We are warned of a day when “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. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city. .” (Rev.20:7-9) Before considering the nature of the battle, it might be well to consider the location.
The camp of the saints is throughout the world. Believers are sojourning in Africa, China, the Philippines, and . . . Only the Chief Shepherd can see them all. The word “camp” suggests a central location. This was the case when Israel made their forty year passage from Egypt to Canaan. However the nature of the Holy Nation has changed. It is not sequestered to an earthly national identity and geographical location. We get a glimpse of the absence of boundaries when Jesus spoke to the Samaritan woman; “. . .Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.” (John 4:21-23) Spirit and truth define the perimeters of the camp.
The beloved city is pointed out:
Gal. 4:26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
Heb. 12:22 But ye are come unto mount Sion (KJV), and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels. . .
Rev. 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Such a city cannot be materially surrounded, just as the camp of the saints have no central location on earth. But the spiritual conflict can come to a point where hope for that heavenly city will arrive at the breaking point, thus a type of surrounding or cutting off.
What circumstances would foment such despair? Surely doubt and despair must be the steely thrust of Gog and Magog. Undoubtedly, the attack can come/is coming in many forms. Despair doesn’t just come with the threat of bloodshed, it also comes with sweet words of “peace and safety”; an imaginary hope based on what we would like the world to be, rather than what will be. The illusion might be found in any number of social trends: globalism, humanism, hedonism, etc. Even more disturbing are religious trends: Commercialized Christianity, the notion (with lots of diagrams on glossy paper!) of Jesus back in Jerusalem ruling the world, and people trying to wed the Kingdom of Heaven with earthly politics. These among other things contribute to doubt and despair. After all, “Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. .” (IICor.11:14) Even with war and bloodshed, the real battle has to do with holding on to faith, hope, and love.
Our anchor is the knowledge of the Judgment Day. It is the final thing for this world. This is for all to see and understand. The One who has entered into the very presence of the Father shall return. It won’t be to make a nice place for us here. At His return, there will be no more repentance, there will be no man lifting his hand against another, there will be no more blasphemy. The Lord is coming. He is coming quickly. “. . . and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.” (Rev.20:9)
We still have time to surrender.