Congregation Book Study, Week of December 6-12, 2021, Chapter 17, Paragraphs 1-8, Answers

Congregation Book Study, December 6-12, 2021, Chapter 17, Paragraphs 1-8, Answers.

Congregation Bible Study (30 min.): Rr ch. 17 paras. 1-8 and video.

"I'm against you, oh, Gog"

MAIN IDEA: What “Gog” and “the land” that he invades represent

ANALYSIS OF THE VIDEO AND ANSWERS TO THE PARAGRAPHS

Vivimos en una época decisiva. Muy muy pronto veremos la mayor demostración del poder destructivo de Dios en el planeta, como nunca antes. ¿Qué va a ser de nosotros? Menos mal que Jehová nos da la información que necesitamos.

El capítulo 17 del libro Adoración pura trata sobre el ataque final que va a sufrir pueblo de Jehová durante la gran tribulación. El nombre del enemigo y líder de este ataque se encuentra en el titulo de este capitulo: “Estoy contra ti, oh, Gog”. Este titulo está basado en Ezequiel 38:3. Vamos a leerlo juntos: Dirás: ‘Esto es lo que dice el Señor Soberano Jehová: “Aquí estoy contra ti, oh, Gog, cabecilla principal* de Mesec y Tubal.

As you study this chapter, look for the answer to these questions: Who is Gog of Magog? When, how, why will Gog attack Jehovah's people? What does the spiritual land represent, and how can you beautify it? Dear brothers and sisters, we have no reason to fear the coming tribulation: Jehovah tells us what is going to happen and will be with us at all times, as long as our lives show that we support pure worship. I never forget this: There is no enemy who can beat the Sovereign Lord Jehovah!

1, 2. What great war is around the corner, and what questions arise now? (See the drawing at the beginning).

Humans have caused many wars among us, but the greatest war is about to come. This war is not compared to the others, the event that is coming is "the war of the great day of God, the Almighty." With this war that is near, many questions arise which are: How will this war start? Who is that enemy? What is the land that he will invade? and when, why and how will it invade?.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

The greatest war in the entire history of mankind is just around the corner, the war of the great day of God, the almighty, and the illustration shows us the enemies of God who will face him. 3 questions arise: Who is that enemy? What is the land that he will invade? and when, why and how will it invade? 

It is not a simple conflict of man, in which nations fight for selfish reasons. Rather, the upcoming event is "the war of the great day of God, the Almighty."

An arrogant enemy will invade a "land" that is precious to God. This invasion will cause the Sovereign Lord Jehovah to use his destructive power like never before seen on the planet.

Who is the enemy called Gog of Magog?

3. How is Magog's prophecy about Gog summarized?

Chapters 38 and 39 speak of a great battle that will take place in Israel in the last days and that will involve a people of “Magog”, led by a king named Gog. Ezekiel describes that war by saying that it will take place in "the mountains of Israel" against the children of Israel who have gathered in those lands. The Lord also tells Ezekiel that He will miraculously save His people from the armies of Magog, so that all nations will know "that I am Jehovah." By all that he says, Ezekiel seems to be describing the great battle that will take place before the Second Coming, which is commonly referred to as "Armageddon." One detail that may be confusing is that John the Revelator described a battle between good and evil at the end of the Millennium as the battle of Gog and Magog. So there are two battles called Gog and Magog,the first shortly before the Second Coming and the other at the end of the Millennium; They are similar in that they will be terrible and will cause great destruction that will completely annihilate God's enemies and bring about major changes on the earth.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Well, the bible says that in the final part of the years an enemy called "Gog of Magog" invades "the land" of Jehovah's people, because of that he enrages and intervenes and defeats Gog, and after achieving victory, Jehovah delivers the carcasses of his enemy and his allies "to all manner of raptors and wild animals" to be eaten, and finally Jehovah gives Gog "a burial".

“In the final part of the years”, an enemy named “Gog […] of Magog” invades “the land” of God's people. But this merciless attack unleashes the “great fury” of Jehovah, who intervenes and defeats Gog. * After achieving victory, Jehovah delivers the carcasses of his enemy and his allies “to all kinds of birds of prey and wild animals” to be eaten. In the end, Jehovah gives “a burial” to Gog. It is significant to understand who Gog represents.

4. What does this paragraph teach us about Gog de Magog?

The Bible says that at the end of the thousand years, the Devil will be released from the abyss "and will go astray to mislead those nations that are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for war." If the Devil is Gog, how could he mislead Gog? Therefore, the Gog that Ezekiel's prophecy and the book of Revelation speak of is not Satan. So who is Gog de Magog? The Bible mentions Gog de Magog's attack, but also that of the "king of the north" and that of "the kings of the earth." The Scriptures tell us that all the nations of the earth will participate in the attack that will unleash the war of Armageddon. When comparing with each other these biblical passages that speak of the final attack against the people of God, it is seen more clearly that Gog de Magog is not the Devil, but a coalition, or group, of nations.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

It teaches us that this is an enemy of those who practice pure worship, and it is not Satan, since thanks to a deeper analysis of this issue it was concluded that this is a visible enemy, a human enemy, that make up a coalition of nations that will rally against Jehovah's people.

Based on Ezekiel's description, we can conclude that Gog is an enemy of those who practice pure worship. Is Gog a prophetic name for Satan, the worst enemy of true worship? For many years, our publications affirmed that. But, thanks to a more in-depth analysis of this topic, it was possible to better understand this prophecy of Ezekiel. In the Watchtower it was explained that the title Gog de Magog does not refer to an invisible spirit creature, but to a human enemy, someone visible - a coalition or group of nations that will fight against pure worship.

5, 6. How does Ezekiel's prophecy indicate that Gog of Magog is not a spirit?

Jehovah tells Gog what he will do to destroy him: "To birds of prey, birds of all kinds of wings, and to wild beasts of the field I will certainly give you as food." But how is it possible for a spirit being to be eaten by "birds of prey" and "wild beasts"? How could it be buried on Earth? Furthermore, the Bible does not say that Satan will be eaten or buried; He says that he will be locked in an abyss for a thousand years. These warnings were not addressed to spiritual beings, but to human beings of flesh and blood. And it is logical, because raptors and wild animals eat meat, not spirit.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

For example, in the first place Jehovah tells God de Magod that he will give it as food to raptors, and we know that these birds eat corpses, meat not spiritual beings and also, he gave similar warnings to Israel in the past.

Jehovah also told him that he was going to give him a burial in Israel, and the Bible does not speak of spiritual beings being buried, if it is true that Satan and his demons were locked up and then they will be thrown into a symbolic place of fire, but this means that they will be destroyed forever, but God will be buried here on earth.

When the Scriptures announce a divine judgment, they often use the image of raptors that end up eating the corpses of those executed. God gave these kinds of warnings to both the Israelites and other nations.

It must be taken into account that these warnings were not directed to spiritual beings, but to human beings of flesh and blood. And it is logical, because raptors and wild animals eat meat, not spirit.

So the warning recorded in Ezekiel's prophecy indicates that Gog is not a spirit.

7, 8. How is the end of the “king of the north” similar to the end of Gog of Magog?

Daniel said: "He will go out in a rage to annihilate and destroy many." And Jehovah's servants will be the primary target of the king of the north. But, like Gog of Magog, the king of the north will come "to his end" after having failed in his attack on God's people. Both seek to destroy Jehovah's servants, but even if we are their target, they will end up destroyed.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Daniel said that the king of the north would go out in a rage to destroy God's people, but like God de Magod, the king of the north would be destroyed or come to an end after his failed attempt to attack God's servants.

Regarding the final attack of the king of the north in "the time of the end," Daniel said: "He will go out in a rage to annihilate and destroy many." And Jehovah's servants will be the primary target of the king of the north. * But, like Gog of Magog, the king of the north will come “to his end” after having failed in his attack against God's people.