Why? Because the war detailed in Ezekiel 38 will be a multi-pronged, surprise attack that will catch Israel completly off guard.
Impossible? Apparently not. Saturday's attack had many of the same elements the Ezekiel war will have, so the comparison is understandable, though, Ezekiel's war will be many magnitudes worse.
A wiseman once said:"The Bible predicted, thousands of years ago, that the end time events would revolve around Jerusalem. Not San Francisco. Not Los Angeles. Not Moscow. Not Paris. But Jerusalem, this tiny little city, in this tiny sliver of land, will play a key role in the events of the last days. It's amazing when you think about it, because in Zachariah 12:3-4 God says, "I will make Jerusalem like an intoxicating drink that makes the nearby nations stagger when they send their armies to besiege Jerusalem and Judah. On that day I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock. All the nations will gather against it to try to move it, but they will only hurt themselves" (NLT)."--Greg Laurie, Harvest Christian Fellowship
There are a variety of opinions on just when Ezekiel's conflict will happen. Some place it before the 7-year tribulation; others believe it will occur at the midpoint after the first 3-1/2 years. Still others maintain it's a part of the Armageddon scenario.
And some believe there will be a war with Israel's immediate neighbors first as Psalm 83 seems to suggest.
While the precise timing of Ezekiel's prophecy is unknown, he did leave us a number of clues. For instance:
So how close are these events? We don't know, but reports out of Israel indicate that both Iranian and Russian technology was used in Saturday's attack.
And some believe there will be a war with Israel's immediate neighbors first as Psalm 83 seems to suggest.
While the precise timing of Ezekiel's prophecy is unknown, he did leave us a number of clues. For instance:
- It will happen in the 'latter years', after the final restoration of the Jews to the Land (fulfilled in 1948), but before their spiritual rebirth (predicted in Ez.37).
- The attack will come from a coalition of nations including an instigator from 'the far North' of Israel. (Though Russia is not mentioned by name, it lies directly north of Israel)
- Persia (present day Iran), Ethiopia and Libya are all specifically included in the list of coalition troops.
So how close are these events? We don't know, but reports out of Israel indicate that both Iranian and Russian technology was used in Saturday's attack.
It's possible that the two wars are completley unrelated... but we doubt it. The war of Gog and Magog may not be right around the corner...but it definitely could be.
A wiseman once said:"The Bible predicted, thousands of years ago, that the end time events would revolve around Jerusalem. Not San Francisco. Not Los Angeles. Not Moscow. Not Paris. But Jerusalem, this tiny little city, in this tiny sliver of land, will play a key role in the events of the last days. It's amazing when you think about it, because in Zachariah 12:3-4 God says, "I will make Jerusalem like an intoxicating drink that makes the nearby nations stagger when they send their armies to besiege Jerusalem and Judah. On that day I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock. All the nations will gather against it to try to move it, but they will only hurt themselves" (NLT)."--Greg Laurie, Harvest Christian Fellowship
"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem" (PSALM 122:6).
News:
- CNBC: 22 U.S. citizens confirmed dead; 17 still missing; Israel to form emergency government
- ABC News: War claims total of 2,300 lives on both sides and is expected to escalate
- NBC News: Morgues & hospitals overwhelmed with dead & wounded
This is quickly becoming my favorite blog. Keep it coming!
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