The Battle of Gog and Magog_part 2

Following is a link for an on line Bible. The quotes for this study are taken mostly from the KJV and the NIV. You may use this link to bring up Ezekiel 38 and 39. Bible Gateway on the Web

 

(Continuation of Battle of Gog_1)

Rocket fired from Lebanon

Some believe the event that forces Russia's hand is an outbreak of hostilities between Syria and Israel. Syria continues to arm Hezbollah and build up its forces on the northern Israeli border trying to provoke an attack. Isaiah prophesied a Destruction of Damascus, Syria which has not yet happened.

"See, Damascus will no longer be a city but will become a heap of ruins." - Isaiah 17:1

Considering the strong ties Russia has with Syria, this would certainly be like 'hooks in their jaws." Also a pre-emptive attack on Iran by Israel could also set off this war. As early as 2007 Israel was seeking an all-clear from Washington for just such an attack. Now, four years later and perhaps just one year from Iran testing a nuclear bomb, Israel may launch such a strike without U.S. approval. They see an Iran with a nuclear bomb as a threat to their national life.

Ezekiel reveals that Israel will once again be a nation back in their land, as we see today. God calls this event an 'ensign to the nations'.

“And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.” Isaiah 11:12

When Russia moves, its armies will be “like a storm, like a cloud covering the land”. Most people today do not realize that Russia was the first nation to use paratroops. Some have thought this is describing an airborne attack, which is a favorite scenario of Russia. It is the method they used in Hungary - first the paratroopers to secure airports and strategic positions, then the armored cavalry. When Stalin first introduced paratroops, some advisors observed that they looked “like clouds covering the sky.”

Ezekiel describes the weapons of this battle as shields, horses, swords, bows and arrows. Is this to be taken literally? Here are some possible explanations that have been offered. 1) Ezekiel is describing modern warfare in terms he understood. 2) Israel has developed a gamma ray weapon that destroys all transistorized machines, making mechanized travel impossible. 3) Because Israel is very mountainous, Russia will use horses to transport troops and equipment. It is known from a Reuters’ report that Russia has purchased large amounts of horses and bows since WWII. My feeling is that of the first option. Even in Vietnam we used cavalry units - they were called helicopter troops.

Before we get to the outcome of this war, let's examine Israel's strategic partners. Sheba, Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish and all her villages will say, "Have you come to plunder?" Sheba and Dedan are in the area of southern Arabia, where Saudi Arabia, Muscat, etc. are located. Saudi Arabia is already deeply concerned about any movements by Iran as they know Iran would like to take Medina and Mecca, Muslim holy cities, from Saudi control. They would be doubly suspicious of Iran’s bid to control the Mideast, although they wouldn’t worry much about Israel being eliminated.

There is good evidence that Tarshish is England. The KJV reads "Tarshish and all the young lions". England's national symbol is the lioness and her young lions would be her colonies. A number of considerations point to Great Britain as the Biblical Tarshish. Ezekiel 27:12 states that Tarshish was rich in "silver, iron, tin, and lead" minerals which Britain produces, and this source of tin was known to the Phoenicians as "Barath-anak", which means 'land of tin'. The Greeks interpret this name as Britain. Herodotus also alludes to the British Isles as the 'tin islands.'

Great Britain is proverbially "a nation of shop-keepers", which is perhaps where the allusion to "the merchants" of Tarshish comes from. Great Britain's royal standard is a mother lion, is on every imperial coat-of-arms and her coinage. This could explain her colonies being likened to 'young lions."

But, whoever they are, it is clear they do nothing but diplomatic talk. Much like the UN does all the time. In Israel, the UN is known as "the united nothing". Whenever they control a so-called “security zone” Muslim extremist, like the Hezbollah, seem at liberty to move in and out with UN blessings! And, if liberals are in charge of our Congress, it is doubtful they would do anything without first reading the polls to see which way the wind was blowing. Even a semi-conservative administration, such as George Bush's may refuse to get involved as they recently did concerning Iran. Obama certainly will not take a political chance against Russia and Iran. There is also a possibility that our economy could collapse thus stopping us from any involvement.

Israel, who is largely a secular state, will be left to face the coming onslaught alone. Russia and all the Islamic forces will be advancing on the mountains of Israel. Israel will be facing extinction. But, at this point, God begins to show the world once again that He is control of history. With great earthquakes, torrents of rain, great hailstones, and burning sulfur God will attack. He will strike them with confusion so that 'every man's sword will be against his brother' much like the LORD did for Gideon (Judges 7:22). The KJV says only a sixth of Gog's armies will survive.

(More of this prophesy to be continued in Gog_3)