by Phillip Goodman
There is a prophecy held in limbo for 2600 years waiting to explode upon the world stage in our generation. Ezekiel 38 & 39 tells of a massive invasion upon an unsuspecting Israel in the “last days.” The invaders will include a host of Islamic countries led by Russia. But they will not succeed. Scripture tells us that this evil coalition of military might will be destroyed by God Himself “upon the mountains of Israel.” And the world will take note! “And the nations will know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel.” (Ezekiel 39:7)
The Time Factors
How do we know that the Russian invasion is scheduled to occur early in the lineup of prophetic events to come? Several time-indicators lead us to that conclusion.
1. Since the Ezekiel invasion precipitates a spiritual reawakening in Israel to her true God, it cannot be the Gog and Magog invasion that occurs at the end of the 1000-year reign of Christ (Rev. 20:6-9). Why? Because throughout the 1000 years Israel will already know God, “from the least of them to the greatest of them,” and will do so universally “as the waters cover the sea.” (Jer. 31:34;Isa. 11:9)
2. Nor can the invasion occur at the beginning of the kingdom age. The Russian coalition is heavily armed for war. Yet Micah 4:3 says that the Millennial Kingdom will be free of war and the weapons of war. Also, no ungodly people are allowed to enter the kingdom, but only those who are born again. (John 3:3)
3. The attack cannot take place in conjunction with the war of Armageddon because Ezekiel 38:8-14 says it occurs when Israel is in a time of peace and safety, just the opposite of Armageddon!
4. The invasion cannot occur at the middle of the tribulation because at that time the Jews are preserved as they flee outside the land from a successful invader, the Antichrist. (Rev. 12) But the Russian invasion tells of the Jews being preserved inside the land because of God’s direct intervention against an unsuccessful invader. Again, just the opposite!
Early In The Schedule of Prophetic Events
It is through this process of elimination, using key timing indicators from the passage, that it becomes apparent that the Russian-Islamic invasion of Israel must come at or before the start of the tribulation. That means it could happen at any time.
Today there exists for the first time ever in our world the exact nations, primed and ready in the exact political and military positions, to fulfill this ominous prophecy. Russia (“Magog”), armed to the hilt with nuclear weapons, along with militant Islamic states such as those named in Ezekiel 38:5-6 (Iran, Libya, Turkey, Ethiopia, etc.), are ready for the next campaign of terror.
But here is the end result: “And it will come about on that day, when Gog comes against the land of Israel,” declares the Lord God, “that My fury will mount up in My anger… and I shall call for a sword against him [Russia & allies] on all My mountains [God calls Israel “My” land]… and with pestilence and with blood I shall enter into judgment with him… And I shall magnify Myself, sanctify Myself, and make Myself known in the sight of many nations; and they will know that I am the Lord.” (Ezekiel 38:18-23)
sharin His love 