Pastor Jim Hammond | April 10, 2022

Recap:
Pastor Jim recently returned from a trip to Israel, and took some time this weekend to talk about all that he has been learning, in particular about the war we see mentioned over in Ezekiel chapters 38–39. This war is different from Armageddon, for many of the characteristics the Bible describes about each war don’t align. The war in Ezekiel will happen before the rapture, and it will end with a miracle that will draw people to the Lord. Ultimately, it will be the beginning of the latter rain and multitudes of people welcoming God on this earth!

Dive Deeper:
In 1948, Israel became a nation. In 1967, Israel took full control of Jerusalem. In the near future, more dates will be added to this list. The Bible tells us that Israel will have a miraculous victory over Russia and other countries who have allied with Russia against Israel. Then some time after that, many Jews will be destroyed in the battle of Armageddon.

Pastor Jim has been researching these historical dates as well as the upcoming battles written about in Ezekiel 38–39 and the battle of Armageddon. According to the Scriptures, those who see Israel born will also see these prophecies fulfilled.

Now, how do we know that Russia will be in a war with Israel? Well, Russia’s name isn’t in the Bible, but research shows that Gog is the Bible’s name for what we now know as Russia. From what we know currently, Russia could potentially clash with Israel over the fact that Israel has discovered natural gas resources and has begun to sell natural gas to Europe, which cuts into Russia’s profits, since they currently sell to Europe. Perhaps this is the trigger that starts the war in Ezekiel chapter 38.

This particular war in Ezekiel will end with a mighty showing of strength from God, one that will draw even many Muslims to Jesus, for they will respect the strength that they see in the war. It will be the beginning of the end, and many will come to know Jesus because of it!

 
Read About It:
Luke 21:6–7 KJV
As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?

Ezekiel 38:1–23 KJV
And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him, and say, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: and I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords: Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet: Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee.

Be thou prepared, and prepare for thyself, thou, and all thy company that are assembled unto thee, and be thou a guard unto them. After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them.

Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee. Thus saith the Lord God; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought: and thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates, to take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land.

Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil?

Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say unto Gog, Thus saith the Lord God; In that day when my people of Israel dwelleth safely, shalt thou not know it? And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army: and thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes.

Thus saith the Lord God; Art thou he of whom I have spoken in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, which prophesied in those days many years that I would bring thee against them? And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord God, that my fury shall come up in my face.

For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel; so that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground.

And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord God: every man’s sword shall be against his brother. And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the Lord.

For Further Reading:
Matthew 24:1–3
Luke 21:20, 24, 28–30, 32
Isaiah 62:6
Ezekiel 39:2–4, 9, 17, 19–20
Zechariah 13:8–9
Zechariah 14:1–4
Isaiah 17:1

 
Discussion Questions:
1. What can you do today to prepare for the latter-day rain and the coming influx of people into the kingdom of God?
2. What does it do to our faith when we see prophecy fulfilled?
3. Why is it important to understand what is to come in these last days?