Sep 27, 2011

Gog-Magog Update: Turkey Ready for War with Israel

Michael G. MickeyBy Michael G. Mickey
RaptureAlert.com

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The headline of a recent news story concerning the troubled Middle East and boiling tensions in the region has my attention as I write this commentary. The headline? "Turkey voices readiness for Israel war."

In bible prophecy, Ezekiel 38-39, we're told there is going to be an incredible battle in the Middle East in the future. During this future military conflict, a confederacy of nations, among which will be current NATO member Turkey, will attack Israel and be handily defeated.

The list of nations widely believed to be future participants in what many in bible prophecy circles refer to as 'the battle of Gog-Magog' are as follows:

  • Magog - Most agree this is a reference to Russia.
  • Meshech - Most associate this with modern day Turkey, ancient Anatolia, but some say it refers to the Moscow area.
  • Tubal - Most associate this with modern day Turkey, ancient Anatolia.
  • Persia - modern Iran
  • Ethiopia
  • Libya
  • Gomer - eastern Europe or Turkey
  • Togarmah - southeastern Europe or Turkey

Setting the Stage for Gog-Magog

The stated source of current Turkish anger directed at Israel is the May 31, 2010 killing of nine Turkish activists by Israeli commandos who boarded a Turkish vessel, the Mav Marmara, to enforce a long-standing naval blockade of Gaza, the intent of which is to prevent arms from being smuggled into Gaza.

Recep Tayyip ErdoganThe position of the Turkish government is Israel owes Turkey an apology for the incident, compensation for the families of those killed in the incident, and Israel must lift the embargo on Gaza once and for all. Until these conditions are met, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been quoted as saying relations between Turkey and Israel "will never become normal again."

Where Israel-Turkey relations are concerned, there may be some documentable evidence of things getting better here and there, but bible prophecy makes it clear that, sooner or later, Turkey's stated readiness for war with Israel is going to evolve into more than the rhetoric it presently appears to be to those unfamiliar with what the bible has to say concerning the future of the Middle East. Make no mistake about it, Turkey, Israel and an alliance consisting of a horde of Israel's enemies are going to meet in battle in the prophetic future. For Turkey and its collaborators, the defeat of their forces which will ensue will be decisive, a direct result of Almighty God weighing in on the conflict.

In the fire of God's wrath, He is going to "call for a sword" against the Gog-Magog confederacy, the description of which is frightening to even read.

Ezekiel 38:22:
"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."
The battle of Gog-Magog will cost the Gog-Magog confederacy members heavily in terms of casualties. According to Ezekiel 39:2, five of every six attacking forces will be destroyed in what will be one of the most crushing defeats in modern military history. This prophecy is clearly presented in Scripture and we can count on its fulfillment to occur, potentially in the not-too-distant future.

Ezekiel 39:4-5:
"Thou shalt fall upon the mountains of Israel, thou, and all thy bands, and the people that [is] with thee: I will give thee unto the ravenous birds of every sort, and [to] the beasts of the field to be devoured. Thou shalt fall upon the open field: for I have spoken [it], saith the Lord GOD."
For years now, well before the Gaza flotilla raid occurred and tensions between Israel and Turkey flared, I have been telling my readers to watch for something to occur that would turn Turkey away from its long-standing alliance with the West and NATO and toward its neighbors in the Middle East. Not surprising to me in the least, Turkey has become increasingly frustrated with the West in recent years, primarily due to the European Union being less than receptive to Turkey's efforts to join the bloc of nations as a member. Add to that Turkey's outrage that Israel enforced the Gaza naval blockade, Turkish blood was spilled, and Israel rightly refuses to admit any wrongdoing in the highly-investigated and well-documented incident and it isn't hard to see we are today far closer to fulfillment of bible prophecy than we could've conceived possible a little over a year ago.

We can expect the trend to continue.


Related Links
Turkey introduces first self-produced warship amidst East Med tension - Today's Zaman
Turkey voices readiness for Israel war - Press TV
Ezekiel 38 & 39 (Part 1) - BPB (Thomas Ice)
Erdogan urges UN sanctions on Israel - Ynet News
Israel blasts Erdogan for 'outrageous' statements to CNN, accuses Turkey of supporting terrorism - Ha'aretz