An article today on Haaretz.com describes the fact that Israel and the United States are very worried about the current movement is an alignment of certain nations against Israel. I find this to be of particular interest and importance myself as one who studies Bible Prophecy and watches for current events to unfold and align themselves with what the Bible has said would happen in the Last Days.
The following are excerpts from today’s article on Haaretz.com, written by Anshel Pfeffer:
“The United States and Israel are watching with concern the growing military cooperation among Turkey, China and Iran, especially following a joint Turkish-Chinese air-force exercise last week.
Until two years ago Israel was Turkey’s main partner for air combat training.
In 2001 the Turkish air force inaugurated a tactical air warfare center in Konya with Israel and the United States. Until 2008 the Israel Air Force was a frequent guest in Turkey’s sky and a regular participant in the country’s big annual exercise, Anatolian Eagle.
In the wake of Operation “Cast Lead” and the subsequent deterioration of bilateral relations Turkey last year revoked Israel’s participation in the maneuvers. The United States decided not to take part in the exercise this year because of that decision. A number of other NATO members followed suit.
Turkey replaced the Israel Air Force with its Chinese counterpart. China sent Sukhoi SU-27 fighter aircraft and pilots to train with Turkey’s F-16 fighters. In the past these exercises were held in relatively openness, but last week they were held covertly, with only a brief report appearing in the Turkish media after the exercise.
The West has been watching the changes in the Chinese army’s structure, and especially the long-range naval and aerial exercises that indicate Beijing’s intention to acquire the ability to conduct warfare far from China’s borders.
The Chinese are also aggressively pursuing cyber warfare capabilities, employing some 60,000 hackers at it, according to foreign intelligence reports.
The Obama administration protested Turkey’s military cooperation with Iran after it was reported that the Chinese fighter planes were sent to Turkey via Pakistan and Iran. The developing ties among Turkey, Iran and China are also reflected in weapons deals, with Iran buying from China mainly missile technology.
The C-802 antiship missile fired by Hezbollah in the Second Lebanon War at the Israel Navy’s Hanit missile boat was manufactured in Iran with Chinese technology. China has also developed a surface-to-surface rocket-launching system together with Turkey. China’s Prime Minister Wen Jiabao is due to visit Ankara this month and to sign several bilateral cooperation agreements.
Turkey and China are also involved in projects to build oil pipelines from Iran.
Another reason for the close relations between the two states is that China, as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, has been in the forefront of opposition to imposing harsher sanctions on Iran in connection to the Islamic state’s nuclear program.
Today we are witness to many incredible Last Day events that are unfolding right before our eyes. The vigorousness of the peace process in Israel is great cause for excitement among those who watch for the return of Jesus for His church before the beginning of the seven year Tribulation Period predicted in the Bible.
There have been many unsuccessful attempts at making peace between Israel and the surrounding nations in the past. The latest attempt may very well be one more failure or it may lead the the successful peace place that the angel Gabriel told Daniel would occur in the last days, in Daniel chapter 9.
As we see nations align themselves as foretold by another amazing Biblical prophecy in Ezekiel chapter 38, there is equal cause for excitement. I will bring some of the key points of Ezekiel’s predictions in this study for your consideration and contemplation.
We also know from the Bible that what will bring the Antichrist on the scene and begin the 7 year Tribulation Period are two things.
1. The removal of Jesus Church from the earth, and her power to hold back evil through the Holy Spirit.
2. The necessity of a peace plan in Israel at the beginning of the Tribulation Period according to Revelation chapter 6.
2 Thessalonians 2:7-8: What Restrains Antichrist—The Holy Spirit/Church.
7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way.
8 And then the lawless one will be revealed.
Revelation 6:1-2: The Beginning of The Tribulation Period.
1 As I watched, the Lamb broke the first of the seven seals on the scroll. Then one of the four living beings called out with a voice that sounded like thunder, “Come!”
2 I looked up and saw a white horse. Its rider carried a bow, and a crown was placed on his head. He rode out to win many battles and gain the victory.
Daniel 9:27: The 70th week of Daniel, the beginning of the Tribulation by peace.
27 Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; (“Shabua” In Hebrew, a “Week Of Years”) But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate.”
Matthew 24:15: The middle of the 7 years called “The Great Tribulation”.
15 “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand),
21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.
The current tensions in Israel are perhaps the worst that have ever been present in our lifetime. If the middle east does not obtain a plan for peace soon there may be a nuclear war in that region in which millions of people could perish.
We know from Paul’s description in 1 Thessalonians chapter 4, that Jesus will remove His people, His Church, just prior to the introduction of this peace plan in an event described as “The Rapture of the Church”.
2 Thessalonians 2:3-8: Introduction of the antichrist, the church removed
3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, NT:646 “Apostasia” (ap-os-tas-ee’-ah); “A defection from the truth”
4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things?
6 And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time.
7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way.
8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.
Daniel 9: 26-27: Israel will reject Jesus as her Messiah and Crucify Him or “Cut Him Off”. These verse describe the beginning of the seven year Tribulation and the breaking of that plan. 3 ½ years into the peace plan the antichrist will command the world to worship him as God.
Daniel 9:26-27
26 “And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; And the people of the prince who is to come Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, And till the end of the war desolations are determined.
27 Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate.” NKJV
Prior to 1948 the possibility that Israel could again be a nation in their original land, seemed impossible because Israel as a nation had not existed for nearly 1900 years.
Verse 26 refers to an event that happened in 70 A. D. Titus sacked the city of Jerusalem and set fire and burned the temple and the Jews lost their country.
Matthew 24:1-2: Jesus predicts the destruction of the temple…
1 Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple.
2 And Jesus said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.” NKJV
In fulfillment of Jesus statement that “Not one stone shall be left upon another”, As the temple was set to fire, all of the gold that lined the inside of the temple melted and ran into the cracks of the blocks of stone that the temple was built from. In their greed, the Roman soldiers pried up each stone, and rolled them over the edge of the temple mount.
Over 2 million Jews were killed in this siege, the rest of Israel’s citizens were disbursed throughout the entire world. For the next 1900 years Israel as a nation did not exist. Her people were literally scattered all “Over the face of the earth.”
Miraculously on May 1, 1948, in fulfillment of Ezekiel Chapters 36 and 37, the Lord brought the Jewish people back to their former land. No nation or people who had lost their national identity and country had ever once again come back into their own land and existed again as the nation of Israel has.
Paul wrote of this supernatural conversion of Israel from a rejection of Jesus Christ, to a complete acceptance of Him as Messiah, in Romans chapter 11.
Romans 11:25-26
25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.
26 And so all Israel will be saved,
The opening of the eyes of the Jewish nation and their acceptance of Jesus as their Messiah will happen at the 3 ½ year point of the Great Tribulation as the antichrist is pursuing Israel as they flee Jerusalem when the antichrist commands all the world to worship him as their God. Jesus described this event in Luke chapter 21:
Luke 21:21-24
21 Then let those in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her.
22 For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
23 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people.
24 And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
The “Times of Gentiles” will be fulfilled when the last person comes to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ just before the seven year Tribulation begins. Then the Church will be taken out of the Earth and the antichrist will be introduced through a tremendous need for a “Peace Plan In Israel”.
It is very possible that the events that are happening in Israel at the present time, could lead to the seven year peace plan described in the Bible and the removal of Jesus Church from the earth at the Rapture. Jesus said this:
Luke 21:20-22
20 “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near.
21 Then let those in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her.
22 For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
Luke 21:28
28 Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”
Luke 21:36
36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Notice that Jesus said that “We should pray that we may be counted worthy to escape all of these things, the events of the seven year tribulation, and to stand before Him…”
Jesus has been describing the events of the Tribulation period, then he tells us to pray that we will be found worthy to escape these things. We are “made worthy” by accepting Jesus as our Savior.
In order for Jesus to come and remove us who are trusting in Him from the earth, there will be first be a need for a peace plan in Israel. Someone who has an answer for the kinds of problems that we are seeing in the middle east. To date, no leader has been able to make lasting peace, much less a peace plan for seven years.
One of two things could happen in this current situation in Israel…
1. All of the turmoil in Israel will settle down and return to some degree of normalcy.
2. These are the days and the times that all of the prophecies have pointed to and soon a plan for peace will be announced that is to last for seven years.
Jesus is about to remove all those who belong to Him from the earth. This event will not happen until either just before or just after the seven year plan is announced.
The antichrist will introduce his solution to all of the turmoil in Israel by way of a peace plan that will involve “Many Nations”.
Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39 are a description of an attack on Israel that will also occur during the last days, also just prior to or just after Jesus removes His church from the earth. Surprisingly—we see all of the key players in position now in the Middle East, ready to fulfill Ezekiel 38 and 39.
Many people do not understand that the attack on Israel is not the same event that has commonly been called “Armageddon”. They are clearly two separate events happening in two distinct times, at two different places.
1. The events of Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39 are clearly declared to happen in the “Last Days”, therefore, they have not been fulfilled at any time previously in history.
2. This battle described in Ezekiel chapter 38 and 39, is not “Armageddon”, this event will happen just as Jesus is returning to the Earth with His Church, after the seven year Tribulation and Great tribulation period are concluded.
3. The battle of Armageddon will be a world wide war, involving many nations of the world, with the western powers against the eastern powers. The powers of the east, will come to fight against Antichrist and his western powers.
4. In the book of Daniel, the antichrist is leading his western powers into Africa for the purpose of conquer ring Africa. Aas he does, he will hear of trouble in the East and out of the North.
5. The Euphrates river will supernaturally be dried up to allow the kings of the east to come together against the antichrist and his western powers as they all meet in the “Valley of Megiddo” for this final battle called “Armageddon”.
6. This entire war will be interrupted by the return of Jesus, where He will destroy the entire armies of East and West by the Words of His Mouth.
7. The battle described in Ezekiel 38 and 39 is a very limited battle, with the goal of taking Israel only. The battle will take place in Israel only.
8. The nations that come to attack Israel in Ezekiel 38 and 39 will be the Islamic nations and Russia.
9. Armageddon involves the nations of the world and is located in the valley of Megiddo, in the “Valley of the Passengers” which is east of the Dead sea. The, time and placement of the these 2 battles are different.
As we go through the verses of Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39, I will translate the Hebrew into English to gain the correct translation of which nations are described as coming to attack Israel.
Ezekiel 38:1-2
1 Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
2 “Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him,
1. Notice that “Magog” is the land, “Gog” is the “Prince of this land”.
2. These lands of “Magog” include “Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal”.
3. Historians have identified the land of Magog as “The Scythians”.
4. They lived in the areas north of the Caucus Mountains between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea.
5. Today we know this area as the southern territory of Russia. The people who live there are largely Moslem.
6. “Meshech” and “Tubal” have been thought to be the ancient “Tibareni”, and “Moschi”, which know to us today as “Moscow” and “Tobolsk”
7. This means that this confederacy of people who are descending from the North to Attack Israel are, coming from the modern day southern portion of Russia.
Ezekiel 38:3-4
3 and say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal.
4 I will turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and lead you out, with all your army, horses, and horsemen, all splendidly clothed, a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords.
Notice that the Lord is the One that is drawing out “Gog” to come down and attack Israel. When Russia comes down over the mountains of Israel it will be the Lord who has drawn them there.
It is interesting that in the past history of the people of this area north of Israel, they have tried to wipe out Israel before as a nation and a people.
Now we arrive at the nations that will be coming with Russia to attack Israel:
Ezekiel 38:5
5 Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; NKJV
Persia today we know as Iran. They have a mission to take back Jerusalem for the Religion of Islam.
Ethiopia and Libya are a part of the communist nations that are mostly Muslim. In recent history we know that Moamar Khadafi has made it clear that his mission to destroy the Jews of Israel.
Ezekiel 38:6
6 Gomer and all its troops; the house of Togarmah from the far north and all its troops–many people are with you.
Gomer was the area just north of Turkey. Again, a Moslem nation who would like nothing better than to push all of the Jews of Israel in the Mediterranean Sea.
Togarmah, also in the area of the present day Turkey. A nation and people who are Moslem and who are openly against the nation of Israel.
We have Russia descending over the mountains north of Israel with a confederacy of Moslem nations in what is apparently a “Holy Jihad” against Israel, “A Holy war…”
Then there are surprisingly a number of Moslem nations that are not listed here. More important than the nations that Ezekiel 38 mentions are those nations that should be a part of this list but are conspicuously omitted.
Notice that Egypt is not named as coming with this confederacy of Moslem nations coming against Israel.
Also Syria, another strong Muslim nation outspoken against Israel is surprisingly not mentioned. But also. Presently Syria has been trying to negotiate peace with Israel to regain some of their former possession; the Golan Heights.
Iraq is also not mentioned in Ezekiel’s list of nations, why? One would expect that this nation would clearly want Israel destroyed. In the United States conflict with Iraq we greatly diminished Iraq’s ability to attack anything after the Gulf war and years following the Gulf war.
Jordan is not mentioned in this list. The Bible describes Jordan as a nation that the antichrist has no power over when he comes to rule the world. For some reason Jordan has chosen to not to be involved in the conflict between the Moslem nations and Israel, why? This is interesting because Jordan is where the Rock city of Petra is located, the location where many of those who study this prophecy believe that the Lord will protect and shelter Israel for the last 3 ½ years of the Great Tribulation, after she flees Jerusalem at the “abomination of desolation”.
There is an very interesting verse of scripture in the book of Isaiah where the Lord asks Moab, which is the present day nation of Jordan, to “Let my outcasts dwell with you…”
Isaiah 16:4
4 Let My outcasts dwell with you, O Moab; Be a shelter to them from the face of the spoiler. For the extortioner is at an end, Devastation ceases, The oppressors are consumed out of the land.
Recently, the King of Jordan has stated that he does not want to be involved in the dispute between Israel and the Palestinians.
I someone were going to put together a coalition of Moslem nations to attack Israel, they undoubtedly would have chosen all of these that are not mentioned in this list of Ezekiel chapter 38. The fact that the Holy Spirit knew in advance to omit them from the list is stunning proof that the Bible was not written by just men, but inspired by the Holy Spirit.
The nations that are listed in Ezekiel 38 as coming to attack Israel, are in place and ready to do so as you are reading this short study.
Ezekiel 38:7
7 “Prepare yourself and be ready, you and all your companies that are gathered about you; and be a guard for them.
At any moment, the Lord will draw these in this list of nations to come down upon Israel and attack her, just as Ezekiel foretold.
Ezekiel 38:8-9
8 After many days you will be visited. In the latter years you will come into the land of those brought back from the sword and gathered from many people on the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate; they were brought out of the nations, and now all of them dwell safely.
9 You will ascend, coming like a storm, covering the land like a cloud, you and all your troops and many peoples with you.”
Before May of 1948 and the rebirth of Israel as a nation, this prophecy was not possible. Beginning in Ezekiel 36 the Lord began to predict that in the “Last Days” Israel as a nation would begin to blossom and bud forth as a fruitful and productive nation again.
Ezekiel 36:8-10
8 But you, O mountains of Israel, you shall shoot forth your branches and yield your fruit to My people Israel, for they are about to come.
9 For indeed I am for you, and I will turn to you, and you shall be tilled and sown.
10 I will multiply men upon you, all the house of Israel, all of it; and the cities shall be inhabited and the ruins rebuilt.
Today Israel is the 4th largest supplier of the worlds fruits and Vegetables. A country that is about the size of the state of New Jersey has become one of the world’s leading producers of fruits vegetables and flowers. This happened in fulfillment of Ezekiel 36, which is the preparation for the fulfillment of Ezekiel 38, in our lifetime.
Ezekiel 38:9-11
9 You will ascend, coming like a storm, covering the land like a cloud, you and all your troops and many peoples with you.”
10 ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “On that day it shall come to pass that thoughts will arise in your mind, and you will make an evil plan:
11 You will say, ‘I will go up against a land of unwalled villages; I will go to a peaceful people, who dwell confidently, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates’
In this invasion force against Israel there will be a huge number of personnel, this is not a small army but a major invasion force!
They will come up against “A land of unwalled villages”. In Israel today the only walled portion of the city is the old city of Jerusalem where the walls were built by Solomon.
The largest part of Jerusalem is outside of this original walled section and has no walls whatsoever around most of Jerusalem that stretches for miles.
Ezekiel 38:12
12 to take plunder and to take booty, to stretch out your hand against the waste places that are again inhabited, and against a people gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and goods, who dwell in the midst of the land.
Here in verse 12 we see the reason that Russia is coming down to attack Israel:
“To take the Valuable resources” of Israel; their vast food supplies, warm water ports, military technology and supplies. One of Russia’s greatest current problems is that they just do not have enough food supplies to feed all of their people.
As small as Israel is the Lord has mad them extremely productive at producing food, cattle and food supplies.
Ezekiel 38:13
13 Sheba, Dedan, the merchants of Tarshish, and all their young lions will say to you, ‘Have you come to take plunder? Have you gathered your army to take booty, to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods, to take great plunder?’
Sheba and Dedan are the current Saudi Arabia. Here they are portrayed as speaking up for Israel during the attack and asking the question: “Why are you come to take their resources?”
Because Saudi Arabia has been favorable to Israel and the United States it is possible that they are fearful that they will be invaded next by this tremendous army. The Oil reserves and the financial riches alone would make Saudi Arabia a very valuable conquest.
It has appeared that Saddam Hussein has always wanted to take Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. He would have surely continued on to take Saudi Arabia had it not been for the American forces stopping him before he got there.
One of the major reasons that the United States military stopped Iraq and Saddam Hussein was that we knew that if Saddam took Saudi Arabia our oil supply would be cut off. The United States cannot survive without the oil that comes from Saudi Arabia. Any disruption to the current oil supply that the U.S. receives from Saudi Arabia would drastically affect the United States economy. This was clearly a major reason that the United States went into Iraq in the first place.
It is quite well known in the Persian Gulf area that “The one that controls the Oil, controls the worlds economy.”
For recent years Iran, also called “Persia”, one of those nations that will come with Russia to attack Israel, has been training their troops for a land invasion of Saudi Arabia from the Sea.
Here as Iran comes with Russia in this massive invasion force, it is possible that they will be attempting to do what Saddam Hussein could not do, conquer Saudi Arabia’s for her rich oil supply.
This may be the reason that Saudi Arabia is listed in Ezekiel’s prophecy objecting to this invasion force of Moslem nations with Russia against Israel.
There are varying opinions as to who the nation is here in verse 13 described as “Tarshish”. Some say that it is Spain, the most credible sources seem to indicate that this is England. This places an interesting light on this verse. Due to the fact that verse 13 also speaks of the “Young Lions of Tarshish”.
The United States was originally established as an English Colony and therefore could be the “Young lions of Tarshish” listed here in Ezekiel’s prophecy. If the Young Lions of Tarshish are in fact the United States, then it makes perfect sense that we would be concerned about an invasion of Saudi Arabia because it will mean the loss of much of our oil supplies.
The shocking aspect of the Young Lions being the U.S. is that Ezekiel’s prophecy indicates that this objection is nothing more than an objection to the invasion force against Israel and Saudi Arabia. How is it possible that the greatest military power in the world would do nothing more than object to an invasion of two of our closest allies?
When the Rapture takes place perhaps 1/3 of the people in the United States will be trusting in Jesus as their Savior, perhaps even many our federal and state government leaders are believers. What would be the effect of a mass disappearance of millions of people in the United States, including many of those in leadership positions of our Government?
It very well may be that as this invasion force descends down from the North against Israel, that the United States will have been so weakened by the loss of so many important people that we no longer have the ability to do anything about the invasion force…
Perhaps we are just like Saudi Arabia the U.S. simply asks: “Why have you come to take Israel? “Is this your object?” It almost sounds like an appeal to the United Nations to sanction these nations for invading Israel.
Ezekiel’s prophecy does not say that we are going to be moving any of our military forces. Only that there will be a verbal objection. Perhaps the Filing of documents with the security counsel of the United Nations asking for a condemnation of these actions of aggression against Israel.
Ezekiel 38:14-15
14 “Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say to Gog, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “On that day when My people Israel dwell safely, will you not know it?
15 Then you will come from your place out of the far north, you and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great company and a mighty army.
If you look at the following map in this study, you will see that the area known as “Magog” is directly north of Israel. The capitol of Russia is Moscow, directly north of Jerusalem!
Ezekiel 39:1-3
1 “And you, son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal;
2 and I will turn you around and lead you on, and leave but the sixth part of you bringing you up from the far north, and bring you against the mountains of Israel.
3 Then I will knock the bow out of your left hand, and cause the arrows to fall out of your right hand.
Ezekiel describes the fact that 5 out of 6 men in the invading force will be destroyed by the Lord and that the bloodshed and casualties of this battle will be unimaginable.
It is interesting that in the Hebrew Language the word “Arrows” is “Hayts or “A Piercer”. These could be airborne Missiles! It is possible that Russia will launch their missiles at Israel and the Lord will knock them out of the sky.
During The gulf war the United States gave Israel the “Patriot Anti-Missile defense system” that has the capacity to knock a missile out of the sky before it gets to it’s target. Perhaps this is the kind of system that Israel will be using. This technology did not exist 12 years ago. Isn’t it amazing that this technology exists today in the last days that the Bible predicts these things will happen during.
Ezekiel 39:8-15
8 Surely it is coming, and it shall be done,” says the Lord GOD. “This is the day of which I have spoken.
This “Day in which the Lord has spoken” is a day specially prepared for the final days of the earth.
There are certain events that must happen in order for this day to be a possibility.
I want to suggest to you that the events happening right now in Israel have made it possible for all of the things spoken of in Ezekiel 38 and 39 to happen.
1. Israel must be back in their own land again…
2. There must be turmoil in Israel that is not resolvable by conventional means.
3. This will make it possible for the antichrist to propose a peace plan that will be so amazing that it will make peace between the Palestinians and the Jews and give them the right to rebuild their Temple in Jerusalem.
4. This peace plan will be proposed to last for 7 years.
5. When it is signed it will begin the 7 year tribulation period.
6. The events of Ezekiel 38 and 39 are certain to happen during this time.
I believe that it is possible that Before the peace plan is signed, those who believe in Jesus will be removed from the earth during the Rapture.
In Chapter 39, Ezekiel makes further stunning predictions of this invasion of Israel:
Ezekiel 39
9 “Then those who dwell in the cities of Israel will go out and set on fire and burn the weapons, both the shields and bucklers, the bows and arrows, the javelins and spears; and they will make fires with them for seven years.
This verse is a further indication that this attack from the North by Russia, along with the Moslem nations, must happen before Jesus returns…
Ezekiel 39
10 They will not take wood from the field nor cut down any from the forests, because they will make fires with the weapons; and they will plunder those who plundered them, and pillage those who pillaged them,” says the Lord GOD.
11 “It will come to pass in that day that I will give Gog a burial place there in Israel, the valley of those who pass by east of the sea; and it will obstruct travelers, because there they will bury Gog and all his multitude. Therefore they will call it the Valley of Hamon Gog.
12 For seven months the house of Israel will be burying them, in order to cleanse the land.
13 Indeed all the people of the land will be burying them, and they will gain renown for it on the day that I am glorified,” says the Lord GOD.
In previous wars, Israel has gained from her attackers, the implements and weapons of those wars. Recently when Israel moved into southern Lebanon to create a “buffer zone” they discovered hidden in the caves along the border, many varieties of Russian equipment, tanks, mortars, as well as numerous kinds of weapons.
In fact it took Israel more than three months to remove all of the weapons found in these cave. This vast cache of weapons was carried in huge semi trucks, some twenty six of them, working day and night for three months to transfer these weapons.
Israel put this vast supply of weaponry on display for a time. All of these weapons were supplied by Russia and had been moved into southern Lebanon and were stored in caves in preparation for an invasion of Israel. Here again, as Ezekiel 39 describes, Israel is going to profit from the spoils of this war.
Ezekiel 39
14 They will set apart men regularly employed, with the help of a search party, to pass through the land and bury those bodies remaining on the ground, in order to cleanse it. At the end of seven months they will make a search.
15 The search party will pass through the land; and whenever anyone sees a man’s bone, he shall set up a marker by it, till the buriers have buried it in the Valley of Hamon Gog.
Verse 14 speaks of “Men who will be hired to search for and bury the dead who are killed by the Lord in this battle.”
The Hebrew word for “Regularly employed” is: “Tamiyd”, meaning specially trained. These are Men that are “Specially trained” or “Hired Professionals” to bury the dead. Why Professionals? If these bodies contain nuclear or biological agents they will require special protective clothing, instruments and training to handle and remove their remains.
In other words, they will be searching for seven months for the bodies that have been destroyed by the hand of God throughout the area. This could be an indication that nuclear weapons or biological weapons will be used in the attack of Israel.
In the book of Zechariah chapter 14, there is an interesting couple of verses about Israel being restored to her own land again and an attack in the later years by Israel’s enemies as they seek to destroy the nation and her people.
The Lord will fight for Israel and He will strike all of the people that have fought against Jerusalem. The enemies that attack Israel; “Their flesh shall consume away while they stand on their feet. Their eyes will be consumed in their sockets, and their tongues shall consume away in their mouth.”
It sounds like death from a “Neutron Bomb”. A heat generated that is so intense that the flesh burns off of the skeletons before they fall to the ground.
Zechariah 14:12
12 And this shall be the plague with which the LORD will strike all the people who fought against Jerusalem:
Their flesh shall dissolve while they stand on their feet, Their eyes shall dissolve in their sockets, And their tongues shall dissolve in their mouths.
It is for certain that as we read in the news, articles such as this one today of the gathering of nations described in Ezekiel’s prophecy of chapters 38 and 39, we realize how important Bible Prophecy is and that Jesus coming for those who love Him is near.
Rob Robinson
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