“And thou shalt say, I (Gog) will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that ARE AT REST (capitals mine), that DWELL SAFELY (capitals mine), all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates, To take a spoil and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places THAT ARE NOW INHABITED (capitals mine), and upon the people (Jews) that are GATHERED OUT OF THE NATIONS (capitals mine), which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land.”
Ezekiel 38:11-12
I strongly believe the above Scripture obviously points to the God Promised Land of Israel in the Last Days since no other country or peoples can claim to have been gathered from out of the nations of the world and returned to a land that was once seen as desolate for almost two thousand years. History reveals from the time the Jews were dispersed by the Romans in 70 A.D. until their legal and prophesied return as an independent nation on May 14, 1948, the land was desolate! It was not a country unto its own but was during this nearly 1,900-year time part of someone else’s empire. Not until the Jews returned and re-established their country did the Land of Israel once again bloom.
I have previously released an article on the soon coming war of Gog and Magog (Will Russia, Iran and Turkey SOON invade Israel?). This was a follow-up to an article (The War of Gog and Magog) where I tried to explain the details of this specific, prophesied future war against Israel. My article was intended to explain how recent critical events unfolding in the Middle East today appear to be bringing to fruition the imminent attack by/and defeat of Russia, Turkey and Iran when they do as prophesied and invade Israel. In response to that article a number of people questioned why major countries like those mentioned (along with Libya, Sudan and Ethiopia) would waste their time, lives and money invading Israel. For what purpose? Interestingly, that question WILL ALSO BE asked by many in the rest of the world when the invasion finally takes place:
“Sheba (Yemen), and Dedan (Saudi Arabia and its allies), and the merchants of Tarshish (believed to be the nations of the West), 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 a great spoil?”
Ezekiel 38:13
The real issues, I believe are 1.) what does Israel have which the invaders want? and 2.) Why will this happen when the Jews are “…at rest, that dwell safely?” Throughout the entire Bible there are numerous prophecies regarding God’s Coming Judgements. Invariably, there is always “normal” peace or calm that is then followed by turmoil. When Gog is asked what he wants by the allies of Israel, it appears their concern is whether Russia is coming after the wealth of Israel, but their true fear seems to imply they are also concerned where Russia, Iran and Turkey will stop. Is it just Israel or are they on their way to also take over the oil fields of Saudi Arabia, UAE, Yemen, etc.? As I have previously pointed out, the economies of Russia, Turkey and Iran are in a free fall due to sanctions placed against them by the U.S. for individual reasons. Meanwhile, Israel has discovered a lot of oil and natural gas on their land and will happily sell this much needed oil to Europe, oil that Europe is currently purchasing from Russia, Iran and Turkey. Of course, the Arab countries to the south of Israel are upset the invaders MAY NOT stop with Israel but perhaps also to take over ALL the oil of the Mideast, giving them economic dominion over much of the world.
The real reason for this article, however, is to re-emphasize we worship a Loving God, One who does not wish ill to fall on any of us. For this reason, He gave the prophets multiple prophecies in the Bible to write down so we may be aware of His Plan and we only need to be watchful.
“And as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, UNTIL (capitals mine) the day that Noah entered the Ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot (story of Sodom and Gomorrah), they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.”
Luke 17:26-29
Here we are reminded mankind simply continued to live their lives as they were accustomed regardless of the warnings and signs. In their mind nothing had changed! It took Noah and his sons 100 years to build the Ark and they must have been asked repeatedly, “Why are you building a boat in the middle of the desert?” When Noah told them that God’s Wrath awaited them for their continuing sinfulness, they DID NOT listen and continued in their sinful ways because they were living during a perceived “calm” period. Life was good! Why be afraid with these statements by Noah which foretold coming doom while they still “…did eat, they drank, they married wives…”? Life was calm! There was no storm! UNTIL the next day when the clouds opened up and a Great Flood covered the earth destroying all except Noah and his family. You would have thought mankind would have learned their lesson and yet centuries later when the world had repopulated, the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were called out for their sinful behavior. Only Lot and his family DURING THE CALM were found to be righteous and were warned to “get out” before the storm arrived. The got out and then the storm of fire and brimstone were unleashed which destroyed them all.
For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail (labor) upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. BUT YE BRETHERN ARE NOT IN DARKNESS, THAT THAT DAY SHOULD OVERTAKE YOU AS A THIEF (capitals mine). Ye are all the children of the light and the children of the day: we are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, AS DO OTHERS (capitals mine); but let us watch and be sober.”
1 Thessalonians 5:3-6
Today, many in the world recognize the Nation of Israel is living during relative calm. Even though the media reports repeatedly of the volatile situation in Israel with their Arab neighbors, the fact is they today DO live in unwalled villages in relative peace and safety. Having visited Israel a few years ago and after seeing much of their land, including the Golan Heights, the West Bank, Jerusalem, and even the Gaza Strip, I can tell you firsthand I NEVER felt unsafe. Countries like Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, etc. have formed peace agreements with Israel. Meanwhile, their economy is extremely strong technologically, agriculturally and especially, petrochemically. Times are good in the recent history of Israel. It is CALM! But…
The storm is coming! As I wrote this article Russia is sending ships to their naval base in Syria, ships that carry tanks! I firmly believe God will use the Biblical prophesied defeat of Russia, Iran and Turkey as proof He does exist and will abide by His Promise to the Jews. As He said in Ezekiel 38:23: “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.” The real question for us is “Are we in darkness?’ Or, “Are we children of the Light?” Do we know what is coming? Trust me, it is not my arthritis telling me a storm is coming. It is God’s Word! If you are NOT a Believer, PLEASE recognize today’s Calm and tomorrow’s Storm were told to us BEFORE they happened. Take this as proof of the accuracies of His Holy Word and ask Jesus today to Come into your life.
I sincerely hope you view these events not out of fear, but as living proof of what the Bible says will happen to Israel AND the world in these Coming Days. DO NOT BE AFRAID. BE AWARE! And, if you feel strongly about this as I do, please share your email with friends and family or like/share this page on Facebook and/or LinkedIn. That way we will all be able to do as God instructed us all to do and that is to “…therefore comfort one another with these words.”
May God Bless you!