Devotional – War in Israel
Ezekiel 38 and the Coming Conflict
In Ezekiel 38, we are given a list of specific nations that will, in God’s appointed time, unite to attack Israel.
Ezekiel 38:2 – “Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him.”
With the help of ancient historians such as Herodotus and Josephus, we can broadly identify these ancient names:
Magog is widely believed to refer to modern-day Russia and its allies.
Persia (mentioned later in verse 5) includes Iran, and parts of Iraq.
Ethiopia and Libya are named directly.
Gomer and Togarmah are considered to be regions in modern-day Turkey.
Today, we witness some of these nations forming alliances before our eyes. Of particular note in the current conflict between Israel and Iran is the involvement of Russia—a nation not only supplying Iran with military hardware but also involved in training and advising. Russian military advisors were previously embedded within the Syrian regime of President Bashar al-Assad, showcasing Moscow’s strategic interest in the region.
Israel’s recent strike on Iran—frequently mischaracterized by global media as a “pre-emptive” action—is, in truth, a measured military response to the October 7, 2023, attacks. These were led by Hamas but planned, funded, and armed by Iran. It has taken Israel this time to prepare its response, which is rooted in self-defense. We must not forget that Iran itself fired missiles directly at Israel during that time—an action even Jordan strongly objected to.
To call this an Israeli-initiated war is misleading. It is a deliberate and just response to an act of war—the largest mass killing of Jews since the Holocaust.
According to Ezekiel’s prophecy, believers are to keep watch not only on Israel and Iran, but also on developments to the north of Israel—particularly regarding Russia’s potential entry into the conflict.
Ezekiel 38:15-16 – “And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee… a mighty army. And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel… it shall be in the latter days…”
If you look directly north from Israel “as the crow flies,” you arrive at Russia.
God is preparing Israel for what lies ahead—the final days leading into Daniel’s 70th week. Daniel tells us of a “prince who is to come,” who would destroy the city and the sanctuary, and that the people would be scattered. History affirms the accuracy of this prophecy. Importantly, only 69 of the 70 prophetic weeks have been fulfilled.
That final, unfulfilled week—a seven-year period—will be the Tribulation, which will begin after the rapture of the Church.
Let us remain vigilant, prayerful, and faithful. May God guide us and help us to live righteously before Him in these Last Days.