The Timing of Ezekiel 38 in Relation to the Rapture

Many preachers, including me, have said the Tribulation begins as soon as the Rapture occurs. As I have studied the Bible more closely, it has become clear that the Rapture of the church does not start the final 7-year clock to start ticking. (Daniel 9:27)

Daniel 9:27 “And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.”

The Tribulation begins when the Antichrist confirms the covenant with Israel.

Now, the language of Daniel 9:27 is very important especially the first part of the verse that says he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week.

The he of Daniel 9:27 is the

What is the covenant? I do not believe this is a new covenant. I believe it is the covenant God made with Abraham. Genesis 13:14-15, 15:18.

Genesis 13:14–15 “And the Lord said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.”

Genesis 15:18 “In the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:”

Only God can make a covenant, When the Antichrist confirms the covenant with Israel, he is essentially claiming to be the one who can honor that covenant. He is claiming to be Israel’s messiah.

Verse 27 then says that the Antichrist confirms that covenant with many. The Bible says that he does not confirm it with all. What does that mean? It means that the apostates of Israel will be deceived by Satan’s Superman.

2 Thessalonians 2:9 “Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,”

The trap will have been set.

Since we having been looking at the Rapture, you might be questioning how Ezekiel 38, the Rapture, and Daniel 9:27 come together into a neat little package.

Before I show you, let me explain something about the construction of the Book of Ezekiel that might help you understand.

Ezekiel 37 deals with the rebirth of Israel as a nation. Verses 1-5, and Matt. 24:32-34.

Ezekiel 37:1–3 “The hand of the Lord was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones, And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry. And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord God, thou knowest.”

Ezekiel 37:4–5 “Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus saith the Lord God unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live:”

Matthew 24:32–34 “Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.”

This prophecy was fulfilled on May 14, 1948 when the provisional government of Israel was officially recognized and thus becoming a nation. Israel had not been a recognized nation from 70 AD until May 14, 1948. It will never again cease being a nation.

Ezekiel 40-48 deal with the Millennium.

In these chapters, Ezekiel describes the Millennial inheritance and the completely rebuilt Temple in all its splendor.

Nestled between Chapters 37 and 40 are chapters 38 and 39 which describe the invasion of Israel. What that tells us is that the invasion of Israel will take place at some point from 1948 when Israel was reestablished as a nation until the Millennium.

The Bible, however, gives us more detail about the timing of Ezekiel Chapters 38 and 39.

Ezekiel 39:8–9 “Behold, it is come, and it is done, saith the Lord God; this is the day whereof I have spoken. And they that dwell in the cities of Israel shall go forth, and shall set on fire and burn the weapons, both the shields and the bucklers, the bows and the arrows, and the handstaves, and the spears, and they shall burn them with fire seven years:”

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:”

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.”

Israel makes good use of the resources left behind by the invading armies for 7 years.

How long is the Tribulation? 7 years.

The Bible gives us another time element. The Bible says that it will take Israel 7 months to bury the dead in order to cleanse the land.

The time elements given are not intended to be mysteries even though the exact date is not revealed. I believe, after careful study, that I can give you a Scriptural timeline of events.

Timeline of future events:

Rapture (1 Thess. 4:16-18)

Russian Invasion of Israel (Ezekiel 38 - 39)

Confirmation by the Antichrist of God’s covenant with Israel seven months after the Rapture (Ezekiel 39:12-14, Daniel 9:27)

The Tribulation begins

As we have said often, the tribulation is needed to draw Israel to Christ. The tribulation is not needed to draw the church to Christ because if you are saved, you have already been drawn to Christ.

If this invasion takes place after the Rapture and before the AC confirms the covenant with Israel, we could see and more than likely will see this starting to play out. As a matter of fact, I could make an argument that we are seeing the Russian-Alliance taking shape.

I thought we would look, while we are studying the Rapture, at the details of Ezekiel 38 so you can understand what is going on in the world today.

You must understand, and I know you do, God is in charge and is at work in the nations.

Habakkuk 1:5 “Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: For I will work a work in your days, Which ye will not believe, though it be told you.”