Aside from a few folks living deep in the Amazon jungle, everyone on earth is aware of the recent warfare and hostilities surrounding the middle east nation of Iran. By precision bombing, the United States and Israel have decimated Iran’s military, their leadership and their economy. And it is possible that more bad stuff is headed Iran’s way. Iran is being required to give up their nuclear ambitions plus several other strategic matters. Negotiations are supposedly going on which will end the hostilities and bring a lasting peace to that area of the world. However, most know that Iran’s leaders all have Ph.Ds in deception and lying, and it is safer to buy a used car from Honest Harvey’s used car lot than trust the Iranian leadership. President Trump is regularly warned about the untrustworthiness of Iran, but he assures everyone that he knows how to make deals and will not be fooled by them. How this ends is not at all clear and there is great concern about how it is going to play out. Much depends on the outcome because oil prices are deeply affected, which greatly impacts the economy of nations all over the world. And while all this is true, there is much more to this in the thinking of the Bible believing Christian.
The Gog-Magog war of Ezekiel 38 and 39. A plethora of articles and podcasts have appeared in the last couple of years which most believers are aware of. For those who are a little foggy on this end time battle, let us quickly summarize. Ezekiel reveals that in the end of time, the God of Israel is going to force a group of six nations to band together to attack Israel. These nations intend to destroy Israel and take possession of Israel’s wealth. Iran and Russia are two notable nations among the six. The vast, powerful, highly equipped army that will come is likened to a huge storm cloud gathered against little Israel. Although Israel might have an excellent air force, tank Corp, and seasoned soldiers, at this time, they clearly see that they are doomed. However, Israel’s God will use an amazing variety of methods to annihilate this invading force. The purpose? God’s intervention will be the event that tears the spiritual blindfold from nation Israel and “Israel will know that I am the Lord their God from that day onward” (39:22). This will be the spiritual turning point for Israel. Their atheism and agnosticism will evaporate and they will begin a return to the Lord Jehovah, which will then lead them to realize that Jesus of Nazareth was indeed their long-anticipated Messiah. And during the seven-year Tribulation Israel will turn to Him in large numbers. (Salvation of Israel and then gentiles are the primary purposes for the coming Tribulation). While the exact time of this Gog-Magog battle is not spelled out by Ezekiel, it seems best to place it right before the start of the Tribulation.
The presence of Iran. It should be obvious that the present activities surrounding Iran are not going to remove them off the world stage nor eliminate their current disposition. In fact, Iran’s hatred for Israel will not disappear nor diminish so that at the time of the Gog-Magog war it is still very much in existence. They want Israel driven into the sea. Any change of leadership in the present that might take place will not bring about a change in attitude.
The need for a six nation coalition. Years ago, no one would have given Israel any real chance in a head-to-head war with Russia. Russia was seen as a mighty military power that would crush the little nation of Israel. But today, perhaps largely because of the ongoing war with Ukraine, Russia does not seem so very mighty. According to neutral groups that study war, Russia’s losses have been really staggering. Soldiers in the tens of thousands have been killed or badly wounded as well as an incredible loss of military equipment, including aircraft, ships and thousands of tanks. Russia is no longer viewed by the world as an awesome military machine (which in trying to save face, might be why they remind the world regularly that they are a nuclear power and should not be messed with). But joining forces with Iran and at least four other nations, this would give them great confidence that Israel could be crushed.
The omnipotent, omniscient God of Israel. Some things are unclear to us, but not to the God of Abraham. He knows all things actual and possible, and He knows the exact day and time when the invasion will take place. In reality, He will be initiating the whole war, forcing Russia, Iran and the others to gather for their invasion of Israel. He, not they, oversee this great end time event. God once told Moses that He is very patient and kind to people, but there is an end to that patience when unbelieving men will not respond (Exo. 34:6-7). And Gog-Magog is such a time. God will never forget His covenant with His people Israel, and in that covenant, He assured them that those who curse Israel will themselves be cursed (Gen. 12:1-3). The time will run out for Iran and the others. What the United States and Israel will not be able to do in the current situation, the Lord Jehovah will execute completely and to perfection.
The stage is set. We always want to know if the end of the end times has arrived. We, of course, cannot predict such things. Jesus did suggest that we should be able to discern those indicators that would point to end times matters. Most importantly in understanding biblical prophecy is the fact that national Israel must be back in the land, restored from the nations of the earth. This is essential for the key events of the end times play out. Israel must be back in the land given by God to Abraham and his descendants. With Israel back in their promised land, all the other end time events, including the Gog-Magog battle will then be able to take place. God on oath has committed Himself to fulfill His covenant promises to Israel; to bring about the restoration of all that was lost in the Garden of Eden; to save multitudes of people who presently are deceived by the Evil One; and to do everything that He has promised that He would do. Gog-Magog is part of all that. Maybe that time has come.
