Israel, Iraq and the Gulf Crisis
A LAND BROUGHT BACK FROM THE SWORD
“After many years thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them.”- Ezekiel 38:8
“And thou shalt say, ‘I will go up to the land of unwalled villages – I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates.”- Ezekiel 38:11
Most Bible scholars agree that the detailed prophecy of Ezekiel 38 and 39 describes Israel’s final battle before the full introduction of Messiah’s glorious kingdom.
The texts excerpted above indicate that at the time of this battle Israel would be a land:
- Brought back from the sword
- Dwelling safely
- Of unwalled villages
- Having neither bars nor gates.
Any observer of world conditions during the past 40 years finds these conditions difficult to imagine. From the time that Israel became a nation in 1948 until the present they have been living constantly either under attack or in fear of imminent attack.
Surrounded by enemies without, and disrupted by foes within, it is little wonder that Israel has armed itself to the teeth. With one of the most modern armies in the world, and rumored to have nuclear weaponry, they are confident of taking on all opponents. Strong lobbies in the United States and other world capitals seek to insure agreements to add to their defense capabilities. As a result, this threatened nation has moved from an importer of arms to one of the chief exporters of military technology.
The above is hardly descriptive of “a nation brought back from war” “living with neither bars nor gates.” What scenario will bring about this dramatic change of condition?
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40 YEARS OF CONFLICT |
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| 1948 | Statehood declared, Arab neighbors instantly attack |
| 1956 | Nasser’s Sinai campaign threatens destruction |
| 1957 | The Six-Day war expands Israel’s borders |
| 1973 | The Yom Kippur invasion catches Israel by surprise |
| 1982 | Israel invades Lebanon to secure Northern borders |
| 1987 | Arab lntifada seeks to destabilize Israel internally |
THE EVENTS OF 1990
The past year has seen two great events on the world stage that may bear on our question. The break-up of the Communist bloc in Eastern Europe, along with the accompanying spread of Russia’s new policy of glasnost and the thawing of the “cold war,” have produced a global climate of hoped for “peace and safety.”
Long a supplier of arms to the Arab peoples in their struggle against Israel, Russia has signaled its intention to stop arming the Arabs. Not only so, they have also been putting pressure on their client state of Syria to press for peace with Israel.
Secondly, the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait has drastically realigned Arab alliances. While alienating most of the world powers, including many of its Arab neighbors, Iraq has formed a league with Jordan and begun to improve its relationship with Iran.
The alliance with Jordan provides a clear pathway between Iraq and Israel, and hardly forebodes a condition of peace and safety.
TWO CONTRASTING PROPHECIES
In seeking a scriptural perspective to the current situation, two prophecies stand out in marked contrast -Ezekiel 38 and Psalms 83.
It has been noted by many that the Ezekiel context portrays an alliance of seven or eight nations that will come against Israel “from the north parts.” While the modern identities of these nations are problematic, one thing seems clear – none of them are of Semitic origin. Thus, they do not represent Arab powers, nearly all of whom are Semitic.
In marked contrast, Psalms 83 describes a coalition of some 10 or 11 nations who come against Israel with a common purpose, “Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation.” In this coalition all of the names, except one, are Semitic and ancestors of present – day sworn enemies of Israel. The lone exception are the Philistines, a Hamitic people who are considered by many to be the ancestors of present day Palestinians.
These two sets of Scriptures then do not seem to refer to the same event. One describes an invasion of Arab peoples; the other an invasion of non-Arab countries.
Which comes first? Inasmuch as the “peace and safety” precondition for the Ezekiel battle is not laid down in the Psalms reference, the natural assumption is that the Psalms prophecy is fulfilled first.
The confederacy referred to in Psalms 83:6, 7 – ”Edom, Ishmaelites, Moab, the Hagarenes, Gebal and Ammon” all reside in modern Jordan. Only Amalek, in the northern Negev, and Tyre, in southern Lebanon, are exceptions. It is interesting to note that these areas are today where the Arab Palestinians are the strongest.
The text becomes even more appropriate in verse 8, “Assur also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot.”
Ancient Assyria claims its name because it owes the ancestry of its inhabitants to Assur. The modem name for Assyria is Iraq. The “children of Lot” were two – Ammon and Moab. Ammon dwelt in central Jordan. Today’s Jordanian capitol, Amman, takes its name from this ancient tribe. Moab dwelt just to the south, in the hill country surrounding the fabled red rock city of Petra.
The confederacy mentioned in Psalms 83:8 includes approximately the same nations as that formed in the past few weeks, during the “Gulf Crisis.“ Could it be that this modem coalition will be provoked to attack its ancient nemesis, Israel? Could it be that Israel’s victory will be so decisive that not only this league, but other Arab enemies of Israel as well, will have to agree to a treaty of “peace and safety”?
While we, in studying Bible prophecy, must be careful not to become prophets ourselves, the above possibilities appear very real in the light of current developments.
If this, in fact, is true, then certainly it can be said in the aftermath, that Israel truly is “the land that is brought back from the sword,” and the stage is set for Israel’s final battle.
ISRAEL’S FINAL BATTLE
The description of Israel’s final battle in Ezekiel 38 and 39 is quite simple. A coalition of nations attacks from the “north quarters” The reason for their attack is stated specifically “to take a spoil, and to take a prey.”
The lure is apparently not only to take spoil, but also the ease of obtaining it. The relaxation of Israel’s military preparedness, indicated by “dwelling without bars and gates” encourages the invaders to expect an easy victory.
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THE PARTICIPANTS |
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| There is considerable discussion as to the identification of the participants in the battle of Ezekiel 38 and 39. This is largely because of the various methods of interpretation used in arriving at an answer to this question.
Two methods of approach are the most predominant. The Geographical approach seeks to locate the areas occupied by these tribes in Ezekiel’s day, and identify the participants in this battle as being those living there at the present time. The Genealogical method traces the migrations of these people to their present locales, thus identifying modern day participants. While a number of opinions prevail as to the precise identification of the nations involved in this battle, many agree on the following: |
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THE INVADING CONFEDERACY
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THE SECOND CONFEDERACY
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| 1. “Rosh” is the Hebrew word translated “chief prince” in the King James Bible.
2. Some take “Rosh, Meschech and Tubal” to be Russia, Moscow and Tobolsk. The ancient title of the Czar of Russia was the “Czar of Russia, Moscow and Tobolsk.” It is worthy of note that the three important forces in the Soviet Union today are Gorbachev in Moscow, Boris Yeltsin of the Republic of Russia and the Mohammedans, centered around Tobolsk. 3. The capital of Georgia, Tbilisi, is from the same origin as the Biblical “Tubal.” 4. Or, Cush. Settling not only in Ethiopia, but throughout central Africa. 5. Or, Phut; primarily the Berbers. |
6. Some, following the Genealogical method of interpretation, identify the migrations of Gomer with the Eastern European countries.
7. Linguistically identified with South Central Russia. Others say Armenia since “Tugya” is the Chaldaic word for “Tribe” thus, “the tribe of Armah” or “Armenians.” 8. Tarshish is variously identified with southern Spain or the British Isles. In either case, it represented the Westernmost reaches of civilization and thus is identified with Imperial England and her “young lions” or colonies, including the United States and Canada. 9. There are two sets of “Sheba and Dedan” in the Bible; one was Hamitic, being sons of Cush (I Chronicles 1:9) and the other Semitic, being descendants of Abraham and Keturah (I Chronicles 1:32). The Semitic descendants settled in southern Saudi Arabia, while the Hamitic ones were nearer to present-day Yemen. |
Gog and Magog
Two mysterious names dominate the 38th chapter of Ezekiel, Gog and the land of Magog. Gog appears to be the head of the confederacy against Israel in this traumatic battle. Magog is given as the sphere of his influence, seemingly encompassing all of the various tribes mentioned in the coalition of enemies.
It is obvious from the context that the battle of Ezekiel 38 occurs before the introduction of Christ’s kingdom, for the result of that battle is “that all men may know that I am the Lord.”
Gog and Magog appear one more time in the Bible, in a far different context. This is found in Revelation 20:7, 8:
“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, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.”
Here, a thousand years after the battle of Ezekiel, when evil has been restrained and righteousness has ruled on the earth, we find the same foes appearing once more.
One more reference is worthy of note – Numbers 24:7 – a Messianic promise of Israel’s Millennial king:
“He shall pour the water out of his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters, and his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted.”
The Septuagint and other ancient manuscripts here read, “Gog” instead of “Agag.” The reference seems clear in showing the height of Messiah’s throne to be above that of his chief adversary – Satan, the devil.
Therefore it seems that in the name Gog we have a reference to the real leader of the hosts of the north against Israel, Satan himself. The land of Magog refers to his entire dominion.
These nations apparently will be brought into this battle after having been previously involved. The Lord himself takes credit for causing them to once again invade Israel:
”I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army.” (Ezekiel 38:4)
From another prophecy of the same conflict, Zechariah 14:1-3, it appears that at first the battle will go against Israel, so much so that “the city shall be taken.” It is at this desperate turning point for Israel, with its back against the wall, that both Zechariah and Ezekiel prophesy a dramatic turn of events.
“Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when He fought in the day of battle.” – Zechariah 14:3
The method employed by this fighting of the Lord is implied in Ezekiel 38:21-23:
“And I will call for a sword against him throughout all My mountains, saith the Lord God: every man’s sword shall be against his brother. And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. Thus will I magnify Myself, and sanctify Myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the Lord.”
Evidently God will use two methods in turning the tide of battle for Israel. First, he will set the invading horde in disarray, fighting among themselves – “every man’s sword shall be against his brother.”
Anarchy has frequently been a method used by God in defeating Israel’s enemies. This was especially true when he helped Gideon rout the hosts of Midian. Many Old Testament prophecies speak of this outbreak of anarchy which immediately precedes the full establishment of Messiah’s kingdom.
The second notable feature of this battle is that God will fight for Israel in such a manner that it will leave no doubt that the intervention was supernatural. The outcome of this battle will be that then, “they shall know that I am the Lord.”
Nor will this revelation of God’s intervention be restricted to those participating in the conflict itself. In Isaiah 66:18, 19, speaking of the same battle, we read:
“For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see My glory. And I will set a sign among them, and I send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare My glory among the Gentiles.”
With the present world situation favoring a more peaceful relationship between the great power blocs of East and West, and with Middle East developments pointing to an armed conflict that could eventually place Israel in a secure position, it certainly appears possible that we may be on the very brink of the fulfillment of the prophetic words of our text.
We must wait and see, watch and pray, to see whether the world scene around us imports this grand climax or is merely another spasm of world travail with the finale at some point in the future. But whether now or later, one thing is sure – it will come, “for the mouth of the Lord of Hosts hath spoken it.”
– Carl Hagensick