Welcome to the second issue of the End Times Berean Watchman Report! Let me help you track the specific trends and events that the Bible tells us to be watching out for.
In this second issue, we will be looking at Israel and the promises of both war and peace that we are warned about.
THE GOG AND MAGOG WAR
Ezekiel 38 describes an invasion into Israel in the last days with a specific group of ancient nations (Gog of Magog, Rosh, Meshech, Tubal, Persia, Cush, Put, Gomer, and Beth-togarmah). The modern identities of those ancient names are much debated, but in the past ten years, an alliance of nations has formed which seems to fit the bill.
Turkey & Iran
Whether or not Turkey is being referenced by the first name, Gog of Magog, half of the named countries in Ezekiel 38 can be associated with modern Turkey, which makes it pretty difficult to imagine that they will not be involved. Ever since Turkey first broke diplomatic ties with Israel in September 2011, it has been evident that the new administration, led by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, was intent on a moving in a direction away from constructive ties with Israel. They also began secretly supporting ISIS and coordinating with Iran, which is the modern name for Persia.
In addition to Iran, another part of ancient Persia just came into play with the US withdrawl from Afghanistan. And we already know that they will be allies with Turkey and Iran.
According to the ancient Jewish historian Josephus, the country of Libya occupies at least part of what was known as Put in ancient times. And therefore, not surprisingly, we see that Turkey is active in Libya.
The modern country that most closely squares with Cush is Sudan and South Sudan. And what do we find there? That Turkey is also at work there and in the surrounding Horn of Africa.
JUBA – South Sudan and Turkey are working to boost and strengthen their military cooperation, Minister of Defense and Veteran Affairs Angelina Teny said Sunday. Teny who returned to Juba on Sunday …
Turkey has emerged as an important, but confusing, actor in the greater Middle East and beyond. Its policies have oscillated as its role has expanded, and it now plays an important role in the Horn of Africa as well as with its neighbors.
Some would say that Russia must be in view, either from the reference to Rosh, Magog, or Beth-togarmah “from the utter most parts of the north.” If they are, though, I would expect it to be a veiled involvement. Russia is a well known supporter of both Turkey and Iran, however, so their involvement in some fashion should also be expected.
Summary
Until the events of Ezekiel 38 take place, we can only watch these developments with interest. Based on these reports, though, I think we can say that the Gog-Magog alliance is forming before our eyes. The only question that remains is, “When will the prophesied invasion happen?”
THE DANIEL 9 PEACE TREATY
The Abraham Accords were first signed on August 13, 2020 with the United Arab Emirates. So far, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan have also signed up; however, the biggest player amongst the Gulf States, Saudi Arabia, is still sitting on the sidelines. Sudan is also a bit of an enigma, since it is friendly with both Israel and Turkey, but the accord is still holding. And it has continued to hold up quite well under the Biden Administration, so there is good reason to hope that the Accords will continue to strengthen and will be joined by more Islamic nations.
President Biden is not prioritizing extending the accords to incorporate more countries, but he is keeping all of the current agreements intact so far.
If this continues to progress and other events in Bible prophecy also present themselves, I would say that the Abraham Accords could be the fulfillment of Daniel 9:27.
I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.” Our feet are standing in your gates, Jerusalem. Jerusalem is built like a city that is closely compacted together. That is where the tribes go up—the tribes of the Lord—to praise the name of the Lord according to the…
There is another prophecy that think has been playing out before our eyes found in Zechariah chapter 14. He describes a time when Jerusalem would be divided in half, but afterwards God would fight for Israel, culminating in the Lord’s feet standing on the Mount of Olives.
Zechariah 14:2-4 (NASB)
2 For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city will be captured, the houses plundered, the women ravished and half of the city exiled, but the rest of the people will not be cut off from the city. 3 Then the Lord will go forth and fight against those nations, as when He fights on a day of battle. 4 In that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which is in front of Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives will be split in its middle from east to west by a very large valley, so that half of the mountain will move toward the north and the other half toward the south.
I certainly don’t believe verse 4 has arrived yet, but I think we are living in the days of verse 3 and watching Israel achieve victory after victory, no matter the odds against them.
Next week we’ll talk about signs that are presenting themselves that I think are beginning to meet the biblical descriptions for the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse…
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