This is the war of Ezekiel 38 and 39. We relate it to the war of the Second Seal in Revelation 6:3-4, but some respected scholars apply it to The Battle of Armageddon later in the Book of Revelation.
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Feb. 1, 2006 - Russia is increasing military cooperation with Syria. A high-level Russian military
delegation has been visiting Syrian military bases to work out closer strategic ties with the regime
of President Bashar Assad.
Over the last year, Russia has signed an agreement to provide the SA-18
anti-aircraft system to the Syrian Army. The deal, estimated at $20 million,
called for the SA-18, or Strella-S, to be mounted on 4x4 trucks. The SA-18 has been
usually sold as a man-portable system.
Jan 31, 2005 - Meeting in London, representatives of US, UK, Russia, China, France and Germany agreed to refer the problem of Iran's continued development of nuclear capabilities to the United Nations Security Council for their consideration. Chief Iranian nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani objected to their decision.
Iranian state television quoted Mr Larijani as saying: "Informing the Security Council or referring the Iranian case to it will bring an end to diplomacy and that is not at all positive."
Jan. 24, 2006 - This editorial by Spengler of the Asia Times gives reasons why Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who may be mad, will pursue the development of nuclear weapons at any cost. Iran's oil reserves will run out in about 20 years, and their economy will collapse unless they can conquer other nearby oil-rich nations.
Israel can not tolerate the threat of a nuclear Iran. Other Islamic countries are afraid of Iran. Western nations that were unsupportive of the Iraq war have already agreed to band together to stop Iran's nuclear development. Even French President Jacques Chirac warned last week that France could use nuclear weapons against terrorist states if necessary. Spengler says:
Washington will initiate military action against Iran only with extreme reluctance, but it will do so nonetheless, except in the extremely unlikely event that Ahmedinejad were to stand down.
Jan. 23, 2006 - Arizona Senator John McCain says that the Iranian quest for nuclear weapons is a world foreign policy crisis. He agrees that President Bush is right to press for sanctions against Iran before the United Nation's Security Council. He thinks that Israel will be forced to take some action against Iran in self defense.
Citing recent statements from Israeli defense officials, McCain said, "Put yourself in the position of the Israeli government. Your first obligation is to defend your people. And here's a country whose president calls for the eradication of your country from the map."
Jan. 13, 2006 - Israeli military forces are prepared, if necessary to attack Iran's nuclear weapons facilities.
[Iranian President] Ahmadinejad has called for Israel to be wiped off the face of the earth and suggested that the Jewish state be moved to Europe. He also denied the Holocaust ever happened.
Israel does not expect the U.N. to solve the nuclear threat from Iran.
Jan. 13, 2006 - Reacting to the European leaders call for UN involvement in Iran's nuclear program, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said they would not concede "one iota" on the matter
Jan. 10, 2006 - Iran has removed seals on its nuclear research facility, ending a two-year halt to their program, and inviting the ire of the U.s., the U.N. and many major nations.
Gregory Schulte, the US ambassador to the IAEA, said it showed Iran's "disdain for international concerns and its rejection of international diplomacy".
Jan. 10,. 2006 - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said, "We don't shy away from declaring that Islam is ready to rule the world." He also teaches that the return of the Shiite messiah, the Mahdi, is not far away.
According to Shiites, the 12th imam disappeared as a child in the year 941. When he returns, they believe, he will reign on earth for seven years, before bringing about a final judgment and the end of the world.
Jan. 6, 2006 - An often overlooked and terrifying aspect of the rule of Iran's new President Mahmoud's Ahmadinejad is the fact that he believes he is to assist in the return of a Shiite Islamic messiah figure – the Mahdi. This could cause him to use the nuclear weapons he is trying to develop at this time.
In the actual software package, many key words would appear as colored hyperlinks to other articles. These links are not shown here.
Gog is not mentioned in the genealogies of Genesis 10, but he is evidently the head of the land of Magog, who is mentioned as a son of Japheth.
Hesoid, a Greek writer of the 7th century BC, and contemporary of Ezekiel, identified Magog with the Scythians and southern Russia. Flavius Josephus, a 1st century Jewish historian said that Magogians were called "Scythians" by the Greeks. Philo, a 1st century Greek identified Magog with southern Russia. (Chuck Missler, "The Magog Invasion" Briefing Package, 1995, pp. 1-2)
Commentators from the turn of this century and before have generally identified Gog and Magog with Russia even though, at the time, they could not explain why Russia would turn against God's people. They conjectured that perhaps the time would come when there would be animosity between Russia and Israel.
Rosh - "head", "chief", sounds like Russia. Meshech sounds like Moscow or Mushkovi, the old name for Russia. Tubal - sounds like Tobolsk.
The Target: Israel
Ezekiel 38:8-12
This is the only time in history that this could be said of Israel, that they were brought back from many nations. It is true that they were brought back from Babylon and Persia in the Old Testament, but it is only since the Zionist movement, which began in the late 1800's, that Jewish people have returned from nations all over the world. They had been scattered abroad even in New Testament times. On the Day of Pentecost, for example, they various languages spoken by the Apostles, when the Holy Spirit came upon them, represented the many lands where they had settled. But they had not returned to stay. This really never happened until the amazing events that led to the rebirth of Israel in 1948.
What thoughts would come into Russia's mind to make them want to attack Israel? A consideration of Russia's instability and the plans of some of their leaders for expansion throughout the Mediterranean area is given below. Israel has always been a key land bridge between Russia's allies and is presently an enemy of some of those allies. Any number of scenarios in the always-volatile Middle East politics could lead to a Russian attack in the future.
Russia's Allies
Most of the names in this passage can also be found in Genesis 10. That chapter contains the story of the migration of the descendants of Noah after the flood.
Persia is modern Iran. Cush is the ancient name for Ethiopia. Put is Lybia, Gomer corresponds to the area of modern Germany, and Togarmah most likely represents Armenia and Turkish tribes
It is interesting that Mizraim, the forefather of Egypt is apparently missing from this lineup. This, of course, fits the current world scene, with Egypt being the first Arab nation to make peace with Israel.
Israel's Allies
Israel's allies appear to be few and feeble. Some of Saudi Arabia was populated by Sheba and Dedan. The merchants of Tarshish could be England and English colonies. In that case, The United States could even be included since we were once an English colony. These allies ask why Russia and its allies are coming, but do not appear to deter them.
The Outcome
Ezekiel 38:22
"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.
Ezekiel 39:3-6
3 "And I shall strike your bow from your left hand, and dash down your arrows from your right hand.
4 "You shall fall on the mountains of Israel, you and all your troops, and the peoples who are with you; I shall give you as food to every kind of predatory bird and beast of the field.
5 "You will fall on the open field; for it is I who have spoken," declares the Lord GOD.
6 "And I shall send fire upon Magog and those who inhabit the coastlands in safety; and they will know that I am the LORD.
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