End-Time Prophecies Unfolding: Do We See Ezekiel 38 As the Key to Understanding Today's Middle Eastern Alliances?
It's 1948, and the British are pulling their troops out of a region they've controlled for decades. The Arab nations surrounding this land are furious because the British are leaving it in the hands of a people they believe have no right to govern it: the Jews. Jews from around the world are migrating to this land, reclaiming it despite opposition from their new neighbors. Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and Jordan retaliate by attacking Israel. Against overwhelming odds, Israel emerges victorious in what becomes known as their War of Independence, successfully defending their newly established state.
Then something remarkable happened: the Jews not only survived the attack but established the modern state of Israel for the first time in almost 2,000 years, fulfilling prophecies like Isaiah 11:11-12 and Jeremiah 23:7-8. This was followed by more challenges - the Suez Crisis in 1956 when Egypt nationalized the Suez Canal, and most notably the Six-Day War from June 5-10, 1967, where Israel achieved a stunning victory against overwhelming odds. Through all these conflicts, Israel has endured, as promised in Amos 9:14-15. What makes this even more extraordinary is that this regathering of the Jewish people was prophesied thousands of years ago in the Bible. The prophet Ezekiel predicted that the Jews would be scattered to the ends of the Earth (Ezekiel 36:19) and later regathered to their land after years of persecution (Ezekiel 36:24). This regathering, according to biblical prophecy, would occur in the last days, just before the end of the world.
Ezekiel 36 and 37 describe this return, while chapter 38 foretells a major war against Israel. The Bible specifies five nations that will attack Israel after it becomes prosperous. What's shocking is that these nations—Russia, Iran, Sudan, Libya, and Turkey—are all active in today's news, many of them already forming alliances against Israel. The aftermath of this battle, as described in Ezekiel, aligns perfectly with modern weaponry and warfare, leading many to believe this prophecy could unfold in our time.
We previously discussed this topic in this article, and I found the following video offering valuable insights. I'd like to share it here as it provides an excellent summary:
The Key Players in the Ezekiel 38 Prophecy
Starting with verse one, the prophecy states: "Now the word of the Lord came to me saying, 'Son of man, set your face against Gog of the land of Magog.'" (Ezekiel 38:1-2) The term Gog refers to a leader, much like a king or president, and Magog was a vast region north of Israel, now identified as Russia. If this battle were to happen today, the leader of Russia—currently Vladimir Putin—would fit the description of Gog. While we cannot say with certainty that Putin is Gog, we do see Russia deeply entangled in Middle Eastern conflicts, especially through its ties with Israel's adversaries.
Next, the Bible lists Iran as Persia (Ezekiel 38:5), its ancient name. Iran has actively supported anti-Israel terrorist groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah and has even launched missile attacks on Israel. What's astonishing is that Russia and Iran, historically at odds, have signed treaties and trained their militaries together in recent years—just as prophesied.
Sudan, identified in the Bible as Kush (Ezekiel 38:5), is another key player. Sudan has long been hostile toward Israel but has recently strengthened its ties with both Iran and Russia, even allowing Russia to build a naval base in its territory. Libya, also mentioned in Ezekiel 38:5, has allowed Russian military equipment to be moved within its borders. Finally, Turkey, referred to as Gomer and the house of Togarmah (Ezekiel 38:6) in the Bible, has become increasingly vocal against Israel, calling them an "organized gang" and aligning itself with Russia and Iran. These once-unlikely alliances are forming exactly as predicted in Ezekiel.
The Role of Sheba, Dedan, and the Merchants of Tarshish
Ezekiel's prophecy doesn't just detail Israel's enemies; it also highlights how other nations will react. Ezekiel 38:13 states: "Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish with all its rulers will ask you, 'Have you come to seize spoil? Have you mobilized your assembly to carry off plunder, to make off with silver and gold, to take cattle and possessions, to seize plenty of spoil?'".
This passage describes a group of nations questioning the attack on Israel, a passive support to Israel, but not taking direct action to stop its enemies.
Sheba and Dedan are associated with regions in Northern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. These regions today include Saudi Arabia and some North African nations, which have historically maintained a neutral stance in Israeli conflicts. Interestingly, Saudi Arabia has been improving diplomatic relations with Israel in recent years, aligning with this prophecy’s implication that some Arab nations may not actively join in attacking Israel but will instead watch events unfold.
The Merchants of Tarshish are believed to represent nations that were major maritime trading powers in ancient times, often linked to the UK and Spain. If Tarshish refers to these European powers, then its rulers (or “young lions,” as some translations put it) likely represent their political and military allies, such as the European Union and NATO nations. Moreover, the USA and South America are directly connected to the UK and Spain through colonization. If Tarshish refers to these colonial powers, then the modern nations descended from them (such as the USA, Canada, and parts of South America) may be the ones issuing statements of concern but not intervening militarily when Israel is attacked.
This prophecy precisely mirrors the current geopolitical situation. Whenever Israel faces conflict, Western nations, including the U.S. and Europe, often express concern and issue statements but refrain from direct military involvement. Could this be another indication that the stage is set for Ezekiel’s prophecy to unfold?
The Supernatural Intervention and Aftermath
The prophecy continues with God intervening in Israel's defense: "I will turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and lead you out with all your army" (Ezekiel 38:4). This suggests that Russia and its allies will be drawn into this battle unwillingly, possibly due to economic or political pressures.
As the invading nations approach Israel, Ezekiel describes a series of divine interventions. God will cause a massive earthquake that devastates the enemy forces. The chaos will be compounded by weapons misfiring, leading the nations to attack one another in confusion. Nature itself will turn against the attackers, with torrential rain, giant hailstones, fire, and brimstone raining down upon them. The destruction will extend to Magog (Russia) and those living securely in the coastlands (Ezekiel 39:6), which some scholars interpret as possibly referring to a nuclear exchange affecting not just Russia but also distant nations uninvolved in the war.
A fascinating aspect of the prophecy is the cleanup operation that follows. Ezekiel 39:11-16 describes how Israel will wait seven months before beginning the cleanup of the battlefield (Ezekiel 39:12). The bodies will be marked and disposed of by a special group of professionals (Ezekiel 39:14-15), hinting at the careful handling required for nuclear or chemical contamination.
How Close Are We to This Prophecy Being Fulfilled?
Looking at the current world stage, we see growing hostility toward Israel, unexpected alliances forming, and Western nations responding exactly as described in Ezekiel 38:13—issuing statements but not intervening directly. The increasing presence of Russia and Iran in the Middle East, the shifting diplomatic landscape, and the technological advancements in warfare all suggest this prophesied end-time conflict could unfold before the Day of the Lord and the Antichrist's reign begins.
As believers witnessing these prophetic events aligning with Scripture, we must deeply examine their significance and heed Jesus' command to "look up, for your redemption draws near" (Luke 21:28). How prepared are we spiritually and emotionally for the imminent Rapture of the Church? What changes should we make in our daily lives if we truly believe we're living in the last moments before Christ calls His bride home? How can we effectively share this urgent message of salvation with our unsaved loved ones before it's too late? What role should prophecy and the blessed hope of the Rapture play in our evangelism efforts? As world events continue to mirror biblical prophecies, how can we maintain both spiritual vigilance and practical wisdom while keeping our eyes fixed on the skies? These profound questions demand our careful consideration as we watch biblical prophecy potentially unfolding before our eyes and await our blessed hope - the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13).
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