Chapter 3: WHERE do they invade?

There is no question that they will invade the Nation of ISRAEL that has recently been regathered from the nations. 

Ezekiel 38:7: “Prepare yourself and be ready, you and all your armies that are gathered about you; and be a guard (leader) for them.” “Be prepared; yes prepare yourself, you and all your companies that are assembled about you, and you be a guard and a commander for them”(Amplified). Gog of Russia will build a military coalition and “be prepared" to strike its target. This verse informs us that Russia will arm and equip this vast confederacy of nations and will assume command of their armies, for the attack on the restored nation of Israel. Aside from Russia, it would be difficult to name any other nation to the north of Israel capable of leading such a huge confederacy of nations. Russia has indeed provided the weapons, and trained the military officers and intelligence staff of all the nations listed in this Prophecy - exactly as the Bible foretold. 

Russians will not invade Israel alone. The only war that Russia has ever fought alone (against Afghanistan) was lost, and it hurt her reputation. Instead, Russia will arm and equip a vast confederacy. This will probably be the most massive invasion army assembled in the history of the world - all in opposition to Israel. The prophet says Gog will bring “many nations with you, hordes gathered about you” (Ezekiel 38:6-7). It is significant that Russia's confederates, as disclosed in Ezekiel 38:5- 6, are among her current friends.

Ezekiel 38:8: “After many days you will be visited. In the latter years (at the end of the Age, just before the Messiah’s Coming), you will come into the Land of those brought back from the sword and gathered from many peoples on the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate; they were brought out of the nations, and now all of them dwell safely (securely).” 

This describes this Jewish State as being a Land of people brought back from the sword; who were gathered and brought out of many nations; with mountains that have been a continual waste. This does not describe an Israel that ever existed in ancient times, but is true of present-day Israel. This began occurring toward the end of the 19th century, culminating with statehood in 1948. Since then, the waste places have been rebuilt and resettled on a more massive scale. The target of this invasion is an Israel that has been regathered to her Land after being scattered to the nations for a long time. After having been oppressed (‘under the sword’) in many of these nations, she now dwells securely, because she has again become her own sovereign nation in her own Land, which she she is restoring from desolation. Now in the latter years of the Age, the time just before Messiah returns, with Israel back in the Land, this invasion will take place. This Prophecy of Israel’s Regathering to her Land has indeed been fulfilled during the last Century. 

This prophecy is totally dependant upon the existing state of Israel. When Ezekiel set forth these things, most of Israel was already in captivity. There was no independent state of Israel from that time until 1948. Only then was the Stage set for this very prophecy to begin to come to pass. Ezekiel had prophesied that Russia and a massive Islamic alliance are going to invade Israel. But for 1900 years the Jewish people had been scattered all over the world, and, there was no nation of Israel to invade! While Jews were fighting for their very survival as a people in the Holocaust, the idea of the Rebirth of Israel would have still seemed like nothing more than an illusion, yet miraculously it came to pass a few years later. 

Ezekiel 36-39 is history written beforehand, describing the Re-gathering of Israel to her Land in the end times, followed by an all-out invasion of Israel by a massive assault force. On May 14, 1948, Israel became a nation against all odds, preparing the way for Ezekiel 38-39 to be fulfilled. As we look around today, other events are further setting the stage for this prophecy to come to pass. Although Israel is still in unbelief concerning her Messiah, this was also prophesied here (as well as in Ezekiel 36-37), for it is only after this battle do we read (in Ezekiel 39) that many in Israel turn to the Lord. 

The Prophecy also predicted the rise of Russia and its threats to the new nation of Israel and even revealed the battle plans and allied nations that Russia would use. Again, the rise of Russia as a major world-power has only happened in history since the 2nd World-War. 

The nations listed in Ezekiel 38 are all Islamic except Russia, and most have a common hatred for Israel. It is only in recent years that it is conceivable that these various Islamic nations, would be a threat and a danger to Israel. 
So, again we see, present conditions have lined up for the fulfilment of this Prophecy, with Israel established in her Land, and Russia an anti-semitic superpower to the North, allied to many Islamic nations united in their desire to solve the ‘problem’ of Israel. 

God predicted events that are strikingly foreshadowed by what we see developing before our eyes every day on the daily news. The jigsaw-puzzle picture on the top of the box is taking form. There is a remarkable correspondence between the trend of world events and what God predicted thousands of years ago through Ezekiel. The world today is like a powder keg with a lighted fuse, with Israel at the centre of the controversy. Present conditions indicate the fuse could very soon burn its way to its explosive end.

Ezekiel 38:9: “You (Gog with all his armies) will ascend, coming like a storm, covering the Land like a cloud, you and all your troops and many peoples with you.” 

This describes a sudden, overwhelming and unstoppable force coming against Israel; and covering the whole Land. This invasion that would come without warning in which the enemy invades like a “storm” or “cloud to cover the land.” It is possible that part of what he saw was a massive airborne invasion force, and used the best words he had available to describe it. 

Gog knows Israel is vulnerable to being a sudden, organised attack on many fronts, because she is such a small nation (see map below). In the face of these massive armies, Israel’s situation will seem hopeless. But we need to remember that God has already written the script for the end times. 7 times in Ezekiel 38-39 we read: “Thus says the Lord God”(38:3,10,14,17; 39:1,17,25). Another 8 times: “declares the Lord God.” This is His Word! This prediction in comes directly from Him. He is the author of the script.