Christian Churches of God
No. 22z
Summary:
Gideon’s Force and the Last
Days
(Edition 2.1 19940507-19991218)
This paper examines the story of Gideon as prophecy. The meaning of the story is
unfolded with some interesting implications for today's Christianity.
Christian Churches of God
PO Box 369, WODEN ACT 2606, AUSTRALIA
E-mail: secretary@ccg.org
(Copyright  1994, 1996, 1999 Wade Cox)
(Summary by Patti Gambier edited Wade Cox)
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Summary: Gideon’s Force and the Last Days
Page 2
Gideon’s Force and the Last Days
This paper seeks to explain the story of
Gideon’s Force in the battle against the
Midianites and Amalekites, who were Baal
worshippers. It can be likened to the activities
of the Church of God against the might of the
Baal or Mystery cult system, which rules the
world in the last days.
Gideon’s battle was victorious and Israel was
restored to peace. This points to the restoration
of the Law of God and a world at peace, with
the coming of Messiah. Besides the
tremendous physical battles to be fought
before His return, there is also the spiritual
battle to be fought for the enlightenment of
peoples and the preparation of the elect for His
return.
Micah 5:3-6 presents concepts that Messiah
gives up the elect to the world system, until the
number of the elect, under persecution and
tribulation, predestined from the foundation of
the world (Eph. 1:4) and entered into the Book
of Life (Rev. 17:8) have been brought into the
Church, the Body of Christ. Then He will
return, to a devastated planet because of the
end time wars. Christ returns because of the
elect, or else no flesh would be saved alive
(Mat. 24:22 Moffatt).
The Church of God has been extant since
Pentecost 30 CE, and has never been part of
the mainstream church system, established by
Councils from Nicaea onwards.
Revelation 2 and 3 describe the Church eras,
and from Revelation 2:18 to 3:22 it shows that
only 4 eras are extant on Messiah’s return
though elements of every era are alive at His
coming. The names of the eras are descriptive
terms, and there are elements of each era in
each Church.
From the parable of the wise and foolish
virgins (Mat. 25:5,6) it is shown that all are
asleep at the end time, and it takes a watchman
to wake them. The five wise ones married
Christ on His return, and though the five
foolish were also betrothed, they won’t be part
of a marriage until the second resurrection.
The nations are warned of Messiah’s return as
found in Jeremiah 4:15.
Let us examine the story of Gideon’s Force.
Israel was in a dire situation when Gideon was
raised up as a Judge. Israel had fallen into
idolatry, and was bitterly oppressed by the
Midianites and the Amalekites – a parable for
this could be World War I when Israel (UK
and USA) was depleted of its manpower. God
Almighty raised Gideon by His Angel or
Elohim or the Angel of YHVH namely
Messiah (Judg. 6).
Gideon incurred the wrath of the Baal
worshippers round about, and all banded
together to battle against Israel to destroy it
completely. So Gideon called upon other
Israelite tribes to join him. Again we can draw
the analogy of WWI and WWII as efforts to
eliminate the English speaking peoples of
USA and Commonwealth nations, to oppress
and destroy Israel and its religion. WWIII will
go close to the fulfilment of that goal, but
Christ will return to claim His own (Mat.
24:22).
In Judges 6:36-40 Gideon tests God to identify
that God was indeed with him. It is an example
to us to understand what God requires, and to
act on it. The Church of God was tested by the
introduction of Trinitarianism into its
doctrines, and those who understood the Bible
and the development of that false doctrine,
opted out of the congregation.
So the opposing forces took up position. God
had determined to save Israel, but He set about
reducing the number of Israel’s army. This
would show that it was by His might that a
battle is won, and not by the numerical
strength of the people. He allowed the force to
be gathered – symbolic of the number of elect
called prior to Messiah’s return.
Judges chapter 7 shows how God reduced the
strength of Gideon’s 32,000 men to 300. The
lesson here is that God effectively gathered all
of His chosen congregation, but He chose not
to use all of them. They were prepared, but
after turning up for duty, they were sent home.
Summary: Summary Gideon’s Force and the Last Days
The parallel to the Church in the last days is
easy to see. The Holocaust was to eliminate
the Law of God and all Bible research in
Europe and the world, and had the support of
the Trinitarian churches of Europe. The
persecution continues to this day, e.g. at Waco
Texas in 1993, and in Rwanda, Africa. See
Website www.holocaustrevealed.org
Thus because of the outcome of WWII, the
Church was given 40 years (a generation) to
develop, and can be likened to the 40 years of
peace, under Gideon. This is the generation
that Christ referred to in Matthew 24:34. His
prophecy covered centuries into the future.
The first reduction of persons in Judges 7 was
in accordance with the Law of God (Deut.
20). It was a screening process, along the lines
“many called, but few chosen” (Mat. 20:16).
This resulted in odds of 13 to 1 in favour of the
enemy forces. This was a blow out from odds
of 4 to 1 previously. The second reduction or
selection was done by the way in which the
assembled men approached water. The water
symbolises the Holy Spirit, and exemplifies
the way in which to approach God. Those who
worship God in a discriminating way are able
to be used. The worship must be towards the
only True God, the Father (Lk. 4:8; Jn. 4:2124; Phil. 3:3; Rev. 22:9).
Now the odds are 450 to 1 in favour of the
enemy. Just the same odds Elijah faced when
he took on the 450 priests of Baal, the Black
Cassocked Ones, the Khemarim of the Bible.
As Elijah destroyed them so also will Gideon’s
force in the last days destroy the Baal system
of this world.
Malachi 4:4-6 enjoins us to remember the law
of Moses, which is God’s law imparted to
Moses at Sinai by the Angel of YHVH. God
also promises that Elijah the prophet will be
sent before the great and terrible day of the
LORD. He will be sent to restore all things.
Despite any efforts on the part of the Church
of God, the final restoration will not be
complete until the nexus of the law is restored
by Elijah. At present it rains on the just and the
unjust, but with the restoration of the law of
God, unless there is obedience to that Law,
Page 3
and to the keeping of God’s Holy Days, no
rain will fall on that nation and the plagues of
Egypt will rest on it (Zech. 14:16-19).
There is only a small remnant of the Church of
God who is faithful to the Law and the
Testimony of Jesus Christ in the last days
(Rev. 12:17; 14:12; 22:14) and they, like
Gideon’s small force will join battle with the
Baal system. In Judges 7 Gideon’s 300 began
the battle at the beginning of the middle watch,
10 p.m. In other words, just before midnight,
when the Bridegroom (Christ) returns, as in
the parable of the 10 virgins.
Gideon’s force won the battle, and in Judges 8
we see that 2 cities refused to help Gideon, and
were punished. This prefigured the elements of
the Church of God in the last days, some of
which had known God, but fallen to idolatrous
practices, and others who refused help on the
grounds that they were not under any
authority. They also will suffer punishment.
Gideon was asked to rule over Israel, after the
victory, but he declined adamantly. But
Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you,
nor shall my son rule over you; the LORD
shall rule over you” (Judg. 8:23). Cromwell
echoed these sentiments – he refused kingship
and said “Christ, not man, is King”.
The warning to the nations in the last days
comes from Danite Ephraim (Jer. 4:15-17).
The end result of the war is desolation (Jer.
4:22-27). That time is now at hand, the
warning is being beamed all over the earth
under the direction of the tribe of Joseph as
Danite Ephraim. Each of that small force will
be a light and a trumpet to Israel and the
world.
The Church will be strengthened and purified
for the task and God will achieve His will.
Persecution and battle face the small force, but
God’s word is their sustenance. “They will
fight against you, But they shall not prevail
against you. For I am with you” says the
LORD, “to deliver you” (Jer. 1:19).