The "Ezekiel 38"
War Against Israel
EZEKIEL 38:
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The word of the Lord came to me: "Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshek and Tubal; prophesy against him and say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against you, Gog, chief prince of Meshek and Tubal. I will turn you around, put hooks in your jaws and bring you out with your whole army—your horses, your horsemen fully armed, and a great horde with large and small shields, all of them brandishing their swords. Persia, Cush and Put will be with them, all with shields and helmets, also Gomer with all its troops, and Beth Togarmah from the far north with all its troops—the many nations with you.
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Get ready; be prepared, you and all the hordes gathered about you, and take command of them. After many days you will be called to arms. In future years you will invade a land that has recovered from war, whose people were gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate. They had been brought out from the nations, and now all of them live in safety. You and all your troops and the many nations with you will go up, advancing like a storm; you will be like a cloud covering the land.
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This is what the Sovereign Lord says: "On that day thoughts will come into your mind and you will devise an evil scheme. You will say, “I will invade a land of unwalled villages; I will attack a peaceful and unsuspecting people—all of them living without walls and without gates and bars. I will plunder and loot and turn my hand against the resettled ruins and the people gathered from the nations, rich in livestock and goods, living at the center of the land" . Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish and all her villages will say to you, “Have you come to plunder? Have you gathered your hordes to loot, to carry off silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods and to seize much plunder?”
Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say to Gog: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: In that day, when my people Israel are living in safety, will you not take notice of it? You will come from your place in the far north, you and many nations with you, all of them riding on horses, a great horde, a mighty army. You will advance against my people Israel like a cloud that covers the land. In days to come, Gog, I will bring you against my land, so that the nations may know me when I am proved holy through you before their eyes.
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This is what the Sovereign Lord says: You are the one I spoke of in former days by my servants the prophets of Israel. At that time they prophesied for years that I would bring you against them.
This what will happen in that day: When Gog attacks the land of Israel, my hot anger will be aroused, declares the Sovereign Lord. In my zeal and fiery wrath I declare that at that time there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel. The fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the beasts of the field, every creature that moves along the ground, and all the people on the face of the earth will tremble at my presence. The mountains will be overturned, the cliffs will crumble and every wall will fall to the ground. I will summon a sword against Gog on all my mountains, declares the Sovereign Lord. Every man’s sword will be against his brother. I will execute judgment on him with plague and bloodshed; I will pour down torrents of rain, hailstones and burning sulfur on him and on his troops and on the many nations with him. And so I will show my greatness and my holiness, and I will make myself known in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the Lord.’
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The book of Ezekiel contains many prophecies and visions that continue to captivate the minds of scholars, theologians, and individuals seeking to understand the role of ancient prophecies in our modern world.
One of the most intriguing passages in Ezekiel is the prophecy of the battle found in Ezekiel 38.
This essay will examine the prophetic implications of this passage in light of modern times, seeking to identify the modern nations that correspond to those prophesied against Israel.
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Ezekiel 38: The Prophetic Context:
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Ezekiel 38 describes a future conflict in which an alliance of nations would come against the land of Israel. The passage is framed as a message from God to the prophet Ezekiel, making it a significant component of biblical prophecy.
To understand the relevance of this passage in modern times, it is essential to identify the nations mentioned in Ezekiel 38 -- and interpret them within the context of contemporary geopolitical boundaries. It is remarkable that many of the nations listed are modern-day Islamic nations. Also, the alliance of these nations is currently exactly as described in these biblical passages.
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Identifying the Nations:
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Gog:
In Ezekiel 38, the leader of the coalition of nations is referred to as Gog.
While the identity of Gog remains debated, it is generally understood as a symbol of a powerful, hostile entity or a leader. In modern times, this leader could represent a nation or a group of nations.
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Magog:
Magog is commonly associated with the region of modern-day Russia, or at least some of its neighboring nations.
The term "Magog" is often seen as a symbolic representation of a northern power.
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Persia:
Ezekiel mentions Persia as part of the coalition. In contemporary terms, Persia corresponds to Iran.
Iran's ongoing regional influence and its tensions with Israel make it a noteworthy player in the modern interpretation of this prophecy.
Cush:
Cush is generally linked to the region of Ethiopia and Sudan.
Both these nations are significant players in the geopolitical landscape of Africa.
Put:
The ancient term "Put" has been associated with modern-day Libya.
Libya's role in regional conflicts and its turbulent history suggest its relevance in this prophecy.
Gomer and Beth Togarmah:
These nations are thought to represent regions in eastern Europe and Asia Minor.
It is likely that they correspond to modern-day Turkey and its surrounding areas.
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Interpreting the Prophecy in Modern Times:
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Interpreting ancient biblical prophecies in contemporary terms can be challenging. In the case of Ezekiel 38, the prophetic message seems to foretell a major geopolitical conflict in the Middle East, with Israel at its center. The alliances and tensions between the nations mentioned in the prophecy provide a framework for understanding the complex dynamics of the modern Middle East.
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In recent decades, the Middle East has been a focal point of international attention due to conflicts, political instability, and religious rivalries. The Israel-Palestine conflict, Iran's nuclear ambitions, and the various alliances and hostilities in the region have drawn parallels with the prophetic vision of Ezekiel 38. The alliances and enmities are fluid, and political landscapes can change, making it challenging to predict how the prophecy might unfold precisely.
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In this essay, we will explore an Islamic motivation behind the nations attacking Israel and examine how Israel is depicted as living securely prior to the attack. The motivation behind this attack is often linked to an Islamic ideology that seeks to unite and eliminate Israel from the region. Various interpretations suggest that the nations involved are driven by a radical form of political Islam, which perceives the presence of Israel as a threat to regional stability and religious supremacy.
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Religious Zeal: One interpretation argues that the nations' motivation is rooted in Islamic eschatology, a belief in the End Times. In this view, the attackers may believe that by eliminating Israel, they are fulfilling a prophetic obligation, as some Islamic eschatological traditions suggest the return of Muhammad and Jesus and the establishment of Islamic dominance over the world.
Anti-Israel Sentiment: A prevalent feature of modern geopolitics is the deep-seated anti-Israel sentiment found in many Islamic-majority countries. This sentiment is driven by historical, political, and religious factors, often leading to the denial of Israel's right to exist. This interpretation suggests that the nations attacking Israel in Ezekiel 38 may be driven by this anti-Israel sentiment.
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Israel's Security Before the Attack
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Ezekiel 38:8 portrays Israel as dwelling securely before the attack. The passage reads, "After many days you will be mustered. In the latter years you will go against the land that is restored from war, the land whose people were gathered from many peoples upon the mountains of Israel, which had been a continual waste. Its people were brought out from the peoples and now dwell securely, all of them."
The description of Israel living securely before the attack could be interpreted in several ways:
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Political Stability: It may refer to a period of relative political stability where Israel has managed to forge alliances and agreements with its neighbors, reducing immediate threats to its security.
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Military Strength: Israel's military might and defensive capabilities may have reached a point where its neighbors no longer perceive it as an easy target. This enhanced military security could be the reason for their secure living.​
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REFERENCES: Hal Lindsey- "The Late Great Planet Earth"; ChatGPT 3.5
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