IS RUSSIA IN THE BIBLE?
The world’s attention is suddenly focused on Ukraine and, of course, their merciless attackers from Russia. People want to know if Russia is mentioned in the Bible . . . and the answer is yes . . . in several passages.
Magog was one of the descendants of Noah, and he settled in the area north of the Black Sea. Scholars are pretty much in agreement that Magog is modern-day Russia.
The prophet Daniel had a nightmare about four end-time beasts, or monsters . . . and they represented monster-like nations that would arise and conquer many people. One of the beasts was a bear lying on its side with three ribs in its mouth. It is interesting that the Soviet Union had three votes in the UN, and those nations were Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine.
The picture of Daniel’s vision is of a hungry bear coming out of hibernation with the admonition to “Arise and devour much flesh.” Daniel 7:5
What we are observing in Ukraine may be a fulfillment of that prophetic dream. If it is, the hungry bear won’t stop with the defeat and destruction of one nation. The bear is awake and very hungry.
Now let's look briefly at
Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39 where Magog has a divine appointment with God on the field of battle when they attempt to invade the land of Israel.
RUSSIA FACES THE WRATH OF GOD AT THE BORDER OF ISRAEL!
According to the Bible prophecy of Daniel 7:5, an end-time nation described as a hungry bear coming out of hibernation will “arise and devour much flesh.” It is believed by some that this prophecy may have predicted the current aggressive behavior of Russia and their mad and power-hungry leader.
How successful will Russia be and how far they will take their sudden grab for power remains to be seen. But Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39 forewarn the world that Magog (Russia) will one day attack the land of Israel along with a huge army of enraged Arab soldiers determined to destroy the Jewish people once and for all. This may be an indication that Russia will not be stopped from their present insanity and bloodshed and that their final destination is Israel.
It is interesting that Ezekiel 38:4 & 16 declare that God Himself will put a hook into the mouth of Russia and draw them into His land. Russia has a divine appointment on the field of battle at the border of Israel and the Lord will intervene in such an incredible way that the world “will know that I am the LORD.” (Ezekiel 38:23, 39:7) The passage declares that fire and brimstone will destroy the invading army just as God judged ancient Sodom and Gomorrah.
Right now the nations don’t acknowledge and honor the Lord as immorality, perversion, and the slaughter of innocent children continue to reign. But the Lord declared – “the nations shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One of Israel.”
Five out of six of the invading soldiers will be slain by God’s judgment as He defends the people of Israel. It will take seven months to bury all the dead plus seven years to remove all the weapons of warfare. (Ezekiel 39:9 &12)
Next, we will look at what may trigger the Russian / Arab attack against Israel and the Battle of Gog and Magog which may very well lead to WW3.
What Will Trigger the War of Gog and Magog and the Beginning of WW3?
The Bible describes a terrible war that begins when Russia and a huge army of Arab soldiers try to invade the land of Israel. (Ezekiel chapters 38 & 39) Something will obviously trigger this bloody conflict that will unite many Arab nations to unite with Russia in an attempt to invade Israel and destroy the Jewish people. There are at least two possibilities to consider that may prompt this attack:
#1 Jewish religious leaders are determined to rebuild their Temple in Jerusalem and resume their ancient rituals. It should be noted that many Jews now realize the Dome of the Rock does not have to be destroyed but that their Temple could be built next to the Muslim holy site. The Temple would then be lined up with the Eastern Gate and that may have been the site of Solomon’s original Temple. But the idea of a rebuilt temple will enrage the entire Muslim world.
#2 Isaiah the Prophet declared that the day is coming when Damascus, Syria will be utterly destroyed in what appears to be a nuclear attack – “Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap.” (Isaiah 17:1) The prophet gives us an even more graphic picture of the coming destruction of Damascus when he declares – “Behold at evening, trouble; and before the morning, it is not.” (Isaiah 17:14)
Iran’s push to develop nuclear weapons and the build-up of weapons of mass destruction in Syria could prompt Israel to defend themselves with a pre-emptive nuclear strike. Time will tell as we keep our eyes on Israel, Russia, and the prophetic Scriptures!
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT NUCLEAR WAR?
We have observed that the prophetic Scriptures predict a day when Russia will come out of hibernation and become very aggressive and “devour much flesh” (Daniel 7:5)
Ezekiel chapters 38 & 39 also forewarn us of a time when Russia and a huge army of enraged Arab soldiers will attempt to invade the land of Israel. Is that fateful day approaching? Time will tell.
When Russia and the huge Arab armies begin to invade Israel, a terrible battle will take place and 5 out of 6 of the invading soldiers will be destroyed, apparently by “fire and brimstone”. (Ezekiel 38:22) But the prophet also declared – “ . . . in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel . . .” (Ezekiel 38:19) The destruction will be so great that it will affect the “fish of the sea . . . mountains will be thrown down . . . and every wall shall fall to the ground.” (Ezekiel 38:20)
Ezekiel is not the only ancient prophet that warned the world of what appears to be the horrific destruction caused by nuclear warfare: Isaiah chapter 13 describes such terrible destruction that God declared – “I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of its place.” (Isaiah 13:13) Later, Isaiah added even more to the dreadful description of man’s destructive insanity when He declared – “The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard . . .” (Isaiah 24:20)
More terrible descriptions of the “unthinkable war” are found in Jeremiah chapters 50 and 51. Revelation chapter 18 even describes a powerful end-time nation that will be destroyed in one hour apparently at the same time Russia is judged by God – “And I will send fire on Magog, and among those who dwell securely in the coastlands.” (Isaiah 39:6) “In the coastlands” is translated “far off” in passages like Isaiah 49:1 and Isaiah 66:19)
What does God think of all this death and destruction? “Son of man, set your face against Gog of the land of Magog . . . Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meschech and Tubal.” (Ezekiel 38:2-3) God is not pleased . . . He is “against Gog of the land of Magog” as they spew out such death and destruction and their time of judgment is coming!
In John 11:35 (the shortest verse in the Bible) we are given a glimpse into the very heart of God. As the Savior stood at the tomb of a man by the name of Lazarus: “Jesus wept.”
IS THERE ANY HOPE IN A WORLD GONE MAD?
GOOD QUESTION . . . and the answer is ABSOLUTELY!
Jesus described a time when men’s hearts would literally fail them for fear – “And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth . . .” (Luke 21:26)
The prospect of “wars and rumors of wars . . . famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes” are described as just the “beginning of sorrows” in a future time that Jesus described as the Great Tribulation. (Matthew chapter 24) Whose heart wouldn’t fail with such horrendous things taking place? So . . . is there any hope for the future?
There are at least three areas where hope is available. All three areas of future hope come from the God of love, mercy and grace. Today we will deal with just one of the three:
#1 National Hope Begins With Genuine Repentance:
“If my people which are called by My Name shall humble themselves and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)
The Bible also tells us that “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.” (Proverbs 14:34) This applies to nations and to each one of us as individuals . . . God forgives because He is a God of infinite grace and mercy . . . but it begins when we acknowledge our sins and call upon Him by faith. Each nation and each one of us need to repent and acknowledge our sins before the Lord. As a nation, there is no hope until we as a people repent of killing the innocent, living in immorality and perversion, and expelling God from every part of our society.
#2 Individual hope also begin with repentance and a redemptive relationship with God:
All of us need to understand that we, too, have sinned and are deserving of God’s judgment. But Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay the penalty of death for all our sins . . . and if we will trust Him and call upon Him to save us by faith, we can have eternal life – “For whosoever will call upon the Name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13)
CLICK HERE to see "Ultimate Hope"
CLICK HERE to see "A Few Shall Escape"
CLICK HERE to read "Russia, Growing Threat to World Peace"
CLICK HERE to see "Good News For A Bad News World"!