[Roundtable] Gog and Magog at Armageddon?

[Jefferis Peterson]

When I was a new Christian, I read The Late, Great Planet Earth by Hal
Lindsey, and was sure that Russia was going to attack Israel and begin the
end times at the Battle of Armageddon. Much ink was spilled seeking to prove
that the tribes of Gog and Magog migrated to Moscow to become the new center
for an end time alliance against Israel. This view of Russia as the new
Magog dovetailed with the fact that Communism and the USSR were the major
political and military threats to Western Christianity. But I was sure these
enemies would be defeated at the Battle of Armageddon and then Christ was
going to reign on earth physically for 1,000 years (the Millennium), before
some last final temptation.

However, there is a major problem in the chronology with this end time
scenario. The first problem is that Gog and Magog do not attack until after
the Millennial reign of Christ is completed! (Revelation 20:8) So, if Gog
and Magog are going to be part of this end time battle which brings Christ
return, then those who believe it must believe that the Millennium is
occurring now and is a spiritual, not physical event. What I'm saying is
that if we take Revelation at face value, the Battle of Armageddon has
nothing to do with Gog and Magog. It has everything to do with Kings of the
East, whomever they may be. (Revelation 16:12)

This battle story continues through to Chapter 20, where the enemies of God
are defeated. It says nothing about Armageddon, however we may assume the
battle begins there. The problem is that there is no battle. The saints
appear with Jesus riding in from heaven and Jesus appears to slay the
enemies of God with the sword of his voice, or the Word of his mouth. There
is no nuclear holocaust or fire from heaven. The only time a fire consumes
Christ's enemies is after the Millennium, the thousand year reign of Christ
on Earth: 

 For more on this discussion:
http://www.scholarscorner.com/eschaton/millennium.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jefferis Peterson, Pres.
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http://www.PetersonSales.com