The Future of Israel and Its Conflicts

 

Introduction

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Will Israel survive all the wars, conflicts, and terrorism from the surrounding nations who want to eliminate it? What are the motives of the wars and conflicts? Does Israel have a right to exist? What does the future look like for the Middle East and Israel? These are questions we’ll be answering. 

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In this discussion, we will look at what the future holds for Israel by using prophecies in the Bible. The Bible is the most trusted source for the future and end times as it contains countless prophecies that have already come to pass in detailed ways, prophecies about the future, and many prophecies being fulfilled before our very eyes.

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The Dead Sea Scrolls prove that many of the prophecies in the Bible were written long before they were fulfilled. Therefore, we can trust the Bible like no other writing. Only God knows the future, and God claims to be the One who is the Author of the Bible.

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We’ll be looking at the root cause of the conflict Israel has with its enemies, what wars are prophesied to take place in the future, and what the Bible says the outcome of these wars will be.

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So, if you want to know what the future holds for Israel and the Middle East, read carefully to the end to find out.

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The Conflict Is Mainly Between Muslim Arabs and Jews

Now, this discussion is not about all Arabs and is not intended to be anti-Arab. I have a number of Arab friends and have met many Arab people while in the Holy Land who are wonderful folks. God loves all people and wants them to come to the saving knowledge of salvation through Jesus Christ, who proved to be divine and fulfilled countless prophecies proving this. Both the Jews and Arabs need Jesus Christ, along with all of us. He is the only hope for peace and salvation. Every person is equal and created in the image of God.

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I also want to say that I feel deep compassion for the innocent people caught up in war. Wars are ugly, destructive, and sad.

 

What Is the Conflict About?

The basic conflict is over who has the right to exist in the Holy Land. The Muslim Arabs claim they are the rightful owners of all the Holy Land and want no state of Israel at all, and Israel says they have a right to exist in their homeland.

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Israel Becoming a Nation Fulfills Bible Prophecy

In Ezekiel chapter 37 is a vision Ezekiel received about a valley of dry bones. These bones represent the nation of Israel and how God would regather them into their homeland in the last days. This was fulfilled in 1948 when Israel was recognized by the UN and the International Community as being its own country.

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Ezekiel 37:11-14: Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the entire house of Israel; behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope has perished. We are completely cut off.’ 12 Therefore prophesy and say to them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: “Behold, I am going to open your graves and cause you to come up out of your graves, My people; and I will bring you into the land of Israel. 13 Then you will know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves and caused you to come up out of your graves, My people. 14 And I will put My Spirit within you and you will come to life, and I will place you on your own land. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken and done it,” declares the Lord.’”

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This amazing prophecy has been fulfilled and lets us know that the Bible is God’s word and true, as only God knows the future.

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We must realize that the creation of Israel as a state is God’s doing. It fulfills His master plan for the nation of Israel. God is the Lord and owner of everything, so we must realize it is His will for the nation of Israel to exist. Nothing will change His plans. Therefore, the fact that Israel is a state is ultimately by God’s sovereign work and plan, not people’s.

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The Future Wars Israel Will Face, as Prophesied in the Bible

 

There are three main wars that Israel will face in the future.

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1. The great battle of Gog and Magog in Ezekiel chapters 38-39.

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2. The persecution of the Jews in Israel by the Antichrist in the middle of the Great Tribulation Period.

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3. The gathering of all nations against Israel at the end of the Great Tribulation Period.

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All of these conflicts will likely be intermixed with smaller wars as hatred and the desire to wipe Israel off the face of the earth grows.

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Now, let’s look at each of these major wars.

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​1. War I: A massive invasion from six nations surrounding Israel and the North.

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Ezekiel 38:1-6: Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, set your face toward Gog of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him, 3 and say, ‘This is what the Lord God says: “Behold, I am against you, Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. 4 So I will turn you around and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them magnificently dressed, a great contingent with shield and buckler, all of them wielding swords; 5 Persia, Cush, and Put with them, all of them with buckler and helmet; 6 Gomer with all its troops; Beth-togarmah from the remote parts of the north with all its troops—many peoples with you.

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Who are these countries that will invade Israel in the last days?

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Gog is a person who rules over the land of Magog. Many Bible scholars believe Magog is the southern part of Russia, and Gog means the “Prince of Rosh.” They believe Rosh refers to the land of Russia.

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1. The first nation consisting of Magog, Meshech, and Tubal were all sons of Japheth, who was one of the three sons of Noah. Japheth and his family migrated to the area of modern-day Russia (Genesis 10:2-3).

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God informs Gog and Magog in Ezekiel 38:15, “You will come from your place in the far North.” The Hebrew word means “the uttermost part of the North.” What is to the far north of Israel? This seems to be Russia.

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On the date of this filming, Hamas, Palestinian, and Iranian representatives are meeting in Russia. This shows that this alliance even being formed today before our very eyes.

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2. The second nation, Persia, is now the modern state of Iran. It is currently ruled by an Islamic fundamentalist government that is building significant military power, including the development of nuclear weapons. It has openly declared its commitment to the total annihilation of the Jewish State of Israel.

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3. The third nation, Cush, is the region of Ethiopia, but not the same as modern Ethiopia. Instead, it occupied the area later known as Nubia. Today, it’s known as Sudan and is dominated by an Islamic fundamentalist government that is using brutal means, including the crucifixion of Christians, to attempt to establish a pure, Islamic state.

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4. The fourth nation, Put, is the region of Libya today. It is also an Islamic nation. It is strongly anti-West and anti-Israel, and Western intelligence has been informed that Libya has hired Eastern European and former Soviet military scientists to aid its development of military power.

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5. The people of the fifth nation, Gomer, had settled in what is now central Turkey in Ezekiel’s time.

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6. The people of the sixth nation, Togarmah, were identified by Josephus as the Phrygians, who settled in Cappadocia, now eastern Turkey.

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Considering the location of the fifth and sixth nations in Turkey, it should be noted that the present government of Turkey is being threatened by Islamic fundamentalists. As a result, some leaders fear that Turkey could become another Iran. If that happens, all the nations named in Ezekiel 38:5–6 will be characterized by a militant Islamic hatred of Israel.

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In fact, the current Turkish president is supporting Hamas and condemning Israel in the war that is happening between Israel and Hamas. It is even threatening to go to war with Israel and the West. The president of Turkey is also currently meeting with Russian president Putin and calls him his friend.

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So, we see movement happening toward Bible prophecy being fulfilled before our very eyes regarding Turkey.

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I should also mention that nine Arab nations are condemning Israel for defending itself against the recent Hamas attacks.

In summary, what we see is Islamic countries all unifying in their opposition to Israel. The battle is a spiritual battle with the religion of Islam front and center. It’s Islamic Jihad being fanned into flames across all Islamic countries.

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When will this invasion happen?

Ezekiel 38:7-9: “Be ready, and be prepared, you and all your contingents that are assembled around you, and be a guard for them. 8 After many days you will be summoned; in the latter years you will come into the land that is restored from the sword, whose inhabitants have been gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel which had been a continual place of ruins [this speaks of the regathering and establishment of the nation of Israel]; but its people were brought out from the nations, and they are living securely, all of them. 9 And you will go up, you will come like a storm; you will be like a cloud covering the land, you and all your troops, and many peoples with you.”

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This major invasion happens after Israel is gathered into its homeland country of the Holy Land. It happens in the latter years or last days.

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It will also take place when Israel is living securely.

Ezekiel 38:14-16: “Therefore prophesy, son of man, and say to Gog, ‘This is what the Lord God says: “On that day when My people Israel are living securely, will you not know it? 15 You will come from your place out of the remote parts of the north, you and many peoples with you, all of them riding horses, a large assembly and a mighty army; 16 and you will come up against My people Israel like a cloud to cover the land. It shall come about in the last days that I will bring you against My land, so that the nations may know Me when I show Myself holy through you before their eyes, Gog.”

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It appears it will take place at least seven years before the middle of the Great Tribulation Period.

Ezekiel 39:9: “Then those who inhabit the cities of Israel will go out and make fires with the weapons and burn them, both bucklers and shields, bows and arrows, war clubs and spears, and for seven years they will make fires of them.

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We know that in the middle of the Tribulation, the Antichrist sets himself up as God in a functioning temple in Jerusalem. He institutes the Mark of the Beast, and no one can buy or sell without it.

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According to Matthew 24:15-21 and Revelation 12:6, there will be great tribulation starting in the middle of the Tribulation, and Israel will flee into the desert to be supernaturally protected by God for 3 ½ years. We’ll see this event in more detail a little later.

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With this being the case, it seems highly unlikely that the nation of Israel is going to have time to take wood from the great invasion with them into the desert when they flee. Therefore, it seems this invasion takes place before the middle of the Tribulation Period.

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Some think this northern invasion will happen at the end of the Great Tribulation Period, but I don’t think so. This northern invasion lists just six nations fighting against Israel. At the end of the Tribulation, all the nations of the earth are gathered against Israel. Ezekiel 38:14 clearly states that it happens when Israel is living securely during a time of peace. “Therefore prophesy, son of man, and say to Gog, ‘This is what the Lord God says: “On that day when My people Israel are living securely, will you not know it?

The end of the Tribulation Period is anything but peaceful and secure for Israel. The second half of the Tribulation is when God pours out His wrath on the world, so it won’t be a time of peace. Also, during the second half of the Tribulation, as mentioned, Israel flees to the desert and is supernaturally protected by God. So, it’s virtually impossible for this invasion to happen in the middle or at the end of the Tribulation Period.

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The reason for the invasion.

Ezekiel 38:10-13: ‘This is what the Lord God says: “It will come about on that day, that thoughts will come into your mind and you will devise an evil plan, 11 and you will say, ‘I will go up against the land of unwalled villages. I will go against those who are at rest, who live securely, all of them living without walls and having no bars or gates, 12 to capture spoils and to seize plunder, to turn your hand against the ruins that are now inhabited, and against the people who are gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and goods, who live at the center of the world.’ 13 Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish with all its villages will say to you, ‘Have you come to capture spoils? Have you assembled your contingent to seize plunder, to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods, to capture great spoils?’”’

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God’s response to the invasion.

Ezekiel 38:17-23: ‘This is what the Lord God says: “Are you the one of whom I spoke in former days through My servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in those days for many years that I would bring you against them? 18 It will come about on that day, when Gog comes against the land of Israel,” declares the Lord God, “that My fury will mount up in My anger. 19 In My zeal and in My blazing wrath I declare that on that day there will certainly be a great earthquake in the land of Israel. 20 The fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the animals of the field, all the crawling things that crawl on the earth, and all mankind who are on the face of the earth will shake at My presence; and the mountains will be thrown down, the steep pathways will collapse, and every wall will fall to the ground. 21 And I will call for a sword against him on all My mountains,” declares the Lord God. “Every man’s sword will be against his brother. 22 With plague and with blood I will enter into judgment with him; and I will rain on him and on his troops, and on the many peoples who are with him, a torrential rain, hailstones, fire, and brimstone. 23 So I will prove Myself great, show Myself holy, and make Myself known in the sight of many nations; and they will know that I am the Lord.”’

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How long will Israel make fires out of the weapons of warfare?

Ezekiel 39:9-10: “Then those who inhabit the cities of Israel will go out and make fires with the weapons and burn them, both bucklers and shields, bows and arrows, war clubs and spears, and for seven years they will make fires of them. 10 They will not take wood from the field or gather firewood from the forests, because they will make fires with the weapons; and they will take the spoils of those who plundered them and seize the plunder of those who plundered them,” declares the Lord God.

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Again, as mentioned earlier, it seems highly unlikely that the nation of Israel will have time to take wood from this great invasion with them into the desert when they flee from the Antichrist in the middle of the Tribulation Period. Therefore, it seems this invasion takes place at least seven years before the middle of the Tribulation Period.

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The final purpose of the invasion.

Ezekiel 39:21-24: “And I will place My glory among the nations; and all the nations will see My judgment which I have executed, and My hand which I have laid on them. 22 And the house of Israel will know that I am the Lord their God, from that day onward. 23 The nations will know that the house of Israel went into exile for their wrongdoing, because they were disloyal to Me, and I hid My face from them; so I handed them over to their adversaries, and all of them fell by the sword. 24 In accordance with their uncleanness and their offenses I dealt with them, and I hid My face from them.”’”

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This massive invasion seems like it could set up events for the Peace Treaty that the Antichrist makes with the world for seven years, which starts the Great Tribulation Period.

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War II: Persecution of the Jews by the Antichrist in the middle of the Great Tribulation.

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The next war against the Israelis will be in the middle of the Tribulation.

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Matthew 24:15-21: “Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place—let the reader understand— 16 then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. 17 Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get things out of his house. 18 And whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak. 19 But woe to those women who are pregnant, and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 20 Moreover, pray that when you flee, it will not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath. 21 For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will again.

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A parallel passage to the event is found in Revelation 12:1-17:

A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman [Israel] clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars [12 tribes of Israel]; 2 and she was pregnant [with Jesus Christ] and she cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth. 

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3 Then another sign appeared in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon [Antichrist] having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven crowns. 4 And his tail swept away a third of the stars [fallen angels, demons] of heaven and hurled them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her Child [Jesus]. The Red Dragon, who is Satan, wants to eliminate Israel

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5 And she gave birth to a Son [Jesus], a male, who is going to rule all the nations with a rod of iron; and her Child [Jesus] was caught up to God and to His throne. 6 Then the woman [Israel] fled into the wilderness where she had a place prepared by God, so that there she would be nourished for 1,260 days [3 ½ years].

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7 And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war, 8 and they did not prevail, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven. 

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13 And when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman [Israel] who gave birth to the male Child [Jesus]. 14 But the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, so that she could fly into the wilderness to her place, where she was nourished for a time, times, and half a time, away from the presence of the serpent [3 ½ years].

 

17 So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus [Christians].

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In summary, we see that once again, God will step in and supernaturally protect Israel during this war. He has a plan for Israel, and He will see to it that it is fulfilled.

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It should be noted that this war, unlike the others, is between the Antichrist and Israel. It doesn’t include other nations.

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3. War III: All the nations gather against Israel at the end of the Great Tribulation Period.

 

At the end of the Great Tribulation Period, God, Satan, the angels, and demons gather all the nations to Israel to wipe her off the face of the earth.

 

Joel 3:2: I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat [Kidron Valley between the Mt. of Olives and Old City Jerusalem]. And I will enter into judgment with them there, on behalf of my people and my heritage Israel, because they have scattered them among the nations and have divided up my land.

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Revelation 16:13-16: And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs; 14 for they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the entire world, to gather them together for the war of the great day of God, the Almighty. 15 (“Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes, so that he will not walk about naked and people will not see his shame.”) 16 And they gathered them together to the place which in Hebrew is called Har-Magedon [Jezreel Valley where Megiddo is located]. Part of this last battle will also take place in northern Israel.

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Revelation 14:14-20: Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and sitting on the cloud was one like a son of man, with a golden crown on His head and a sharp sickle in His hand. 15 And another angel came out of the temple, calling out with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, “Put in your sickle and reap, for the hour to reap has come, because the harvest of the earth is ripe.” 16 Then He who sat on the cloud swung His sickle over the earth, and the earth was reaped. And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, and he also had a sharp sickle. 18 Then another angel, the one who has power over fire, came out from the altar; and he called with a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, “Put in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, because her grapes are ripe.” 19 So the angel swung his sickle to the earth and gathered the clusters from the vine of the earth, and threw them into the great wine press of the wrath of God. 20 And the wine press was trampled outside the city, and blood came out from the wine press, up to the horses’ bridles, for a distance of 1,600 stadia [180 miles, 290km.).

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Matthew 25:31-33: “But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. 32 And all the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, just as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; 33 and He will put the sheep on His right, but the goats on the left.

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Matthew 25:45-46: Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it for one of the least of these, you did not do it for Me, either.’ 46 These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

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This last battle will be the battle of all battles. Christ will descend in power and great glory with the armies of heaven, which are the angels and believers in Christ in their glorified bodies. It’s His mere presence that wipes out all the nations, defeats Satan and his demonic angels, and institutes the Millennial Reign, where He will reign on earth from Jerusalem for a 1,000 years. All believers in Jesus Christ will reign with Him. After the 1,000 years, He will destroy the present heaven and earth and create brand new ones where believers in Christ will dwell with Him forever and ever.

God will have fulfilled His master plan for creation, and all will be settled for eternity.

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Summary of the Three Coming Wars

 

According to the Bible, which is extremely trustworthy, it predicts three major wars that will await Israel in the future.

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1. The great battle of Gog and Magog.

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2. The persecution of the Jews in Israel by the Antichrist in the middle of the Great Tribulation Period.

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3. The gathering of all nations against Israel at the end of the Great Tribulation when Christ comes back to the earth in power and great glory.

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Faith Lesson

 

1. In all these wars, the major storyline we see is that mainly Muslim nations, along with other nations, have a desire to eliminate Israel and the Jews. However, the amazing reality is that God will supernaturally protect Israel because He still has a plan and purpose for her.

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2. The main source of the conflicts moving forward will come from Islamic-run countries. Their goal is to conquer the world for Allah by whatever means necessary. This includes every kind of terror imaginable. Therefore, they will be the main players in events moving forward.

 

3. It’s very logical and probable that the Antichrist will be a Muslim. As we have seen, in Muslim theology, a prophesied future Muslim leader will rule from the Temple Mount over the entire world for seven years.

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4. Now, while the Islamic-run countries who will be against Israel in the last days think they are fighting against Israel, they are really fighting against God almighty. This is a war no one can win.

 

5. There will be a growing hatred against Israel and Christians in these last days. This can even be seen today in 2023, as the UN, with overwhelming support, called for Israel to stop its military campaign to defend itself by taking out Hamas in the Gaza Strip. I wonder what each of these countries would do if they had Hamas launching endless rockets into their countries and killing thousands and kidnapping hundreds of its citizens. I’m sure they would defend themselves.

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6. God has a plan for Israel, and He will be the one who defends them supernaturally. God will fulfill this major prophecy as He has fulfilled every other one. You can count on that.

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Zechariah 12:1-5: The oracle of the word of the Lord concerning Israel: Thus declares the Lord, who stretched out the heavens and founded the earth and formed the spirit of man within him: 2 “Behold, I am about to make Jerusalem a cup of staggering to all the surrounding peoples. The siege of Jerusalem will also be against Judah. 3 On that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples. All who lift it will surely hurt themselves. And all the nations of the earth will gather against it. 4 On that day, declares the Lord, I will strike every horse with panic, and its rider with madness. But for the sake of the house of Judah I will keep my eyes open, when I strike every horse of the peoples with blindness. 5 Then the clans of Judah shall say to themselves, ‘The inhabitants of Jerusalem have strength through the Lord of hosts, their God.’

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7. God will fight for Israel, and it will be victorious. So, the future is actually bright for Israel. All the world sill see and know this. It will survive all the wars and conflicts because God is her helper and defender. The future will sometimes be ugly due to wars, but God will use all this for His good purposes to carry out His divine master plan for His creation.

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8. God loves everyone and will extend His hand of grace and love to all who will receive it through Jesus Christ.

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9. As we see these end times events unfolding before our eyes, we need to realize that God is in control and working out everything according to His good purposes. Therefore, we should be at peace, trusting in God, and certain we are right with God and ready for His return.