July 30, 2024 - A. V. Rauf
Ezekiel 38-39: Where Are We Today?
It would be fitting for this next article to be written on the heels of the 4 part “deep dive,” into examining the Prophecies of Ezekiel Chapters 38-39. If you haven’t read them yet I strongly advise you to do so…
In matters of Bible prophecy fulfillment, it is widely acknowledged by most scholars that from the plain surface reading of the prophetic scriptural text determine that there’ll be a coming a war that will see an attempted invasion of Israel by Russia and its allies. Many Bible prophecy scholars have also alluded to the notion that this will also be coupled with a possible major military exchange between America with its allies and Russia.That being, said I want you to be a Berean as you study the passages and let the Holy Spirit reveal to you the lateness of the hour.
Acts 17:11—1 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
It goes without saying that we are living in a time where the War that takes place in Ezekiel 38-39 may very well be fulfilled before our eyes. The sad fact is that it is estimated that nearly 80% of people have no interest in reading the Bible and a large population of Christians are not fully cognizant of the eschatological ramification of God’s Holy Writ.
As we move into the month of August, International geopolitical tensions between the United States/NATO and Russia and may I also add, Israel have escalated quite dramatically. In light of the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas that began in October 7, 2023, in addition to the rising tide of anti-Semitsm and the international plea to establish a Palestinian state, at no time in recent history that I recallr has their been such a direct threat of an invasion of Israel by its biblical enemies than in recent days.
Now Turkey has publicly announced that it will invade Israel as it did to Karabakh and Libya in order to help the Palestinians in the ongoing Israeli and Palestinians conflict:
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/turkeys-erdogan-threatens-invade-israel
Israel has responded with a threat to Turkey’s president Erdogan that if he does, he will end up like Saddam Hussein and that Turkey will be destroyed. Ladies and gentlemen, this exact scenario is part of the aforementioned Ezekiel 38 & 39 Gog and Magog war of the end times. Turkey is listed as one of the nations by the prophet Ezekiel that will accompany Russia in an attempted invasion of Israel.
As tensions are extremely high between Lebanon and Israel at the current moment it is being reported that there may be in the very near future an all-out full-scale war ready to commence between Hezbollah in Lebanon and Israel. Alongside the destruction of Damascus, the fall of Lebanon is also prophesied in the Bible:
Isaiah 17–The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap.2 The cities of Aroer are forsaken: they shall be for flocks, which shall lie down, and none shall make them afraid.3 The fortress also shall cease from Ephraim, and the kingdom from Damascus, and the remnant of Syria: they shall be as the glory of the children of Israel, saith the Lord of hosts.4 And in that day it shall come to pass, that the glory of Jacob shall be made thin, and the fatness of his flesh shall wax lean.5 And it shall be as when the harvestman gathereth the corn, and reapeth the ears with his arm; and it shall be as he that gathereth ears in the valley of Rephaim.6 Yet gleaning grapes shall be left in it, as the shaking of an olive tree, two or three berries in the top of the uppermost bough, four or five in the outmost fruitful branches thereof, saith the Lord God of Israel.7 At that day shall a man look to his Maker, and his eyes shall have respect to the Holy One of Israel.8 And he shall not look to the altars, the work of his hands, neither shall respect that which his fingers have made, either the groves, or the images.9 In that day shall his strong cities be as a forsaken bough, and an uppermost branch, which they left because of the children of Israel: and there shall be desolation.10 Because thou hast forgotten the God of thy salvation, and hast not been mindful of the rock of thy strength, therefore shalt thou plant pleasant plants, and shalt set it with strange slips:11 In the day shalt thou make thy plant to grow, and in the morning shalt thou make thy seed to flourish: but the harvest shall be a heap in the day of grief and of desperate sorrow.12 Woe to the multitude of many people, which make a noise like the noise of the seas; and to the rushing of nations, that make a rushing like the rushing of mighty waters!13 The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters: but God shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, and shall be chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like a rolling thing before the whirlwind.14 And behold at eveningtide trouble; and before the morning he is not. This is the portion of them that spoil us, and the lot of them that rob us.
Isaiah 10:22-25 & v. 33-34—21 The remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God.22 For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of them shall return: the consumption decreed shall overflow with righteousness.23 For the Lord God of hosts shall make a consumption, even determined, in the midst of all the land.24 Therefore thus saith the Lord God of hosts, O my people that dwellest in Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrian: he shall smite thee with a rod, and shall lift up his staff against thee, after the manner of Egypt.25 For yet a very little while, and the indignation shall cease, and mine anger in their destruction
VERSES 33- 34:33 Behold, the Lord, the Lord of hosts, shall lop the bough with terror: and the high ones of stature shall be hewn down, and the haughty shall be humbled.34 And he shall cut down the thickets of the forest with iron, and Lebanon shall fall by a mighty one.
The above verses when read in context allude to future events that will unfold in the Middle East prior to the return of the LORD and quite possibly during (or might I suggest) priority to the beginning of the 7 Year Tribulation Period otherwise known as the Time of Jacob’s (Israel’s) Trouble.
It now appears as if Israel has made known its intention of engaging Hezbollah inside of Lebanon.
Just last month,Israel Defense Force Lieutenant General Aviv Kochavi.has publicly stated the following …
“I say this from here, first and foremost to the residents of Lebanon. Not only do I suggest you leave from the moment the war begins, but I also suggest you leave from the moment of tension because the intensity of the attack will be something you have never seen. Never seen.”
Kochavi has warned citizens of Lebanon to evacuate as an apparently massive war with Lebanon is about to begin.This conflict has the potential of drawing in other major powers as a result of this massive powder keg of threats and counter threats from all sides. It is being reported by some news outlets that U.S. officials have reassured Israeli officials that if a full war with Hezbollah inside of Lebanon were to begin, America is “fully prepared to back its ally.” It is also being reported that Israel will begin its attack into the southern part of Lebanon on the ground through the cover of intense airstrikes.
While all of this is currently unfolding in the Middle East, just recently, the foreign minister Sergei Lavrov, made the following statement:
“I cannot make this any clearer: The Russian Federation will not remain a bystander to the escalation in the Middle East, and will take responsibility; Look at Syria as an example.”
This statement appears to be a firm warning to the America, Israel and the West that those who are openly planning military adventures in the Middle East that Russia will itself get involved just like what Russia did in Syria. Do you see where this is all headed? The prophetic clues are indeed coming fast and furious. The tension between Russia and the American-led NATO organization is not going away.
When you study the Battle of Gog and Magog In Ezekiel 38-39 there is mention of Turkey and Russia , but let’s not forget Iran. Just this past weekend responded to this conflict and warned that “all Resistance Fronts,” a grouping of Iran and its regional allies, would confront Israel if it attacks Lebanon and warned of an “obliterating war,” in response:
https://www.voanews.com/a/iran-warns-israel-of-obliterating-war-if-lebanon-attacked/7677907.html
I want to emphasize that the purpose of this writing is not to incite fear , but to rather “sound the alarm,” and bring to the your attention that we are rapidly approaching the end of the Church Age. As a watchman of the signs Christ’s soon return and the signs of the end of the age I admonish you to not forget as you go about the daily routine of life to be watching and keeping your spiritual ears attuned to what God is doing in the earth.
I am convinced that the God of the Bible is warning the world that the time for repentance is rapidly drawing to a close. Darkness is quickly descending upon humanity.
In fact, speaking of darkness, the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics depicted a blasphemous and mocking presentation of Christ and His disciples at the Last Supper. The scene apparently depicted transgender disciples along with a transgender Christ:
Just 24 hours after this mockery, parts of Paris suffered a blackout of electricity in the city. The city was reportedly plunged into darkness. Reportedly, amidst the widespread blackout, the light continued to shine brightly upon the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus also known as the Sacre-Coeur, creating a striking and symbolic image against the night sky (pictured below left).
Coincidence? I think not.
Soon, God is going to close the door to the proverbial ark in this day just as he did so literally in Noah’s day before the flood destroyed the earth. It is time to get on board the Ark of safety before it is too late.
Jesus Christ died at Calvary so that He could bridge the chasm that sin placed between God and man. Because of His atonement, YOUR sins will be forgiven if you trust Him as your Savior. God loves you and He wants you to repent and come back to Him. Getting “saved” is not about reciting a prayer, it’s about believing in your heart that Jesus Christ has forgiven your sins.
Man has a sin problem that only the shed Blood of Christ can solve. Without salvation, we are left to bear the brunt of God’s wrath on our own and pay for our own sins. We’re all sinners in need of salvation. Jesus Christ died in our place and paid the penalty for our sins. Being saved means to be saved from the wrath of God, the penalty of sin which is death and eventually we will even be saved from the presence of sin. You can be saved right now if you BELIEVE that Jesus Christ is Lord, if you are willing to turn from your sins and if you accept His payment for your sins.
Maranatha!!!