War in Israel -- A Prophetic Update
Vince Aquilino
Sept. 6th, 2001
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon completed meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Wednesday (9/5/2001). Israel wanted Russia, co-sponsor of the Middle East peace process with the United States, to put pressure on the Palestinians to end all attacks, and has branded Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat the head of a "terrorist" coalition. Russian President Vladimir Putin was said to be "sympathetic", however, underlined Moscow's traditional ties with Arab nations and the Palestinians, saying this gave Russia a unique chance to play a mediating role.
This is like inviting a bear to dinner as Russia is the key leader in the Ezekiel 38 invasion of Israel. We know that it is God will bring Russia against Israel in judgment.
Ezekiel 38:3-4 - "And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great companywith bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords.''
In Daniel, Chapter 2, and throughout the Bible, we find that God exercises control over the rise and fall of nations. God only lets national sin go so far before bringing judgement. We see from the above verses that God is clearly in control, and Russia will be forced to participate in this military campaign. Russia may want to stay out of the conflict, as does the person who hires a hit man to do their dirty work. But whether Russia wishes to participate directly in this campaign, or just stand on the sidelines while the nations she has armed do the dirty work, is irrelevant. God will force Russia to participate because, as we find later in Ezekiel chapter 38, God will judge Russia for touching "the apple of God's eye", the nation of Israel. Since 1917, Russia has killed 60 million innocent people -- including five million Jews and fifteen million Christians.
The Ezekiel 38 text indicates that before Russia is brought forth with its full army to join its Muslim allies (verses 5-6), she is first turned back (``And I will turn thee back''). Since the context of this passage appears to be a military operation, it is logical to assume that Russia is "turned back'' from some limited military engagement (limited is implied, because when Russia is brought forward, it is with her whole army). God initially forces Russia to be turned back, then "puts hooks into their jaws,'' drawing them into battle. "Hooks in thy jaw'' is a Biblical phrase similar to putting a bit into the mouth of a horse, meaning to control by force.
What will be the "hook" that Russia will bite on and be drawn into this ill-fated invasion. Will it be the Oil wealth of the Middle-East? What will the Oil rich nations offer in exchange for Russian leadership in this invasion? What will be the ostensible reason offered to the world to justify the invasion? Could it be a "humanitarian" effort to protect Israeli citizens that came from Russia? Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that he "is watching with alarm what is happening" in the Middle East, "especially considering that a large part of Israeli citizens come from the former Soviet Union and Russia." Will this be the hook? The stage is set, the players are assuming their positon, and God, the director, is about to say "action."
Also noteworthy is that Spain's King Juan Carlos also arrived in Moscow on Wednesday for Mideast talks with Putin. King Juan Carlos is just one of the many individuals bantered around as a potential anti-christ.
On September 5th, 2001 French President Jacques Chirac, French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder meet in Berlin late Wednesday with the violence in the Middle East conflict a growing preoccupation for European Union leaders. Western diplomats say that European countries have felt for some weeks that they have a card to play in the Middle East as violence has escalated, with the foreign ministers of Germany and Italy visiting the region recently, and France's Hubert Vedrine due to go there later this month. But the text-drafting in Durban is a high-stakes poker game, analysts say. If no text can be found that is acceptable to all delegations remaining, a more than likely possibility, then the blame, in the absence of Israel (which has left the conference) , is bound to fall on the Arab bloc and the Palestinians, which would complicate Europe's relationship with them.
With regard to the European Union, on January 1, the first time since the very Roman empire, that a single currency is accepted from the Aegean to the Atlantic Armed forces and specially-trained police units backed by dogs, helicopters, warships and satellite surveillance are part of a massive operation which has already begun to distribute more than 380 billion euros (350 billion dollars). That will continue until all the French, German, Greek, Italian, Spanish & at least 7 other currencies are collected, then recycled or destroyed. The Dutch ECB chief stressed that the euro had already become "a tangible reality".
With the unification of currencies, the revived Roman Empire is awakenening from its' long slumber, just as the Bible predicted. What is interesting with regard to Ezekiel 38 is that Germany is the key player in the EU and that the EU has now taken an active role in the Middle East. Germany may have a role in the invasion of Israel. Let's look at Russia's allies in the invasion:
Ezekiel 38:5-6 - "Persia, Ethiopia (Cush), and Libya (Put) with them; all of them with shield and helmet: Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee.''
God tells us the countries that will join the Russians in forming this massive invasion force. These nations are: `Persia'' (mainly Iran and parts of northern Iraq and Afganistan); "Cush'' (Ethiopia and Sudan); "Put'' (Libya); "Gomer, and all his bands'' (Eastern Europe - Gomer was an immediate descendant of Noah who settled north of the Black Sea in modern day Russia. They later moved westward into what is today Eastern Germany in the area of Poland; "The house of Togarmah of the north quarters and all his bands'' (Togarmah was the second son of Gomer; his descendants occupied northern and eastern Turkey. Many of these "bands'' occupied Southern Russia which used to be comprised of many small nations such as Armenia, and included some of the Tartar hordes who lived in Asia south of the Sea of Aral and toward the Caspian Sea. The Armenians still refer to themselves as the house of Togarmah).
The reference to "Gomer and all his bands" could be a reference to Germany and the other countries making up the European Union. This bears watching so I will be carefully watching the rhetoric coming out of Germany, France and other key nations in the EU.
Also behind the scenes, Arafat has scheduled a meeting on September 12th with Syrian President Assad to establish new ties. Syria and the PLO have opposed each other ever since Arafat entered into the so-called joint Israeli-Palestinian peace accord of 1993. Syria was deeply angered with the PLO peace accord as Syria wanted war with Israel. Therefore, Arafat, in his attempt to unite all the nations against Iarael, will attempt to mend relations with Syria. Arafat also needs cooperation between Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and Iran to give a clear path into the middle east for the invading forces. It is also interesting that Jordon, one of the only nations that escapes the future grip of the anti-christ, wants to remain neutral.
Iraq and Syria have reconciled their differences and formed a united front against Israel. Also during September, Assad is also planning a diplomatic visit to Iraq to meet with Saddam Hussein. Syria and Iraq have strengthened their trade agreements, air defensive systems, and military forces.
Isaiah 17 tells us that at some point Damascus, Syria will be completely destroyed. If this occurs prior to the full-scale Ezekiel 38 invasion, this could be the "hook in the jaw" that triggers this historical event.
It should also be noted that later this month is Rosh Ha'Shannah, a possible date (in some future year - maybe this one) for Christ's return for the Church.
The fighting in Israel continues to dominate the headlines. Although Israel has diligently pursued peace, the court of world opinion continues to turn-against the Jews. After years of the Oslo Peace process and countless concessions including giving up God's covenant land, Israel got their reward at the "UN World Conference Against Racism" in Durban South Africa. A statement adopted on September 2nd by 3,000 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) declared that Israel is a "racist apartheid state" and guilty of "war crimes, acts of genocide, and ethnic cleansing." The head of the UN, Kofi Annan, announced that the Holocaust of the Jews in World War II should not be used to justify the "oppression of the Palestinians.
As a result of this anti-semitic stand and the ongoing attacks against Israel and Zionism taken at this conference, both Israel and the United States have left the so-called UN World Conference Against Racism in Durban, South Africa. Canada is also expected to leave. Then on September 4th, the European Union condemned the Durban conference resolution equating Zionism to racism. This was the same resolution that led the U.S. and Israel to leave. The EU has not pulled out, but does appear to have convinced the 13 additional (28 in all) candidate-countries to unite with it on the issue of Israel. This voting block will stay or leave together based on the re-editing of the controversial text now under way. The European countries have indicated that they will reject any text equating Zionism with racism or which explicitly condemns Israeli.
Be that as it may, this conference will have a broad negative impact on Israel which could be one more harbinger of the spirit of anti-semitism achieving afoot-hold in the earth. Deputy Foreign Minister Rabbi Michael Melchior explained his concerns that the conference would likely have "broad negative results for the State of Israel, not just in terms of politics and public relations, but also in the economic and the social spheres," as a result of decisions taken in various at the conference. One might note the words of Michael Kleiner to Arutz-7: "Every pogrom and even the Holocaust was preceded by some conference or political forum that paved the way for strong violence, and I fear that this one will not end only with words… I think that the Durban conference released the anti-Semitic demon from the bottle, as we see beatings of Jews in Paris, Nazi graffiti in Belgium, and the sale of 'Fuehrer Wine" in Italy.
Anti-semitism is a key element in the soon-coming invasion of Israel. The Durban conference has manifested this spirit at work as world opinion is clearly against the Jews. This will play a role in setting the stage for the invasion of Israel prophesied by Ezekiel in Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39. As long as America is supporting Israel, we may have additional time as the Genesis 12:3 blessing is counter balancing the scales of justice weighted down with abortion, sexual sin, etc. But America will eventually turn against Israel and invite the redemptive judgement of God.
"Now the LORD had said to Abram: "Get out of your country, from your kindred and from your father's house, to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." (Gen 12:1-3)
"And it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it." (Zec 12:3)
Religious persecution will increase against the Christians as well as the Jews…perhaps you have heard and are praying for the 10 Christians facing a death sentence in Afghanistan for sharing their faith. In the 10th chapter of Matthew, Jesus gives instructions to His disciples before sending them out with the Message of the Kingdom. They must have been thrilled when He gave them authority over all sickness and disease, and over all demonic forces. But He also gave them a somber warning, tempered by a promise in verse 22: "All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved."
Jesus warns them that they will be hated and that they must be prepared to endure the hatred in order to stand firm to the end and be saved. Then in Matthew 10:23, there is a curious prophecy given to Jesus' disciples: "When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes." Jesus tells them very clearly that they will face persecution as a result of the hatred they will encounter for His Name's sake. He then gives them a prophecy that they will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes. How close are we, in light of these current events, before Messsiah returns? How close is the rapture? Are you ready to meet your God?
From the disciples perspective, it would appear that this prophecy was in error. The disciples are long gone and Jesus has not returned. Furthermore, this prophecy's fulfillment has remained an impossibility since the year 70 A.D when Jerusalem was destroyed. The Jews were then scattered to the four corners of the earth, and evangelism stopped when Israel ceased being a nation for almost 2,000 years. But God promised, through Jeremiah the Prophet, that He would once again gather the children of Israel to the land of their forefathers.
On May 14, 1948 David Ben Gurion, citing the book of Ezekiel as his authority, proclaimed ``Israel'' as the new Jewish homeland, and the nation of Israel was re-established exactly as prophesied by Jeremiah. However, Jerusalem was still not under complete Israeli control. Then another incredible event took place. As a consequence of the "Six-Day War" (which Israel won against overwhelming odds), the Old City of Jerusalem fell under Israeli control for the first time since the diaspora. The fig tree (Israel) not only blossomed, but it did so on the exact dates predicted by the Holy Scriptures (See "Peace in the Middle East - A Prelude to War, Part 2 for additional information on this prediction).
The Jews had returned home and their return was accelerated by the collapse of the Soviet Union. Hundreds of thousands of Jews came home from the "country of the North" (Moscow is due north of Jerusalem). God continues to call them home from all the other countries of the world, as well Due to war, persecution, and political unrest they are returning from Albania, Ethiopia, Poland, Holland, Tadjikistan, Uzbekhistan, Khazakhstan, the U.S., Sarajevo, Yugoslavia and Syria.
Exodus II is well under way. The Jews have been leaving Russia and returning to Israel in record numbers. In 1990, nearly as many Soviet Jews returned home as had arrived since Israeli independence in 1948 -- about 200,000. In December of 1992, it was reported that 75% of the remaining 1.6 million Soviet Jews had applied for official permission to emigrate. (The reasons at the time were the rise of Muslim fundamentalism in the republics of Central Asia and the fear of a right-wing coup in Moscow). And the Aliya (Israeli immigration under the Law of Return) continues today as hyper-inflation in Russia, gross scarcities of food and clothing and continued anti-Semitism continues. Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, the chief Rabbi of Moscow stated: We must hope for the best, but prevail for the worst. I'm the last person among Jews in this country to say it, but I fear that in the long term, there is no future for the Jew here. I think we must begin to prepare our children for lives outside Russia.'' (New York Times, Feb. 5, 1994),
The Jews are also returning from the other countries of the world, as predicted by Jeremiah. Here are some selected banners from articles in the Jerusalem Post over the last few years: ``Syrian Jews to be Released Soon'', ``Ethiopia's Last Jews Expected Soon - Talks This Week on Immigration of Remaining 2,500'', ``Ethiopian Jewery Rescued - Operation Solomon Flies 14,400 to Israel in 24 Hours'',``Yugoslavian Jews Now Keen to Come'', ``Airlift from Tajikistan Arrives'', ``481 North Americans Last Month'', ``Sarajevo Jews are Desperate'', ``Abkhazi Jews Set for Exodus'', ``Albanian Jews Moved to Israel in Secrecy''. About one million Jews have returned as part of Exodus II.
God was faithful to His Word in Jeremiah. Israel is a nation again, the children of Israel have and are returning, and He has sent in the fishermen. And the Jews, in spite of much pressure and opposition, began to recognize Jesus as the Messiah. After they were saved and discipled, God began to call them out to evangelize world-wide. Even in Israel, where it is most difficult to be a "Messianic" believer in Yeshua Jesus, the fig tree was bringing forth green figs (fruit).
In September, of 1997 "MOAZ" newsletter (published by a Messianic group in Israel), carried a Report that documented that there were 50 cities in Israel with populations of 20,000 or more, and of the 50 cities, 38 of them now have at least one congregation or home group of Messianic Jewish believers. Messianic Jews have begun to evangelize, just as the early disciples did. Jesus' words, "...you will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes," are being fulfilled. This is one more of the many "signs of the times" that indicate that we are very, very close to the Lord's return.
Then, on September 1, 2001 the "Messianic Vision", headed by Sid Roth, announced something of prophetic significance. There television program, "It's Supernatural" is now being broadcast on a major secular television channel in Israel. In addition, this broadcast will also be viewed in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt. God has indeed sent in the fishermen and all means are being used "to compel them to come in." I have been a long-time personal supporter of the Messianic Vision and have found it to be fertile ground for the saving of souls -- both Jew and Gentile. The Messianic Vision has been active in Israel, bringing many evangelical outreaches to the major cities of Israel and Russia, With this announcement, they have the possibility of reaching virtually every home in Israel and beyond. I would like to personally recommend this ministry as a place where your offerings will bear fruit that will last. Their web site is:
www.sidroth.org and their email address is info@sidroth.org.But Jeremiah warns that after the ``fishermen" have been sent in, the ``hunters'' will come. (Jer 16:14-17) Religious persecution is a certainty. Remember that Jesus warned of persecution in the first part of
Matthew 10:23: "When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes [again]." God is continuing to execute His plan for the redemption of the earth. Although He may tarry, because He is not willing that any will perish, the Lord will return in judgement at the appointed time. ``The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is long suffering towards us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance''(2 Peter 3:9)
Following this period of Jewish evangelism, God will send in the hunters.. ``For I will restore them to the land I gave their forefathers. But now I will send for many fishermen, declares the LORD, and they will catch them. After that I will send for many hunters, and they will hunt them down on every mountain and hill and from the crevices of the rocks."(Jer 16:15b-16) We will undoubtedly see leaders who will come to kill, maim and destroy. The only place of refuge left for the non-believing Jew will be Israel. And for those who think a Jew would never want to leave America, read Hosea 11:10: ``...He will roar like a lion. When He roars, then His sons shall come trembling from the west.'' Apparently something will happen in America so terrible that the Jews will leave America and return home, trembling.
So the nation of Israel has come together again and the Jews are in the process of returning home (albeit many in unbelief) -- without spirit. This was forseen by Ezekiel in his famous ``dry bones vision'' described in chapter 37. God tells Ezekiel that: ``..these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off! Therefore prophesy and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, O My people, I will open your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel'' (Eze 37:11-12).
Although there is a Messianic revival going on in America and the rest of the world, this is not yet as prevalent in the nation of Israel. In fact, there have been concerted efforts to exile Jews who have been ``born again" and say that Jesus is the Messiah. It is a sad fact that only about 10% of the Jews are even religious. Politically, the main party does not have a clear majority and thus must have support of religious members of the Kinneset. But, on balance, they are not a religious nation.
There are many religious fanatics (zealots) and some ultra-orthodox Jews who don't feel the Israeli government should even exist until Messiah comes. But the Jews are coming home. There will be a spiritual rebirth in Israel and the Jews will cry out: ``Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord'', setting the stage for the return of Messiah.
Today there remains much turmoil in the land of Israel, but we have entered a period where the Jews are seeking peace. Peace with the PLO, peace with Jordan, peace with Syria. And we know from that when the Jews cry ``peace and safety, then sudden destruction will come upon them.''(1 Thes 5:3) But lost amidst the coverage of the ongoing peace process are God's continuing plans to call His children home.
As the Ezekiel 38 invasion unfolds, we can see Israel coming to the Lord and perhaps calling out "Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord''.
"I will call for a sword against Gog throughout all My mountains," says the Lord God. "Every man's sword will be against his brother. "And I will bring him to judgment with pestilence and bloodshed; I will rain down on him, on his troops, and on the many peoples who are with him, flooding rain, great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. "Thus I will magnify Myself and sanctify Myself, and I will be known in the eyes of many nations. Then they shall know that I am the LORD. (emphasis added)" ' (Eze 38:21-23)
"And I will send fire on Magog and on those who live in security in the coastlands. Then they shall know that I am the LORD. "So I will make My holy name known in the midst of My people Israel, and I will not let them profane My holy name anymore. Then the nations shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel. "Surely it is coming, and it shall be done," says the Lord God. "This is the day of which I have spoken. (Eze 39:6-8)
"I will set My glory among the nations; all the nations shall see My judgment which I have executed, and My hand which I have laid on them. "So the house of Israel shall know that I am the LORD their God from that day forward." (Eze 39:21-22)
"Therefore thus says the Lord God: 'Now I will bring back the captives of Jacob, and have mercy on the whole house of Israel; and I will be jealous for My holy name - 'after they have borne their shame, and all their unfaithfulness in which they were unfaithful to Me, when they dwelt safely in their own land and no one made them afraid. 'When I have brought them back from the peoples and gathered them out of their enemies' lands, and I am hallowed in them in the sight of many nations, 'then they shall know that I am the LORD their God, who sent them into captivity among the nations, but also brought them back to their own land, and left none of them captive any longer. 'And I will not hide My face from them anymore; for I shall have poured out My Spirit on the house of Israel,' says the Lord God." (Eze 39:25-29)
How soon is the Return of the Lord?
"And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh." (Luke 21:24-28)
`It is now the hour to awake from sleep, for our salvation is closer than when we first accepted the faith.'' (Rom 13:11)
Purify yourselves daily by the reading of the Word. Jesus is returning for a Holy and Spotless Church. ``Today is the day of salvation for many who are perishing; their tomorrow shall not see my return in glory to judge the living and the dead. Today is the day of their salvation." Don't delay. Time is short. You have no guarantee that you will even see tomorrow. If you die without receiving Jesus as your Lord and Savior, your eternal destiny is fixed.
As we see the signs of His return drawing close, what manner of holy life should we be living? Remember that Jesus is returning for a Holy and Spotless Bride. Whether His return is today or 10 years from now is irrelevant since eternity is only a heart beat away for any of us. So choose this day whom you will serve, ask the Holy Spirit to search you to see if there be any iniquity in you, and then call upon Jesus your Deliverer. He is faithful for forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unfaithfulness.
"But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. "For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. "Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man." (Luke 21:34-36)
"I will shake all nations, and the desired of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,' says the LORD Almighty." (Hag 2.7) "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).
"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 and Blessings on you all as we all wait for the return of our precious Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
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