Amazing 20th & 21st Century Developments
In the 20th century and only eighteen years into the 21st century, Planet Earth has witnessed a phenomenal paradigm predicted in Scripture long ago. This dynamic pattern consists of: (1) last-day’s events impact peoples and nations on a truly global level. (2) When end-times signs unfold, they take place rapidly, on an exponential scale.
Part 1: Global Impact of Last Day’s Events
Over 2,500 years ago, the prophet Daniel portrayed “…the time of the end, when many will rush here and there, and knowledge will increase” (Daniel 12:4).
Since the early 20th century ingenious invention of the automobile and airplane combined with the incredible advancement of passenger shipbuilding (think Titanic) and super trains, international travel has exploded by ten to whatever power you care to make it. We can literally move at supersonic speed. Many will rush here and there.
These powerful progressions in travel were preceded and paralleled by the telegraph, telephone, and radio. Then eclipsed exponentially by more dazzling transformations of communication—television, the computer, the cellphone, the internet, and pocket-size digital devices never thought possible. All of which have ignited an explosion of knowledge unrivaled in history; information that is literally a click or fingertip touch away.
According to those who have studied this (general … all kinds) increase in knowledge, until the year 1900 knowledge doubled every century. After WWII, every 25 years. And since the advent of the digital age, every 13 months! With the projection that we are fast approaching the doubling of knowledge every 12 hours! Even if it’s (only) every 12 days, it’s a staggering thing to process.
“And knowledge will increase,” wrote Daniel. Notice, that Daniel didn’t say wisdom would spread, just knowledge. An argument could be made that real wisdom (God’s truth found in Scripture) in today’s post-modern world has been cut in half, rather than doubling. Were Daniel to suddenly step foot into the year 2018, he would undoubtedly be dumbfounded at the technology that has expedited this astonishing growth of travel and information, especially the speed of both. On the other hand, I’m convinced he would not be surprised. Why?
Because Daniel and other prophets (as well as we who have believed and received all that Scripture declares) knew beyond any doubt that what God says will happen, always happens. What he says he will do, he always does. It’s as simple and yet profound as that. Hundreds of fulfilled Bible prophecies and miracles are proof positive that the God of the Bible is the only true and living God. It’s baffling that the world-at-large doesn’t see that.
But then, “The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction!” (I Corinthians 1:18a).
Part 2: Last Days Events Unfold Swiftly … Once They Begin
Jesus himself conveyed this feature of the two-part Biblical principle and pattern. He used a plainly understood yet riveting image to show that when the last days began to unfold they would do so rapidly.
“Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. But this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come” (Matthew 24:7-8, italics for emphasis).
Global statistics show that natural disasters have increased progressively in both frequency and severity during the 20th & 21st centuries. Which vividly matches the analogy of labor pains during childbirth that Jesus used to illustrate the signs of the last days.
Rumors of wars have been more prevalent in the 20th & 21st centuries than ever before. Concerning war itself, one need only to look at the unbelievable carnage caused by World War I, even shockingly more catastrophic during World War II. There have been dozens of other wars, but these two global conflicts alone give generational meaning and proof to Messiah Jesus’s description of the end times.
Regarding the rapid unfolding of prophetic events once they begin, it’s not only the signs of the last days. This is God’s pattern throughout history. Here is an excerpt from Eye of Prophecy article, Who Is Messiah? Posted 3-29-14.
God works that way. Though his timing is different (better) than ours, and though we many times must wait for his plan to materialize in our lives individually and nationally; when specific signs of specific prophecies materialize, then the actual fulfillment of those prophecies quickly follow, i.e. in that or the following generation. This was true in Noah’s time; in the time of Moses when he led the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage; in Joshua’s time when he led them into the Promised Land; in King Saul, King David’s time when God allowed the Jews to have a king; in Jeremiah’s time when he prophesied of the Babylonian captivity; in Jesus’s time when he proclaimed that salvation had come to the Jews and the whole world; in the first century when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple in less than a generation after Jesus announced this ominous prophecy; and in our generation that has witnessed the rebirth of Israel and the gathering of certain nations against Israel.
Messiah Jesus disclosed other end-time’s signs and painted other pictures regarding the swift succession of these events and his return, demonstrating that when these things begin to unfurl they will increase with kaleidoscope intensity.
“For as the lightning flashes in the east and shines to the west, so it will be when the Son of Man comes” (Matthew 24:27).
Here, Jesus is specifically referring to his return at the end of the seven-year Great Tribulation. However, the lightning imagery is used in the greater context of how things will increase in rapid-fire fashion beginning with the birth-pain signs and culminating with his glorious return that will literally save the world from self-destruction. Which, in turn, gives birth to the glorious Kingdom of God on earth, beginning with the Millennial Reign of Messiah Jesus.
Then in the next verse, he says: “Just as the gathering of vultures shows there is a carcass nearby, so these signs indicate that the end is near” (Verse 28). Here Jesus is consolidating all the end times signals (as he presented in this passage and as predicted in many other places in Scripture).
Then one last metaphor that narrows down the birth-pain model to a time-dedicated period of the last days.
“Now learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branches and its leaves begin to sprout, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see all these things, you can know his return is very near, right at the door. I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass from the scene until all these things take place” (Matthew 24:32-34).
As detailed in several prior Eye of Prophecy articles (such as The Omega Generation, posted 2-15-14 or The Balfour Declaration … Beginning of the Omega Generation Part I & II, 5-13 & 5-20-17), this fig-tree generation comparison has an approximate start time.
There are two primary parameters of a generation in Scripture—100 years and 70 years.
The 20th century witnessed the beginning of many of these birth-pangs, none more so than two World Wars and two other stunning events, both of which were linked directly to these horrific global conflicts.
100 years ago: World War I ended November 11, 1918. And in November 1917, the surprising Balfour Declaration which paved the way for the subsequent (still unfolding) restoration of Israel and return of the Jews to their Promised Land.
70 years ago: The remarkable rebirth of Israel as a sovereign nation May 14, 1948, just three years after World War II came to an end. That’s as fig-tree generation as it gets!
What used to take centuries, then decades to unfold (e.g. rise of nations, conditions leading to war, establishment of treaties) now take only a few years, months, weeks, and even days. Not the least of which was Israel’s rebirth as a nation in one day!
Other than conflicts fought on more of a containment basis, all-out wars in the 20th & 21st century have ended much faster than in previous centuries. The two biggest wars of all time (by far) lasted four-six years each.
And who can ever forget the stunning victory of one small nation against three nations with a combined populace and military far greater. Of course, I’m referring to the astounding Six-Day War of June 1967. Considering the against all odds obstacles, Israel’s defeat of Egypt, Syria, and Jordan (with Iraq & Lebanon also participating but to lesser extent) is considered by many, including military experts, as the greatest (in such a short time) triumph of all time.
The Rapid Global Unfolding of End Times Events Applied to Gog/Magog
Several Eye of Prophecy articles have been written in part or full about the soon-to-come (not long after the Rapture) Gog/Magog invasion of Israel, led by three prominent nations: Russia, Iran, and Turkey. Today’s article is in large part a follow-up to one of those articles: The Gog/Magog Countdown Has Begun. Published 9-10-16.
In a fascinating (unique) prophetic fashion, the Lord tells Ezekiel to prophesy (speak to) Gog of the land of Magog as though Gog and his allies were already planning to invade Israel.
“Get ready; be prepared! Keep all of the armies around you mobilized, and take command of them” (Ezekiel 38:7).
The present tense condition of these words is unmistakable. God is speaking to Gog/Magog as though they were poised to strike Israel. Which is exactly the geopolitical and military position that Russia, Iran, and Turkey are currently occupying in Syria. And only since 2014, when Russia, then Iran, and later Turkey deployed military bases in Syria. It’s as though God, through Ezekiel, was addressing this coalition by email telling them to be on the alert, to get ready for action, to go ahead with their sinister (ulterior) goal of conquering Israel. Because when they do, God will spring into action and it won’t be a pretty scene for Gog and his allies.
In the very next verse, the Lord continues his dressing-down of Gog as though Gog was right there listening. While at the same time reminding Ezekiel and the reader that this present-tense admonition (keep your armies mobilized) would be a long way off from Ezekiel’s time … 2,600 years ago and counting, but now with each tick of the clock.
“A long time from now you will be called into action. 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. You 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).
In the hundreds of Biblical end-times prophecies, rarely, if at all, does the Lord use the phrase, a long time from now or in the distant future. Why here in Ezekiel as applied to Gog/Magog? I’m convinced it’s because the Lord is emphasizing that—although the Gog/Magog alliance would (historically) be a long time in coming—when Gog and his allies were ready to pounce on Israel, the events preceding that invasion would unfold in exceptionally quick sequence. In fact, the passage bookmarks the beginning of that time: the restoration of Israel as a nation and return of the Jews from world-wide exile.
Beginning especially during the Yom Kippur war of 1973, Russia has been as active in its dealings (positive or negative) with Israel as the Western nations, especially the United States. To the unlikely point where Russia and Israel are not only on speaking terms (as we speak) but have recently become as close-knit as any two countries who have multiple differences can be.
Thus, Ezekiel juxtaposes the far-off Gog/Magog invasion of Israel with a present-day reality that prophetically fits the paradigm discussed earlier. Which is: when last-day’s events begin to unfold, they will develop exponentially, fast enough to fit within or very close to a generational period. And they will have repercussions on the entire world. As I have said several times in prior articles (so have others), at no time in history has virtually the entire world been so inordinately focused to the point of perplexity (angst) on the tiny nation of Israel.
The Gog/Magog Systematic Countdown … With Every Tick of the Clock
In the past few years, Iran has been on the “hot seat” as much or more than any other dictatorial nation on earth; earning the dubious distinction of a “rogue nation” along with North Korea and a few less prominent countries. And rightfully so, given its hatred of Israel, the United States, and animosity toward nations that support Israel and the US—whether sincerely or pragmatically for economic and political reasons.
Since President Trump rescinded the United States participation in former President Obama’s (as the instigator) 2015 Nuclear Deal with Iran, the other P5 + 1 nations who were party to that agreement (Great Britain, France, Russia, China, and Germany) have refused to support this withdrawal. This, despite President Trump’s offer to negotiate a different (better) pact, one that would put teeth into the original agreement which Iran has obviously violated in several ways. Such as not allowing the IAEA to send nuclear inspectors on short notice; continuing to develop and deploy long-range ballistic missiles; maintaining plans and facilities to renew uranium enrichment for nuclear warheads.
And though not part of the Nuclear Deal, Iran’s unabated rhetoric that calls for, “Death to Israel,” Death to America” all the while funding terrorist organizations like Hezbollah (Lebanon), Hamas (Gaza), and the Houthis (Yemen).
Earlier this month, Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, once again published a threat against Israel by saying that Iran’s, “…stance against Israel is the same stance we have always taken. Israel is a malignant cancerous tumor in the West Asian region that has to be removed and eradicated: it is possible, and it will happen.” (Whether this post was a reprint from one in the past or a new one, Khamenei has publicized several annihilation tirades against Israel).
Does it get any more disgusting and dreadful than that? What part of “cancerous tumor” and removal and eradication of Israel doesn’t any sensible and presumably intelligent head of state understand? There were token condemnations of Khamenei’s menacing threats, but not nearly enough to see through Iran’s lies, treachery, and true intentions concerning any so-called “deal.” Now it’s up to the P5 nations plus scores of other countries to decide who can better butter their bread … Iran or the United States.
Just a few days ago, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with (one day each), German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron, and British Prime Minister Theresa May. None of them agreed with Netanyahu (or the United States) that the current Nuclear Deal should be canceled, nor at the very least renegotiated and rewritten. The week before his European tour, Netanyahu spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo concerning Iran’s military presence in Syria.
(Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu & British Prime Minister Theresa May)
In June 2017, Iran prominently displayed a clock in its capital Tehran that has begun to count down the destruction of Israel by the year 2040. Evidently, the ticking of this clock was in connection to another one of Khamenei’s malignant (Iran is the cancerous tumor) and malicious threats saying, “You (Israelis) will not see the coming 25 years and, God (meaning Allah) willing, there will not be something named the Zionist regime in the next 25 years.”
There’s no doubt that the Ayatollah wants Israel destroyed long before the 25 years is up. This is repugnantly reflected in the statement of one of Iran’s top generals, Abdolrahim Mousavi, who made this ominous threat: “Our fingers are on the trigger and the missiles are ready to fire. We need to prevent this illegitimate entity (Israel) from continuing to exist even one more day.”
For the present, Iran prefers that its puppet regime Hezbollah in Lebanon (thousands of Hezbollah troops currently in Syria) and other extremists from several countries (especially Afghanistan and Pakistan) do the proxy fighting for Iran. To that end, Iran has imported 80,000 Muslim Shi’ite terrorist fighters to Syria (ostensibly to fight against ISIS and anti-Assad freedom fighters, but with the more sinister goal of eventually attacking Israel) and transported 130,000 missiles to Syria and Lebanon. And this is just deployment of a conventional military arsenal, with their ultimate objective that of developing nuclear warheads to take out Israel.
An Unexpected Twist in Middle East Alliances … Contradiction of Biblical Prophecy?
In the previously mentioned article The Gog/Magog Countdown Has Begun! I provided in-depth details of the favorable geopolitical interaction beginning just a few years ago between Russia and Iran, Russia and Turkey, Iran and Turkey; each a former adversary of the others. With the overall result of all three nations now bearing a military presence in Syria, right next door to Israel!
However, strange bedfellows are seldom compatible.
If you’ve kept abreast of Middle East developments in just the past few weeks, you know that:
(1) Iran sent an explosive-armed drone into Israel; the first time Iran had attacked Israel directly. The IDF blew the drone out of the sky.
(2) Israel has launched several retaliatory and preemptive air strikes against Syrian and Iranian military and/or missile bases in Syria.
(3) Paradoxically, Russia has condoned (permitted) Israel’s intervention. To even include Israeli advanced notice to Russian military personnel in Syria when and where the strikes will take place, to prevent any collateral damage to Russian installations or accidental “sharing” of the same airspace with Russian planes.
(4) Russia has demanded that all foreign military forces, including Iran and Hezbollah, withdraw from anywhere near the southern Syrian border with Israel. To include Iran’s total withdrawal from Syria when both ISIS and the rebel fighters against Assad’s Syrian government are totally defeated.
(5) This alliance type of agreement between Russia and Israel (to indirectly include Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, and some Arabic Gulf States) has infuriated Iran, with a consequential chilling of relations between Russia and Iran. President Erdogan of Turkey has sensibly yielded to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s stance, knowing that Russia is currently the dominate foreign power in Syria.
(Turkey’s Recep Erdogan & Iran’s Ayatollah Khamenei Want Their Own Regimes To Be the Head of a Middle-East, Even World-wide Islamic Caliphate)
Assessing the big picture, Middle East expert/scholar Zvi Magen of the Tel Aviv University-affiliated Institute for National Security Studies, and a former Israeli ambassador to Russia and Ukraine stated:
“During the civil war, they were on the same side backing Syrian President Bashar Assad, but now that the war is ending, they are pushing different agendas. Iran and Russia want to control Syria themselves.”
Magen continues: “…there is the problem of Israel since it can spoil things. If there would be a war between Israel and Iran in Syria, it would be bad for Russia, and so they are searching for some kind of solution, part of which was its deal with Israel that pushes the Iranians out of southern Syria.”
Obviously, both Russia and Iran wish to be the prevailing power in Syria—with Iran’s goal of a hostile annihilation of Israel and Russia’s ulterior motive that of overcoming Israel through diplomatic stealth that will catch Israel off-guard, to the point where Russia leads a military campaign against Israel. In Ezekiel 38 & 39, it is Gog (the Russian leader) whom God addresses directly.
It is Russia that will spearhead the Magog invasion of Israel and will do so when Israel is at its highest pinnacle of peace since her glory days of King David and King Solomon. This peace will be orchestrated shortly after the Rapture by Antichrist (Nero) who has “miraculously” returned from the grave. It will be the seven-year treaty foretold by Daniel. At that time, Russia will ostensibly be Israel’s “friend” which is exactly what’s taking place now in the formative stages, in preparation for this soon to come Gog/Magog invasion.
However, there’s a problem. Seemingly, this growing rift between Russia and Iran has no solution, as both countries (and to a lesser extent Turkey) are firmly embedded in Syria, and neither one is prepared to flinch. Russia doesn’t want a hostile conflict with its bedfellow buddy Iran. But even more so, Russia doesn’t want to jeopardize its budding friendliness with the United States and Israel.
Thus, the question whether Ezekiel’s prophecy could possibly come to pass, i.e. a Russian led coalition of Iran, Turkey, and some smaller nations. The answer is found by digging deeper into Scripture beyond the basic understanding that the Gog/Magog invasion of Israel will absolutely take place and will assuredly include Iran.
It’s a matter of evaluating and fitting current events into the greater context of Biblical prophecy, instead of trying to squeeze (thereby, questioning or doubting) Biblical prophecy into seemingly contradictory and ever-changing current events. To carefully examine every feature of any given prophecy; then, if applicable, to compare it to other prophecies of Scripture. (For example, see how this premise applies to the European Union and Antichrist as detailed in Eye of Prophecy articles, The Final Treaty of Rome Part I & II, posted 5-14 & 5-21-16).
It’s looking at the Big Picture from a Biblical perspective.
Regarding the Gog/Magog prediction, Ezekiel is the only place where it can be found. Thus, it’s imperative that we look at every aspect of this stunning prophecy, which has been done in various Eye of Prophecy articles. But for purpose of this week’s article, to eliminate skepticism that such an invasion could take place when Russia and Iran are presently at odds with each other, to the point of being irreversible.
First, to remember the overriding purpose of the Gog/Magog attack: to destroy Israel. Otherwise, each Magog nation will have its own national agenda—foremost to be the main power in the Middle East, which is what Russia, Iran, and Turkey are pursuing as we speak.
Stand Still and Watch God Fight for Israel!
The above heading is the title of an Eye of Prophecy article published 7-30-16.
In it, I provide specifics regarding the only three times that God vanquishes Israel’s enemies without Israel required to do any fighting at all. The first two have already taken place, with the third and final victory yet to come. Do you know what conflict that will be? This week’s article gives it away … the Gog/Magog war!
Except for these three wars, the Jews had to fight in addition to God’s various levels of intervention in their battles. This even included Jericho. Although the Lord supernaturally demolished the supposedly impenetrable walls of Jericho, the Israelites still had to fight the inhabitants of the city to gain the final victory.
We’ll look only at a highly condensed summary of these spectacular incidents, with a special emphasis on how God unilaterally wraps up total victory for Israel. All Israel need do is … pick up the pieces (spoils of war).
King Jehoshaphat
Judah’s King Jehoshaphat and his people were in a state of paralyzed panic over “a vast army” mustered by their enemies, the Moabites, Ammonites, and Meunites. From the tribe of Levi came a man named Jahaziel who (like Moses, Joshua, and Caleb in the wilderness) knew that God would give Israel the victory. Thus, he declared:
“Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s” (II Chronicles 20:15).
The Israelites listened to and trusted the Lord, and the next day began praising and worshipping Him. Here’s what happened:
“At the very moment they began to sing and give praise, the Lord caused the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir to start fighting among themselves. The armies of Moab and Ammon turned against their allies from Mount Seir and killed every one of them. After they had destroyed the army of Seir, they began attacking each other. So when the army of Judah arrived at the lookout point in the wilderness, all they saw were dead bodies lying on the ground as far as they could see. Not a single one of the enemy had escaped. King Jehoshaphat and his men went out to gather the plunder…” (II Chronicles 20:22-25).
These wars (two historical, one future) in which God destroys Israel’s enemies without the Jews lifting a finger, reveal three distinct ways in which the Lord alone achieves the victory. In this case, God providentially caused Israel’s enemies to turn on themselves to the extent of complete annihilation.
King Hezekiah
Although the Lord had allowed the mighty nation of Assyria to conquer and disperse the ten northern tribes of Israel in 722 B.C. (of which the Lord had warned his people for decades would happen if they didn’t turn back to him), he would not permit Assyria to destroy the remaining two southern tribes, Benjamin and Judah. That would come 136 years later, and it would be Babylon that would conquer Judah.
In 701 B.C. King Sennacherib of Assyria amassed his armies to besiege Jerusalem. Once again, the Israelites were terrified of this enormous, seemingly undefeatable army. King Hezekiah pleaded with the prophet Isaiah to seek God’s help. Isaiah assured Hezekiah that Assyria wouldn’t even begin an attack against Jerusalem, imparting God’s words, “Listen! I myself will move against him (Sennacherib)…” (II Kings 19:7).
Let’s go directly to the shocking finale.
“That night the angel of the Lord went out to the Assyrian camp and killed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers. When the surviving Assyrians woke up the next morning, they found corpses everywhere. Then King Sennacherib of Assyria broke camp and returned to his own land. He went home to his capital of Nineveh and stayed there” (II Kings 19:35-36).
*Note: Picture Sennacherib and what was left of his army slinking back to Assyria with the proverbial tail between the legs. And when Sennacherib got to Nineveh, he “stayed there.” That says it all. Not long thereafter, two of Sennacherib’s sons assassinated him, just as God said would happen through Isaiah … that Sennacherib would die by the sword.
In contrast to God’s providential intervention by (indirectly) causing Israel’s enemies to turn on each other, we see in this situation that the Lord directly intervened by killing an astounding 185,000 soldiers. Overnight!
Gog/Magog
Soon, for the third time in Israel’s (future … the future is the present to our timeless God) history, the Lord will fight for his people, without the Jews needing to go to battle. Only this time, God will employ a combination of the previous two strategies.
“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).
God will obliterate this Russian-led coalition by a supernatural unleashing of nature’s power AND the Magog nations turning on each other. The overwhelming implication and application is that the alliance between Russia, Iran, and Turkey will be strong in the framework of their mutual goal of conquering Israel, but tenuous regarding their selfish desires to, “capture vast amounts of plunder” (Ezekiel 38:12) in Israel, and to dominate the Middle East region. Which explains what’s taking place (preliminary stages) with this unexpected discord between Russia and Iran, making their alliance even more fragile.
The Gog/Magog invasion of Israel will very likely begin with Gog (Russia) saying to its “allies” something like, “You’re welcome to join us, but we will be in charge of this operation—the planning, the execution, and the aftermath control of Israel.” With Iran and Turkey overtly agreeing, but covertly devising their own scheme to occupy Israel.
And, oh, will they all wish they hadn’t. As is said, “it won’t be a pretty sight.”
“You and your army and your allies will all die on the mountains. I will feed you to the vultures and wild animals. You will fall in the open fields, for I have spoken, says the Sovereign Lord. And I will rain down fire on Magog and on all your allies who live safely on the coasts. Then they will know that I am the Lord” (Ezekiel 39:4-6).
Then, “It will take seven months for the people of Israel to bury the bodies and cleanse the land. Everyone in Israel will help, for it will be a glorious victory for Israel when I demonstrate my glory on that day, says the Sovereign Lord. After seven months, teams of men will be appointed to search the land for skeletons to bury, so the land will be made clean again” (Ezekiel 39:12-14).
Things to Ponder
On the authority of the only true and living God (who certainly isn’t Allah) and of his Scriptures, we can know for certain: Israel will still be here in 2040. Whether it’s the year 2040 or perhaps a smaller numbered year if God changes time again (due to the return of Messiah Jesus) as was done when God’s Son came to earth the first time. In fact, Israel, will endure forever. In the beautiful Dry Bones prophecy just one chapter before the Gog/Magog passage, we read that the Lord will (has already begun to) miraculously revive and restore the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to the land given to them by God, himself:
“…They and their children and their grandchildren after them will live there forever, generation after generation… I will give them their land and increase their numbers… I will make my home among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people. And when my Temple is among them forever, the nations will know that I am the Lord, who makes Israel holy” (Ezekiel 37:25-28).
Iran’s Ayatollah has a choice. To believe what the God of Israel has declared will happen, or to believe his satanic god Allah who orders Muslims to subjugate the Jews and Christians and kill them if they don’t submit willingly.
Personally, I’ve placed my trust and hope in the historical fact that Jesus of Nazareth arose from the dead, after giving himself as the ultimate once for all sacrifice for forgiveness and pardon of my sins.
In his magnificent post-ascension appearance to John, Jesus said:
Jesus Is the Messiah!
Not some Muslim imam (or any other religious leader or would-be messiah) who has done nothing for humanity except to corrupt and falsify the truth of God’s salvation, the only redemption that will assure eternal life in heaven.
It’s Iran (along with Russia, Turkey, other Gog allies, then later Antichrist and the remaining armies and people on earth who defy God and seek to destroy Israel), that will be eradicated as they march on Israel.
Take heed, Mr. Ayatollah and all who, “…plot together against the Lord and against his anointed one … the one who rules in heaven laughs. The Lord scoffs at them. Then in anger he rebukes them, terrifying them with his fierce fury” (Psalm 2:2-5).
Those who seek to destroy Israel, beware: “The day is near when I, the Lord, will judge all godless nations! As you have done to Israel, so it will be done to you. All your evil deeds will fall back on your own heads. Just as you swallowed up my people on my holy mountain, so you and the surrounding nations will swallow the punishment I pour out on you. Yes, all you nations will drink and stagger and disappear from history” (Obadiah 1:15-16).
So, Iran swears that Israel will disappear as a nation by 2040 does it? Go ahead, Ayatollah and set your watch. But watch out for the God of Israel who has already set His time for the hour of your doom, and for the utter destruction of your Magog comrades.
God’s prophetic clock is ticking. One day we’ll see, For Whom the Bell Tolls.
