“After many days thou (Israel) shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people; against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but is brought forth out of the nations, and they (the Jews) shall dwell safely all of them. Thou (Russia, Iran, Turkey, et.al.) 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.”

Ezekiel 38:8-9

First of all, what I am going to discuss is NOT the Battle of Armageddon as some might claim. Why? Because this group of six countries are specifically named whereas we are told in the Book of Revelation, ALL the countries of the world will gather together at Armageddon (including an army of 200 million from the east – China?). Also, we know after Armageddon Jesus will then establish His 1,000 year Millennium reign of earth. That doesn’t happen after this war. We know never in all of recorded history have Russia, Turkey AND Iran (Persia) together invaded Israel, especially after the Jews were BROUGHT BACK to their God Promised Land in 1948. So, this is a prophecy that has not yet been fulfilled but which could very easily happen TODAY!

The Book of Ezekiel in the Old Testament is truly one of the most relevant prophetic books written for our generation today. Not only does it describe in great detail the global dispersion of the Jews throughout the four corners of the earth for many years but it also tells us how “…in the latter years” God will bring them back to their Promised Land of Israel. It describes how Israel will be a wasteland when they get there but will bloom and prosper after their arrival. It describes how safe it will be for them. Last year I spent 13 days touring all of Israel and I never once felt unsafe regardless of what the news media will tell us. Also, it was green and prosperous! These are 2,600 year old prophecies happening today right before our very eyes!

I have written numerous articles regarding this coming War of Gog and Magog (The War of Gog and Magog, Will Russia, Iran and Turkey SOON invade Israel?, Is Turkey the REAL threat today to Israel?) described in Ezekiel 38 & 39. Why do I feel a need TODAY to expand on those things I have previously noted? Things happening in just the past few weeks have brought so much more clarity to this prophecy!  Basically, Ezekiel 38 & 39 describe a time “…in the latter years” where a group of 6 named countries (Russia, Turkey, Iran, Libya, Ethiopia, and Sudan) will band together and invade Israel. What will the outcome of their invasion be?

“And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord God: every man’s sword shall be against his brother. And I will plead against him with pestilence and blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire and brimstone.”

Ezekiel 38:21-22

Not good for Russia and her allies! It is interesting to note the Bible tells us one of the ways God will destroy these invaders is that “…every man’s sword shall be against his brother.” United they will attack but as usual, their major historical differences will become evident as they begin to invade and they will then fight to destroy each other! In Ezekiel 39:2 the Bible tells us 5 of every 6 of the invaders will die on the mountains of Israel. Further on it says it will take the Jews 7 years to burn the implements of war and 7 months to bury those invaders killed in the attack. It also says God will send fire on Russia (nuclear bombs?) and on those who dwell “carelessly” on the isles (U.S., Europe??). This defeat of the invaders will happen in one day! God says in Ezekiel 39:8 “Behold, it is come, and it is done, saith the Lord God: this is the day whereof I have spoken.”

So, knowing their imminent defeat was prophetically foretold thousands of years ago, why would Russia, Turkey, Iran et.al. invade Israel? The Bible tells us exactly why!

“Thus saith the Lord God; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy (Gog, leader of Russia) mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought: And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages (modern day Israel); I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates, TO TAKE A SPOIL (capitals mine), and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people (Jews) that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land.”

Ezekiel 38:10-12

Describing Israel exactly as it exists today, the Bible says this group of invaders from Russia, Iran, Turkey, et.al. will attack Israel when the Jews are dwelling safely. Why? TO TAKE A SPOIL! What does little Israel with only 8 million people and just a small sliver of land have they would want?

Oil and natural gas!

Now wait a moment you might ask, “These are countries that themselves have a lot of oil. Why would they go to war for something they already have?” If you have paid attention to current global economic growth, I am sure you are well aware the U.S. so far in 2019 has by far the strongest economy in the entire world. At the same time countries like Russia, Turkey and Iran have seen a dramatic plummeting economy because of various sanctions placed on them by the Trump Administration. These sanctions are primarily on Iran because of their global terrorism activities and pursuit of nuclear weapons. But, they have also been imposed on countries like Russia for their continuing aggression in Ukraine. In the first quarter of 2019 alone, Russia’s economy DROPPED 40%!!! The sanctions on Turkey are due to the fact they continue to buy Iranian oil and are buying Russian military missiles. The European bank has said Turkey’s economy is the worst of the 38 countries they invest in. The tri-party agreement signed in December 2017 between Russia, Turkey and Iran for the first time EVER in history has now formally aligned these three countries for their combined coordinated actions in Syria, which sits just on the northern border of Israel (which a land invasion must go through to get to Israel)..

For the first time in Israeli modern day history, they have become a net exporter of natural gas. In fact, Israel, Italy, Greece and Cyprus just signed an agreement to build a 2,000 kilometer, $7.35 billion underwater gas pipeline from Israel to Greece which could supply most of Europe with their natural gas needs. Where does Europe buy their gas from today? Russia! When this pipeline is completed in 2024 Russia will lose their biggest single customer which accounts for nearly 30% of their GDP. With an already plummeting economy and 30% of their remaining economy tied to oil and gas sales to Europe, how do you think they will react to Israel now supplying oil and gas to their biggest customer? While Turkey buys most of their oil and gas from Iran, U.S. sanctions imposed on them by President Trump are also negatively affecting their economy and their attempt to reestablish their modern day version of the Ottoman Empire caliphate. Of course, central to all of this is the intense historical anti-Semitic activities these countries have exhibited over many years.

So, Israel will soon be a net exporter of oil and gas to Europe which will cripple the economies of the countries that hate them. As the Bible says, this group, led by the leader (Gog) of Russia will “…think an evil thought” and will invade “…to take a spoil”. Knowing what you know about the Middle East, would it surprise you if this happened TODAY? Something that does surprise me is how the countries of the world, notably the U.S., will respond to this invasion of Israel:

“Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee (Gog), Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take away a great spoil?

Ezekiel 38:13

This requires a brief explanation. History from both the Bible and the Quran (the Muslim “bible) point to Sheba and Dedan as the land we refer today as Saudi Arabia. Notable to this discussion is Saudi Arabia is a Sunni nation with many anti-Iranian and anti-Turkey issues. They have of late become an ally of Israel. Tarshish is Biblically referred to as the multiple lands to the West of Israel. This includes Western Europe and the “young lions” appear to relate directly to North America since the lion is the symbol of Great Britain and America (the “young lions”) was populated at first primarily by Englishmen. Apparently, many of Israel’s allies will be surprised by this invasion and will question the motives of Russia, Turkey, Iran, et.al. HOWEVER, nowhere in the Bible does it say they will come to the aid of Israel! Rather, God’s fury will be unleashed on these invaders and He will punish them for what they have attempted to do!

“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 (Moscow) and Tubal (Tobolsk):”

Ezekiel 39:1

As bad as this will be for the invaders, there is some GREAT news for the entire world!

“Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the Lord.”

Ezekiel 38:23

The entire world will recognize God alone saved the Jews from these invaders. This could begin the greatest evangelical movement in the history of the world. It will not, however, cause all people to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior because we also know sometime AFTER burning the implements of war for 7 years, the Jews will be told to hurriedly get out of Judea (West Bank) when they see the Abomination of Desolation occur. If you read my previous post on this ( What is the Abomination of Desolation in Biblical Prophecy?) you know this is when the anti-christ enters the then rebuilt 3rd Holy Jewish Temple in Jerusalem midway during the seven year Tribulation and demands to be worshipped as God. From that moment until Jesus Christ returns at Armageddon is exactly 1,260 days, 42 months or 3 1/2 years. I strongly believe the War of Gog and Magog described in Ezekiel 38 & 39 MUST occur at least 10 1/2 years before Christ’s Return; 7 years before the Abomination of Desolation; and 3 1/2 years before the infamous “peace treaty” is signed between the Israelis and the Palestinians which starts the 7 year Tribulation period, the worst time period in all of human history. I believe this because the Jews are told to get out of Judea (the West Bank) which tells me they must de done burying the dead and burning the implements of war by then. When they leave Judea, we are told it will be 3 1/2 years before Christ Returns. This is nothing more than Bible math as prophesied!

The beauty of all this is we as Believers have been told before all this happens what is coming. God has told us this so that we are “…not in darkness, but in light”. The beauty of prophecy is to be able to show people before something happens how it WILL happen exactly as the Bible said it would. Six main countries (Russia, Turkey, Iran, Libya, Sudan, Ethiopia); invading Israel from the north; when the Jews are dwelling in safety; five of every six of the invaders will die on the mountains of northern Israel; it will take 7 months to bury the dead; it will take 7 years to burn the implements of war; no other country will come to their aid but will only ask Russia why are they invading Israel; fire and brimstone (nuclear bombs?) will rain on Meshech (Moscow)  AND on those who live carelessly in the isles; AND, the world will recognize God IS THE LORD!

Will it happen today? Will it happen tomorrow or this week or this month? This year? We don’t know BUT we have been told by the Bible it WILL happen!! I have often said we should not be afraid. But, we should all be aware! By studying prophecy we can know God’s Plan for the world and know that if we accept His Gracious Gift of Salvation through the Sacrifice of His Son Jesus Christ on the cross, we can be saved and will spend eternity with Him in Heaven! Without this Gift there is no other way to be saved. But, if we accept and repent of our sins, we will be saved and that is comforting! If you agree, PLEASE recognize it is apparent the Last Days are here and we are all charged to tell others about His Grace. You can easily do this, by doing as we are all instructed to do, and that is to “…therefore comfort one another with these words.” Forward this email. Share it on Facebook and/or LinkedIn. Let your church members, family and friends know about it. Whatever it takes, let’s work to get His Word out before it is too late!

May God Bless you!