Can you not see by comparing the text of Ezekiel 39:17-20 with the text of Revelation 19:17-18, that it is talking about the same event ?
Let me give you a long version... first, let go back to Matthew, the secret chambers refer to that concealed. It is the same Greek word that is translated "closet" elsewhere. It is depicting a concealed room where one would store things out of sight, such as clothes, tools, goods or provisions. Not unlike the pantry or closet you or I might have today that conceals our possessions. In this context it is just illustrating where he might be concealed from sight. For example, typically as the word is used in Matthew 6:6:
Matthew 6:6
- "But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly."
That word translated "closet" is the exact same word that is translated secret chamber in Matthew 24:26, because it signifies where you might go to be concealed or not seen (a secret place). Therefore, when the Lord speaks of Christ charged with being in secret chambers, He is talking about false Christians claiming that Christ is there with them, but He is hidden so you don't see Him. It is Christ's usual cryptic language illustrating this time of tribulation where for the "faithful" saints, Christ is hard to find in the world.
Matthew 24:26
- "Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not."
In other words, "if you don't see Christ, don't go there expecting Him" just because someone said He's there in their church. Christ is not hidden. The context of this passage is of a time where the faithful Christians (Two Witnesses) are hated for their strict views, persecuted and reviled as legalistic, and the Church has become apostatized where false Christs and prophets abound. Here is when people are telling them that Christ is here and there among them,
even though they can't or don't see Him. Then don't go forth. Much like today where people will tell you that the Churches are filled with the Holy Spirit, and though the Word is not faithfully kept there, Christ is there
concealed because that's His Church. Christ is saying, don't believe it.
Matthew 24:23-25
- "Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.
- For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
- Behold, I have told you before."
Most people think Matthew 24:26 is telling them that there will be a time when a bunch of people will claim to actually be Christ
and deceive many. Many false Christs doesn't mean many people claiming to actually be Christ. That "should be" ridiculous to serious Christians, because some lunatics claiming that they are Christ are
not going to deceive many. At best a few gullible folk. But Christ is speaking of a much more dastardly, insidious and effective deception. A time when false Christians full of deceit and transforming themselves so that people will "believe" that they were the anointed apostles of Christ (2Co 11:13-15), tell them theirs was Christ's Church. His body. They believe that Christ is among them through the FALSE prophets and christs, even though "you," the Elect, clearly cannot see Him. Well, Christ is
warning us in cryptic language, if they claim he is in the desert, we are not to believe them. For the desert is a dry and thirsty ground without water. You will not find water of gospel in fallen church. And if they claim he is in the "secret chambers" or (in other words) is concealed among them,
believe it not! For if Christ is hidden, He is hidden
to them that believe not. Christ is saying if you don't see Him there, He isn't really there, for Christ is not hidden to you. If you see lawlessness or abominations, in the church,
that's what's there. If you see abomination stand in the Holy Place where Christ should stand, then flee to the "Mountain Retreat", the Kingdom Refuge found only in God's holy Spiritual mountain. His people are secured in that refuge, while the unfaithful will remain in spiritual fornication claiming, He is there out of sight. And Christ continues in this context. Pay close attention how the birds are gathered together...
Matthew 24:27-29
- "For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
- For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.
- Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:"
Lightning is often a synonym for God's judgment. And it's not the literal Sun going dark, nor the Moon darkened or turning to blood, nor are physical stars falling to this earth (as if they could,
and be a SIGN), but
spiritually God's light has
gone out, and the blood of the prophets is required! The restraint of iniquity has been taken out of the way where it (Matthew 24:12) abounds. Why would some listen to those claiming Christ is still within the dead Church? Think about it. It is BECAUSE they are deceived, being unfaithful and unrepentant. They call themselves the body of Christ, they have a name that lives, but they are dead. Bottom line, Christ is not hidden, so that
if you don't see Him, don't believe those who claim that Christ is still quietly among them winking at their sins. For where you find the
carcass (dead body) is where you will find God's judgment
of eagles gathered together unto these Kings of the earth. This is where the birds that fly in the midst of heaven! Remember heaven is the kingdom of heaven, the congregation! Not literal heaven.
Revelation 19:17-19
- "And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
- That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.
- And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army."
That speaks of
God's judgment upon the dead body, the
fallen great city, that
great Harlot, Babylon the Great, that shall rise no more. Christ is not there anymore, so that when people claim He is, and you don't see Him,
believe it not! For the time has come when he who retrain, has been taken out of the midst (2nd Thessalonians 2:7). And Christ are removing his Elect OUT of fallen church and use them as the "eagles", meaning they will prophesy judgment against unfaithful church from standing afar off! That does not mean we will going to eat the bodies of dead kings, captains, mighty men, horses, etc. Christ is INDEED COMING and the judgment of the unfaithful church is taking place but He won't be coming down visible into the air
until the hour of her judgment is finished! Then the last trump finally blow! Selah!
