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The End of a Superpower Nation

Two thousand three hundred years ago, a man named Ezekiel was given a prophecy about a future enemy of Israel. The story details would play out on the mountains and plains of that country. In 2022, we are still waiting.

Who are the players in this story? 

A mysterious country lies to the uttermost north of Israel called Magog. For us, this is the land of Russia. Many biblical scholars agree. The Lord God Almighty is the author of this prophecy given to the Old Testament prophet, Ezekiel. The details are in chapters 38 and 39 of his book. I would encourage you to read them thoroughly.

An enemy is coming against Israel in the future. When Ezekiel wrote this prophecy, Russia did not exist, but God knew everything beforehand. This enemy will gather forces from other nations to join him to create a vast military task force. The invasion happens sometime in the first year or so of the Tribulation period. The Western leader, known as the Antichrist, will have made a peace treaty agreement with Israel to protect them against any invading force. Israel believes this to be true and experiences peace for the first time in a very long time. Its defenses are down, and times are good in Israel. 

In the book of Revelation 9:14, we are told about an angel who carries the 6th trumpet. He is told by God to release the four fallen angels bound in the great river Euphrates. Why is this important? Because these angels quickly gather 200,000,000 troops to invade Israel. The resulting conflict will eventually kill about one-third of mankind (Revelation 9:15). The Russian army, with its allies, will lead this holocaust and position itself against the nation of Israel.

In the writings of Ezekiel, this enemy is mentioned as Gog in the land of Magog. Gog is a word for ruler, which means “the man on top.” This man is a dictator regardless of what he calls himself. Magog means “head” and is the Hebrew word for Rosh. This word should be Russia. 

Its leader is a self-confident, arrogant man who is full of pride. He considers himself and his nation to be nearly invincible. But for all his greatness, grandeur, and power as a modern military superpower, none of that will protect him from the vengeance God has planned. After all, God said, “I’m against you.” This is a country whose basic philosophy is atheism. Their political economy rests upon the premise that there is no God. No other government has ever assumed its dominant position of atheism. 

Concerning Russia, men in high positions have warned, “You cannot negotiate with them (Russians).” Mr. Churchill said of Russia, “A riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.” Rube Goldberg, who drew one of those crazy cartoons years ago, called Joe Stalin “The Great Upside-down Philosopher.” That cartoon had a message: “Top is bottom, black is white, far is near, and the day is night. Big is little, high is low, cold is hot, and yes is no.” Sounds unreasonable or insane? This is the basic philosophy of Russia even today.

Russia does not come alone in this invasion. Persia (Iran), Libya, and Beth Togarmah (Turkey) join in their hatred of Israel. Keep in mind that these countries are predominantly Muslim. Other nations mentioned are Gomer (Germany) and Ethiopia. They join Russia for their own reasons. But the primary invader is Russia, which comes from the “uttermost part of the north.”

So why invade such a small country as Israel? God tells us, “I will turn him around, put hooks in his jaws, and drag him and his troops away.” Something grabs Gog’s attention to look at Israel. His hand will be forced to move quickly into the Middle East to plunder the nation of Israel. Neither Russia nor its leader realizes that none of them are coming out of Israel alive.

What “hooks” could be used to draw Russia to the Middle East?

1. Russia needs a warm-water entrance into the world’s waterways for its navy and shipping. Israel sets on the east side of the Mediterranean Sea. 
2. Oil could be another hook. He who controls the oil controls the world. We all know that oil is essential for the survival of all modern nations. Despite strained relationships between the Arabs and Jews, a great deal of oil goes through the land of Israel via pipelines. When ships can’t go through the Suez Canal, oil is pumped through the pipelines to a port on Israel’s coast. 
3. Then there is the Dead Sea. The mineral deposits there are very significant. An estimated 2 billion tons of potassium chloride (potash) is available. It is a mineral used in fertilizers to sweeten and enrich depleted soils worldwide. In addition, there are deposits of magnesium chloride (24 billion tons), sodium chloride (12 billion tons), and calcium chloride (6 billion tons). The Dead Sea is rich in various minerals, even gold. 

Much of these items are being depleted worldwide. Still, they are abundant in Israel, as suggested by Dr. J. Vernon McGee in his study of Ezekiel.

But these are the days of the seven-year peace agreement concocted by the Antichrist. Israel signed that agreement and lowered its defenses, believing that the Antichrist would come to their rescue if invaded. After all, there was a guarantee. However, the false peace is broken with Russia’s invasion, and the Great Tribulation is ushered in.

The Russian army and the many nations with him attack Israel like a storm. It will be sudden, rage violently, spread quickly, and alarm greatly. The invading forces will number 200 million troops. You may remember that the book of Revelation speaks to two instances of a 200 million-man army entering the Middle East. One is at the Battle of Armageddon with armed forces from the Far East (Revelation 16). The other is this situation with Russian troops in Revelation 9:16. Acting out of anger more than military planning, these troops seem driven by demons. There will be much killing, plundering, raping, and severe and extensive damage. The troops swoop in and take whatever they wish. Their quick deployment catches the Antichrist and his alliance off-guard. No one comes to Israel’s defense. A few Western nations question why Russian forces are there and what they are up to. Still, only questions are asked – no military response. This vast army covers the land of Israel like a cloud. But like a storm, it doesn’t continue. Their coalition falls apart as various members of their alliance turn against each other. Clouds spread gloom and fear but ultimately break up, which will be what happens to this vast army of Russia. Is everything Gog wanted slipping through his fingers or being ripped away by a stronger force?

The prophet Ezekiel assures Russia of four things, which they would do to consider:

1. Their attack will occur before Jesus Christ comes back to set up His millennium kingdom on earth;
2. Russia’s plans and movements are being observed with the permission and direction of Almighty God;
3. Russian troops’ presence in Israel will flare God’s anger into a fiery blaze;
4. God intends to glorify Himself in Gog’s (Russia’s) destruction. 

But no one is listening in Moscow or in their military. They have prepared to march to their doom; every last one of them.

As this invasion sweeps the Middle East and especially Israel, all types of calamities befall the invading forces in God’s unchanging justice. Every part of creation shall bear its share of this judgment on Russia as if in a convulsion (a violent upheaval) of the whole framework of nature itself. The different segments of GOd’s judgment are happening simultaneously. There is no advanced military prepared for such an onslaught that God is about to release. Its magnitude is tremendous.

1. First, there will be a great earthquake. Mountain sides crumble, resulting in landslides that block valleys, cutting off routes for troops to advance or retreat.
2. Second, every man’s weapon, knife or gun, will be used against his brother-in-arms (comrades). Many deep-seated quarrels that have existed for over 14 centuries will flare up among the troops. This strife starts a furious in-fighting with thousands dead.
3. Third, God sends an overflowing or torrential rain (think downpour) to stop the troops in the mud. This rain lasts long enough to accomplish what God has in mind; hours, days, or weeks. Thunder and lightning will streak across the sky everywhere and recurring. All satellite communications with command centers will be disrupted. Being outside of a protective shelter will mean death.
4. Fourth, hail falls in this rainstorm. This area of the Middle East is no stranger to large hailstones of the size of 1/2 to 1 pound each. Sizable hailstones can damage or kill anything in their strike zone without shelter. They should expect this storm to produce hail of greater weight and hardness.
5. Finally, pestilences or plagues hound the invading troops. Sickness breaks out and spreads rapidly. The troops begin to scatter and run for their lives. If the earthquake, rain, lightning, hail, or disease doesn’t kill them, they still have to contend with the fire and brimstone (sulfur) that quickly comes next.

So we see that Russia has a destiny in the mountains and plains of Israel. Its whole army and the other troops will be destroyed, and none will be left alive. 

In preparation for this invasion, Gog (the Russian leader) drafts 5/6 of the country’s population into the armed forces. Only a sixth of its population is left behind. Five-sixths could equal over 120 million Russian troops.

Imagine looking at the troops getting ready to ship out. There would be experienced soldiers, inexperienced youth, elderly men still able to march and serve, and many female soldiers. Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible emphasizes this picture. With Russia eventually out of the way as a dominant world superpower, an enormous geopolitical vacuum will be created. The Antichrist will use this opportunity to grab more power, and God will allow this to happen. Whatever God does is right. His glory is shown in judgment. His grace is known in redemption. 

You might ask, “Why will God destroy Russia?” He does so because Russia and her hordes came up against His people of Israel. They came like a cloud over the land. Russia’s destruction will testify to the world’s unbelieving nations that God does exist and that His judgment is faithful and just. “What is God going to do?” He is going to destroy Russia to the very last man. “Do you mean God will actually do such a thing?” Indeed, He will. 

What happens next when the smoke clears, the rain ends, and the clouds part? The weapons of the Russian forces will be left in the fields, probably abandoned as they try to flee God’s wrath of sickness, fear, weather, fatigue, etc. Next, God will invite all the hungry birds of the air to feast on the dead bodies of the soldiers. There will be no regard for rank or prestige among the dead. Even the wild beasts will join in this feast. These weapons will be burned as firewood by the poorest of Israel. This burning process will take 7-years to complete. Also, a cleansing of the land of Israel will take place as a testimony that God was their safety and defense and not the Antichrist. 

As a final assault, God will send a fire on Magog (Russia’s homeland, where 1/6 of her population resides) and among those who dwell securely (carelessly) in the coastlands. Russia is somewhat unique and guilty of more anti-Semitism than any other nation. There is very little fear of God anywhere as you look around today. In time, God will judge, and when He does, there will be respect and reverence for God in this world.

Finally, the dead bodies must be dealt with. The number is staggering, with at least 200,000,000 bodies or more. Russian forces are going to be buried in Israel. Though the exact location is disputed, the Scriptures tell us that they will be buried in a valley east of the Dead Sea. This massive grave is possibly near the town of Dhiban in Jordan. The site will be referred to as Travelers’ Valley, perhaps the Valley of Hamon-Gog, or simply as The Multitude of Gog. As you can imagine, this will be a challenging and gruesome task. Many men will be hired to bury the dead. The initial gathering and burial process will take about 7-months. After this initial stage, the gravediggers will scour the land of Israel for any remains or bone fragments. A sign or flag will be used to identify the fragment’s location. Only the burial team will be authorized to pick up those fragments and take them to the Vally of Hamon-Gog for interment.

Lessons we can learn from this story:

1. Sin is an enemy that every man should strive against.
2. God loves His people of Israel and will protect them in His own way and timing.
3. God sees all that we do and permits us to make free-will decisions. Sometimes those decisions are good and sometimes bad.
4. God holds final judgment in His hands. Let’s not be an enemy of God as Gog and Magog are.

August 29, 2022 - Posted by Bill Wyler | Bible, Ezekiel, Last Days, Revelation | Bible, Ezekiel, GOD, Iran, Israel, Russia, Truth, war