Our task here is to understand God's prophecy given through the prophet Ezekiel 650 years before Christ. We will attempt to relate this prophecy to current world events and trends which are now setting the stage for this dramatic event of the "latter days" of this age. In 1973, after the Israeli's had beaten the Arab coalition for the 4th time since becoming a nation in 1948, Israel's general Moshe Dyan stated "the next war will not be with the Arabs, but will be fought against Russia."
Moshe Dyan possibly foresaw the events unveiled in chapters 38 and 39 of Ezekiel including these words God directs to Gog, the Russian Commander:
"And come from your place out of the uttermost parts of the North, you and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great host, a mightly army; you will come upon my people Israel like a cloud covering the land. In the latter days I will bring you against my land , that the nations may know me, when through you, O Gog, I will vindicate my holiness before their eyes."
It is important to realize that this war is not the same as the end time battle of Armagedon which ushers in the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ; but rather an event which will precede, or perhaps begin, the 7 years of tribulation ( the 70th Week of Daniel) . To fully understand Ezekiel's prophecy we must first establish who the peoples are that compose the Northern Confederacy. Let's begin by reading Chapter 38 - verses 1-4:
"The word of the lord came to me (saying): Son of man, set your face toward Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief Prince of Meschech and Tubal, and prophecy against him and say, thus saith the Lord God: Behold, I am against you, o Gog, chief Prince of Meschech and Tubal. I will turn you about and put hooks into you jaws, and I will bring you forth, and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed in full armour, a great company, all of them with buckler and shield, wielding swords;"
Gog is the commander of the Northern Confederacy and is head of the "land of Magog", he is the chief Prince of Meschech and Tubal. Magog, Mescheech, and Tubal were grandsons of Noah, (see Genesis chapter 10) whose tribes settled in the "uttermost north", in the region of what in now Russia. Today's spelling of the two capitals of the former soviet union, Moscow and Tubolsk, are derivatives of the Bible names.
Verses 5-6:
"Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; Gomer and all his horses; Togarmah from the uttermost parts of the North with all his horses - many people are with you."
Persia refers to modern day Iran whose name was changed in 1936. Until the hostage crisis in the early 1980's Iran was a friend and ally of the U.S. However, before the coming invasion Iran will align itself with Russia, or, at least be with Russia when she attacks Israel; so, we can look for Russia to become more friendly toward Iraq and/or Iran. Iraq, who is currently being supplied massive weapons by Russia has the economic strength that the Russians desperately need as they suffer from the effects of the fall of communism and the attempts at creating an open market.. Whatever the imputus, the result will be same: Iran and Iraq (Persia) will be part of the Russia invasion upon the Middle East, particularly the nation of Israel.
Libya and Ethiopia were both pro-American in the early 70's before the hand of God reshuffled the nations to bring them also in line with prophecy. Today, they, too, are anti- Israel, anti-American, and pro-Soviet. Col. Ghadafy has financed some of the world's most infamous terrorists. Libya even supplies weapons to the Palestinian Liberation Organization which openly calls for the destruction of Israel.
Gomer and Togarmah refer to the Warsaw Pact nations as these descendants of Noah settled in what is today the area of the east Germany, Poland, and the area near the Black Sea. These nations, also, are recent puppets of Moscow and harbor thousands of nuclear weapons that are now being controlled by unsteady factions. Please understand that the tearing down of the Berlin wall was greatly symbolic of the decline of communism, it does not in itself destroy the strong ideologies that have indoctinated countless Eastern Europeans (and for that matter many other regions of the world).
These nations mentioned above shall compose the invading forces to come against Israel. Psalms 83: Verses 3-4 express their goals:
"They lay crafty plans against thy people; they consult together against thy protected ones; They say, ‘come, let us wipe them out as a nation; let the name of Israel be remembered no more.'"
Verse 11 gives us an idea as to when this invasion will accour. It will be after Israel is made secure, after peace has come, after they dwell safety "in unwalled villages". Thus, it is yet to come. The camp David accords were an attempt at peace but Israel does not rest in safety from the constant threat of war and terrorism. The soon to be revealed antichrist will offer "peace and safety". Indeed, he will be the one who finalizes the formal peace agreement in the process now being undertaken. This will prove to be a promise that he will later go back on after 3 ½ years, or, during the middle of the tribulation.
As we studied last week Israel has been regathered as a nation and longs for peace. But when she accepts the false peace offered by the anti-christ those here on earth might well remember the words of Paul in Thessalonians 5:3:
When Will Gog Attack?"
Verses 7-11 of Ezekiel chapter 38 gives us further description of the preparation for battle. Again God is speaking to Gog (the Russia Commander):
"Be ready and keep ready, you and all the hosts that are assembled about you, and be a guard for them. After many days you will be mustered; in the later years you will go against the land that is restored from war, the land where people were gathered from many nations upon the mountains of Israel, which had been a continual waste; It's people were brought out from the nations and now dwell securely, all of them. You will advance, coming on like a storm, you will be like a cloud covering the land, you and all your hordes and many peoples with you. Thus saith the Lord God: on that day thoughts will come into your mind, and you will devise an evil scheme and say I will go up against the land of unwalled villages; I will fall upon the quiet people who dwell securely, all of them dwelling without walls and having no bars or gates."
"for when they shall say ‘peace and safety' sudden destruction cometh upon them (Israel) as travail upon a woman with child and they shall not escape."The Spoils and Pruninghooks
Let's continue with verses 12-13 of Ezekiel: "...to seize spoil and carry off plunder; to assail the waste places which are now inhabited, and the people who were gathered from the nations, who have gotten cattle and goods, who dwell at the center of the earth. Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish and all its villages will say to you, ‘have you come to seize spoil? Have you assembled your hosts to carry off plunder, to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to seize a great spoil?'"
Russia has it's eye on the great spoil of the Middle East... oil!! For several years Russia has been importing oil in order to supply their great military machine. Beyond that they also realize the great strategic advantage of conquering the vast oil fields which are the life line to all western industrial nations including the U.S. 70% of the world's oil passes through the strait of Hormutz in the Persian Gulf. To control this would be to stop production of goods and the very lifeline of all the western industrial nations of Europe and America.
Finally, control of the mideast would give strategic control of the center of the world. The result of cutting off the Arab oil lifeline to the European countries would be disasterous for the antichrist kingdom out of Europe as they have little in the way of other energy sources. God tells us in Daniel Chapter 12 that when this great northern army begins it's push toward Jerusalem, the antichrist will turn his full attention toward this development (Dan. 11:44).
Now, keep in mind that the anti-christ will arise out of the Euopean nations which compose the European Common Market. These nations are a from of the revived Roman Empire of the last days. The antichrist will want to secure peace in the mideast to head off Russia's intention to take over the area. In the book of Daniel, the Bible speaks of the last great world empire which will arise out of the nations during the last days of history. The last empire to arise is the revived form of the Roman Empire. (Refer to message #6 - "The Rise and Fall of the World's Great Empires") The last great world empire will be composed of 10 nations and the antichrist kingdom will subdue three of the original 10 nations in his guest of power (Dan. 7:7-8).
Besides the fact that Russia needs oil imports she also has very little "hard currency" with which to buy and the OPEC oil nations do not recognize her credit as good investment. The World Monetary Fund, along with large contributions from other industrial nations, mainly the United States, has kept Russia from collapse and utter starvation in the wake of the communist breakdown. However, there is reluctance to further this aide considering that the country shows little sign of being able to make the necessary adjustments to instill a new economic system more favorable to Western economic thought. Internal corruption, always a problem from within the government as well as from within the very heart of comunism has depleted much of the national wealth. The lack of control over the nations wealth has allowed much to be taken from the national archives and placed in western banks for a corrupt few. Meanwhile, the Russian people are becoming hungry. It is noteworthy that any previous nation in history that has ever had a conglomerate of weapons never failed to use them, especially when faced with a dire alternative.
Another "pruning hook" which is drawing Russia into the Middle East is the vast amount of untapped minerals present in the Dead Sea. It has been said that the Dead Sea contains multiple trillions of dollars worth of natural resources in the form of minerals. God is directing his questions to Gog, Russia, in Ezekiel 38: verse 13 when He asks "Have you come to seize a spoil? Have you assembled your hosts to carry off plunder, to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to seize a great spoil!"
Let's now continue with Ezekiel's prophecy, verse 14-17:
"Therefore, son of man, prophesy, and say to Gog, thus says the Lord God: On that day when my people Israel are dwelling securely, you will bestir yourself and come from your place out of the uttermost parts of the north, you and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great host, a mighty army; you will come up against my people Israel, like a cloud to cover the land. In the latter days I will bring you against my land, that the nations may know me, when through you, O Gog, I vindicate my holiness before their eyes. Thus saith the Lord God: Are ye whom I spoke of in former days by my servants, the prophets of Israel, who in those days prophesied for years that I would bring you against them?"
Results of the War
So far, His word has revealed the preparation of Russia and her allies advance on the mideast and Israel. Now we will begin to see the results of Russia's great strategic mistake. Remember God has his hand in the affairs of Israel. Since 1948, the wars fought by Israel against great odds have been won by the Jews not because they are physically more capable of fighting, nor is it the result of superior technology, but because they are protected by the hand of God. Again, against the most dramatic odds Israel, the size of Massachuttes, will be spared the wrath of Russia and her allies as the following verses explain. Don't ever underestimate the awesome power of the God of this universe.
"But on that day, when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, says the Lord God, my wrath will be aroused for in my jealously and in my blazing wrath I declare, on that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel; the fishes of the sea, and the birds of the air, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep on the ground, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall quake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the cliffs shall fall, and every wall shall tumble to the ground. I will summon every kind of terror against Gog, says the Lord God; every man's sword will be against his brother. With pestilence and bloodshed I will enter into judgement with him; and I will rain upon him and his hordes and the many peoples that are with him, torrential rains and hailstones, fire and brimstone. So, I will show my greatness and my holiness and make myself known in the eyes of many nations. Then they will know that I am the Lord. And you, son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal; and I will turn you about and drive you forward, and bring you up from the uttermost parts of the north, and lead you against the mountains of Israel; then I will strike your bow from your left hand, and will make your arrows drop out of your right hand. You shall fall upon the mountains of Israel, you and all your hordes and the peoples that are with you; I will give you to birds of prey of every sort and to the wild beasts to be devoured. You shall fall in the open field; for I have spoken, says the Lord God. I will send fire on Magog and on those who dwell securely in the coastlands; and they shall know that I am the Lord."
Some Bible scholars believe that Russia's destruction will be the results of nuclear weapons; however, others believe, and so do I that it will be a supernatural act of God, an act by an almighty God every bit as incredible as His protection of Moses and the Israelites by rolling back the Red Sea. Regardless of the details, the outcome will be the same - the destruction of Russia and her allies and the hordes of Moslem invaders.
The fact that Russia initiates this invasion necessitates a first strike on the U.S., because we are the protectorate of Israel in this world. This is complicated by the fact stated earlier that the antichrist will also initiate a peace covenant with Israel. Russia would seem to have to strike the U.S. in order to neutralize us to allow them to advance on the mideast. This leaves the anti-christ, who at this time has been gathering his strength and power, as the one capable of rising to world dominion and power which he will do. Remember, Israel has been revived physically but not yet spiritually, at this time. The results of Russia's invasion will cause many in the world to recognize God as their Lord, the Holy one in Israel. Verses 7-8, chapter 39 speak of this:
"And my holy name I will make known in the midst of my people Israel; and I will not let my Holy name be profaned anymore; and the nations shall know that I am the Lord, the Holy One in Israel. Behold, it is coming and it will be brought about says the Lord God. That is the day of which I have spoken."
This prophecy is very clear and very graphic and needs little explanation. The results are devastating to Russia which seems to be justice on an atheistic nation which totally shuns God. The King James Version of the Bible verse 2 finalizes Russia's fate: "And I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee..."
Before we end this lesson I want to help you understand some things that are not taught in our schools which relate to our studies. They are not taught because God no longer is in our school system - He has been replaced by man's belief that he can solve his own problems through science, technology and other humanist beliefs apart from God. Pray that we will reinstate prayer in our schools and put God back into our lives for without Him our nation will not prevail. Pray that we will abolish aborton, the systematic doing away with life - life that God himself created. Pray we will reverse our trend toward acceptance of homosexuality and those things that war against the soul of man.
For those who might make fun at the belief that the end of this age is near I offer the following words from 2 Tim. 3:1-7. Please listen carefully and compare to the way things are in your school or workplace and in your world about you right now!! We are truly a part of the "last days".
"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, having no power over their passions, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof; from such things turn away.....ever learning and never coming to knowledge."
Another problem we all come across in this world is the constant input of unbelievers. This is very simply satan again using every means possible to pull kids away away from their parents, away from God, and into the things of this world. Peter 3:3-4 shows that God understands this:
"Knowing this first that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts saying ‘Where is the promise of his coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.'"
These people are blinded and do not have the understanding God gives those who want it - those who sincerely desire it. Instead, they choose to go the way of the world and they shall suffer the gravest conscequences. Eternity is a long time to experience death and God's wrath. The narrow path offers much more in the hope of life eternal. Ask him for strength to resist, to be different, to obtain a greater reward than those meaningless, temporary, futile things that are those things apart from God.
I speak to you as a friend, as one genuinely concerned for your welfare, as one who can understand where some are headed; and, out of love, I ask you to trust in God with your individual problems, and come to know the One, who can make all things right. Trust in Jesus in whom all things are renewed.
Most young people today are very inexperienced in this world. They often have have been sheltered to the point they have no realization of what is going on outside of their immediate environment. Few realize the hunger of millions, the deaths of many more caused by war and disease; nor does anyone of us know the full extent to which Satan has brainwashed the world with the deadly "lie" of humanism. It is very sad that so many do not even care. That, in itself, is a sign of the times and of the end of this age.
Outside the U.S. there is a world lacking the security that we now have. Give praise to God that we are as fortunate as we are and remember we have what we have because God gave it to us! Be thankful for it and show appreciation to Him by doing that which God asks of you. The security we share will be short-lived, I believe, for God gives glimpses of a nation to be pruned that appears to be the United States in the last days (refer to Isaiah Chapter 18).
The Russian invasion of Israel and the mideast is coming - it is real! It will happen as sure as God's word is truth. This should especially concern you who are getting close to the age of military service. Now, I want you to understand another thing satan keeps from being taught in schools: the truth about the intentions of communism: the first thing you must realize is that Russia has been bent on world domination. In 1917 the Russian nation was formed on the Marxist Leoinist principles which abound in the fact that their atheisthic philosphy does not believe in right or wrong apart from the state. What is wrong is right no matter what it is if it serves the purpose of the state. Russia's past aim has been total world domination with the shallow belief that by controlling the world there will no longer be war because with the end of capitalism all property becomes property of the state and in turn is distributed equally to all it's citizens. Therefore, they have believed, there then would be no more reason for war.
Thus, many Russian leaders, because they does not have a sense of right and wrong, do not have a moral conscience - the shooting down of hundreds of kids in the schoolyards of Afghanistam did not bother them, because it was for the good of the state to eliminate those who opposed the Russians coming into their homeland to take over their government. Nor did it bother them to rid of 50,000 churches in Russia immediately after their revolution simply because Lenin, it's founder, professed that "religion (Christianity) is the opiate of the people." Likewise, they feel no moral obligation to honor treaties such as the Salt 2 treaty designed for the purpose od disarming nuclear weapons. While we were honoring its provisions Russia was using it to gain military superiority over the U.S. It's frightaning but it's the truth. Joseph Stalin, one of the architects of the Soviet System has said "As long as capitalism exists we cannot live in peace.
A funeral dirge has been sung over the Soviet Union. Yet, is the world really better off. Do you really believe that the twenty two thousand nuclear weapons are more secure now that they are divided among the various countries who's names change almost monthly, it seems."
Nikita Kruschev, former Soviet Premier, said, "We will bury you"; referring to the U.S. Six million Ukrainians were starved to death and millions more have been executed, tortured and imprisoned. In the U.S. we have freedom of thought and expression which people today take for granted and hardly respect anymore because satan has infiltrated and confused and distorted the things of real value in our lives. In short we have chosen the world over God's way. Unless we turn around we are headed for corrective punishment much like that placed on Israel for their rejection of Christ while he was on earth.
We are at a time history when Christians should rally to show their hearts are for God. We should be be right with God, our Creator, and in so being we would then escape these things that are going on during the tribulation. The prophet Joel laments this description of the time ahead for those remaining after the rapture of true Christians:
"Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain; let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; For the day of the Lord cometh, for it is near at hand; a day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains; a great people and a strong; there hath not ever been the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations. A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them. The appearance of them is like the appearance of horses; and as horsemen so shall they run. Like the noise of chariots on tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble as a strong people set in battle array. Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness. They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march everywhere on their ways and they shall not break their ranks;" (Joe12:1-7)
These verses are not a description of the war of the worlds, but rather it is a description of the day of the Lord when He will allow His armies to rid of those who have failed to accept His grace: a day of God's wrath upon this earth at His second coming.
Finally, concering the Russia invasion - it will come! God commands it in His word and His word is truth. We are not to fear the days ahead. God does exhort us in Luke 12:4 as to whom we should fear:
"I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body and after that have no more they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him, who after he has killed, has power to cast into hell."
So, acknowledge God, praise Him, seek the understanding of His word that you do not drift along being drawn into the web of this world. The results of this world is eternal death. The results of accepting Christ is eternal life.