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Russian Sukhoi Su-25s in Syria (Mil.ru)

COGwriter

Russian military air support is turning the tide in some areas for Syria’s Assad regime:

October 11, 2015

Syrian forces backed by Hezbollah militants from Lebanon are said to have made significant advances against rebels after heavy Russian air strikes.

Government gains are being reported in Idlib, Hama and Latakia provinces.

Russia says its aircraft carried out more than 60 missions over Syria in the past 24 hours, and that the Islamic State group was its main target.

But the Russian strikes appear to have impacted heavily on rebels fighting both the government and IS.

The main battlefront is currently close to the key highway that links the capital Damascus with other major cities, including Aleppo, and President Bashar al-Assad’s forces are believed to be seeking to cut off rebels in Idlib.

Before Russia’s intervention, Idlib had all but fallen to a rebel coalition that had been seriously threatening Mr Assad and his heartland as well as fighting IS, BBC Arab affairs editor Sebastian Usher reports.

The government gains were reported both by Damascus and opposition activists.

Russia says its strikes, which began on 30 September, have been closely co-ordinated with the Syrian government. Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Sunday that the strikes were the execution of “previously drawn plans”.

“We persistently conducted reconnaissance, for a long period, from space and from the air,” he told the Rossiya 24 news channel.  http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-34500516

Some Protestant prophecy watchers believe that the addition of Russian forces to the region will lead to the relatively near term fulfillment of prophecies in Ezekiel 38 and 39.  Notice one related report:

October 5, 2015

CBN News spoke by phone with best-selling author Joel Rosenberg about Russia’s big move into the Middle East and what it might mean for Israel.

Rosenberg refers to the book of Ezekiel and prophecies that involve an alliance of Russia, Syria, and Iran all alligned against Israel.

He told CBN News that for the first time in 2,500 years that scenario is a reality. He is quick, however, to downplay whether biblical prophecy is in fact being fulfilled with these recent developments.  http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/insideisrael/2015/October/Russias-New-Alliance-Biblical-Prophecy-Coming-to-Life/

Joel Rosenberg is a Protestant prophecy writer who has many misunderstandings (see also Is There an Islamic Antichrist?). Here is something that Joel Rosenberg posted a few days ago related to the situation of Russia, Iran, and Syria:

October 8, 2015

Last Friday night, I addressed the topic of Apocalyptic Islam at a conference in Toronto, looking at how Shia and Sunni extremists see the prophetic trend lines in the Middle East. On Saturday evening, I then taught through Ezekiel 38 & 39, addressing these specific questions in light of Jewish and Christian eschatology. From there, I flew to Istanbul to meet with several Arab Christian leaders on a range of matters. But sure enough, these questions certainly came up.

The short answer is this:

• It is simply too early to draw any conclusions regarding the Biblical significance of Russian and Iranian combat forces operating in an alliance in the Syrian theater, so close to the northern mountains of Israel. More would have to happen to convince me beyond the shadow of a doubt that these are prophetic events. And I urge Christians to be cautious and not jump to conclusions. Time will make things more clear.
• That said, there is cause to believe these events could be preparatory for the commencement of the “War of Gog & Magog.” We can’t rule out the possibility that prophetic events have been set in motion.
• Put another way: the fulfillment of Ezekiel 38 & 39 could be decades off, or more. However, these recent events — and numerous other regional trends — do appear consistent with what would have to happen to set the stage for Ezekiel’s prophecies to come to pass, and the Church needs to consider the possibility that such prophecies could unfold sooner than many people expect.
• The central fact to remember first and foremost is this: The prophecies of Ezekiel 36 & 37 have already largely come true. That is, the geopolitical nation state of Israel has dramatically been reborn in our lifetime. Jewish people are returning to live and work in the Holy Land after centuries of exile. The Jews are rebuilding the ancient ruins and making the deserts bloom, just as the ancient prophets said they would. We are also seeing a growing number of Jewish people coming to faith in Jesus as Messiah, consistent with Ezekiel 37’s prophecy that as the nation of Israel would be physical reborn in the last days, so too God would breathe His Holy Spirit into the Jewish people and more and more of them would be spiritually reborn in the last days, as well.
• Therefore, given the fact that Ezekiel 36 & 37 have largely come true, we must ask ourselves: Isn’t it remotely possible that the prophecies of Ezekiel 38 & 39 could soon come to pass, as well?  https://flashtrafficblog.wordpress.com/2015/10/08/with-russian-iranian-forces-now-engaged-in-combat-in-syria-people-are-asking-what-is-the-war-of-gog-magog-heres-the-answer-part-one/

First of all, Ezekiel 37 has NOT been fulfilled.  This fulfillment takes place at the ‘Last Great Day’ which happens AFTER the end of the Great Tribulation and after the millennium (see also Last Great Day: Salvation to be offered to all who never really had a chance).

As far as Ezekiel 38 and 39 go, they too, cannot be fulfilled for over a thousand years from now (see also Ezekiel 38: For Russia & Iran in Our Day?).

What does the Bible actually teach? Notice the first 6 verses from Ezekiel 38:

1 Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him, 3 and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal. 4 I will turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and lead you out, with all your army, horses, and horsemen, all splendidly clothed, a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords. 5 Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; 6 Gomer and all its troops; the house of Togarmah from the far north and all its troops — many people are with you.

7 “Prepare yourself and be ready, you and all your companies that are gathered about you; and be a guard for them.

Verses 1-7 talk about a group getting ready to battle. Various nations such as Russia, Iran, Asians, and others are included here.

What does the Bible actually teach? Notice the next two verses from Ezekiel 38:

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 peoples with you.”

Verses 8-9 refer to a regathering of Israel. Why do certain prophecy watchers say that it is for now?

Because certain Protestants believe that the creation of the nation of Israel in 1948 fulfills verse 8.

Yet, this is not really the fulfillment for several reasons.

One is that even today most Jews do not live in the nation of Israel. The Jewish diaspora is scattered throughout the world. But the other problem is that many do not realize that there are multiple millions of the descendants of Israel that are not of the tribe of Judah. The Bible shows that Israel split into the kingdoms of Judah and Israel after the reign of Solomon and that later the ten tribes that were part of Israel (cf. 1 Kings 11:31,35; 12:16-17; 12:20-23) were carried into captivity (2 Kings 17:21-23). Those tribes represent hundreds of millions of people currently alive, and as there are less than 6,000,000 Jews in Israel, most simply have not been regathered (more information on the tribes of Israel is in the article Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel).

Furthermore, pay close attention to the part of verse 8 about people dwelling safely. That is NOT the case in Israel today.

Additionally, notice verses 10-13:

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. 13 Sheba, Dedan, the merchants of Tarshish, and all their young lions will say to you, ‘Have you come to take plunder? Have you gathered your army to take booty, to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods, to take great plunder?’”‘

Israel has its walls and “iron dome” and military weaponry. Notice that it is against a ‘peaceful people’ in unarmed villages that the prince of Rosh is going against. This cannot happen until AFTER the return of Jesus. Furthermore, there simply is not a plan to take a lot of gold and silver out of Israel right now by the power of the far north, nor does the current nation of Israel have enough of it to likely justify an attack for that purpose (unless perhaps some hidden gold/silver mines or remaining treasure of David).

Notice the following:

Israel holds no gold reserves at all, according to a Bank of Israel spokesman. (Kopf S. Jerusalem of Gold. Jerusalem Post, February 16, 2011. http://www.jpost.com/Jerusalem-Report/Israel/Jerusalem-of-Gold viewed 07/21/14)

According to Index Mundi, the nation of Israel was not amongst the top 48 producers of silver in the world, so its supply of this would also seem to be limited–it also confirmed that Israel does not have gold reserves (though there is some gold and silver in coins, etc. in Israel). Israel in the early 21st century is NOT the target of Ezekiel 38.

Ezekiel was further inspired to write:

14 “Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say to Gog, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “On that day when My people Israel dwell safely, will you not know it?  15 Then you will come from your place out of the far north, you and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great company and a mighty army. 16 You will come up against My people Israel like a cloud, to cover the land. It will be in the latter days that I will bring you against My land, so that the nations may know Me, when I am hallowed in you, O Gog, before their eyes.” (Ezekiel 38:1-17)

So, a power from the far north, which would seem to have to be Russian-led as it is the only major military power in the far north now, and may be the only one also in the future, will come. But again, notice that this happens when Israel is dwelling safely.

Notice the following observation by the old Worldwide Church of God:

The events of Ezekiel 38 and 39 are without question still future – for the “latter days” (38: 16) and “latter years” (38:8). Moreover, Ezekiel 38:14 describes the time setting as being “in that day when my people of Israel dwelleth safely.” This is certainly not the situation in the State of Israel to- day! The Israel described by Ezekiel is a nation that dwells in security, in unwalled villages, totally unprepared for war (38:8, 11, 14). (Southeast Asia in Prophecy. Ambassador College Press, 1985)

And while Ezekiel 38 does mention Russia and Iran, the tiny nation of Israel is not now a “land of unwalled villages” with “a peaceful people who dwell safely” (Ezekiel 38:10-11).  We are not particularly close to the fulfillment of Ezekiel 38. Those who believe otherwise are in error.

As far as timing goes, here are some positions from the old Radio Church of God (bold italics mine):

Perhaps no prophecy has received more widespread interest and attention than that of Ezekiel 38 and 39. As usual there are various interpretations. Those most popularly believed and expressed are: I) That the prophecy pictures “Armageddon”-with Russia the aggressor in this final “Armageddon” battle…The word “Armageddon,” believe it or not occurs only once in all he Bible. It is in Rev. 16:13-16: “ARMAGGEDON is the place of the “BATTLE” of that Great Day of God Almighty, which is “the Day of the Lord.” This is the coming time of God’s WRATH, climaxing in the seven last plagues and the Second Coming of Christ. The Battle at Armageddon is pictured in Rev. 20:19-20 and Rev.17:14. It is a battle in which European AXIS powers, symbolically represented as “The BEAST” and ten federated European dictatorships wive the Roman Empire, which fight against Christ and His Angels, contesting IS right to rule the world. But Ezekiel 38 speaks of a different power altogether-“GOG’ in the land of ‘MAGOG’, numerous Allies – all descendants of JAPETH, father of the yellow races…

And now we come to chapter 38!…The TIME of this prophecy is AFTER–not before, but AFTER–the second coming of Christ. (What’s Prophesied About RUSSIA! The Plain Truth. November-December 1943, pp. 5, 7, 12)

(Ez. 38: 12). It is now, after the second coming of Christ, with Israel obeying God in the land of Palestine, that Russia and her oriental hordes come to take a prey from defenseless cities. (Does Ezekiel 38 and 39 Mean An Invasion of Canada and the United States by Russia? Good News, June 1951, p. 11)

The Bible indicates there will be no warfare during the future reign of the Messiah:

7 In His days the righteous shall flourish,
And abundance of peace,
Until the moon is no more.

8 He shall have dominion also from sea to sea,
And from the River to the ends of the earth. (Psalms 72:7-8)

6 For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end,
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. (Isaiah 9:6-7)

3 He shall judge between many peoples,
And rebuke strong nations afar off;
They shall beat their swords into plowshares,
And their spears into pruning hooks;
Nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
Neither shall they learn war anymore.

4 But everyone shall sit under his vine and under his fig tree,
And no one shall make them afraid;
For the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken. (Micah 4:3-4)

Thus it would not appear that this attack takes place durring the millennium, though some feel it could be. There are passages, such as Ezekiel 38:8 that could be interpretted that way, but they are not certain. Notice the literal translation without added words:

8 After many days thou art appointed, In the latter end of the years thou comest in unto a land brought back from sword, [A people] gathered out of many peoples, Upon mountains of Israel, That have been for a perpetual waste, And it from the peoples hath been brought out, And dwelt safely have all of them. (Ezekiel 38:8, YLT)

Now, when does the Bible clearly teach that Gog and Magog will attack? Notice:

7 Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. 9 They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. (Revelation 20:7-9)

So, the attack above happens after the thousand years, also known as the millennium. Notice that the Gog and Magog get destroyed. Notice also the following, by Herbert Armstrong, where he notes that Revelation 20:7-9 happens prior to the what is known as the Great White Throne Judgment:

Satan Loosed

But now notice! Verse 7: “And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, and shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth … to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea” (verses 7-8).

Grasp it! These are people at PEACE! They have not been inoculated with the satanic NATURE we now call “human nature.” They shall have been living happily in PERFECT PEACE. Now Satan once more BROADCASTS. Remember these nations are HUMAN. Satan is INVISIBLE to them. But notice the CHANGE come over them as soon as Satan is loosed and able again to sway humanity:

Verse 9: “And they [the human nations] went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city ….” Immediately “Human Nature” shall have entered into them! Immediately they shall have been filled with envy and jealousy against the saints of God, filled with wrath and violence! But God will not allow them to destroy. They shall have been told — have been warned about Satan. “… And fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone … and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.”

Great White Throne Judgment

After this shall occur the “Great White Throne Judgment” — the resurrection of all humanity from the time of Adam to Christ’s coming who had not been in the first resurrection or called by God. In this judgment is to be “the book of life,” meaning many, perhaps most, shall then find spiritual salvation and eternal life. In the time of their judgment, Satan will be GONE! (Armstrong HW. Human Nature: Did God Create It? 1976)

Satan is loosed.

“And [he will] go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth [that’s at the end of the Millennium, and Satan will go out to deceive those that have not been made immortal yet], Gog and Magog, to gather them [and I’ll refer you back to the 38th and 39th chapter of Ezekiel] …gather them together to battle, the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and they compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.” (Revelation 20:8-9) (Armstrong, Herbert W. Sermon, October 2, 1980)

Getting back to Ezekiel 38, notice the rest of that chapter:

18 “And it will come to pass at the same time, when Gog comes against the land of Israel,” says the Lord GOD, “that My fury will show in My face. 19 For in My jealousy and in the fire of My wrath I have spoken: ‘Surely in that day there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel, 20 so that the fish of the sea, the birds of the heavens, the beasts of the field, all creeping things that creep on the earth, and all men who are on the face of the earth shall shake at My presence. The mountains shall be thrown down, the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground.’ 21 “I will call for a sword against Gog throughout all My mountains,” says the Lord GOD. “Every man’s sword will be against his brother. 22 And I will bring him to judgment with pestilence and bloodshed; I will rain down on him, on his troops, and on the many peoples who are with him, flooding rain, great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. 23 Thus I will magnify Myself and sanctify Myself, and I will be known in the eyes of many nations. Then they shall know that I am the LORD.” ‘ (Ezekiel 38:18-23).

Notice that the invaders will be punished and this will also involve fire. This is a future event. And while there is a Great Earthquake that will hit prior to Jesus’ return (see Revelation 16:18 as well as the article Earthquakes Today and Bible Prophecy), the one in Ezekiel 38:19 is limited to the land of Israel. Ezekiel 38 does NOT get fulfilled just before or during the Great Tribulation. It is sometime after the return of Jesus and could be as far as after the millennium. It is at least seven years away (see The ‘Peace Deal’ of Daniel 9:27 and When Will the Great Tribulation Begin?) and possibly 1020 or so years away.

While few wish to believe it, the West or even Russia will not solve the problems in that region of the world. It will take the return of Jesus Christ and the establishment of the Kingdom of God to truly solve all of the conflicts in the world, including those in Syria.

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This entry was posted on Sunday, October 11th, 2015 at 7:07 am and is filed under Prophecy.

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