Marching To Armageddon

The Lord has promised that when the last days come, He will cause His people to return to the land that He promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He said, “For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries and will bring you into your own land” (Ezekiel 36:24). A multitude of passages declare that the Lord will settle His people upon “the mountains of Israel” (Ezekiel 36:1, 4, 6, 8). An examination of the map of ancient Israel will demonstrate that this is a reference to the mountains of Samaria and Judea. These mountains are currently a part of what the world refers to as “the West Bank.” This area is the very heartland of the land that God promised to His people 4,000 years ago. This area was the location of the majority of biblical accounts recorded in the Bible.

The Bible informs us that at the end of this age, during the final weeks of the Tribulation Period, the armies of all the nations (Zechariah 14:2) will converge on Israel, attempting to force the Israelis to surrender their land and the city of Jerusalem. According to Ezekiel 36:1-7, the nations that surround Israel will resist the Jewish effort to resettle their ancient homeland in the last days. In this conflict, God will defend His people against this aggression and defiance that is opposing His eternal land covenant with Israel (Genesis 13:15). He has warned the Arab/Islamic nations that “they shall bear their shame” (Ezekiel 36:7). This simply means they will suffer a continual humiliating defeat that will bring disgrace upon them.

According to the Bible, the regional war against Israel over her land will ultimately involve all nations. God has declared that the reason for Armageddon is because the nations “have scattered [His people] among the nations, and parted my land” (Joel 3:2). This war over the land of Israel is about to become very intense.

The world continues to reject the biblical truth and push for Israel to allow the creation of a Palestinian State upon the heart of the Promised Land. It seems no nation really wants to protect and defend the Jewish nation. Instead, they are supporting the creation of another Arab Islamic terrorist state, rather than defending the democratic nation of Israel. More importantly, they are choosing to rebel against the eternal work of God, while ignoring His promises to Israel and their right to their land.

I am convinced here are six factors that are about to cause this conflict to escalate and create the march of the nations toward Armageddon. (1) For five decades Israel has cooperated with the global demand for a two-state solution to resolve the conflict over the land. However, most Israelis realize that this is now impossible. The new biblically conservative Israeli government, which includes the religious parties, are now pushing for more new Israeli towns and villages to occupy the disputed territory of the West Bank. These plans are enraging the nations. The world views this as a roadblock that prevents the creation of a viable Palestinian State on the West Bank. (2) Those who have been following the efforts of creating a two-state solution over the last five decades are realizing that the Palestinian leadership has never been serious about establishing a Palestinian State along side a Jewish State – Israel. There is much proof that demonstrates the real goal of the Arab nations and the Palestinian leadership has been the refusal to recognize the continued occupation of the Jewish nation in the Middle East. The Palestinians do not want to only occupy the West Bank, but all the land “from the River to the Sea.” The proof of this is the incitement of hatred against the Jews in the Palestinian mosques, schools, media, and the entire Palestinian culture. Terrorists who kill Israelis are rewarded and glorified in the Palestinian territories. (3) Recent polls throughout the Palestinian territories demonstrate that most Palestinians would rather conduct terrorist attacks against Israel, rather than to promote peace. (4) The armed conflict between Israel and the Palestinians on the West Bank is now escalating rapidly. It is reported that more than 400,000 Palestinians have rifles that have been smuggled into the country by Iran. In recent days, a few Palestinian terrorist groups have launched rockets into Israel from the West Bank. Israel has answered with great military force in several of the towns that are controlled by radical terrorist groups. (5) Global anti-Semitism is escalating and reaching very dangerous levels in the West, especially in Europe. As a result, more Jewish people are immigrating to Israel. Since about one-half of Israel’s territory is desert, the new immigrants need more room to settle. The answer is to allow them to occupy biblical Judea and Samarian (the West Bank). (6) In recent days, President Joe Biden commented that the current Israeli administration is the “most extreme ever.” He made these comments because Israel is ignoring the U.S. warnings about building on the “West Bank.” Israel’s answer was, “We will not compromise on the land of Israel. … It is ours. … The Land of Israel is for the People of Israel, according to the Torah [Law] of Israel. … The United States wants two states for two peoples and we think it’s suicide” (World Israel News, July 10, 2023).

I have been following this conflict for five decades and it is very clear to me that we are about to enter the final phase of the war for the Promised Land. Considering all of the other global developments, we are getting very close to “the shout that will take us out.”

Russia Attacks Israel

Israeli plane returning home in Israel after a mission in Syria. (Image courtesy Israel Today)

Israeli plane returning home in Israel after a mission in Syria.

Image courtesy Israel Today

For years, Israel has repeatedly attacked Iranian military positions in Syria. The Jewish state has made it known to Russia and everyone else in the region and the world, that Israel cannot and will not tolerate an Iranian military build up in Syria. Israel considers this to be an existential threat. Russian and Israel leadership have openly discussed this on several occasions. In the past, Russia has verbally agreed that Israel has the right to defend itself. Therefore, Russia’s policy has been to not interfere with Israel’s aircraft when they destroy Iranian military positions in Syria. This has now changed.

Israel is now reporting that sometime last week, Russian forces opened fire on Israeli aircraft in Syria while they were targeting Iranian military positions in Syria. Russia joined Syrian forces in an attack to shoot down Israeli military jets while they were carrying out their mission in Syria. This was the first of such an incident in which Russia has shown any aggression against Israel in recent years.

As a result of this attack, Israel Today gave the following report on May 17, 2022. “The situation in Ukraine has opened a widening rift between Israel and Russia that many fear could ultimately result in armed confrontation.

“If an Israel Channel 13 News report is to be believed, the first shots in the Israel-Russia conflict have already been fired.

Last week, Israel Air Force (IAF) jets allegedly attacked targets in northern Syria. That’s not out of the ordinary.

But this time, according to unnamed sources cited by Channel 13, Russian military units stationed in Syria opened fire on the Israeli aircraft.

“Syrian military air defenses have been almost entirely ineffective in preventing Israeli airstrikes on targets in the country.

But there are a number of advanced Russian-made S-300 anti-aircraft batteries deployed throughout Syria that until now have not been activated against the Israelis.

“Those batteries are operated by Russian military personnel and are under Russian military command. And one of them reportedly joined Syrian air defenses in attacking Israeli planes last week.

“If true, experts said this marks a significant and dangerous policy shift on the part of Moscow” (Israel Today, May 17, 2022)

Could this be the beginning of the conflict between Israel and Russia that will lead to the Gog and Magog war mentioned in Ezekiel 38-39? Only time will tell!

Get ready for the shout that will take us out.

10,000 Ukrainian Jews Arrive in Israel

Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February, 10,000 Jews have already arrived in Israel.  Israel is expecting thousands more to arrive in the next few months.  This is the beginning of the great influx of Jews to come home from the nations in the last days.  According to the ancient prophet Ezekiel, the future Russia invasion of Israel will set in motion a large exodus of all the Jewish people from the nations back to their homeland.  In the context of the Gog and Mago war, God said, “Then shall they know that I am the LORD their God, which caused them to be led into captivity among the heathen: but I have gathered them into their own land, and have left none of them anymore there(Ezekiel 39:28). 

Russia Invades Ukraine

All eyes are now on the Russian invasion of Ukraine.  Without question we are witnessing the beginning of a war that will have dramatic and painful consequences for the international community.  Many European leaders are concerned this may be the beginning of World Ward III.  This is a major showdown between Russia in the East, and Europe and the U.S. in the West.

This war is of major to Israel.  Many Jewish Israeli citizens are former Ukrainians [about 500,00 are from Ukraine].  About 15,000 Israeli citizens live and work in Ukraine.  Israel has offered to airlift all Jews in Ukraine [about 200,000] to Israel.  Since all three of the Ukrainian airports have been destroyed by the Russian invasion, all who want to escape must travel west to the border with Poland where Jewish authorities are waiting to assist them.  With the fast-advancing Russia forces and only 8 days of propane reserves left in the country, time is of the essence.  Winter is still harsh in Ukraine and the fear is that many will have no way to heat their homes, and many will freeze to death.

How will this war impact Israel?  In just a few days you will receive my March newsletter – PTNews. (That is if you are on the list to receive it. Click the elephant on this page to receive it via e-mail.)  In this publication I have presented extensive considerations of how this war will affect Israel.  The major question for many is the possible connection of this war as a prelude to the Gog and Magog invasion in Ezekiel 38-39.  In my newsletter, I examine 10 considerations to show that Russian President Vladimir Putin could be the Gog [Russian leader] of this future war.  If he is, we are living in the closing moments of the church age!

In recent weeks, Russia has made several threatening statements toward Israel concerning their military air raids on Iranian positions in Syria.  They have told Israel that these air attacks must cease, and if they do not it could lead to a military confrontation with Russia.  Russia is also flying some of their fighter jets from their airbase in Syria along the northern Israeli border on the Golan Heights in what appears to be of a provocative nature.  When Israeli leaders condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine, within hours Russia said that Israel was illegally occupying the Golan Heights.  Without question, Russia is looking south toward Israel.

Israeli political and military leaders are convinced that the Ezekiel 38-39 war is on the immediate horizon.  They are not only talking about it.  They are prepared for the day that it happens.  All of Israel is focused on Ezekiel’s prophecy.

If the world carries through with their threat to put in place harsh economic sanctions on Russia, could this backfire and force Russia to attack Israel for the wealth and food that Ezekiel mentioned in his prophecy?  It is looking like this could be a real possibility.

Putin has put himself in a very precarious position.  He is forced to proceed with his war plans.  This could cause him to expand his war efforts.  Some very dangerous days are ahead for our world.

“Be ready for the shout that will take us out!”

Israel’s Military Success

I have been traveling to Israel and have closely followed the news coming from the Middle East for more than 35 years. One of the things I have observed is that the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) is one of the best in the world. They are powerful and almost invincible because the Holy One of Israel has their back (Psalm 121). He has formed Israel for His glory (Isaiah 43:1-7). He has promised that those who war against them will be as nothing (Isaiah 41:10-12). No weapon that is used against them will be fatal to the nation (Isaiah 54:17).

However, there is another reason for Israel’s military success. They are one nation. They fight as a family. If their enemy wins, the enemy can go home. However, if Israel does not win, they do not have a home to go back to. They fight for their mothers, dads, and siblings. I was recently blessed by the following video- youtube.com