This
is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am against you, 0 Gog, chief prince of
Meshech and Tubal ... (Ezekiel 38:3).
More
than 2,500 years ago, God gave the prophet Ezekiel an astonishing prophecy to
give to the world, one that would be fulfilled in "the latter days."
Many
Bible scholars feel that prophecy, found in Ezekiel 38 and 39, is being
fulfilled in our lifetime. The prophecy involved a then-unknown nation that
would
become powerful in "the latter days" or end times. Incredibly, that
prophecy, regarding the nation of Russia and her many allies in the Arab
nations
of
the world, began to be fulfilled during the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917,
shortly after Israel began gathering back into the Holy Land.
Prior
to Ezekiel 36 and 37, which predicted the re-gathering of the nation Israel
into her homeland, Ezekiel had issued many prophecies against the longstanding
enemies
of Israel-the Assyrians, Egyptians, Chaldeans, Babylonians and lesser city
states that include Tyre and Sidon. Then suddenly, in chapters 38 and
39,
the prophet threw a historical hand grenade into the prophetic mix by singling
out the totally unknown nation of Russia, referred to as "Magog," a
nation
mentioned only twice in all the Bible up to that point in Old Testament
history.
Even
after that prophecy, Russia remained obscure for two millennia! The Babylonians
and Assyrians passed off the scene of history and were replaced by
the
Medo Persians, Greeks and Romans, just as another great Hebrew prophet of that era,
Daniel, had predicted. Now all of those nations are extinct, and
Russia,
until recently, was a superpower. The thrilling part is that Russia's rise to
power occurred in the last 70 years.
If
that doesn't sound incredible to you, it should. You can be sure that skeptics
would ridicule the Bible if Russia were not on the world scene today as
the
global community runs wildly toward its planned one-world government and,
ultimately, to Armageddon itself. But what I find so significant is that
this
prophecy came immediately after the prediction of Israel's re-gathering
(Ezekiel 36-37), as though the two prophecies were related. And they are! For
both
Israel's rebirth as a nation and Russia's ascension as a major player on the
world scene were outgrowths of World War 1. The first World War, as I
explain
in my book, Are We Living in the End Times? was a fulfillment of our Lord's own
prophecy of the first sign (or "birth pain") of His "coming and
of
the end of the age" (see Matthew 24:18). It was more than coincidental
that of the 15,000 wars in human history, the one unique enough to be a
"sign
of
the end" (World War 1) plus the "super sign of the end" (as some
call Israel being re-gathered into the land) plus Russia's rise to being a
dominant
player
on the world scene all had their beginnings in the years spanning 1914 to 1917.
Add the fulfillment of other signs that originated during that same
timeframe,
and we realize that was a most significant time in human history. It was the
beginning of the "birth pains" that would increase like a woman
in
travail until the tribulation itself begins-just seven years prior to the
glorious appearing of Christ to this earth.
Note
that Russia didn't burst on the world scene at the same time Israel became a
nation. However, it is very significant that Russia has broken all records
in
mankind's long history of its inhumane treatment of its fellow man. For it was
in communist Russia that Satan seemed to inculcate all the evils of the
ages
in his grand scheme to control the world. Using the power of government, its
agencies, money and other influence, Russia spread the most deadly atheistic
ideology
the world has ever known. Dr. Zibignew Brezezinski, former National Security
Advisor for President Jimmy Carter, called this communist-dominated
century
the most barbaric in all human history. In his book Out of Control, he wrote,
"During the twentieth century, no less than 167,000,000 lives-and
quite
probably in excess of 175,000,000-were deliberately extinguished through
politically motivated carnage .... This is more than the total killed in
all
previous wars, civil conflicts, and religious persecutions throughout human
history."'
If
you examine his list, you would find that the inhumane ideology called
communism, primarily fostered from Russia, was the foremost cause for these
deaths.
For
decades, the hard-core, world conquest communists conducted world congresses on
communism in their country for delegates from China, India, North Korea,
Asia
and every other nation in the world, including the United States. These
congresses were little more than indoctrination programs that showed delegates
how
to return home to overturn existing governments and impose that atheistic form
of socialism, or communism, on their homelands. This ideology, which
has
been a fire in the minds of godless people for more than 200 years, finally
found its resting place in the former Soviet Union and now resides big
time
in Russia and many other countries to which it has been transported. There is
no more satanically inspired evil in today's world. Former U.S. President
Ronald
Reagan was right when, in 1983, he shocked the world by calling Russia "an
evil empire."
Do
not be deceived by the fall of the Soviet Union. Communism is not dead. It is
still on its relentless path of satanically inspired world domination,
just
as the Bible prophesied it would in the end time. In fact, if Russia is going
to do what the prophets predicted, which we will discuss in this chapter,
it
better get to it soon or the nation will be discarded for other satanically
inspired centers like Beijing, China. (But I predict Russia will fulfill
this
prophecy sometime in the next decade.)
No
rational person takes pleasure in the destruction of an entire nation, not even
when that destruction is an act of judgment by a righteous, sovereign
God.
Russia is unquestionably the nation identified in the prophecies of Ezekiel 38
and 39. But it is not sufficient just to say that Bible scholars for
several
hundred years have interpreted those chapters as referring to Russia. We must
be more explicit than that, for ascertaining the proper identity
of
"Gog" and "Magog" is essential to the interpretation of
this passage. Therefore I suggest three reasons that confirm the identity of
the nation predicted
to
invade Israel in the last days.
God
said through the prophet Ezekiel, "Son of man, set thy face against Gog,
the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against
him,
and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; behold, I am against thee, 0 Gog, the chief
prince of Meshech and Tubal" (Ezekiel 38:2,3 KJV). We have already seen
in
the Bible that God is against "Magog" (the country) and
"Gog" (the chief prince of the country). Why would a loving God who
has always been for mankind
be
against this nation? Because the nation is against Him. Magog exhibits her
antagonism toward God by opposing humanity, the especial object of God's
love;
defying God's Word; and, above all, antagonizing God's people, the nation of
Israel. Philosophically and religiously, the nation of Russia qualifies
in
every way. It is anti-God, anti-human, anti-Bible, and anti-Israel. But there
is another reason for recognizing Magog as Russia.
A
second significant reason to identify Russia as Magog is its geographical
location. The Bible usually describes geography in relation to Israel. For
example,
"south"
means south of Israel; "north" signifies north of Israel. The only
likely exception would come in this instance because Ezekiel was in Babylon
when
he spoke the prophecy. A case could be made that the prophet may have meant
"north of Babylon" when he said, "You will come from your place
in the
far
north" (Ezekiel 38:15) (for that is where the prophet was when God gave
him this prophecy), or, "I will bring you from the far north and send you
against
the
mountains of Israel" (Ezekiel 39:2).
Etymology,
the study of linguistic changes and the history of words, is a third way to support
the identity of the nation in Ezekiel's prophecy. Magog is
an
ancient name for the nation now known as Russia. Gog, as we've noted, merely
means "the chief prince of Magog," or more literally, the chief
prince
of
"Meshech and Tubal."
Genesis
10 helps to establish the identity of these people. Magog was the second son of
Japheth who, according to Josephus, the great Jewish historian,
settled
north of the Black Sea. Tubal and Meshech were the fifth and sixth sons of
Japheth, and their descendants settled south of the Black Sea. It is
believed
that these people intermarried and became known as Magog, the dominant tribe.
The name Moscow derives from the tribal name Meshech; and Tobolsk,
the
name of the principal state, comes from Tubal. The noun Gog is from the
original tribal name Magog, which gradually became Rash, then Russ, and today
is
known as Russia.
Bible
scholars anticipated Russia becoming a dominant power in the end time even when
it was literally a nonentity as a nation. Early in this century Russia
was
still a second-rate influence in the affairs of nations; in 1905 tiny Japan
defeated Russia in the Russo-Japanese War.
I
will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth,
and all thine army, horses, and horsemen, all of them clothed with all
sorts
of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling
swords: Persia, Ethiopia [Cush], and Libya [Put] with them; all of
them
with shield and helmet; Gomer, and all his band; the house of Togarmah of the
north quarters, and all his bands; and many people with thee. Be thou
prepared,
and prepare for thyself, thou, and all thy company that are assembled unto
thee, and be thou a guard unto them. 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. 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.
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: and thou
shalt
say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that at
rest, that dwell safely, 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, 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. Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish,
with
all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, 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? Therefore, son of
man, prophesy and say unto Gog, Thus saith the Lord GOD; in that day
when
my people of Israel dwelleth safely, shalt thou not know it? (Ezekiel 38:4-12
KJV).
During
the past 80 years, Russian diplomats and foreign policy strategists have proven
that they are much smarter than their Western counterparts. It seems
like
every time diplomats engage them in conference, the people lose land, friends,
people or rights. What would make a former superpower like Russia at
the
end time abandon the path of diplomacy and attack the nation of Israel? There
are three possible reasons.
1.
Russia's Longstanding Hatred
History
clearly shows that the Jews cannot be intimidated by the Russians or anyone
else. We can be certain that the Russians are not pleased with Israel's
four
military victories since 1949. It is highly possible that the Russians will
finally decide they cannot defeat the Israelis through their Arab allies
without
personally engaging them on the field of combat. This decision could be the one
that summons them to march against Israel.
2.
Plunder, Spoil, and Wealth
In
Ezekiel 38:12,13 we read, "I will plunder and loot and turn my hand
against the resettled ruins and the people gathered from the nations, rich in
livestock
and
goods, living at the center of the land." Sheba and Dedan and the
merchants of Tarshish and all her villages will say to you, "Have you come
to plunder?
Have
you gathered your hordes to loot, to carry off silver and gold, to take away
livestock and goods and to seize much plunder?"
These
verses seem to suggest two important possibilities. One is that the economic
conditions of Israel are destined to improve and those of the Soviet
Union
will deteriorate. We have already seen that, as a result of the peace treaties
made between the Jews and the Arabs, Israel will experience a time
of
phenomenal material blessing, making her an object of greed on the part of the
Russian rulers and their Arab allies. In fact, today Israel's gross national
product
exceeds $100 billion annually. This is ten times that of the nation's five
closest Arab neighbors.
The
future is not so bright for Russia. One way in which God has manifested His
displeasure with Russia as a nation during the past eight decades lies in
her
total economic failure under communism. The Crimea was known under the czars as
"the breadbasket of the world." The wheat harvested there was
bountiful
and
more than sufficient for the needs of the Russian people, and large quantities
were exported to other nations of Europe.
Since
the Russian Revolution, however, that nation's severe weather has worsened,
producing some of t he harshest winters on record. Russia has become notorious
for
poor wheat crops-partly because of the weather and partly because of the lack
of motivation among the Russian people under communism. Reports from
Russia
that scientists have desperately tried to manipulate the weather are probably
fraudulent. If they are true, they give evidence that the scientific
endeavors
have not worked-and have even made the situation worse. Economic judgment from
God is destined to continue, bringing the need to purchase increasing
quantities
of foreign grain.
3.
God's Sovereign Will
The
primary reason Russia will invade Israel is that God has decreed it. Ezekiel
38:3,4,8 declares: This is what the Sovereign LORD says: ... I will turn
you
around, put hooks in your jaws and bring you out with your whole army-your
horses, your horsemen fully armed, and a great horde with large and small
shields,
all of them brandishing their swords ... After many days you will be called to
arms. In future years you will invade a land that has recovered
from
war, whose people were gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel,
which had long been desolate. They had been brought out from the nations,
and
now all of them live in safety.
Ezekiel
39:2 adds, "I will turn you around and drag you along. I will bring you
from the far north and send you against the mountains of Israel." Ezekiel
38:10
states: "This is what the Sovereign LORD says: On that day thoughts will
come into your mind and you will devise an evil scheme." The attack on
Israel
is
conceived and mobilized by Almighty God. This implies that God will stir the
Russians' greedy plan, fulfilling Ezekiel 38:4, "1 will put hooks in your
jaws
and bring you out."
In
studying these two chapters of Ezekiel, I sense that God will pour out His
wrath upon Russia not only to demonstrate His power, but also to heap judgment
on
those who have persecuted human beings, especially Israel.
The
prophetic scenario is plain: Russia does not have Israel as her primary target.
Russia's major objective has admittedly been world conquest. One way
in
which the communists have been consistent for the last 80 years is in their
implacable movement toward that primary objective. God has proclaimed that
He
raises up whom He will and puts down whom He will (Ezekiel 21:26; Daniel
4:34,35). Even at the end time, when Russia reigns as a superpower, God will
still
be in control, for He is able to "put hooks in her jaw" and lead
"her" to obey His will.
From
a careful study of ancient and modern national players in the Middle East
region, we learn that a dominant leader called Gog, described as the
"chief
prince
of Rosh," is going to arise and lead Russia into a vast northeastern
confederation of nations including Iran, Ethiopia and other African nations,
Germany,
Armenia, possibly Turkey, conceivably some Oriental countries and whoever else
can be included within the statement, "and many peoples with thee."
This
group of nations, headed by Russia, will advance against Israel in the last
days.
Some
2,500 years ago the Hebrew prophet Ezekiel described in considerable detail the
circumstances under which communist Russia and her hordes of anti-Semitic
nations
would attempt to invade the little nation of Israel. (See Ezekiel
38:4,8,9,15,16.) There are two legitimate ways to interpret the kind of weapons
used
in this prophecy-literally and symbolically. Bible-believing scholars can be
found on either side.
A
literal interpretation of the passage suggests that modern methods of warfare
will someday become obsolete, and man will return to primitive weapons.
That
is not as far- fetched as it may appear. For years, electronic scientists have
reportedly been working on long-range heat-ray devices that would have
the
capacity to render metallic surfaces so hot they could not be touched. If such
an invention were produced by the West, Russia could not invade Israel
with
tanks, bazookas and modern weaponry. It would have to resort to horses. Metal
weapons would be replaced with wooden; these would not be wooden swords
and
spears as used in ancient days, but implements fashioned with enormous strength
out of basic wood materials, seasoned with resin, or lignostone, or
other
chemically treated woods that already are used industrially and have an
amazingly long burn life.
If,
on the other hand, the passage is to be taken symbolically, the prophet Ezekiel
is merely describing implements of war in terms meaningful to his contemporary
audience.
We must always remember that the Bible was written to specific people at a
specific time and must therefore relate to them. If the prophet 2,500
years
ago had referred to tanks, half - tracks, aircraft carriers and airplanes, no
one would have understood what he meant.
Regardless
of which approach we take in interpreting this passage of Scripture, we know
that Russia will mount a massive military attack on Israel, and
only
God will be Israel's defense. God's supernatural intervention will save her.
Russia
almost never does anything alone. We have already seen that when it pursued a
goal unilaterally, as in Afghanistan, it got bogged down in an endless
war.
That is usually not Russia's style. Instead, it prefers to supply the military
technology and money to its satraps such as the Palestine Liberation
Organization,
Cuba, Syria and Egypt. Consequently, when Russia comes down to invade Israel,
she will use the Middle East hatred of the Jews to her advantage
and
inveigle these nations to help in the fighting. This will probably be the most
massive invasion army assembled in the history of the world-all in opposition
to
Israel, a nation of less than 5 million people. For the first time since World
War 11, Israel will be betrayed by its friends.
I
am convinced that the invasion described by Ezekiel is not the battle of
Armageddon, the warfare between Jesus Christ and the nations described in
Revelation
16.
First, at this time there will be two leagues of nations: the northeastern
confederation that invades with Russia, and the western confederation that
has
befriended Israel in the past. Second, in Ezekiel's account, only a certain
number from the armies of the world will march against the Jews. In the
battle
of Armageddon, armies will come from all the countries of the world against
Christ-not Israel. Yet, while this warfare will not be the real battle
of
Armageddon, to the participants it will seem like it.
We
have already identified some of the nations of the Northeastern Confederation
that will join Russia. The western confederation of nations also appears
in
Ezekiel's prophecy. "Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish and all
her villages will say to you, 'Have you come to plunder? Have you gathered
your
hordes to loot, to carry off silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods
and to seize much plunder?"' (Ezekiel 38:13).
Who
are these nations that greet force with diplomacy? Little doubt the western
confederation comprises the democracies of the West, principally the United
States,
Great Britain and Canada. "Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of
Tarshish" were the seafaring Phoenicians, many of whom migrated to Europe,
particularly
the
British Isles and Spain. These countries, the colonizers of the seventeenth and
eighteenth centuries, provide the only vigorous anticommunist spirit
in
the world today.
The
King James version renders "Tarshish and her villages" in verse 13 as
"Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof." For this reason, many
Bible scholars
identify
America, Canada, Australia and other western democracies as the
"cubs" of Great Britain and Spain, the colonizers of the West.
Certainly that
is
historically valid. Therefore, this probably does identify the nations of the
prophecy.
It
stands to reason that Russia does not take the entire world in its war against
Israel. At a time when two confederations of nations exist-basically communist
versus
anticommunist-Israel is allied with the anticommunists, as it is today.
Unfortunately for Israel, instead of meeting communist force with force,
the
western democracies will meet the invasion with diplomacy. This historically
represents the weak response of the democracies in both the world wars
and
in almost every conflict since.
Instead
of sending help at the moment when Israel needs support, its allies will send a
diplomatic note (perhaps through the United Nations) that essentially
inquires
of Russia and her hordes, "What are you going to do in little Israel-loot
and carry away silver and gold and seize many riches?" This may be the
most
breathtaking, dramatic moment in the history of modern Israel. Until that time,
that tiny nation could depend at least on the United States.
The
scenario that develops at this point in our prophetic story is exciting.
Confronted by overwhelming forces from Russia and forsaken by her friends,
Israel
will turn to God, and He will do for modern Israel what He did for ancient
Israel. As the God over all forces, He will deliver Israel from the hands
of
her oppressor. As certain as it is that Russia and her Middle East hordes will
come down against Israel, so it is that God will destroy the invading
forces
and deliver Israel supernaturally. And the prophet doesn't leave us in doubt as
to the methods God will use in this destruction. It is noteworthy
that
this is not the first time they will have been used by the Almighty, for all of
them have precedence in the Old Testament.
In
my zeal and fiery wrath I declare that at that time there shall be a great
earthquake in the land of Israel. The fish of the sea, the birds of the air,
the
beasts of the field, every creature that moves along the ground, and all the
people on the face of the earth will tremble at my presence. The mountains
will
be overturned, the cliffs will crumble and every wall will fall to the ground
(Ezekiel 38:19,20).
Evidently,
the Russians and their hordes are allowed to begin an airborne invasion while
the infantry launches a ground assault. But at a strategic moment,
God
generates a powerful and destructive earthquake that causes people to tremble
at His presence. This catastrophe will manifest the power of a supernatural
God.
Earthquakes were, of course, used by God in ancient days; Amos 1: 1 and
Zechariah 14:5 recount the terrible earthquake that rocked the land of
Palestine
in
the days of Uzziah, king of Judah. It was no doubt a special intervention of
God that caused that earthquake.
Jesus
predicted that earthquakes would be one of the signs of His return and the end
of the age (Matthew 24:7,8). The record shows that we have experienced
an
alarming increase in earthquakes during the past several decades. (Read chapter
3: "Famines, Earthquakes, Pestilences" for more information.) We
should
also
remember that the book of Revelation predicts that during the first quarter of
the tribulation, a mighty earthquake will create havoc throughout the
entire
world (6:12-17). Another earthquake in the middle of the tribulation will rock
the city of Jerusalem (Revelation 11: 13), and still another at the
end
of the tribulation could well be the mightiest earthquake ever to shake the
earth (Revelation 16:17-21). Consequently, it is not unreasonable that
God
might use His power to create earthquakes in defense of Israel when Russia's
armies come against her.
I
will summon a sword against Gog on all my mountains, declares the Sovereign
Lord. Every man's sword will be against his brother (Ezekiel 38:21). Nothing
shakes
man from his independence and false sense of security like an earthquake,
particularly one having the magnitude that God will provide for Israel's
deliverance.
And because Israel is no match for the invading hordes of military personnel
about to devour it, the Lord will confuse its enemies, and they
will
do battle with each other. If they are using tanks, they will train them on
each other. If they are using airplanes, they will dogfight against their
own
planes. Or if, as discussed earlier, they have reverted to more primitive
weapons of warfare, Israel's enemies will skirmish among themselves rather
than
against their originally intended foe.
One
precedent for such an incredible event appears in Judges 7:8-22, where the
story is told of a large army becoming so con fused that the soldiers attacked
each
other and fled in fright from a mere 300 Israelites.
I
will execute judgment upon him with plague and bloodshed. (Ezekiel 38:22).
History shows that plagues have often accompanied the wanton killing of human
beings
in battle. Human carnage, blood and the remains of a battlefield breed disease.
But in the case of Russia's invasion of Israel, the plague seems
to
be something uniquely manipulated by God to further destroy the effectiveness
of the enemy. The next judgment to befall the invaders is a plague like
pestilence
that causes much bloodshed. Pestilence associated with the aftermath of war is
similar to that foretold by our Lord in Matthew 24. Those who
survive
the earthquake and the hand-to-hand combat will certainly perish in the plague.
...
I will pour down torrents of rain, hailstones and burning sulfur on him and on
his troops and on the many nations with him (Ezekiel 38:22). The portion
of
the invading force left after the earthquake, the fighting and the plague will
be destroyed by hailstones and burning sulfur. For those who interpret
Ezekiel
38:22 literally, there are Old Testament precedents both in the destruction God
rained down on Sodom and Gomorrah and in some of the battles of
Israel.
For example, Joshua 10:11 states that when Joshua's armies fought against the
Amorites, "The Lord hurled large hailstones down on them from the
sky,
and more of them died from the hailstones than were killed by the swords of the
Israelites."
This
final stage in God's judgment on the invaders could create not only a muddy
terrain that would bog down any military advance, but also flooding conditions
that
would imperil human life.
The
use of burning sulfur as a means of judgment recalls the destruction of Sodom
and Gomorrah, with both earthquake and fire and brimstone (burning sulfur).
The
troops who survive the other four judgments will die as a result of the falling
sulfur. No wonder God says in Ezekiel 39:4: "On the mountains of Israel
you
will fall, you and all your troops and the nations with you."
These
five judgments of God will result in the annihilation of the armies of Gog and
their allies. This will undoubtedly be the greatest holocaust fulfilled
in
a single day in the history of the world.... But there is more.
"Persia,
Cush and Put will be with them, all with shields and helmets, also Gomer with
all its troops, and Beth Togarmah from the far north with all its
troops-the
many nations with you" (Ezekiel 38:5,6). As a special demonstration to the
world of God's omnipotence, Ezekiel gives the unusual prophecy that
God
will not only destroy the entire army of Magog, but He will also consume with
fire those who "live in safety in the coastlands." Bible scholars
understand
the
word coastlands to mean "the nations"; some older translations render
it "in the isles."
Who
would qualify as those who live in nations not involved in the conflict? They
could be individuals who live in safety or security on islands, or this
could
refer to uninvolved coastland nations. The verse probably refers to the many
communist/socialist spies and sympathizers who live in the western democracies
who
regularly take advantage of their freedom by pursuing subversion for the cause
of world socialism. Such spies or communist infiltrators occupy many
key
positions throughout America-in the bureaucracy, universities and colleges and
the media-and subvert the minds of our citizens. One national magazine
has
said there are more Marxist professors in American colleges and universities
than any other country in the world.
These
people who have spent much of their adult life betraying the country that gives
them freedom and safety will suddenly be consumed by fire. The United
States
will not have to reactivate tile House Committee on Un-American Activities to
administer justice. Rather, the God who knows "the thoughts and intents
of
the heart" will judge these traitors by fire. We can only imagine the
number of vacancies that will occur in one day in the federal and state
governments
and
in the 3,000 universities and colleges of America. In all likelihood, this same
judgment will create similar vacancies in Canada, Australia and the
British
Isles. At the United Nations, divine fire judgment will suddenly fall and
reveal the identity of those who really are communist/socialist spies
or
sympathizers. Such an event will create electrifying headlines.
Can
you imagine the chaos into which the world's nations will be plunged the day
after God destroys not only the invading armies of Russia, but also the
communist
spies in the western world? On the one hand, the skeptical attitude of the secular
humanists toward the existence of God will suddenly be confronted
with
irrefutable evidence of a supernatural God. There will be absolutely no other
explanation for these events. In addition, many trusted leaders in key
positions
of influence will have been destroyed by fire because they were traitors to
their country.
Probably
the greatest result of this chaos will be the transition of surviving western
democratic leaders into positions as dominant world leaders. The
threat
of worldwide communism will have been destroyed in a single day, leaving Israel
and the western confederation of nations in a world-dominating position.
We
cannot be certain what will occur politically immediately after this awesome
event. But I believe that the rising tide of interest in world government
under
the guise of "the new world order" will suddenly find little
opposition. With communism removed as a world threat, the socialistic, humanist
politicians
of
the world may naturally assume that a one-world government-within either the
United Nations or its replacement-should provide the solution to this planet's
ills.
All this will prepare the way for the Antichrist to consolidate the nations in
preparation for the day when he signs a covenant with Israel and ushers
in
the great tribulation period spoken of so frequently by our Lord and the Hebrew
prophets.
Of
this we can be certain: All the world will momentarily stand in awe of the
supernatural God in heaven who, after 1,900 years of silence, has spoken in
terms
that even the most unbelieving can understand. Hopefully, millions of honest
souls will seek the Savior during this time, resulting in what could
be
the greatest soul harvest of all time.
Whenever
we discuss the future events of Bible prophecy, someone immediately asks,
"When will this take place?" Admittedly, Bible teachers do not concur
as
to the "when" of the destruction of Russia. But for at least four
reasons, this event cannot be fused with the battle of Armageddon.
1.
Armageddon is not directed against Israel, but constitutes an attack on the
part of the world's nations against Christ (see Revelation 16:12-21; 19:11-21).
The
deception of the Antichrist and his insane hatred of Jesus Christ at the end of
the tribulation period will culminate with his bringing together-even
from
the Orient over the dried-up River Euphrates hordes of people against Jesus
Christ, the coming King-but not Israel. That the Antichrist will utterly
fail
is clearly predicted in Revelation 19. However, this Scripture passage should
not be confused with Ezekiel 38 and 39, which to even a casual reader
plainly
states that Israel is the object of Gog and Magog's hatred. These two attacks
are unique and distinct, and I believe they will occur at least ten
or
more years apart.
2.
No one-world government is functioning during the events in Ezekiel 38 and 39.
The destruction of Russia, as revealed by God to His prophet, will come
at
a time when, as we have already seen, Israel is the central focus of two
confederations of nations. These two confederations, the northeastern
confederation
of
Russia and her hordes versus the western democracies that do not come to the
aid of Israel, cannot coexist in the one-world government predicted by
our
Lord and His prophets for the seven-year tribulation.
3.
Gog comes from the North, the Antichrist from Europe. Gog the prince and Magog
the country are predicted to come from the "north parts" (Ezekiel
38:15).
According
to Daniel 7:8,24,26, the Antichrist comes out of Rome, a mixed blood of Romans,
Greeks and possibly Jews,'
4.
It takes seven years to burn the implements of war (Ezekiel 39:8-10).
Armageddon occurs at the end of the tribulation period just before the
millennium.
This
in turn, according to 2 Peter 3, begins with a renovation of the earth by fire.
It is certain that the Jews will not spend the first seven winters
of
the millennium burning the implements of war left over from the tribulation.
Considering
these four reasons, we can conclude only that Ezekiel 38 and 39 are not to be
confused with Armageddon. Instead, they occur ten or more years
earlier,
prior to the tribulation period.
In
Ezekiel 39:8-10, we find that after Russia has been supernaturally destroyed,
"those who live in the towns of Israel will go out and use the weapons
for
fuel and burn them up.... For seven years they will use them for fuel."
Obviously, the Israelis are not going to pile all the war implements together
and
make an enormous bonfire. They will use the weapons for firewood for seven
seasons instead of gathering wood from the forests.
Two
facts stand out in bold relief. First, Israel will enjoy seven years of peace
after Russia is destroyed; second, for seven winters the Israelis will
be
reminded of God's supernatural intervention on their behalf as they burn the
implements of war. It is vitally important that we locate these seven years
chronologically,
because they are the key to the period in which Russia will be destroyed.
God
has not left us without information regarding His plans for the future. The
Next Major Prophetic Events chart (page 166) reflects the major events accepted
by
almost all scholars who hold a pre-tribulationist view of prophecy. The chart
specifies that the Antichrist breaks his covenant with Israel during the
latter
three-and-one-half years of the tribulation. According to Revelation 12, this
event will unleash the harshest anti-Semitic persecution the world
has
ever known-a fiery furnace arranged for the Jews by the Antichrist. Russia will
have to be destroyed at least three-and-one-half years before the tribulation
begins,
for the Jews to have seven years in which to burn the implements of war.
On
the Seven Years of Burning chart (page 167) this detail has been added with the
thought in mind that there is no reason necessitating the Jews' burning
the
weapons during the first three-and-one-half years of the tribulation. The
entire seven-year period of burning could occur before the tribulation begins,
but
there is no way to be certain of this. We can only speculate as to whether the
seven-year period occurs entirely before the tribulation; we know it
cannot
extend beyond the tribulation.
Most
pre-millennial. scholars place the rapture of the church before the
tribulation. The biggest misconception of some pre-tribulationists is that the
second
coming
of Christ for His church (the rapture) and the beginning of the tribulation
period are simultaneous. They may be, but no passage of Scripture requires
it.
We must remember that the tribulation is not started by the rapture of the
church, but by the signing of the covenant between the Antichrist and Israel.
Admittedly,
I Thessalonians 4:17,18 and 2 Thessalonians 2- which describe the rapture, the
tribulation and the revelation of the man of sin or the Antichrist-parallel
the
signing of the covenant. But it is important not to tie them together. The
rapture could take place several years prior to the tribulation period.
The
closer we get to the actual occurrence of these events, however, the more we
are inclined to believe they could happen in close succession. If they
do
occur in close proximity or simultaneously, the church will still be on earth
when Russia invades Israel and is destroyed by God.
Remember
Any chronology of the rapture and the invasion of Israel is speculative and
should be given wide flexibility.
Having
considered the possibilities for the seven years when the implements of war are
burned, we can speculate on the possible time of the invasion of
Israel
and the subsequent destruction of Russia. Although we know they will take place
a minimum of three-and-one-half years before the tribulation, no
one
can predict when the tribulation will occur; the exact time of our Lord's
return is known only to God.
I
believe that the next major event on the prophetic calendar will be the peace
treaty between Israel and the Arab world. This cessation of hostilities
may
likewise signal a short time of peace throughout the whole world. For example,
in speaking of the end time and the coming of Christ, 1 Thessalonians
5:2,3
says that the day of the Lord will come "while people are saying, 'Peace
and safety."' Further, "Destruction will come on them ... and they
will
not
escape." This indeed suggests that before the holocaust known as the
tribulation period, a time of peace and safety will encompass this earth,
interrupted
only
by Russia's invasion of Israel.
The
generation that saw Israel become a nation will not pass away until the Lord has
come, according to Matthew 24. So signs of peace and safety in Israel
should
appear soon in order that the false period of prosperity that precedes Russia's
invasion can begin to take shape. It is impossible to say when such
an
eventuality will come. What can be predicted, however, is that Russia will be
destroyed before the Antichrist arrives on the scene and signs his covenant
with
Israel. There is no simple and dogmatic answer to the question of whether
Russia's destruction comes before Christ's return. The Bible does not offer
conclusive
evidence, and my suggested answer should be regarded as somewhat speculative.
The
rapture may occur in any of four possible time sequences: before Russia is
destroyed, immediately afterward, long afterward, or simultaneously with
the
signing of the covenant between the Antichrist and Israel.
I
personally believe Christ's return will occur after Russia is destroyed, as I
explain more fully later. I am convinced that the destruction of Russia
will
appear as a supernatural event that will cause all the world to know that God
has acted. During the aftermath of this catastrophe, millions of people
will
seek the Lord. In fact, the greatest soul harvest in the history of mankind may
result from that moment of divine retribution. If so, there will be
a
need for harvesters. Because this event takes place before Israel's conversion
and the sealing of the 144,000 during the first half of the tribulation,
who
will be better equipped to do the harvesting than the church of Jesus Christ
and its worldwide host of missionaries?
I
will display my glory among the nations, and all the nations will see the
punishment I inflict and the hand I lay upon them [Gog, the chief prince of
Russia,
and the spirit of the evil one that indwells him, along with Russia and her
allies] (Ezekiel 39:21).
For
1,900 years the God of the universe has been silent-at least in ways our
sophisticated world can understand. The apostle Peter warned: "First of
all,
you
must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and
following their own evil desires. They will say, 'Where is this
"coming" he
promised?
Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning
of creation"' (2 Peter 3:3,4).
The
secular humanist intellectuals of our day are among the greatest scoffers the
world has ever known. Unless they see a worldwide flood, a Moses who rolls
back
the Red Sea, the ten plagues of Egypt, the daily manna sent down from heaven to
feed three million Jews, the closed mouth of Daniel's lions or the
fiery
furnace that cannot destroy the three Hebrew children they will not believe in
a supernatural God.
It
is easier for these skeptics to look up at the stars and announce
"accident," survey the marvels of nature and proclaim
"spontaneous life," analyze the
amazing
human body and conclude "evolution" than to profess God. The Bible
calls such people fools: "The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God.'
They
are
corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good" (Psalm
14:1).
We
have already noted two of God's purposes for destroying the invading armies of
Russia and their allies:
1.
To judge Magog (Russia) and Gog (the chief prince of Russia and the spirit that
drives all evil leaders).
2.
To save the nation of Israel politically and spiritually.
Now
we should examine the most important reason of all: "And the nations will
know that I am the LORD'' (NASB). Eight times in Ezekiel 38-39 God announces
that
this is His true purpose in destroying the invading forces of Russia (see
38:16,20; 38:23; 39:6; 39:7; 39:21; 39:221 39:27,28). God, in remaining
generally
silent for the past 1,900 years, has chosen to make the skeptics believe in Him
by faith rather than by physical demonstration. The destruction
of
Russia will be a striking exception.
This
world has known many memorable days: the creation of the earth, the flood in
the days of Noah, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Since then,
nothing
in the physical world shows the irrefutable hand of God in terms that the most
sophisticated unbeliever can understand. When our Lord walked on
the
earth, He performed such mighty miracles that even His greatest enemies had to
acknowledge that He was endowed with supernatural power. People who
saw
Him walk on water, calm the troubled storms, multiply a boy's lunch to feed
thousands of people, heal all manner of diseases, cast out demons, and
even
raise the dead were forced to admit, "No one could perform the miraculous
signs You are doing if God were not with You."
God
has for nearly 20 centuries chosen in His sovereignty to require that man
believe in Him through His printed and spoken word and through the power of
the
Holy Spirit. During this period of time, the Lord has performed millions of
ordinary miracles (for example, miraculous healings and other life-saving
interventions).
But to my knowledge, at no time has He provided an infallible proof miracle---one
that would force even the greatest skeptic to acknowledge
the
supernatural existence of God. However, one day God will perform an infallible
proof miracle: the destruction of Russia's invading armies on the mountains
of
Israel.
Through
the tremendous communication technologies that continue to develop, every
country of the world will receive the electrifying news that God has destroyed
Russia's
invading hordes.
The
aftermath of such an event can only fulfill the purpose of God when the
millions of souls who have been deceived by secular humanist philosophy
suddenly
realize
that a supernatural God reigns over the universe. I have no question that
literally multiplied millions will be driven to their knees to call upon
the
name of the Lord. Those who have heard the gospel prior to that time may
spontaneously look to the Lord for salvation. Others will need the printed
page-the
Word of God, church services, television and radio programming and personal
witnessing.
I
find that many unsaved souls are becoming intrigued by Bible prophecy today and
are more open to accepting the claims of Christ. As a result of reading
the
Left Behind series of prophetic novels about the end times (Tim LaHaye/Jerry
Jenkins), many readers are receiving Christ and many others are rededicating
their
lives to winning others to Him. The reasons are threefold, I believe: 1) the
realism with which the events are depicted; 2) the dawn of the new millenium;
and
3) the obvious signs of the Lord's soon return. As one writer says, "These
are indeed the times of the signs!" If we are seeing such incredible
results
already,
can you imagine the number that would respond to the Savior as a result of
Russia and its hordes being destroyed in an obvious display of supernatural
power
on the mountains of Israel?
We
must not be confused about these future events. They are not harbingers of a
worldwide revival. In fact, nothing in the prophetic Scriptures indicates
that
the world will get better and better at the end time. Instead, it teaches quite
the opposite-that "perilous times shall come" (2 Timothy 3:1 KJV).
In
the same way that the skeptical Pharisees of Jesus' day observed His
supernatural demonstrations of power and rejected Him, so millions of people
will
spurn
the truth after God's striking intervention in that day. We may hope and pray
that more than a billion souls will call upon the name of the Lord,
but
what about the other three to four billion people on the earth? Very likely,
the majority will heed the lying devices of Satan and begin to explain
away
those supernatural events. In the final analysis, it is not enough just to
believe in the supernatural power of God; one must repent of his sins and
surrender
his will to God. And that humble gesture clashes with man's innate sense of
pride.
No
human being can long entertain the conflict of mind between what he truly
believes and what he does. For example, many people reject the Lord today,
not
for lack of evidence, but for love of sin. As Peter has warned, "Scoffers
will come ... following their own evil desires." And rather than give up
self-love
to follow their beliefs, many will change their beliefs to justify their lusts.
During
the crucial days after this memorable moment in world history, there will be
two realms of action: the political and the spiritual. Politically,
as
we have already seen, the world will amalgamate into a universal kingdom and
prepare for the reign of the Antichrist. How long that will take no one
knows;
it is doubtful whether it will extend to more than a decade.
In
that same era, many people will come to grips with the spiritual significance
of the events and welcome salvation, but the majority will not. The current
status
of people who will witness the events of that day determines in large part what
they will do. If they have already heard the gospel countless times
and
have not responded to it, they likely will not respond this time either.
Abraham said to the rich man in Luke 16:31: "If they do not listen to Moses
and
the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the
dead." Probably the billion or so people who I pray will respond to Christ
will
be those who are being deceived now about the existence of God or who have
never heard the truth.
If
[we] confess with [our] mouths, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in [our]
hearts that God raised him from the dead, [we will be] saved. For it is with
[the]
heart
that [we] believe and are justified, and it is with [the] mouth that [we]
confess and are saved (Romans 10:9,10).
As
we approach the dawn of a new millennium, the nation of Russia is falling on
hard times. In spite of the massive bailouts and handouts from their many
liberal
socialist friends in our government and on Wall Street, that nation's tightly
controlled communist type of economy is plunging the nation into dire
poverty.
Many Russians still do not have adequate jobs, housing and food, which is
always a formula for a revolution or a takeover by a dictator. Popular
hard-core
communists, including General Alexander Lebed, are waiting for the opportunity
to become leaders of Russia if Yeltsin should stumble, die or
resign.
These leaders would undoubtedly lead the country in a more militant and
aggressive manner. General Lebed is very popular with the 55 million Muslims
of
the country and could easily wield the force to go down and attack Israel.
Regardless
of who the Russian leader is, no economist sees any way the Russian economy can
improve without the grant of more freedom, which communists are
usually
unwilling to give. Consequently, Russia has lost its superpower status due to
economic troubles, and will, if continuing in its present direction,
soon
become a third-world country without the resources to fulfill the prophecies of
Ezekiel. How long can the soft-core communist leadership or even a
hard-core
replacement continue? Only God knows- perhaps ten years or so; but, unless
there are massive changes in the country soon, it will be too late.
By
then Russia will be so bankrupt it will not be able to fulfill its prophetic
destiny, which means one thing loud and clear: Very soon Russia can be
expected
to seize the moment and look greedily on the little nation of Israel. The
Russians would fan anti-Semitic fervor among their Arab allies and fulfill
the
attack of Ezekiel 38 and 39, as predicted 2,500 years ago.
Late
in 1997, one of the most reliable Middle East sources of information, The
Intelligence Digest, actually predicted that Russia and its Arab friends
would
attack Israel within 18 to 36 months. Conditions have arisen that have
lengthened that time frame temporarily, but the fact that people are even
thinking
about it publicly is most significant. One thing you can count on is that
Russia and its allies will soon go down to attack Israel. The Bible
predicts
it and the time could be very close at hand. And so could the rapture of the
church, either before or after it takes place. Make sure you are ready
in
either case!