BY
PASTOR MIKE TAYLOR
2 “Son
of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince
of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him,
3 And
say, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog,
the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal:
4 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:” (Ezekiel 38:2-4)
On
Christian forums that I host, many questions arise about when the
prophesied war that is spoken of in this passage found in your Bible
will happen. Especially the question is who will make up this vast
invading force that will be decimated on the mountains of Israel.
“16 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.
17 Thus
saith the Lord God; Art thou he of whom I have spoken in old
time by my servants the prophets of Israel, which prophesied in those
days many years that I would bring thee against them?
18 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.
19 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;
20 So
that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the
beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the
earth, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall
shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the
steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground.
21 And
I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains,
saith the Lord God: every man's sword shall be against his
brother.
22 And
I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will
rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are
with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and
brimstone.” (Ezekiel 38:16-22)
This
is a massive invasion that God comes to fight against with Divine
intervention that slays all but a 1/6 of this army that the bible
calls a cloud “thou shalt be like a cloud to
cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee.”
(Ezekiel 38:9b).
But
the question is raised, who are these people, and where do they come
from? Let us explore what is happening right now in our own news
channels and what the Bible foretells who this invading army will
consist of and how close we are to seeing this come to pass.
According
to the prophet Ezekiel, there will arise in the last days, a massvie
military and political alliance known in the bible as the Gog-Magog
Alliance.
Ezekiel
prophesies that a conglomeration of many nations and their armies
will think to come into Israel to finally destroy the nation and
murder her inhabitants. The Bible also speaks of the disastrous
results that will happen on the mountains of the reborn nation that
was formed in 1948 and has been in existence now, over 70 years.
In
Ezekiel 38, verse 3, Ezekiel clearly identifies Gog as a person,
rather than a place,
“3 And
say, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog,
the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal:”
The
Scofield Reference Bible's notes to Ezekiel claim that "Meshech"
is a Hebrew form of Moscow, and that "Tubal" represents the
Siberian capital Tobolsk.
This
interpretation would make Gog both a “place” or the Russian
Federation of Nations, AND a 'person' as in the sense of the
leadership of this Russian Federation.
The
Interlinear Bible (Hebrew - Greek - English) renders that verse as:
"Son
of man, set your face toward Gog, the land of Magog, the prince of
Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal; and prophesy concerning him."
(In
Hebrew, the word 'Rosh' meant, 'chief prince', or, the 'chief of the
chief princes.') Would Vladimir Putin be considered the chief prince
amongst princes of Communist Russa? Let us examine.
HISTORY
OF THE ANCESTORS OF THE PEOPLE
In
examining ancient history, we find that Magog was a son of Japeth,
who together with his brothers Tubal, Meshech and Togarmah settled in
what is modern day Russia and the southern steps of the Caucasus
Mountains..
10 “Now
these are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and
Japheth: and unto them were sons born after the flood.
2 The
sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal,
and Meshech, and Tiras.
3 And
the sons of Gomer; Ashkenaz, and Riphath, and Togarmah.” (Genesis
10:1-3)
The
prophet Ezekiel identifies 'Gog' as coming from the north of Israel.
If you follow the compass to due north of Jerusalem, it will take you
through the center of Moscow.
The
army of Gog and Magog primarily includes people from the nations of
Gog, Gomer, Tubal, Meshech, and the house of Togarmah from the "north
parts." They will be joined by Persians (Iran) from the East,
Put from the West, Cushites from the South, and others.
"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. . . "
(Ezekiel
38:5-6)
"Gomer"
is mentioned in Genesis as well as Ezekiel. The Jewish-turned-Roman
historian Flavius Josephus identified Gomer with the Galatians.
"For
Gomer founded those whom the Greeks now call Galatians, [Galls,] but
were then called Gomerites." (Antiquities of the Jews, I:6.)
Without
getting too involved in the geographical landscape of the ancient
land of Galatia, the land is part of Turkey and the modern capital of
Ankara, Turkey is part of Ancient Galatia.
Historically,
'Gomer' is also linked to the ancient Cimmerians. The Cimmerians
eventually settled the regions north of the Caucasus and the Black
Sea, in what is now parts of Russia and the Ukraine. The same can be
said for Gomerites who spoke a form of the Persian language, and the
Soviet State of Georgia is where the son of Japeth, Tubal settled
according to the historian Josephus.
Note
that Ezekiel begins his listing of the Gog-Magog alliance by naming
Persia as the main instigator of this invasion, but with help from
his allies of Ethiopia and Libya, but known in Ancient times at Phut
for Libya, and Cush for Ethiopia. Most likely, the Russian federation
will be the financial supporters of these people.
(Some
versions of Scripture render 'Libya' (as does the KJV) whereas others
render it 'Put' -- a grandson of Noah.)
Put
settled an area that included most of North Africa including Libya
and parts of modern Egypt. Let us name the ancient followed by the
modern names of each of these players that will comprise the coming
Ezekiel prophesied invasion of Israel in the “last days”.
-Rosh
and Magog-Russia
-Meshech
and Tubal-Turkish nation
-Cush-Ethiopia
-Put-Libya
-Gomer-from
eastern Europe, even to Germany
-as mentioned
Persia is Iran
Note
that each of these invading nations have one thing in common...they
are all Muslim and have a natural hatred of Israel that has festered
since the time of Isaac and Ishmael.
WHAT
DO WE SEE TODAY?
Let
us stand back and look at what is happening right now in the Middle
East. I have wrote about this in times' past, but the details keep
getting stronger and more into focus as the days pass by. No where
has there been an alliance in the past, where Iran and Russia were
thick as thieves in their relationship, as has been in the last 20
years or so. In the past, they have been natural enemies, but all
that has changed. Russia has taken a major interest in propping up
the Iranian regime with help in the military search for the nuclear
bomb, by giving the Iranians nuclear reactors, thereby giving the
Persians access to nuclear material. This was all done for Russian
political purposes and control of the region.
Also,
war in Syria was raging for some years, as the Russian regime seeks
to keep Assad in power and use its military to build bases and
airfields that are beginning to surround the tiny nation of Israel.
We read about Iranian troops on the border of the Golan Heights to
its east, Hezbollah creating more missiles that can reach every city
in Israel to the north and are itching for the next war that will
seek to destroy their hated cousins to the south. We read about Hamas
feverishly building more sophisticated missiles in the Gaza strip,
that Israel has been trying to keep tabs on both of these players on
their borders with fighter jet sorties to knock out advanced
chemical, biological, or computer directed missiles to deliver
destruction to the tiny nation of Israel. And we read about the
Muslim Brotherhood, into factions such as ISIS and Al-Queda rampaging
in northern Africa down into Central Africa and Egypt.
If
you look at any map of the area, it can be plainly seen that Israel
is surrounded on all sides by enemies that have longed to destroy
her. It is prophesied in Psalm 83 that an inner ring of these Muslim
nations will think to attack, much as they did in the 1967 and 1973
wars that caught Israel off guard in the last war listed and nearly
caused their defeat, if it were not for the God of Heaven who was
directing their paths and protecting their flanks from a fanatical
enemy. We have been watching and wondering when this war of Psalm 83
might happen, and I believe the stage is being set right now for a
skirmish that will bring a big increase in the real estate that
Israel will claim for it's own. This is the run-up to the war we are
discussing, but Israel will have a short lived peace, when the
enemies that border her are defeated.
2” For,
lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted
up the head.
3 They
have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against
thy hidden ones.
4 They
have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that
the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.
5 For
they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate
against thee:
6 The
tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes;
7 Gebal,
and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre;
8 Assur
also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot. “
(Psalm 83:2-8)
I
believe this is the next war that is on the horizon. Maneuvers are
being taken to surround Israel from all sides with military muscle
that they feel, will insure their victory. Only one problem. The God
of Heaven is in the corner of Israel, and will not allow that to
happen. Our Amazing God will bring victory by His Hand, that will
direct the nation of Israel to complete victory. We may see this
coming war, before the Church leaves this world, and we may not for
the timing of God's body of believers could leave at any moment.
LET
US EXAMINE WHAT WE KNOW
We
know that in the latter days, the chief of the chief princes of an
alliance called Gog-Magog will arise from a location to the uttermost
north regions of Israel. We know that Moscow is on the same longitude
(south and north) from the city of Jerusalem and is directly north of
the capital city of Israel.
We
know that this 'Gog' will be reluctantly drawn into a conflict with
Israel, to where that Ezekiel says that the nation that comprises
Rosh and Magog will be drawn as “hooks in its jaws” into this
conflict. It may be over natural resources that they covet, or an
alliance that has formed that makes them obliged to honor with
resources to support the effort...Both could be right.
The Gog
Magog alliance includes modern Russia, the Ukraine, Iran, Iraq,
Turkey, North Africa, and the Middle East extending from the
Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf.
We
also know that the target of the Gog Magog Alliance is the
restored nation of Israel. And finally, we know the time frame.
Ezekiel says it will take place 'in the latter days'. Here is
something else we know. Ezekiel's alignment of nations was never
possible in previous generations.
To
begin with Ezekiel's scenario, the nation of Israel must exist and
was created in 1948, as spoken in this passage
"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 . . " (Ezekiel
38:8-9)
As
we all know, that day was completed in May 1948 and there was never a
place called Israel until then. Prior to this date, Russia has no to
little interest in the dry and barren land in the Middle East, as it
had been part of the Ottoman Empire since the time of America being
discovered by Columbus.
There
has been 2500 years since Ezekiel's prophesy and the formation of a
reconstituted nation called Israel, and the prophecy depends on the
simultaneous development of two events. The rebirth of Israel and the
birth of Mohammedan-style, radical Islam to fulfill this prophecy.
How could Ezekiel have known that this would come to pass, unless God
had him to write these words?
ARE
WE IN THE SEASON OF THIS FULFILLMENT?
Look
at Ezekiel's main protagonists. There are three.
The
first is Gog and Magog, the modern Russian federation. Gog and
Magog's participation in the invasion force, according to Ezekiel,
comes as a result of God's promise to,
3 “And
say, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog,
the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal:
4 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:"
(Ezekiel
38:4)
I've
wondered about the phrase “turn thee back” (Hebrew 'paqad' or
'call to remembrance')....There is a story is about when the new
Russian parliament ca. 1992 rushed out of the halls of the Duma where
newly admitted Western missionaries were handing out free New
Testaments.
The
people were so hungry for the Word of God, that the missionaries were
welcomed with open arms. After a life long bout with Communism the
people were eager to read the Words of God.
For
several years, Russians were offered this 'call to remembrance' of
Scripture before former KGB operative Vladimir Putin slammed the door
shut on foreign missionaries. The Russian Orthodox Church -- which
was heavily infiltrated by the KGB during the Communist era
-- the only legal “Christian” religion in Russia was all that is
allowed. All other outside Christian influence were banned.
This
call of remembrance was now officially over, and when Russia entered
into a nuclear alliance with Iran, the hook was set. The support of
Iran by the communist country was now set in stone.
THE
SECOND IS THE ALLIANCE ITSELF
As
mentioned before, and it is part of the alliance is that every single
nation and of the region of the Gog-Magog alliance is part of the
Islamic world. All of them.
Islamic
North Africa, [Ethiopia and Libya] including the Sudan, whose Islamic
government is currently conducted genocide against its Christian
population.
Saudi
Arabia, the birthplace of Islam and the heart and soul of radical
Wahabbist jihadist Islam.
Turkey,
(ruled by the Islamic Party), together with most of the Russian
Republic's Islamic 'stans'.
Persia,
or modern Iran, is the 'hook' in Gog's jaw. Iran's nuclear program
was built by, overseen, guarded and maintained by Russian
scientists, technicians and military forces. Iran's leader
has made it something of a habit to mention the destruction of Israel
in every speech.
Which
brings us to the third protagonist in Ezekiel's prophecy-Israel
itself.
The
focus of this alliance of Muslim nations has but one focus, the
destruction of Israel. Israel now has two choices, and neither of
them are good for Israel.
She
can pray that the international community will restrain the mad
mullahs, which with the climate we see of Anti-Semitism taking a rise
in the last few years, the doesn't seem likely in the United Nations
that is populated with mostly Muslim nations, and even with veto
power by the USA, she may be powerless to stop the forces beyond a
official protest., as even the rest of the Gentile nations have risen
to condemn her in the European Union and elsewhere.
13 “Sheba,
and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions
thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast
thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and
gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil?”
(Ezekiel 38:13)
The
names of the protesters are Sheba and Dedan, geographically from
Saudi Arabia, and young lions of the merchants of Tarshish, which is
believed to be the British and the American continent, who are
somehow powerless to stop such an invasion.
Second
choice is that Israel can mount a military response to remove the
threat themselves, but from reading scripture, they are militarily
overwhelmed by the extent of the invasion from all sides. I remember
that they were surprised in the 1973 war and could have conceivably
lost, as the invasion was on one of the Holy Days that the nation
observes and they were not prepared for the sudden invasion, but
regrouped and became victorious, and in some explanations of the
events, Divine intervention was mentioned and was most obvious.
.
A
third possibility, although not among Israel's choices, is that the
United States will act to remove Iran's nuclear facilities before
Israel faces the point of no return. The possibility the US will act
in time is just that -- a possibility. But according to scripture,
American is not in the mix when it comes to this war. Why? Has an
event happened that could cripple their ability to respond
effectively to this threat of invasion by this massive Islamic
invasion? Has the once great nation of America succumbed to Socialism
and abandoned Israel as a friend?The Western nations of the American
continent is the last bastion of the Christian world, although we
have been going the route of luke-warm Laodecia and have had major falls with
the apostasy of the Church, but if those who still seek the Lord God
in Spirit and in Truth, were suddenly removed from the military, from
the halls of government, from government agencies, from the
leadership of this nation in a flash and with out warning, then that
might explain why the nation is not in a position to respond
effectively to this threat.
Why
do I say that American will not be able to respond? First, I believe
that we as the Church will not see the war we speak of. When this war
is finished and it will come in a flash, as God will be the Champion
of Israel and will fight for them in His Fury. Remember the passage
spoken of above?
18 “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.
19 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;
20 So
that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the
beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the
earth, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall
shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the
steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground.
21 And
I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains,
saith the Lord God: every man's sword shall be against his
brother.
22 And
I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will
rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are
with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and
brimstone.
23 Thus
will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in
the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the Lord.”
(Ezekiel 38:18-23)
There
are several reason why I believe that the Church will not be
here.
-First,
the USA has always been the protector of Israel and its ally since
her birth, and for the USA not to be in this war, says she is not
able.
-Second,
God will not share His glory with anyone, not the USA or anyone else.
God will show His people that He is still very much alive.
-Third,
on the heels of this war that slays 5/6 of the invading army on the
mountains of Israel, and follows the survivors back to their
homeland, where the plague of death follows them to the own
countries, that this war will devastate the Muslim World to its
knees.
-Fourth,
I see a man coming upon the scene who will try and prevent another
war such as this one that has decimated the entire Muslim population
and decimated Russia's hegemony war machine. This man will be a
person of charismatic personality and will come from a premier nation
that Israel will somehow trust. He will “confirm” a covenant with
Israel, that could even be the Trump “Deal of the Century” that
no one has enforced yet, as it was rejected by the Palestinian
leadership. .The only nation that I could conceivably argue that
Israel would trust, would be the USA. But who knows where this man
will come from. Will he be from a revived Roman Empire, or from an
outside Muslim country, or from Turkish background? Many
possibilities, but only one solution. The glass is dark and we can't
see the image just yet.
Note
that Israel is looking for nothing more than peace and security to
live their lives without fear, and have been looking for a “political
messiah” since the time of Jesus to rid themselves of domination by
other nations. In Jesus time, it was the Romans. In the modern era,
it will be the Muslim nations, that even though they have been
victorious, they will accept this “political messiah” who will
give them permission in the international community to rebuild their
Temple and resume animal sacrifices. Israel has never realized they
needed a “Spiritual Messiah” found in the Lord Jesus Christ, as
they had the law of Moses, and didn't need a Savior, at least in
their blinded minds. They didn't believe it then, they do not believe
it now...At least they won't just yet when this “confirmation of a
covenant” is signed giving them what they have longed for “peace
and security” within their borders...but it will be a false peace.
The
Bible says that this “politician” ..this Anti-Christ will not
come into view on the political scene until the Holy Spirit is
removed from this planet to Old Testament manifestations that were
present prior to the Day of Pentecost, some nigh 2000 years ago..
6 “And
now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
7 For
the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth
will let, until he be taken out of the way.
8 And
then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with
the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his
coming:
9 Even
him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and
signs and lying wonders,
10 And
with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish;
because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be
saved.” (2nd Thessalonians 2:6-10)
As
I've preached in prior messages, the HE is a Person who is preventing
the full sway of evil to rule this earth. The only Power that can
hold back this unrelenting evil to engulf this earth, is God's Holy
Spirit. It's not an angel, as they are equal in power to the fallen
angel, Lucifer, now Satan, and its not any person on earth. God's
Spirit resides in every impregnated believer with God's Holy Spirit
as an earnest deposit of our future glory and our being “BORN
AGAIN” into the Kingdom of God.
13 “In
whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the
gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye
were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
14 Which
is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the
purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”
(Ephesians 1:13-14)
From
all indications, the event could happen in the next few years. If the
Church is not present, as the Bible plainly says, if you discern with
a Spirit directed mind, then when this war happens, the man of Sin,
the son of Perdition will be forthcoming...and his revealing will be
the trigger that starts the Tribulation. Many believe that there is a
“gap period” between the rapture of the Church, and the start of
the Tribulation. That would be the period in Revelation between
Revelation 4:1 and Revelation 6:1...how long is this period is
conjecture on anyone's part, but how long will it be before the
Anti-Christ is revealed after the Church is removed? It could happen
at any future Holy Day, that I have offered as the Feast of Trumpets.
Will
it be this fall, the next fall, or the one after that? We don't know
which Feast Jesus will break through the clouds and call with the
sound of a trumpet, “COME UP HITHER”...It could be that soon, or
wait a few years, as we don't know. BUT we keep our focus on the
signs that are screaming of His coming...the signs in the heavens.
The alignment of planets that have never happened in any recent past.
The past solar eclipses that spelled trouble for the Gentile nations,
according to many Jewish and prophecy related teachers. Then we all
remember the past Blood Moons that spelled something happening to
Israel. And remember the past hurricane after hurricane coming from
the path of this last solar eclipse. Was that the warning?
ARE
YOU READY?
Should
any of these prophecies happen tomorrow, would you be ready to meet
Jesus? Note that the Bible says that they come in waves
chronologically and each event triggers the next. The triggers that
set this all in motion are right there on the horizon. It just takes
one domino to fall for the sequence to begin. I have had many
evangelist and preachers wondering if this Coronovirus so called
“Plannedemic” is the prelude to the coming One World Government.
Will it be? Will you be counted as ready to meet the Lord in the
air?
16 “For
God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting
life.
17 For
God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that
the world through him might be saved.
18 He
that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is
condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the
only begotten Son of God.
19 And
this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men
loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
” (John 3:16-18)
Don't
be like those in v. 19 of the preceding verses above....this world is
passing away....If you love the world, then the love of the Father,
our Heavenly Father God.
“Love not the world,
neither the things
that are in the world.
If any man love the world, the love of the Father is
not in him. “ (1st John 2:15)
I
don't know about you, but I am getting tired of the chaos and blatant
evil that is covering this planet...I want to go Home...How about
you? The last bastion of Christian love and biblical concepts of how
to live your life, found in the USA, are quickly dying all around
us...we who call ourselves Christians, long to see the face of our
Lord and Savior crying out with a loud trumpet, “Come up hither”
and so shall we ever be with the Lord. So come Lord Jesus...we await
anxiously for your appearing.
8 “But
what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy
heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
9 That
if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt
believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou
shalt be saved.
10 For
with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth
confession is made unto salvation.
11 For
the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12 For
there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same
Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 For
whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
(Romans 10:8-13)
In
a nutshell, the above verses are how you are counted worthy and to be
ready to meet the Lord in the air. The above scenario that I have
outlined could happen very soon, and the coming of the Lord, even
sooner...make that decision for Jesus Christ Today, as Ezekiel's war
is on the horizon.
This
is Pastor Mike Taylor, praying you be ready to meet our Lord Jesus
Christ, If you need counseling, prayer, or just a listening ear,
email me at pastormiketaylor@yahoo.com,
God bless you all.
TILL
WE MEET AT JESUS FEET
