There is the prophecy in the Book of Ezekiel where Russia (called “Magog”) & Iran (called “Persia”) invade Israel in the latter days. This can set things in motion that pave the way for the Antichrist and the events at end of the age.

At the first of this prophecy in Ezekiel 38, it describes where there will be an invasion of Israel in the latter years (a phrase denoting the end times) by a Russian-Islamic coalition led by Russia along with major partner Iran. The prophecy tells how the powerful Russian ruler Gog of Magog is turned around and led as it were by a hook in his jaw to invade Israel when he finds himself at the head of this Islamic alliance with Iran of Persia at the forefront.

Major signs are pointing toward this prophecy. In great prophetical importance, Russia and Iran in recent secret meetings in Moscow forged a new military alliance between them in the Middle East where they jointly planned the Russian military move into Syria to takeover military bases there. Then Russia surprised the world with the rapid deployment into Syria of a major air-sea-land Russian expeditionary military force. And Iran with its allies has poured thousands of military forces into Syria.

Already, the Israelis are concerned that Russian troops will be operating in the Golan Heights along with Iranian, Assad-Syrian, and other allied Islamic forces as Hezbollah and other Shia militias, with Russian equipment/support. This would change the balance in the Golan Heights right along the disputed border between Syria and Israel.

A surprise attack especially with modern Russian air force support on an unsuspecting Israel could break through the Golan Heights and give Russia and Iran the high-ground position in the mountain highlands of Israel over the lower-lying regions of the coastal plains and Jordan Valley. Even right now, there is a current Russian-led offensive in the far south of Syria around Daraa, adjacent to the disputed Israeli border in the Golan Heights. And Iran, which is the sworn enemy of Israel who has sworn to wipe Israel off the map, is saying that the Russian participation in that newly energized campaign around Daraa is meant as a warning to Israel!!! The armies of Gog of Magog with Persia are at the borders of Israel.

Ezekiel describes how this leader of Russia has thoughts to arise in his mind and he devises an evil plan against God’s people Israel. How he will ascend on the mountains of Israel, coming like a storm with the troops he leads in a massive surprise attack to take plunder and to take booty. But then God said…. that when Gog comes against the land of Israel, that his fury will show in his face… and they shall know that He is the Lord. When an unsuspecting Israel is alone and facing the overwhelming surprise attack of the Russian-Iranian-Islamic alliance with only diplomatic protests coming from Western Allies and Saudi Arabia, then the Lord God alone in his fire of wrath will destroy this coalition on the mountains and protect Israel.

The Holy Prophecy says at the end of chapter 38 that then “there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel, so that the fish of the sea, the birds of the heavens, the beasts of the field, all creeping things that creep on the earth, and all men who are on the face of the earth shall shake at My presence. The mountains shall be thrown down, the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground. I will call for a sword against Gog throughout all My mountains,” says the Lord God. “Every man’s sword will be against his brother. And I will bring him to judgment with pestilence and bloodshed; I will rain down on him, on his troops, and on the many peoples who are with him, flooding rain, great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. Thus I will magnify Myself and sanctify Myself, and I will be known in the eyes of many nations. Then they shall know that I am the Lord.”

Then Ezekiel chapter 39 goes on to say that “And you, son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: …then I will knock the bow out of your left hand, and cause the arrows to fall out of your right hand. You shall fall upon the mountains of Israel, you and all your troops and the peoples who are with you… And I will send fire on Magog and on those who live in security in the coastlands. Then they shall know that I am the Lord. So I will make My holy name known in the midst of My people Israel, and I will not let them profane My holy name anymore. Then the nations shall know that I am the Lord, the Holy One in Israel. Surely it is coming, and it shall be done,” says the Lord God”

“Then those who dwell in the cities of Israel will go out and set on fire and burn the weapons,…and they will make fires with them for seven years;… and they will plunder those who plundered them, and pillage those who pillaged them,” says the Lord God…. “It will come to pass in that day that I will give Gog a burial place there in Israel, the valley of those who pass by east of the sea; and it will obstruct travelers, because there they will bury Gog and all his multitude. Therefore they will call it the Valley of Hamon Gog. For seven months the house of Israel will be burying them, in order to cleanse the land.”

In a one day battle, the Lord God Himself intervenes when Russia and Iran attack Israel, and He destroys Gog and his alliance armies supernaturally and they fall upon the mountains of Israel; just as he demonstrated His power against Egypt and Pharaoh in delivering His chosen people. In His supernatural arsenal against the Russian Gog, God uses a great earthquake that is described as such a momentous event it causes panic and confusion to where Gog’s coalition forces will turn against each other and start killing each other in a massive case of friendly fire.

And there is such human carnage and blood with remains on the battlefield that it is described as a judgment with pestilence and bloodshed. There are so many dead that it will take seven months for Israel to bury them. Along with the earthquake there is such upheaval in nature that there is flooding rain with great hailstones, and fire and brimstone; all of this also causing their weapons of warfare to be knocked out and fall ineffective. Afterwards, the Scripture says then Israel will go out and set on fire and burn the weapons…and they will make fires with them for seven years.

Also, Ezekiel says the Lord God not only causes the armies of Gog, Persia and the Islamic coalition to fall and die on the battlefield in the mountains of Israel, but He also sends fire on Magog in the land of Russia itself and also on those described as who live in security in the coastlands. This describing that the conflict also triggers ramifications with consequences of destruction by fire in Russia and other countries, which is something accomplished by God – either directly by His Hand or through such as perhaps an exchange of nuclear missiles by the countries.

The effect of this judgement of destruction by God upon these armies and countries of Russia, Iran and its Islamic coalition, is that Israel knows again that Jehovah is Lord and renews their reverence and worship of His holy name; and it also makes nations to know that He is the Lord and the Holy One in Israel.

It’s important to understand that the war described in Ezekiel 38-39 is not the same as the war that will come at the end of the Great Tribulation. That war is a different one named Armageddon which is a world-wide war involving all nations led by a different leader, the Antichrist or false Christ who is from the revived Roman Empire of Europe leading a one-world government. In that war at the end of the Tribulation the Lord Jesus returns to earth and defeats the Antichrist and establishes His millennial kingdom.

But the results of the chapters 38-39 Ezekiel Prophecy, which happens after fulfillment of the dry bones prophecy in chapter 37 of the people regathered into Israel as a nation again, can pave the way as the entrance ramp for the end-time events of the tribulation. For just as the world was surprised with the attack on Israel, it will also be surprised with the rapture of the Church which is not appointed to wrath but delivered even by Jesus through the rapture from the wrath to come. And with the more Christianized gentile countries of the West disconcerted and in disarray, and with Russia and the Islamic countries beaten, broken, and devastated, there will be a huge power vacuum in Eurasia. Also, the world will be horrified with this Gog instigated conflict and its results, which had Israel at its center, causing a world-wide outcry for peace.

This will set the stage for the emergence of a European Union Political and Religious Super State that fills the void in Eurasia as the one worldwide political, religious, economic, and military power. And along with it is also the emergence of its dynamic and powerful political leader of this revived Roman Empire, the Antichrist, who is supported by the false prophet leader of the one world Roman apostate church. Describing himself as friend and protector of Israel, the Antichrist will tell the world he has a plan for peace and will sign a covenant with Israel bringing a peace to the Middle-East making him adored by the world as its undisputed leader, and thus entering the tribulation.

Now living in peace and also with Islamic resistance out of the way, Israel has the opportunity to rebuild their temple and to practice their Jewish worship. Until the pride and corrupt power of the Antichrist turns him against Israel and he commits the abomination of desolation in the Jewish temple declaring himself as God. And he breaks the peace covenant and launches an aggressive campaign of persecution and war against Israel. This will ultimately bring the world powers down a path to the final battle of Armageddon at the end of the Great Tribulation, where the real Prince of Peace Jesus Christ returns to earth at Mount of Olives at Jerusalem with his Saints and establishes true peace in the world.

The signs of the times are pointing toward the fulfillment of Ezekiel’s prophecy for Gog of Magog and Persia to attack Israel which can have major implications for the last days. Let us pray for the peace of Jerusalem and Israel and for the gospel of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ to be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. In Jesus Name, Amen.