Ezekiel 38 & 39 Prophesy that several Arab and North African nations will rally together in the Latter Years and mount a massive military operation against the Nation of Israel. Despite the fall of the Berlin Wall and the "collapse" of communism, Ezekiel Prophesies that a "hook in the jaw" will be placed in Russia's mouth and she will be dragged into this war virtually against her will. It will not be her smartest move. It will be the end of her armed forces.
As with most of Bible Prophecy, Ezekiel's Prophetic language is literal, requiring an enlightened view of all Scripture. Therefore, we must carefully examine the prophetical books of the Bible and compare them with other Scripture. Prophetical books are not meant just for "filler" material. they are intended to guide generations by revealing the future *before* it occurs. All of Bible prophecy will be fulfilled!!
Generally Prophecy books are arranged in chronological sequence. Occasionally, Prophecy will take quick jumps backwards or forwards to make a point. In this case, the Prophecies in Ezekiel 38-39 are dependent on the Prophecies of Ezekiel 36-37 being already fulfilled. In other words, Russia and the Arabs cannot attack the Nation of Israel until after the Nation of Israel had been restored. In the 20th century, the Nation of Israel has been restored, just as Prophesied in Ezekiel 36:24, Ezekiel 37 and Isaiah 66:8.
Although the Russian-Arab invasion of Israel is foretold in the Prophecy of Ezekiel 38 & 39 after Israel is restored as a nation Ezekiel 36 & 37 this invasion is not the Battle of Armageddon.
1
st, in Ezekiel there are definite allies mentioned and they are limited in number while other nations stand in opposition.
In the Campaign of Armageddon all nations are allied together against Jerusalem without exception.2
nd, the Ezekiel invasion comes from the north,
the Armageddon invasion comes from the whole Earth.3
rd, the purpose of the Russian [38:6] invasion is to take spoil,
the purpose of the Armageddon Campaign is to destroy all the Jews.4
th, in the Ezekiel invasion there is a protest against the invasion,
Armageddon Campaign there is no protest since all the nations are involved.5
th, the Ezekiel invasion is destroyed through convulsions of nature,
Armageddon invasion is destroyed by the personal Second Coming of Jesus Christ.6
th, the Ezekiel invasion is destroyed on the mountains of Israel,
Armageddon Campaign is destroyed in the area between Petra and Jerusalem.7
th, the Russian invasion takes place while Israel is living securely in the land;
the Armageddon Campaign takes place while Israel is in flight and in hiding. North Africa has no shortage of issues, from war in Sierra Leone, to the battles between Ethiopia and Eritrea, to ongoing persecution in Sudan, Algeria, Togo and Burkina Faso. Libya is busy constructing chemical and perhaps biological weaponry. And now, due primarily to AIDS, most South African teenagers have an average life expectancy of just 33 years; down from 70 years a scant 5 years ago.
You can read
Ezekiel 38 here, and
Ezekiel 39 here.
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