Signs in Our Times?
Part 3: Russia Vs. Israel
The Russian attack on Ukraine, the Iran nuclear deal, and world-wide changes in over the past year have created a shift in the geo-political landscape that has prophetic implications.
Russia Vs. Israel
“Son of man, turn and face Gog of the land of Magog, the prince who rules over the nations of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him.
Ezekiel 38:2, 8-9 (NLT)
“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.”
In Ezekiel 38 and 39, God gives the prophet a vision into the distant future about an attack against Israel. The word “Gog” is the title of a person such as leader, king, or president. The land of Magog is the area that is now known as Russia and the Republics of the former Soviet Union. Ezekiel 38:5-6 mentions additional countries that are involved. They are known today as Iran, Sudan/Ethiopia, Libya, Turkey, and Armenia. The three most prominent players in the prophecy are Russia, Iran, and Turkey.
God tells Ezekiel that he will put a “hook in their jaw” and “draw them out”, suggesting that the attack could be viewed as being unexpected or having little or no rationale. Then, God will supernaturally step in to defend Israel, and Israel will understand that it is God who saved them.
Chapter 39 goes on to say that the wreckage would burn for seven years and that it would take seven months to clean up the fall out. In fact, Ezekiel 39:14-15 suggests that the clean-up process will require a special team of people which could indicate nuclear fallout.
Because of the timing and duration of this event (seven years), as well as its supernatural nature and acknowledgment of God’s hand, it is generally understood that this will happen either just before or shortly after the rapture of the church. Many Jews in Israel today do not adhere to Judaism, but this will change during the tribulation period.
Until recently, there have been several obstacles to this event. First, Russia, Iran, and Turkey have never really been aligned in the past. In the last 15 years, however, we have seen Iran and Russia form alliances. Neither Russia’s invasion of Ukraine nor their participation in the Iranian nuclear deal have changed this.
“Iran won’t break with Russia over Ukraine. Here’s why.”
Turkey has considered Russia a trade partner since 1991, and they are heavily reliant on maintaining relationships with them. In spite of being a member of NATO, Turkey seems to side with Russia more than the West, even putting up roadblocks to allowing Finland and Sweden to join NATO.
“Turkey faces risks acting as sanctions ‘safe haven’ for Russians”
“Turkey blocks start of NATO talks on Finland’s and Sweden’s applications”
On the other end, the relationship between Russia and Israel has generally been positive for the past 20 years. Ariel Sharon considered Putin to be a “true friend of Israel”, and Putin had great respect for Benjamin Netanyahu. Russia has even afforded Israel some protection by turning a “blind eye” to Israel’s air strikes over Syria.
The relationship between Putin and Naftali Bennet has not been as close, however. Initially Israel attempted to remain neutral in the Russia-Ukraine conflict but eventually voted in favor of suspending Russia from the UN Human Rights Council. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov made comments about Hitler having Jewish blood that seemed to be aimed at Israel. And as recently as May of this year, Russia fired a missile at Israeli fighter jets over Syria breaking a tacit agreement between the two countries regarding Syrian airspace. All of these events suggest that the relationship between Russia and Israel has very quickly changed course.
“Russia-Israel relations after the fall of Netanyahu”
“Russia-Israel Relations Unravel as Putin risks Losing Key Middle East Ally”
“Russians fire S-300 at Israeli jets in Syria; could impact tactics, geopolitics”
“Russia Says Israel Using Ukraine Invasion as ‘Distraction’ From Palestinian Issue”
There is something else that is of interest in Russia’s aggression toward Ukraine that bears consideration. The Bible records several times in history where God used a pagan world leader to chastise or “wake up” Israel. Invasions from Assyria and Babylon are two examples of this. In the Gog-Magog description in Ezekiel, God says that he will put “hooks in their jaws” to draw them out against Israel. God’s purpose in doing this is to wake up the Jews and demonstrate to them in no uncertain terms that he can and will still protect them. This interests me because it suggests that Russia’s future attack on Israel may appear irrational.
If the Gog-Magog war is just around the corner, then Gog, the ruler of Russia, is Vladimir Putin, President of Russia. Since the Ukraine invasion began, there have been many who have questioned Putin’s sanity, and the continual threats of nuclear war leave some wondering if the former KGB member is coming unhinged. Others have expressed concerns over his physical health believing that he may not have long to live and that he could take extreme measures to leave his mark on history before exiting this life. Combine that with his failure, to date, to capture Ukraine and its Jewish leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the deteriorating relationship with Israel, and you could have a recipe for an invasion of Israel. Again, this is all pure conjecture, but it is interesting to consider.
“There is plenty of speculation about Putin’s state of mind”
“Ill? ‘Unhinged’? or calculating? Russia’s Putin keeps everyone guessing”
“Why Vladimir Putin is unlikely to survive his invasion of Ukraine”
I noted earlier that it is generally felt by Biblical scholars that the Gog-Magog war could happen either just before or just after the rapture of the church. Although I can see either option, my best guess is after. The “fallout” from the war as discussed in Ezekiel 39:14-16 sounds a great deal like nuclear war. Revelation 6:4 talks about the beginning of the seven-year tribulation being marked by intense warfare which, along with other effects of war, that will destroy a quarter of the earth’s population. The mass disappearance of millions of people from the earth would render many nations incapable of doing anything to intervene. But regardless of the timing, the geopolitical events currently surrounding Russia and Israel are yet one more piece in the prophetic puzzle.
Resources
“Historical Timeline for the Nation of Israel and the Jewish People”
“Gog and Magog” with Pastor Brett Meador
Songs of Victory
The links and articles referenced in this piece are for reference only and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or beliefs of this writer or the Song of Victory website.
Scripture taken from the Amplified Bible, Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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