WILL THE ISLAMIC NATIONS UNITE, ATTACK ISRAEL AND TRIGGER WW III?

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WILL THE ISLAMIC NATIONS UNITE, ATTACK ISRAEL AND TRIGGER WW III?

For many years the nations of the world paid little attention to what went on in the Middle East. It was considered to be merely an arid wasteland that held little interest for the rest of the world. Once it had been the cradle of civilization, the throne room of the world's greatest empires, but gradually, with the passing of time, its lofty power and glory diminished and ultimately vanished completely. Where once had stood its magnificent walled cities there now remained only crumbling piles of stone, Except for a few insignificant cities that still remained, these endless miles of shifting sand, and barren rocky wasteland had become the homeland for wandering tribes of Bedouins trying to eke out a living from their meager herds of goats and flocks of sheep. To most nations the Middle East was nothing more than an undesirable piece of real estate in an unimportant part of the world.

But then ... practically overnight .... the unexpected happened and the entire status of the Middle East immediately CHANGED! Like the fabled Phoenix of old, the sleeping giant began rising from the sands of obscurity to once again become a region of worldwide importance.

And what was it that caused this swift and amazing transformation? Outsiders from the west discovered that beneath those arid desert sands of the Mideast there lies what may well be the greatest deposit of oil in the world.

Unfortunately, however, right along with the upsurge of prosperity and worldwide influence there has also arisen old hatreds, religious intolerance, wars, and terrorism on a massive scale. At present the entire Islamic Middle East has become a seething cauldron of turmoil and a threat to all those outside of the Islamic camp. In the meantime, all around the world unanswered questions continue to mount: What is the solution to the ongoing problem of Iraq? How can the wave of Islamic terrorism be stopped? Will the nations of Islam finally unite and attempt to invade and exterminate every Jew? Is it possible that such an attack could ignite the fuse of World War III? Will God intervene and ring down the curtain on the stage of world events?

It should come as no surprise that many feel we may well be on the road leading to Armageddon. A recent article in the Washington Times announced that here in our own country forty per cent of Americans believe that supernatural intervention will soon bring an end to human history.

If only it were possible to know the answers to the above questions a whole lot of people would be able to sleep much, much better. And because of these very things, a fresh interest in the prophecies of the Bible has arisen. Many today are now searching its pages to see if they can find something there that can shed some light on what the future holds.

Mankind has always been interested in knowing the future. But recent world events in the Middle East have definitely kindled a renewed surge of interest in what the Bible has to say about it. One prophecy in particular is drawing a great deal of attention and being examined very closely. It's found in the book of Ezekiel and it foretells the very problems that are taking place in the Middle East today.

THE PROPHECY OF EZEKIEL 38 AND 39

Thousands of years ago Ezekiel prophesied that, in the closing days of this age, an amazing event will occur in and around the land of Palestine. He foretells that a number of Middle East nations will join together, combine their vast armies and launch a massive attack against the Jews. He even lists the names of the countries involved, and says that the attack will come as a complete surprise. He also predicts that it will occur at a time when Israel will be left without any adequate defense. Total and certain annihilation will be facing the tiny nation, and to the whole world it will be self evident that Israel's doom is sealed.

But, by no means does the story end there. In the ensuing passages of the prophecy Ezekiel describes an unexpected and shocking turn of events; they will be so amazing that they will leave the rest of the world gaping in astonished disbelief! Let's look at the opening words of his prophecy, and examine its message for ourselves.

"The Word of the Lord came to me: "Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land Magog the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal; prophecy against him and say:'This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. 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, hall of them brandishing their swords. 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.

Get ready; be prepared you and all the horde gathered about you, and take command of them. 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." Ezekiel 38:1-8a

In reading the words of Ezekiel's prophecy we find their focus is on the tiny nation of Israel, a country roughly the size of our own tiny state of Rhode Island. Though small and seemingly insignificant, Israel's borders have been overrun with invading armies, its soil soaked with blood, as nation after nation has fought to possess it. Why has it been contested over by so many? And why is it that in our own day it's still a region over which nations all around the globe would be willing to go to war? The answer to that question involves multiple reasons.

For one thing it has been the recognized land bridge connecting Europe, and the Middle East to the continent of Africa. Down through the centuries the armies of the world have crossed and re-crossed its soil leaving a blood soaked trail in their wake. Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome, the Moslem armies, the British, all these have marched their troops across Israel's borders and left behind freshly spilled blood.

Some went purely for conquest, some claimed it was over issues of religion, and now today a new feature has been added to the list ... the discovery of Black Gold in the regions nearby.

In this day and time OIL is the magic fluid which the nations of the world MUST have to stay afloat economically and militarily. It is the irreplaceable fluid that turns the wheels of industry, and makes it possible for any nation's to maintain their military power. No oil ----no trucks, tanks, planes, or weapons. Without it a nation can be rendered helpless in a relatively short time.

Israel's misfortune is that it just happens to sit astride a region that's strategically near the world's richest oil fields. Any nation controlling that area could use it as a springboard to seriously threaten the flow of oil to the industrial nations that MUST have it to survive. This means that any major attempt to gain ownership or control of the land of Israel would be enough to send the armies of the industrial nations into immediate military action. It's something that cannot be ignored nor tolerated. Israel's location is simply too strategically important.

But there's another fact that cannot be overlooked in the dangerous Middle East equation; the Islamic nations, have openly avowed their hatred with regard to "the infidel nations" of the West, and have made open threats of their intent to see us destroyed. Both America and Great Britain have been particularly singled out as special targets of that hatred. To permit them to occupy Israel's key location would be to seriously endanger the critical flow of oil to the west. Not only would this seriously threaten our economy, but it would also have the potential of absolutely crippling our military defenses. Without oil America and Britain would both become helpless in a short span of time. Therefore, to surrender control of the Mid East, flow of oil could never be permitted to happen.... no matter what the cost. In view of this it's not at all difficult to see why the world is vitally interested in what takes place between Israel and the surrounding hostile nations.

These facts are one reason why Ezekiel's prophecy is of special interest. In that prophecy a startling war is predicted to take place between the Middle East nations and Israel. It is said that it will occur near the end of the age. I believe I am safe in saying that most Christians are in agreement, that we are living very close to that predicted time.

In Ezekiel's prophecy we're told that a massive invading army will be led by a mid-east leader whom the Bible refers to by the cryptic name of Gog. Exactly who this individual will be, we are not told, but we do know that he will be leader of an ancient land that was called Magog. Many present day articles and books declare, with an air of great certainty, that Gog and Magog are Bible terms that positively identify Magog as being Russia. It's said that a multitude of allied nations led by Russia, will descend from the north and seek to invade Israel. More and more this idea is being circulated and many have accepted it as being true without questioning its validity.

But, do those terms really refer to Russia after all? Is there really sufficient evidence to warrant believing that position?" The more I have personally looked at the evidence the more I find that, in my judgment, the facts indicate that those conclusions were not built on solid ground.

These are questions we all must decide for ourselves. Once the evidence has been examined we each need to have the integrity and courage to be true to whatever truth we may discover.

Now, I certainly could be wrong …. I have found that over the years I've had to change my viewpoint about more than one thing. I'm more than ready to consider other evidence if it's fairly and honestly presented and offered in the right spirit. All that I ask in return, is that you look over the following material, and if you find anything there that merits a change of mind, that you have the integrity and courage to be true to whatever truth you may discover.

Let's begin by considering the nations named in Ezekiel's prophecy.

WHAT NATIONS ARE PREDICTED TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS MASSIVE MILITARY EFFORT OF GOG AND MAGOG?

To answer that question it's absolutely necessary to be able to identify the present day names and locations of the countries mentioned in Ezekiel's prophecy. Fortunately, due to the study archaeologists have made over the years, we have much greater input to help us determine the current identity of the ancient nations that are named.

The prophecy states that the leader of this great military coalition is referred to as "Gog" and that he's chieftain over an area called Magog. Moreover, two principle locations are cited within that specific region --- Meshech and Tubal. (See Ezekiel 38:1) Some have claimed that these areas are a definite reference to Russia, and two of her main cities, Moscow and Tobalsk.

BUT IS THERE AMPLE SUPPORT FOR MAKING THIS CLAIM?

Three primary arguments are generally brought out in an effort to support that concept: First of all, in Ezekiel 38:3 the word ''chief' is the Hebrew word rosh which means chief or head. Some see in the word rosh a reference to the modern day nation of Russia. They argue that the word is meant to be used as a noun, thus translating it to say that Gog is "the Prince of Rosh" which they think refers to Russia. But others staunchly believe that rosh should not be translated as a noun but as an adjective. This would then mean that the proper translation is that Gog is "the chief prince or leader of Meshech and Tubal (which is the way that the KJV and the NIV translate it).

The second support given for saying that it means Russia is because at the time when Ezekiel wrote (the sixth century B.C.) there was a group of people living in and around the Caspian Sea who were known as the Rashu, Ros, and Rus. Furthermore, it's said that about 200 B.C. they moved into what later became known as southern Russia. Consequently, some see in this a reference to Russia by equating the names of these ancient Middle East tribes with the modern name of Russia. This is done in spite of the fact that Ezekiel lived and wrote nearly 400 years before these people migrated into what is now southern Russia and no country associated with their name was known to exist during Ezekiel's day.

The third reason cited is that in Ezekiel 38:15 the prophet said that the army of Gog would come "from the far north" which some claim could only mean Russia.

BUT IS RUSSIA LEGITIMATELY FOUND IN THESE PASSAGES?

1) Dr. Charles Dyer in his Book entitled "World News and Bible Prophecy (pg. 110) says,

"How do we approach a passage as complicated as Ezekiel 38 and 39? The key point in interpreting Ezekiel's prophecy is to identify the nations named by Ezekiel. Where were these countries in Ezekiel's day? Was rosh a country, or did Ezekiel use the word as an adjective? We need to interpret the Bible before we look at current events. The countries named by Ezekiel existed in his day. In fact, Moses identified many of the countries nearly 900 years before Ezekiel when he explained to Israel how all nations descended from the sons of Noah. Comparing Moses' list in Genesis 10:2-5 with Ezekiel's list shows many similarities. Both name the nations of Magog, Meshech, Tubal, Gomer, and Togarmah. But the Genesis account knows of no nation named Rosh. Most likely, therefore, Ezekiel used the name as an adjective to describe this leader. He will be the 'head prince' of these other countries." ( Italics and bold print inserted by this author)

2) The following is taken from the writings of Dr. Carl Ludwigson:

"In the Old Testament, the king of the north has reference to the areas of Syria, Turkey, and Iraq. The word north is used of Syria, or the Old Seleucid Empire six times, of Babylon sixteen times, of Assyria one time, and of Iran one time. These are the lands once occupied by Magog, Gomer, Togarmah, Meshech and Tubal." " ... So Ezekiel 38:3 should be read as follows, 'Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the prince, {pause} chief of Meshech and Tubal:' Rosh is not Russia. The Hebrew word 'rosh' is translated head or chief 423 times in the Old Testament. Again, it is absolutely appalling how some scholars can equate the English cognate 'rosh' with Russia. Rosh is not Russia." ( Italics inserted )

3) And what about the argument that says Russian is being identified because of the Scripture that speaks of Gog and says, "You will come from your place in the far north, ( and carries the idea of being "the extreme far north" ) you and many nations with you ..." (Ezekiel 38:15) Wouldn't it be logical to assume that the extreme far north has to be Russia? No. For two reasons:

Number one, the phrase "far north" is found in only three places ---- in Ezekiel 38:15 and 38:6 and in Isaiah 14:13. And the strongest argument that it doesn't necessarily mean an extreme geographical distance is made very clear because of the surrounding verses which say, "Persia, Cush and Put will be with them, all with shields and helmets, also Gomer with all its troops and Beth-Togarmah with all its troops from the far north--- the many nations with you" (Ezekiel 38:6 ) It plainly names Beth-Togarmah as ALSO being from the FAR NORTH . Fortunately there is wide agreement regarding the identity of Beth-Togarmah and it's place of origin: Togarmah's location was in Asia Minor on the upper Euphrates River. Today it would be located in Eastern Turkey, between the Black and Caspian seas (see C. H. Dyer's aforementioned work, pg. 111). East Turkey, of course is located to the south of Russia.

Mark Hitchcock locates it as being "(Til-garimmu -- between ancient Carchemish and Harah) Southern Turkey
Dr. Harry Rimmer says, "Togarmah has always been the land which we now call Armenia. It is so called in the records of Assyria.... Indeed, all Armenian literature refers to the land and its people as "The House of Togarmah".
J. D. Pentecost adds, "...Togarmah. This is generally identified as Turkey or Armenia although it is extended by some to include central Asia."
Timothy Dailey writes, "Thus Beth-Togarmah is located in central Asia Minor. To the Biblical writer "far north" referred to what is now modern Turkey."

And so the current location of Beth-Togarmah is in central Asia Minor which today is modern Turkey and Turkey is NOT extremely far, distant from Israel. So if the term is applied to Turkey here, it should be ample proof that it does not HAVE to always refer to some far, far off region. That being the case, Russian does not HAVE to be the place it is referring to in Ezekiel 38:15. To positively claim otherwise is to stretch the facts.

DOES NORTH MEAN NORTH?

There's another piece of information that also needs to be understood. If there's to be any clear identification of the countries mentioned in Ezekiel's prophecy then we must first realize that when nations are sometimes designated as being to the North of Israel the Bible doesn't always mean that they are geographically located IN A NORTHERLY DIRECTION.

No doubt that at first, that may sound like double talk, but as we'll see, it's absolutely true. The Biblical prophets repeatedly describe cities, lands and invasions as coming from the North when it's plain to see that they originate from the East? The words of the Bible obviously seem to clash with the facts, and such apparent inconsistencies should not be denied nor lightly brushed aside. Some would take delight in saying that the Bible contradicts itself in these instances. But it doesn't. There is good reason for it saying what it says, and we need to understand what that reason is. But first let's look at a few more of the places where the Bible writers appear to have confused the facts.

One clear example is found in Jeremiah 46:24. "The Daughter of Egypt will be put to shame, handed over to the people of the north". This passage refers to the defeat of Pharaoh Necho II at Carchemish in 605 B.C. In this battle Egypt was defeated by the army of Babylon, and once more the military forces of Babylon are said to come from the North. But this presents a problem, because as any map will show, Babylon was NOT located to the NORTH of Egypt but to the Northeast.

In Jeremiah 4:6 Israel is given warning that the Babylonian army will come from the North to attack Judah. "Raise the signal to go to Zion. Flee for safety without delay! For I am bringing disaster from the north, even terrible destruction" BUT ...there can be no doubt that Babylon was clearly located to the EAST of Israel, NOT to the North!

In Ezekiel 26:7 the Bible speaks of the city of Tyre being attacked from the North by Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon. Once again a look at the map plainly shows that Tyre was located on the coast of modern day Lebanon which meant that Babylon was directly to the EAST. It definitely was NOT located to the NORTH of Lebanon. Yet the passage speaks of Babylon striking Tyre from the North".

In Zephaniah 2:13 the prophet speaks of Assyria, and its capital, Nineveh , being to the North of .Israel. Yet a quick check of any map will reveal that Nineveh is not located North of Israel, but directly to the East.

The explanation of these seeming inconsistencies is made clear by Timothy Dailey, author of The Gathering Storm. He says on page 166: "The biblical world is sometimes referred to as "the fertile crescent"--- a curved swath of arable land that follows the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers to northern Syria and then down through the Promised Land.

Pushing into the middle of this boomerang-shaped region is the inhospitable Syrian/Arabian desert. With little water or human settlement, few but the hardy Bedouin would attempt a direct route west from Mesopotamia. Virtually all travelers circumvent the desert, traveling to the north along the fertile crescent. There they find supplies of food and water, as well as the major trading cities of the region.

... The conquering armies of Assyria and Babylon also marched along this route which meant that they entered Israel from the north. This is the meaning of the Hebrew prophets. From the perspective of the Holy Land, the invaders came down from the north, even if their place of origin was actually to the east. Ezekiel is giving the direction of the invasion, NOT the place of the invader's origin."

WHAT PRESENT DAY NATIONS WILL BE INVOLVED IN THIS LAST DAY INVASION?

In Ezekiel 38:1-6 we find several key nations will be involved in the attack on Israel though not all of those mentioned are part of the attacking force.

Meshech and Tubal --- are always associated together in Scripture. Before Ezekiel's day the Assyrians mentioned the land of Tabal next to the land of Musku. Some scholars place these groups in what today is Eastern Turkey.
PERSIA --- Iran (The name was only changed to Iran in 1938)
CUSH --- Sudan
ETHIOPIA --- Ethiopia (part of Cush)
PUT --- Modern day Libya
GOMER --- (Gimmerai) East Turkey near Armenia
TOGARMAH --- writings from 700 yrs. before Ezekiel mention a district and city of Tagarmah in what today would be identified as Eastern Turkey. Beth-Togarmah --- Southern Turkey (formerly Cappadocia --see the aforementioned locale given above)
AMMON, MOAB and EDOM --- Jordan
SHEBA and DEDAN... Arabia near the Red Sea
TARSHISH --- either Spain or Britain
LYDIA and PHRYGIA --- North East Turkey
ARMENIA --- South of the Black Sea and the Caucasus
RUSSIA --- It should be understood that what has been said does not entirely eliminate Russia from being a part of the Asian coalition. A part of the areas that make up the nations of the coalition seem to include a small part of southern Russia. But to mistake that fact and claim that Russia is the prime mover, namely Gog and Magog, is to do an injustice to the overall set of facts.

Incidentally, notice that there are four Islamic nations that will not be taking part in Gog's invasion: EGYPT. SYRIA, JORDAN, and IRAQ. For some reason these nations do not take part in the invasion. This is interesting in the light of what's taking place in those nations today. At this point, however, we can only speculate as to why three of these nations will not be included? It is not hard to see why Iraq is not included; she is to become a major player on the world stage in the last days. But that is another matter too involved to be examined here.

ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTIONS OF ALL IS ---- WHEN WILL THIS INVASION TAKE PLACE?

Could it be during our own lifetime? Knowing the answer to that question might prove to be of inestimable value in the days ahead. Does the Bible give us the answer? Let's look at a few key places in the Bible that bear on that question, and one of them is found in Ezekiel 38:8 and 11.

"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….You will say, 'I will invade a land of unwalled villages; I will attack a peaceful and unsuspecting people --- all of them living without walls, and without gates and bars'."

Clearly these passages indicate that at the time when Gog's armies move to attack Israel, the Jews will be enjoying a time of security and peace. If we can find out exactly when Israel will be dwelling in peace and security it will enable us to pinpoint the time when the invasion will take place. Several theories are involved.

Some have said that Gog's invasion is a part of the end time invasion led by Antichrist, but that idea does not agree with the clue mentioned above. During the last half of the Tribulation Israel will definitely not be living in peace and security. Matthew 24:15-21 says that at the middle of the tribulation Israel will NOT be at peace, but will find it necessary to flee into the wilderness and fort up for 3 and years to escape the murderous forces of the Antichrist.

"So when you see standing in the holy place the abomination that causes desolation, spoken through the prophet Daniel --- let the reader understand --- (Note: This reference to the Abomination of Desolation is alluding to the middle of the tribulation when the Antichrist breaks the treaty, takes over the Jewish temple and announces that he is to be worshipped as God!) let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let no one on the roof of his house go down to take anything out of the house. Set no one in the field go back to get his cloak. How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. For then there will be great distress (tribulation), unequaled from the beginning of the world until now --- and never to be equaled again." Also see Rev. 12:3-6 where we're told that, "The woman" (Israel) "fled into the desert to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days." (Note: According to the Jewish reckoning of time, 1260 days is exactly 3 ½ years)

Most certainly these verses eliminate the possibility that Gog attacks after the middle of the tribulation. Beyond all doubt Israel will definitely NOT be experiencing a time of national peace prior to Armageddon. Also notice that after Armageddon the bodies of the dead attackers are left UNBURIED (Jer. 25:29-33). But Isa. 66:24 tells us that the corpses of Gog's army WILL BE BURIED Ezk. 39:1-6). Therefore, Gog's army is NOT the same army that attacks Israel at the time when Armageddon is taking place.

One final possibility needs to be considered: Could it be at the conclusion of the millennium (the 1000 year period after Jesus returns?). The only other reference in the Bible to "Gog and Magog" is found in Rev. 20:7-9 and it describes the last earthly rebellion by an army that is also called "Gog and Magog". This, however, is an entirely different event from the invasion of Gog spoken of by Ezekiel.

In his book "Things To Come" (Pg. 344-45) J. Dwight Pentecost says:

"There are a number of considerations that make it clear that this invasion by Gog (Ezek. 38) is not the same as the battle of Armageddon (Rev. 16:16). (1) In the battle of Gog definite allies are mentioned, while in Armageddon all nations are engaged (Joel 3:2; Zeph.3:8; Zech. 12:3; 14:4) (2) Gog comes from the north (Ezek. 38:6, 15; 39:2), while at Armageddon the armies come from the whole earth. (3) Gog comes to take a spoil (Ezk. 38:11-12), while at Armageddon the armies come to destroy the people of God. (4) There is a protest against invasion (Ezk. 38:13), but at Armageddon there is no protest for all the nations are joined against Jerusalem. (5) Gog is the head of the armies in his invasion (38:7 R.V.), but at Armageddon the Beast is the head of the invasion (Rev. 19:19).

Other reasons could be cited, but it would strongly appear that the invasion of Gog mentioned in Ezekiel is not scheduled to take place at the conclusion of the millennium.

So where does that leave us. What is the most likely time when Israel will be at peace and Gog's armies will move to attack?

Author Mark Hitchcock sums up the evidence quite well in these words:

"Looking at the situation in the Middle East today, we might legitimately ask, 'When will Israel ever enjoy a time of rest and security like the one described in Ezekiel 38?'
There are only two times in Israel's future when the Bible indicates that she will be at peace. The first is a brief three-and-a-half-year period of peace during the first half of the seven-year Tribulation, which will begin when the Antichrist makes a covenant or peace treaty with Israel (Daniel 9:27).
The second time of peace for Israel will be when the Prince of Peace, the Lord Jesus, returns to earth from heaven to destroy Israel's enemies and inaugurate his one-thousand-year kingdom of peace and joy centered in Israel (see Revelation 19:11-20:10). However, Isaiah 2:4 says explicitly that this time will be a time when there will be no war.
And He will judge between the nations, and will render decisions for many peoples; and they will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, and never again will they learn war.

Putting all these clues together, the only time period in the future that fits the scenario described in Ezekiel 38 is the first half of the tribulation period …."

Bottom line: The only time that Gog's invasion could possibly take place is during the first half of the Tribulation, when Israel is dwelling in peace due to the covenant made with Antichrist. One final question yet remains to be answered …

WHAT WILL BE THE OUTCOME OF THE ATTEMPTED INVASION?

Events on the world stage suggest that the time is fast approaching. What will be the outcome of this concerted effort to destroy Israel?

The move by Gog's military machine will catch Israel totally unprepared. It will be an hour when she will have no adequate defense. Before the Jews can even react to the threat, the invading forces attack from every direction. To the world looking on it seems certain that Israel's doom is sealed.

But God has other plans, and Ezekiel describes precisely how God intervenes. In Ezekiel 38:18-23 we're given the following report:

"But when Gog invades the land of Israel, says the Sovereign LORD, my fury will rise! For in my Jealousy and blazing anger, I promise a mighty shaking in the land of Israel on that day. All living things---all the fish, birds, animals, and people ----will quake in terror at my presence. Mountains will be thrown down; cliffs will crumble; walls will fall to the earth. I will summon the sword against you throughout Israel, says the Sovereign LORD. Your men will turn against each other in mortal combat. I will punish you And your hordes with disease and bloodshed; I will send torrential rain, hailstones, fire, and burning sulfur! Thus will I show my greatness and holiness, and I will make myself known to all the nations of the world. Then they will know that I am the LORD!" NLT

So we see that God describes seven means He will use to rescue His helpless people from Gog's intended slaughter:

1) A HORRIFIC EARTHQUAKE! With a certain victory at their fingertips, Gog's massive war machine is brought to a grinding halt! Great cracks open the earth's surface swallowing tanks, trucks and men! Bridges collapse, buildings disintegrate, roads are torn apart blocking troop movements, the very mountains move, shake and send great boulders crashing to the earth below!

2) INFIGHTING BREAKS OUT BETWEEN THE TROOPS! With communications disrupted central command is lost and confusion is gendered between the armies from various countries. Unsure of what is happening the panicking troops mistakenly begin to fire on their allies. Pandemonium reigns and the death toll begins to mount.

3) IN THE ENSUEING MELEE BIO-CHEMICAL WEAPONS ARE SOMEHOW UNLEASHED CAUSING DEADLY PLAGUE TO BEGIN SWEEPING THROUGH THE ARMY'S RANKS!. The results are devastating! The lethal diseases spread with alarming speed and fires are lit to burn the piles of plague ridden corpses.

4) SUDDENLY TORRENTIAL RAINS BEGIN TO FALL! Troop movements are now at a standstill as bogged down vehicles line what's left of the roads. And then the flash floods and mudslides set in.

5) HAILSTONES – In the Old Testament a story is recounted about God using hailstones against Israel's enemies. Large pieces of ice came hurtling from the sky striking with such deadly force that the Bible says the enemy troops fled from Beth Horon all the way to Azekah. And more of Israel's attackers were killed by the hail than by the swords of Israel's army. Something akin to that is what will happen when Gog's military move against Israel.

6) FIERY DESTRUCTION - Great torrents of fire mixed with molten sulphur will come raining down upon those who came to annihilate the tiny nation of Israel. The destruction can only be imagined, but it is a grim parallel to what happened to Sodom and Gomorrah in the days of Abraham and Lot. Perhaps God will use an underground explosion or an erupting volcano to bring about this judgment; of that we cannot be sure, but one thing we do know ---- when it is all over the Middle Eastern nation's army will have but a small fraction left of the hordes they sent against God's people.

Think about the effect all this will have on the entire Middle East, and think about how the balance of power will shift. Undoubtedly this will pave the way for the Antichrist to solidify his power and move him into a dominant position among the nations. Europe, the Far East, and our own Western world cannot help but be dramatically affected when the Moslem military threat is crushed. The Gog Magog war will change the course of the future for the entire world.

So what difference does all this make to us today?

The nations of the world right now are polarizing into armed camps, many with nuclear and biological potential. Anyone familiar with the Bible cannot help but be aware that we're seeing the exact picture coming together that the Bible said would occur just before this world entered its final countdown. Every one of the nations that are prophesied to be allied with Gog and Magog are even now in the Moslem camp and almost all of them are crying for the blood of Israel. It ought to make us stop and think. We are not talking science fiction here. It's hard cold fact. It's going to happen … and it's not that far off.

Posted by cdrnorth at November 21, 2005 2:30 PM