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Turkey, Turkey, and more Turkey
Written: 10-18-2009
Rapture Forum Staff: Chris
Over the past few days we have seen more attempts by the international community to rekindle the "lost love" between Israel and Turkey after the falling out over the cancellation of military exercises between Turkey, NATO, and Israel. Today, we have news articles telling us the that the United States is encouraging Turkey to "restore" relations with Israel. The Jerusalem Post is reports:
Senior American diplomats have urged Turkey to work to restore relations with Israel, in an attempt to abate the recent tensions between Ankara and Jerusalem, Israel Radio reported on Friday night. The US officials asked the foreign ministry in Ankara to work to restore the relations with Israel, explaining that the tensions is hurting US interests in the Middle East. The deterioration of the ties between Turkey and Israel threatens the stability in the region and undermines the battle against fundamental Islamists as well as the efforts to halt Iran's nuclear program, the US diplomats reportedly told their Turkish counterparts.
Further, the Haaretz newspaper website is reporting that US officials are telling Turkey that the recent escalations in tensions between Israel and Turkey are hurting US interests in the region. The Haaretz newspaper website went on to report on the concerns being voiced by the Americans:
"Israel and turkey have cooperated militarily since the 1950s - sometimes openly, sometimes covertly - but never has the level of bad blood gotten to the point to give the sense of the beginning of a meltdown." "It's a huge shift in policy," he went on to say. "Basically, Turkey is kicking Israel out of a NATO exercise and telling Israel they won't support a strike against Iran's nukes. This is the issue that is a big concern for Washington. The relations in the region are a matter of big concern."
As we can see from the above comments the situation between Israel and Turkey has escalated to a point unseen in the past. As we noted in the last Rapture Report, it is our feeling that this level of hostility that Turkey is displaying will eventually help to lead them down the path of prophecy fulfillment as outlined by Ezekiel 38-39. The Bible warns that in the last days that a Russian led moslem coalition will try to invade Israel in an effort to destroy the Jewish state. While the prophet Ezekiel lists Russia (Magog) and Iran (Persia) as the main leaders of this invasion, Turkey is also represented among the nations that are aligned with them.
For many years the Turks had strong aspirations to join the European Union and looked West for her future. However, the European Union has not taken a liking to the present Turkish nation and has made numerous demands of Turkey in order to allow them to join the growing union. But the Europeans never promised the Turkish leaders a role of a regular member, but instead dangled the carrots of associate or lesser member status. The way the Turks saw it was that they had to make all of these embarrassing concessions in order to appease the Europeans and their reward was nothing more than a junior member status within the union. For the Turks, this was not acceptable. As a result, over the past year or so we have seen a dramatic shift in political posturing by the Turkish government. Turkey, having been shunned by the Europeans, has now begun to look East for her future. And this of course plays into the hands of the Islamic nations, particularly that if Iran. As students of Bible prophecy, we can see that Turkey's recent movement to eastward will help to move the chess pieces in place for the Gog/Magog war that was spoken of by the prophet Ezekiel thousands of years ago.
Eze 38:1 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Eze 38:2 Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him,
Eze 38:3 And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I [am] against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal:
The Gog/Magog war is an end times conflict whereby a Russian led moslem coalition makes a move south in order to attack Israel. The prophet Ezekiel gave a vivid description of the war and the results in Ezekiel 38-39. This is the conflict in which God will use to "spiritually" awaken the Jewish people once more to his divine presence and help to move his perfect plan for the redemption of mankind into it's final stages. The prophet Ezekiel noted that God will supernaturally intervene in this conflict to save Israel from sure destruction. God reveals that he will not intervene because Israel deserves it, but instead he will intervene to glorify and magnify his holy name. Ezekiel 38-39 says:
Eze 38:23 Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I [am] the LORD.
Here, in no uncertain terms, the Lord states that he will intervene and save Israel so that he is glorified and magnified among the nations. At this current time, it has been noted by many surveys that about 90% of Israel is secular and not religious. Only about 10% of the state of Israel is made up of religious and practicing Jews. It is my belief that this "spiritual awakening" that occurs as a result of the intervention of God against the Gog/Magog coalition will cause the Jews to demand a return to Old Testament style worship complete with a Third Temple. As many students of Bible prophecy are aware, there are two major organizations in Israel at this time that are busy preparing for the future Third Temple. In fact, it is noted that most fo the garments, vessels, and instruments of worship have already been assembled in anticipation of the Third Temple being built soon. It is certainly an amazing time to be alive.
These astonishing events, coupled with the growing hostility by Turkey towards Israel, is certainly preparing us for the fulfillment of Ezekiel 38-39. The Bible tells us that when we see these things come to be, we are to lift up our heads, for our redemption is drawing nigh. It is my belief that we are on the very edge of seeing this prophecy being fulfilled. While no one knows for sure except for God, we are to watch and remain sober as these events move closer and closer towards prophetic fulfillment.
God bless.
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