PSALM 83 OR EZEKIEL 38
by Bill Salus
Jordanians, Iraqis, and the Palestinian refugees? They are also at odds with Israel to one degree or another. Curiously, Ezekiel 38 describes nine distinct populations by their ancient names, including Russia, lran,Turkey, Libya, and several others, but omits these Arab countries and terrorist organizations.
(The author is not entirely correct as to whom the nations of Ezekiel 38 and 39 are. He needs to read Craig White's book "Origin of Nations" obtainable from Amazon.com - Keith Hunt)
In light of the fact that these omitted populations are presently among Israel's most observable enemies, some of those teaching that Ezekiel 38 is impending have attempted to identify them in Ezekiel 38:6 among the many peoples with thee of the Ezekiel 38 Magog confederacy. However, there are three potential problems with this line of teaching.
Hezbollah, Syria, Hamas and the Palestinians along with the Egyptians, Saudis, and Jordanians are identified in a distinctly different Israeli War prophecy described in Psalm 83. The Psalm lists ten entirely separate members not included among the Ezekiel 38:1-6 invaders. Thus, it is probable they are not the "many peoples with thee" in Ezekiel 38:6, but are "many peoples distinct from thee" not listed in Ezekiel 38 among the invaders.
The hordes of Ezekiel 38 invaders must cross over much of the land possessed by these Psalm 83 nations and territories inhabited by the terrorist populations in order to invade the nation of Israel.This beckons the question: why aren't these nations, terrorists, or refugees specifically listed among the Ezekiel 38 invaders?
Most importantly, Ezekiel 38 identifies nine specific invading populations, but oddly doesn't mention any of the Psalm 83 Arab confederates among them. This conspicuous omission makes no sense when you consider that Ezekiel references all of the Psalm 83 members numerous times elsewhere throughout his prophetic book......
(The author puts up some good arguments that prevent Ps.83 and Ezekiel 38 being the same event - Keith Hunt)
I believe the glaring omission of the Psalm 83 Arab confederates from the Ezekiel 38 list of invaders suggests they are not part of the Ezekiel 38-39 invasion. It is highly possible that they are defeated prior to the Ezekiel 38-39 Israeli War prophecy. Listed below are a few of the reasons I believe Psalm 83 precedes Ezekiel 38.
(Now the author starts to moving into error, as he understands Ps.83 - yet he does see the "dwelling safely" way better than the people who teach Ezekiel 38 is before Christ returns - Keith Hunt)
Ezekiel 38:8-13 mandates that Israel must be dwelling securely, without walls, bars, or gates, and in the center of the land, probably alluding to the Genesis 15:18 landmass. This point about Israel dwelling securely is so important that much of the latter part of this chapter is devoted to this topic. Additionally, the Jewish state must be in receipt of great spoil. In my estimation, Israel today is not fulfilling these prerequisite conditions.
Israel is unable to dwell securely as a result of their surrounding Psalm 83 hostile Arab neighbors. Walls, bars, and gates exist in Israel today in order to protect them from being terrorized by certain members of the Psalm 83 confederates, such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Palestinians in general. Additionally, the goal of the Ezekiel 38 invaders is to destroy Israel and take their plunder and great spoils. Israel doesn't presently appear to possess all of the great spoil that Russia and their coalition will someday covet.
(HE IS CORRECT THAT "DWELLING SAFELY" AND "SPOILS" ARE NOT PRESENT TODAY. WHAT HE FAILS TO SEE IS THAT THIS PROPHECY OF EZEKIEL 38 IS FOR AFTER THE MESSIAH HAS COME IN POWER AND GLORY TO ESTABLISH THE KINGDOM OF GOD ON EARTH AND RESTORE ALL THE 13 TRIBES OF ISRAEL BACK TOGETHER IN THE HOLY LAND - Keith Hunt)
However, in the aftermath of an Israeli conquest over the Psalm 83 confederates all of the above requirements could easily be met. A safe-dwelling Israel could temporarily emerge. Arab spoils of war could be had, additional territory annexed, and walls, bars, and gates could be swiftly taken down.
(An idea that is purely human speculative and has no part in actual Bible prophecy anywhere, except in the mind of the author who wrongly thinks Psalm 83 is some war between the Jews and Arab neighbors - Keith Hunt)
Another important distinction between the prophecies of Ezekiel 38 and Psalm 83 is found in their differing motives. Psalm 83:12 declares that the Arab confederates want to destroy Israel in order to take over the Promised Land. Ezekiel 38:12-13 states the Ezekiel invaders will seek to destroy the Jewish state and confiscate plunder and great spoil.
(The author naturally thinks ALL Israel are "Jews" which they are NOT! Most Jewish scholars of any repute, agree that the Ten Tribe House of Israel never returned to the Holy Land en mass, after being deported to Assyria from about 735 to 718 B.C. They are out there in the world as leading nations today. You need to obtain Craig White's book "Origin of the Nations" from Amazon.com - Keith Hunt)
Also an important difference between Psalm 83 and Ezekiel 38 may be understood by identifying the purpose of the exceedingly great army of Ezekiel 37:10. The Ezekiel invaders are destroyed divinely, but the Psalm 83 Arab confederates appear to be defeated by the Israel Defense Forces according, to Ezekiel 25:14, Obadiah v. 18, and elsewhere.
(The author has no understanding of the time frame of Ezekiel 25 and Obadiah. He is correct that the army of Ezekiel 38/39 is defeated by God Himself.....Jesus Christ dwelling in the midst of a re-united Israel and Judah [Ez.37]. For Ezekiel 25 and Obadiah see my expounding of those books on my website - Keith Hunt)
Interestingly, an exceedingly great army of Israel is mentioned in Ezekiel 37:10. This reference seemingly segues into the Ezekiel 38-39 prophecy. Logically, a reader might assume this army plays an instrumental role in the war of Ezekiel 38 because it's identified in the chapter that precedes it. However, Ezekiel 38:18-39:6 teaches that this army plays little to no part in Ezekiel's invasion. These verses specify that the Lord divinely defeats the Ezekiel invaders.There is no mention of an Israeli army, apart from perhaps playing a role in the burying of the dead soldiers for seven years, and the burning of the enemies weapons for seven months. (Ezekiel 39:9-16).
(The author is correct in his deductions here - Keith Hunt)
Ezekiel 38 Has Preconditions Still Outstanding
The fact that Israel today does not meet all of the requirements identified in Ezekiel 38:8-13 means that Ezekiel 38 still has preconditions. A Bible prophecy cannot be considered imminent until all the prophetic prerequisites are met.
""After many days you will be visited. In the latter years you will come into the land of those brought back from the sword and gathered from many people on the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate; they were brought out of the nations, and now all of them dwell safely. You will ascend, coming like a storm, covering the land like a cloud, you and all your troops and many peoples with you."Thus says the Lord GOD: "On that day it shall come to pass that thoughts will arise in your mind, and you will make an evil plan: You will say,'I will go up against a land of unwalled villages; I will go to a peaceful people, who dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates'—to take plunder and to take booty, to stretch out your hand against the waste places that are again inhabited, and against a people gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and goods, who dwell in the midst of the land. Sheba, Dedan, the merchants ofTarshish, and all their young lions will say to you, 'Have you come to take plunder! Have you gathered your army to take booty, to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods, to take great plunder!" (Ezekiel 38:8-13, NKJV; emphasis added).
Israelis must be regathered from the nations in the latter years into a reestablished sovereign Jewish state.
(No not so. Two false ideas: Jews are ALL Israel, and the "regathering" of Ezekiel prophecy is at the coming of the Messiah in power and glory, to bring them out of the lands of their enemies - see Isaiah 11 - then they shall dwell in safely, without walls and bars and gates, secure in the knowledge that Jesus is dwelling with them - Keith Hunt)
Jews will be brought back from the sword, to dwell in the midst (center) of the land, which had long been desolate.
(No! The prophets teach BOTH the House of Israel and the House of Judah shall be brought back from the sword and captivity; brought back when the Messiah comes in glory and power to establish the Kingdom of God on earth - Keith Hunt)
Israelis must be a peaceful people dwelling securely at the time.
Israel's security is characterized by the absence of walls, bars and gates.
The nation possesses an abundance of gold and silver, and has acquired livestock (agricultural) and (commercial) goods.
The Jewish state is in possession of great plunder and booty......
(ALL TRUE, except the false idea that the Jews are ALL of Israel - Keith Hunt)
Furthermore, the prophet depicts the Jewish people as dwelling in a condition of security. Ezekiel declares that the Israelis are "a peaceful people who dwell safely (yashab betach), all of them dwelling without walls."
(TRUE, but again the Jews are NOT ALL of Israel, they are only 3 tribes - Judah, Benjamin, Levi - Keith Hunt)
This means that as a nation they "all dwell safely." He uses the Hebrew words Yashab Betach three times in Ezekiel 38:8,11, and 14 to highlight this point.20The Bible uses these Hebrew words in tandem elsewhere in the Old Testament, to identify the sovereign State of Israel dwelling in a condition of military security.21 Ezekiel's description of a nation dwelling without walls, bars, nor gates, also emphasizes a genuine condition of national security.
(YES NATIONAL SECURITY BECAUSE CHRIST THE MESSIAH WILL BE BACK AND LIVING IN JERUSALEM - Keith Hunt)
Throughout time, humans constructed fortified walls to prevent enemy intrusions and to enforce separation between two diverse population groups.The Chinese built the Great Wall around 200 BC to protect China's northern borders from intruders. The Germans erected the Berlin wall in 1961 in order to separate the Communistic political system of the East from the capitalism spreading in the West.
Likewise, Israel has today constructed its own fortified wall intended to prevent the terrorist element of the Palestinian population from intruding into Israel proper. This wall reaches up to twenty-five feet and is projected to span at least 403 miles upon completion. As such, Israel today is not "a nation dwelling without walls" as described in Ezekiel 38:11.
(VERY TRUE INDEED! THIS ALONE THROWS THE IDEA OF MOST, THAT EZEKIEL 38 HAPPENS BEFORE CHRIST RETURNS, ONTO THE GARBAGE HEAP - Keith Hunt)
Note that Ezekiel references "a people gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and goods." Israel acquires livestock, representing agricultural wealth, and goods, representing commercial wealth. This condition of restored fortune will resemble the period of Israel's history around 1000 BC, when King Solomon reigned over the nation.22 As was the case then, Israel will become one of the wealthiest—if not the wealthiest-—of the world's nations. Sheba, Dedan, the merchants of Tarshish, and all their young lions will say to you, "Have you come to take plunder? Have you gathered your army to take booty, to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods, to take great plunder?" (Ezek. 38:13, NKJV).....
(INDEED....Israel and Judah will be united [Ez.37 - the two sticks, it has never yet taken place] and will be prosperous again in the holy land, AFTER Jesus has returned to re-establish them as one people again - Keith Hunt)
Some people believe the secure Israel that the Ezekiel invaders attack results when the Antichrist confirms the seven-year peace treaty with Israel in Daniel 9:26-27.
(ANOTHER FALSE IDEA. DANIEL 9:27 HAS NOTHING
TO DO WITH A 7 YEAR PEACE TREATY, FROM AN
ANTI-CHRIST. DANIEL 9 IS FULLY EXPLAINED ON MY
WEBSITE - Keith Hunt)
Although Israel will temporarily become secure at that time, this is probably a subsequent period of national security for the Jewish state.This is because the seven-year treaty begins the seven years of tribulation, i.e Daniel's Seventieth Week," and the Gog of Magog invasion seemingly precedes this period. I qualify this statement in the chapter called "Psalm 83 and the Prophets," by explaining the timing of Ezekiel 38.
(ALL HIS EXPLAINING IS ERROR. IT IS ERROR BECAUSE HE STILL TEACHES THE FALSE IDEAS OF A 7 YEAR TRIBULATION, A SECRET RAPTURE, AND SOME PEACE TREATY FROM THE ANTI-CHRIST WITH THE JEWS. ALL OF THIS FALSENESS IS BLOWN AWAY IN STUDIES ON MY WEBSITE - Keith Hunt)
Additionally, the Israel that becomes a peaceful people dwelling securely in Ezekiel 38:8,11,14, seems to obtain this peace and safety in the strict interpretation of the Hebrew words "yashab betach."Tandem biblical uses of these words found in Ezekiel 28:26, and Deuteronomy 12:10, describe a condition of national security that is obtained militarily, rather than politically.
(WELL.....it will indeed be militarily, because Jesus will be the one man army of power and might to destroy the invading hordes from the East - Keith Hunt)
Because of the judgments executed upon the Arabs who despise Israel, the Jewish state will attain the autonomy required to set the stage for the Ezekiel 38 invasion. The world will be forced to internationally esteem Israel as the sovereign Jewish State, and the Arab-Israeli conflict we witness today, will finally be resolved. As such, Israel will be a nation of peace achieved via their military might. It is the "exceedingly great army" of Israel foretold in Ezekiel 37:10 that is the instrumental tool utilized in the execution of the judgments against the surrounding Arab nations. In the aftermath of their IDF victory, the Jewish State will probably seize some conquered Arab territory, and exploit vast amounts of the Arab spoils of war. Israel will then resemble the Israel described in Ezekiel 38:8-13......
(ALL THE FANCY FALSE IDEAS OF THE HUMAN MIND THAT DOES NOT UNDERSTAND ALL THE PROPHETS OF THE BIBLE, AND THE TIME LINE THEY GIVE, AS TO THE RUN DOWN OF THE END OF THIS AGE, LEADING TO THE COMING OF JESUS THE MESSIAH. ALL THE PROPHETIC BOOKS OF THE BIBLE I EXPOUND FOR YOU ON MY WEBSITE - Keith Hunt)
"So I [God] will make My holy name known in the midst of My people Israel, and I will not let them profane My holy name anymore. Then the nations shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel. Surely it is coming, and it shall be done," says the LORD GOD. "This is the day of which I have spoken." (Ezek. 39:7-8, NKJV; emphasis added)
With the exclusive divine help of their God Jehovah, the Jews defeat the Gog of Magog coalition during the events described in Ezekiel 38:18-39:6......
(NO NOT JUST THE JEWS, BUT ALL OF THE 13
TRIBES, UNITED UNDER THE MESSIAH LIVING
AMONG THEM AT JERUSALEM - GOD WINS THE
BATTLE FOR ALL ISRAEL - Keith Hunt)
In conclusion, the fulfillment of a Bible prophecy mandates that the episode meets the prophetic description of the event entirely and exactly. There can be no overlooking even the slightest detail given.The growing tendency among eschatolo-gists to recognize that current Mideast events are stage setting for the coming Psalm 83 and Ezekiel 38 wars is to be commended. However, newspaper exegesis can often cause us to overlook significant prophetic details, and should be avoided.
Perhaps Ezekiel 38 will come soon and precede Psalm 83, but it is doubtful.There are ten members listed in Psalm 83 that are not listed in Ezekiel 38. These ten represent Israel's most observable modern-day enemies, since becoming a nation in 1948. For the plethora of reasons explained in this chapter, I don't believe Ezekiel 38 is an imminent event. However, I do believe Psalm 83 could be the next prophetic Mideast news headline.
....................
WHAT THE AUTHOR MISSES THAT IN PSALM 83
"ASHUR" IS MENTIONED. TODAY ASHUR IS
GERMANY!!
GERMANY!!
IF PS.83 IS A PROPHECY FOR TODAY [AND IT
MAY NOT BE AT ALL] THEN IT WILL TAKE
PLACE WHEN A GERMAN LED RESURRECTED
HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE, THE "KING OF THE
NORTH" DEFEATS THE "KING OF THE SOUTH"
[AN ARAB UNITY LED BY EGYPT] AND MARCHES
ON INTO JERUSALEM AND THE HOLY LAND
[DANIEL 11:40-45 INTO CHAPTER 12]. THEN THE
ARAB TYPE NATIONS OF TURKEY, SYRIA, SAUDI
ARABIA, PALESTINIANS, JORDAN, LEBANON, WEST
IRAQ, WILL ALSO HELP THE EUROPE BABYLON
BEAST AGAINST THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL.
MAY NOT BE AT ALL] THEN IT WILL TAKE
PLACE WHEN A GERMAN LED RESURRECTED
HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE, THE "KING OF THE
NORTH" DEFEATS THE "KING OF THE SOUTH"
[AN ARAB UNITY LED BY EGYPT] AND MARCHES
ON INTO JERUSALEM AND THE HOLY LAND
[DANIEL 11:40-45 INTO CHAPTER 12]. THEN THE
ARAB TYPE NATIONS OF TURKEY, SYRIA, SAUDI
ARABIA, PALESTINIANS, JORDAN, LEBANON, WEST
IRAQ, WILL ALSO HELP THE EUROPE BABYLON
BEAST AGAINST THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL.
KNOWING WHO THE NATIONS OF THE BIBLE
ARE TODAY, IS ONE KEY TO UNDERSTANDING
BIBLE PROPHECY. YOU NEED TO OBTAIN CRAIG
WHITE'S BOOK "THE ORIGIN OF NATIONS" FROM
AMAZON.COM
ARE TODAY, IS ONE KEY TO UNDERSTANDING
BIBLE PROPHECY. YOU NEED TO OBTAIN CRAIG
WHITE'S BOOK "THE ORIGIN OF NATIONS" FROM
AMAZON.COM
Keith Hunt
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