The Rapture Report – 08/20/2017 – Iran’s military chief in rare visit to Turkey for Syria talks

The Rapture Report – 08/20/2017 – Iran’s military chief in rare visit to Turkey for Syria talks
By Chris Schang

While the conflict continues to rage in Syria’s over six-year civil war, there have been some news headlines that have caught my attention as it regards the coming Gog and Magog scenario in Ezekiel 38-39. As many Bible prophecy students know the “major” leaders of this coalition that tries to invade Israel consists of Russia, Iran, and Turkey. With all of these military powers having troops stationed in Syria to help Syria President Assad, I don’t think it is a far fetch that once the situation gets “under control” in Syria, that these three Ezekiel 38-39 allies will eventually turn their focus on Israel.

An article came out this week that shows how these Ezekiel 38-39 allies are working together right next door to Israel in Syria. The article I’m talking about comes from the Jerusalem Post and talks about military ties between Iran and Turkey in Syria. The Jerusalem Post article reports:

Turkish and Iranian military leaders held talks on Wednesday over cooperation in the Syrian conflict and counter-terrorism, officials said, during a rare visit to NATO-member Turkey by the Islamic Republic’s military chief of staff.

Turkey’s ties with Washington have been strained by US support for Kurdish fighters in Syria, and the visit by Iranian General Mohammad Baqeri is the latest sign that Ankara is increasing cooperation with other powers such as Iran and Russia.

Baqeri met his Turkish counterpart on Tuesday and Turkey’s Defence Minister Nurettin Canikli on Wednesday in what Turkish media said was the first visit by an Iranian chief of staff since Iran’s 1979 Islamic revolution. He was due to meet President Tayyip Erdogan later on Wednesday.

The article goes on to also report:

An Iranian source said Baqeri was accompanied by the head of the ground forces of the Revolutionary Guards Corps, Iran’s most powerful security entity.
“There have been no such visits between the two countries for a long time, but considering regional developments and security issues – border security and the fight against terrorism – there was a need for such a visit,” Baqeri told Iranian state television on arrival on Tuesday.

The Iranian source said that, in addition to the war in Syria, the two sides would discuss the conflict in Iraq as well as dealing with Kurdish militants in the Turkish-Iranian border region, where Turkish media say Turkey has started building a frontier wall.

I believe that any improved military coordination between Russia, Iran, and Turkey deserves to be watched carefully given what we know about Bible prophecy. Does this mean that Ezekiel 38-39 is imminent? I think the answer is no. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be paying attention to the developments between these three major players in the future Gog and Magog scenario of Ezekiel 38-39. I think it is quite possible that we could be watching the “initial” setup of what will eventually lead to Ezekiel 38-39.

One of the reasons I believe that is that I believe Russia is in Syria to stay. I do not see the Russians leaving Syria anytime or soon and that it is likely they will continue to have a strong presence in Syria for a long time. I am reminded of an article that I read many years ago where a top Russian official noted that Syria was Russia’s most important ally in the region. I think it is clear that after all that Russia has done to help Assad, they will be needed to help keep him in power. The Russian presence in the region, including troops stationed not far from the Israel border, shows that Russia is indeed moving closer and closer towards their prophetic destiny as mentioned in Ezekiel 38-39. It could be that it won’t be long before “Gog” gets his evil thought and moves toward Israel.

And with all of this said, let’s remember to continue to be sober and watching for the blessed hope of the rapture of the church. As we see the stage being set for future prophetic events, we should keep looking up, for the Bible tells us that when we see these things, to look up for our redemption is drawing nigh!

God bless.