Prophecy

“And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, that my fury shall come up in my face. For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel” (Ezekiel 38:18-19)

There are many verses within scripture placing Israel at the forefront of events which must take place, prior to the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to the earth.

The nation of Israel has continually suffered conflict from many nations, not least from its Arab neighbours. The last century also saw the atrocities of the Holocaust, but still the Jews are with us, and still they are in the news.

The Children of Abraham
In Genesis 12:2, God says to Abraham: “I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great.”

Later on in Genesis 15, it is recorded that an angel visits Abraham and confirms that he will have an heir. His wife Sarah, who was “well stricken in years” believed that she was too old to bare children, so she instructs Abraham to marry his servant Hagar, thinking that the seed he has been promised must be provided by another woman.

Hagar gives birth to a son, Ishmael, but Genesis 17:16 shows that Abraham is promised a son with Sarah. Sarah later gives birth to a son, Isaac.

The apostle Paul, in his letter to the Galatians (4:22-23), observes that Ishmael was born “after the flesh”, whereas Isaac (from whom the Jews are descended) was born “by promise”, and he makes the point that as the son born after the flesh (Ishmael) persecuted the son born after the Spirit (Isaac), even so it is now”.

Thousands of years after the letter to the Galatians was written, we still see the conflict between Jew and Arab. Despite the best efforts of the nations leaders to resolve the conflict, there will never be a permanent solution until the return of Jesus Christ to the earth.

A Nation Scattered…
Because the Jews continually failed to obey God throughout scripture, the nation of Israel was scattered throughout the earth. An example of it being foretold can be found in Deuteronomy 28:64-66:

“The Lord shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other ... and among them nations shalt thou find no ease, neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest; but the Lord shall give thee there a trembling heart and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind; and thy life shall hang in doubt before thee; and thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have none assurance of thy life."

Throughout the ages, the Jews have suffered persecution. The events of AD70 and later, documented by many historians, give accounts of the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans, and the suffering and scattering of the Jews. More recently, we have seen the terrible events of the Holocaust.

…and Regathered
There have been many events in Israel’s history which have thrilled the Bible student, but some events in the last century were particularly significant.

Ezekiel 37:21-22 says: “Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land; and I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel, and one king shall be king to them all..."

This prophecy has been partly fulfilled. The events of World War I brought about the Balfour declaration, allowing the Jews to return to Palestine and establish a home there. Later on in 1947, following the atrocities of World War II, the United Nations agreed that Palestine be divided into Jewish and Arab states, finally giving the Jews their own land.

The Future of Israel
Despite having their own land, there has been continual unrest from hostile neighbouring countries. Despite the problems they currently face from these nations, Ezekiel 38 introduces us to a number of other nations which will oppose Israel before the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. We read of a “Gogian confederacy” which will come down upon Israel:

“And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes.” (Ezekiel 38:16)

Verse 3 of Ezekiel 38 tells us that Gog is the Chief Prince of Meshech and Tubal. The “Chief Prince” which is mentioned is translated elsewhere as “Prince of Ros”. The term “Ros” is an early name for Russia. Similarly, the names “Meschech” and “Tubal” are early names for Moscow and Tobolski.

Another nation mentioned with Gog is Persia (Iran). Similarly, we frequently see news articles showing dealings between Russia and Iran. So the Bible shows us that there will be a conflict which will see the involvement of many nations, not just the Middle East, before the return of Jesus.

The Bible details things which have happened, and things which are to happen in the future. Those things which have happened, are living proof as to the existence of the God of Israel. The Jews are a living witness to his existence. That time will come when the final part of Ezekiel 38:22 will be fulfilled: One king, the Lord Jesus Christ, shall be “king to them all”. Are we watching for that time to come?

Andy Bownes