Welcome to the Mountain
I hope you are all having a splendid morning. Thank you for joining us as we read Ezekiel 38–40.

I want to start with a correlation that struck me:
“Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor.” — Matthew 4:8, NIV
This is tempting Jesus by Satan. But when I read Ezekiel 40:2, I saw a divine contrast:
“In visions of God he took me to the land of Israel and set me on a very high mountain, on whose south side were some buildings that looked like a city.” — Ezekiel 40:2, NIV
Satan offers dominion. God offers vision. One is counterfeit. The other is eternal.
The Tree Stand and the View
Years ago, my son and I would hunt with bows. We’d head to the White Mountains, Greens Peak, or the Mogollon Rim in Northern Arizona to hunt turkey, deer, elk. Because I’m disabled, we started with ground blinds. But the animals were still able to see us.

So we tried something new. I bought a tree stand. My son nailed steps to a pine tree, and I climbed up, trying to pivot onto the stand. It didn’t work. Later, we tried using a winch mounted on my truck to lift me into the tree. This did not thrill my wife, because she believed she would soon be a widow.

But here’s the point: people go to extremes to gain a better vantage point. We want to see more, understand more, anticipate what’s coming. Yet God sees everything—including our future. And in Ezekiel’s vision, He shows the prophet what’s ahead.
Gog, Magog, and the Battle to Come
Ezekiel 38–39 describes a battle between Gog of Magog and Israel. It’s a northern invasion, echoed in Revelation as part of Armageddon (Revelation 20:7–9). The aftermath includes a seven-year cleanup of weapons and bodies (Ezekiel 39:9–10), a sign of total victory and divine judgment.
From Destruction to Restoration
But this vision isn’t just about destruction. Jerusalem had already fallen. Ezekiel had been in exile for 25 years (Ezekiel 40:1). What God shows him is a view of restoration—a new temple, a new order, and a renewed people.

God promises to pour out His Spirit (Ezekiel 39:29), fulfilled at Pentecost (Acts 2:1–4). From that moment, we no longer needed a priest to mediate. We could approach the Lord, who now dwells within each believer (Hebrews 4:16).
The Reversal of Sacrifice
In Ezekiel 39:15–18, we read of animals feasting on the fallen—a reversal of the sacrificial system. God no longer desires ritual offerings. He wants our hearts.
“A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart… for the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” — Luke 6:45

The only thing that matters is faith expressed through love. We’re not saved by works—but the Spirit within us compels us to act out of love for the Savior.
The True Vantage Point
We all have an innate need to gain a better vantage point. But if you want to see clearly, seek Jesus. He will indwell you and show you that your future isn’t next week or twenty years from now. Everything here is brief and temporary. Your future is forever—and if you trust in the Lord, it will be glorious.
Tomorrow, we will read Ezekiel 41-44.