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Interpreting This Present Time
Ezekiel 37:1-14

​     The prophet Ezekiel had a vision of a large valley filled with dry, scattered bones.  God said: “These bones are the whole house of Israel.” (Ezek. 37:11) He told Ezekiel to prophesy and as he did the bones came to life in stages: first, sinews on the bones, then flesh, and finally the breath of life. (Ezek. 37:6-10).  The revived bones symbolize the nation of Israel coming back to life.  
       Today we’ll look at more prophecies; some are coming true now - we’re hearing about them in our daily news.  I want to first turn our attention to Jesus, who before He returned to heaven, told his followers to, “Go, make disciples of all the nations.”  That has been and is taking place on every continent, even to the remotest outposts. Bibles are translated into almost every language and dialect. People are also great messengers, and churches.  Technology has made a difference.  The gospel writer Matthew wrote this: “The Good News shall be proclaimed in the whole world as a testimony, and then the end will come.”  (Mt. 24:14) God, who loves us all, and who offers salvation and eternal life to all, wants no one left behind when His Son Jesus returns.  
      Next is something shared by Jesus that concerns the Jewish nation. He told the Jewish leaders that they would not see him again on earth, but one day all Jews would believe He was the promised Messiah.  “When that day comes (Jesus was referring to his second coming), you will rejoice and join with those who welcomed me as Lord and King long ago, saying: ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.’” (Matthew 23:39)  The Apostle Paul also emphasized the importance of teaching his fellow Israelites about Jesus, using the prophecies that describe the Messiah.  He wrote to the church in Rome saying: “I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it brings salvation first to the Jews and then to the Gentiles.” (Rom. 1:16) Both Jesus and Paul prioritized getting the Good News out to God’s chosen people.   
     I think it’s important for us to remember that the early church had mostly Jewish believers; it was only over time that others (Gentiles) joined them.  But then, for most of the last 2,000 years, churches have been filled with (mostly) Gentiles, rather than those whom God made a covenant with to be his people.  We know Jesus said on more than one occasion that the blindness and rejection of His own people grieved him.     
       Then a revival began in 1967 that’s probably brought more Jews to faith in Christ than at any other time in history, except the first years of the early church.  That era was known as “The Jesus Movement”; it swept through America and many other places.  Messianic Jewish congregations sprang up during that time - their growth continues to this day.  There are currently more than 350 vital Messianic Jewish congregations in the land of Israel and around the world.  Other organizations that have opened the eyes of Israelites to Jesus are The Jewish Voice and Jews for Jesus.  This is important news because it is a sign that Jesus will return soon.     
     I want to turn now to Ezekiel, chapters 38 and 39; there are many important prophecies relevant for us today.  I want to begin with the detailed description of a coalition of countries that will unite against the restored state of Israel.  This alliance will wage war - Ezekiel says their motive is greed; they plan “to capture spoil and seize plunder”. (Ez. 38:12) 
      Israel is a wealthy first-world country.  A portion of their riches comes from Dead Sea minerals, and there’s also great productivity on their once-barren land.  But very recently a massive offshore supply of natural gas and oil was discovered in the Mediterranean Sea.  The 330 square miles of it will be lucrative… other countries would love to possess it for themselves.        
     With that as background, here’s the list of countries that the Lord told Ezekiel would come together as enemies against Israel (Ezek. 38:1-6):     
Rosh – modern day Russia
Magog – these are sometimes called the “stan” countries.   Magog territory included Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan
Persia – Iran 
Gomer, Tubal, Meshech and Beth-togarmah – Turkey  
Put- Libya
Cush – Sudan
    Here’s a condensed summary of Ezekiel’s prophecies:   The leader of all these countries is someone called Gog.  He’ll gather and mobilize troops from this coalition of countries; they’ll have weapons and full armor. They will roll down upon Israel like a dark storm.  Their plan is to destroy what they see as the unprotected land of Israel.  Gog is confident he’ll be the victor.  He plans to plunder, to take for himself all of Israel’s most valuable natural resources and capture many of its citizens as his prisoners.    
      Ezekiel also foretold God’s response:  I am against you, Gog.  When this battle comes to pass in the latter years of history, I will defeat you, knocking your weapons from your hands, leaving you helpless.  I will summon every form of terror against you.  Mountains will quake and cliffs fall down.  You will be defeated in mortal combat and die because of diseases, fires, floods, and even hailstones.  I will also rain down burning sulfur on you and your allies.  A vast graveyard, east of the Dead Sea, in a long valley is where I, the Lord God, will see your armies buried. Everyone in Israel will help bury your bodies - it will take them seven months.  
     Every remaining nation on the face of the earth will see this victory.  My power will be displayed; everyone will know that I am the Lord, the Holy One of Israel.  They will know that I alone protect my people.      
      Isn’t this a powerful account Ezekiel has provided?  His words were recorded, and since then this ancient prophecy has been read and studied. I want us to consider these prophecies and think about what’s happening in today’s world.    The Bible says that Gog will come from the north.  Turkey is north of the Holy Land.  But if you look on a map, Moscow in Russia is almost directly north of Jerusalem, but more north than Turkey.  Either country could have a leader who fits the profile of Gog.
     In Russia, Vladimir Putin is an undisputed evil man.  He craves dominance over lands his country once ruled.  He’s chosen to begin by waging war in Ukraine; the world has watched as his military has bombed city after beautiful city into rubble.  No international rules are respected; citizens are killed in their homes, hospitals, schools, and bus stations.  There’s carnage on a scale never before witnessed.  
     Another country that’s ruled by an oppressive dictator is Turkey. They have been a member of NATO and until recently wanted to become a member of the European Union.  They were the first Muslim majority country to recognize the statehood of Israel; they remained a strong ally for decades.  Now, Erdogan has risen to power; he’s made sure 160,000 of his detractors have been “detained” in jail or killed. There’s ample evidence that Turkey contributed to the creation of ISIS and helped it take root in Syria and Iraq.  And today Erdogan is head of a totalitarian regime that supports radical Sunni jihadists in Palestine. 
     Biblical scholars believe that either of these two leaders could fit the profile of Gog.  Someone recently said both Erdogan and Putin were “Gog-esque”.  Whoever it is will take the initiative to form an alliance.  In recent months, three powerful countries formed an alliance for strategic purposes.  Never before have these three united until now.  It’s an historic first, but not if you have read the book of Ezekiel.  Rosh/Russia, Persia/Iran and Gomer/Turkey have formed an alliance.  They would likely be the three most powerful members of the Gog alliance. 
      Do you know that last month Putin flew to Teheran and met with Iranian and Turkish leaders?  He also recently met with three of the “stan” countries, whom we know will also join the Gog alliance.  What is very remarkable in these developments is that Iran’s leadership, their cooperation, shifted dramatically over a short period of time.  There had long been hostility between Russia and Iran; it stemmed in part from the Ayatollah Khomeini stating that his country’s belief in Islam was incompatible with Russia’s atheism.  But after Khomeini died, Russia signed a contract to sell arms to Iran and they helped them finish their nuclear power plant. 
     Iran and Russia also teamed up when there was a civil war in Syria. They each wanted continued access to that land.  Iran has had troops based there and they are the main sponsor of Hezbollah, a radical terrorist group.  Putin said in his recent visit to the region that his interest in Syria was limited to the energy pipelines crossing the country.  But experts on the Middle East would see that as subterfuge.   Russia, Iran, and Turkey have coordinated joint military exercises in Syria since 2019.  If you know your geography, you realize that Syria has direct access to Israel’s northern border.  Ezekiel foretold that Gog and his allies would attack Israel on its northern border.  He also said the battle would take place when all the exiled Jews returned and were recognized as the nation of Israel. 
       Can you see the alignment that’s happening? Russia and Iran have strengthened their diplomatic, economic, and military ties.  Their pact is secure.  But Turkey is still part of NATO, at least for now.  Meanwhile Erdogan is trying to control unrest in his country caused by food shortages and massive inflation.  He knows they also need a reliable supply of energy.  Before the war broke out, Turkey had depended on Ukraine’s help.  These days, given the high level of instability in his country and Erdogan’s need to keep his grip on power, he might be tempted to leave NATO - if some nation helped them receive desperately needed food and fuel.  Winter’s hardships are on everyone’s minds.  Russia could step forward with an offer, with certain conditions.  That would shift the balance of power a great deal.     
     What is foretold in Scripture, that we know will happen, is that Gog will assemble a vast coalition of nations.  They will come from the north to attack Israel, intent on plundering its riches.  Jesus told us that when there are earthquakes and famines, wars and plagues in our world, those are the beginning of birth pangs.  But when more signs happen, pay attention, and start looking up! 
      Thanks be to God!

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