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Chapter
17
The
Coming Russian Invasion
During
the previous studies on Ezekiel chapters 36-37, we were occupied with
an overview of God’s plans and purposes with His
covenant people Israel. Now in chapter 38, the prophet draws
our attention to one particular event in Israel’s history. At
the outset God gives us an ominous list of nations who are to
set themselves in array against His chosen people. Gog, Magog,
Tubal, Gomer, Togarmah, Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya. Also the timing of
this event is alluded to: “After
many days” and “In the latter
years.” Our aims in this study are to seek to
identify the nations, motives and times related to this event.
WHO’S
WHO IN EZEKIEL
CHAPTER 38?
“And
the word of the
LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land
of Magog, the chief
prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him. 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 company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling
swords: Persia,
Ethiopia, and Libya 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. Be thou prepared, and prepare for thyself, thou, and all
thy company that
are assembled unto thee, and be thou a guard unto them. 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. 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.”
(Ezekiel 38:1-9)
In order to identify
the characters in this unfolding drama we must go back almost four and a half
thousand years to Genesis chapter 10 which reveals to us that Magog,
Tubal, Meshech and also Gomer with his son Togarmah are sons
and grandson of Japheth, the son of Noah, that just man and
preacher of righteousness. Reliable sources available today link Gog, Meshech,
Magog and Tubal with Russia, Siberia and eastern Turkey. Gomer and his
son Togarmah are linked to Germany, Poland and Western Turkey.
Persia represents modernday Iran, while Libya and Ethiopia
need no introduction except to say that Sudan too would have
been a part of Ethiopia in the days that this prophesy was given. This
then, presents to us modern-day U.S.S.R. and her allies with
the exception perhaps of Turkey, who is currently allied with
the West. We don’t have to think back very far to when
Ethiopia, Libya and Iran too seemed firmly allied with the
West. How rapidly has this situation changed. Indeed a most
interesting insight into present day Russia, her allies and her
aspirations is given to us here for should Russia seek to
dominate the West, Israel must be annihilated. One reason for
Israel’s annihilation is that Russia’s newfound
oil-rich allies; Libya and Iran will need to be appeased. Full
points so far to Ezekiel. For a man who wrote two and a half thousand
years ago he sure did see modern day developments with both
clarity and accuracy. Only Ezekiel’s God could have
fore-written world history with such precise detail. He has done this
so that we might acknowledge His great power and give glory
and honour to His holy name. Yes indeed dear reader the stage
is set, the characters are identified and the outcome, thank God,
is a foregone conclusion.
“AND
A TIME FOR EVERY
PURPOSE UNDER HEAVEN”
There are several
clues given as to the timing of this event. Firstly Ezekiel revealed
that this prophecy would not be fulfilled until “many days”
had transpired. He also states that these events will take
place “in the
latter years.” The terms latter times or latter
years throughout the scriptures are always linked with the
final restoration of the land and people of Israel. The Lord
Jesus Himself revealed in Luke chapter 21 that when Jerusalem again was
the capital of the re-gathered Jewish nation, the “end
times”
or “latter
days” would find their fulfillment.
Ezekiel
too throughout this chapter links the Russian invasion to the recent
return of scattered Israel and continually emphasises the fact
that the land was a perpetual desolation, but upon the return
of her people has again become fruitful. Israel said he, would come
home to their land which was “brought
back from the
sword” (The sword of Islam may I suggest.) Also the
prophet points out that this returned nation in their renewed land
would be “gathered
out of many
people”
how true, for Israel today is made up of people from over 60 nations. A further
and often overlooked clue in the timing of this ill-fated invasion is
that at the time of this event, “and
they shall dwell
safely all of them.” In my view this could not
honestly be said in 1990, but must indicate that Syria, and to
a lesser extent, Jordan are to be neutralised so as to give
Israel a period of complete national peace. There is a scripture in (Isaiah 17:I) that declares:
“…Behold,
Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous
heap.”
The subjugation of Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Jordan by Israel could
explain why none of these nations are mentioned as being party
of this invasion. This view too is substantiated in Ezekiel
28:20-26 where God declares that Lebanon, as Israel’s enemy
will be totally neutralised when Israel is resettled by
God’s appointment. Thus the U.S.S.R. with no more
local nations to use as springboards against Israel will amass her
allies and come down from the North. Israel, dwelling at ease
and with considerable wealth will prove too great a temptation
to the Kremlin. I can almost hear them saying: ‘It will be
like taking candy from a baby.’ But no-one takes
candy from God’s baby as the Russians and their comrades will
find out, to their sorrow.
THE WHYS AND
THE WHEREFORES
There
are various reasons why an invasion of Israel is likely. Israel lies at
the crossroads of the world, linking Europe, Asia and Africa.
Russia has already paid dearly for her error in voting Israel
into nation hood in 1948, when they thought the manipulation of Israel
to be a
foregone conclusion. These tactical errors have been
compounded by the close friendship between Israel and the U.S.
Israel today has effectively become a centre stage base for the U.S.
so that the Americans regard that ‘greenbacks’
spent on Israel are effectively dollars
spent for their own
security. Though there is a deal of selfishness linked to the
American’s care for Israel it must be remembered
that unlike the U.S.S.R., the U.S. acknowledges the God of
Israel, and can boast many genuine lovers of Israel within her ranks.
The above is
reason enough for Russian displeasure but if she
is to finance an invasion of the magnitude envisaged by
Ezekiel she must have at least some petro dollars at her disposal,
hence her alliance with Iran and Libya, two avowed enemies of
the state of Israel. The wave on which
Iran is currently
surfing is generated by Muslim fundamentalism. It is the opinion of the fundamentalists
that God has finished with the Jews who failed Him. Believing Jerusalem
to be their God given heritage, they will see this invasion as
a ‘Jehad’ or ‘holy war’. No
expense will be too great a sacrifice for them.
Currently
there are thousands of Jewish people pouring out of Russia. Huge sums
of money are changing hands but selling Jews is like selling
one’s brains. Russia spurred on with the ‘carrot’
of financial gain seems to be oblivious to the fact that the depletion
and suppression of her Jewish population will only serve to
aggravate the retardation of her technological advancement.
Ultimately,
I believe it will be a case of history repeating itself. Just as
Pharaoh of old realised that his brickmakers were gone, and
sought to secure their return, so too will Russia seek to make
good her losses. Flying in the face of Russia’s greed and
jealousy Israel is set to lead the world in technology.
Brought forth out of many people and nations, Israel will present the best
of what the world has to offer. However the U.S.S.R., true to the form
of that ancient Pharaoh will seek the return and enslavement
of the Jews to their own peril. According to Ezekiel, a fate
similar to that which the Egyptians suffered awaits them. The plot
deepens when we consider that the wealth contained in the Dead
Sea is currently valued at about one trillion, five hundred
and seventy billion dollars U.S. Yes indeed, nothing is hidden from the Lord
God of Israel. ‘His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He
watches me.’
P.S Since writing this book
as a series from 1986 to 1989 many interesting events have occurred.
The iron curtain is now history and Germany is unified. Notice verse 6 “Gomer and all his
bands.”
Not just part but all of Germany is to be included. God’s
mills grind
slowly but surely. Also we now better understand
why Iran and not Iraq is mentioned as an ally to Russia.
Lately everyone is saying peace peace and all is well. Don’t
be deceived.
© Copyright Dirk Evenhuis. The book Israel's Destiny is
protected by
Australian copyright law. No part of the book may be used or
distributed for commercial reasons without the written permission of
the author Dirk Evenhuis.
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