The Coming Invasion of Israel

Over 2500 years ago, God revealed to His prophet Ezekiel a monumental event that would take place in the last days. He declared that towards the end of the current age, Israel would spring up from the grave of history and take its place among the countries of the world. This is amazing because for 1800 years the country of Israel was non-existent. The Roman Empire dispersed the Jews throughout the world never to return to the land of Israel. However, God had other plans for the Jews as this prophecy reveals. Israel has risen from the grave. That part of this prophecy has come true. However, the next part will also come true. God says that after the resurrection of Israel, many nations will attack it. Scholars have determined that the list of these nations in this prophecy include Russia, Iran, Turkey and other Islamic states. Today's headlines show that these countries are forming the alliances that God foretold. Iran (Persia of old) is developing Nuclear power and threatens to wipe Israel of the map. Russia is returning to its dictatorial past. These countries will invade Israel because God declared they would. This will be to their detriment because God also states in this prophecy that He will protect Israel and that in His fury He will pour out His judgment on these nations.

And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

"Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land

of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal,

and prophesy against him, And say, Thus saith the

Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the

chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: 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: 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.

Be thou prepared, and prepare for thyself, thou, and

all thy company that are assembled unto thee, and be

thou a guard unto them. After many days thou shalt be

visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into 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, and they shall dwell safely

all of them. Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm,

thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and

all thy bands, and many people with thee... 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;

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. 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. And I will

plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and

I will rain upon his bands, and upon the many people

that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great

hailstones, fire, and brimstone. 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 38:1-9,18-23

God declares that in the "latter years" and "latter days" an army consisting of several countries will come against Israel. The result of this invasion is "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...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." This is an accurate description of what is going to take place during the Tribulation Period. Thus, this invasion will occur around that time.

Many Biblical scholars and historians (going all the way back to Josephus in the First Century) have identified the countries listed in this passage with their modern counterparts. They are as follows:

After Togarmah, Ezekiel refers to "many people with thee" which may indicate countries surrounding the ones specifically mentioned might also be part of this attack. It is worth mentioning that after the breakup of the Soviet Union many of its southern provinces became Islamic countries. This fact, along with the inclusion of Iran, Turkey, and Libya, indicates that this invasion may have an overtly Islamic rationale for attacking Israel. The outcome of this attack will be devastating for the invading armies as God declares that He will supernaturally defeat them from the heavens.

Does the current global situation avail itself to allow for this invasion to take place soon? Iran is threatening to develop nuclear weapons and to wipe Israel off the face of the earth. Islam, which is spreading throughout the world, by its very nature threatens the extinction of Israel. Would oil-hungry countries like China and Russia align themselves with oil-deficient Israel or oil-sufficient Islamic countries? The Book of Revelation mentions the fact that the "kings of the east" will cross the Euphrates River on their way to the Middle East. This seems to be a reference to China and other Asian nations. However, as long as the United States supports Israel it seems that such an undertaking would not occur. The problem is that as Abraham Lincoln stated (paraphrasing Jesus) "A house divided against itself cannot stand." America is becoming an increasingly divided and immoral country and may one day lose its superpower status and thereby be unable to defend Israel. Nevertheless, the fact remains that the countries aligning themselves against Israel in this passage are very close to completing the necessary alliances needed to fulfill this prophecy.