Iran and Russia seemed to be getting closer as allies in the last few years which could be a prelude to the Gog Magog war. In 2000, Iran and Russia pledged to expand their relations in all fields, including cooperation in nuclear, military, economic and technical domains, according to Iranian and Russian official statement. In 2005, Iran and Russia signed a nuclear fuel agreement, paving the way for Iran to get its first reactor up and running. What's important about this allying of the two countries other than Iran's president, Ahmadinejad, making anti-Semitic statements about Israel, and that it should be wiped off the map, is that it coincides with the Gog Magog prophecy in the book of Ezekiel. According to an article written by Dr. Thomas Ice in the "Midnight Call" magazine:
"The battle of Gog and Magog in Ezekiel 38 and 39 is a prophecy about an attack upon the land of Israel led by Russia with a number of nations joining them (Ezekiel 38:1-6). Russia will have five key allies: Turkey, Iran, Libya, Sudan and the nations of Central Asia. Amazingly, all of these nations are Muslim nations and Iran, Libya and Sudan are three of Israel's most ardent opponents. It is not surprising that Iran is one of the nations included in the list of those attacking Israel in the last days. The Lord said, "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, a great company with buckler and shield, all of them wielding swords" (Ezekiel 38:4).
Some detractors of our view of Bible prophecy have said that with the fall of the Soviet Empire a Russian-led invasion seems very unlikely from a geopolitical standpoint. It has always been the case that this prophecy speaks of a Russian-led, not a Soviet-led, attack against Israel. Ever since the fall of the Soviet Empire, Russia has continued to maintain close relations with most of the Islamic nations, especially those in the Middle East. It would not be surprising from a geopolitical perspective to see Russia join with Islamic states like Iran in a surprise attack against Israel.
For more that 15 years I have speculated that the "hook in the Jaw" of Gog that God could use to bring a reluctant Russia down upon the land of Israel could be something like the following scenario that I articulated to Hal Lindsey on a national television show in 1990 on the day the first Gulf War ended: I could see the Muslims going to the Russians and telling them that America has set a precedent for an outside power coming into the Middle East to right a perceived wrong. (America has done it again in recent years by going into Afghanistan and Iraq.) On that basis, Russia would help out her Muslim friends by leading them in an overwhelming invasion of Israel in order to solve the Middle East Conflict in favor of the Islamic nations. Will this be the "hook in the jaw" of Gog? Only time will tell. But something is up in the Middle East and Russia's fingerprints are all over things. We know that the Bible predicts just such an alignment and invasion to take place "in the latter years" (Ezekiel 38:8). Maranatha! "
Most Bible scholars believe this Gog and Magog war will take place after the Rapture, during the Tribulation period. Whether Russia attacks Israel to help settle the age-old conflict between her allied Muslim countries, and Israel - or if Russia joins in the war because she wants to be the great powerhouse she once was, and take advantage of Israel's great economy, the results of this war will be devastating to the attacking armies. God Himself will wipe out about 85% of the invaders as stated in Ezekiel 39:1-2.
By George Konig
May 7, 2006
www.georgekonig.org
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