That loud sound you heard recently was the internet exploding with blogs and videos on the current events in the Middle-East. Many of these presentations are dealing with the fulfillment of Ezekiel 38 and 39; the “Gog-Magog” war, wondering if the current conflict between Israel and Iran is what the Bible predicted. In looking at current events, it becomes pretty clear, pretty quickly that this present war is not what Ezekiel was prophesying. A brief review of the prophecy might prove helpful.
#1 – A review: the setting in Ezekiel’s prophecy for this end of times war. The war discussed in Ezekiel is located by the prophet in the end of times (38:8, 16; 34:28-29’ 36:15; 37:25). The purpose of this war is to begin the process of bringing Israel back into a right relationship with the Lord their God. Ezekiel 39:22 reveals that after God Himself annihilates the invading army of Israel’s enemies that “the house of Israel will know I am the Lord their God from that day onward.” This clearly will be a major event in the coming salvation of Israel. It appears to be the starting point when the nation of Israel throws off their ritualism, agnosticism, and atheism and comes to recognize that Jesus of Nazareth was/is their long-awaited Messiah. This salvation process will continue in the Tribulation period according to Matthew 24:8-9, Zechariah 12:8-14 and Daniel 9:24, 27.
This war will begin when over six nations, specifically mentioned in 38:1-6, come with overwhelming force against Israel. “Gog” is the title of the leader of the invading force, and he comes from the farthest point north of Israel (which happens to be Russia). Israel is helpless before this invading army. Ezekiel is quite clear that it is God Himself who will eliminate these enemy nations, as Israel appears to play no part in the total victory prophesied by Ezekiel. The description of how the enemy is destroyed leaves little doubt that the Almighty Lord does it (38:18-23). These divine activities remind us of how the Lord delivered Israel numerous times in the Old Testament, such as the great victory of Gideon over the Midianites (Judges 6 and 7). Glory goes completely to the Lord Jehovah. Also, it seems that no nation will side with Israel in Ezekiel’s war (38:10-13). The motivation for the Gog/Magog battle is the unusual prosperity of Israel in the end times (38:12).
#2 – The current events involving Iran and Israel are not the fulfillment of Ezekiel 38 and 39, the Gog/Magog battle. While Iran (Persia) is a prominent nation in the battle prophesied in Ezekiel 38 and 39, the other nations given by Ezekiel are not directly involved in the current war, which would be required if this was indeed the Gog/Magog war. In Ezekiel, the Israeli armed forces appear to have no direct role in the defeat of the invading forces. But the current situation has seen the Israeli air force dominating the scene. They and the Mossad, and not the Lord Jehovah, have received the praise for the victories. In the present war, other nations (especially the United States) have played a vital role in subduing Iran. The invasion of Ezekiel was motivated in large part by the desire to seize the wealth of Israel, but in the current war it is primarily religious hatred and the desire to remove Israel off the map. This was the fuel of the current conflict. The passion for annihilating the Jews dominates the activities of Iran. Of course, behind that is the deep hatred that Satan has for the Covenant people of Israel, through whom Messiah came and will come again. These are not the same wars, as there are too many differences between current events and biblical events.
#3 – The current events are most likely preparatory for Gog/Magog. God’s timing of the Ezekiel battle is not known though most all agree that it is in the end of the end times. There are some 8 or 9 views as to the exact time of Gog/Magog. It would not be surprising if it was getting very close. At this point, this writer leans towards the idea that the Gog/Magog battle occurs right after the Rapture and just prior to the start of the Tribulation period.
Daniel 2:21 informs us that “it is He (the God of heaven) who changes the times and the epochs.” This is teaching that God is in charge of the major events (“epochs”) of this world, as well as the sequence of events (“times”). An event, like the current Israel/Iran war is somehow factored into the grand scheme of things. Iran has been weakened by the blows coming from Israel, and from the United States. They cannot go it alone against Israel. Another player in the Gog/Magog war is Russia. And it appears that they too are being badly weakened by the ongoing conflict with Ukraine. And the other nations that Ezekiel speaks about would not be thought of as mighty militarily. The “northern alliance” that attacks Israel in Ezekiel 38-39 is formidable because it is an alliance of these six nations (plus others). It would appear that these nations need one another to form the massive army that will come against Israel. Alone no nation would be victorious.
#4 – The presence of Israel in the land of Israel is key to interpreting biblical prophetic events. When events such as the current Iran/Israel conflict take place, it is natural and right to ask if such an event has prophetic significance. Jesus Himself indicated that being alert to present situations is what a discerning person does (Matt. 16:3). But, of greatest importance, is that we must always pay close attention to the text of the Bible so that we are not carried away by current events.
What we all must remember is that there is one unmistakable indicator pointing to the arrival of end time events and that is the fact that the people of Israel are back in their God-given land. In Ezekiel 34-37, some 70 times, the prophet informs his readers that “God will” restore Israel. And there is a clearly defined order of events related to the restoring of Israel. It is a two-fold restoration. First, they will be restored physically back to their ancient land. It will be a process over time that is noticeable to all people. God Himself will bring them out of the nations of the world and they will return to their ancient land (36:28). However, they will return back to their land in unbelief (which is their present condition). Then second, in God’s timing, they will return back to the Lord, which will be their spiritual restoration. Ezekiel is clear that there is a specific order to Israel’s restoration and that is a physical restoration back to the land followed by a spiritual restoration back to the Lord. The physical restoration has been going on for decades and may well be near its end. The next step will be to restore Israel spiritually. Both Old and New Testaments teach that the primary purpose of the coming Tribulation is to restore Israel spiritually (Matt. 24:8-9; Ezek. 37:14; Dan. 9:24, 27). Israel’s spiritual restoration begins with the Gog/Magog war and will accelerate after the Church is removed at the Rapture event. Then comes the Tribulation period during which Israelites in great numbers come to faith in Jesus Messiah. Jesus made it clear that He would not return again until Israel recognized and accepted Him as Messiah (Matt. 23:39). And this they will do as the Tribulation period progresses and as Jesus comes again at His Second Coming.
The Apostle Paul declares that the day is indeed coming when the people of Israel will be saved. In Romans 11:25-27, he writes:
“FOR I DO NOT WANT YOU, BRETHREN, TO BE UNINFORMED OF THIS MYSTERY, LEST YOU BE WISE IN YOUR OWN ESTIMATION, THAT A PARTIAL HARDENING HAS HAPPENED TO ISRAEL UNTIL THE FULNESS OF THE GENTILES HAS COME IN;
AND THUS ALL ISRAEL WILL BE SAVED; JUST AS IT IS WRITTEN, ‘THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION, HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB.’ AND THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM, WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS.”
So, we wait, with one eye on the fast-moving events around us, and another eye on the heavens from which our Savior comes (Phil 3:20). The timing of Gog/Magog, the Rapture, and all other prophetic events of the Bible are completely out of our hands. There is but One who controls the nations and the events on the earth. However, for us, following the Apostle’s example (Phil 3:12-21) is a good way to live. We are to put forth great effort in our labors for Him until He triggers these end time events which includes our being taken to be with Him.
