By Bill Perkins
As Israel continues to fulfill Bible prophecy on an almost daily
basis, there is one specific prophecy that few prophecy buffs are
watching for, or even know about.
Much has been written about the future northern army invasion of
Israel described in Ezekiel 38 and 39. Most theorize the invading
country is Russia and most of the commentary is centered around
what happens when they invade. The timing is somewhere around the
beginning of the tribulation period, and probably post-rapture.
Over 80% of the invading army is wiped out, sounds like nuclear
weapons are used and God gives Israel a great and mighty victory
establishing her as a world power. But what is rarely pointed out
is why they invade. Consider this scripture that sheds light on
“why.”
Thus says the Lord GOD, “It will come about on that day, that
thoughts will come into your mind, and you will devise an evil
plan, and you will say, ‘I will go up against the land of
unwalled villages. I will go against those who are at rest, that
live securely, all of them living without walls, and having no
bars or gates,
to capture spoil and to seize plunder . .
.” Ezekiel 38:10-12
The reason they invade is to steal the riches that Israel has
acquired in the latter days. Riches? What riches? I’ve taken over
30 trips tromping around Israel and can testify firsthand that
there are no natural resources in Israel. The guides humorously
complain that Moses wandered around the area for 40 years and
settled in the only spot that doesn’t have great reservoirs of
oil under the sands. Nor are there diamond mines, or gold, or
silver. Certainly nothing to cause a nation to brazenly invade.
Yet God says that in the latter days, Israel will have so much
wealth that Russia will indeed invade to seize it all. So
something must change in Israel, and change dramatically. And
since the timing of this invasion is so close to the time of the
Rapture, and if we are the generation to be snatched up, it is
probable that we will see Israel’s monstrous economic change
begin to unfold in our lifetime.
But what in the world is this great wealth? I have a theory.
Behind the scenes and with little publicity, Israel is drilling
for oil. Hayseed Stephens, a seasoned Texas oil speculator, began
drilling for oil in Israel in the 1990s. He set up a massive
drilling operation near the Dead Sea that he believed would
locate the largest single reservoir of oil on the planet.
Stephens made over 100 trips to Israel raising money, getting the
necessary permits and finally began exploratory drilling. But
God’s timing was not yet. The drill broke half way to its
intended depth, and before he could raise the money to begin
again, he died. Not to be dismayed, his company, Ness Energy
International, Inc., hired Hayseed’s son, Sha Stephens, to be
President and CEO and continue the exploration.
Another investment group is drilling north of Tel Aviv, using
other Biblical references regarding massive Israel riches to
guide the exploration. But regardless of who finds oil, or where
they find it in Israel, imagine the ramifications of such a large
discovery of oil in Israel! It would totally upset the balance of
power in the middle east. Suddenly you have a RATIONAL country
managing great amounts of oil, and shipping it from ports that
aren’t in Muslim countries! The price of oil would drop like a
rock, and the stranglehold by Muslims on the world’s oil reserves
would finally be broken.
No wonder Russia, a close ally of Iran, will “think an evil
thought!!”