And they advanced over the breadth of the earth and encircled the camp of the holy ones and the beloved city. But fire came down out of heaven and devoured them.

HOW AND WHY THEY MAKE THEIR ATTACK

What do these Gog-and-Magog-like “nations” attack? They cannot reach God in heaven to attack his sovereignty. No, they attack the “holy city.” This is the New Jerusalem. However, this “city,” too, is heavenly, so they cannot literally attack it. But this “city” has, during the thousand years, brought about certain effects, good, righteous effects on earth. The Devil-gathered “nations” want to destroy these effects and thereby to efface God’s sovereignty from the earth, turning all mankind against it.

The prophecy says that these rebellious “nations” will encircle the “camp of the holy ones and the beloved city.” God loves the New Jerusalem, the heavenly city, the name of which is written upon the 144,000 joint heirs and kingly associates of Christ. There are also “holy ones” on earth that love this “city,” namely, those of restored mankind who keep their integrity through this all-deciding test. These are not in the “city” in heaven, but are on earth, in the “camp,” as in a war camp outside a city attacked by enemy warriors. The earthly seat of government representing the heavenly “city” among the “holy ones” during the millennium has been made up of the “princes.” These have been the visible representatives of the heavenly governing body.​—Ps. 45:16; Isa. 32:1, 2.

The “nations” come together for “war” against the holy ones and the beloved city. Is this a war using nuclear weapons or other sophisticated means of destruction? No, for earth’s inhabitants will not have stockpiled such weapons or have learned such war anymore. (Isa. 2:2-4) It will be a war of deceit, misleading propaganda, appeals to selfishness in disloyalty to the Universal Sovereign.

How could such a thing succeed in gaining adherents among people who had lived under the righteous Messianic Kingdom government during the thousand years and who had obediently progressed to perfection? Just as Satan’s effort did with perfect Adam and Eve. Though perfect, they exercised their moral freedom in making a wrong decision. They did not maintain loyalty to God’s sovereignty but let themselves entertain wrong desire, which brought forth the fruitage of sin and death.​—Jas. 1:13-15.

Those who choose to side against God’s sovereignty when Satan is loosed had realized, while they were yet under the Messianic government, that they needed the benefits of Christ’s priesthood and the application of the atonement sacrifice to get rid of the sin and imperfection that was in them. If they had not been wholly willing and obedient, really genuine, the King, Priest and Judge Jesus Christ would have been hesitant to turn them over to the final test. So they are perfect. But, just as it was presented to Eve, so the Devil will make it appear that here is opportunity now to step out on their own, to decide for themselves what is right and wrong. They will be induced to feel that, with their perfection, and with the Messianic Kingdom government no longer over them, they should be allowed to govern themselves as they please. They will strike out, as Adam and Eve did, for independence.

As the “holy ones” stand firm for Jehovah’s sovereignty, desiring it to continue over them forever, God, through Christ, will act against the rebels. Fire will come down out of heaven and devour them.