"Dangerous Liaisons: Russia + Iran = BFFs?"

While the Left has been apoplectic, demanding Trump return to the U.S. accused human smuggler, wife-beater and  MS-13 gang member (aka 'The Maryland Man') deported to his home country, El Salvador...

...Russia has been busy moving us ever closer to what the Bible calls the "Magog War."

According to Newsweek: "

Russia's upper House of Parliament ratified a sweeping 20-year strategic partnership agreement with Iran on Wednesday, deepening military and nuclear cooperation just as fears of conflict between Washington and Tehran intensify."

Already signed into law, the treaty makes official what Bible scoffers once considered impossible:

Russia + Iran = BFFs

Seemingly impossible because the two nations have been enemies for centuries, even though the Bible predicted an End Time military alliance against Israel.

In the meantime, Israel and the United States are desperately trying to foil Iran's nuclear ambitions, while Russia, (Iran's new BFF) holds the world's largest nuclear arsenal.

Nothing short of amazing because Ezekiel 38 describes a prophecy of a future war occuring in "the latter days" (last days) when Gog of Magog (Russia's leader from the far north of Israel) and Iran (formerly Persia) lead a coalition of nations to invade Israel. This invasion is depicted as a sudden and overwhelming attack on a restored (to the land) Israel (Israel was restored in 1948). And while this war almost certainly goes nuclear, God intervenes to defeat Gog and his forces, demonstrating His power and glory to the nations.

This event is often understood as a pivotal moment in the prophetic timeline, and some believe it has its roots in the growing "military and nuclear cooperation" between the two new BFFs.

Impossible? IDTS.

A wise man once said: "Persia refers to the ancient name for what is now known as Iran. In Ezekiel 38, it says Gog, the prince of Rosh, which means Russia and Persia will attack Israel. It also says God is against them and will defeat them. Israel won't defeat them. God will." -- Amir Tsarfati, Behold Israel

"Surely I am coming quickly" (REVELATION 22:20)

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News:

• Newsweek: Russia & Iran Deepen Alliance Amid US Tensions
• Aljazeera: Iran to sign $4bn oilfields deal with Russia
• MSNBC: Russia threatens direct war with US over Iran attack

 

"Global Trends: 2040?"

"In December 2024, the U.S. President-elect will receive Global Trends 2040, the seventh edition in the National Intelligence Council (NIC) series aimed at providing a framework for thinking about the future," says the NIC.

Good to know someone is planning ahead--but how can they "look" two decades into the future?

"We identify global drivers and estimate their impact," says the NIC. They use worldwide meetings with a range of experts who put their heads together and gaze into the future based on present trends and what they see as possible "global trajectories".

Trends examined include:

• economics
• security
• geopolitics (among many others)

The experts from scores of countries and a variety of fields then put on their thinking caps and try to produce a comprehensive picture of the world in 2040 (with many "updates", of course).

Seem ambitious?

Not when compared to Bible prophecy.

From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible is woven with  predictions. In fact, more than 1/4 of the Bible is prophecy. Most of them (roughly 80%) have already been fulfilled with 100% accuracy. (Remember, God uses prophecy to authenticate the Bible. If the prophetic scriptures prove true, and history tells us they do, then we can also trust what the Bible teaches about Jesus & the only way of salvation.)

The remaining 20% of unfulfilled prophecy will probably be fulfilled in our lifetime as every major player and global trend continues to fall into place--exactly as the Bible predicts. For instance:

Who could have guessed two thousand years ago that the tiny nation of Israel (which no longer existed) would be regathered and reborn (fulfilled in 1948) only to be attacked again & again (with the battle of Gog and Magog described in Ez. 38 &39 still pending)?

And who would ever guess that the victim of these attacks would be the target of so much hatred merely for trying to defend itself?

And finally, no one but God has predicted that little Israel (the subject of hundreds of fulfilled & very detailed prophecies) will be ground zero when it comes to the 'true' war to end all wars--Armageddon--but it will.

So, if you want to know what the future really holds, study the Bible. 

The NIC could save a lot of time and effort by simply handing the U.S. policymakers a copy of the Bible. At least they'd be sure of its accuracy.

A wise man once said: "When the number of factors coming into play in a phenomenological complex is too large, scientific method in most cases fails. One need only think of the weather, in which case the prediction even a few days ahead is impossible." --Albert Einstein

"However, there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries..." (DANIEL 2:28)

"I am God, and there is no one else like Me. Only I can tell you what is going to happen even before it happens." (ISAIAH 46:9-10).

👉👉👉"HOW TO GO TO HEAVEN!" ☝

News:

• CNN: Israeli hostage faced 'punishments' during eight months in Hamas captivity, family says. 'A lot of abuse, almost every day'
• World News: Russian warships & nuclear submarines arrive in Cuba as Cold War allies strengthen ties
• FNC:Italy hosts G-7 leaders amid ongoing global crises

"Israel: Ground Zero"

According to the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists and their famous Doomsday Clock--it is now 90 seconds before midnight.

Headlines out of Israel seem to prove their point. Consider:

• Iran has threatened a direct attack against Israel in response to the recent Damascus hit. Israel believes it will come in the form of a massive swarm of attack drones and missiles.
• The Israeli Air Force has begun a bombing campaign in Rafah despite Biden's threats to pull support.
• And Russia (of Gog & Magog fame) has installed three military posts on the Israeli-Syrian boarder, as well as warships in the Red Sea.

In 1948, the nation of Israel was born (again) and with it many biblical prophecies were fulfilled, each graphic, literal, and exact. Almost all of end-time prophecy also revolves around (you guessed it!) Israel.

In fact, the entire Scripture is woven through and through with provable, precise prophecy in regards to God's chosen people--the Jews. (For a detailed account of those prophecies, see archived posts from July 2011: Israel: The Key to Prophecy-Part 1 Part 2)

The Scriptures seem to indicate the Jews will only be back in their Land for one generation before the return of the Messiah. And while no one can say for sure how long a generation is, Psalm 91 mentions it being 70 or 80 years. We are now at year 76.

Is it possible the Atomic Scientists are correct in setting The Clock @ 90 seconds before midnight - or are they  just alarmists? You do the math.

"So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be sober. Night is the time for sleep and the time when people get drunk. But let us who live in the light think clearly, protected by the body armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation. For God decided to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out His anger on us. He died for us so that we can live with Him forever, whether we are dead or alive at the time of His return."  (1THESS. 5:6-10)

A wise man once said: "Paul warns us that God will hold all people accountable for their attitudes and actions. So don't procrastinate. God wants us to act immediately to receive His forgiveness and power to help us change."  -- David Stoop, author

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News:

• WSJ:US officials fear most of Israeli hostages may be dead
• Israel News: Christian community in Israel calls out Tucker Carlson for posting unsubstantiated claims from a known anti-semitic propagandist. "Come to Israel and you will see that Christians are treated well" says Shadi Khalloul of the Aramaic Christian Center
• The Times of Israel: Israel on high alert for Iranian attack; PM warns Israel will strike at anyone who trys to harm them
• 
  

"When is The War of Ezekiel 38?"

With the horrific news coming out of Israel, many are jumping to the conclusion that the infamous war of Gog & Magog must be right around the corner.

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.

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:

• 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.

The prophecy is quite long, covering two complete chapters and almost certainly predicts this war will be nuclear. Ez. 39:11-16 details the clean-up and burial procedures that follow the battle and they sound as if they come straight from a nuclear protocol manual.

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 

"Is God Using Trump To Fulfill Bible Prophecy?"

What are the odds that the three nations prophesied to attack Israel for financial gain are all on the brink of economic collapse?

In his Mid-East Prophecy Update, Pastor JD Farag highlights some of the amazing specific details given in the Ezekiel 38 prophecy and how precisely they are lining up with current events.

For instance:

• The prosperity of Israel at the time they are attacked, (a recent development with the discovery of oil and natural gas), added to on Monday by Trump's defense and aid bill.
• The fact that Saudi Arabia (as unlikely as that seemed only a short while ago) is friends with Israel at the time of the attack.
• And how Iran, Russia, and Turkey are now on the verge of economic collapse (due, in part, to recent sanctions imposed by President Trump).

JD Farag believes the infamous Gog and Magog War prophesied in Ezekiel 38 and 39 cannot be far off. All the major players are on Israel's border even as minute details of the prophecy fall into place.

"Everything is lined up perfectly," asserts Farag. "I don't know how it could be any more exact. Wouldn't it also stand to reason it couldn't stay at this point for very much longer?"

"Look at how much has happened in just the last three years," Farag points out. "And fast forward the clock to even three years from now. Would all this still be in place? No, I don't believe so."

While Farag denies any knowledge of when the Rapture of the Church will occur, he does urge Christians to "wake up."

"We are very close," he says. "I don't think it's possible to overstate the urgency of the hour."

Farag goes on to explain that "there are many who believe that the Rapture will take place prior to or even in concert with the fulfillment of Ezekiel's prophecy. And if that's the case...then the time is at hand."

So is God using Trump, a secular businessman, in His prophetic alignment? Only God knows the answer to that.

A wise man once said; "Both President Donald Trump and Cyrus the Great, the ancient King of Persia, recognized Jerusalem as the Capital of Israel, thereby giving Israel a hedge of protection." -- Endoftheage.com

" Just so, when you see the events I've described beginning to happen, you can know His return is near, right at the door."  Matthew 24:33

HOW TO GO TO HEAVEN

News:

• Y Net News: Moscow would regard more U.S. sanctions as economic war.
• Arutz Sheva: Iran Turkey Russia On Verge Of Economic Collapse
• Yahoo! Finance: U.S. sanctions slam Russian ruble, Turkish lira tumbles

"Russia+Iran+Israel-the U.S. = Urgent Warning: Believers look up/nonbelievers wake up"

News out of the Middle East last week made those of us tracking bible prophecy hold our breath. For a while there, it looked like Ezekiel's prophecy had begun...or possibly even Isaiah 17:1, the destruction of Damascus.

On Saturday (Israel's Sabbath), Iran sent an unmanned aerial vehicle (aka spydrone) into Israeli airspace from a base in Syria.

Israel shot down the drone and launched multiple air strikes on Iran-backed positions in and around Damascus.

Syrian air defense managed to shoot down one of Israel's F-16 fighter jets as it returned from the bombing raid, something that hasn't happened in decades. Oh, and BTW the anti-aircraft missiles that downed the Israeli plane? Russian--though operated by Syria.

Iran and Russia are present in Syria to provide military backing to the Syrian government. Russia is an ally of both Iran and Syria, but also maintains cordial ties with Israel. Based on the Ezekiel 38 prophecy, we believe this "cordial" relationship between Russia and Israel is about to end.

Iran, (the country formerly know as Persia), has threatened to "wipe Israel off the map" for years, but Saturday marked their first ever direct confrontation. Given Russia's close ties to Iran, why wasn't this escalation prevented?

Meanwhile, "a U.S. jet operating in Syria destroyed a Russian-made T-72 battle tank near Al Tabiyeh, Syria on Saturday," the Pentagon confirmed.

The tank was destroyed after Russian mercenary forces fired on a position held by U.S. troops and their Syrian rebel allies earlier last week.

The story has come to light bit by bit, but apparently 500 "pro-regime forces" (meaning--you guessed it--Russians!) fired on special operations troops and attacked a headquarters used by U.S. troops in Deir al-Zor province approximately 5 miles east of the Euphrates River.

The U.S. responded with a furious barrage of air and artillery strikes killing as many as 200 or 300 Russian mercenaries, insisting the attack was unprovoked.

The Russian media version of the story said Russian private contractors and pro-government forces advanced on oil fields in the eastern Deir al-Zor province and were targeted by the United States, claiming the attack was...wait for it..."unprovoked".

The truth? Ezekiel 38 details a Russian-led coalition (including Iran and other Muslim nations) that orchestrates a surprise attack against Israel. Some speculate the reason for Russia's involvement will be to capture Israel's recently discovered massive natural gas and oils supplies (the same reason Russia wants the Balkans). For the first time in history every major player mentioned in Ezekiel's prophecy are amassed militarily on the Syrian /Israeli border. The prophecy does not mention the U.S. Hmmmm...can't help but wonder why.

JD Farag connects the prophetic dots in his short, but comprehensive prophecy update--a must-see to get us up to speed on future events. You don't want to miss this one.

A wise man once said: "Iran's calculated escalation of threat, and its ambition to project its power and dominance, places all of the people of the region--from Yemen to Lebanon at risk. The U.S. calls for an end to Iranian behavior that threatens peace and stability." -- Heather Nauert, U.S. State Department

Then He instructed me, "Do not seal up the prophetic words you have written, for the time is near" Revelation 22:10.

News:

• The Times of Israel: Russian official: "If Iran attacks Israel, we'll stand with Israel; the U.S. and Russia will be on Israel's side" --Russian Ambassador to Israel, Leonid Frolov
• Breitbart: Israel's 'Deep State' Targets Netanyahu With Bogus Charges; shows remarkable similarities with the Special Counsel probe against Trump.
• The Jerusalem Post: Israel Defense Minister: "Iran declared war on us long ago, Tehran wants to "erase" Israel

"Is The Stage Being Set For War In The Middle East?"

It's hard to believe that in the years prior to 1948, most liberal scholars ridiculed the idea of a restored Jewish homeland. "You can't take the Bible literally," they scoffed. Others thought that the promises God made to Israel must now be applied to the church. Why? Because Israel had rejected her Messiah. Any promises made to her were now null and void.

Well, I guess God didn't get that memo and neither did many of the conservative scholars throughout history. People who took the Bible at its word (i.e. literally) understood the certainty of Israel's re-establishment as a nation long before the events of 1948. Many of them wrote about it as far back as 1611. They were looking for three signs:

1. The rebirth of the nation Israel. (fulfilled on May 14, 1948)
2. The Jewish repossession of old Jerusalem. (fulfilled in 1967)
3. The rebuilding of the ancient Jewish temple on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. (not yet fulfilled)

These three clues will signal that the time of Messiah's return is near.

Unfortunately, that ain't all folks. Israel's return to the land would trigger ongoing hostility from all of her surrounding neighbors. Psalm 83 predicts a conspiracy involving the nations on Israel's borders. Their plan? Destroy Israel. (obviously, this hasn't happened yet, but when it does, it will fail).

Many believe this war is next on the prophetic calendar and will set the stage for the famous Ezekiel 38 prophecy, which details a surprise attack against Israel involving Iran (aka Persia), Russia (Magog) and a coalition of Muslim nations. The Bible indicates this war may be nuclear.

Only time will tell.

"...Thus says the Lord GOD: 'Surely I will take the children of Israel from among the nations, wherever they have gone, and will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land; and I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel...(Ezekiel 37: 21-22).

"...In the latter days you will come into the land..." (Ezekiel 38: 8).

A wise man once said: "God didn't give us prophecy to scare us, but to prepare us." -- Dr. Ed Hindson, prophecy teacher

News:

•  Bloomberg: Russia Says Evidence Growing Syria Chemical Attack Was Staged
• Washington Examiner: Getting Ready: Pentagon to protect electric grid from massive attack by North Korea or Iran
• Daily Mail: ISIS hammered as U.S. drops biggest non-nuclear weapon ever

"Is Donald the Last Trump?"

While the rest of us have been puzzling over Trump's hair, U.S. Marine Corps General Joseph Dunford has been worrying about Russia.

"Russia represents the greatest threat to our national security," claims General Dunford.

"In Russia, we have a nuclear power. We have one that not only has the capability to violate the sovereignty of our allies and to do things that are inconsistent with our national interests, but they're in the process of doing so," he cautions.

"So, if you want to talk about a nation that could pose an existential threat to the United States, I'd have to point to Russia. And if you look at their behavior, it's nothing short of alarming," warns not only the General, but many top military officials.

Meanwhile, guess who the Russian government cited as its top threats? The United States and NATO!

General Dunford is in line for the highest U.S. military post: Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff--and he is sounding the alarm loud and clear: Russia poses a real threat to the United States.

The Bible also sounds an alarm when it links Russia, Iran (along with a coalition force) against Israel in the last days. (see Ezekiel 38).

Israel feels especially threatened by Iran, given the signing of the recent nuke deal and Teheran's repeated vows to destroy Israel. Add Russia to the mix, and what could go wrong?

(oh, and there really is a last trump coming, but it has nothing to do with our old pal "The Donald").

A wise man once said: "The Iran Nuke deal is worse than we could have imagined--the worst agreement in U.S. diplomatic history." -- Charles Krauthammer, columnist and Fox News analyst

"While people are saying, "There is peace and security," then suddenly destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman and they will not escape." 1 Thessalonians 5:3

News:

• The Washington Free Beacon: "Iran: Obama Admin Lying About Nuclear Deal for Domestic Consumption"; U.S. downplays Iranian victory to 'soothe' fear over deal.
• Bloomberg News: "Top French Official Contradicts Kerry on Iran Deal"; apocalyptic picture if deal is killed not true.
• Associated Press: "Iran Says Deal Will Ban U.S. Experts From U.N. Nuclear Inspections"; nor will IAEA have access to "sensitive and military documents".

"Are We Living on Borrowed Time?"

Prophecy teacher Philip Goldman says,

" Every major prophetic passage in the Bible presupposes Israel at the center of the end time map, and the centerpiece of the Last Days. Israel is the hub. All of the other signs are spokes. The end time is the rim. The end time (or 'rim') cannot happen without the signs (or 'spokes'). Yet the signs have no prophetic significance as signs apart from the existence of Israel at the hub."

On May 14, 1948, Israel was resurrected as a nation after 2,500 years. This marked a major paradigm shift as the existence of Israel is a prerequisite for all other end time prophecy fulfillment. (see Ezekiel 37).

In 1967, during the 6-Day War, the Jews recaptured the City of Jerusalem. That is a huge prophetic milestone. Jesus predicted in Luke 21:26b: "Jerusalem will be trampled down by the Gentiles until the age of the Gentiles comes to an end."

The Bible tells us Israel will be hated and surrounded by enemies until war breaks out over the dividing of the land. (Even now negotiators, including Pope Francis, are wracking their brains over this very issue. See Joel 3:1-2).

1948 saw more than just the re-creation of the nation of Israel--it also ushered in the age of technology. The computer chip was invented in (you guessed it!) 1948. Many end time prophecies depend on modern technologies and could not  have been fulfilled in earlier times. Daniel 12:4 predicts knowledge will increase right before the end time.

The Bible predicts an alignment of nations in the last days. What do Russia, Iran, and a bunch of Muslim nations have in common with Israel?...a collision course predicted with precision many hundreds of years ago. (See Ezekiel 38).

The Scriptures tell us to expect a time of religious deception and false teaching in the last days, with people defecting from the truth. The result? Society in decay. (See Matthew 24; 2 Thessalonians 2:3; 1 Timothy 4:1-2).

The apostle Paul said creation is groaning as the earth awaits the coming of Jesus. (See Romans 8:22). And Hosea says the earth suffers under the weight of sin:

"That is why your land is not producing. It is filled with sadness, and all living things are becoming sick and dying. Even the animals, birds, and fish have begun to disappear" (Hosea 4:3).

The Bible says there will be a time of terrible trouble worse than any other time in history. But it also says many people will be delivered:

"Everyone who is found written in the book (the Book of Life)...(Daniel 12:1b).

"For God has reserved a priceless inheritance for His children. It is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And God, in His mighty power, will protect you until you receive this salvation, because you are trusting Him. It will be revealed on the last day for all to see. So, be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead; even though it is necessary for you to endure many trials for a while" (1 Peter: 4-6).

A wise man once said:

"Our most basic need is not to improve our environment, education or economic status. There is a pardon with your name on it, reserved in heaven. But it will only become valid when you personally admit your need and receive it." -- Hal Lindsey, author

News:

• NBC News: Measles cases in US spike to highest level in 20 years.
• CBN News: UN backs Arab League call for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step down; cites regime's violations of human rights.
• Drudge Report: Hundreds of undocumented immigrants, flown in from Texas, are released at Greyhound bus stations in Arizona by US Border Patrol.  

 

 

 

"Middle East Conspiracy"

To fight or not to fight. That's the question in Israel these days. Hamas, backed by Iran, is emboldened with new long-range Fajar-5 rockets that pack a 200 kilo warhead. They are able to reach Tel Aviv, something new for them and apparently, it's going to their heads.

There's a truce. Will it last long? Hopefully. But even if it does for a while, Scripture tells us it won't last. This most recent 'dust up' is just one in a never ending cycle of war and pseudo-peace between the Jews and all of their neighbors. Beginning with the War of Independence in 1948 (after the U.N. granted Israel statehood), the surrounding Islamic nations have been relentless in their determination to destroy Israel.

Although most prophecy teachers put the Ezekiel 38 conflict as the next war in Israel's future, some have a differing view. Psalm 83, involving all of Israel's immediate neighbors, describes a conspiracy to 'wipe out Israel as a nation'. With God's help, Israel manages to survive. Could this war precede Ez. 38? This seems to be the most likely scenario because of four often overlooked details in Ezekiel's prophecy.

Ez. 38:8 addresses the attacking armies, saying, "In the distant future you will swoop down on the land of Israel, which will be laying in peace after her recovery from war and after the return of her people from many lands."

Ez. 38:11 says "...Israel is an unprotected land filled with unwalled villages." And the prophecy specifically names Iran, Ethiopia, and Libya along with a "mighty army from the North." How come Syria is missing? And what about Lebanon? Surely they'd jump at the chance to help annihilate the Jews...unless Israel had already taken them out.

So, according to Ez. 38 we have:

1. Israel living in peace
2. after her recovery from war,
3. unprotected and without walls,
4. attacked by "a mighty hoard" that doesn't included her unfriendly neighbors.

Israel hasn't been at peace since her return to the land. They always have their guard up in spite of the pseudo-peace agreement signed by Yasser Arafat in the 1990s. (By the way, Arafat, one of the world's worst terrorist, won the Nobel Peace Prize for this sham). And at this very moment, Israel is protected by a 430 mile long, 25-foot high wall.

These facts seem to indicate Psalm 83 is first and probably sets the stage for the fulfillment of Ezekiel 38. Regardless of how this current flair-up ends, there is no question Israel will be called upon to defend herself again. There won't be peace until the Prince of Peace reigns from Jerusalem.

"These evil prophets deceive My people by saying, 'All is peaceful!' when there is no peace at all! It's as if the people have built a flimsy wall, and these prophets are trying to hold it together by covering it with whitewash! Tell these whitewashers that their wall will soon fall down" Ezekiel 13:10-11.

A wise man once said: "The only certain barrier to truth is the presumption you already have it". 

News:

• Reuters: International leaders failed to reach a deal to release emergency aid for Greece; will try again on Monday
• CNBC: Hostess Brands goes bankrupt after workers go on strike demanding more pay.
• Drudge Report: Medical officials say victims of Hurricane Sandy suffering from wide variety of physical ailments

"When is The War of Ezekiel 38?"

With the horrific news coming out of Israel, many are jumping to the conclusion that the infamous war of Gog & Magog must be right around the corner.

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.

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:

• 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.

The prophecy is quite long, covering two complete chapters and almost certainly predicts this war will be nuclear. Ez. 39:11-16 details the clean-up and burial procedures that follow the battle and they sound as if they come straight from a nuclear protocol manual.

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