Chapters 38 and 39 deal with a new and great victory. These chapters picture the famous battle of Gog and Magog. Do not confuse this war with the Battle of Armageddon, described in Revelation 19:11-21, because Armageddon takes place at the end of the seven year Tribulation Period that follows the Rapture of the Church. Nor is it the same as the battle involving Gog and Magog, mentioned in Revelation 20:7-9, for that will take place at the close of the 1,000 year reign of Christ, when Satan will again be loosed. The battle given in Ezekiel 38 and 39 takes place at the time when the Jews are safely living in their own land in the latter years (chapter 38:8). You might wonder when this will be. It seems probable that it will be during the first three and one-half years of the Tribulation Period, when Israel will be protected from Egypt and Russia by her covenant with the head of the Roman Empire. Chapters 40--48 constitute Ezekiel's remarkable vision of the restored land of Israel, with the people occupying the land during the Kingdom Age. The date was April, 573 b.c., on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the prophet's exile. Ezekiel was supernaturally transported in vision to Israel, and prophesied from a future idealistic standpoint "upon a very high mountain.".
