This is part five of a multi-part series dealing with the nation of Israel. In the previous issue, we began discussion of Ezekiel, chapter 38. We identified Gog, the leader of Russia (Magog) during the end-times, the one the Bible says will muster an Israeli invasion force consisting of Iran and other radical Muslim nations. We discussed how the political and economic situation has set the stage for that end-times invasion. In this issue, we continue to explore this ill-fated military campaign, which potentially involves nuclear weapons, judgment upon "Magog", her allies, and judgment upon another nation "which lives in the safety of the far distant coast lands."
"After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely, all of them."(Eze 38:8)
We discussed in the last issue that the Jews are being regathered to Israel in fulfillment of biblical prophesy. The milestone events were May 14, 1948 when Israel once again became a nation and June 6, 1967 when they recaptured Old Jerusalem--both on the exact days predicted in the Bible. Israel's children are currently returning to the homeland from all the countries of the world to which they were scattered. Ezekiel 38:8 is being fulfilled. As this verse clearly identifies, the time of this fulfillment is in the "latter years", often referred to as the end-times or (as the Jews call it) "the time of the footsteps of the Messiah." We are blessed to be living in this prophesied time.
The term "dwelling in safety" has a double meaning. It refers to a place of actual physical safety and to the feeling of security, a state of mind. The Greek word "betach" (Strong's Reference Number: 983) means a place of refuge; abstr. safety, both the fact (security) and the feeling (trust). The word "betach" is used a total of 162 times in the Bible; of that 162, 130 times it means "feeling secure".
Let's look at what is happening in the world today and compare it to the scripture in Ezekiel. We have good reason to believe that we are in the end-times, Israel has been re-established as a nation, and her scattered people are returning home from the nations of the world. The Middle East peace process is continuing and could ultimately bring about that "feeling of security" Ezekiel referred to in chapter 38, verse 8.
"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." (Eze 38:9)
The invading forces are so vast that they are likened to a cloud which covers the land. It is a massive invasion, comprised of the Muslim forces enumerated in Ezekiel 38:5-6 and the entire Russian Army (Eze 38:4). They will come as a storm, with swiftness and great intensity. Since Israel believes she is "at peace" and certainly not expecting an attack, she will have little time to muster a conventional response. Without God's intervention, Israel would certainly be totally destroyed. As to the outcome of this invasion? Isaiah, chapter 11, gives us a hint. God tells us, through Isaiah, that when Israel is regathered the second time that it is the time of the Lord's return and that Israel will never again be uprooted.
"Thus saith the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought:" (Eze38:10)
We know, from Ezekiel 38:8, that Israel is the target of this invasion. However, at the time this military action gets underway, that may not be obvious. It is possible that there will be a deception to disguise the fact that Israel is the true military objective. This military action may be touted as simply an exercise or may possibly be directed towards a different target. This is consistent with military strategy. The element of surprise is very important in order to catch Israel and her allies unprepared.We do not know what form this deception will take, but we do know that Gog does not think "the evil thought" (which is to invade Israel), until the same time the invasion is already underway (see Ezekiel 38:8-9). What are the details of that "evil thought"?
"And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates, to take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land."Eze 38:11-12)
Gog, the leader of Russia, will observe that Israel is at rest, feeling secure, and so will seize the opportunity to invade this "land of unwalled villages".
During Ezekiel's entire lifetime, it is unlikely that he had ever seen a village (let alone a city) without walls, bars and gates. Fortification was the primary method of defense up until the 19th century. So Ezekiel seeing Israel's villages without walls would mean that they had let down their guard. A successfully-negotiated Middle East Peace Treaty could certainly cause them to do so. God warns that when the Jews cry "...Peace and safety, destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape" (1Thes 5:3)
Verse 12 also reveals that Gog has "come to take a spoil and to take a prey". These are the two motives for the attack. Cash-poor Russia desires Israel's great wealth; they come to "take cattle and goods". The radical Muslim nations, however, have come to "take a prey"; they desire to utterly destroy the Jewish people.
"Cattle and goods" are a reference to the wealth of Israel. She is becoming a wealthy nation. Israel has begun to harvest the tremendous mineral wealth of the Dead Sea, worth many trillions of dollars. They have also recently struck a potentially-massive oil reserve south of the Dead Sea (which will certainly inflame their Arab neighbors). Israel is ranked first in the world in graduating PHD's. The Israelis continue to be leaders in medicine and science. Six percent of the work force is engineers (as compared to 1.6% in the U.S.), and thousands of Russian scientists have emigrated to Israel in the "alyia" (return to Israel).
It is likely that the number of Israeli inventions and scientific breakthroughs will increase. A prime example of Israeli innovation is the development of a method to produce electricity for a fraction of a penny per kilowatt-hour, while producing pure water from sea-water as a by-product. This is accomplished by spraying sea water across the top of a half-mile high tower. As the water evaporates in the hot desert sun, it cools the air. The cooler, heavier air then starts to fall. By the time it reaches the bottom of the tower, it is traveling at great speed and can power wind turbines to generate electricity.
In Russia meanwhile, Zhirinovsky, the extremely anti-Semitic Russian ultra-nationalist, takes an unusual view of Israeli technological prowess. He regards Israeli technical advances as Russian property and has pledged to reclaim that property if elected in 1996. Zhirinovsky is a serious contender for President. And his book, The Final Push South, does not disguise his desire to possess the wealth of Israel or his desire for a warm-water port. His chances of election were recently bolstered when he was promoted to a Colonel in the Russian Army Reserves. Some see this promotion as an endorsement by the military, a go-ahead signal to the military to vote for him in 1996.
Zhirinovsky is also promoting Russian-Muslim alliances, having recently met with Iraq's Suddam Hussein to propose a Russian-Muslim coalition against what is termed their common enemy -- the West.
Verse 12 mentions that the invasion occurs after Israel has been regathered from the nations and has re-inhabited the desolate places. This has been accomplished. In fact, they have planted so many trees that the weather has been affected, yielding rain, as the trees on previously-barren mountain tops capture the moisture from passing clouds. This rainfall, coupled with irrigation efforts, has resulted in the "desert blossoming like a rose." (ISA 27:6) In fact, their agricultural techniques have been so successful that their "fruit is filling the whole earth." (ISA 35:1) Tiny Israel, about the size of New Jersey, is now the world's third-largest fruit exporter. Israel is indeed becoming rich. And with her growing braintrust, she will continue to grow in wealth and goods. It is during such a time of prosperity and well-being that Gog will strike.
The invasion is against those that "dwell in the midst of the land". Israel is certainly surrounded by enemies, but an examination of the words "that dwell in the midst of the land", in the original Greek, lends some unique insight. The words "that dwell in" is the transliterated Greek word "yashab" (Strong's reference number 3427). It is usually translated "to dwell, to remain, to settle or to live". However, it can also mean "to sit down", specifically as a judge, or to sit down in ambush. An ambush is certainly the dynamic of this invasion. It is at a time that the Jews have a new-found sense of peace and security that they are ambushed by Gog's forces.
The phrase "in the midst" is the transliterated Greek word "tubbuwr" (Strong's reference number 2872). It means accumulated; i.e. (by implication) a summit. In this context, accumulated in the sense of a mass of people but, by implication, at a summit. Could summit imply a peace summit? Or is summit referring to the top of a mountain? In scripture, when a Jew is outside of Israel, he always goes "up" to Jerusalem, regardless of the geographic terrain.
Israel has wealth the Russians need. Furthermore, with the growing anti-Semitic attitude of Russian leadership and their entangling alliances with the radical Muslim nations, Russia could certainly be getting ready to take a spoil. The stage is indeed set, the players are in place. All that is left is for God to draw Russia and her allies into battle...where they will be judged.
Is it possible that the invasion will occur at the same time, or shortly after, the "final" peace treaty is negotiated in Jerusalem? "What I say to you, I say to everyone: Watch!"(Mark 13:37)
"Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil?" (Eze 38:13)
Sheba is most likely a reference to the area from which came the Queen of Sheba who visited King Solomon. According to archaeologists W. F. Albright and Wendell Phillips, Sheba was on the southwestern edge of the Arabian peninsula. Dedan was probably the habitat of the Arabs on the northern part of the Arabian desert, which is modern-day Saudi Arabia. The ancient capital of Saudi Arabia is still called Dedan on many maps today. We can, therefore, identify Sheba and Dedan as Saudi Arabia.
"The Merchants of Tarshish with all the young lions thereof" is not as simple to identify, but very important in our analysis. Tarshish, according to Davis' Dictionary of the Bible, "was a distant land...it is believed that Tarshish was Tartessus, in the south of Spain, near Gibraltar...ships of Tarshish were originally ships trading to and from Tarshish." According to German writer Gerhard Herm: "In 500 B.C. Tartessus disappeared from sight so mysteriously that Plato was inspired-- or so one imagines--to base his Atlantis myth on it." But the fleet survived and continued to trade.
"Young lions" is derived from the Hebrew word for "whelps" or "cubs". In this context, they probably refer to the colonies or offspring of what or who is represented by the merchants of Tarshish. Ezekiel's "merchants of Tarshish" (i.e. traders by sea) generally operated out of the port of Cadiz after the city of Tartessus disappeared. They continued to established trading posts (many of which had grown into sizable colonies) along the entire coast of Western Europe, including an active tin trade with Britain. Britain later colonized the United States, Canada and Australia. As we shall see, it is no coincidence that the lion is the symbol of Great Britain today.
Around 1010 B.C., the Phoenicians colonized western Spain, including the port city of Cadiz. It was from Cadiz that Phoenician navigators, having usurped the Tartessian routes and trade business, piloted the ocean-going fleet of Tarshish. At the time of Solomon, the Bible mentions the fleet of Tyre as capable of making difficult crossings. The king had at sea a navy of Tarshish which every three years brought gold, silver, apes and ivory. Jeremiah mentions Tarshish and gold from Ophir. Ezekiel apparently visited the ports of Tyre and Sidon where he had seen the Tarshish ships himself (see Ezekiel, chapter 27). In any event, it is possible that in these contexts, the fleet of Tarshish is used to describe an ocean-going navy.
So Tarshish was originally a Western European colonizing power based in Spain, and the fleet of Tarshish is sometimes used to describe an ocean-going navy. This fleet is what the Phoenicians ultimately used to conduct trade from Spain, even after the original city of Tartessus ceased to exist.
Ezekiel was certainly seeing a distant time and lands which did not yet have names. So when Ezekiel mentions "the merchants of Tarshish and the young lions thereof", he is referring to a future nation, perhaps with an ocean-going navy, who was associated with or colonized as a result of the Phoenician's colonization activity. This includes Great Britain and (directly or indirectly) the United States. According to Professor Barry Fall of Harvard, in his book America B.C., the Phoenicians even reached the east coast of America, where they set up trading colonies. However, more importantly, since "young lions" refers to offspring or colonies, one cannot help but notice the connection between Great Britain (whose national symbol is the lion) and the United States (Britain's colony--a young lion).
The U.S. is a major sea power in the Middle East and is also aligned with Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, Isaiah in chapter 60, verse 9, tells us that, in the last days, some of the Jews return home to Israel in "ships of Tarshish." So we have to be able to identify this reference today. And since the largest concentration of Jews outside Israel today is in the United States, when the mass exodus of Jews from the U.S. begins, undoubtedly many will seek transit by ship which can carry many thousands of passengers at a crossing. (Others, of course, will be carried home on the wings of eagles, or modern-day American airplanes.)
In any case, when the invasion begins (perhaps because the invading forces include Russia), the only resistance offered by Saudi Arabia and the U.S. (and perhaps other western allies) is what amounts to a diplomatic protest. As we discussed in Ezekiel 38, verse 10, it is possible that the military action is not initially targeted against Israel. There are some interesting events currently taking place in the Middle East that indicate Saudi Arabia may be a possible target.
It was recently reported on the CBS evening news that Iran is conducting cross-border raids and amphibious operations under conditions of contamination (chemical, biological or nuclear). The intelligence community believes their strategy may include Saudi Arabia as a target.
Why would they want to attack Saudi Arabia? There are several conjectures: 1) the Saudis are Suni Moslems, not Shiittes, and therefore have many philosophical differences; 2) Saudi Arabia is too closely-aligned with the West. They gave the West (in particular, the United States --"The Great Satan", as Iran refers to us) their land to use as bases in the Persian Gulf War; 3) they control Mecca & Medina. If Rafsanjani is hoping to control the Muslim world, he needs to control these sacred sites.
As nervous as Saudi Arabia was about Sadam Hussein, they are terrified of Iran. The balance of power in the area has shifted. It was pressure from Iran that caused Turkey to deny the U.N. the use of their bases during the second buildup against Iraq. Iran is the major Muslim powerbase in the Middle East, as well as the key nation named in the Israeli invasion. It should be mentioned that the U.N. cannot just go over and bomb Iran the way it did Iraq, because Iran has allied herself with Russia, Syria and other Muslim nations.
"Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say unto Gog, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In that day when my people of Israel dwelleth safely, shalt thou not know it? And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army" (Eze 38:14-15)
God is telling Gog in advance what Magog is going to do against Israel and, in the verses that follow, what the result of transgression will be. God is pronouncing judgment here on Gog of the land of Magog, the leader of Russia.
God tells Gog that the Russian Army--mechanized infantry--will leave Russia (a country from the far north), accompanied by the armies of the other Muslim nations we have already discussed, and join into a mighty invasion force.
"And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes." (Eze 38:16)
The invasion is clearly against Israel. But what is important is that God says Israel is HIS LAND and Israel's people are HIS PEOPLE. God is once again interacting directly with the Israeli people. Many Bible teachers, such as Chuck Missler, believe that God's dealings with the Gentiles and God's dealings with the Jews are mutually exclusive. If this is true, then this battle could be the event that marks the end of the Gentile Age. God once again focuses on the nation of Israel, potentially marking the beginning of the tribulation period, the rapture and --ultimately--the rise to power of the Anti-Christ.
It should be noted that other prophesy teachers such as Hal Lindsey believe that this invasion is part of the Armageddon scenario which occurs in the middle of the seven-year tribulation period. We will discuss these differences in the next issue.
Regardless of the exact timing, how far away can the rapture be? It is time to look up, for our redemption draweth nigh.
It is God himself that tells us that He is bringing Gog forward. And when God judges Russia in the sight of all nations, they will recognize that it was God's direct intervention which saved Israel. No doubt, if we are still here, we will be watching this invasion on CNN.
"Thus saith the Lord GOD; Art thou he of whom I have spoken in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, which prophesied in those days many years that I would bring thee against them?" (Eze 38:17)
God tells us in advance, through His Prophets, that this would happen. God is defending His Holy Word, saying "Did I not tell you I would bring Gog forth so I could judge her and show myself a Holy God?" God does not overlook sin. God only lets sin go so far. It does not matter if it is a nation or a person; God will judge. He is long-suffering in the hope that none would perish, but God is not slack toward sin. He will bring judgment when sin has reached its fullness.
"And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, that my fury shall come up in my face." (Eze 38:18)
Now God tells Gog what His judgment will be. God is about to take swift, decisive action. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of an angry God.
"For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken. Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel." (Eze 38:19)
God has a zeal for Israel. In that zeal, He will bring forth fiery wrath against the invaders that attempt to vanquish the apple of His eye. Judgment either begins with an earthquake, or (as we shall see later) His "fiery wrath" may be a reference to what causes the earthquake. In any event, it will be a massive earthquake that is felt around the world.
"So that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground. And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord GOD: every man's sword shall be against his brother. And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. 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." (Eze 38:20-23)
Gog's objective is to attain the gold and silver (i.e. the wealth) of Israel. But the gold and silver is not Israel's; it is the Lord's. God tells us through Amos the prophet: "For thus saith the LORD of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts." And through Haggai the prophet: "All the silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts." (Hag 2:6-8)
As a result of this earthquake, "...the desire of all nations shall come." This earthquake is larger then anything ever experienced in modern history. Every living thing on planet earth is affected. And, as a result, God will be magnified and sanctified throughout the earth. Many will be awakened from their spiritual slumber and come to a place of saving grace with the Lord. The people of the nations shall know that "I am the Lord".
As for the invading troops, "every man's sword shall be against his brother." God will cause great confusion among the troops, as He did in the days of Gideon. The troops will fight among themselves. God will "plead against them with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone." There is apparently biological warfare involved, as well as another dynamic of the battle which results in "an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone."
We shall discuss what this is next time, as well as how the U.S. is potentially involved in this judgment.
Stay close to the Lord. Maranatha!
``Watch and pray, therefore, that you would be counted worthy to escape the judgment that is coming upon the earth and be able to stand before the Son of Man'' (Luke 21:36).
Maranatha!
References:
Armageddon, Appt with Destiny, Grant Jeffery, Bantam Books
Vladimir Zhrinovsky, The Man Who Would Be Gog, Scot Overby, Hearthstone Publishing
Strategic Trends in the 90s, Chuck Missler, Koinonia House
World War III and the U.S., W.S. McBirnie
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