church. The “four corners of the earth,” simply implies the universality of this final opposition. Satan’s deceit will reach its apex; persecution will be unequaled.
Augustine wrote of this, “For this persecution, occurring while the final judgment is imminent, shall be the last which shall be endured by the holy Church throughout the world, the whole city of Christ being assailed by the whole city of the devil, as each exists on earth”
(Phil A. Newton)
No comments:
Post a Comment