Hamas-Israeli war, plus Greg Laurie connects to Gog and Magog
17th century portrait with the devil pushing the Gog and Magog war
(photo from Wikipedia)
Here is a report from Voice of America related to the Hamas-Israel war:
October 10, 2023
Israel said Tuesday its military struck hundreds of targets in the Gaza Strip overnight, hours after Prime Minister Bejamin Netanyahu said his country’s forces were “just beginning” to fight back against Hamas militants.
Military spokesperson Richard Hecht said the bodies of 1,500 Hamas fighters had been found in Israeli territory following their incursion Saturday, and that no militants had crossed into Israel since Monday.
The targets of the latest airstrikes included the Rimal neighborhood in Gaza City, home to many Hamas ministries and government buildings.
“What we will do to our enemies in the coming days will reverberate with them for generations,” Netanyahu said in an address late Monday.
The Israeli military said it mobilized 300,000 reservists ahead of “going on the offensive” in response to the surprise attack Saturday by Hamas into areas of Israel along the Gaza Strip.
A Hamas military spokesperson threatened that its fighters would kill one of about 150 civilian hostages Hamas is holding any time Israel targets Gaza civilians without warning.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said in a video statement that Israel would implement a “complete siege” on Gaza, cutting the Palestinian territory off from access to electricity, food, water and gas.
Those comments drew alarm from human rights groups that said collective punishment of people living in Gaza would violate international law.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told reporters that while he recognizes Israel’s legitimate security concerns, military operations must be done within humanitarian law. He said civilians must be protected and civilian infrastructure must not be targeted.
“I am deeply distressed by today’s announcement that Israel will initiate a complete siege of the Gaza Strip, nothing allowed in – no electricity, food, or fuel,” Guterres said. …
U.S. President Joe Biden said 11 Americans were among those killed.
The dead in Israel also included people from Argentina, Britain, Cambodia, France, Nepal, Thailand and Ukraine, officials from those nations said. https://www.voanews.com/a/israeli-forces-battle-to-oust-hamas-militants-/7302572.html
A reader sent me a link to the following:
October 10, 2023
The United Arab Emirates has reportedly warned the Assad regime in Syria not to enter the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Abu Dhabi has also warned Damascus not to allow any attacks against Israel from its soil, the Axios news site reports, citing two sources briefed on the matter. https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/uae-said-to-warn-assad-against-joining-hamas-conflict-against-israel/
If Syria gets involved this could lead to the prophesied destruction of Damascus (cf. Isaiah 17:1).
That said, some Jews and certain Protestants improperly believe that Ezekiel 38 involving the Gog and Magog war is about to happen in this age.
Here is a report from the Protestant Greg Laurie where he tries to tie in the current war between Hamas and Israel with Gog and Magog and the 38th chapter of Ezekiel:
Is The Attack On Israel By Hamas, Setting Up For The Fulfillment Of Bible Prophecy?
October 9, 2023
I woke up Saturday morning and was shocked to read the headline, “Israel is at war.” …
Who is Hamas? They’re a terrorist organization funded by Iran. That’s not a secret. In fact, a PR person from Hamas stated that this was funded by Iran. This is something that’s an established fact.
Iran has long stated their objective, which is to destroy Israel. An Iranian leader celebrated the attacks, putting out this message: “We will stand by the Palestinian fighters until the liberation of Palestine and Jerusalem is completed.”
Iran has also signaled that they are developing a nuclear weapon. In the past, they have threatened to, in their own verbiage, wipe Israel off the face of the map. …
In Ezekiel 37 and 38, the Bible speaks of the regathering of Israel, and then it speaks of a large force from her north attacking her. That force is identified as being led by Magog.
Who is Magog? No one can say with absolute certainty. But many, many Bible students and prophecy teachers believe it’s modern-day Russia. I think you can make a very good case for that. On a map of the Middle East, look to the north of Israel, and you will find Russia.
Why would Russia ever want to invade Israel? Well, there’s another thing that the Bible says about Magog: one of the allies that will march with her is Persia, the ancient name for modern Iran.
The Bible predicted this thousands of years ago. It’s only recently that the Iranians and the Russians have developed a special connection. Not once in the past 2,500 years has Russia formed a military alliance with Iran, but they have now signed a billion-dollar accord for the sale of missiles, and the Iranians have helped the Russians by providing them with weaponized drones to use in the Ukraine war.
How do you stop something like what is happening in Israel? Some hostages are women, little children, and soldiers. It’s very tricky.
Let’s just say, for the sake of a point, if they decided to strike at Iran, specifically because of their funding of this attack, what would that produce? It could produce the conflict we read about in Ezekiel. https://harbingersdaily.com/is-the-attack-on-israel-by-hamas-setting-up-for-the-fulfillment-of-bible-prophecy/
While I do believe that the Hamas-Israel war is setting up for the fulfillment of biblical prophecies, no, THIS IS NOT RELATED TO EZEKIEL 38 WHICH IS NOT FOR THIS AGE.
Over the years, many Protestants have pushed wrong views on this. For another example, here is something last year from the Protestant news source CBN:
Are the Biblical End Times Upon Us? The Shocking Russia-Iran Moment That Just Caused Ezekiel 38 to Trend on Social Media
July 20, 2022
Ezekiel 38, a key Bible chapter containing what is believed to be important end times prophecies, trended on Twitter Tuesday — and the reasons are nothing short of noteworthy. …
Putin’s trip seems to indicate closer ties between the allies, as he met with Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi before convening with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, according to CBN News. …
Greg Laurie, pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, California, reminded Faithwire earlier this year of Jesus’ words in Matthew 24 that warn of wars, “rumors of wars,” plagues, and other such elements in the lead-up to the end of days.
“Jesus in Matthew 24 gave us signs of the times — one of them was there’ll be wars and rumors of wars,” Laurie said. “It certainly fits that. “No. 2, there would be pestilence and plague, and if COVID is not a modern-day plague, I don’t know it is, and it’s affected the whole planet [and it] still affects us to this day.”
Laurie and others are careful in discussing these issues, though the chaos — and these latest developments with Russia and Iran — are adding fuel to the fire, especially when it comes to Ezekiel 38. …
Some Christians see the meeting between Iran, Russia, and Turkey as a harbinger of prophetic fulfillment. In contrast, others cast doubt on that idea and charged that current events could be getting improperly jammed into biblical prophecy. …
It’s impossible to conclude anything definitive from Putin’s meetings with Khamenei, Raisi, and Erdogan.
From a factual standpoint, it is understandable why Ezekiel 38 would be getting attention and trending on social media. https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/cwn/2022/july/are-the-biblical-end-times-upon-us-the-shocking-russia-iran-moment-that-just-caused-ezekiel-38-to-trend
Scripture shows that Ezekiel 38 is not about to be fulfilled.
Ezekiel 38 is for over a thousand years away.
Let us look at what the Bible actually teaches.
This Gog Magog war is in Ezekiel 38, so let’s start with its first 7 verses:
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. Verse 5, mentioning Persia, is a reference to the land of Iran.
What does the Bible actually teach about the timing? 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?
In addition to misapplications of scripture by some rabbinical writers, some 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 (watch also the video Israel, 1948, and Prophecy).
One reason 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 reason 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 about 7,000,000 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)
Israel Gold Reserves
1950 – 2019 | Monthly | USD mn | CEIC Data
Israel’s Gold Reserves was reported at 0.000 USD mn in Feb 2019. https://www.ceicdata.com/en/indicator/israel/gold-reserves accessed 10/10/23
According to Index Mundi, the nation of Israel was not among 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.
Notice also that 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 38:14-17)
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.
Notice now Revelation 20:7-10:
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.
The above clearly takes place after the millennium is over.
That battle is NOT for our time, although in the past few years, I have heard various ones claim it is.
Some Protestant prophecy watchers believe that Iran will soon more closely align with Russia to invade Israel in order to fulfill Ezekiel 38. However, since that prophecy is not fulfilled in this age (it is for the ‘latter days,’ which comes well after Jesus returns), that is not the case. Some others have also claimed that the ‘Bible Code’ tells of it for this age. That is also not the case. Related to that the Continuing Church of God put together the following videos on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel:
20:58
Is what is going on with Russia, Iran, and Syria predicted in the Bible Code? Is Rabbi Matityahu Glazerson’s interpretation of the year and passages in Deuteronomy 4 correct? Is a ‘cruel taskmaster from Iran prophesied to rule Israel? Is Joel Richardson’s view of Ezekiel 38 correct? Is Russia the power in the ‘far north’ of Ezekiel 38? Is Russia the prophesied King of the North? What will happen to Iran? Does the Bible teach that Damascus, Syria will be destroyed. Dr. Thiel answers these questions and more.
In April and September 2018, there were meetings involving top leaders of Russia, Iran, Syria, and Turkey. Some Protestant prophecy watchers have suggested that the meeting of these leaders could be a prelude to what is known as the Gog and Magog war as discussed in Ezekiel 38. Some have claimed that this battle must take place before ‘Armageddon’ and before Jesus returns. Some have wondered if the Gog/Magog war is Armageddon. Some believe that the existence of the modern State of Israel means the fulfillment of Ezekiel 38 is soon. Is that possible? Does the modern state of Israel currently meet the criteria needed for Ezekiel 38 to be fulfilled? While many agree that the lands occupied by Russia and Iran are involved, are assertions about Turkey being identified as Togarmah possible or in serious error? Will the Gog/Magog war be soon or is it for a time far into the future? Dr. Thiel addresses these issues and more.
Here is a link to our sermonette video: Russia, Iran, Syria, & the Bible (Code). Here is a link to the sermonette video: Ezekiel 38 Gog and Magog War: Is it Soon?
Ezekiel 38 is NOT for our time.
We in the Continuing Church of God (CCOG) also put out the following video on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel:
Gog, Magog, Vladimir Putin, and Ezekiel 38?
On February 24, 2022, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin announced a ‘special military operation’ into Ukraine. Are Jewish sources correct that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is the start of the Gog and Magog war of Ezekiel 38? Are Protestant sources, and people like Trumpet editor Gerald Flurry right that Vladimir Putin is the ‘prince of Rosh/Rush? Does Ezekiel 38 include Russia? What are some of the other nations involved in Ezekiel 38? Does this battle happen BEFORE or well AFTER Jesus returns? Can you know the answer from the actual passages in Ezekiel 38? Dr. Thiel answers these questions and more.
Here is a link to our video: Gog, Magog, Vladimir Putin, and Ezekiel 38?
When you hear about prophecies in Ezekiel involving Iran, please realize that Ezekiel 32 is for our time, Ezekiel 38 is not.
Some items of possibly-related interest may include:
Ezekiel 38: For Russia & Iran in Our Day? Is Ezekiel 38 about to be fulfilled? Are we close to the battle with Gog and Magog? Four related videos are available: Ezekiel 38 Gog and Magog War: Is it Soon?, Ezekiel 38: For Russia, Ukraine, & Iran Now?, Russia, Iran, Syria, & the Bible (Code), and Gog, Magog, Vladimir Putin, and Ezekiel 38?
Iran in Prophecy Is Iran in Bible prophecy? If so, what does the Bible teach? What names, other than Persia, may be used to describe Iran? There is also a YouTube video titled Iran In Prophecy.
Russia and Ukraine: Their Origins and Prophesied Future Russia in prophecy. Where do the Russians come from? What about those in the Ukraine? What is prophesied for Russia and its allies? What will they do to the Europeans that supported the Beast in the end? There is also a video sermon available: Russia in the Bible and in Prophecy as are two video sermonettes Russia, Ukraine, Babylonian Europe, and Prophecy and Ukraine in Prophecy?
Is Russia the King of the North? Some claim it is. But what does the Bible teach? Here is a link to a video, also titled Is Russia the King of the North?
The Times of the Gentiles Has there been more than one time of the Gentiles? Are we in it now or in the time of Anglo-America? What will the final time of the Gentiles be like? A related sermon is available and is titled: The Times of the Gentiles.
Armageddon Who is involved and when will this gathering happen? Here is also a video from Dr. Thiel, from Tel Megiddo in Israel: Armageddon. Other videos include: Armageddon Will it come on Trump’s watch?, Iraq, Armageddon, & Prophecy, Freemasonry, Armageddon, and Rome, Is China paving roads to Armageddon?, and Jordan, Petra, and Armageddon.
Hope of Salvation: How the Continuing Church of God Differs from Protestantism The CCOG is NOT Protestant. This free online book explains how the real Church of God differs from mainstream/traditional Protestants. Several sermons related to the free book are also available: Protestant, Baptist, and CCOG History; The First Protestant, God’s Command, Grace, & Character; The New Testament, Martin Luther, and the Canon; Eucharist, Passover, and Easter; Views of Jews, Lost Tribes, Warfare, & Baptism; Scripture vs. Tradition, Sabbath vs. Sunday; Church Services, Sunday, Heaven, and God’s Plan; Seventh Day Baptists/Adventists/Messianics: Protestant or COG?; Millennial Kingdom of God and God’s Plan of Salvation; Crosses, Trees, Tithes, and Unclean Meats; The Godhead and the Trinity; Fleeing or Rapture?; and Ecumenism, Rome, and CCOG Differences.
Lost Tribes and Prophecies: What will happen to Australia, the British Isles, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America? Where did those people come from? Can you totally rely on DNA? What about other peoples? Do you really know what will happen to Europe and the English-speaking peoples? What about Africa, Asia, South America, and the Islands? This free online book provides scriptural, scientific, historical references, and commentary to address those matters. Here are links to related sermons: Lost tribes, the Bible, and DNA; Lost tribes, prophecies, and identifications; 11 Tribes, 144,000, and Multitudes; Israel, Jeremiah, Tea Tephi, and British Royalty; Gentile European Beast; Royal Succession, Samaria, and Prophecies; Asia, Islands, Latin America, Africa, and Armageddon; When Will the End of the Age Come?; Rise of the Prophesied King of the North; Christian Persecution from the Beast; WWIII and the Coming New World Order; and Woes, WWIV, and the Good News of the Kingdom of God.
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