The Coming War in the Middle East
There is growing concern of impending war once again in the Middle East, since the flotilla incident of this past week. Now, another incident involving the naval blockade Israel has established, has the world holding its collective breath.
Turkey has vowed to break the blockade, further ratcheting up the stakes in this disturbing battle of the wills. All of this on the heels of growing global pressure upon Israel to declare their nuclear arsenal, and commit to a nuclear free region it for the sake of peace.
These are difficult times for Israel, as her staunchest ally, the US, is showing signs of becoming a turncoat. This uncomfortable new relationship has Israel believing she must stand alone in an increasingly hostile world.
Iran is developing nuclear weapons, and defying the world’s insistence they desist, and cooperate with UN policies and resolutions. Russia and Turkey are developing the strongest tie they have had in modern times, and Europe is growing more and more pro-Islam.
What do all these developments have in common, and where are these developments leading the world? Israel is the common denominator in all of these developing news items.
As to where these developments might be leading the nations of the world: there seems to be a growing consensus among Christians who study Bible prophecy, these current developments may be leading the world to the next war in the middle east which the Bible describes quite precisely in Ezekiel chapters 38,39.
For the benefit of our readers who may not be familiar with the passage just mentioned in the Old Testament book of Ezekiel, let me provide a brief overview of the passage.
God instructed his prophet Ezekiel to write about a future war that would involve many nations. These nations would move together against the nation of Israel. Ezekiel writes this war would occur in the last days (Ezk. 38:8) and would be a world-changing event.
Ezekiel provides a list of nations that will be involved in this war against Israel. Now this is where things get interesting in light of the current events playing out in the Middle East right now.
The most widely accepted understanding of Gog and Magog in this passage is that Gog is a title for a ruler, and Magog is modern day Russia. Some are thinking since the current events between Turkey and Israel, and Turkey declaring it will break the blockade then the nation to the north might be Turkey.
Turkey is certainly involved in the war of Ezekiel 38, 39, but it does not meet the requirements to be Magog. It is important that we remain hermeneutically, historically, and geographically disciplined as we study the Scriptures, or else we will arrive at false conclusions and misled those who look to us for spiritual instruction.
Why is this war fought? The biblical record indicates two important factors involved in the onset of this war. First, God puts hooks in the jaws of Magog or Russia. (Ezek. 38:4)
This seems to indicate, Russia is forced to invade Israel out of desperation. It is no secret the Russians hate the Jews. But Russia is not foolish. No one has attacked Israel since her rebirth and won.
What produces the desperation is not revealed, so we can only speculate. Chernobyl proved to be a terrible disaster that affected Russia’s ability to grow grain. The fall of communism further depleted the nation’s resources, and capacity to care for its citizens.
Today, Russia’s economy like many in the west is teetering on the brink of collapse. Russia desperately wants to be great again. The only way Russia can be great again is to rebuild its military and return to an expansionist international policy.
Though she is tiny as nations go, Israel has all the right stuff to make Russia great again. Israel possesses great mineral wealth capabilities, and owns a long coastline to the Mediterranean Sea.
It seems the stage is now being set, for the international community to dangle greatness before the Russian bear, and he will reluctantly lead the international coalition of nations against Israel much as did the US in Desert Storm.
The world is growing tired of Israel’s insistence upon absolute sovereignty. After all, even the US has brokered some of her sovereignty for the sake of globalism. Israel’s defiance coupled with millennia long hatred for the Jewish people in general, has brought the world to the point of drastic measures to bring Israel to her knees.
However, the coming war in the Middle East will not be a war that originates in the human mind; rather it is completely the work of God almighty himself. It is God, who puts the hook in the jaws of Russia. God puts the thought in mind to attack. (Ezek. 38: 3, 4, 10, 16)
Today, there are many people, who do not understand how or why God works in the ways he does with humanity. They wonder why bad things happen to good people. Ezekiel 38 is a classic passage that illustrates how God’s mind works.
The very thought of a Russian led coalition of nations moving in armed conflict against Israel is Frightening beyond imagination if you are a Jew, or an Israeli citizen. There will be many Jews, who will believe God has forsaken them when they hear of the invasion as it begins to descend upon the tiny nation.
But this war was not contrived in some military strategy session; it originated in the mind of God. God is not absent, he is not distracted, and he has not forsaken his chosen people even though this massive military power is moving to destroy tiny Israel.
Though it defies appearances, God is actually working on behalf of his chosen people, by leading Israel’s enemies to their own demise. God intends for this war to validate his care of his chosen people Israel, and remind them to repent and return to Him.
The military genius and capabilities of Israel are well known and documented. Since her rebirth as a nation on May 14, 1948, Israel has fought numerous wars, and has won them all.
None of those victories was won with such flair, and amazement, as the Six Day War in June 1967. Yet, as amazing as the six-day war was, it is not to be the highlight of Israel’s long and lustrous military history.
According to Ezekiel 38, 39 the entire world will be involved to some extent; either directly, or as victimized by the repercussions of the war itself. According to Ezekiel, Saudi Arabia and her western allies will see the tensions mounting, the military posturing, and staging for war, and seek to defuse the situation through diplomacy. (38:13)
Fears grow as they watch Russia enter into new alliances with Turkey, Iran, and other Arab states. Germany, already known as a terror cell hotbed will come into play perhaps through a terror event protesting Israel’s unwillingness to engage in diplomacy with the Russian led coalition.
The growing fears, drive up oil prices, and virtually all other sectors of the economy, are adversely affected, as tensions mount. The world’s leaders know all too well, the international community can ill afford a war in the Middle East; yet they seem powerless to prevent it.
Why? Why is this war fought at all? (Ezek. 38:8-12
8 After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them.
9 Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee.
10 Thus saith the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought:
11 And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates,
12 To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land. “
God declares through his prophet Ezekiel, the purpose and intent of this war is to invade and spoil the nation of Israel. There is no provocation by the Jewish state. The raw motive is greed, and self-interest on the part of Russia, and hatred of Israel on the part of Russia’s host of allies.
Many in Israel today believe Ezekiel 37 portrays the rebirth of the nation of Israel in her homeland. Ezekiel has a vision where he sees a vast valley of dried bones, brittle, and disassociated. As Ezekiel watches this field of dried bones, the bones begin to come together, and sinew begins to grow on the bones, then flesh, and also blood, until the bones live again.
Ironically, some Jews who believe May 14, 1948 began the fulfillment of Ezekiel’s vision are some of Israel’s top leaders today. This being the mindset of the higher Ievels of the Israeli government, they are not fearful of Russia’s power, or of Arab wrath. Though Obama protests, Israel will not bow to the will of the UN nor any other body.
The reason is simple. They have read Ezekiel 37-39, and beyond. They know the outcome before the first shot of the next war is fired.
The world is filled with people who believe the Bible to be an out-dated, ancient book that has no place in the modern world except perhaps as ancient literature.
This is not a position held by some of the most important people in the world today. Interest and belief in the Bible’s prophecies has continually increased over the past 25 years. Virtually, all of the world’s leaders have made comments on end of days issues and topics whether they believe in them or not.
Ironically, some of the key players in the Middle East very much believe in the ancient prophecies regarding the end of days. Iran’s president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad actually believes he was born to bring in the Islamic end of days.
Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is a believer in the Old Testament prophecies, some believe he is a messianic Jew, and some have even speculated he may be a secret believer in Jesus Christ.
There is growing interest within Israel to rebuild the Jewish Temple, which according to the book of Revelation will be built sometime in the future. This Jewish interest in building a new temple is bitterly opposed by the Palestinians and Arabs all over the world.
The Bible does not tell us how long this war runs before it ends. It does provide graphic details of the fierce effects of this war on the world, especially the enemies of Israel.
9 Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land,
thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee.
We all know how storms begin. Clouds form in a formerly blue sky. As the clouds begin to cover the sky, they darken gradually. Most storm cells develop off in the distance, yet we can see them build in intensity as they move in our direction.
There will be a gradual darkening of the day skies, and thunder will be heard rumbling in the distance. Occasionally, we will see distant lighting. These things signal an approaching storm.
It is quite possible the rumblings we are hearing now from Iran, Turkey, Russian, Israel, Europe, and the US are the precursors of the soon coming war in the Middle East. The polarization and posturing going on around the world, demonstrate to all of us the intensity of this coming war.
No one knows how long this staging and posturing will continue. We cannot see at this moment exactly what event will shatter the tense peace currently in place. It is very possible, the event yesterday, a Turkish ship boarded by Israeli military, has already cast the die and the war has begun even before the all out invasion begins.
We do know this will be the bloodiest Israeli war in modern times. God will fight for Israel. (Ezek. 38: 20 chapter 39:6) What I am about to write will surely be laughed at and mocked by every non-believer on this small planet.
In fact, if it were not stated so emphatically in the Scriptures, I would not believe it either. But it is here: it is written right here in black and white.
1 Therefore, thou son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal:
2 And I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee, and will cause thee to come up from the north parts, and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel:
3 And I will smite thy bow out of thy left hand, and will cause thine arrows to fall out of thy right hand.
4 Thou shalt fall upon the mountains of Israel, thou, and all thy bands, and the people that is with thee: I will give thee unto the ravenous birds of every sort, and to the beasts of the field to be devoured.
5 Thou shalt fall upon the open field: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD.
6 And I will send a fire on Magog, and among them that dwell carelessly in the isles: and they shall know that I am the LORD.
7 So will I make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel; and I will not let them pollute my holy name any more: and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel.
8 Behold, it is come, and it is done, saith the Lord GOD; this is the day whereof I have spoken.
9 And they that dwell in the cities of Israel shall go forth, and shall set on fire and burn the weapons, both the shields and the bucklers, the bows and the arrows, and the handstaves, and the spears, and they shall burn them with fire seven years:
10 So that they shall take no wood out of the field, neither cut down any out of the forests; for they shall burn the weapons with fire: and they shall spoil those that spoiled them, and rob those that robbed them, saith the Lord GOD.
11 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will give unto Gog a place there of graves in Israel, the valley of the passengers on the east of the sea: and it shall stop the noses of the passengers: and there shall they bury Gog and all his multitude: and they shall call it The valley of Hamongog.
Jehovah declares to Russia, “I will leave but the sixth part of thee.” (39:2) this means 5/6th of the Russian lead coalition force will be destroyed, wiped out!
What is even more amazing is the manner in which this amazing defeat happens. Israel is a great military power, but she is certainly no match for the might of the Russian military machine, and Arab armies. God makes it clear, He will fight for Israel. (39:1-6)
The next war in the Middle East will be fought and won by God on behalf of his chosen people Israel. God’s intervention in this war will send a message to the entire world, God is here, and He is active in this world.
There is More:
The war of Ezekiel 38, 39 has always intrigued Bible students. One of the most intriguing elements in these chapters is the continual mention that the world will know the Lord has intervened. (38:23; 39: 6, 7, 22, 28)
Christian scholars believe the current dispensation (operating system) of God with humanity is grace through faith. The war of Ezekiel 38, 39 seems to remove the possibility of faith in the sense the world will now know emphatically there is a God in heaven, and he is to be reckoned with.
It appears that from this war forward in time, Israel will know God is indeed on the throne, and her place of blessing remains. This will prompt Jews in amazing numbers to turn to God in repentance.
What I am getting to here is that it seems to be an event beyond the dispensation of Grace through faith. If it is indeed, beyond the current dispensation, then the rapture event seems imminent.
Caution, Caution:
There are a few things here to keep us from knowing with any degree of certainty whether the rapture event is near: First, we do not yet know if current events are in fact, the beginnings of the war of Ezekiel 38, 39. These events may well be only stage props being moved about before the next act begins.
Second, we do not know for sure the current events will lead to war. Rhetoric has been hot before, and tensions have mounted only to be defused. So, we must not jump to conclusions hastily.
Third, there is a real possibility that the events of Revelation 18 may occur prior to the war of Ezekiel 38, 39. Obviously, the gentile nations are teetering on the brink of chaos economically. Just this week Fox Business Channel as the question: “Is the World Broke?”
So, there are a lot of variables, and unknowns still before us. Yet, it is vital that we study these passages carefully, and keep our eyes open as world events move us closer and closer to our Lord’s return to this earth.
This is not a good time to be an unbeliever. It is not a good time to be disassociated with world events. Jesus instructed us to “watch and pray.” He wants us observant, and also prayerful.
This is a good time for people all over the world to find a Bible and begin reading it again. Listen with your heart as God speaks through the pages of his word to you. The Bible is not a book one can ignore without eternal peril.
It’s not the same as reading a newspaper or a top best-selling novel. Reading the Bible requires faith in the divine Author, and a hunger and thirst for truth. The Bible is not the easiest book to read, but it is the most important book you will ever read.
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