How about this, folks? Let's summarize the events of the book of Ezekiel, in reverse, starting from Ezekiel's grand temple. Sometimes looking at things from another angle gives a new perspective.
Ezekiel Chapters in reverse...
47: A River Flows from the Temple.
- Clearly, this is the SAME river of life flowing from the throne as described in Revelation 22:1.
- Based on Revelation, chapter 22 occurs after the "new heavens and the new earth" is made and after New Jerusalem descends.
- So this is the very end of the prophecy.
40-46: Temple Restored, Israel & Priesthood Restored, God's Glory enters the temple.
- This event must be New Jerusalem descending from heaven (with the new heaven and earth) after the old passes away (Rev 21:1)
- So the old heaven and earth must pass away just before these Ezekiel chapters
- Peter describes this "passing away" will be with fierce heat (2 Peter 3:10-18)
38-39: Gog of Magog invades regathered Israel who's living in peace in their land, but Almighty destroys Gog with fire
- Chapter 38v8 says "after many days" of Israel living in peace, after being regathered from nations, this invasion occurs...
- The Almighty will send burning sulfur, hail, rain, disease, and internal warring to destroy them.
- Chapter 39 says all of the nations will witness the punishment upon Gog & Magog as Almighty's Glory.
- It will take Israel 7 months to clean up the bodies from the land, but the nations will see Israel as holy after that.
- Revelation 20 explains "after the thousand years are complete" satan gathers Gog and Magog army...
- But "fire came down from heaven to consume them", and satan is cast into the lake of fire, followed by anyone not in the book of life
----
As I cut in here, we can see that when we sync the river of life at the end of Revelation with the river flowing from Ezekiel's temple and follow chapters in reverse, every major event described in both books matches, like puzzle pieces.
And as we continue backward, we can sync the next major event...
----
37: The Son of Man raises the valley of dry bones into the kingdom of Israel
- The whole house of Israel is raised to life and gathered from the nations (verse 21); both houses are joined under one king
- The Almighty makes a covenant of peace with restored; Ex 37:26
- Revelation 20 explains that those who were martyred for their testimony are raised to life
- They are given thrones to rule for 1000 years, while satan is imprisoned (i.e. there's a time of peace)
- So Ezekiel 37 is the long-awaited resurrection of the dead in Christ and regathering of all faithful, spoken of by Paul
35-36: Almighty promises destruction for Edom and restoration for scattered Israel
- In chapter 35, Esau/Edom claims the land and property of Israel as theirs but is cursed with constant warring
- The book of Obadiah explains that their destruction will be because of betrayal from the nations and fire from Israel
- Meanwhile, in chapter 36 scattered Israel is mocked but the Almighty says they will be vindicated and returned to their land
- Revelation 19 details the marriage supper, the Messiah descending, and then destroying the beast & false prophet with fire
- So Esau/Edom is destroyed before scattered Israel is returned to the land.
----TL; DR----
So to summarize Ezekiel's events in their proper order:
1) Edom claims Israel's land and property while the nations mock and mistreat scattered Israel
2) Messiah comes, raises the dead, and regathers Israel; destroys Edom with fire, and reclaims possession of the land
3) There is a time of peace for "many days"...this is the millennium reign.
4) Gog & Magog's massive army gathers to invade Israel while they're living in peace
5) The Almighty destroys Gog & Magog army with fire
6) The temple is restored and the Almighty's Glory enters into it
7) The river of life flows from the temple
Notice they match Revelation's events in their order:
1) Beast of the earth (false prophet) contrasted with the 144,000, then a warning of dying in Christ
2) Messiah comes, raises the dead, and regathers Israel; destroys Beast & false prophet with fire
3) The millennium reign is mentioned where martyrs are given thrones and satan is imprisoned
4) Gog & Magog's massive army gathers against the saints
5) The Almighty destroys Gog & Magog army with fire
6) New heaven & new earth is mentioned descending
7) The river of life flows from the throne
Ezekiel Chapters in reverse...
47: A River Flows from the Temple.
- Clearly, this is the SAME river of life flowing from the throne as described in Revelation 22:1.
- Based on Revelation, chapter 22 occurs after the "new heavens and the new earth" is made and after New Jerusalem descends.
- So this is the very end of the prophecy.
40-46: Temple Restored, Israel & Priesthood Restored, God's Glory enters the temple.
- This event must be New Jerusalem descending from heaven (with the new heaven and earth) after the old passes away (Rev 21:1)
- So the old heaven and earth must pass away just before these Ezekiel chapters
- Peter describes this "passing away" will be with fierce heat (2 Peter 3:10-18)
38-39: Gog of Magog invades regathered Israel who's living in peace in their land, but Almighty destroys Gog with fire
- Chapter 38v8 says "after many days" of Israel living in peace, after being regathered from nations, this invasion occurs...
- The Almighty will send burning sulfur, hail, rain, disease, and internal warring to destroy them.
- Chapter 39 says all of the nations will witness the punishment upon Gog & Magog as Almighty's Glory.
- It will take Israel 7 months to clean up the bodies from the land, but the nations will see Israel as holy after that.
- Revelation 20 explains "after the thousand years are complete" satan gathers Gog and Magog army...
- But "fire came down from heaven to consume them", and satan is cast into the lake of fire, followed by anyone not in the book of life
----
As I cut in here, we can see that when we sync the river of life at the end of Revelation with the river flowing from Ezekiel's temple and follow chapters in reverse, every major event described in both books matches, like puzzle pieces.
And as we continue backward, we can sync the next major event...
----
37: The Son of Man raises the valley of dry bones into the kingdom of Israel
- The whole house of Israel is raised to life and gathered from the nations (verse 21); both houses are joined under one king
- The Almighty makes a covenant of peace with restored; Ex 37:26
- Revelation 20 explains that those who were martyred for their testimony are raised to life
- They are given thrones to rule for 1000 years, while satan is imprisoned (i.e. there's a time of peace)
- So Ezekiel 37 is the long-awaited resurrection of the dead in Christ and regathering of all faithful, spoken of by Paul
35-36: Almighty promises destruction for Edom and restoration for scattered Israel
- In chapter 35, Esau/Edom claims the land and property of Israel as theirs but is cursed with constant warring
- The book of Obadiah explains that their destruction will be because of betrayal from the nations and fire from Israel
- Meanwhile, in chapter 36 scattered Israel is mocked but the Almighty says they will be vindicated and returned to their land
- Revelation 19 details the marriage supper, the Messiah descending, and then destroying the beast & false prophet with fire
- So Esau/Edom is destroyed before scattered Israel is returned to the land.
----TL; DR----
So to summarize Ezekiel's events in their proper order:
1) Edom claims Israel's land and property while the nations mock and mistreat scattered Israel
2) Messiah comes, raises the dead, and regathers Israel; destroys Edom with fire, and reclaims possession of the land
3) There is a time of peace for "many days"...this is the millennium reign.
4) Gog & Magog's massive army gathers to invade Israel while they're living in peace
5) The Almighty destroys Gog & Magog army with fire
6) The temple is restored and the Almighty's Glory enters into it
7) The river of life flows from the temple
Notice they match Revelation's events in their order:
1) Beast of the earth (false prophet) contrasted with the 144,000, then a warning of dying in Christ
2) Messiah comes, raises the dead, and regathers Israel; destroys Beast & false prophet with fire
3) The millennium reign is mentioned where martyrs are given thrones and satan is imprisoned
4) Gog & Magog's massive army gathers against the saints
5) The Almighty destroys Gog & Magog army with fire
6) New heaven & new earth is mentioned descending
7) The river of life flows from the throne