THE COMING RUSSIAN INVASION OF ISRAEL
by Alan Yusko

We are now in the last days before the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. Since 1948, when Israel became a nation, God's prophetic clock has been ticking toward the end of this present age. When the Lord Jesus returns He will setup His promised Kingdom and rule on earth from Jerusalem. However, before the glorious return of the Lord Jesus the world must endure its darkest hours. Israel still must face the 70th week of Daniels prophecy. This seven-year period begins when the leaders of Israel and the anti-Christ sign a seven-year peace treaty. During this time the anti-Christ will rise to power and rule on earth. Also during this seven-year period, God will perform all the judgments on earth found in the book of Revelation. There will be the seven seal judgments, the seven trumpet judgments, and the seven bowl judgments. There will also be terrible wars on earth with the last Great War being Armageddon. The Lord Jesus returns to earth right at the climax of Armageddon.

This tract describes one of the great wars coming upon the world. One day Russia and her allies will march into the Middle East with the goal of destroying the nation of Israel. Although the details of this war are very clear, the timing is not. Some speculate that it will occur just before the 70th week of Daniel's prophecy. Others say in the middle of the 70th week and yet others say it will be a part of the battle of Armageddon. Although the timing is uncertain, the fact still remains that it will happen. At the end of this tract, I will give my opinion as to the timing of the Russian invasion. Since we are now approaching the end of this present age, we can now see the events setting up for this Great Russian led war against Israel. This tract will give a description of this coming Russian war from Ezekiel chapters 38 & 39.

First, we will look at a couple of terms used:

GOG = The ruler of Russia
Magog = the land of Russia

I don't plan to go into any word studies or in depth histories about Gog and Magog. If you wish to dig deeper as to why Magog is Russia etc, then there are good books out there that go into great detail about that subject. Some suggested authors are: Hal Lindsay & Dwight Pentecost.

We will start by looking at Ezekiel chapter 38:

Ezekiel 38
1. And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
2 Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him,

God is speaking and whenever He makes a prophecy AGAINST anyone then that means trouble. God is not giving a prophecy of blessing for Russia and her allies. Instead, it is a prophecy of doom and judgment.

3 And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I [am] against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal:

Here God says that He is against the ruler of Russia. Gog is the Russian ruler who will command the nation for this great battle. He will be a fierce anti-God type of man. God considers him an enemy and states that He is against this man. Currently in Russia, the leader is Mr. Yeltsin. However, his health is failing and one day a Russian hard-liner will come to power who God will refer to as Gog ruler of the land of Magog.

4 And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts [of armour, even] a great company [with] bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords:

God will bring the nation into judgment. God says He will put hooks into thy jaws. This is a reference to the fact that the leader and the nation has no choice. They will be brought down into judgment and there is nothing at all they can do about it. Verse 4 also indicates that Russia will have a great army for this battle. It will be a very large, well-supplied army and all of the people well prepared for war. Currently the people in Russia are hungry and the nation has economic problems. However, despite many domestic problems Russia continues to arm itself and build its great army.

5 Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet:
6 Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: [and] many people with thee.

Verse 5 & 6 above lists the allies of this great Russian invasion force. Persia would include Iran and Iraq. Ethiopia and Libya are mentioned. Gomer I've heard refers to Germany but there is some speculation as to the exact nation. The house of Togarmah refers to Turkey. Verse 6 indicates that when Russia attacks there will be 'many people with thee'. The allies of Russia will support the invasion to the Middle East and there will be a large number of soldiers included. Watch for these nations to continue to get closer with Russia. Iran for example has a peace treaty with Russia. Iran needs weapons and Russia needs money. Both countries has what the other needs. As a result, they have become very close in their diplomatic relations.

7 Be thou prepared, and prepare for thyself, thou, and all thy company that are assembled unto thee, and be thou a guard unto them.

Here God is commanding Russia and all the allies to prepare for this time. Build the biggest armies possible because judgment is coming. The bigger the army the more glory God will receive when He judges and destroys this wicked army.

8 After many days 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.

When will this happen? Verse 8 gives some clues. 1) It will happen in the latter years. Well we are in the latter years right now. 2) Israel is back in the land as a nation. We are witnessing today the regathering of the children of Israel from every nation of the world. The land of Israel has been waste but now that the Jew is returning home, the land is blooming like a rose. The returning Jew to Israel is a major prophetic event.

Where will this take place? Verse 8 says that this army will 'come into the land'. This is a reference to the land of Israel, the Holy Land.

9 Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee.

Again another reference to the fact that the invasion will involve a large number of people. Russia and the allies will form a great army and attack the land of Israel.

10 Thus saith the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, [that] at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought:
11 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,
12 To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places [that are now] inhabited, and upon the people [that are] gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land.

These verses describe the motive for the invasion. Russia wants to take a spoil. It has much to gain from conquering Israel. They would have a warm water port and a strong foothold in the Middle East. With Europe above them and Africa below, Russia would have an excellent military position. There is also resources in the land, which could be exploited. Russia could also be in a position to cut off oil supplies to the west. Why go to war with the west when they can be damaged by just cutting off their oil supplies.

Verse 12 also refers to the 'people [that are] gathered out of the nations'. This is the Jewish people. Hundreds of years ago, this prophecy could never have been fulfilled because Israel did not exist. However, everything changed when the returning Jews formed the nation of Israel once again. The Jew has been returning to Israel from every nation on earth.

13 Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil?

The other nations of the world will see this invasion and realize the greed behind the motive of the Russians. These other nations won't do anything... they will just talk about it. (they act like typical politicians)

14. Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say unto Gog, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In that day when my people of Israel dwelleth safely, shalt thou not know [it]?

Here God is speaking and He realizes that Russia is very aware of the fact that Israel has returned to their land and has prospered.

15 And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army:

This invasion will come from the north and into the land of Israel. It will be a very mighty army that attacks Israel.

16 And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes.

Russia & allies will attack Israel. There will be so many men in the invading army that it is referred to as a 'cloud to cover the land'. Again, God states that He is bringing this army down into His land for judgment. The result is that the godless people of the world (heathen) will realize the greatness of God.

17 Thus saith the Lord GOD; [Art] thou he of whom I have spoken in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, which prophesied in those days [many] years that I would bring thee against them?

God is the only one who knows events before they happen. He has clearly warned of this coming invasion so it should not be a big surprise.

18 And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, [that] my fury shall come up in my face.

The result of attacking Israel will bring anger to God. To attack Israel is to attack the apple of God's eye and God is aware of what happens in His land.

19 For in my jealousy [and] in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel;

Shaking in the land is one of the by-products of the judgment of God.

20 So that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that [are] upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground.

God will be personally involved in judgment during this invasion. Everyone will know that God is the one protecting Israel and judging this invading army.

21 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.

God begins to destroy the invading army. First confusion will come upon the soldiers so that they will attack and kill each other.

22 And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that [are] with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone.

God will also send plague, hailstones, fire, and brimstone. Some of this could refer in part to the use of chemical and nuclear weapons during this war.

23 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.

When God destroys the invading Russian army, the entire world will know it. Everyone will know that God exists and that He has done this thing.

Ezekiel 39
1. Therefore, thou son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I [am] against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal:

Chapter 39 begins with God again stating that He is against Gog the ruler of Magog (Russia).

2 And I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee, and will cause thee to come up from the north parts, and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel:

When God destroys the invading army, He will spare 1/6 of them. 5/6 of the army will be destroyed but 1/6 will return home in defeat. Again, this verse mentions that this invasion will come from the north into Israel.

3 And I will smite thy bow out of thy left hand, and will cause thine arrows to fall out of thy right hand.

All the military training will be useless. God will make the weapons of the invading army useless in this invasion.

4 Thou shalt fall upon the mountains of Israel, thou, and all thy bands, and the people that [is] with thee: I will give thee unto the ravenous birds of every sort, and [to] the beasts of the field to be devoured.

There will be massive death as God destroys the invading army. As a result, He will give their dead flesh over to be eaten by the birds and by the animals. The scavengers will have a great feast when God destroys the invading army.

5 Thou shalt fall upon the open field: for I have spoken [it], saith the Lord GOD.

God will destroy the people of the army where they stand. Once God starts pouring out His judgment on this army, there will be massive death.

6 And I will send a fire on Magog, and among them that dwell carelessly in the isles: and they shall know that I [am] the LORD.

Verse 6 is very interesting. It indicates that God will send 'a fire on Magog and among them that dwell carelessly in the isles'. This could very well be a worldwide exchange of nuclear weapons. Sending a 'fire' on a nation is the result that a nuclear bomb would accomplish.

7 So will I make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel; and I will not [let them] pollute my holy name any more: and the heathen shall know that I [am] the LORD, the Holy One in Israel.

God has been seemingly silent for many years on earth. During that time apostasy and atheism has flourished. However, God will keep silent no longer. He will destroy the invading army and everyone on earth will know that God exists.

8. Behold, it is come, and it is done, saith the Lord GOD; this [is] the day whereof I have spoken.

These things will surely happen just as God said they will. The interesting news is we can see Russia and the allies preparing for this coming war right now!

9 And they that dwell in the cities of Israel shall go forth, and shall set on fire and burn the weapons, both the shields and the bucklers, the bows and the arrows, and the hand staves, and the spears, and they shall burn them with fire seven years:

After God destroys the invading army, the people of Israel begin to clean up. The weapons will be used for fire (for heat, cooking etc). It is interesting to note that Russia uses a special hard wood in their weapons called lignostone. This hard wood burns like coal. The people of Israel will be able to burn the weapons as they would coal. It will take them seven years to finish burning up all the weapons.

10 So that they shall take no wood out of the field, neither cut down [any] out of the forests; for they shall burn the weapons with fire: and they shall spoil those that spoiled them, and rob those that robbed them, saith the Lord GOD.

During this time, the people of Israel will not cut down trees for burning. Instead, the trees will have a rest and be allowed to grow and mature.

11 And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] I will give unto Gog a place there of graves in Israel, the valley of the passengers on the east of the sea: and it shall stop the [noses] of the passengers: and there shall they bury Gog and all his multitude: and they shall call [it] The valley of Hamongog.

Israel will have lots of work to do just in burying the dead from this invading army. The place where the dead army will be buried will be called: Hamongog.

12 And seven months shall the house of Israel be burying of them, that they may cleanse the land.

There will be so many dead invading soldiers that it will take the Jews seven month to bury all of them.

13 Yea, all the people of the land shall bury [them]; and it shall be to them renown the day that I shall be glorified, saith the Lord GOD.

As the Jews bury the invading army, they will consider and think about God's great deliverance. As a result, they will be thankful and give glory to their God.

14 And they shall sever out men of continual employment, passing through the land to bury with the passengers those that remain upon the face of the earth, to cleanse it: after the end of seven months shall they search.

Men will work full time at burying the dead. They will search the land looking for dead bodies to bury.

15 And the passengers [that] pass through the land, when [any] seeth a man's bone, then shall he set up a sign by it, till the buriers have buried it in the valley of Hamongog.

When someone finds the bones or dead body of one of the invaders, it will be collected and buried in Hammongog.

16 And also the name of the city [shall be] Hamonah. Thus shall they cleanse the land.

The land will be cleansed at the end of the seven months when all the dead are buried.

17 And, thou son of man, thus saith the Lord GOD; Speak unto every feathered fowl, and to every beast of the field, Assemble yourselves, and come; gather yourselves on every side to my sacrifice that I do sacrifice for you, [even] a great sacrifice upon the mountains of Israel, that ye may eat flesh, and drink blood.

This is a reference to the animals that will be feasting on the dead bodies of the invading army.

18 Ye shall eat the flesh of the mighty, and drink the blood of the princes of the earth, of rams, of lambs, and of goats, of bullocks, all of them fatlings of Bashan.
19 And ye shall eat fat till ye be full, and drink blood till ye be drunken, of my sacrifice, which I have sacrificed for you.
20 Thus ye shall be filled at my table with horses and chariots, with mighty men, and with all men of war, saith the Lord GOD.

The animals will eat the soldiers as well as their horses. There will be blood and death and gore throughout the land of Israel. The scavengers will have no shortage of food.

21 And I will set my glory among the heathen, and all the heathen shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid upon them.

All the godless people throughout the world will see that God IS and the He has judged this wicked army.

22 So the house of Israel shall know that I [am] the LORD their God from that day and forward.

Today Israel is living in unbelief. They are not walking with their God. Many Jews are atheists or just don't care about their great heritage. However all this will change as everyone in Israel will recognize their God. When God destroys the invading army, everyone in Israel will know their God did it.

23. And the heathen shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity: because they trespassed against me, therefore hid I my face from them, and gave them into the hand of their enemies: so fell they all by the sword.

Israel has been scattered to the nations for almost 2000 years. However, the discipline to the nation of Israel is not permanent. God is now bringing back the Jew to their homeland in Israel. We are privileged to see this regathering. It is a major fulfillment of Bible prophecy.

24 According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions have I done unto them, and hid my face from them.

Israel sinned greatly against their God...and God disciplined them as a result.

25 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Now will I bring again the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel, and will be jealous for my holy name;

Now is the time when the Jew returns home. God is the one who is doing the regathering of the Jew back to Israel.

26 After that they have borne their shame, and all their trespasses whereby they have trespassed against me, when they dwelt safely in their land, and none made [them] afraid.
27 When I have brought them again from the people, and gathered them out of their enemies' lands, and am sanctified in them in the sight of many nations;

The regathering of the Jew is being done right before the eyes of the world. Everyone can see it although most ignore or don't understand what they see.

28 Then shall they know that I [am] the LORD their God, which caused them to be led into captivity among the heathen: but I have gathered them unto their own land, and have left none of them any more there.

Israel will know that they were scattered because of their sin. They will also know that God has regathered them back to the Holy land.

29 Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.

Israel will no longer be separated from their God. They will turn back to Him and He will be their God.

CONCLUSION:

We have seen a description of the coming Russian invasion against Israel. It is an exciting time to be alive when this prophecy is being setup for fulfillment. Right now Russia is arming itself as well as her allies. A huge army will be formed and will one day attack the nation of Israel. The only question is about the timing of this invasion. My personal opinion is that it will occur near the end of the seven-year period. It will probably be one of the battles associated with the battle of Armageddon. Why do I lean to the end of the seven-year period for the timing? Well above, we saw that Israel would be burning the weapons for seven years and would not touch the trees of the woods during that time. If the invasion happened before the seven-year period then there would be no need to preserve the trees. During the trumpet and bowl, judgments in Revelation, all the trees (and greenery) will be burned up. So there is really no reason to preserve the trees if the invasion occurred before the seven-year period. However if the invasion occurred near the end things are different. The trees have already been burned and the forest needs time to recover. When Israel burns the weapons for seven years, the trees/forest will have that needed time of recovery.

Today we can see Russia and her allies already preparing the great army that is doomed to destruction. This means the rapture cannot be too far into the future. Future event cast their shadows and today we can see the shadow of this great invasion.

Soon God will rapture the Church (body of Spirit-reborn believers) to heaven. After that, the anti-Christ will rise to power. The anti-Christ will sign a seven-year peace treaty with Israel. This will begin the 70th week of Daniel's prophecy. In the midst of the seven years, the anti-Christ will enter the rebuilt Jewish Temple in Jerusalem and there proclaim himself to be God. During this time, Russia will cement the relations with the nations allied with her. When the time is right, God will use the 'hook in the jaw' and bring down the huge invading army to Israel for judgment. When that occurs everything we studied in Ezekiel chapters, 38 and 39 will be fulfilled.

Even so come, Lord Jesus.

as of 7-2005

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