Final Jihad Players

World War III

Part II

“Participators in the Final Jihad”

Last time we looked at the history of Israel and the Jewish people. We saw that in spite of relentless persecution, social ostracism, and war, Israel—which Ezekiel saw as a Valley of Dry Bones that would be resurrected—was regathered as a nation. In 1948, major Bible prophecies were fulfilled when Israel became a nation “in a day.”

“‘Who has ever seen or heard of anything as strange as this? Has a nation ever been born in a single day? Has a country ever come forth in a mere moment? But by the time Jerusalem’s birth pains begin, the baby will be born; the nation will come forth. Would I ever bring this nation to the point of birth and then not deliver it?’ asks the Lord. ‘No! I would never keep this nation from being born,’ says your God.” (Isaiah 66:8-9)

Those of us who believe whole heartedly that the Bible is indeed the infallible and inspired Word of God also realize that when the Bible declares something is going to happen ... it is going to happen!

To date, Bible Prophecy has been fulfilled not only with 100% Accuracy ... but literally as well. This gives us every reason to believe this trend will continue with the yet to be fulfilled prophecies in God's Word. One such prophecy would be the famed "Magog Invasion."

This prophecy in Ezekiel 38 & 39 was written over 2,500 years ago. It details an attempted surprise attack on the nation of Israel.

However, it is not a surprise for any student of God's Word, as this same passage lists - in detail - WHO is involved, WHAT they will do, WHY they will do it, HOW they will be defeated, and even the curious battle clean-up!

THE PLAYERS

Ezekiel 38 1 “The word of the LORD came to me: 2 "Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal; prophesy against him 3 and say: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. 4 I will turn you around, put hooks in your jaws and bring you out with your whole army—your horses, your horsemen fully armed, and a great horde with large and small shields, all of them brandishing their swords. 5 Persia, Cush and Put will be with them, all with shields and helmets, 6 also Gomer with all its troops, and Beth Togarmah from the far north with all its troops—the many nations with you.  

Ezekiel 38:1-7 gives 8 names as participants in the invasion of Israel that will follow the re-gathering of the Jews to their homeland. 

First mentioned, is:

Gog

Gog is obviously the leader of the people of Magog. In fact, by some renderings, he is the "Prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal."

The land of Magog. 

The most common identity for Magog is in Central Asia.  The Jewish historian Josephus said, "Magog founded the Magogians, called Scythians by the Greeks.  Scythians were a nomadic tribe who inhabited the ancient territory from Central Asia across the southern part of ancient Russia." 

Today this area is inhabited by several former Soviet Republics of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and possibly northern parts of Afghanistan. 

All of these nations that make up the land of Magog have one thing in common - Islam. 

Militant Islam has been on the rise in these countries since the fall of the Soviet Union, when Islam no longer had to be practiced secretly.  Radical Islamic groups such as the Islamic Renaissance Party, and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan are working to reunite central Asian nations and ultimately the entire Muslim world.  It is from this part of the world that a leader will arise to bring together a great coalition of nations to invade Israel.

The identity of Magog is not too difficult to figure out for another reason. In Ezekiel 38:15, it says: "And you shall come from your place out of the north parts, you, and many people with you..." The "north parts" is literally the "extreme, or uttermost" parts of the north.

Now that we have identified Magog ... Let's look at the company they keep in this upcoming drama...

More Allies

“…This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. 4 I will turn you around, put hooks in your jaws and bring you out with your whole army—your horses, your horsemen fully armed, and a great horde with large and small shields, all of them brandishing their swords. 5 Persia, Cush and Put will be with them, all with shields and helmets, 6 also Gomer with all its troops, and Beth Togarmah from the far north with all its troops—the many nations with you." (Ezekiel 38:3-6)

Meshech and Tubal

These were the names of the 5th and 6th sons of Japheth, the son of Noah (Gen. 10:2). 

Ezekiel 27:13 also mentions Meshech and Tubal as trading partners with Tyre (Modern Lebanon).  It's likely that Meshech and Tubal refer to the ancient people who dwelled in the area around, primarily south of, the Black and Caspian Sea in Ezekiel's day. 

Today these nations would be in the modern country of Turkey, parts of Southern Russia and Northern Iran—All areas with a Muslim majority.

Persia = Iran

Persia is a pretty easy one.  In 539 B.C. the Persians conquered the city of Babylon.  You only need look at a map of the ancient Persian Empire to see that it was centered in the nation known today as Iran.  In fact, Iran was called Persia until 1935 when it was changed to Iran and then to the Islamic Republic of Iran in 1979 during the Iranian Revolution. 

It's no secret that Iran is an archenemy of Israel and the West, and a supporter of the Palestinians.  They are actively working to get other Arab countries to change camps in their cooperation with the U.S. and Israel.

Consider the following facts about this primary ally of Russia: 1. Iran has just been caught secretly building a 2nd uranium enrichment facilityon a military base in the religious capital of Iran, a city known as Qom; 2. A growing number of Western military analysts say the design of this new facility - and its secrecy, and location - clearly indicates it was being built by Iran for the purpose of creating nuclear weapons; 3. Iran has thus been caught in its third lie since 2002 with regards to building secret nuclear development facilities in Natanz, Arak, and now Qom; 4. Ahmadinejad refused four times during his NBC News interview last week to rule out the building of nuclear weapons; 5. A.Q. Khan - the father of Pakistan's nuclear weapons development program - has just admitted selling advanced nuclear weapons blueprints years ago to Iran for millions of dollars; 6. The latest IAEA report indicates Iran has enough low-enriched uranium (LEU) to produce enough high-enriched uranium (HEU) by 2010 to produce two nuclear weapons; 7. Iran has just spent the weekend testing "its most advanced missiles" capable of reaching Israel; 8. Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad began his speech to the U.N. by praying for Allah to hasten the coming of the Islamic Messiah, which according to his theology requires the destruction of Judeo-Christian civilization as we know it. 9. Ahmadinejad spoke more openly about his End of the World theology during his U.N. speech than ever before; 10. Ahmadinejad was asked for the first time by an American reporter to describe his relationship with the "Twelfth Imam" and admitted on camera that he is communicating with this mystical Shia messiah; Humanly speaking, war is coming. The West does not seem determined enough to stop Iran from getting the Bomb. So unless the Lord intervenes, Israel might soon feel compelled to launch a preemptive strike against Iran. It won't be easy, and the entire region could go up in flames.

Cush = Sudan

The ancient kingdom of Cush in Ezekiel’s time was the land just south of Egypt on the Nile River.  Today this land is occupied by Sudan.  Sudan is home to the National Islamic Front, is ruled by an Islamic military dictatorship, is a strong supporter of Iraq, was home to Osama bin Laden from 1991-1996, and harbors countless Islamic terrorist groups. 

Sudan would easily fit into the coalition as it is already close allies with Iran, trading military supplies for docking rights on the Red Sea shipping routes.

Put = Libya

Ancient Put was the land just west of Egypt, or what is today Libya.  Libya is another sponsor of terrorism, and openly refuses to recognize Israel's right to even exist.  When the coalition against Israel is formed, Libya won't have to be asked twice to join.

Verse 6 adds Gomer and Beth-Togarmah to the coalition. 

"Gomer" was the first son of Japheth.  The Gomerites were the ancient Cimmerians, expelled in 700 B.C. from the southern steppes of Russia into what is today Turkey. 

"Togarmah" is the 3rd son of Gomer and beth at the beginning of the name is the Hebrew word for 'house' or 'place of'.  In Ezekiel's time there was a city in Cappodocia (Modern Turkey) known as Tegarma, Tagarma, Til-garimmu, and Takarama. 

The possibility that four of the names mentioned in Ezekiel are now in Turkey makes a pretty strong argument for Turkey being a part of the invasion of Israel. 

Current circumstances in that country also lend this view some credibility.  Since the break-up of the Soviet Union, Turkey has been gaining inroads into Central Asia (Magog). 

It is also linked to Central Asia both ethnically and linguistically, and has a growing number of political parties that support opposition to Israel, establishment of a Turkish Islamic Republic, and the worldwide rule of Islam.

The nations listed specifically are all somewhat distant from Israel.  By adding "and many people with you" in verse 6, God may have been indicating that those nations and peoples in closer proximity to Israel will join the Jihad. 

Other nations that might join the alliance are Iraq, Syria, Jordon, and Egypt.  All of them are Islamic nations, and all of them would not hesitate to support the destruction of Israel were the opportunity to join such a vast coalition be presented to them.

WHY WILL THEY ATTACK?

The reasons God gives us for the enemies' invasion of Israel are further proof that the attack will be an Islamic invasion.

The FIRST reason God gives for the invasion in Ezekiel 38 is a desire by the coalition to cover the Jewish land and wipe them off the face of the earth. 

Urged on by a hatred of the Jewish people they will seek to destroy them and the nation of Israel.  This is the stated goal today of almost every Islamic nation in the Middle East. 

The only nations not currently in a declared state of war with Israel are Egypt, Turkey, and Jordan, yet they would certainly be glad to see Israel eliminated if presented with a willing leader and an opportunity to rid the Middle East of Islam's archenemy.

Next motive:

God tells us that they also come to "seize plunder…and to capture great spoil". 

Many verses in the Quran advocate plundering for the benefit of Islam and there are several instances of this war tactic throughout the history of Muhammad's life.  In fact, it is a common theme in his teachings.

This invasion of Israel and attack on the Jewish people will indeed be a Jihad, but it will also be the final Jihad.

Sitting on the Sidelines

A mild protest will come from a few nations sitting on the sidelines. They are:

"Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say to you, Are you come to take a spoil? have you gathered your 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

Who are these nations?

SHEBA and DEDAN were cities in what is now Saudi Arabia. It is interesting that they are not involved in the invasion ... but rather sitting on the sidelines watching it unfold.

TARSHISH is most commonly agreed to be ancient Tartessus or the area of present day Spain in Western Europe. 

In Ezekiels day, Tarshish was in the farthest west regions of the known world.  By referring to Tarshish and all her merchants, Ezekiel could have been indicating that Western Europe will join with Saudi Arabia in denouncing the invasion. 

Interestingly, Saudi Arabia is the only Arab nation to consistently side with the West against radical Islamic elements around the world. 

The royals of Saudi Arabia mostly side with the West out of an interest in self preservation, and at times oppose us behind the scenes, but they would most probably put on a show of opposition to radical Islam in order to maintain the support of western governments.

A similar alliance has been seen once before during the Gulf War of the early 1990's.  The U.S., Western Europe, and Saudi Arabia were allied against Iraq, while Russia, Iran, Sudan, Libya, and most other Middle East nations either aligned with Iraq, or against the U.S. either by directly opposing it, or by remaining neutral. 

When Could the Magog Invasion Occur?

Let's start with when this could NOT have occurred. This prophecy had to be fulfilled "in the latter years" AFTER Israel was back in her land. Remember Israel was dispersed for almost 2000 years!

Remember Ezekiel chapter 37, the "Vision of Dry Bones". This chapter spoke of Israel being regathered back into her land in the last days. This occurred May 14, 1948.

This is when prophecy students believe the end times officially began. Some count from June 1967, when Jerusalem was back within their control after the six-day war. In either scenario, we see that Ezekiel 37, a last-days vision, has indeed taken place.

Then we see in the very next chapter Ezekiel 38, the Magog Invasion.

" 8 After many days you will be visited. In the latter years you will come into the land of those brought back from the sword and gathered from many people on the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate; they were brought out of the nations, and now all of them dwell safely.

9 You will ascend, coming like a storm, covering the land like a cloud, you and all your troops and many people with you.”

10 ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “On that day it shall come to pass that thoughts will arise in your mind, and you will make an evil plan:

11 You will say, ‘I will go up against a land of unwalled villages; I will go to a peaceful people, who dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates’—

12 to take plunder and to take booty, to stretch out your hand against the waste places that are again inhabited, and against a people gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and goods, who dwell in the midst of the land." (Ezekiel 38:8-12)

As a precondition for this to occur, Israel needed to be dwelling "safely" in her land. "Safely" employs the word, betach, which can mean false confidence; not necessarily in physical security, as the English translation would imply.

Ezekiel also describes "unwalled villages" which he probably had never even seen in his day.

Zechariah also prophesied of this:

"And said unto him, Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein: For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her." Zechariah 2:4-5

NOT ARMAGEDDON

Before looking at the participants of this invasion in more detail, it's important to understand that the war described in Ezekiel 38 is not the same as the war that will come at the end of the tribulation when Jesus returns to defeat the Antichrist and establish his millennial kingdom.  How do we know this? 

The war at the end of the tribulation, known as Armageddon, is a world war.  Revelation tells us that this battle will involve all nations.  The war described in Ezekiel includes specific nations that invade Israel. 

Also, Armageddon is at the climax of the tribulation, while the war described in Ezekiel comes well before then.

What motivates the battle of Armageddon is spiritual supremacy over the earth, “And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.” Rev. 19:19.

What motivates the Gog Magog conflict is greed; “To take a spoil…” “cattle and goods” “silver and gold.” (Ezek. 38:12-13.)

Also, the Gog Magog War is fought in the mountains of Israel; Armageddon is fought in a valley (Megiddo).