The book of Ezekiel may be divided into two parts. The first part, chapters 1 through 24, represents Ezekiel's ministry prior to the Temple’s destruction in 586 bc. In this section, he warned the Israelites of their need to repent in order to avoid judgment. Ezekiel’s vision gave a graphic description of God’s glory leaving the Temple and nation as it ascended to Heaven from Mount Olivet. God could not have been clearer when He demonstrated the consequences of Israel’s ongoing disobedience to Him. In the second portion of Ezekiel, chapters 25 to 48, God offers the Babylonian captives comfort and certain hope for the future salvation and restoration of their nation of Israel.  This hope is well summarized in the context of the chapters that come immediately before and after Ezekiel’s vision of the battle of Gog/Magog found in Ezekiel 38 and 39. Notice the chapters surrounding this vision:

Ezekiel 36 and 37 introduce the hope of the promised restoration of Israel as God’s people and nation while Ezekiel 40-43 portray the restoration of the Temple and the LORD’s return to dwell with His people following the Tribulation. Thus the context places the battle of Gog/Magog during this crucial time.