TODAY'S TECHNOLOGY IN BIBLE PROPHECY
Lesson 10: Ezekiel's prophetic portrait of a Russian invasion of
Israel is compared to recent Middle East developments
that may set the stage for the start of this war.
I Ezek. 38:1-4 states that God is against what "Gog, the land
of Magog," will decide to do sometime in the future.
1 And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
2 Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog,
the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against
him,
3 And say, Thus saith the Lord God; behold, I am against
thee, O Gog, the Chief Prince of Meshech and Tubal
(Ezek. 38:1-3):
A Gog is the ruler of the land of Magog. Gen. 10 names
Magog, Tubal, and Meshech as sons of Japheth, who was
Noah's third son.
B History shows that the tribes of Magog, Tubal, and
Meshech settled in the area now called Russia.
C Most scholars agree that this prophecy is addressed to
the ruling politburo--"Gog," of Russia--"the land of
Magog."
4 And I will turn you about, and put hooks into your jaws,
and I will bring you out, and all your army, horses and
horsemen, all of them splendidly attired, with buckler and
shield, all of them wielding swords (Ezek. 38:4, NASB).
A Russia's mobilization of a well-equipped army for a
future invasion is identified here as the reason for
God's concern.
B (Beginning in verse 8, Israel is named as the country that
the Russian-led army will invade.)
C The statement, "And I will turn you about, and put hooks
into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and all your
army," explains why Russia will invade Israel.
D Ezekiel used this same language in a previous prophecy that
foretold the fall of Israel and Egypt to the invading
Babylonian armies.
4 But I will put hooks in your jaws and make the fish of
your stream stick to your scales. I will pull you out from
among your streams, with all the fish sticking to your
scales.
19 Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am
going to give Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and
he will carry off its wealth. He will loot and plunder the
land as pay for his army (Ezek. 29:4,19, NIV).
A The "hooks" in Pharaoh's jaws refer to Egypt's pledge of
military support for Israel and other small nations in the
region, against the invading Babylonians.
B Pharaoh's pledge resulted in Egypt being pulled out of
the safety of the Nile valley where she was decisively
defeated along with the smaller nations ("fish sticking
to Egypt's scales") in the area, including Israel.
C By prophetic precedent, the hooks that will be put in
the Russians' jaws will be forged in the form of Russian
friendship treaties with other nations (both military
and economic), that will prompt Russia to come to their
aid in the face, or aftermath of a future war.
D Examples of "hooks" that may influence Russia to come to
the aid of Israel's enemies in the future include:
1 A treaty signed in 1980 by the Soviets and Syria
pledged Soviet military assistance in the event that
Syria becomes engaged in battle with Israel on the
Golan Heights. (Since the break-up of the Soviet
Union, Russia honors past Soviet treaties.)
2 Arms sales to various Arab states represent one of
Russia's few remaining opportunities to earn badly
needed foreign exchange.
- Refusal to respond to Arab requests for military help
in a future Arab-Israeli crisis could jeopardize
Russian-Arab arms agreements.
3 The Iraq-Kuwait Gulf War established the precedent
setting procedure whereby the United Nations sanctioned
an international army to reestablish the sovereignty of
conquered Kuwait.
- The Russians and Arabs could use this procedure to
force Israel off of Arab territory captured by Israel
in a future Arab-Israeli war.
4 The Iraq-Kuwait War also broke new ground on paying
for wars, when wealthy Arab, European nations, and
Japan paid the United States billions for bearing the
brunt of the fighting.
a Arabs paid $430 billion to free Kuwait.
b Oil-rich Arab states could use their billions to
entice destitute Russia to champion a future Arab war
against Israel.
5 Note that this prophecy does not define what events
will precede the Russian' decision to invade Israel,
only that "hooks"--binding military and commercial
treaties that came out of the Russians' jaws--will
persuade them to invade Israel.
6 Note also that for 72 years Russia looked outward for
opportunities to extend their influence over other
nations, but since mid-1989 Russia has looked inward on
how to solve their economic problems.
E A future dispute between Israel and Syria over Yarmuk
river waters that flow into the Jordan river, could lead
to a war that might, in turn, bring Russia into the
Middle East. This possibility is based on the following
facts:
1 The Yarmuk supplies 40 to 50 percent of the Jordan
river's water that Israel depends on for irrigation.
2 Syria attempted to build a Yarmuk river dam twice
in the past. (Israel bombed both before they were
completed--one in the 1960s and one in the 1970s.)
3 Syria and Jordan selected another site for the Unity dam
in the 1980s but Israeli lobbyists persuaded the World
Bank to reject Syria's request for a loan.
4 Jordan built the East Ghor (King Abdullah) canal parallel
to the Jordan river and Syria built 20 small diversion
dams on sources of the Yarmuk to help alleviate their
respective water needs.
5 On Oct. 26. 1994, Israel signed a peace treaty with
Jordan that included the following water-sharing
agreements.
a Israel will supply Jordan with around 50m cubic meters
of water from the Yarmuk in summer, representing flood
water which Jordan cannot store in winter owing to
lack of storage capacity.
b Jordan will receive another 50m cubic meters of water
through dams the two countries agreed to build on the
Yarmuk and Jordan rivers, along with a desalination
plant on Lake Kinneret (the Sea of Galilee).
6 Israel is also considering building canals to the Dead
Sea, either from the Red Sea (the Red-Dead project), or
from the Mediterranean, at a cost of 3.5 to 4 billion
dollars, which would generate electricity to desalinate
400m cubic meters of water a year for Jordan and Israel.
7 These water-sharing schemes look promising, but no
projects have started to date, due to lack of funding.
8 Although the current water-sharing schemes help support
the present peace in the Middle East, Zech. 10:10-11
points to future confrontation between Israel and her
Arab neighbors:
10 "I will bring them back from the land of Egypt,
And gather them from Assyria; And I will bring them
into the land of Gilead and Lebanon, Until no room
can be found for them.
11 "And He will pass through the sea of distress, And
strike the waves in the sea, So that all the depths
of the Nile will dry up . . . (NASB).
a The Jews have already returned from Egypt and
Assyria.
b The Israeli Defense Force controls southern
Lebanon today, but the Jews do not live there.
c In modern times Israel has never controlled any
portion of ancient Gilead.
- Since the Yarmuk river is the boundary between
Syria to the north, and Jordan to the south,
today's Jews could only migrate to the land of
Gilead, "Until no room can be found for them," if
Jordan invited them--a highly unlikely possibility.
- Much more probable, Israel will take the Yarmuk
river area, including Jordanian Gilead, in a war,
possibly over Yarmuk water.
d Since Isaiah said the Nile would dry up before
Christ Returns (Isa. 11), and since the Jews move
into Gilead and Lebanon is listed here before the
prediction that "the depths of the Nile will dry up,"
it is clear that the Jews will move into Gilead and
Lebanon before Christ returns.
- Whether or not a Syrian-Israeli dispute over
Yarmuk river water will lead to a Russian invasion
of Israel, awaits tomorrow's developments.
- In the meantime, Yarmuk water-sharing agreements
between Israel and her neighbors, bear watching.
II Ezek. 38: 5-7 names the nations that will be allied with
Russia.
5 Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with
shield and helmet:
6 Gomer and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the
north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with
thee (Ezek. 38:5-6).
A Persia, Iran today, along with Ethiopia and Libya will
be the first nations to join Russia's invasion force.
- Christians can point this fact out to unbelievers the
day, in the near future, when this occurs.
B Genesis 10 names Gomer as the first son of Japheth.
1 Ashkenaz and Togarmah were two of Gomer's sons.
2 "Gomer and all his bands," refers to Germany and other
European countries along the Danube and Rhine rivers
which Gomer's northward migrating descendants settled.
3 Togarmah, Armenia today, and many other unnamed people
will join the Russians, just as many nations joined
forces with America to liberate Kuwait in 1990-91.
7 Be thou prepared, and prepare for thyself, thou, and all
thy company that are assembled unto thee, and be thou a
guard unto them (Ezek. 38:7).
- Russia will use overwhelming military might to guard her
allies, yet they will suffer a major defeat in the war.
III Ezek. 38: 8 states that Israel must be more powerful than
her neighbors before this invasion can occur.
8 After many days you will be summoned; in the latter years
you will come into the land that is restored from the sword,
whose inhabitants have been gathered from many nations to
the mountains of Israel which had been a continual waste;
but its people were brought out from the nations, and they
are living securely, all of them (Ezek. 38:8, NASB).
A The timing of the Russian invasion is set in the "latter
years"--defined here as the days when the Jews would
return from the various nations of their dispersion to
their ancient homeland.
B And "all" the Jews must be "living securely" before
Russia invades.
1 Israel secured its last exposed border in 1982 when the
IDF established a 25-mile buffer zone in southern
Lebanon.
2 Since then Israel has not had to fear a surprise attack
from a superior Arab invasion force.
IV Ezek. 38:9 describes a massive airlift of troops and
equipment, supporting the invasion force on the ground.
9 Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be
like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands,
and many people with thee (Ezek. 38:9).
V Ezek. 38:10-13 identifies Russia's "hidden agenda," visions
of booty.
10 "Thus says the Lord God, "it will come about on that
day, that thoughts will come into your mind, and you will
devise an evil plan,
11 and you will say, 'I will go up against the land of
unwalled villages. I will go against those who are at
rest, that live securely, all of them living without walls,
and having no bars or gates;
12 to capture spoil and to seize plunder, to turn your hand
against the waste places which are now inhabited, and
against the people who are gathered out of the nations, who
have acquired cattle and goods, who live at the center of
the world' (Ezek. 38:10-12, NASB).
A Russia "will devise an evil plan to seize plunder" from
the Israelis "who live at the center of the world."
B If Russia conquered Israel, no one could stop her army
from devouring the Middle East and controlling its vast
oil reserves--70% of the world's known reserves.
C Russia not only needs outside oil to meet her own
requirements, but could use Middle East oil to wrest
advantageous trade agreements from other nations.
13 Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with
all its villages, will say to you, 'Have you come to
capture spoil? Have you assembled your company to seize
plunder, to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle
and goods, to capture great spoil?'" (Ezek. 38:13, NASB).
- "Sheba and Dedan," Saudi Arabia and Oman today, and the
"merchants of Tarshish"--Phoenician name for the British
Isles (Britannia, the land of tin, where Phoenicians
obtained tin)--will see through Russia's scheme and
protest strongly, but diplomatic efforts will fail.
VI Ezek. 38: 14-15 emphasizes Israel's secure position and
Russia's overwhelming force.
14 "Therefore, prophesy, son of man, and say to Gog, 'Thus
says the Lord God, "On that day when my people Israel are
living securely, will you not know it?
15 "And you will come from your place out of the remote
parts of the north, you and many peoples with you, all of
them riding on horses, a great assembly and a mighty army;
(Ezek. 38:14-15, NASB).
A Why is the rhetorical question, "On that day when my
people Israel are living securely, will you not know
it?" inserted here?
- The question in essence states that on the day that
Israel is "living securely" from a surprise attack from
her Arab neighbors, and Russia is assembling a massive
invasion force, you will know the fulfillment of
Ezekiel's prophecy is even at the door.
B Ezekiel described Russia's modern mechanized forces as
"all of them riding on horses," simply because he saw
men riding the vehicles in the same way men rode horses
into battle in his day.
VII Ezek. 38: 16-23 spells out the massive size of Russia's
army and God's distinct intervention on Israel's behalf.
16 and you will come up against My people Israel like a
cloud to cover the land. It will come about in the last
days that I shall bring you against My land, in order that
the nations may know Me when I shall be sanctified through
you before their eyes, O Gog."
17 'Thus says the Lord God, "Are you the one of whom I
spoke in former days through My servants the prophets of
Israel, who prophesied in those days for many years that I
would bring you against them? (Ezek. 38:16-17, NASB).
A Why is the overwhelming size of the Russian-led army
described for the third time here?
1 To emphasize the point that Israel will be alone; no
other nation will be able to stop Russia's army.
2 According to the text, God will use Ezekiel's
prophecy spelling out Israel's unique rescue from the
massive, Russian-led invasion "in order that the
nations may know Me when I shall be sanctified
through you before their eyes, O Gog."
B Why does the text say "I (God) shall bring you (Russia)
against my land" when the Russian leadership will
actually make this decision?
- It is equivalent to saying the Russian invasion will
come to pass according to the prophetic Word of God.
18 "And it will come about on that day, when Gog comes
against the land of Israel," declares the Lord God, "that
My fury will mount up in My anger.
19 "And in My zeal and in My blazing wrath I declare that
on that day there will surely be a great earthquake in the
land of Israel.
20 "And the fish of the sea, the birds of the heavens, the
beasts of the field, all the creeping things that creep on
the earth, and all the men who are on the face of the earth
will shake at My presence; the mountains also will be
thrown down, the steep pathways will collapse, and every
wall will fall to the ground (Ezek. 38:18-20, NASB).
- A great earthquake will begin the destruction of Russia's
confederated army.
21 "And I shall call for a sword against him on all My
mountains," declares the Lord God. "Every man's sword will
be against his brother (Ezek. 38:21, NASB).
A The earthquake will create confusion "on all My
mountains."
B The terrified "brothers" in the international force will
then open fire on one another.
22 "And with pestilence and with blood I shall enter into
judgment with him; and I shall rain on him, and on his
troops, and on the many peoples who are with him, a
torrential rain, with hailstones, fire, and brimstone.
23 "And I shall magnify Myself, sanctify Myself, and make
Myself known in the sight of many nations; and they will
know that I am the Lord"' (Ezek. 38:22-23, NASB).
A Large numbers of the Russian-led invasion force will die
from infectious plagues.
B Far more will die from the effects of the torrential
rain.
1 The hailstones and fire describe the killing effects of
radioactive hail and fire from atomic blasts.
2 Brimstone, or burning sulfur, a component of gunpowder,
describes the killing effects of conventional weapons.
3 (Support for this position will be established in a
later lesson.)