Lesson 19

The second mass resurrection is for all people, not just Israel, to live a fulfilling lifetime under the rule of Jesus. After that lifetime, Satan is released for a short season. Those who reject Jesus after living in the knowledge of God for a lifetime, along with those who succumb to Satan’s influence, will make war on those who want to follow God. Referenced in the New Testament, this prophecy is expanded with more detail in the Old Testament. Note that God says he will bring armies back to fight after a long time, in the later years they will fight against those who have been healed from repeated wars that destroyed Israel’s mountains again and again.

Revelation 20:7-9 Modern English Version
7 When the thousand years are ended, Satan will be set free from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle. Their number is like the sand of the sea. 9 They traveled the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. But fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them.

Ezekiel 38:1-9 Easy-to-Read Version
1 The word of the Lord came to me. He said, 2 “Son of man, look toward Gog in the land of Magog. He is the most important leader of the nations of Meshech and Tubal. Speak for me against Gog. 3 Tell him that this is what the Lord God says: ‘Gog, you are the most important leader of the nations of Meshech and Tubal, but I am against you. 4 I will capture you and bring you back. I will bring back all the men in your army, all the horses, and horse soldiers. I will put hooks in your mouths, and I will bring all of you back. All the soldiers will be wearing their uniforms with all their shields and swords. 5 Soldiers from Persia, Ethiopia, and Put will be with them. They will all be wearing their shields and helmets. 6 There will also be Gomer with all its groups of soldiers, and there will be the nation of Togarmah from the far north with all its groups of soldiers. There will be many people in that parade of prisoners. 7 “‘Be prepared. Yes, prepare yourself and the armies that have joined with you. You must watch and be ready. 8 After a long time you will be called for duty. In the later years you will come into the land that has been healed from war. The people in that land were gathered from many nations and brought back to the mountains of Israel. In the past, the mountains of Israel had been destroyed again and again. But these people will have come back from those other nations. They all will have lived in safety. 9 But you will come to attack them. You will come like a storm. You will come like a thundercloud covering the land. You and all your groups of soldiers from many nations will come to attack them.’” 

Have these prophecies been fulfilled already, or are they still to come? Are they foreshadowing the same future event? Why will people reject Jesus?