A Scriptural Consideration Entry

“In the final part of the days I will bring you against my land so that the nations may know me when I sanctify myself through you before their eyes, O Gog.” — Ezekiel 38:16, NWT

The winds were gathering—not over the hills of Judah, nor upon the plains of Megiddo, but over the entire earth. Silently at first, then rumbling like distant thunder, the forces amassed, unseen by human eyes but foretold in perfect detail. A storm, driven not by weather but by will—a coalition enraged, deluded into thinking they could crush those who bear Jehovah’s name.

The prophet Ezekiel saw it. So did John. Two men, centuries apart, glimpsed the same terrifying moment—the final lunge of a rebellious world against the people Jehovah calls His own. In vision, Ezekiel beheld Gog of Magog, a name that represents a united front of opposition, summoned not by their own cunning, but by Jehovah Himself—“I will bring you against my land.”

This detail strikes the heart: Jehovah allows the attack. Why? So that the nations may know Him. Not just by name, but by unmistakable demonstration. The moment of seeming defeat will be the moment of His sanctification.

So what about us?

We know this feeling too—the tightening pressure, the whispers of opposition growing louder. In our own lives, we may face this in miniature: a job lost because of integrity, a family torn by religious rejection, a court case over preaching rights, or laws that quietly paint us as wrongdoers. Each test, each surge of hostility, is like a foreshadowing of that final assault.

And yet, we stand. Not by might. Not by clever words. But by loyalty rooted in trust: Jehovah sees. Jehovah acts.

When the storm finally breaks—when Gog launches his attack—it will not be because God’s people failed. It will be because they succeeded. Their global unity, their unbreakable peace, their refusal to bow to the image of the beast—all of it will provoke the rage of a dying world. But their endurance will also provoke something far greater: the zeal of Jehovah.

He will not be silent.

Ezekiel records His reaction: “In my great rage I will speak… I will call for a sword against him… I will bring my judgment.” (Ezek. 38:18, 21, 22) And then, John sees the Rider on the white horse—Faithful and True. His name is the Word of God. He does not come alone. Behind Him ride the armies of heaven—glorious, blameless, unstoppable. (Rev. 19:11-14)

And who stands beside Him? The 144,000—those bought from among mankind, now kings and priests, sharing in the victory of their King. (Rev. 17:14) Together, they destroy the enemy coalition completely. Not one weapon, not one voice of rebellion remains. All opposition is silenced, and the name of Jehovah is sanctified forever.

We don’t face this day with dread, but with resolve. Because we know the outcome. Jehovah has already seen it. He has already appointed His Defender. The world may gather against His people, but they gather only to witness their own undoing.

“In the final part of the days I will bring you against my land… so that the nations may know me.”

He is not only a shield—He is a sanctuary. He sanctifies His name not just through the conflict, but for the sake of those who love Him. And when the last echo of war fades, His people will still be standing—lifted, protected, vindicated.

So take heart. If you feel surrounded, misjudged, or outnumbered—He knows. The storm may gather, but so does His fury. And when the time comes, you won’t be alone.

He sees. He will act. And when He does, His name will shine through you—brighter than lightning from east to west.

Based on The Watchtower, May 2022, “You Know These Things Beforehand,” paragraphs 9–10