I’m guessing that nearly everyone reading this article has watched a sporting event of some sort.

Your son’s little league game. Your daughter’s soccer match. A high school football game. College basketball. Professional football. A tennis or golf tournament.

Not always, but most of the time it’s the final quarter, or inning, or set, or hole (golf) that generates the most suspense and excitement. Especially if the score is close and the outcome is still undecided.

Even if the contest is a rout, diehard fans will usually stick around until the “end of the game.” Particularly, if their team or favorite player is winning.

Some sporting contests are called games; others carry the label of matches. And if you want to sound half-way knowledgeable, it’s more than just semantics to know which is which.

For example: Basketball, football, and baseball competitions are referred to as games. Whereas, if you watch or participate in tennis, golf, soccer, or hockey, you’re involved in a match. Yet, in the final analysis, each sport is a game and there is always an end to the game.

Then there’s the “game of chess.” Which I’ve played frequently, but not recently. However, if you’re playing a game of chess with someone, you are engaged in a chess match. With the critical part of most chess matches (especially for those evenly matched) called the “end game.”

In fact, the chess expression (term … a noun) end game became so well known that it was recognized as a definable word in the latter part of the 19^th century by Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary. With its definition: “the stage of a chess game after major reduction of forces.”

Because of the sometimes-complicated strategy of the game of chess, the term end game became one word (endgame) with an expanded meaning of: “the final stage of some action or process.”

The online Free Dictionary defines endgame as: “the final stage of a chess game after most of the pieces have been removed from the board. The final stage of an extended process or course of events.” Followed by a sentence example: “the diplomatic endgame that led to the treaty.”

Yes, there are even wargames. And nations matched one against another during war time.

(Are you too young to remember this blockbuster movie released in 1983, while the Cold War between the United States and the Russia was going on?)

The Urban Dictionary includes the explanation of endgame: “the final moments of a dramatic encounter, fight or series of events.”

Because the plans or tactics of an individual, team, or even a nation (government) are sometimes questionable, if not devious, one might pose the question: “What’s their endgame?” Which is effectively saying, “What’s their real agenda?” Or, “What are they going to do next?”

Which is a question that appropriately fits what’s happening in the Middle East, specifically in the nation of Syria. And more precisely pertaining to Russia, Iran, and Turkey—each of which boasts a prominent military presence in that war-torn country, adjacent to Israel’s northern border.

In no uncertain terms, the term endgame is contemporarily accurate and prophetically applicable to the three prominent nations of the Gog/Magog alliance—Russia, Iran, and Turkey. Explicitly evident in what is one of the most powerful end-times prophecies in all of Scripture—Ezekiel Chapters 38 & 39. Commonly called the Gog/Magog prophecy.

In fact, these three nations and their leaders are playing a deadly stealth endgame of: “the real reason we’re in Syria has nothing to do with Syria … everything to do with Israel.”

Unprecedented Signs of the Times

There are several Biblically predicted events, either completed or ongoing in the 20^th & 21^st centuries, which clearly show that we are in the last days of the end times. We are nearing the ENDGAME of the greatest contest of all time—good against evil. God against Satan. Christ against Antichrist. Moses and Elijah against the False Prophet and Antichrist.

From Eye of Prophecy article, Look Up Redemption is Near, Part II (posted July 2015) here is a list of twelve flashpoint events that signal the soon to come Rapture. Followed by the seven-year Tribulation and the triumphant return of Messiah Jesus to earth to vanquish the armies of the world that would dare fight against the King of all kings.

1. Rebirth of Israel as a Sovereign Nation, 1948
2. Recapture of Jerusalem in the June 1967 Six-Day War
3. Jerusalem, a Heavy Burden to the Nations
4. The 3^rd Rebuilt Temple (the planning of it)
5. Israel’s Phenomenal Agricultural Accomplishments
6. Modern-Day Alignment of Gog/Magog Nations against Israel
7. National and Ethnic Wars in the 20^th & 21^st Centuries
8. Amazing Increase of Natural Disasters
9. Moral & Spiritual Decline & Intense Persecution of Christians
10. False Messiahs & Prophets
11. Unequaled Increase in Quantity and Speed of Transportation and Information
12. Unprecedented Spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the World

This list was preceded by the following excerpt from that article (in italics):

What is different now from then is that all twelve have synchronized with a frequency and magnitude never seen before. With intensity that really can’t get much more extreme or enhanced than it already is. Together they have formed a combustible concoction ready to spontaneously ignite. The accumulative impact of these flash point prophecies fits precisely with the Lord’s comparison to childbirth, all in a generation’s time.

The first six items on the list relate directly to the nation of Israel. Other than the glorious appearing (return) of Messiah to the earth, Israel’s rebirth as a Sovereign Nation is the most extraordinary episode in Biblical prophecy and its fulfillment. If for no other reason that the sheer number of prophecies in the Old Testament regarding the restoration of Israel as a nation and return of the Jews to their Promised Land.

(Another one of many prophecies regarding the Jews returning to Israel)

Israel celebrated its 70^th birthday last year (2018).

The Jewish generation that experienced the miraculous rebirth of Israel has seen their children and grandchildren grow up in Israel or make Aliyah there (immigrate to Israel and become Israeli citizens).

This revival of the Jewish nation is predicted in Ezekiel Chapter 37, just one chapter before the sixth item on the above list, i.e. Modern-Day Alignment of Gog/Magog Nations against Israel. It’s no coincidence that the next two chapters of Ezekiel (38 & 39) graphically portray the invasion of Israel by the armies of the Gog/Magog nations.

Let’s examine this phenomenal cause and effect relationship between Israel’s rebirth and the Gog/Magog invasion, to include some recent remarkable events taking place in the Middle East, specifically in the nation of Syria. Generating a clear signal that the Gog/Magog attack on Israel is already in the endgame phase of soon to be fulfilled Biblical prophecy.

Israel’s Rebirth as a Nation

First, a brief review of Israel’s rebirth that led to her stunning victory in four wars over stronger enemies, resulting in Israel’s current status of a vibrantly strong nation—economically and militarily despite the current political disunity and unscheduled elections.

The Yom Kippur War of 1973, some 46 years ago, was the last time Israel’s very survival as a nation was threatened. Since then, Israelis have enjoyed a substantial measure of peace; even if at the bare minimum that peace is defined and represented by an absence of (all-out) war. Thus, the prophet Ezekiel’s amazing description of the Jews return to Israel is directly connected to the Gog/Magog invasion—spearheaded by Russia, Iran, and Turkey. For Ezekiel it would be a long time in coming. For our generation, some 2,500 years later, the endgame is taking shape as we watch.

Listen to God’s words to a man given the name of Gog, leader of the Magog nations:

“Get ready; be prepared! Keep all of the armies around you mobilized, and take command of them. 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 38:7-9, italics for emphasis).

In commentary on this passage, the following is an excerpt from Eye of Prophecy article, Gog Magog’s Prophetic Clock is Ticking, Ticking… (6-16-18):

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 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.

Ezekiel Chapters 38 & 39 provide the fascinating yet graphic details of this end-times phenomenon. However, these two chapters are linked directly to the preceding chapters 36 & 37 that foretell the return of Jewish exiles to Israel. These two events are tied together in space (geographically) and time (generationally). Here I’m referring to one of two Biblical definitions of an average generation, i.e. 70 years.

In the last part of Ezekiel Chapter 37, this timeframe is broken down further into children and grandchildren of that generation.

Many are familiar with the remarkable Dry Bones vision of Ezekiel in which God dramatically depicts a valley of broken skeletons that miraculously join and create a vast army of people … flesh and bones and skin and life breathed into them.

Then God said to Ezekiel: “…Son of man, these bones represent the people of Israel… O my people, I will open your graves of exile and cause you to rise again. Then I will bring you back to the land of Israel” (Ezekiel 37:11-12).

However, the return of the Jews to their reborn nation begins in Ezekiel Chapter 36.

For example: “I will greatly increase the population of Israel, and the ruined cities will be rebuilt and filled with people… O mountains of Israel, I will bring people to live on you once again. I will make you even more prosperous than you were before. Then you will know that I am the Lord” (Ezekiel 36:10-11).

Much more is said in these two chapters regarding Israel’s physical return to the Promised Land and spiritual restoration to the Lord. Such as: “And you will live in Israel, the land I gave your ancestors long ago. You will be my people, and I will be your God” (Ezekiel 36:28).

The physical restoration of Israel as a sovereign nation and return of millions of Jews (including those born in Israel since 1948) have resulted in a Jewish population today of some 6.7 million in Israel. That and rebuilt modern cities all over Israel, not the least of which are Tel Aviv and the modern section of Jerusalem.

As with the Gog/Magog attack on Israel found in chapters 38 & 39, some portions of Ezekiel 36 & 37 are awaiting fulfillment. Such as: “I will unify them into one nation on the mountains of Israel (already being fulfilled). One king will rule them all… (fulfilled when Messiah Jesus returns to Jerusalem)” (Ezekiel 37:22, parenthesis mine).

Then, to realize just how closely chapters 36 & 37 are linked to the Gog/Magog scenario of Chapters 38 & 39, we read the same kind of prophetic language with one amazing addition—the actual accomplishment of the return of God’s people to Israel, that was in the form of a prophecy in Chapters 36 & 37.

Read with me as the Lord tells Ezekiel what Gog will think and say just before invading Israel:

“…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…” (Ezekiel 38:11-12, emphasis added).

Since 1948 and especially since Israel reclaimed all of the Promised Land in the Six-Day War of 1967 (only to relinquish some of that territory back to the Arabs) the Jews have done exactly what these verses (and many others like it) prophesied they would do: rebuild and live in those cities, having returned from nations all over the earth.

(Tel Aviv, Israel … Rivals any  modern City in the world)

(Terraced vineyard in Israel, representative of how productively the Jews have planted and harvested crops in Israel)

Again, we read that the Gog (Magog) march against Israel will take place:

“…When my people are living in peace in their land, then you will rouse yourself. You will come from your homeland in the distant north with your vast cavalry and your mighty army, and you will attack my people Israel, covering their land like a cloud…” (Ezekiel 38:14-15, emphasis added).

Future Tense to Present Tense!

Now notice how the future tense (Gog saying, “I will go to these formerly desolate cities”) has switched to the present tense when the Lord says to Gog:

“…Are you the one I was talking about long ago, when I announced through Israel’s prophets that in the future I would bring you against my people?” (Ezekiel 38:17).

Is there any significance in that shift from the future to the present tense?

Answer: Absolutely.

What is that significance?

The significance is that we are living in precisely the conditions prophesied by Ezekiel when the Gog/Magog confederacy would launch their assault on Israel. Not only is the State of Israel functioning geopolitically as foretold by Ezekiel; Russia, Iran, and Turkey all have a substantial military presence in Syria, right next door to Israel. That has never happened in history, nor even a decade ago.

In just a moment, we’ll examine what’s taking place in Syria. But first another passage that closes Ezekiel Chapter 37 to demonstrate that all these things—including the subsequent Gog/Magog invasion (which will take place not long after the Rapture)—are happening and will continue to unfold during one (our) generation.

“They will live in the land I gave my servant Jacob, the land where their ancestors lived. They and their children and their grandchildren after them will live there forever, generation after generation. And my servant David will be their prince forever… I will give them their land and increase their numbers, and I will put my Temple among them forever. I will make my home among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people” (Ezekiel 37:25-27).

Scholars differ as to whether David is symbolic for the Messiah in this passage or may very well be King David of old, who will be resurrected from the dead along with all believers when the Rapture takes place. As stated in several prior articles, the Rapture is the trigger point that precipitates the Day of the Lord. Which is the seven-year Tribulation (the Gog/Magog invasion will take place in the first part of the Tribulation); the glorious return of Messiah Jesus to the earth; then the majestic Millennial Reign of Christ.

Yet, the vital component of this passage to grasp in the context of this week’s article is the special identification of those living in the land (Israel) just prior to and at the outset of the Gog/Magog assault on Israel. Which are those Jews who were in a territory called Palestine when she once again became the nation (state) of Israel in 1948, plus those who immigrated shortly thereafter. And not only that first group; also, their children and grandchildren. Today’s Israel demographically and geopolitically (and, of course, prophetically) consists primarily of those three age (generational) groups.

If the Lord only wanted to convey a symbolic or generalized concept of Jews possessing the Promised Land in perpetuity (forever) he would have needed only to say, “…will live there forever, generation after generation” (Ezekiel 37:25). Which obviously God did say. But before that he specifically classified the very generation (including their children and grandchildren) who would be the first to return to Israel upon her rebirth. This process began in 1917 with the Balfour Declaration and has continued to the present day. With, however, the most definitive generation commencing when Israel was reborn in a single day as a nation—1948.

For further clarification, here is an excerpt from Eye of Prophecy article, Just How Imminent is Messiah’s Imminent Return? (posted 11-18-17). Though that article is two years old, it’s certainly still relevant, with Israel’s population having increased to about 6.7 million since then.

Let’s take a thumbnail look at Israel’s 2017 population, placed in the context of the 100-year generation that began in 1917 (Balfour Declaration); the 70-year generation that commenced in 1947 (UN Resolution or Israeli Statehood in 1948—either one will work); and the 50-year Jubilee of the Six-Day War of 1967.

Of the almost 6.5 million Jews in Israel, 10.3% are 65 and older, which would be approximately 669,500 Jews in Israel over 65. It’s likely these figures are similar with Jews all over the world, not living in Israel. However, life expectancy in Israel has increased ten years since 1970, to the average of 81.2 years for Israeli men and 84.5 years for Israeli women.

(You may want to click onto the following link for more of Israel’s population details, however the following statistics will suffice for purpose of this article. The 8.3 million in population shown on the chart includes about 1.8 million Israeli Arabs).

https://www.populationpyramid.net/israel/2017/

If you click to the above link, and hover over the individual bars online you’ll find that there are 622 men and 895 women in Israel who are still alive at the age of 100 or more. For age bracket 95-99, there are 3,622 men and 5,963 women. For age group 70-74: 106,374 men and 122,671 women. For ages 50-54: 194,684 men and 202,742 women.

Now let’s see the remarkable relevance of these statistics to the remnant of Israel (“they” and “their children and grandchildren” of the Ezekiel prophecy detailed earlier in today’s article).

Using a nuclear fusion term, the “critical mass” of the Jewish remnant ingathering back to Israel was certainly the fusion point of Israel’s national rebirth in 1947-48. The combined number of Jewish men and woman currently living in Israel beginning with the age group of 70-74 (approximately 229,000) would be “they” of the Ezekiel prophecy.

“Their children” (Ezekiel 37:25) would be those in the age bracket of 50-55 (or thereabouts) which total another 397,000 or so. And “their grandchildren” (also verse 25) would be hundreds of thousands more. These age groups represent and are part of the 70-year component of the last (what I’ve termed the Omega) generation spoken of by Jesus.

But it also goes back to the preparatory phase of the return of the Jews to Israel that started very slowly, but surely, in 1917. I’m convinced that a few of these Jews will also be alive to witness the Rapture—whether taken as and with other believers in Messiah, or left behind to experience the terrible Tribulation, but hopefully to choose Messiah at that time. Currently there are about 1,500 Jews who are 100+ years old in Israel. They, too, could be considered first generation of returning Jews in 1917; with their children those in the 70-year generation and their grandchildren those in the Jubilee timeframe. With all three groups part of the 100-year final generation (countdown).

These three pivotal epic events in Israel’s modern-day history are legitimate benchmarks with which to identify the last generation that will witness the Day of the Lord. Both the generation cited by Jesus and the generations identified by Ezekiel (and other prophets) are one and the same literal generational age-groups in the last days.

Here’s what the Lord said shortly after Ezekiel identifies they and them, and their children and grandchildren:

“I will make my home among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people” (Ezekiel 37:27).

That is a time-capsule prophecy dedicated and applied to the last generation (100-year, 70-year, and 50-year Jubilee).

We are that generation!

“Would I ever bring this nation to the point of birth and then not deliver it? Asks the Lord. No! I would never keep this nation from being born, says your God” (Isaiah 66:9).

The Sad Saga of Syria

Syria is the only country in the world in which the three most conspicuous nations of the Gog/Magog alliance currently maintain a military presence simultaneously… Russia, Iran, and Turkey. It wasn’t all that long ago that each of these nations were enemies of the others.

(

(Although a long way off, Moscow is due north of Israel. Notice the proximity of Syria, Iran, and Turkey to Israel)

In review of the Syrian conflict, the following is an excerpt from Eye of Prophecy article, The Gog/Magog Countdown Has Begun. That article was posted over three years ago (9-10-16). Since then, I firmly believe that the endgame of the Gog/Magog agenda has begun to unfold, which means the Rapture is more imminent than ever. In italics:

The Gog/Magog coalition will take advantage of Israel’s “confidence” generated because the Israelis, “…are living in peace in their land” (Verse 14) …. 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.” (Ezekiel 38:12).

I then quoted from an Eye of Prophecy article posted the previous week, entitled The Peace Treaty That Will Guarantee War. As follows:

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.

Returning to the excerpt from The Gog Magog Countdown Has Begun:

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 airfield 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.

Fast forward back to the present. Russia and Iran are still in Syria and Turkey has returned.

For all practical purposes, President Assad’s brutal regime has regained power and controls much more of Syria that it did even three years ago. Because US President Trump’s main concern was elimination of ISIS in Syria (not whether Assad remains in power), he ordered the withdrawal of a relatively small contingency of American troops near the Syrian/Turkish border. Even some Republicans criticized this decision as it would trigger Turkey’s immediate entrance into a strip of Syria along the Turkish border, mostly inhabited and controlled by the Kurds who fought alongside the United States to defeat ISIS.

Turkey and its President Erdogan hate the Kurds. Under the pretense of protecting the Turkish border with Syria, he sent troops and armament to secure a segment of Syria that stretches about 75 miles long (on the border) and 20 miles deep into Syria. The Turks agenda was twofold: (1) Drive out the Kurds; (2) Replace them with resettled Syrian refugees now in Turkey that number nearly 3 ½ million. However, Erdogan has wanted to eliminate (ethnic cleansing or actual genocide) the Syrian Kurds for years.

Fortunately, the bloodshed has been limited; only because the Kurds have agreed to withdraw. If or when or why the Turks will leave Syria is anybody’s guess. Much depends on not only pressure from the United States but from other nations of NATO, of which Turkey is the only Eurasian country that is a member of this North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

(Turkish Military Convoy in Syria)

Though they’ve had their differences, the presidential leaders of Russia (Vladimir Putin), Iran (Hassan Rouhani) and Turkey (Recep Erdogan) recently met to ostensibly decide the fate of Syria; at least in terms of their respective interests and involvement in this country ravaged by war and economic hardship.

What To Do With Syria (make that … Israel)

In part, President Trump vindicated his decision to remove United States troops from Syria in two ways: (1) With intelligence assistance from the very Kurds whose security was threatened by absence of our troops, US Special Forces found and raided the compound of ISIS leader (Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi) who killed himself and three of his children while trying to escape. (2) Instead of withdrawing all military personnel, President Trump repositioned some of them to safeguard the oil fields of Syria and Iraq.

Even then, the Democrat controlled House of Representatives moved forward in their relentless effort to impeach President Trump. Whether the stated reasons to impeach him are legally valid and/or whatever the outcome of this impeachment, the process itself will only intensify the enormous polarity and disunity taking place in America between conservatives and liberals.

Although the main reason why the United States will not come to Israel’s aid during the Gog/Magog campaign will be loss of millions of people in America at the Rapture, the stage is already being set for a hands-off, isolationist mindset that will contribute to America’s disregard for and apathy toward Israel’s fate in the early part of the Tribulation.

Which is precisely what God said would happen through the prophet Ezekiel. Meaning that the only support offered to Israel by the United States and Western allies is that of a half-hearted reprimand of the Gog/Magog assault on Israel. These western nations will merely say to Russia, Iran, Turkey, and the entire Magog confederation:

“…Do you really think the armies you have gathered can rob them of silver and gold? Do you think you can drive away their livestock and seize their goods and carry off plunder?” (Ezekiel 38:13).

As a result of the meeting between Putin, Rouhani, and Erdogan, Russian and Syrian government forces occupied this wide swath of Syria on its border with Turkey, while the Kurds pulled out. Followed by Russian and Turkish troops patrolling the corridor to prevent further fighting. All the while, Iran continues to build and rebuild military installations (those bombed periodically by Israeli airstrikes) throughout Syria, some perilously close to the Israeli border … particularly the Golan Heights.

In keeping with his deceptive attempt to label the Kurds as terrorists (in fact they did more to defeat ISIS than any other group of fighters), Turkey’s President Erdogan said of his country’s recent incursion into Syria and the eviction of the Kurds from the stretch of land in question: “I believe this agreement will start a new era toward Syria’s lasting stability and it being cleared of terrorism. I hope that this agreement is beneficial to our countries and to our brothers in Syria.”

Seriously? What brothers in Syria? Turkey has been an opponent of Syrian President Assad’s government for years. Moreover, Syrian President Assad recently said that he is willing to support any resistance (meaning from the Kurds) against Turkey’s invasion. Whereas, Russia and Iran have sent troops to Syria to enable Assad to defeat the rebel freedom fighters (supported by the United States).

The only reason that Russia, Iran, and Turkey maintain diplomatic and military liaisons with each other and barely tolerate the presence of each other is because all three have their sights set on conquest of Israel. As does Syrian President Assad, who—emboldened by his recent military success in Syria—has recently ramped up his rhetoric against Israel.

Russia, Iran, and Turkey have been and will continue to be that much more entrenched in Syria, ready to strike Israel when the Syrian conflict subsides—at least to the satisfaction of the nations involved. Initially, however, they may actually or under pretense begin to slowly withdraw their military from Syria. Which would track with God’s precise prophetic words to Gog/Magog:

“…Gog, I am your enemy! I will turn you around and put hooks in your jaws to lead you out with your whole army (including Iran and Turkey) …” (Ezekiel 38:3-4, parenthesis mine).

Then later, the Lord taunts Gog again: “Get ready; be prepared! Keep all the armies around you mobilized, and take command of them … you will be called into action…” (Verses 7-8).

Again in Chapter 39, God says: “I will turn you around and drive you toward the mountains of Israel…” (Verse 2).

Nevertheless, until the Rapture takes place, the United States would immediately come to the aid of Israel if even one of these nations launched a large-scale military campaign against Israel, let alone all three at the same time. As we speak, neither President Trump nor the United States Senate would sit idly by if Israel is attacked by a massive strike force, no matter which country or countries perpetrated such an assault.

All these recent developments have resulted in another endgame piece of the prophetic puzzle perfectly placed and playing out in our generation, just as Scripture said would happen.

Things to Ponder

“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!” (Ezekiel 38:18-22).

Twice before in Jewish history, God fought for Israel unilaterally, decisively defeating Israel’s enemies without the Jews needing to fight at all. Please refer to Eye of Prophecy article, Stand Still and Watch God Fight For Israel! (published 7-30-16) for an in-depth examination of those events.

The above quoted passage from Ezekiel depicts the third time in Israel’s epic existence that the Lord God will spring into action and crush those nations aligned against Israel, i.e. Gog and his allies.

There are three reasons why God alone will vanquish the massive coalition of Russia, Iran, Turkey, Libya, Ethiopia and other nations when they invade Israel.

1. Despite the military might of Israel in today’s world, she will be no match for this “mighty army” (Ezekiel 38:15) that will come against God’s people and the Promised Land of Israel.
2. The supernatural means in which God will destroy Gog/Magog is part of the beginning of the Lord’s demonstration of his power and authority during the early part of the seven-year Tribulation. This to get the attention of not only Israel but the entire world. The judgments on Gog and Magog are very similar to the 6^th & 7^th Seal judgments and 1^st Trumpet judgment (Revelation 6:12-14; 8:4-5; 8:7). In Ezekiel we read what the Lord says after he smashes Gog/Magog: “In this way, I will demonstrate my glory to the nations. Everyone will see the punishment I have inflicted on them and the power of my fist when I strike” (Ezekiel 39:21). Compare those words to what people all over the world begin to realize and say after the 6^th Seal is broken: “…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 6:16-17).
3. To eliminate some of Israel’s enemies in preparation for God’s permission for Antichrist’s (Nero) increased ascendancy to power that will be fully developed during the last half of the Great Tribulation. Then the physical return of Messiah Jesus to defeat Antichrist, this time with the Jews fighting alongside their King (Zechariah Chapter 12).

These things have happened, are happening, and will continue to happen as the oldest part (defined as 100 years), the middle part (70 years), and the youngest (final) part of our generation ends.

“Now learn a lesson from the fig tree (which represents Israel). When its branches bud 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” (Words spoken by Jesus; Matthew 24:32-34, parenthesis mine).

Keep your eyes on the Middle East. God’s plan for all humanity goes directly through Jerusalem.

As Israel goes, so goes the entire world.

One day soon both individually and nationally, both physically and spiritually, “…all Israel will be saved…” (Romans 11:26).