What is the principal point of conflict in all four gospel accounts between Jesus and the religious leaders of Israel?
I devote the entire first chapter of my new book, “The Restitution of All Things: Israel, Christians and the End of the Age,” to this profoundly important point.
It’s real simple: Obey the laws of God, not the traditions of men.
If you doubt me, I challenge you to re-read any one or all four gospel accounts for yourself with this question in mind. I predict you will be startled by your finding if you haven’t noticed this point of contention before.
I believe it’s like an encoded message to followers of Jesus – a kind of warning to us not to make the same mistake as the Pharisees: Don’t follow the traditions of men; instead obey God’s commandments.
As I illustrate in my book, it’s a predominant theme through Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Perhaps Christians overlook it because we don’t see the relevance to our lives, our worship, our own religious dogma.
But, we, too, tend to turn to men to teach us what the Bible says, rather than to rely on the Holy Spirit to lead us through our own study of Scriptures for fresh insights.
May I give you an example?
I’ll get a lot of heat for this from pastors, prophecy teachers, other authors, including some of my best friends – not to mention all the people who don’t take the Bible literally.
You’ve probably heard that the war of Gog and Magog, as described by the prophet Ezekiel in chapters 38 and 39, is imminent and will lead to the return of Jesus. Some are rock certain this war has something to do with Russia leading a coalition of armies into Jerusalem, though Russia is not among the nations specifically mentioned – even considering ancient names. But, nearly all popular, contemporary prophecy teachers agree the war of Gog and Magog is right around the corner and will certainly occur before Jesus returns.
Why do they believe this?
I think it’s because they’ve been taught to believe it. It’s what I was taught. Yet, a simple re-examination of the only Scriptures dealing with Gog and Magog reveals something quite different – something even I only recently saw because of the nudging of the Holy Spirit on my heart.
Besides Ezekiel 38 and 39, there is only one other place in the Bible the War of Gog and Magog is mentioned – Revelation 20.
Now, because Bible students are rightfully taught to look for the New Testament in the Old Testament concealed and to look for the Old Testament in the New Testament revealed and to find the Old Testament in the New Testament revealed, we should expect to learn something new – something more – about Gog and Magog in the book of Revelation. Make sense?
Yet, even though John explains to us in the only New Testament reference to Gog and Magog when this future war takes place, many who have devoted their lives to Bible prophecy don’t believe it. We don’t accept it. Instead, we listen to what our teachers say – and nearly all of them say it takes place before the Day of the Lord, when Jesus returns to set up His Kingdom on Earth.
What, though, does John write with clarity and precision?
He states, without any ambiguity, doubt or hesitation that the War of Gog and Magog takes place at the expiration of the 1,000-year Kingdom of God on Earth and that Satan, who was held captive throughout this period, is loosed. It is Satan who deceives this coalition of nations to invade Israel.
So, there you have it: Two references in the entire Bible – one Old Testament and one new – dealing with Gog and Magog. But, for most prophecy-minded Christians, these two references are unrelated.
Why?
Because they have been taught by men that Ezekiel 38-39 is about a war that takes place leading up to the return of Jesus the Messiah. As for the other, I think most assume John’s revelation about God and Magog at the end of the 1,000-year Kingdom period in which Jesus rules and reigns over the earth is another future historical event altogether – like some prophetic déjà vu.
It’s not. Revelation is not describing a different War of Gog and Magog. This is not “Gog and Magog II.” Instead, what John is revealing about this future war is when it takes place – and why.
Using similar language and references found in Ezekiel, John fills in some more facts without any contradictions. In fact, so much of what John writes in Revelation builds on the prophecies of Ezekiel, Daniel and Isaiah.
Check it out for yourself. Don’t be afraid. Be a Berean and see if these things are true by opening the Scriptures yourself.
Here’s what you’ll find:
- Ezekiel says this war will take place in the “latter years.” Revelation sets the date – at the “expiration” of the literal 1,000-year Kingdom of God on earth.
- Ezekiel says this invasion of Israel will come “after many days,” when the land is “brought back from the sword,” and when the children of Israel “dwell safely.” That would be consistent with the end of the 1,000-year period in which Israel experiences peace, prosperity, safety and rest.
Why is this important to us today – more than 1,000 years prior to an event that must follow the return of Jesus the Messiah?
Because some prophecy teachers, pastors and authors are actually formulating theories about geostrategic alignments that will soon take place based on the notion that the War of Gog and Magog is right on the horizon. That’s not smart if these events don’t take place for more than 1,000 years.
Secondly, it’s important because it illustrates for us how we, just like the Pharisees of Jesus’ time, too often accept blindly the traditions of men over the clear, plain, straightforward word of God. And that is one of the major points I make in “The Restitution of All Things: Israel, Christians and the End of the Age.”
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Watch Farah’s invitation to the cruise adventure in Alaska:
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Media wishing to interview Joseph Farah, please contact [email protected].
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