Joy in Israel as the “Gog and Magog process” begins

by Rick Brinegar

 

“We may be ten minutes away…could you imagine if the Redemption happens while we are on the air…” exclaimed Rabbi Tovia Singer, overlooking the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, during a live radio interview, July 30th, 2009.

 

A large group of hareidi, the most conservative of orthodox Jews, ascended the Temple Mount on May 25, 2010, according to an Arutz Sheva report, and received courteous treatment from the police there. Jews have typically been treated harshly by police on the Temple Mount in recent years. During this group’s last ascension on Passover, their entry to the Mount was blocked by police. This time, police on the Mount were polite and friendly. The group was allowed in promptly when they arrived, and without delays. The report states, “They were gripped by excitement when one of the rabbis prostrated himself facing the presumed location of the Temple’s Holy of Holies in ancient times. Police allowed this religious act as well.”

 

In ancient times, Jews who ascended the Mount fully prostrated themselves as part of the prayers there. Since 1967, however, the Israeli police have consistently refused to permit any form of Jewish prayer or any form of religiosity on the Temple Mount. Gil Ronen, reporter for Arutz Sheva wrote, “It is not completely clear whether the friendly police attitude Tuesday was a fluke or a sign of changing attitudes.”

 

Yosef Rabin, a Temple Mount activist, commented on the significance of the hareidi incident. “There has been a long running effort to bring hareidim to the Mount and now it is starting to take root…,” said Rabin. “It seems that everyone has followed the hareidi lead when it comes to Har HaBayit [Temple Mount], and now that hareidim are starting to go, we might start seeing a tremendous wave of all types.”

 

When Israel intercepted a flotilla, controlled by the terrorist Hamas organization, which was attempting to break the naval blockade of Gaza on June 3rd, 2010, the Rabbinical Council of Judea and Samaria issued an unusual statement. The results of the incident, the Council stated, “place us at the beginning of the Gog and Magog process where the world is against us, but which ends with the third and final redemption.” The list of nations referred to in the prophetic “Gog and Magog” passage in Ezekiel 38 includes the Middle East nation from which the flotilla embarked on its trip to Gaza, (Meshech, Tubal, Gomer and Togarmah) or Turkey.

 

Rabbi Singer, the Council, and the Rabbi who prostrated himself on the Temple Mount, all have one thing in common; they are all part of the excitement building in Israel as the Final Redemption draws near.

 

In Jewish history there have already been two redemptions: the exodus, “I am the Lord your God who took you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of slavery,” and the return to Israel following the exile in Babylon, “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia:…He has commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah.” The third and final Redemption is a Biblical prophecy that stirs intense emotion among many in Israel, and intrigues students of Bible prophecy all over the world. There has never been such a convergence of spiritual and political events so consistent with Ezekiel 38–39 like this before.

 

Ezekiel 39 foretells Israel’s gathering from its exile and victory over a coalition of nations. In their confusion, the defeated nations will be ashamed of their inability to withstand Israel. There will be a restoration of the Davidic Kingdom. God will have compassion on Israel, “and they shall dwell safely in their land, and none shall make them afraid.” Israel will never be exiled again, and worship on the Temple Mount will be restored. The Lord will come to the aid of “My people”, and will bring healing to all nations through Israel.

 

The main purpose of this Final Redemption battle of Gog and Magog is found in Ezekiel 39:6, 7, and 28. God says it will happen so that “they will know that I am the Lord.” It is repeated over 60 times in Ezekiel that God’s purpose is to cause Israel and all the nations to know that He is the Lord. Isaiah 11:9 speaks of a time when the Final Redemption is complete. “They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD As the waters cover the sea.”