卅八、卅九兩章接在重建以色列的應許之後，那時彌賽亞要統管已潔淨、合一的以色列（34：27~29；36：24~30；37：22~28）。以西結前面的預言一直是依時間排列的，這段對未來的預言也可能是依時間先後排列的。值得注意的是，啟示錄中的歌革和瑪各，是那群在千禧年後，被撒但聳動背判上帝的勢力（啟20：7~9）。

        瑪各和北方歌革王子所統治的幾個地方，其位置有好幾個可能，但都無法確定。那些地方都是雅弗之後裔，從歐洲和亞洲的部份地區來（參創10：2~5），從無法確定。從卅八章17節及啟示錄來看，「瑪各」是指一切反對上帝的惡勢力，包括用武力攻打上帝百姓的勢力。歌革的聯軍不只從極北來（38：15），也從東邊來（以波斯為代表）、南邊（衣索匹亞）、和西邊（利比亞為代表38：5）而來。這些地方是當時所知的地極，泛指一切反對上帝子民的聯合力量。

        他們攻打比色列的原因，是出於嫉妒和貪婪（38：10~12）。不過，因上帝掌權，即使祂允許這些惡勢力攻打以色列（38：4、16；39：2），目的仍在要把惡人置於審判底下，讓祂的名在列邦中顯為榮耀，並讓祂的百姓也得光榮（38：16、23；39：7、13）。上帝的子民不必打仗，上帝要興起各種天災去摧毀這些敵軍（38：19：22），或混亂他們，使他們自相殘殺（38：21；士7：21~22；撒上14：15、20；代下20：17：23），甚至降火摧毀他們的家園（39：4~6）。

        為說明敵軍勢眾，以西結說當這些敵軍倒在上帝的審判下時，須費時七個月去埋葬他們，墳場且要阻絕東西向交通（39：11~12）。他們的武器要留給以色列人當材燒七年之久（39：9）。「七」乃象徵著完全和終結，有些人專職埋葬之事，因為死屍會被鷙鳥和動物啃食。這不意味尊重死者，乃是依摩西的律法，怕死屍使地不潔所致（參利5：2；21：1、11；民5：2；6：6；19：16；31：19）。作為一個祭司，以西結特別關心潔淨的禮儀（即22：26；24：13；36：25、33；37：23），因為這也象徵著上帝對祂所有的子民要求一種內在的潔淨。這也預指了教會－－上帝的身體，要被用水藉著道洗淨，以致聖潔、榮耀、毫無玷污皺紋等瑕疵（弗5：26~27；啟21：27）。

        三十九章23節到本章末，都預測以色列被擄七十年後的歸回。因著這批餘民的見證，外邦人將知道，上帝並非太軟弱無法救以色列人，而是因為他們不順服上帝而受罰（39：23）。就像以西結過去所強調的，當上帝的子民回來重建家園，各國就要看見他們在事奉尊崇耶和華，也要知道是上帝使他們被擄，也是上帝使他們重回家園（39：27~28；36：23）。29節顯示預言的終極成就，是藉著耶穌基督的救贖，使人的靈魂歸回之後，聖靈才得以在五旬節澆灌下來（參徒2：16~17；珥2：28）。因著真心的悔改、靈魂的歸回、聖靈的內住、及耶穌作中保，上帝必不再掩面不顧人。所以，我們得以坦然無懼來到施恩座前，祂必垂聽我們的禱告（參14：3；20：3；36：37；來4：16）。

        父上帝，我為自己和教會禱告，我們既已被上帝的道潔淨，求使我們成為榮耀、聖潔、沒有玷污。奉主耶穌基督的名，阿們！

English

        When reading the remarkable prophecy contained in chapters 38 & 39, it helps to remember that it is given following the promise of the restoration of Israel, when the Messiah Himself reigns over the new, united, purified, and peaceful land of Israel (34:27-29; 36:24-30; 37:22-28). Since Ezekiel's prophecies are arranged chronologically according to the dates he received them from God, it is likely that the future events prophesied are also in chronological order. It is significant that in the Apostle John's prophecy, he specifically names Gog and Magog in reference to the rebellion against God instigated by Satan after the 1000 years of peace (the Millennium — when the saints of God will reign with the Messiah, see Rev. 20:7-9).

        There has been much speculation about the location of Magog and the other places in the north ruled over by the prince Gog, but their exact identification cannot be ascertained. The inhabitants of these places were descendants of japheth, coming from Europe and some parts of Asia (cf. Gen. 10:2-5). From the reference in Revelation and the question of 38:17, it appears that "Magog" is representative of all the earthly evil powers that are opposed to God, for any nation that takes up arms against God's people is actually fighting against Him. Gog's coalition army comes not only from the far north (38:15) but from the east (represented by Persia), the south (represented by Ethiopia), and from the west (represented by Libya; 38:5). These were the extremities of the then-known world and represent a general gathering of the world against the people of God.

        The apparent reason for the planned attack on Israel was because of jealousy and greed for the riches within the Messiah's flourishing kingdom (38:10-12). Since the Lord is Sovereign over the affairs on the earth and He allowed the wicked coalition to march on Israel, Ezekiel repeatedly says that the Lord Himself led them (38:4, 16; 39:2), since He had plans of His own: to bring the wicked to judgment, to bring glory to His name among the nations and His own people, and to cause His people to also be honoured (38:16, 23; 39:7; 13). God's people did not have to fight; the Lord fought for them by destroying the enemy with the elements of nature He controls, such as earthquakes, plagues, flooding rains, great hailstones, fire, and brimstone (38:19, 22). Another method, which the Lord had used before, was to confuse the enemy so that they might fight against each other (38:21; Judges 7:21-22; 1 Sam. 14:15, 20; 2 Chron. 20:17, 23). Not only would the invading army be destroyed, but the Lord would also send His fire to destroy their homelands (39:4-6).

        To illustrate the vastness of the enemy army, Ezekiel tells us that after the Lord's fury had rested upon them, it would take seven months for the people of the Lord to bury the dead; and their burial place, located east of the Dead Sea, would be so large that it would obstruct the thoroughfare (39:11-12). Also, their weapons would provide Israel with fuel for seven years (39:9). The number seven is significant in symbolizing completeness and finality. There would be specially appointed people to organize the burial and ensure that all the dead bodies and bones had been properly buried. This would not be done, however, to honour the dead, for their corpses would be left out as prey for the scavenger birds and beasts (39:4; 17-20); it was done to maintain the purity of the land of Israel, for according to the Mosaic law, corpses or bones left out in the open would bring defilement upon the land (cf. Lev. 5:2; 21:1, 11; Num. 5:2; 6:6; 19:16; 31:19). As a true priest, Ezekiel, was especially concerned with the importance of ritual purity (e.g. 22:26; 24:13; 36:25, 33; 37:23), for it symbolized the inner purity that God demands of His people as individuals and as a Church. This points forward to the time when the Church, the body of Christ, will be cleansed "with the washing of water by the word" from all defilement, that it might be glorious, holy, and without blemish, spot, or wrinkle (Eph. 5:26-27; Rev. 21:27).

        From 39:23 until the end of the chapter, it appears that Ezekiel's prophecy is no longer apocalyptic, but he is foretelling of the near future event of Israel's restoration after the seventy-year captivity. With the witness of the remnant of the Jews, the Gentiles were to come to understand that the destruction of Judah and the captivity of God's people were not because God was too weak to save them, but it was a punishment of God because of their disobedience (39:23). As Ezekiel had stressed before, when the Lord restores His people to their land and all the nations see that they serve and hallow Him, then it will reaffirm to them that it was the Lord who had sent them into captivity, just as it was clearly the Lord who had brought them back (39:27-28; 36:23). Verse 29 indicates that this prophecy would be ultimately fulfilled by the spiritual ingathering of souls made possible by the atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ, after which came the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost in fulfillment of prophecy (cf. Acts 2:16-17; Joel 2:28). With a repentant heart, a restored soul, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and with Jesus' mediation and intercession for us, the Lord will no longer hide His face from us. Rather, we can boldly approach His throne of grace with confidence that He hears our prayers (cf. 14:3; 20:3; 36:37; Heb. 4:16).

        Father God, we pray for the Church and for ourselves, that we, as the body of Christ, cleansed with the washing of water by the Word, might be glorious, holy, and without blemish.