Rapture Alert -- Russia: An attack on Tehran is an attack on Moscow

[Chris]

Rapture Alert: Gog-Magog Update - Russia: An attack on Tehran is an attack on Moscow

Rapture Alert
Russia: An attack on Tehran is an attack on Moscow
Written: 1-15-12
by Michael G. Mickey

In bible prophecy we are told of a military confederacy which will come against the nation of Israel in the "latter years" (Ezekiel 38:8), a reference to the end times leading up to Christ's visible, physical, bodily return to earth at the Battle of Armageddon.

The confederacy of which I'm speaking is believed by most to consist of the following nations:

Magog - Most agree this is a reference to Russia.

Meshech - Most associate this with modern day Turkey, ancient Anatolia, but some say it refers to the Moscow area.

Tubal - Most associate this with modern day Turkey, ancient Anatolia.

Persia - modern Iran

Ethiopia

Libya

Gomer - eastern Europe or Turkey

Togarmah - southeastern Europe or Turkey

Most of you who have been following my writing through the years know I've been telling my readers to keep watch for Russia to make more and more friendly with Iran and Turkey, the latter presently a member of NATO, as well as vice versa.

It's been no secret for years now that Russia has been heavily investing in Iran's nuclear program, providing them with both the technology and equipment needed for the world's most dubious state sponsor of radical Islamic terrorism to develop nuclear weapons. But what I am going to be commenting on today? It's nothing less than an undeniable sign that the Gog-Magog confederacy described in Ezekiel 38 is within view for all practical purposes.

Israel National News is today reporting the following, in part:

Russia has given Iran its bear hug and warns Israel and the West that an attack on Tehran would be considered an attack on Moscow. The threat heightens the prospect of World War III in the event of a military strike on Iran.

“Iran is our neighbor,” Russia's outgoing ambassador to NATO, Dmitry Rogozin, told reporters in Brussels. “And if Iran is involved in any military action, it’s a direct threat to our security.”

With the news of our world today filled with rumors that the United States, Israel or both may be on the verge of a pre-emptive attack on Iran designed to prevent the antagonistic, terrorism-supporting Islamic regime from posing an existential threat to Israel at the very least, Russia is drawing a line in the sand unless Dmitry Rogozin was speaking off the cuff.

If Rogozin's words were officially sanctioned and a true reflection of Moscow's intentions when he said an attack on Iran is the equivalent to an attack on Moscow, INN is correct in its assertion that World War III is a looming possibility for humanity in the foreseeable future. But in my opinion? A far more realistic near-term possibility is a fulfillment of the battle of Gog-Magog occurring beforehand as detailed in Ezekiel 38-39. What most would consider WWIII? That event, Armageddon as those of us familiar with bible prophecy commonly refer to it, is some distance away for a number of reasons I won't get into in this commentary.

For the Gog-Magog confederacy to make its move, which I believe this news brings closer to fulfillment, a few things still need to happen. Something is going to have to enter into the mix we're seeing come together in the news of our world today which causes Israel to perceive it is existing in the troubled Middle East in peace and safety. Let me explain.

Ezekiel 38:11 says Israel will have to be a land of unwalled villages having neither bars nor gates.

Israel without checkpoints, security barriers, and the like? That is nowhere close to happening right now, is it? Not that I can see! But there's more! The people of Israel will have to be dwelling not only in safety, but in great prosperity as well.

Ezekiel 38:13 describes onlooking nations inquiring of the Gog-Magog confederacy, at the time of their future military aggression against Israel, if their actions are being motivated by greed - a desire to carry away silver, gold and other spoils of war.

Today, should the Gog-Magog confederacy attack Israel, I believe most in the global community would consider the motive of the attackers to be exactly what current Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has repeatedly stated is a goal of Iran, namely to wipe Israel off the face of the earth.

So, to reiterate, it seems from my perspective some key ingredients are missing from the Ezekiel 38 equation. What could they be? Opinions vary, but a distinct possibility is military conflict.

Some students of end times bible prophecy believe there will be a major conflict in the region or several before the battle of Gog-Magog takes place as described in Ezekiel 38-39. I am of a similar opinion, one chief reason in my mind being that Syria is noticeably missing from the list of nations associated with the Gog-Magog attack. Perhaps, the answer to the question of why Syria appears sidelined at the time of the Gog-Magog attack is prophetically addressed elsewhere.

Isaiah 17:1 reads: "The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap."

Damascus destroyed and left a ruinous heap? An area currently populated by approximately two million people wiped out to the extent it can't even be likened to a city? That seems to be precisely the case. But could this prophecy have been fulfilled in the past sometime? It is hard to pinpoint historically if so.

Damascus is widely recognized as the longest continuously-inhabited city in the world. Therefore, it seems wise for us to consider Isaiah 17:1 as a potential factor in future events on the prophetic horizon, at least where Syria's absence in the coming battle of Gog-Magog is concerned.

As I write this commentary, it's hard to tell where Syria is currently headed, its people and government in conflict with one another in a manner consistent with what we've witnessed in other nations in the region since the "Arab Spring" started. That being said, I can't imagine any scenario short of Syria being optionless militarily that would prevent them from participating in a lop-sided attempt by a group of nations to wipe Israel out. But who knows? Only time and circumstances will determine the answer definitively.

In conclusion, while many questions remain to be answered where the Middle East and the fulfillment of bible prophecy is concerned, I am confident in stating the news I have written of in this commentary today reflects positively on the accuracy of end times bible prophecy and is, in fact, a reminder that the return of Jesus Christ is right around the prophetic corner.

Are you ready?

[Littlejoe]

Things very ,very soon are going to get real serious !!Time for playing church is over ,christians must work while its still light ,
the darkness is rapidly approaching !

[mikhen7]

The vindication of God's holiness is on the horizon!! Be watchful!

God Bless all

[mikhen7]

Chris thanks for the commentary and thoughts. As far as the greed is concerned, I think Israel is a wealthy nation or is fast becoming one. I also know that the discovery of Natural Gas and its many other natural resources are envied. Russia needs that pipeline from everything I have read and if alignment with other nations that have ulterior motives is the way, then so be it. I find this verse to be interesting concerning God's timing, Acts 3:21 This one (Jesus) heaven must receive until the time all things are restored, which God declared from times long ago through his holy prophets. In due time the Lord will hallow His name and Israel as a non-God-fearing nation will one day fear the Lord once more. So will the rest of the world that bows the knee to Jesus!!! I think we are on the precipice. As you have stated there may be other things that must develop but the fig tree is surely in bud.

I found this cross reference to be very interesting to just think about when we might think of what it means in the Hebrew mind to be dwelling safely without bars and gates. Judg 18:7 So the five men (Danite spies) departed and went to Laish. They saw the people who [were] there, how they dwelt safely, in the manner of the Sidonians, quiet and secure. [There were] no rulers in the land who might put [them] to shame for anything. They [were] far from the Sidonians, and they had no ties with anyone.

Laish became Dan in Northern Israel. 29 And they called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father, who was born to Israel. However, the name of the city formerly [was] Laish. That said, the Danites easily came upon the city because it had no protection. In Ezekiel I think we can literally say that they have no bars and gates--no wall surrounding the land. But also because of its small size and the lack of multiple nation international support, mostly leaning upon themselves and the USA, that Gog/Magog will see them as a "Laish" easily conquerable in God's due time. It is God that controls the moment. I believe that moment will be here before we know it! Praise Jesus! Jesus! Jesus!!

God Bless!

[Everlasting Life]

Interesting op and thread.

I was looking at this:

Ezekiel 38:11 says Israel will have to be a land of unwalled villages having neither bars nor gates.

and thought to myself....what exactly do the villages in Israel look like?

I did a search and came up with this:

israel villages - Bing Images

and this:

Villages of Israel

What I'm noticing is that these villages (which are quite a few in the pictures) do not seem to have walls around them. Does anyone have any thoughts about this?

I know that Israel does have a wall separating themselves from the Palistinians and have check points. But as I look at the village pictures...they look pretty unwalled to me.

[billym]

Interesting op and thread.

I was looking at this: and thought to myself....what exactly do the villages in Israel look like?

I did a search and came up with this:

israel villages - Bing Images

and this:

Villages of Israel

What I'm noticing is that these villages (which are quite a few in the pictures) do not seem to have walls around them. Does anyone have any thoughts about this?

I know that Israel does have a wall separating themselves from the Palistinians and have check points. But as I look at the village pictures...they look pretty unwalled to me.

I agree, they do not seem to have walls around them. I did find an interesting article written in2004 off one of your links
http://focusonjerusalem.com/thelando...dvillages.html

[mikhen7]

Yes that is very true. Ez. 38-39 contrasts the ancient times with the last days. Back in the ancient times Jerusalem and many cities had walls around them for fortifications, such as Jericho. But we all know what happened to that one! It can be noted that according to Unger's dictionary - "Garstang (archaeologist) claimed that the walls of Joshua’s day were double. The outer wall was six feet thick and the inner one twelve feet thick, and there was a rubble-filled space of about fifteen feet between them." Homes were built on the top of the inner wall at Jericho. These walls were for protection from invading armies. Today there are border boundry walls only. They may serve as protection from suicide bombers in vehicles or those with strap on bombs. (Walking Dynamite!)


Artist's reconstruction of the north side of ancient Jericho, based on the German excavations of 1907-1909. Note the houses built against the mud brick city wall, which rests on top of the stone retaining wall. The Bible says that Rahab's house was built against the city wall (Joshua 2:15). The Walls of Jericho - Answers in Genesis

Today there are a few walls in Israel on some borders such as this one at Bethlehem which separates (pseudo)Palestine from Israel (as you mentioned).

To some the fact that these walls exist may technically disqualify Israel from currently being a "land of unwalled villages". But Is. 17 and Ps. 83 may be a reason for removing them when Israel conquers the enemies surrounding her.

God Bless

[Jumpmaster]

Thou shalt fall upon the mountains of Israel, thou, and all thy bands, and the people that is with thee: I will give thee unto the ravenous birds of every sort, and to the beasts of the field to be devoured. (Ezekiel 39:4)

IMO, this great army will come down to take over Judea/Samaria (aka secular West Bank), villages outside the walls.

This is where God will destroy them. They will die upon the mountains of Israel.

There is nothing that needs to happen to the walls built to separate these villages from Israel for this prophecy to be fulfilled.

Jumpmaster

[Everlasting Life]

Had another thought. It has been discussed in Christian circles that the hook which would draw Russia to attack Israel would be because of oil/gas. In light of recent events, I wonder if that hook might be something else.

[Sean Osborne]

Rapture Alert: Gog-Magog Update - Russia: An attack on Tehran is an attack on Moscow

Ethiopia

Good article, but I disagree with the commonly held identification of Cush as being modern-day Ethiopia.

The text of Ezekiel 38:5 does not indicate this nation.

It indicates the nation of Kuwsh which lies to the northwest of Ethiopia.



Kuwsh is modern-day Sudan.

More details and research on this are found within my blog entry from 7 September 2011: Focus on Ezekiel 38:5 - Kuwsh