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The prophecy found in Ezekiel 39:9, which speaks of a period of seven years during which Israel will burn the weapons of their enemies, is a fascinating and often debated passage among scholars and theologians. This prophecy, set in the broader context of the Gog and Magog invasion described in Ezekiel 38-39, raises questions about its potential fulfillment in end-time events. Many Christians wonder whether this prophecy has already been fulfilled, if it will have a future fulfillment, or if it carries symbolic meaning. This study will focus on whether the seven years mentioned in Ezekiel 39:9 will have an end-time fulfillment, with references to the NKJV Bible.
The Context of Ezekiel 38-39
Ezekiel 38-39 describes a great invasion of Israel by a coalition of nations led by a figure known as Gog from the land of Magog. This passage is one of the most detailed and dramatic prophecies in the Old Testament, describing a massive battle that will take place in the land of Israel. The invaders come against Israel, but God intervenes in a miraculous way, destroying the invading armies and demonstrating His sovereignty.
The prophecy begins with God speaking through Ezekiel:
“Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying, ‘Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him, and say, “Thus says the Lord GOD: ‘Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal. I will turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and lead you out, with all your army, horses, and horsemen, all splendidly clothed, a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords. Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; Gomer and all its troops; the house of Togarmah from the far north and all its troops—many people are with you.’”'” (Ezekiel 38:1-6, NKJV).
This coalition of nations, led by Gog, is assembled against Israel in what appears to be a final attempt to destroy the nation. However, God promises to intervene dramatically:
“You will come up against My people Israel like a cloud, to cover the land. It will be in the latter days that I will bring you against My land, so that the nations may know Me, when I am hallowed in you, O Gog, before their eyes.” (Ezekiel 38:16, NKJV).
The purpose of this invasion, according to the prophecy, is to demonstrate God’s power and holiness before the nations. The outcome is devastating for the invaders, as God unleashes a series of judgments, including an earthquake, pestilence, and fire, to destroy them:
“For in My jealousy and in the fire of My wrath I have spoken: ‘Surely in that day there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel, so that the fish of the sea, the birds of the heavens, the beasts of the field, all creeping things that creep on the earth, and all men who are on the face of the earth shall shake at My presence. The mountains shall be thrown down, the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground. I will call for a sword against Gog throughout all My mountains,’ says the Lord GOD. ‘Every man’s sword will be against his brother. And I will bring him to judgment with pestilence and bloodshed; I will rain down on him, on his troops, and on the many peoples who are with him, flooding rain, great hailstones, fire, and brimstone.’” (Ezekiel 38:19-22, NKJV).
The Seven Years of Burning Weapons
After the destruction of the invading forces, the prophecy continues in Ezekiel 39:9-10 with a curious detail about the aftermath:
“Then those who dwell in the cities of Israel will go out and set on fire and burn the weapons, both the shields and bucklers, the bows and arrows, the javelins and spears; and they will make fires with them for seven years. They will not take wood from the field nor cut down any from the forests, because they will make fires with the weapons; and they will plunder those who plundered them, and pillage those who pillaged them,” says the Lord GOD.” (Ezekiel 39:9-10, NKJV).
This passage indicates that the weapons left behind by the defeated armies will be so numerous that the people of Israel will use them as fuel for seven years. This detail has led to much speculation about whether this seven-year period has a specific end-time fulfillment.
The Symbolic Interpretation
This part of the prophecy and the seven years will not have a literal fulfillment in relation to the second coming of Christ and the millennium. According to the understanding of Ezekiel 38:1, history would have taken a very different path if Israel had allowed the Lord to work out His plans concerning them. These plans included peace and national prosperity in order to reach the whole world with the knowledge of God.
In the natural plan, the restored and successful nation would have become the aim of attack from neighboring adulterous nations that rejected the worship of the true God. In such a battle as here shown; God would save His people by giving them great triumph. This prophetic outline of the great battle would without a doubt have been a literal event according to the promises of national restoration for the returned exiles of Israel.
The question may be asked, why, then, will not these prophecies get fulfilled today now that there is once more a national state of Israel in Palestine?
The answer is this: upon the Jew’s refusal of Christ, and crucifying Him, they were rejected by God as a nation. And the promises of God’s covenant that were originally made for them, were transferred to spiritual Israel or the church, which consists of Jews and Gentiles that accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior (Galatians 3:26, 29). For information, check out Has the church been grafted in Israel’s place?
In this view, the burning of the weapons represents the final victory of God over those who oppose His people. The number seven, often used symbolically in the Bible to represent completeness or perfection, could indicate the thoroughness of this victory rather than a specific time frame. This interpretation is supported by the broader symbolic nature of the prophecy and it points to the ultimate defeat of evil at the end of the age, as described in Revelation.
“Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them.” (Revelation 20:7-9, NKJV).
Theological Implications
The prophecy in Ezekiel 39:9 carries significant theological implications, particularly concerning God’s sovereignty and the ultimate victory of good over evil.
God’s Sovereignty
One of the central themes of Ezekiel 38-39 is the sovereignty of God over the nations. The prophecy emphasizes that it is God who brings Gog and his allies against Israel, not for their victory but to demonstrate His power and holiness:
“I will turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and lead you out, with all your army…so that the nations may know Me, when I am hallowed in you, O Gog, before their eyes.” (Ezekiel 38:4, 16, NKJV).
This prophecy serves as a reminder of God’s ultimate authority over history and His ability to bring about His purposes, even through the actions of His enemies.
The Victory of Good Over Evil
Ultimately, the prophecy of Ezekiel 38-39, including the seven years of burning weapons, points to the final victory of good over evil. The message is clear: God will defeat all who oppose Him, and His people will share in the spoils of victory. The seven years of burning weapons, in this sense, can be seen as a sign of the completeness of this victory. Just as the weapons of Israel’s enemies are consumed, so too will all opposition to God be utterly destroyed. This message of hope and assurance is central to the Christian understanding of the end times and the ultimate fulfillment of God’s plan for humanity.
Conclusion
The question of whether the seven years mentioned in Ezekiel 39:9 will have an end-time fulfillment is a debated issue within Christian theology. This part of the prophecy and the seven years will not have a literal fulfillment in relation to the second coming of Christ and the millennium due to the failure of ancient Israel to accept the Messiah and their ultimate sin by crucifying Him. Consequently, God’s promises were transferred to Spiritual Israel or the Christian church which is made of converted Jews and Gentiles that believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
This prophecy serves as a powerful reminder of God’s sovereignty over all nations and the ultimate triumph of good over evil. The seven years point to a future in which God’s enemies are defeated, His people are vindicated, and His name is glorified among the nations. As Christians, this prophecy encourages us to trust in God’s plan and to look forward to the day when His kingdom will be fully established on earth.
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In His service,
BibleAsk Team