Simeon Western
The Rise of Russia Part 3
The ongoing invasion of Ukraine by Russia, while not the fulfilment of the prophecy of Ezekiel 38 & 39, is a constant reminder of how world events are shaping up for the end time events described in Ezekiel 38-39. In our last article we began considering the invaders of this battle. There is both what we could call the principal invader (Russia) (Vs. 1-4) and the participating invaders (Russia’s coalition) (Vs. 5-6). We were able to prove beyond any doubt that “Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal” is a clear reference to Russia and she is the principal aggressor and leader in this conflict against Israel.
However, Russia will not be alone in this invasion of Israel but will be joined by a coalition of other nations also antagonistic to Israel. It is of interest to note that the majority of these are radical, Islamic nations. Russia has had a long history of supporting and arming Israel’s enemies (e.g., the six day and Yom Kippur wars). Even now, Russia is being isolated more and more from the West and consequently will be thrown even more into the arms of these antisemitic powers. There are at least five nations/people groups listed specifically in this coalition:
- Persia is the ancient forerunner of modern Iran (the name was changed in 1935), which is a friend of Russia and an enemy of Israel. Russia has been providing Iran with nuclear technology and high-tech armaments for years. The leaders of Iran spew forth a constant tirade of antisemitic abuse towards Israel and yet much of the Western World is foolishly caught up in the Iran Nuclear Deal!
- Ethiopia is in northern Africa and also has close ties with Russia. Studies suggest that the location of ancient Cush (Ethiopia) is where Sudan is located today. This makes a lot of sense as Sudan is a radical, Islamic country.
- Libya is in Northern Africa and is another Islamic country allied with Russia. Russia regards Libya as one of its strongest allies in the Arab world, both politically and historically. In August 2008, Libya said that it was good for the world and the Middle East that Russia is re-emerging as a military power.
- Gomer is a reference to Turkey. According to the ancient historian Josephus, “Gomer founded those whom the Greeks now call “Galatians” (Antiquities Book 1, Ch. 6). The ancient region of Galatia was located in the region we know today as central Turkey.
- Togarmah refers to the former southern republics of the Soviet Union and to Turkey. Togarmah was the son of Gomer, son of Japheth (Gen. 10:3) and settled in Armenia (Young). Turkey has become increasingly anti-Israel since 2010 and undergone a big shift politically away from democracy and the west towards radical Islam and authoritarian rule under President Erdogan. In December 2017 President Erdogan called Israel a “terror state”. In reality, the terrorism in the Middle East is fueled by fundamentalist Islam, not Israel!
- Other unnamed nations/peoples are also swept up in this coalition as indicated by the words “and many people with thee” (Vs. 6).
Russia will play a leading and coordinating role in this invasion as indicated by the words “and be thou a guard unto them” (Ez. 38:7). The Islamic world is often divided internally but this coalition will be united under the leadership of Russia in a common hatred for Israel and a lust after the potential of material gain (Ez. 38:12). Interestingly “there has never been a direct attack by Russia or its ancient predecessors against Israel in recorded history. Therefore, the prophecy at hand must be yet future.” (Sorenson)
That Russia should play a leading role in this attack against Israel is not surprise. Russia has had a long history of antisemitism stemming back to ancient times and continuing to this very day. The following examples are drawn from David Cloud’s excellent commentary on Ezekiel:
➢ Czar Ivan IV (1530-1584) forced Jews to convert to Russian Orthodoxy.
➢ Catherine II (r. 1762-1796) forbade Jews to live in the Russian interior.
➢ In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the Czars stirred up pogroms (state-sponsored violence) against the Jews by spreading lies about them. There were three major waves of pogroms between 1881 and 1921 in which thousands of Jews were killed and an incalculable amount of property was destroyed. The death toll has been estimated at 70,000 to 250,000 (“Pogrom,” New World Encyclopedia). The czarist secret police published anti-Semitic pamphlets, such as the Protocols of the Elders of Zion, which blamed the Jews for all the country’s ills (“Pogroms,” International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences).
➢ In 1984, the U.S. ambassador dealing with human rights under the Helsinki Accords said, “Berlin was once the world capital of anti-Semitism; I am afraid that today it is Moscow.” (Ibid, p. 249.)
Russia has been arming Israel’s enemies since the early 1950s. For example:
➢ Russia armed Egypt for her War of Attrition against Israel in the 1950s. Israeli fighters were even engaged directly by fighters piloted by Russians. When Israel entered the Sinai Peninsula in 1956 to force Egypt to allow free movement for its ships, Russia threatened her with annihilation (Moshe Dayan, Diary of the Sinai Campaign, 1966, p. 185).
➢ Russia armed the Arabs with billions of dollars of war material in preparation for the Six-Day War of 1967.
➢ “Russia armed Syria and Egypt for the 1973 Yom Kippur War with some of its most advanced weapon’s systems and provided Soviet technicians to help operate the equipment (Jerry Asher, Dual for the Golan). By the early 1970s, 15,000 Soviet military experts were shaping the Egyptian armed forces into a modern army. Russia supplied Israel’s enemies with fighter jets, tanks, artillery, anti-aircraft missile batteries, and portable anti-tank weapons. Russia airlifted 15,000 tons of armaments to Syria and Egypt during the war.” (Cloud)
Without warning, this huge invading force will sweep into the nation of Israel. The invasion is likened to two weather features (Ez. 38:8-9):
- The suddenness of a storm. The invaders will come swiftly upon the land of Israel.
- The covering of a cloud. This is another indicator as to the overwhelming numbers involved. They cover the land like a cloud.
Feinberg writes, “Just when least expected and without the slightest warning, the enemy will swoop down on the returned exiles, as an unheralded storm. The land will be covered and smothered by the vast multitude of Gog’s followers, just as a cloud blankets a land below it. Gog will see to it that he has plenty of allies and enough mercenaries to carry through his satanic scheme.”
Israel will have her back to the wall and will need Divine Assistance or face total annihilation. God will intervene!
Ezekiel 38-39 not only reveals the facts about these future events, it also highlights the righteous wrath and justice of God that will be poured out on Russia for her long history of bitter persecution of His chosen people.
God is going to Divinely draw Russia into this conflict – “And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army…” (Ez. 38:4).
God’s righteous wrath will be kindled against Russia when she invades Israel with this Islamic coalition – “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.” (Ez. 38:18-19)
God’s righteous wrath and Divine vengeance will be poured out upon the invaders in all its awesome fury. God is a God of love but He is also a God of justice and the Russian-led invaders will be dealt with righteously. What a comfort to be reminded that God is still on the throne and He will execute righteous judgment in His perfect timing.