Sometime after the end of the Millennial Reign, when Jesus Christ delivers the kingdom of God to the Father (ref. 1 Corinthians 15:24-25) and returns to heaven to the throne of God there, Satan will leave the prison of hell to deceive the nations once more (ref. Revelation 20:2-3).
Around then, Gog of Magog, the chief “prince” of Meshech and Tubal, wherever those lands may be, will lead an uprising against the holy land of Zion, at this time, a place of “unwalled villages” at peace and without a human defence force (ref. Ezekiel 38:11).
Until recently, I had assumed that the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, named Gog, would be Satan himself. Now that I understand the saints, it occurs to me that Gog must be a saint, because by this time, every part of the world will be under the control of the saints.
Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion: for I will make thine horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass: and thou shalt beat in pieces many people: and I will consecrate their gain unto the LORD, and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth.
Micah 4:13
A rebellious angel such as Satan, being unable to kill a saint by this time, cannot possible take a country out of the hands of a saint. Therefore, Gog must be a saint that changes sides, having been deceived by Satan.
And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
Revelation 20:7-8
Whereas before I supposed there would not be another rebellion, after the one that led to Satan being cast out of heaven, now I am sure that Gog of Magog is a second rebellion, and it is the treachery prophesied in Isaiah 54:15.
Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake.
Isaiah 54:15
Treachery among the saints is the thing that explains Ezekiel 38 and 39!
The 2016 song “Soldier” by Fleurie suggests some sort of conspiracy may already be afoot.
“Soldier keep on marchin’ on
Head down ’til the work is done
Waiting on that morning sun
Soldier keep on marchin’ on
Head in the dust, feet in the fire
Labour on that midnight wire
Listening for that angel choir
You got nowhere to run
You wanna take a drink of that promise land
You gotta wipe the dirt off of your hands
Careful son, you got dreamer’s plans
But it gets hard to stand
…
Quiet now, you’re gonna wake the beast
Hide your soul out of his reach
Shiver to that broken beat
Dark into the heat”
“Shiver to that broken beat; dark into the heat” looks suspiciously like something about the False Prophet of Babylon.
From the side of God, there is Christina Aguilera’s song for Mulan (2020), which ends by asking the listener, every single saint, a question:
“Who am I without my armour
standing in my Father’s shoes?
All I know is that it’s harder
to be loyal, brave and true.”
You see, when Jesus Christ delivers the kingdom of God to the Father, and leaves for heaven, the army of the saints will remain on earth. This is because the saints serve both Jesus Christ and God the Father. So, at this time, each and every saint will stand in his Father’s shoes, and now there will be temptation from the angel Satan, the deceiver, for a number of the saints to take the kingdom in Zion in another direction.
When this second rebellion of the queen of heaven begins, God in heaven will become furious.
And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, that my fury shall come up in my face. For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel. So that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground.
Ezekiel 38:18-20
And then, God in heaven will call the saints that are still loyal to him to fight the rebels, and defend the people of the kingdom.
And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord GOD: every man’s sword shall be against his brother.
Ezekiel 39:21
In this context, a “mountain” means a “saint”, because of Isaiah 49:13.
Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains [saints]: for the LORD hath comforted his people…
Isaiah 49:13
This civil war of the saints in the distant future will be akin to the first war in heaven between Satan and his rebels on one side, and the archangel Michael and his angels on the other.
This is one sense of the “fearful symmetry” in William Blake’s poem Tyger, something I brought up before.
“Tyger Tyger, burning bright,
In the forests of the night;
What immortal hand or eye,
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?
…
When the stars threw down their spears
And water’d heaven with their tears:
Did he smile his work to see?
Did he who made the Lamb make thee?
…
Tyger Tyger burning bright,
In the forests of the night:
What immortal hand or eye,
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?”
A second sense of the fearful symmetry of Tyger involves the sentence of Isaiah 41:25.
I have raised up one from the north, and he shall come: from the rising of the sun shall he call upon my name: and he shall come upon princes as upon morter, and as the potter treadeth clay.
Isaiah 41:25
The person speaking in Isaiah 41:25 is “the LORD” and also “the King of Jacob” (ref. Isaiah 41:21). So my impression is, the one in Isaiah 41:25 from the rising of the sun that shall come upon princes as upon morter must be a saint rather than the Son of man Jesus Christ. I used to think otherwise.
The Son of man Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem (ref. Micah 5:2), in the area of Galilee, a place near Armageddon, and he was raised in both Egypt and Israel, the latter being the center of the world, rather than the “Middle East”. Also, the Son of God was begotten of the Father before the earth and before the heavens. Nevertheless, at the time of the seventh trumpet and vial, the Son of man Jesus Christ will come to Jerusalem in the clouds from the direction of the east (ref. Matthew 24:27), just as the sun rises each day first from the east. So there is scope to read Isaiah 41:25 to mean the Son of man Jesus Christ, whom might call upon the name of God the Father.
But at the same time, there is scope to read the sentence to mean a saint, a man from the rising of the sun, whom will call upon the name of the Creator, Jesus Christ.
Now, notice, Isaiah 41:27 says, The first shall say to Zion, behold these two: the one from the north and the one from the east. More than that, one of these two is to bring the evangelion to Jerusalem: the good news about the battle. By the expression “the first”, the sentence cannot mean the one from the north, for he is the Assyrian, and he would not bring news of his defeat to Jerusalem. So, it must mean the latter, the saint from the east, which I now think is me, because I am the servant “O Israel” in Isaiah 49. Since I am that servant, I am the first of the saints in these last days (ref. Isaiah 49:7).
The first shall say to Zion, Behold, behold them: and I will give to Jerusalem one that bringeth good tidings.
Isaiah 41:27
The other way to consider it, of course, is to say “the first” is Jesus Christ, for he is the first and the last, and he the Word of God has said to Zion through the prophet Isaiah, “behold them”: the Antichrist and the Christ.
But this interpretation would be past tense, “has said”, whereas the sentence of Isaiah 41:27 reads “shall say”, a prophecy that is to be fulfilled sometime after Isaiah.
Taking things further, to its natural conclusion, there is Isaiah 41:2, “the righteous man from the east”.
Who raised up the righteous man from the east, called him to his foot, gave the nations before him, and made him rule over kings? he gave them as the dust to his sword, and as driven stubble to his bow. He pursued them, and passed safely; even by the way that he had not gone with his feet. Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he.
Isaiah 41:2-4
Is this the Son of man, the Lamb of God, who will come back to earth in the clouds from the direction of the east to reign as the King of kings? Or is this a future saint, a man from the east, given wings as eagles by Jesus Christ, that answers his calling, and that secures victory in the final battle between good and evil while standing in his Father’s shoes?
If the latter, how to explain the epithet “righteous”? The answer to that might be this: Isaiah 54:17 says, the righteousness of a servant of the LORD is of the LORD.
So, both interpretations are possible because Isaiah 41:7 mentions “nails” as in the cross some 2000 years ago, and at the same time mentions an “anvil” and a “hammer”, an allusion to the furnace of Isaiah 54:16, the same furnace in the poem Tyger.
“What the hammer? what the chain,
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? what dread grasp.
Dare its deadly terrors clasp?”
So the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith, and he that smootheth with the hammer him that smote the anvil, saying, It is ready for the sodering: and he fastened it with nails, that it should not be moved.
Isaiah 41:7
Going back to Isaiah 41:25, and assuming the second part of the sentence refers to a saint, notice that there is a symmetry in the structure of the sentence. God has raised up one from the north; and God has raised up one from the east. Also, the word “north”, pointing to the Assyrian, in Hebrew is “tsaphon”; while the Christian name of the one from the rising of the sun, which is me, is “Stephen”. The Assyrian’s Arabic name, Abdullah Kardash, sums in gematria to 666 (ref. Revelation 13:18) and so it is special biblically speaking; and mine 练 conveys information about one of the kings of the east, 习, making it also biblical and significant in these last days. The Assyrian is described in Isaiah 10:5 as “the rod” of God’s anger; while Isaiah 49:2 reveals that I am also a weapon of God, but a part of the “rod” of the preserved of Israel, the 144000 (ref. Revelation 14:1-5). In the grand scheme of things, the Assyrian from the north is to be an axe (ref. Isaiah 10:15) in these last days that will cut down the rotten branches of Israel; whereas I am the one, from the rising of the sun, that will serve God as “the waster” (ref. Isaiah 54:16), in Nobody (2021) the role of an “auditor”. In other words, I am the one that is to stop the disloyal princes of Israel over 1000 years from now.
So you see, there is a symmetry, and it is a fearful thing to be symmetrical to him the Assyrian whom the Bible describes as “the beast”.
However, though the Assyrian will choose the side of Satan, I choose the side of God.
To add to that, Blake’s poem suggests, there is a symmetry of some kind between the Lamb and the Tyger. What I mean is the following. Isaiah 41:25 can be read to mean the forthcoming day of the LORD (ref. Revelation 19), a battle between the Antichrist and the Christ; and at the same time it can be read to mean a day of the LORD in the distant future (ref. Ezekiel 39:8) at the time of Gog and Magog, a battle between one side led by a saint from the north (ref. Ezekiel 38:15), and another led by a saint from the east (ref. Isaiah 41:25) – a battle for the kingdom of God here on earth at a time when Jesus Christ is in heaven.
Concerning the comparison between the Lamb and the Tyger, the implications are also nerve wracking.
But still, I am saying all these things now about Isaiah 41:25 in case these ideas that have occurred to me are correct, which means I am the one that is to fulfil the prophecy of Isaiah 41:27.
I have raised up one from the north, and he shall come: from the rising of the sun shall he call upon my name: and he shall come upon princes as upon morter, and as the potter treadeth clay.
Isaiah 41:25
The first shall say to Zion, Behold, behold them: and I will give to Jerusalem one that bringeth good tidings.
Isaiah 41:27
Ever since this started, a few weeks ago, it has been one epiphany after another, each step taking things further and further. I am sure this is the calling of Isaiah 46:11, the ravenous bird, a man from the east that is called by God. The vision I have been given explains it all from the start to the finish, even now before the start.
Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.
Isaiah 46:9-11
Isaiah 46 goes on to describe the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, the beginning of the kingdom of God. So, the man from the east is to called by God before then.
Hearken unto me, ye stouthearted, that are far from righteousness: I bring near my righteousness [Jesus Christ]; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation [Jesus Christ] in Zion for Israel my glory.
Isaiah 46:12-13
In regard to the war against Gog of Magog, many others among the saints still loyal to God at that time, whomever they may be, will play their part as well: “ravenous birds” and “beasts of the field”.
Thou shalt fall upon the mountains of Israel, thou, and all thy bands, and the people that is with thee: I will give thee to the ravenous birds of every sort, and to the beasts of the field to be devoured. Thou shalt fall upon the open field: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD. And I will send a fire in Magog, and among them that dwell carelessly in the isles: and they shall know that I am the LORD. So will I make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel; and I will not let them pollute my holy name any more [I think, these are the rebellious saints rather than humans in Zion]: and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel.
Ezekiel 39:4-7
This achievement of the defeat of Gog will bring an end to the phenomenon of evil.
Around the time Satan is cast into the lake of fire (ref. Revelation 20:10), Isaiah 41 reads, I am to serve God as a regent of the entire earth, or something like that (ref. Isaiah 41:2). As the song goes, I will stand “in my Father’s shoes”, so to speak, and so will the other saints that are with me, because at this time Jesus Christ will be in heaven.
And I will set my glory [光 means “light” but also “glory”] among the heathen, and all the heathen shall see my judgement that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid upon them.
Ezekiel 39:21
As for the holy land, I suppose, that will still be governed by the 12 apostles (ref. Matthew 19:28, Luke 22:30).
When the time comes for the new Jerusalem out of heaven, all will go to the new Jerusalem, which is described in Revelation as a “bride adorned for her husband” (ref. Revelation 21:2). In the new Jerusalem, all will be children of God, saints and Christians alike, male and female, young and old. There will also be angels, of course.
But I am to carry on and chase the saints that mutinied (ref. Isaiah 41:3). If Blake’s poem is a prophecy from God, then I am to hunt down the rebels alone like a tiger, or something like that, to the far reaches of the universe if necessary:
When the stars threw down their spears
And water’d heaven with their tears:
Did he smile his work to see?
Did he who made the Lamb make thee?
And then when the war is finally over, I will return to the kingdom of heaven, to bring the evangelion, the good news of the battle, to the new Jerusalem, just as I did before (ref. Isaiah 41:27).
It will be all these things that explain Isaiah 49:3.
And said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified.
Isaiah 49:3
In the new Jerusalem, populated by saints, angels, and born again souls, there will be no more death.
The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
1 Corinthians 15:26
There will be no more death, because now everyone will be loyal and obedient to God.
And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.
1 Corinthians 15:28
At this time, God will also cause all sorrow and pain to be forgotten.
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there by any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
Revelation 21:4-6
So, at this point, the work of the ravenous bird will be over. All of the remaining saints by this stage will have become a choir of sorts, singing praises to God. This is because there will be no more need to kill.
So, there will be eternal peace at the end of this war.
The new Jerusalem will be the final “bride” of Christ. Third time’s a charm, or something like that. The first queen of heaven comprised the angels at the time of Lucifer. The second will be the saints. And the third will be everyone who has been saved since Genesis.
I think the second queen, collectively the new forthcoming army of the saints, will fracture because some of the saints will not have enough oil, not having understood Christianity well enough or long enough.
Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
Matthew 25:1-4
Now, besides matters about me, Isaiah 41 also has words for all of the saints, all of the 144000, because Satan will wage war against the saints, a contest of will, in these last days (ref. Revelation 13:7, Daniel 7:21). He will also attempt to inject the poison of envy and ambition into the hearts of some, that will result in treachery. But God has anticipated everything. Notice the expression “thresh the mountains”. This speaks to a future civil war among the saints, a “tribulation” for the saints after the Millennial Reign of Jesus Christ.
Fear not, thou worm Jacob [the dead will resurrect], and ye men of Israel [the living will transform]; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff. Thou shalt fan them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them: and thou shalt rejoice in the LORD, and shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel.
Isaiah 41:14-16
So, if you have been called to be a saint, a future soldier of Christ, you should strive to be one of the wise with oil, rather than one of the foolish without oil.
I am drawing attention to all these things in Isaiah 41 because the servant of God in Isaiah 49 is to help raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel, in these last days.
And now, saith the LORD that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the LORD, and my God shall be my strength. And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation [salvation of the body of Christ] unto the end of the earth.
Isaiah 49:5-6
Thus saith the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, princes [saints] also shall worship, because of the LORD that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee.
Isaiah 49:7
And beyond that, the first of the saints is to address the fearful symmetry of Isaiah 41:25.
I have raised up one from the north, and he shall come: from the rising of the sun shall he call upon my name: and he shall come upon princes as upon morter, and as the potter treadeth clay.
Isaiah 41:25
Who hath declared from the beginning, that we may know? and beforetime, that we may say, He is righteous? yea, there is none that sheweth, yea, there is none that declareth, yea, there is none that heareth your words. The first shall say to Zion, Behold, behold them: and I will give to Jerusalem one that bringeth good tidings.
Isaiah 41:26-27