The Battle of Armageddon - Part 2
Are Ezekiel 38 and 39 the Same Battle As Armageddon?
Purpose:
The purpose of this page, part 2, is to ascertain whether or not Ezekiel 38 and 39 is the same as the so-called battle of Armageddon. In the process, a comparison is also made to Revelation 19 and 20 to help clarify the understanding. The results will demonstrate that Ezekiel 38 and 39 are not the same as the hypothesized battle of Armageddon, and in fact were predictions of a battle that will never occur at all.
Introduction
In part 1, it is shown that Armageddon is really not a battle, but rather is play and counterplay by God and Satan, with people caught in the middle. This is so because it begins by God pouring out his wrath upon the people who support Babylon, causing them to reevaluate their support of Babylon, and eventually withdrawing their support. At that time, Satan tries to counter this move by sending out miracle working spirits to build support for his war against God. God's people recognize these events as signs of the approach of the coming of Jesus. They know that his coming is just around the corner.
However, there is the battle described in Ezekiel 38 and 39 which many teachers claim is the same as Armageddon. Are they right? Given the evidence that Armageddon is not a battle, but instead is about making decisions and announcing the approach of the coming of Jesus to the people of God, it seems that any comparison to Ezekiel 38 and 39 is misleading, because Ezekiel 38 and 39 are chapters in the bible about an actual battle, which Armageddon is not about. So, they really cannot be the same thing. However, to be fair, it would be wise to go through the discovery process to demonstrate that this is so.
Here is a table to outline what is found in Ezekiel 38 and 39, and Revelation 16. Revelation 19 and 20 are also included to help improve understanding of the material.
Comparison of Facts From the Table Above
Ezekiel 38 and 39 Compared to Revelation 16:12-16, Revelation 19 and 20
To answer the question about whether Ezekiel 38 and 39 are the same battle as Revelation 16:12-16, consider the following facts shown in the table above:
1.
There is a difference in when the battles occur. Ezekiel 38 and 39 are described as occurring in the "latter year", while it is clear that Revelation 16:12-16 occurs during the 6th plague, which occurs just before Jesus comes again for the 2nd time. "Latter years" of Ezekiel 38 and 39 could suggest that this is the same time as Revelation 16, but other evidence would suggest otherwise.
There is a difference in when the battles occur. Ezekiel 38 and 39 are described as occurring in the "latter year", while it is clear that Revelation 16:12-16 occurs during the 6th plague, which occurs just before Jesus comes again for the 2nd time. "Latter years" of Ezekiel 38 and 39 could suggest that this is the same time as Revelation 16, but other evidence would suggest otherwise.2.There is no battle described for Revelation 16:12-16, yet it is said that people are gathered for the battle against God. This would imply that if there is a war at all connected with Armageddon, it must occur later. The evidence would strongly suggest that there is no actual war connected with Armageddon.
There is no battle described for Revelation 16:12-16, yet it is said that people are gathered for the battle against God. This would imply that if there is a war at all connected with Armageddon, it must occur later. The evidence would strongly suggest that there is no actual war connected with Armageddon. 3.For Revelation 16:12-16, one can surmise that death for many occurs as a result of both plagues #6 and #7, but nothing is said about death as a result of either plague. It seems reasonable that death does occur as a result of the wrath of God being poured out upon the people supporting Babylon, but it does not say that this happens. Death occurs for virtually all gathered against Israel in Ezekiel 38 and 39. This is strange, for if the vision in Ezekiel 38, 39, and Revelation 16 were one and the same, it would seem that Revelation 16:12-16 should mention a lot of deaths, but nothing of the sort is mentioned. Why? Death is widespread in Revelation 19 and 20.
For Revelation 16:12-16, one can surmise that death for many occurs as a result of both plagues #6 and #7, but nothing is said about death as a result of either plague. It seems reasonable that death does occur as a result of the wrath of God being poured out upon the people supporting Babylon, but it does not say that this happens. Death occurs for virtually all gathered against Israel in Ezekiel 38 and 39. This is strange, for if the vision in Ezekiel 38, 39, and Revelation 16 were one and the same, it would seem that Revelation 16:12-16 should mention a lot of deaths, but nothing of the sort is mentioned. Why? Death is widespread in Revelation 19 and 20.4.There is a difference in the aftermath of both events. Ezekiel 38 and 39 is followed by 7 months of burial of the dead and even mentions where the dead would be buried, while Revelation 16 mentions nothing of this for plagues #6 or even #7. Ezekiel 38 and 39 are followed by birds eating the carcases of the dead, as is also true of the events mentioned in Revelation 19.
There is a difference in the aftermath of both events. Ezekiel 38 and 39 is followed by 7 months of burial of the dead and even mentions where the dead would be buried, while Revelation 16 mentions nothing of this for plagues #6 or even #7. Ezekiel 38 and 39 are followed by birds eating the carcases of the dead, as is also true of the events mentioned in Revelation 19.5.There is a difference in armaments in both events. Ezekiel 38 and 39 results in a situation where the Israelites have no need to gather wood for fires for 7 years because they are burning the wood weapons they collect off the dead from the battle. Now, it is said that this occurs in the latter days of earth's history, but this tells us that this event cannot refer to modern latter day times because of the antique weapons it describes being burned. Few armies have used wood weapons in the past several hundred years to any appreciable extent, except maybe those from some place where modern weaponry is unknown, such as the jungles of Borneo say 50 or 100 years ago. Certainly the nations mentioned as being gathered would have long ago given up wood weapons in today's world.
There is a difference in armaments in both events. Ezekiel 38 and 39 results in a situation where the Israelites have no need to gather wood for fires for 7 years because they are burning the wood weapons they collect off the dead from the battle. Now, it is said that this occurs in the latter days of earth's history, but this tells us that this event cannot refer to modern latter day times because of the antique weapons it describes being burned. Few armies have used wood weapons in the past several hundred years to any appreciable extent, except maybe those from some place where modern weaponry is unknown, such as the jungles of Borneo say 50 or 100 years ago. Certainly the nations mentioned as being gathered would have long ago given up wood weapons in today's world. In Revelation 16, it is clear that this chapter refers to events yet future, so I think it very unlikely that modern nations will revert to the use of wood weapons before the end of time. Even without fossil fuels to drive tanks, trucks, cars, airplanes, and other vehicles used in modern warfare, they still could use smaller metal weapons such as machine guns, which today have very little wood in them, if at all. Also, it seems unlikely that Israel will have to revert to the use of wood fires for heating and cooking. That is not impossible, but unlikely with today's use of fossil fuels. One or two hundred years ago this would have been much more likely.
6.Secondary results of these two events are different too. Ezekiel 38 and 39 results in the heathen knowing who God is, that he is powerful, and the Israelites will be favored by God afterwards and will not turn from him anymore. Revelation 16:12-16 has the way prepared for the coming of the kings of the east (a probable reference to the invasion of Babylon by the Persians as a symbol of what God intends to do to spiritual Babylon that exists today - invade it and destroy it).
Secondary results of these two events are different too. Ezekiel 38 and 39 results in the heathen knowing who God is, that he is powerful, and the Israelites will be favored by God afterwards and will not turn from him anymore. Revelation 16:12-16 has the way prepared for the coming of the kings of the east (a probable reference to the invasion of Babylon by the Persians as a symbol of what God intends to do to spiritual Babylon that exists today - invade it and destroy it).7.One has to remember that the 7th plague of Revelation 16 is quickly followed by the second coming of Jesus. Then, and not before, is when a battle takes place directly between the forces of evil and Jesus, and Jesus will kill the wicked. He will emerge the victor as a result of his invasion of planet earth. The righteous will go to heaven to be with him for the next 1,000 years while the judgment of the wicked is taking place. The wicked are dead during the 1,000 years while the righteous are in heaven. That means there is nobody alive on earth during that time, except for the devil and his angels. This means that there is again a contradiction between Ezekiel 38 and 39 and Revelation 16:12-16, for in Ezekiel 38 and 39, there are many people, including the heathen, remaining on earth afterwards, evidently for a long time. In Revelation 19 one can determine that there will be no humans remaining alive here on earth after the second coming of Jesus, which occurs very soon after the 7th plague.
One has to remember that the 7th plague of Revelation 16 is quickly followed by the second coming of Jesus. Then, and not before, is when a battle takes place directly between the forces of evil and Jesus, and Jesus will kill the wicked. He will emerge the victor as a result of his invasion of planet earth. The righteous will go to heaven to be with him for the next 1,000 years while the judgment of the wicked is taking place. The wicked are dead during the 1,000 years while the righteous are in heaven. That means there is nobody alive on earth during that time, except for the devil and his angels. This means that there is again a contradiction between Ezekiel 38 and 39 and Revelation 16:12-16, for in Ezekiel 38 and 39, there are many people, including the heathen, remaining on earth afterwards, evidently for a long time. In Revelation 19 one can determine that there will be no humans remaining alive here on earth after the second coming of Jesus, which occurs very soon after the 7th plague.8.There is a difference in punishment. Ezekiel 38 and 39 has fire, brimstone, pestilence (disease), rain, hailstones, blood, and the sword. In Revelation 16, plague #6 is followed by plague #7 which has earthquakes, hail, lightning and thunder. There is not a large match here. The closest thing is the lake of fire and brimstone mentioned in Revelation 19 and 20.
There is a difference in punishment. Ezekiel 38 and 39 has fire, brimstone, pestilence (disease), rain, hailstones, blood, and the sword. In Revelation 16, plague #6 is followed by plague #7 which has earthquakes, hail, lightning and thunder. There is not a large match here. The closest thing is the lake of fire and brimstone mentioned in Revelation 19 and 20.These 8 points should make it clear that Ezekiel 38 and 39 are not one and the same battle described in Revelation 16:12-16 or, even adding in plague #7 from Revelation 16, it is not synonymous with it either.
The fact is, it is not synonymous with Revelation 19 or 20. It is true that Gog and Magog appear in both Ezekiel 38 and 39 along with Revelation 20, but this does not make the events depicted one and the same. Nobody among the attacking army survives in Revelation 20, whereas in Ezekiel 38 and 39, it appears that a sixth of the people from the attacking army possibly do survive. Also, the dead are buried in Ezekiel 38 and 39, whereas in Revelation 20, the only thing left of the attacking army should be ashes - there would be nothing left to bury. The birds do eat from the corpses in Ezekiel 38 and 39, but that will not happen in Revelation 20. Also, there will be no heathen on earth after the events of Revelation 20, but there evidently are after the battle of Ezekiel 38 and 39. So Ezekiel 38 and 39 is not a battle that is synonymous with Revelation 20.
Revelation 19 would appear to be the closest match to Ezekiel 38 and 39, but it too has a problem because nobody from the wicked survive it. Also, pestilence is mentioned in Ezekiel 38 and 39, but not in Revelation 19. The time for the battles is different. Ezekiel 38 and 39 are obviously something that, had it happened, would have had to have occurred at least several hundred years ago because of the presence and use of wood weapons. Yet a study of Revelation 19 indicates this is a vision of the coming of Jesus, something that is yet future. Unless we bomb ourselves back to the stone age, it is extremely unlikely that the use of wood weapons will occur again in this modern age. So, the logical conclusion is that Ezekiel 38 and 39 is not synonymous with Revelation 19 either.
Some probably will try to claim that the wood weapons are symbolic, but that seems quite unlikely. Most of those 2 chapters appear to be quite literal. Symbols don't become fuel for literal fires, which it says the wood will be used for 7 years for fires. I suppose one could say that the fires are symbolic, but that seems quite a long stretch of the information presented in those two chapters. So, it seems extremely improbable that these weapons are symbols of something else.
What this leaves is that Ezekiel 38 and 39 is a prediction that does not match any of the chapters in Revelation under consideration. So, what are these 2 chapters in Ezekiel talking about? Will this battle ever happen? And how to explain that this battle has obviously not happened in history that we have any knowledge about?
What Is the Probable Correct Explanation of Ezekiel 38 and 39?
Prophecies are Conditional
Here is what the author believes may be the proper explanation of Ezekiel 38 and 39: To explain this, the author wishes to remind the reader of the story of Jonah in the bible. In that book, God told Jonah to go to the capital of the Assyrian kingdom, Nineveh (which was in the modern country of Iraq), and tell the inhabitants of that city that God was going to destroy that city in 40 days (literally he said it would be overthrown). This got the people's attention, and they repented of their sins. God took notice and did not destroy that city. Of course, Jonah finished his job and then went outside of the city, chose a good overlook, and waited for the judgments of God to fall upon that city. When it did not happen, he got mad because now he looked like a false prophet.
But the point the author is getting at is that this prophecy of the overthrow of Nineveh was a conditional prophecy. It certainly was not preached that way, but it factually was. Had the people not repented of their sins, you can be sure God would have kept his word and Jonah would have had quite a show to watch. Yet they did repent, so the overthrow of that city did not occur and Jonah got mad. So, sometimes God does send a prophecy, and if the conditions are met, the prophecy will come true or not, depending on the nature of the prophecy. Sometimes these prophecies will not appear to be conditional as recorded, yet they indeed are.
There are other prophecies in the bible that are conditional, whether directly stated that way or not. God himself has something to say about this idea in Jeremiah. Here are his words on the subject:
Jeremiah 18:7 - At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it;
Jeremiah 18:8 - If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.
Jeremiah 18:9 - And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it;
Jeremiah 18:10 - If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them.
Conditions Israel Had to Meet for the Prophecy to Come True
Now there are prophecies in Ezekiel about Israel that have never come to pass. Does that mean Ezekiel was a false prophet? No, it does not. There are many preachers today who will tell you that these prophecies will indeed come to pass in modern Israel because God will never fail to keep his word. These preachers fail to understand that the conditions for these prophecies were never met, so they will never occur. Now, you may ask, what were the conditions? For the answer to that, we must turn to Daniel:
Daniel 9:24 - Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.
Daniel 9:25 - Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
Daniel 9:26 - And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.
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.
This prophecy began running in 457 BC. But what began in Daniel 9:24 was "cut off" from something. What do you cut time off from (it does say that 70 weeks were cut off)? Normally you cut time off from time, not a length of rope, or money, or other physical objects. So the 70 weeks were "cut off" from a longer period of time. What is this longer time period? Most likely the 2300 days spoken of in Dan 8:14 "And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed. " because that is the vision Daniel was trying to understand when the angel came to explain things to him.
Some question that these prophetic days refer to years. Clearly this 490 year prophecy runs until just after the first coming of Jesus, so clearly these "days" refer to prophetic years. Since the 490 years are "cut off" from the 2300 days, therefore the 2300 days prophecy is symbolic of a 2300 year prophecy. The angel did repeatedly tell Daniel that "it shall be for many days" (Daniel 8:26) or "at the time of the end shall be the vision." (Daniel 8:17) in Daniel 8 and in the visions written of in Daniel 9-12, thereby indicating that the 2300 day/year prophecy reached far into the future.
Now, what shows the conditions is found in Daniel 9:24, which was quoted above. Note that it gives the people of Israel "Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy." Now, consider the answer to this question carefully: Did the people of Israel make an end of sin and bring in righteousness during this time? Jesus died in the middle of the last week of years of that time and the Jewish people rejected God by putting him to death through putting pressure on the Roman government (now please don't make the mistake of thinking that this is justification to persecute the Jewish people - what they did was a human thing to do as people everyday make the exact same mistake when they refuse to surrender their lives to God, and those who do this are of every race and nationality).
Further, after Jesus rose from death and went back to heaven, the Jewish authorities persecuted the new Christian church. The death of Stephen, one of the early Christians, probably sealed the fate of the Jewish Nation at that time is this would have been about the time of the end of the 490 year prophecy. This indicates clearly that they did not choose righteousness, but instead chose sin and rejection of God. By doing this, they failed to fulfill the conditions of the prophecy.
After that, God opened the gospel to the gentiles. Israel was no longer the chosen people they had once been because they rejected God. God chose someone else - the gentiles. This is not to say that God had rejected the nation of Israel, for he didn't, but rather they rejected him. After that, he simply opened the gospel work to the gentiles as well as the Jews.
For evidence that the gospel work was opened up to the gentiles after the death of Stephen, you can read all about it in the bible in the book of Acts, chapter 10.
The Millennium - What is going on here on earth during that time?
Where are the Saved and the Wicked During the Millennium?
One possible reason many conclude that the battle in Ezekiel 38 and 39 is synonymous with the so called battle of Armageddon is that they believe that the people of God will spend the millennium here on earth. The author disagrees with this view and here is why: The bible evidence is that when Jesus comes again as depicted in Revelation 19, everyone is destroyed except the devils and those God has saved, who then go to heaven for at least part of, if not all of, the duration of the millennium. Support for this is found in the following:
1Th 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
1Th 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
1Th 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
1Th 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
In these verses, it is clear that Jesus is not returning to the ground to remain here, but everyone will rise into the air to meet him there. Why rise into the air to meet him if you are not leaving this world? Would it not be more likely that Jesus would have everyone meet him on the ground if he was returning to remain? It is not impossible for him to have us meet him in the air and the return to the ground, but it just seems very unlikely. Now, consider this:
Joh 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
Joh 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Joh 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
These verses quoting what Jesus had to say hours before his trial and crucifixion, indicates that he was going to his Father's house to prepare a home for each of them. He further says that he would come again to meet with them to so that where he is, they can be also. Remember that when he returns, he is returning from heaven, so heaven is what he is referring to when he uses the phrase "that where I am, there ye may be also", which must be so because he had just finished saying that he was going to his Father's house. Now, if he was going to prepare a place for them, why do that if he was simply going to return to earth and spend the millennium with them? But, if he was going to take them to be with him in the capital city of the universe, it would make perfect sense, would it not, that he would have homes prepared for them? After all, they would need a place to live while there.
On the other hand, some would argue that he prepared places in the New Jerusalem and would then bring it back with him. That is possible, I suppose, but then why did he not say that in John 14? Further, in those verses in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, why wasn't it mentioned that the New Jerusalem would be returning with Jesus when he returns? And, if it was returning with him, why meet him in the air?
It seems more logical that the people God saves will return to the New Jerusalem with him for the millennium, and will return with it at the end of or near the end of the millennium. That would be entirely consistent with the ideas presented in these texts, whereas the idea the the New Jerusalem returns with Jesus or shortly after his second coming does seem to present more problems.
What Will the Saved Be Doing During the Millennium? Playing Harps on a Cloud?
What will the saved do during the millennium? It says in Rev 20:4 - 5 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshiped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
It appears that during the millennium, those who have gone to heaven to be with Jesus will reign with Jesus, and the judgment of those not saved will be given over to them. The saved will have a chance to examine the record books for themselves, which will help them realize that God has been fair to all. They will have a chance to know why their favorite uncle or aunt or cousin or friend is not in heaven. And they will have a part in deciding the final punishment of those who are not in heaven. That is an awesome task and very heavy responsibility.
What Happens After the Millennium Is Over?
At some point, probably at the end of the millennium, the New Jerusalem is brought to this earth, for it says:
Rev 20:7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
Rev 20:8 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.
Rev 20:9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
The point of this is that there will be no humans alive on earth during the millennium. They will all be dead. Then the city returns, the dead are resurrected, Satan is again free to deceive humanity so he gathers them for one last stand against God. This is the final battle, but he and all with him lose the battle and God sends fire to destroy them, once and for all. They will be ashes on the ground afterwards and will never again exist. Here is evidence for that:
Rev 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshiped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
Rev 19:21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.
Mal 4:1 For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
Mal 4:2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
Mal 4:3 And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts.
The verse below seems to indicate that sin will never arise again. God would know that because he is able to see down throughout all eternity. So, we can know that the sinners themselves who are destroyed in hell will not live again. They will cease to exist for all eternity once they are destroyed.
Nah 1:9 What do ye imagine against the LORD? he will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time.
Here is another evidence that this is so.
Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Sin causes death, but here it is saying that death itself is destroyed in hell, so that is indicating that sin will not exist again because death also will not exist again. This has to mean that sinners will never exist again either. When God puts an end to something, you can be sure it is ended.
Now, combining other lines of evidence with the evidence that no humans are left alive on earth during the millennium, it is not reasonable to sustain the idea that Ezekiel 38 and 39 are about the proposed battle of Armageddon. In Ezekiel 38 and 39, there are those who survive the battle (about 1/6 of the invading army evidently survives somewhere), and there are the Israelites. There are also heathen elsewhere in the world who will know that God is and that he is powerful. This is evidence of people continuing to live upon the earth after the battle in Ezekiel 38 and 39, unlike what happens at the second coming of Jesus. So, the mere fact that there are survivors seems to contradict the statements in Revelation 19 that the remnants will all be killed. Hence, these are predictions of different battles.
The Conclusion of the Matter
If Israel had met the conditions of Daniel 9:24, then the battle described on Ezekiel 38 and 39 would have occurred before modern times came along with the use of metal weapons, tanks, and airplanes. Israel's future would have been very different than what their history has been that we know of today. This prophecy would have occurred because Israel would have never have been dispersed by the Romans and would have continued to exist as a nation right up to modern times. But, because they failed to fulfill the conditions, this battle of Ezekiel 38 and 39 will never occur.
Hopefully, this clarifies the relationship between Ezekiel 38 and 39 and Revelation 16:12-16.
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