Israel and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, an Iran-backed terrorist group operating in Gaza, are in a constant state of conflict. In fact, Iran is the force behind the attacks targeting Israel. Iran has established a command center in Beirut that brings together terrorist groups: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Hezbollah, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and Hamas. Their goal is to attack Israel from Lebanon, Gaza, and the West Bank. Iran also funds armed groups operating in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen. It is highly likely that in a future conflict, Hezbollah will attempt to overwhelm Israel’s defenses by firing thousands of rockets at Israel.

Israel, for its part, is also preparing to launch a preemptive strike against Hezbollah to destroy its rockets and infrastructure before they can be used. This could also involve attacks on Syria. The Syrian president has asked the Russian president to increase the presence of Russian forces in Syria. Russia has a direct interest in Syria, where it maintains air and naval bases.

Iran has intensified Russia’s war effort in Ukraine by supplying hundreds of thousands of artillery shells and drones. The growing Russian-Iranian military cooperation poses a potential threat to Israel.

In light of these alliances and threats of war, we may wonder whether the Bible foretold these events. The Book of Ezekiel refers to a power in the north of Israel that leads an alliance of nations—including Persia (Iran) and Togarmah (probably the territory of modern-day Turkey)—against Israel in the last days. The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, set your face toward Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him! And say: ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I am against you, Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal! I will drag you out and put a hook in your jaw; I will bring you out, you and all your army… Persia, Ethiopia, and Put—all with shields and helmets; Gomer with all his armies; the land of Togarmah from the far north with all its armies; and many nations along with you! …..In the latter days, you will march against the land whose inhabitants, having escaped the sword, will have been gathered from among many nations to the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate……. And you will ascend, you will advance like a storm, you will be like a dark cloud covering the land—you with all your armies and many peoples with you.” Thus says the Lord God: “On that day, many thoughts will come into your mind, and you will devise evil plans….‘I will go to plunder and pillage; I will lay my hands on these ruins that have been repopulated, on this people gathered from among the nations, who have flocks and estates and dwell in the heart of the land.’ Sheba and Dedan, the merchants of Tarshish, and all their “lion cubs” will say to you: “Are you coming to plunder? Have you gathered your horde for plunder, to take silver and gold, to seize flocks and wealth, and to make a great haul?’” (Ezekiel 38:1–13).

In summary, we are told the following: An army led by a northern power, known as Gog, from the land of Magog—the lord of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal—will be formed in the last days and will invade Israel. Most scholars believe this refers to the region of Moscow (Meshach) today. This power will have allies in Persia (Iran), Cush and Put (possibly Sudan and Libya), Gomer and Togarmah (Turkey). Sheba, Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish—nations from the moderate Arab states of the Gulf, which will not join the conflict—along with other nations, will passively watch the plundering.

This invasion will take place after the Jewish people return to the land of Israel following a long period of dispersion throughout the world, and the invading army will be supernaturally destroyed through divine intervention in the mountains of Israel.

Because of the alignment of the elements of this scenario with current events and trends in the Middle East, some Jewish and Christian Bible scholars suggest that we are on the path to the fulfillment of this prophecy.

This event will most likely occur before the rapture of the church and the Great Tribulation, and is imminent.

Although the current situation in Ukraine may raise doubts about Russia’s ability to become involved in a conflict in the Middle East, Russia nevertheless has the resources necessary to rebuild its military. Moreover, once the conflict in Ukraine is over, Russia will turn its attention to Israel’s vast natural resources and attempt to establish a monopoly over them. This will likely be the trigger that forces Russia out of the country.

Russia and Iran are strengthening their ties, and Turkey continues to draw closer to these two nations. Turkey has a massive military and aspires to restore its influence in the region, just as the Ottoman Empire once ruled the Middle East and Jerusalem.

Israel will certainly not allow Iran to possess nuclear weapons, knowing that the Islamic regime’s primary target for launching such a weapon would be Israel’s capital. Iran already possesses enough nuclear material to produce more than one nuclear weapon, and it is only a matter of time before the Islamic Republic of Iran is capable of producing a nuclear warhead that it can mount on one of its long-range missiles.

Israel has long been preparing for missions to eliminate Iran’s nuclear facilities. Iran’s response to such an attack would certainly involve strikes against Israel by Iranian proxies in Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq. It could also draw Russia into this conflict, and this conflict could trigger the War of Gog and Magog.

In the prophecy of Ezekiel 38–39, this army will be led by a power invading Israel from the north—an alliance of many anti-Israel nations—but it will be supernaturally destroyed through God’s intervention on Israel’s behalf. That power will then be utterly destroyed: “Therefore, this is what the Lord God says: ‘Now I will bring back the captives of Jacob; I will have compassion on the whole house of Israel, and I will be zealous for My holy Name. Then they will forget their disgrace and all the transgressions they committed against Me when they lived in peace in their own land and no one troubled them. When I bring them back from among the nations and gather them from the land of their enemies, I will be sanctified through them in the sight of many nations. And they will know that I am the Lord their God, who allowed them to be taken captive among the nations and who is gathering them back to their own land; I will no longer leave any of them there, nor will I hide My face from them, for I will pour out My Spirit upon the house of Israel,” says the Lord God.” (Ezekiel 39:25–29).

A similar event is also prophesied by the prophet Zechariah. This event will take place after the war of Gog and Magog, just before the Messiah’s return to Jerusalem: “Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of reeling to all the surrounding peoples and even to Judah, when Jerusalem is besieged.3 On that day, I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples. All who try to lift it will be severely wounded, and all the nations of the earth will gather against it. (Zechariah 12:2–3).

The prophet Zechariah says that, during this time, the Jewish people in Jerusalem will look upon the One who was pierced for their salvation: Then I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication, and they will look upon Me, the One they have pierced. They will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only son, and they will grieve bitterly for Him, as one grieves for a firstborn son. (Zechariah 12:10).

This prophecy speaks of Jesus the Messiah, who first came to be “pierced”—to die as a sacrifice for the sin of the world through crucifixion—and then to rise from the dead to give new life and forgiveness to all who turn to Him. The book of Zechariah goes on to tell us that the Messiah will return and stand on the Mount of Olives, put an end to war, and establish the Messianic Kingdom, bringing peace and justice to Israel and the world (Zechariah 14).

When the Messiah first came, He suffered and died as a sacrifice for the sins of the world and rose from the dead to give eternal life to all who repent and believe in the Gospel. He fulfilled the prophecy about the Man of Sorrows, accustomed to suffering, in Isaiah 53: Despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief—He was so despised that we hid our faces from Him, and we did not regard Him. Yet He bore our sufferings and carried our sorrows; and we thought He was punished, struck down by God, and humbled. But He was pierced for our sins, crushed for our iniquities. The punishment that brings us peace fell upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed. We all wandered like sheep, each going his own way, but the Lord made our iniquity—the iniquity of us all—fall upon Him. (Isaiah 53:3–6)

When He comes again, He will fulfill the prophecy about the Messiah King who reigns and judges the world with justice and will lay the foundation for a thousand-year kingdom: In the latter days, the mountain of the Lord’s house will be established as the highest mountain; it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. Nations will stream to it and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, so that He may teach us His ways and we may walk in His paths!” For the law will go out from Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He will be the Judge of the nations; He will settle disputes among many peoples, so that they will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; no nation will lift up a sword against another, nor will they learn war anymore. (Isaiah 2:1–4).

The Lord Jesus will come again, this time as King of kings and Lord of lords, with all the power to overthrow the forces of evil and establish His messianic kingdom. We must be alert and watchful! Let us repent of every sin and believe unwaveringly in God’s power to forgive and set us free. May the Lord help us in this!