This morning we awoke to the news that Hamas has viciously and unmercifully, attacked Israel from their base at Gaza. This attack was different from terrorist strikes of the past. Assaulting Israeli citizens from across the border with Gaza, entire Israeli families were dragged out of their homes and slaughtered. The aged, the young, babies, and all other members of families were butchered.

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What many many not realize in this attack, are the similarities between the battle described in the Bible through the prophet Ezekiel. In chapters 38 and 39 there is a battle that will take place in the last of the last days, that will likely begin by just such atrocity that we saw today.

The Bible describes three major battles that will take place in the Last Days, that will usher in the return of Jesus from heaven—with His church—described by Revelation chapter 19.

In the Battle of Ezekiel 38 and 39 there will be an alliance between Russia, Iran, Libya, and several Muslim nations in southern Russia. This alliance is forming now.

The Battle of Armageddon: After the seven-year Tribulation, when Jesus returns to earth with His church, the beast who is also called the antichrist will be gathered with the armies of the world to fight Jesus, and seek to kill Him as He returns to the earth.

“And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon.” ~Revelation 16:16

“Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. … And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. …And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army.” ~Revelation 19:11, 14-15, 19

The Battle of Ezekiel 38 and 39: This event takes place either just before or just after the Rapture and the beginning of the seven-year Tribulation. This will happen when Israel is dwelling in safety due to a new seven-year peace plan orchestrated by the antichrist at the beginning of the Tribulation.

“After many days you will be visited. In the latter years you will come into the land of those brought back from the sword and gathered from many people on the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate; they were brought out of the nations, and now all of them dwell safely.” ~Ezekiel 38:8

The Battle of Gog and Magog: Occurs at the end of the one thousand-year reign of Jesus Christ on the earth, as satan is released from prison and he goes out to deceive the nations.

“Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea.” ~Revelation 20:7-8

• The Battle of Ezekiel 38 and 39 occurs either just before or just after the Rapture, when a seven-year peace plan is signed by Israel and the surrounding nations.
• The Battle of Armageddon takes place seven years later, just after Jesus returns to earth.
• The Battle of Gog and Magog happens after the one thousand-year reign of Jesus.

There has been some confusion over the battle of Armageddon and the battle described in Ezekiel Chapters 38 and 39.

Armageddon and the Battle of Ezekiel 38 are different:

• In Ezekiel 38: Russia invades from the north.
• At Armageddon: the nations come from every direction.⁠ ~Revelation 19:17-19, Daniel 11:44
• In Ezekiel 38: Russia invades to take Israel’s wealth.
• At Armageddon: The invasion is to destroy Jesus and His saints.⁠ ~Revelation 19:19
• In Ezekiel 38: Gog leads the Russian invasion.
• At Armageddon: The antichrist leads the Battle.⁠ ~~Revelation 19:19

Jesus will fulfill this Old Testament Prophecy by His return to the earth with His church at the end of the seven-year Tribulation period. He is coming the second time as King of kings and Lord of lords.

The strategy for this final Battle of Armageddon is laid out in Daniel Chapter 11.

“At the time of the end the king of the South (Egypt) shall attack him; (Antichrist) and the king of the north (Russia) shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, and pass through. he (Antichrist) shall also enter the glorious land, (Israel) and many countries shall be overthrown; but these shall escape from his hand: edom, moab, and the prominent people of ammon. (Jordan) he shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of egypt shall not escape. he shall have power over the treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of egypt; also the libyans and ethiopians shall follow at his heels. but news from the east and the north shall trouble him; therefore he shall go out with great fury to destroy and annihilate many. and he shall plant the tents of his palace between the seas and the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and no one will help him.”

At the end of the seven-year Tribulation, the Antichrist is headquartered in Babylon (Iraq).

The King of the South (Egypt), along with the North African nations of Libya and Ethiopia, launch a rebellion against the troops of the antichrist who are in Israel. They are hoping to knock out the antichrist’s forces who are in Jerusalem.

While the antichrist is in Babylon, he hears a report that Egypt, Ethiopia, and Libya are rebelling…

The King of the North (Russia) also comes to assist the Egyptians and the North Africans in their attack of the antichrist’s armies. The Russians will deceive the King of the South, as they are coming to help the antichrist. Russian forces will descend from the North into Egypt and carry away Egypt’s treasures.

Today we see that the alliance between Russia and China is increasing rapidly

The King of the South (Egypt), Libya, and Ethiopia are coming North towards Israel. The King of the North (Russia) is coming South towards Israel. China, Japan, India, and other armies are coming East towards Israel. The antichrist departs Babylon in an effort to stop the rebellion. He sets up his tents between the Mediterranean sea and the Temple in the Jezreel Valley of Megiddo.

Suddenly as the antichrist moves south, he hears a report that a 200 million man-army is approaching from the East. This news causes him a great deal of concern. Coming back to Israel, the antichrist is trying to keep the territory he has already conquered. Russia coming down, Egypt coming up—all converging on the Valley of Megiddo. For a detailed description of these events, see the Book of Daniel Chapter 11.

These are the events predicted by Isaiah Chapter 63, verses 1-2, the topic of this prophecy of the Messiah. Jesus will fulfill this prediction when He returns with His church from heaven, at the end of the seven-year Tribulation. He will touch down at the Mount of Olives and then move up to the waiting forces gathered in the Jezreel Valley, to fight the Battle of Armageddon.

“For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem; The city shall be taken, The houses rifled, And the women ravished. Half of the city shall go into captivity, But the remnant of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then the LORD will go forth And fight against those nations, As He fights in the day of battle. And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, Which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, From east to west, Making a very large valley; Half of the mountain shall move toward the north And half of it toward the south.” ~Zechariah 14:2−4

We know that Jesus will return to the same place He departed from—the Mount of Olives. This was predicted by the angels who stood nearby when He ascended back to heaven, as recorded in the Book of Acts.

“And while the disciples looked steadfastly toward heaven as Jesus went up, behold, two angels stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey.”~ Acts 1:10-12

Coming With Vengeance

Isaiah continues his description of the Messiah’s return as He seeks vengeance on those who hate Him, and bringing salvation for everyone who waits for Him.

Isaiah Writes The Old Testament Prediction:

“Say to those who are fearful-hearted, “Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, With the recompense of God; He will come and save you.” ~Isaiah 35:4

The New Testament Fulfillment:

“Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.” ~Hebrews 9:28

The People during the Great Tribulation: And they said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!” ~Revelation 6:16

John’s description of Jesus as He rides out of heaven, coming back to earth to battle:

“Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.” ~Revelation 19:11-15

The Events of Messiah’s Return

The Old Testament is clear in its affirmation that the Messiah will have two appearances on the earth: the first, for salvation; the second, for judgement. Those who will live through the horrors of the seven-year Tribulation will find Jesus visiting the earth in 21 judgments that will cause two-thirds of the people of the earth to perish. Those who have waited for His return will be removed from the earth before the seven-year Tribulation begins—either by Rapture in bodily form while still alive, or by resurrection for those who have already died believing in Jesus for their salvation. Both the living and the dead who love the Lord will be taken from the earth to meet Him in the air.

“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.”~ 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

This current war that Israel has declared against Hamas, has all the similarities of the Battle just before or after the Rapture takes place, and the seven year Tribulation begins.

We watch and wait!

• God Will Help Israel Escape the Antichrist’s Armies
• The Land of Palestine: Who Does it Really Belong To?
• Russia Coming From The North: The Tribulation Begins
• The End Of All Things Is At Hand: Modern Parallels To The Past
• The Rapture, the Tribulation, Heaven, Rewards, and Gods Final Judgment
• Timeline For The Last Days: Everything Is Centered On Israel And The Jews

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Categories: Arab Israeli Conflict, Attack on Israel by Russia, Believers Removed before Tribulation, Comparing Islam to Christianity, Eschatology: A Study In The Last Days, Expecting Jesus Return, Islamic Terrorism, Israel in the Last Days, Messianic Prophecies, Messianic Prophecy Bible, Robert Clifton Robinson, Rosh Hashanah and the Rapture, The Battle of Armageddon, The Book of Revelation Commentary, The Prophecy of Daniel 9, The Tribulation Period, Thousand Year Kingdom

Tags: Battle of Armageddon, Ezekiel 38, Palestinian Claim to Israel, Pre Tribulation Rapture, Signs of the last days, The beginning of the Tribulation, The Last Days