Incredible Turn of Events in the Middle East

What is the purpose of a peace treaty?

Undoubtedly, your response to this question would be, “Seriously? What kind of question is that?” And you would be right. That peace is the incontestable ideal and exclusive end of any treaty of peace is as plain as the opposite result of a peace treaty producing war is perplexing.

Thus, it’s inconceivable that a peace treaty would be an instant guarantee of war. But that’s exactly what will happen soon after believers the world over are taken from this earth at the Rapture, which could happen any day … even while you’re reading this article. In last week’s Eye of Prophecy article, we covered this seven-year treaty in detail, including the conditions it will create; thereby, enticing the Gog/Magog coalition to suddenly attack Israel. Then a year or two after the ill-fated Gog/Magog invasion of Israel, the author of the treaty (Antichrist Nero) will himself break the agreement half-way through it.

Because of the false sense of security created by this peace agreement, the Jews will be caught perilously off guard. Let’s read again what The Lord says to a conceited Gog and Gog’s arrogant Magog allies:

“Get ready; be prepared! Keep all the armies around you mobilized, and take command of them … In the distant future you will swoop down on the land of Israel, which will be enjoying peace after recovering from war and after its people have returned from many lands to the mountains of Israel” (Ezekiel 38:7-8).

We read why an overconfident Gog of the land of Magog (Russia) and other smug countries like Iran and Turkey will pounce on Israel:

“You will say, ‘Israel is an unprotected land filled with unwalled villages! I will march against her and destroy these people who live in such confidence! I will go to these formerly desolate cities that are now filled with people who have returned from exile in many nations. I will capture vast amounts of plunder, for the people are rich with livestock and other possessions now. They think the whole world revolves around them!’” (Ezekiel 38:11-12).

The Gog/Magog coalition will take advantage of Israel’s “confidence” generated because the Israelis, “…are living in peace in their land” (Verse 14). What better time to strike than when your victim is not expecting any aggression, thus, woefully unprepared? We also see two malicious motives that seduce Russia, Iran, and Turkey: (1) to capture vast amounts of plunder. (2) The deep animosity of these wicked nations toward the Jews compounded by a jealous hatred which claims that Israel, thinks the whole world revolves around them.

See Eye of Prophecy article, Gog, Magog, and Leviathan (posted 1-3-15) for, among other things, some remarkable repercussions of the natural gas fields discovered and now in production by Israel that will be an irresistible incentive for Gog to invade Israel.

(Leviathan Natural Gas Field in the Mediterranean Sea)

Here is an excerpt from last week’s article, The Peace Treaty That Will Guarantee War:

In just the last few months and weeks, Russia, Iran, and Turkey have “mobilized their armies” and have taken “command of them” in Syria, which borders Israel. Although the mobilization is limited, the fact remains that for the first time in history these three Magog nations are conducting military operations in the Middle East. Unmistakably, this is the beginning fulfillment of Ezekiel’s astounding prophecy. It’s just a matter of (a short) time before the full military might of Russia, Iran, Turkey, and other nations descend on Israel to completely bring about the Gog/Magog prophecy.

Burgeoning Alliance between Russia, Iran, and Turkey

The countdown to the Gog/Magog invasion of Israel has begun; with each new prophetic tick-of-the-clock development taking place more rapidly than ever before. Once the fulfillment of a Biblical prophecy begins, it increases with rapid-fire frequency and intensity. This is true for any number of Bible prophecies, especially end-times events such as the rebirth of the Sovereign State of Israel in 1948. In fact, all of the last day’s prophecies leading to the Rapture, the Great Tribulation—which includes the Gog/Magog campaign in the first year or so of the Tribulation—and the Millennium will continue to unfold in one generation. Here we are using Scripture’s two literal definitions of a generation … 100 years and 70 years.

(Please see Eye of Prophecy article, The Omega Generation, posted 2-15-14 for some extraordinary evidence to show that the two generational milestones began in 1917 and in 1947, respectively).

“Then he (Jesus) gave them this illustration: ‘Notice the fig tree, or any other tree. When the leaves come out, you know without being told that summer is near. In the same way, when you see all these things taking place, you can know that the Kingdom of God is near. I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass from the scene until all these things have taken place’” (Luke 21:29-32).

As stated with Scripture-based authority in last week’s article, “Folks, we are that generation. The 21^st century fig tree has sprouted into full bloom. Messiah’s return is very near.”

Let’s examine some of the fascinating, yet ominous, developments that have taken place so very recently between the three main Gog/Magog nations.

Russia and Iran

We’ll begin with an excerpt (in italics) from an Eye of Prophecy article, Beginning of the End, posted on 3-5-16, for a brief overview of the late 20^th and early 21^st century alliance between Russia and Iran, one that has turned avowed adversaries into “strange bedfellows.”

The two most powerful nations referenced in Ezekiel’s predictions are Russia, by clear inference, and Iran, by actual name. Once enemies by virtue of the Iranian’s (Persians) national adherence to Islam, directly opposed to Russia’s atheistic communism, Iran is now an ally of Russia. They have set aside their differences for the common cause of establishing a footing in the region, under the pretense of supporting Bashar Assad and his Syrian government. Russia’s main agenda is to take over the gas fields off the coast of Israel and newly discovered oil reserves in Israel. Iran’s objective is much less subtle. Their hatred of Jews and Israel has been repeatedly voiced by their leaders with genocidal threats to: Wipe Israel from the face of the earth.

To demonstrate how much stronger this unlikely alliance between Russia and Iran is getting: Less than a month ago, for the first time ever, Iran permitted a foreign nation’s (Russia, of course) fighter bombers and jets to take off from Iran’s Hamedan Air Base. If you’ve kept up with just a little of what’s happening in the Middle East, you’ll know that this military liaison between Russia and Iran pretentiously serves the purpose of striking ISIS targets in Syria. Because both Iran and Russia support the Syrian Government still led by Bashar Assad, they also bomb and strafe Syrian rebel militia fighting against Assad. These freedom fighters are supported by the United States and some Western nations. Although Iran subsequently restricted Russia’s use of the air field to refueling only, the sure fulfillment of the Gog/Magog prophecy will eventually lead to unhindered cooperation between these two nations. Their anti-God (of the Bible) and anti-Israel agenda will override any differences.

The following is a thumb nail line-up of the major players vying for supremacy in Syria, including their involvement (for or against) with Russia and Iran … also Turkey.

Syrian Government: Bashar Assad’s fractured, but still formidable, regime composed mostly of Alawite Muslims, backed by some foreign Shi’ite Muslim fighters sponsored by Iran and by Russia. The two main groups supporting Assad are the Syrian Armed Forces (Assad’s original army) and the National Defense Forces—a paramilitary organization backed by Iran, Hezbollah of Lebanon, and elements of the Iran Revolutionary Guard. Their enemy is all of the Syrian opposition militia and the Islamic State.

Syrian Democratic Forces: An alliance of Syrian Kurdish and Arab forces assembled mainly by the United States to fight ISIS. However, these forces are now led by the YPG, the Syrian arm of the Kurdish Worker’s Party in Turkey, which both Turkey and the U.S. classify as a terrorist organization. The Syrian Democratic Forces are working directly with Russia and has maintained relations with the Syrian government. Its main enemies are ISIS, the anti-Assad Syrian opposition, and Turkey itself.

Syrian Opposition Groups: There are a myriad of individual militias in Syria composed mostly of Arabs, Sunni Muslims, Druze, and Kurds. Some of these groups are also considered to be terrorist’s cells, such as the Nusra Front (an offshoot of al-Qaida, now called Jabhat Fatah al-Sham); Ahrar al-Sham (allies include Turkey and Qatar); Jaish al-Islam (allies include Saudi Arabia and Turkey). Their main enemies are Assad and his Syrian Government, Russia, Iran, Syrian Democratic Forces, Hezbollah, and, of course, ISIS.

Southern Front: This is the main (anti-Syrian government) alliance that includes the Free Syrian Army whose allies are The United States, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Jordan, and Turkey. Their two main enemies have been Assad’s Syrian government and ISIS, but also include Russia, Iran, and Hezbollah.

Islamic State (ISIS): Their enemies are all of the above!

(*Note: Although I have mentioned some of these groups in prior Eye of Prophecy posts, for purpose of today’s article, I used a column in USA Today written by Oren Dorrell, published 9-6-16, that presented a summary of the warring factions in Syria).

Here is another excerpt from Beginning of the End, to further illustrate the complex array of nations and blocs waging war primarily in Syria, but also Iraq. Beginning with a quote from a Rabbi:

As Jerusalem-based well-known scholar and author Rabbi Nachman Kahana recently opined: “One needs a scorecard to keep track of the sides and the initiatives of what is now transpiring in the Arab Gehennom (Hell) of the Middle East.”

Then my analogy expressed in that same article, depicting this Middle East quagmire:

A group mud-wrestling brawl, a bumper-car melee, or a free-for-all bar fight metaphor comes to mind, but only with regard to the bizarre, almost comical alignment of nations, ethnic groups, and terrorist cells. Otherwise any such analogy doesn’t come close to explaining the devastating death and destruction (over a quarter million killed thus far in Syria); nor the massive displacement of millions of Syrians into refugee status; nor the imminent threat of global war if just one of the more prominent nations like Russia, Iran, Turkey, or the United States gets truly serious about whether Assad should remain in power or not.

Unlike the United States engagement in Afghanistan and Iraq where the number of U.S. Coalition and enemy casualties have been periodically listed, there is no ongoing media reports identifying the number of combatant casualties in Syria, and certainly not categorizing which fighting group the slain soldiers belong to. We can only imagine the number of friendly fire casualties. Half the time the fighters probably don’t know for sure who they’re shooting at or who’s shooting at them.

Many of the troops are wondering: “Who are we fighting today?”

It is as the British are prone to say: A bloody mess … literally.

Fortunately for our United States pilots, there is Air Control coordination with Russia to avoid mid-air collisions and the bombing of “friendly targets.” But then, friendly is in the eye of the beholder!

Despite the incredible spectacle of Russia and the United States fighting against a common enemy (ISIS), the somber reality remains: Russia and Iran are being joined at the hip. With Russia and the United States teetering on the brink of another cold war, one that could get red-hot should so much as an “accidental” downing of an American or Russian plane by the other occur. And with Iran already a sworn enemy of Israel and of the United States, the Nuclear Deal notwithstanding.

To add fuel to what has in a very short time become a smoldering (controlled … for now) burn, one that could instantly become a roaring military blaze, here is a quote from a Prophecy News Watch article published this past Wednesday, entitled Russia Prepares for War.

“According to US State Department figures released in March, 2016, Russia has added 150 new warheads (mostly tactical nuclear) to its arsenal in the past year while the US shrank its stockpile by 57 … Recently leaked plans show submarine drones capable of launching nuclear missiles. Also, a reported new stealth nuclear missile and warhead, called Satan-2, is designed to evade radar detection systems. Both hint at Russia’s intent to bolster its strategic nuclear power.”

Commentary: A stealth nuclear missile/warhead called Satan-2? What a fitting name! A stealth weapon named after Satan, the master of deception and destruction.

Russia and Turkey

Next, is the unimaginable reconciliation between Turkey and Russia? It was only last November that Turkey shot down a Russian warplane that allegedly strayed into Turkish airspace. The infuriated Russian President Vladmir Putin immediately leveled economic sanctions against Turkey, which cost the Turkish economy billions of dollars. The sabre rattling of the two nations against each other was heard around the world, to include absurd boasts by Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that Russia was no match for Turkish military power!

In the article, Beginning of the End (March, 2016) I made this observation:

Although diplomatic relations between Turkey (the third most prominent nation in this Gog/Magog confederation) and Russia are currently strained, that will change dramatically when Russia covertly, then openly declares its intention to invade Israel. In the classic mode of “if your enemy is also my enemy,” Turkey will go all in with Russia and Iran if it means conquering Israel.

Since that article was posted, the strained relations between Russia and Turkey have, indeed, changed dramatically. This past July, Erdogan apologized for shooting down the Russian warplane; in August he flew to Russia, and shook hands with Putin as a prelude to normalizing diplomatic relations between the two (former) rivals. Subsequently, they have set aside their differences to the point where the Russians not only didn’t oppose Turkey’s entrance into the Syrian civil war just a couple of weeks ago; they welcomed Turkey’s sudden and direct participation.

I certainly am not a prophet. In fact, no one needs to be a prophet to make such forecasts, because they are not (new) predictions at all. The Bible is and contains the full sum of all prophecies relevant to God’s plan for his creation, i.e. everything that God wants us to know. For the things that we don’t know but think we need to know, God’s response is to simply trust him! (Proverbs 3:5-6 and many other verses).

Thus, when I said a few months ago that the strained relations between Russia and Turkey, “will change dramatically when Russia covertly, then openly declares its intention to invade Israel…” I was simply relaying one of the many component parts of the Gog/Magog prophecy. To wit: Turkey will be one of the nations aligned with Russia and Iran when that campaign takes place.

The covert part has recently begun, which is a surprising but sinister turn-of-events alliance between these two nations under the pretense of doing battle against ISIS and for the ostensible purpose of permitting Turkey to join and participate in Russia and Iran’s expanding influence in the Middle East. Soon, this subterfuge will erupt openly into a massive invasion of Israel. That will occur because all of these nations have one (ultimate) malicious mindset: They hate Israel and will do whatever they can to destroy the Jews.

(Recep Erdogan and Vladmir Putin August, 2016 Meeting)

Turkey and Iran

In that same article, Beginning of the End, I also wrote about an improbable joint military exercise (war games) between primarily Saudi Arabia and Turkey that took place this past February, called Northern Thunder. It was meant to be a show of force directly against Syrian President Assad and indirectly against Iran, which supports and subsidizes Assad in Syria and Iran’s puppet regime Hezbollah in Lebanon.

(Note: Since Israel’s last war with Hezbollah in 2006, Hezbollah has amassed an even larger stockpile of missiles … some 100,000, many with a greater load and distance capacity. Next to Iran, Israel considers Hezbollah as its most formidable foe).

Just like Erdogan of Turkey and Putin of Russia have cozied themselves and their countries together; in just the past three weeks, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Zarif (the same Iranian official who met with the P5 + 1 nations to seal the Iranian nuclear deal last year) met with his Turkish counterpart, Mevlut Cavusoglu. In a joint press conference, Zarif announced that Iran has every intention of resolving all remaining disputes with Turkey.

Emboldened by its sudden reconciliation with Russia and Iran, Turkey just a few days ago sent tanks and soldiers into Syria, to ostensibly strike at ISIS targets. However, as any of us who monitors the pulse of the Middle East knows: Turkey’s main interest was to attack the Kurds who seek their own independent state.

Turkey’s incursion into Syria and the Turks newfound affinity for the Russians pleases Iran to no end. In his Gatestone Institute article published August 26^th, Burak Bekdil quotes Meira Svirsky at the Clarion Project: “Not only will Turkey have to digest that (Russian-Iranian-Syrian) line, it will have to join it, entering into a pact with Putin and the ayatollahs. Clearly this is where Erdogan has decided is the best place to pledge his allegiance.”

All the while, Turkey’s relations with the United States and the European Union is cooling considerably, not far from the freezing point.

Burak Bekdil goes on to write:

“Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that Turkey and Russia have similar views on the need for a ceasefire in Syria, the provision of humanitarian aid, and a political solution to end the crisis. That must have caused shy smiles in Moscow: the Turkish John Wayne on his knees begging to work on Syria only months after he threatened to shoot down any Russian aircraft and kick the Russians out of Syria. Now Turkey is calling on Russia to team up and carry out joint military operations in a bid to crush ISIS in Syria.”

My commentary: Meanwhile, the Ayatollah, the Iranian imams, and Iran’s Revolutionary (Republican) Guard are dancing and singing in their mosques to the menacing music of, Let’s take Syria, then Israel, then the United States, the great Satan!

(Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Troops)

In the online news source Israel Hayom, columnist Zalman Shoval posted an article on August 23, 2016 entitled: The Unholy Trinity. As you may have already surmised, the subject was that of Russia, Iran, and Turkey’s swift and surprising diplomatic and now military ties between each of these nations. This unholy trinity is an apt description. The very fact that these three nations have agreed to resolve or at least set aside all differences is a seemingly stunning shift in Middle East balance of power as seen by national leaders the world over, particularly geopolitical experts.

Stunning? Perhaps? But when placed in the sweeping context of Bible prophecy it’s nothing more than another piece of the prophetic puzzle put into place. Stunning, nevertheless, in the speed at which all these things are happening. Parts of the prophetic puzzle that formerly took centuries, then decades to fit together, are now taking only months, weeks, and days. Which is why the Bible describes the last days by the shorter time frame of, The Day of the Lord and the hour is at hand.

The Time is So Very Near!

Listen to these astounding words of Messiah Jesus, some of which include the first reference to the Rapture itself:

“When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered the boat. People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes. Two men will be working together in the field; one will be taken, the other left. Two woman will be grinding flour at the mill; one will be taken, the other left. So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming” (Matthew 24:37-42).

Then a short while later Jesus repeats his warning: “So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return” (Matthew 25:13, italics for emphasis).

Thus, when the signs that Jesus gave—which are to be combined with all of the prophecies given by the prophets and apostles, for “this generation” (what I have called the Omega Generation)—begin to unfold, the time of his reappearance is reduced to, “the day and hour.”

As indicated in last week’s article, the best analogy to describe our post-modern shrinking world and the geopolitical and military spasms that shake media headlines almost daily, is none other than the birth contractions of a woman in labor … exactly the comparison made by Jesus to describe events of the last days.

Israel’s Peace Initiatives with Russia and Turkey

Yet another remarkable development is Israel’s recent policy to establish and/or improve diplomatic relations with Russia and Turkey, spearheaded by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu himself. Over the past several months, Netanyahu has met several times with Russian President Putin.

Likewise, this past June, Israel and Turkey reestablished diplomatic ties; both nations proposing mutual cooperation in matters of economic, political, and cultural matters. For example: Israel promised to supply Turkey (as well as Egypt) with energy resources from the Leviathan natural gas field in the Mediterranean Sea.

From the internet news source Israel Hayom, contributing author Isi Leibler writes in his article of July 13, 2016:

“The Netanyahu government is moving away from what was hitherto almost total dependency on the United States and is seeking to bolster relations with other countries. These efforts have been accelerated by the Obama administration’s undisguised attempts to create daylight in its relationship with Israel to appease Muslim states hostile to Israel, in particular the Iranian terrorist state.

“Today Israel welcomes alliances based on pragmatic mutual economic, political or defense interests. Turkey fits into this category, as do a number of Arab countries threatened with Islamic State or Iranian hegemony. Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states, at least for now, are willing to covertly benefit from an Israel military presence in the region.”

Then later in his article, Leibler writes:

“Our most extraordinary, even dazzling, relationship is with the Russians. Who could have envisioned that a former KGB officer, now president of Russia, would hold more annual meetings with the Israeli prime minister than the U.S. president does? And that this Russian president would speak in endearing terms about the Jews in his country and his admiration for Israel…”

Israel has also enhanced international interactions with China, India, and several African countries.

Quoting columnist Zalman Shoval in the aforementioned article, The Unholy Trinity:

“The fact that Turkey, Russia (now Israel’s ally) and Iran (a supporter of global terrorism and Hezbollah’s patron) are establishing practical understandings should raise red flags in Israel and make it clear that we must address this new reality in a practical, thoughtful way, looking at the situation from all sides.”

Israel has already been doing what Shoval recommended. In addition to strengthening ties with Russia and Turkey (two of the three prominent nations to turn on Israel as part of the Gog/Magog coalition), Israel is responding favorably to more friendly diplomatic gestures from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Egypt. Certainly, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu understands the underlying motive of these nations—to seek Israel’s protection against the Iranian threat. He fully realizes that Muslim people, as a whole, in these countries still despise the Jews and Israel. Yet, Benjamin recognizes the volatile times and the need to establish closer ties with government leaders of surrounding nations as a practical means to the passionate pursuit of Israel—peace with its enemies.

For example: Dr. Anwan Eshki, a Saudi Arabia retired general has met with Israeli officials to promote diplomatic cooperation between Israel and Saudi Arabia. Wrote Khaled Abu Toameh in an August 8, 2016 article for Gatestone Institute entitled, The “Anti-Normalization” Campaign and Israel’s Right to Exist:

“Arabs and Muslims are up in arms over a controversial visit to Israel by … Dr. Anwar Eshki, who is being accused of promoting ‘normalization with the Jews and the Zionist entity.’ Then, Khaled Toameh comments: “If ‘normalization’ with Israel is being denounced as a major crime and sin, one can only imagine what ‘peace’ with Israelis would be considered in the Arab and Islamic countries.”

(Israeli Official Dore Gold & Retired Saudi Arabia General Anwan Eshki)

Likewise with Egypt. Columnist, Bassam Tawil writes in another Gatestone Institute article published on August 15, 2016 entitled, Egypt’s Crucial Role in the Middle East:

“The visit of Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry to Israel in early July 2016 could be an indication that the frozen peace between Israel and Egyptians, signed by Begin and Sadat in 1979, might be thawing.”

(Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry Meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu)

The remarkable reality that Israel has suddenly and dramatically improved her standing with a diverse array of nations, most of which were (and still are to varying degrees) staunch opponents to the existence of a Jewish State, fits precisely into our prophecy of the day … the Gog/Magog attack against Israel. These maneuvers for peace between Israel and adversarial Islamic nations will pave the way for The Treaty to End All Treaties!

That treaty effected by Antichrist Nero soon after the Rapture will not only bring together two ancient enemies (Jews and Arabs); it will also defuse hostilities of other nations toward Israel … even Iran.

But only for a short time!

Because at that time, which is just around the corner, Russia, Turkey, Iran and other lesser nations will, “swoop down on the land of Israel … You (Gog) and all your allies—a vast and awesome army—will roll down on them like a storm and cover the land like a cloud” (Ezekiel 38:8-9).

This massive Gog/Magog invasion of Israel will be a direct “shock and awe” aftermath of: The Rapture disappearance of hundreds of millions from planet Earth (shock). Then the spectacular reappearance of Nero Caesar from the Abyss and his impressive treaty with Israel and the nations (awe).

But the Lord will have the final say. Without Israel needing to fight at all, here is what will happen to Gog from Magog—Russia, Turkey, and Iran when they dare take on God’s special possession, Israel:

“But this is what the Sovereign Lord says: When Gog invades the land of Israel, my fury will boil over! In my jealousy and blazing anger, I promise a mighty shaking in the land of Israel on that day … all the people on earth 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 on all the hills of Israel, says the Sovereign Lord. Your men will turn their swords against each other. I will punish you and your armies with disease and bloodshed; I will send torrential rain, hailstones, fire, and burning sulfur! In this way, I will 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” (Ezekiel 38:18-23, italics for emphasis).

Did you catch the italicized words? What will begin as an apparently indissoluble coalition of nations aligned against Israel will dissolve irreparably by a combination of God’s divine display of nature’s power and each of the Gog nations turning on each other.

Things to Ponder

Our Great and Glorious God—the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and the Father of our Sovereign Savior and Lord, Messiah Yeshua—has a wonderful way of simplifying and solving the complicated mess we’ve made of and on planet Earth.

Nationally: According to Scripture, God reduces all countries into two groups. Those that bless and support Israel and those that despise and curse Israel (Genesis 12:3). History is littered with the rubble of nations who have harmed Israel.

Individually: The human race is also divided into two groups. God does not look at us through the problematic prism of race, language, culture, religion, or status.

God loves everyone equally (John 3:16).

But God is also holy and righteous and just. Every person who has ever lived has sinned and fallen far short of the righteousness required to live forever with God in heaven (Romans 3:23). Hence, God sent his Son, Messiah Jesus, to pay the penalty for our sins and give us His righteousness, for we have none of our own.

“As the Scriptures say, ‘No one is righteous—not even one’” (Romans 3:10, quoting Psalm 14:2-3).

“The Lord is Our Righteousness” (Jeremiah 23:6).

“For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ” (II Corinthians 5:21).

Everyone must make a decision to believe in Christ and receive his salvation (right standing with God) or not to believe and receive, and remain in their sins. Therefore, all people on earth are either saved or unsaved (from the penalty of sin). Accordingly, there are two places where everyone will spend eternity: In heaven with God; or, in the Lake of Fire without God.

The following two passages highlight the distinction and destiny of every person on earth:

Believers: “We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. So encourage each other with these words” (I Thessalonians 4:15-18).

Unbelievers: “Then everyone—the kings of the earth, the rulers, the generals, the wealthy, the powerful, and every slave and free person—all hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. And they cried to the mountains and the rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. For the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to survive?’” (Revelation 6:15-17).

Said Messiah Jesus: “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish…” (John 10:27-28).

“But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left” (Matthew 25:31-33).

In all seriousness, you don’t want to be a goat.