Gog –Magog War

What will Happen to Israel in the Coming Days?

Israel is God’s “Time Clock” for the end of days for this earth.

by Joyce Webb    2024

Some people think that this earth and the people on it will continue forever.

According to the Bible—it will not go on forever.

This earth and the people on it will come to an end.

Afterwards—–God will create a new heaven and a new earth.

The Bible is a story of the people of Israel—from their beginning to their end.

When things end for Israel—that is the end of this world.

If you want to know where we are on God’s “Time Clock”—
Keep watching what happens to Israel.

The Bible tells us what will happen to them—-so as we see these things happen—we know how close we are to the end of time.
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Israel started out as one nation of 12 tribes (groups according to the 12 sons of Jacob). After King David died, his son, Solomon ruled.

Solomon obeyed God for awhile, but later he worshipped the idols of his wives —-See I Kings Chp. 11—so God told his prophet to tell Solomon that because of his disobedience he would be losing the kingdom.

God said—because of his servant, David, he would not do it during Solomon’s lifetime. It would happened after Solomon died.

God would let another family rule over 10 tribes and Solomon’s (David’s line) would have 2 tribes—Judah and Benjamin—which made of the Kingdom of Judah—the Southern Kingdom.   The Northern Kingdom was called Israel and had the most of the tribes.

Israel was one part and Judah was the other part.

As time went on—both Israel and Judah’s people worshipped the idols—of the nations around them.

Judah’s kings and people were most often true to the Lord, more so than Israel’s groups.

God warned them over and over to stop sinning and to stop worshipping idols —–or he would punish them.

Their leaders became dishonest, deceitful, and wicked.

The judges were not honest—they took money from people and then made their judgments to please that person.

Even their priests were doing wicked things.

The people followed what all their leaders were doing.

When God wanted to punish the people for their sin—-sometimes he did not let the rains come and all the fields of food, wheat, etc.
dried up.

Or he would send terrible storms and hail that knocked down all the things growing.

He also allowed other nations to come into their land and fight with them—the enemy won—and took over that part of their land.

Then those nations ruled over Israel and Judah’s people in the part of the land. They made rules that were hard for them and made them work like slaves.

The people of Israel and Judah would pray to God to help them and promise to obey God—-God would come and help them—-then the people would forget God —and start doing wrong again.

Finally, God said “It is enough.” He warned them that another nation would come and destroy them—if they did not change.

They did not change.

Babylon was a large kingdom with a mighty army.

They came into Israel and killed many of people and then they took hundreds of them back to Babylon as captives.

They destroyed the temple and took all the gold and expensive things from the temple.

The people of Israel were captives in Babylon for 70 years.

Because of Babylon’s own sins—-God let them be conquered by another nation. They became ruled by Persia.

Then God moved on the King of Persia (which is now Iran)— he allowed some of the Jews, (Hebrews) to go back home to their land of Israel.

Later, after Jesus’ time—-there were other wars, –the Romans came and destroyed many of the Jews—and took over the land.

Then other nations took over after the Romans.

Many of the Jews were taken to other countries.

Some of the Jews left and moved by their own choice to go to other countries to live.

We know that there were many Jews in Spain, Russia and Germany, Poland. Some went to northern Africa. Many came to New York City in the United States.

Hitler tried to kill all of them in Germany. He did kill 6 million of them.
Other countries where the Jews lived—their leaders killed many of
the Jews also.

The people of the different lands turned against the Jews and treated them badly.

The Byzantines from Turkey, took over Israel‘s land— and then the Ottomans from Turkey took it over.

Then Britain was in charge of Israel’s land.

The land of Israel was now called Palestine. Mostly Arab people lived there.

A leader from the British government—named Balfour— announced that a “national home for the Jewish people” should be established.” This was in 1917.

There was much argument about it. And countries were still fighting. So not much was done for a long time.

The fighting continued. The Arabs that lived in the land of “Palestine” did not want the Jews to be there.

But more Jews came coming into the land —from other countries.

The Jews knew that land had been theirs for thousands of years—-and they wanted to live there again.

The Arabs -Palestine people living there fought back—but the Jews kept coming—and controlled much of the land.

In 1948, the land was declared a nation owned by Israel.

(I am going to use my own words and the New Living Bible version for the scriptures—–to make it easy to read.)

In Ezekiel –Chp. 37 Vs. 15-23 —
(God speaks to Ezekiel and tells him that the tribes of Israel will all be joined together as one nation.)

Vs. 20 God said— I will bring them home to their own land from the places they have been scattered.

Vs. 21, 22 God said—They will not sin any more by worshipping idols. And I will put my temple among them. I will be their God. They will be my people.

God told this to Ezekiel in Old Testament times.

Jews from many nations were coming “home” to the land of Israel right after World War II.

It happened just like God said.

Isaiah 66:7-9 God also told Isaiah—”Has a nation ever been born in a single day? Has a country ever come forth in a mere moment?”

That happen in 1948. In one day, Israel was declared to be a nation.

So the promise—prophecy that God told Ezekiel and Isaiah –and others—-came true.

Israel has been a nation now for 76 years.

One thing that the Jews finally learned from all their hard times of punishment from their enemies—-was not to worship idols.

This decision to give the Jews their own home land —-increased the anger and dislike that the Arabs had against the Jews.

Especially, since the Arabs were living there—and the Jews took over.

The anti-Jew feelings of Hitler— in Germany–seemed to encourage other countries to be against the Jews.

The decision for Israel to have their own land—has made Israel have to fight wars with the Arabs about the land.

The Arabs of Palestine have many friends —Arabs from all the Arab nations around them—Iran, Turkey, Arabia, Lebanon, Yemen,
and many others.

These nations all are willing to fight against Israel. They want Israel out of the land. They want to destroy all of Israel’s people.

They say that Israel came into their land and stole their land.

Israel says that the land first belonged them —-and they were driven out of it—and now they want it back.

The truth is— the Jews were there first.

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History of the Arabs and Jews.

A little history from Abraham’s time.

Abraham lived in a area where people worshipped idols.

Abraham knew Shem–Noah’s son.

So Abraham knew all about Adam, creation, the flood, Noah—-he knew about God in heaven and all that had happened since creation.

God called Abraham to leave the area where he was living—to go out on his own—to live where God led him—-to be willing to become a new group of people.

God promised Abraham to give him land—a large area of land.

The Bible tells how much land God said he would give to
Abraham. It covers a very large area —-even more area than Israel has now.
There is more land that God said would belong to Israel.

God promised Abraham that he would have a family and the family would grow so big it would be a big nation. And they would live in the land God said he would give them.

The problem of becoming a great nation of people was—Abraham’s wife could not have children.

So how could Abraham become a new group of people?

God promised Abraham —that he would make it happen—- for him to have a son—if Abraham trusted God’s word and followed him.

Abraham chose to follow God and trust him.

For about 20 years—no son came–Sarah—Abraham’s wife had no children.

Sarah decided to “help” God.

She kept talking to Abraham about having sexual relations with her slave maid.

(A slave had to do what they were told.
Hagar, the maid was an Egyptian woman. Sarah got her when Sarah and Abraham lived in Egypt for awhile.)

Any children that the slave had with Abraham–Sarah could claim as her own.

Abraham did not want to do this. He wanted to wait for God to make it happen.

Sarah did not want to wait. Finally, Abraham gave in and went in to Hagar.

Hagar had a son. They called him Ishmael.

But Sarah became jealous of Hagar—-and was not kind to her.

When Ishmael was about 14 or so—God allowed Sarah to get pregnant.

She gave birth to a son. They named him Isaac.

One day, Sarah saw Ishmael making fun of Isaac.
Sarah became so angry that she told Hagar and Ishmael they had to leave.

There was no where to go but out in the desert. It was a long way to any other group of people.

Sarah did not care. She wanted Hagar to go.

Abraham felt badly about it. But he gave Hagar bread and water —hoping she could make it across all that dry land to another group of people.

She was able to get across all that lonely desert area and find another group of people to live with.

Before she left Sarah, God promised Hagar that he would be with her and that her son would live.

God said he would be a wild kind of person. He would be against every man, and every man would be against him.

(This shows us what kind of nature and personality Ishmael and his people would be.)

God said that Ishmael’s family would be a great many people.

Ishmael had 12 sons. From his family of 12 sons came the large group of people—-later known as the Arabs.

Even though Ishmael was sent away from Isaac—-Ishmael did meet with Isaac to bury their father Abraham. Genesis 25:9

During the first few years there seems to be some interaction between Ishmael’s people and Isaac’s people.

But years later things changed.

As time went on,—years later– the people from Ishmael turned from worshipping God—and began following a man who was named Mohammed.

Mohammed began the Muslim religion.

Almost all Arab people are Muslims now days.

And Ishmael’s people—-the Arabs have been against —-Isaac’s people the Jews—Israel—-for many years.

Especially, after it was decided to give the Jews the land in 1948.
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Isaac is God’s promised son to Abraham.

Ishmael is not.

God promised to make Abraham a great nation from his union with his wife, Sarah.

God promised to give him a large area of land—where Israel is now—only much more land than they have now.
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God promised King David—part of Abraham’s family—that because of David’s obedience and trust in God—that David’s family would always rule the kingdom of Israel’s people.

It would be an eternal kingdom. II Samuel 7:16

But if the people turned away from God, God would send other nations in to rule over them.

Then God spoke to Solomon, David’s son, and said the same thing.

I Kings 9:5-8 “I will establish the throne of thy kingdom upon Israel forever—-there shall not fail thee a man upon the throne of Israel.
But if ye shall at all turn from following me, —ye or your children,—– will not keep my commandments and my statutes (laws) —-then I will cut off Israel out of the land.

Israel will become a proverb and byword among the people.
(meaning the word “Jew” would be mocked and spoken against)

We know from reading Israel’s history that their kings and the people did not obey—-over and over–they promised to obey—-they did for awhile—then they forgot God and did what they wanted.

By the time Jesus came to earth and to the Jewish people—the people of Israel were a conquered people and were being ruled over by the Romans.

Years later—after Jesus’ time on earth was over and Jesus went back into heaven—– the Roman leader now ruling— did many hateful things to the people of Israel. Many of the Jews were killed. Many of the Jews escaped to other countries and were scattered to other nations.

The land that had been Israel—-now belonged to other nations and other people moved into it.

And the word “Jew” became a word that was mocked and the Jewish people spoken against and even hated.

For many, many years, other countries ruled over the land.

Then in 1948 they became a country of their own again called Israel.

Now they have a President or Prime Minister who is voted on.
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Even though the people of Israel disobeyed and lost their land for a time—-God brought them back to the land.

When Jesus died, the Romans put a sign on the cross that said—”Jesus, King of the Jews”.

Most of the Jews did not accept Jesus as God’s son. The Jews today still do not accept Jesus as God’s son.

However, Jesus is their King. God has made him their king.

Jesus’ mother was from the line of David—-the tribe of Judah.

From his mother’s side, Jesus is a relative of David.

So in this way, David’s family member is the king.

An eternal king forever, and forever.

And someday, Jesus will reign on earth as King—not only of Israel but of the whole earth.

And Jesus will forever be the King—eternally.
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(Joseph, Mary’s husband was also of the family of David.
Joseph was not a “blood” relative of Jesus.
Jesus was born in Mary—by the Holy Spirit—not by Joseph.)

(Still–today, if a person’s mother is Jewish—-the child is considered Jewish—-no matter what the father is.)

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In Ezekiel Chp. 38 —God tells what will happen to Israel in the future.

Ezekiel does not know how far in the future it will be before these things happen. God said to Ezekiel—– a long time from now—in the distance future.

We know from the history of Israel —that it has not happened yet.

Things today—the fighting that is going on—may be the beginning of what Ezekiel is talking about.

We will not know for sure—until it happens.

But Christians are watching Israel and the Arab nations to see what is going to happen.

God told Ezekiel: I, the Lord, have made a prophecy against Gog of the land of Magog. The prince who rules over the nations of Meshech and Tubal.

The land of Meshech is thought be north of the Black Sea (southern Russia —the area like Ukraine and possibly the Republic of Georgia).

Tubal as an area in central Turkey.

God said—Give this message to him —from me —the Sovereign
Lord,

Gog, I am your enemy. I will turn you around and put hooks into your jaws—and lead you to your destruction.

I will bring your soldiers and men on horses and make you a huge army.

Persia (Iran), and Libya (in northern Africa), will join you.

Gomer part of northern Turkey—and all of their soldiers.

Also, the army of Beth-togarma —northern Turkey

And many others.

Get ready. Be prepared. Keep all the armies around you ready to go.

A long time from now—-you will be called into action.

In the distance future, you will come down upon the land of Israel.

Israel will be in peace—after her recovery from war.—-and after her people have returned to her from many lands.

(After which war? This we do not know.)

You and your allies (friends) a huge army of you—-will roll down on Israel like a storm and cover the land like a cloud.

At that time, you will think evil thoughts and make an evil plan.

You will say, Israel is not protected. I will march against her and destroy these people who live in confidence and think they are safe.

You will say, I will go to those cities that are now filled with people who have come back from other lands.

You will say, I will capture them, and take them as slaves. I will take their things, and riches—-because they are rich and have many cattle. They think they are so great !

But–Sheba (Yemen) and Dedan (Lebanon)—-and Tarshish–history teachers are not sure where Tarshish is. They think it may be on the coast of Spain.

The Bible says—”the merchants of Tarshish and all her young lions”. The “young lions” usually means off-spring or children.

Spain is part of Western Europe. This could mean that parts of Western Europe will join in.

Some have suggested that the “young lions” could mean the United States.

No one is sure what it means.

But these 3 nations will ask—Who are you to rob them (Israel) of their gold?
Who are you to drive away their cattle and steal their goods and make them poor?

God said to Ezekiel– Prophecy against Gog. Give him this message from the Sovereign Lord.

When my people (Israel) are living in peace—in their land—and you come from the far north with your army—-this is what will happen to you.

As everyone watches—–I (God) will show my holiness by what happens to you.

(As “everyone watches” —this is possible these days because of television.)

Then all will know that I am the Lord.

Vs. 18 When Gog comes into the land of Israel—my anger will rise in me.

In my anger, I promise a mighty shaking in the land on that day.

All living things—fish, birds, animals, people—will tremble in fear.

Mountains will be thrown down. Cliffs will fall down.
Walls will fall down.
(An earthquake.)

I will call for a sword against you. Your men will turn against each other—fighting and killing each other.

You will have disease, there will be killing.

I will send hard rain, hail, fire, burning sulfur.
(Seems like a volcano.)

This is how I will show my greatness and holiness and I will make myself known to all nations of the world.

They will know I am the Lord.

I will turn you and drive to toward the mountains of Israel.

I will knock the weapons out of your hand.
You will die in the open fields.

You will be food for the wild animals and vulture birds.

I will rain down fire on Magog—and on all your allies (friends).

Chp. 39 Vs. 9 The people of Israel will go out and pick up your shields, bows, arrows, javelins, spears—-and use them for fuel.
There will be enough to last for 7 years.

(The Bible is using names of weapons that they had at that time in history. Now days, weapons are metal. It will be interesting to see how this prophecy is fulfilled. What will they burn?)

They will take plunder (things) from those armies— who said they would take from Israel.

There will be a huge grave yard for the armies of Gog.
It will be in the Valley of Travelers east of the Dead Sea.

They will change the name to the Valley of Gog’s Army.

It will take 7 months for the people of Israel to bury all the bodies.

Vs. 21 Everyone will see the punishment I have given to Gog and their friends.

And from that time on—-Israel will know that I am the Lord their God.

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When will this war happen? No one knows.

But whenever we see Israel in a war,—- and we see other nations saying they will come fight against Israel—-we wonder—is this going to be this war— that Ezekiel talks about?

There will be a new temple built in Jerusalem.

They have been making things for it for years.

They recently got the “red heifer” cow for the special sacrifice.

We do not know when the temple will be built.

The Bible tells us that the anti-christ—the one world leader–that is coming—will set up his own image in their temple.

That is during the time the Bible calls “the tribulation”.

The “rapture”—the catching up of the true Christians into the clouds happens before the tribulation.

Jesus will come in the clouds—a trumpet sounds—true Christians are caught up into the clouds with Jesus.

Keep watching what happens to Israel. Then you will know how close we are to the rapture.