Today’s Devotional, NOVEMBER 25th (Gog and Magog: Proper Bible Interpretation)

By admin On February 8th, 2021

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Today’s Devotional, NOVEMBER 25th

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Gog and Magog:

Proper Bible Interpretation

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“Son of man, set thy face against Gog,

the land of Magog,

the CHIEF prince of Meshech and Tubal,”

Ezekiel 38:2

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A very popular radio Bible study series, ‘Through the Bible show’, attempted to interpret Ezekiel 38, and 39, regarding Gog and Magog. And while the Bible teacher, Vernon McGee, usually does fairly good on salvational issues, for some reason, throws away all the proper hermeneutics when it comes to Bible prophecy!

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Now it is not the intent of this devotional, to attempt to define just what Gog and Magog represents in Scripture. But it is simply to define what proper Bible study is.

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Gog and Magog lift Paddy out of the mire- Wikipedia – Public Domain

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HISTORY BOOKS

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The first mistake this Bible teacher made, was to look into history books, to interpret the Bible. And he found a Bible theologian of yesteryear, who saw a connection with the Hebrew word for, “chief”, and the name, “Russia”

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Listen… “Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the CHIEF prince of Meshech and Tubal,” Ezekiel 38:2

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And so, he then translated this verse to say… “Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief (he interpreted chief as “RUSSIAN”) prince of Meshech and Tubal,” Ezekiel 38:2

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Old book asking Ridge Historica Society_wikimedia share-alike license

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SOUNDS LIKE?

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Next, he found two cities in Russia whose names sounded somewhat similar to “Meshech and Tubal” Meshek sounds like Moscow, and Tubal sounds like Tobolsk

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Moscow Russia Kremlin image of Kremlin – Wikipedia – Share Alike License

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MAPS

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And then, he noted that the Bible spoke of this kingdom as being in the “North”. And he pointed out that Russia is in the North above Israel.

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So where was the error in the thinking of this popular Bible teacher? Just why was he guilty of bad Bible interpretation?

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Old World Map – Wikimedia – US Public Domain

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SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES!

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To put it concisely, this Bible teacher had abandoned proper rules of interpretation, and simply attempted to interpret the Bible by use of maps, history books and newspapers!

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And this common mistake has led to some gross errors over the decades, by many Bible teachers.

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Newspaper vendor – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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ALL SCRIPTURE PROFITABLE FOR DOCTRINE…

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So just what are the proper rules of Bible interpretation?

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The first rule is, that the Bible is its own interpreter! We don’t need to go outside of the Bible to try to interpret the Bible.

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Listen… “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” 2nd Timothy 3:16, 17

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And so, this passage from 2nd Timothy tells us where to look for doctrine, correction, and confirmation (reproof) of all supposed biblical ideas: The Bible! Not history books nor newspapers!

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USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – public domain

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BIBLE STUDY CAN BE TEDIOUS

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Second, this next passage from Isaiah… “Whom shall He teach knowledge? and whom shall He make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little” Isaiah 28:9, 10

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And so, here is the tedious work before us, if we want to explore the deep truths of the Bible. We must place, “precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:”

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And this is no small work! Yes, it’s far easier and much more fun to merely look into the newspaper, while drinking our morning cup of coffee, and try to find something that connects with the Bible! But that’s not the way the Bible tells us to study!

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Chaplain reads Bible – Wikimedia – US Govt. Public Domain

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NATURAL MAN DISCERNS NOT SPIRITUAL THINGS

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And one very big reason that newspapers and history books are not the correct way to study prophecy is found in this next passage… “Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” 2nd Corinthians 2:13, 14

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So, this above passage reveals that we must compare spiritual things with spiritual.

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But those who rely on history books and newspapers are not comparing spiritual things with spiritual. They are comparing carnal things with carnal! In other words, many are not looking at the Bible in a spiritual way, but rather, are looking at it as though it was some man-contrived book! They do not understand that the nations often mentioned in Bible prophecy represent spiritual concepts!

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Magnifying Glass – Wikimedia – Share-alike License

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HISTORY BOOKS, NEWSPAPERS NOT NEEDED!

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And then, to make matters worse, they try to use history books and newspapers to compare to these nations found in the Bible. And so, they are not comparing spiritual things together, but carnal things, turning the Bible into some sort of prognostication of mere world events.

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For instance, take the passage concerning Gog, which says… “And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army:” Ezekiel 38:15

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Now to find out what this says about this nation from the North, we do not need to look any further than the Bible!

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Listen… “Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the LORD, and Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, My servant, and will bring them against this land,” Jeremiah 25:9

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So here is a passage from Jeremiah, in which he is prophesying to Jerusalem, of Nebuchadnezzar’s soon-coming attack and overthrow of Jerusalem. It was the King of Babylon who comes from the north to destroy God’s people! Not Russia!

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Wikipedia – Public Domain – 4 Horsemen of Apocalypse

Prophet Jeremiah Dictates to Baruch – Wikiart.com – US Public Domain

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GOG & MAGOG AS SAND OF THE SEA

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And as far as Gog and Magog, listen to this prophecy from Revelation… “And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.” Revelation 20:7, 8

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Now here the Bible defines Gog and Magog, in this way… “And (the Devil) shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.”

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Now this cannot be speaking of Russia! And without getting too deep into defining Gog and Magog, we need to ask ourselves, “Just who does God speak about when He says… ‘the number of whom is as the sand of the sea?'”

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Listen… “Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:” Romans 9:27

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And so now, we begin to see that Gog and Magog just might be representing the apostate portion of God’s professed people, of whom Isaiah compares to the sand of the sea, for multitude. (Oh yes, God compares a few other things to the sand of the sea in number. So, this prophecy concerning Gog and Magog needs some really serious Bible detective work to gain a fuller understanding.)

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Sea shore – Wikimedia – Creative Commons License

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SATAN’S ‘MINISTERS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS’

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Yes, Satan has filled so very many pulpits with his own so-called, “ministers of righteousness”. And these leaders will mislead God’s people, not only in improper Bible study, but also in going after the many idols which God’s people are now embracing, so often!

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The Good News is that we are not required to be taught by others!

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Listen again… “These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. But the Anointing which ye have received of Him abideth in you, AND YE NEED NOT THAT ANY MAN TEACH YOU: but as the same Anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in Him.” 1st John 2:26, 27

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We have a promise here, that if we are in Christ, then we have the Anointing of God, which will teach us all truth! We do not have to be under the authority of earthly teachers, especially those who use history books and newspapers to define Bible prophecy!

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Brown tree snake – Boiga – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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TODAY’S PRAYER

Dear Lord, Give me the strength and desire to study the Bible for myself. Let me not blindly follow erring humans who use history books and newspapers to interpret prophecy…

Marine Praying – Wikimedia – USMC Public Domain

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THE END

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

Info & pics of constellations on this site from Wikipedia & International Astronomical Union (click here)

NARROW GATE STARS LOCATION

This most amazing phenomenon is seen throughout the winter. Although it can be observed most of the winter, it is seen best when it is the western part of the sky, at winter’s end (The end of winter being the final scene of this heavenly Gospel story). Orion , the Dragon, and the Glorious White Horse are beginning to descend into the western horizon (sketch to right is Winter Constellations descending into western horizon. This can actually be seen as early as December, in the pre-dawn hours).

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And at this point it is apparent that the Fleeing Woman of Revelation 12 Constellation is veering toward the two bright stars, known as Castor and Pollux (sketch to left). But the Wide Gate Stars are composed of the two brightest stars of the Auriga Constellation, known as the star, Capella, and the star, Menkalinan. The two stars, Castor and Pollux, make up the concept of the Orion’s Narrow Gate Stars.

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This can even be observed into June in the western sky (for a short time just after dark). While a dark night is best for seeing the Woman Constellation, the 4 stars which comprise the Narrow Gate/Wide Gate Stars can be seen even under mediocre conditions. It begins with the Fleeing Woman of Revelation 12 Constellation (AKA Ursa Major) going towards these two doors.

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The sketch to left shows, the two doors are each composed of two bright stars. The two bright stars that comprise the Narrow Gate are the two brightest stars of the Orion the Reaper’s sickle. The two stars that comprise the ‘Wide Gate’ Stars are the two brightest stars of the wave of water that comes out of the Dragon Constellation’s mouth (for explanation of “Wave of Water”, just click here). The stars that make up the ‘Narrow Gate’ are about half the width of the Wide Gate (see sketch below left).

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(For more information on Orion’s sickle, just click here, “Orion The R eaper”.)

Editor’s note: These sketches on this page are merely sketches. The stars are not in their exact place. However, they are close enough to find them in the night sky. But as with most stars, it takes persistence to finally locate them.

TOMORROW:

“November 26th (Is This The End!?!)”

Judgment Day – Lightmatter burningman by Aaron Logan for wikimedia share-alike license

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO JEREMIAH STUDY

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ALL ‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

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THIS IS STUDY #327 PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…

Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.com – Public Domain

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