Only in modern times is there the concept of a peacekeeping force being positioned between hostile forces.
For thousands of years, the prophecy of Gog and Magog has been seen as a military invasion. It describes a large army coming into Israel, and being seen as an invasion for thousands of years, it is difficult, if not impossible, to get people to see it any other way.
There are many details in Ezekiel 38 to suggest that the army of Gog is a peacekeeping force, but this peacekeeping force turns against Israel.
There is a growing supernatural level of Jew-hatred throughout most of the world. There is increasing demand for a two-state “solution”. That two-state “solution” is coming very soon, and it will be the fulfillment of Ezekiel 38 and will lead to Armageddon.
Notice that Gog is said to be a guard.
Ezekiel 38:7 Be thou prepared, and prepare for thyself, thou, and all thy company that are assembled unto thee, and be thou a guard unto them.
Initially, Gog doesn’t come against the people of Israel, but against the mountains of Israel.
Ezekiel 38:8 After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them.
The army coming into Israel is not evil. After coming into to Israel the leader of the peacekeeping force has an evil thought.
Ezekiel 38:10 Thus saith the Lord God; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought:
The Israelis dwell safely because of the peacekeeping force.
Ezekiel 38:11 And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates,
The leader of the peacekeeping force decides that Israel must pay for their defense.
Ezekiel 38:12 To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land.
An Arab leader asks, “have you come to take a spoil.”
Ezekiel 38:13 Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil?
At this time there is what is called the Day of Wrath.
Ezekiel 38:18-23 And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord God, that my fury shall come up in my face. For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel; So that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground. And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord God: every man’s sword shall be against his brother. And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the Lord.
