The Scriptures show that the coming of the Messiah will be associated with the gathering of the Jewish people in Israel: “At the same time, the Lord will stretch out His hand a second time to redeem the remnant of His people scattered in Assyria and Egypt, in Patros and Ethiopia, in Elam, in Shinar, and in Hamath, and in the islands of the sea. He will raise a banner for the nations, gather the exiles of Israel, and assemble the scattered of Judah from the four corners of the earth.” (Isaiah 11:11–12).

The current return of the Jewish people to their biblical homeland is the beginning of a process of spiritual renewal; God’s purpose is not merely to change the physical location of the Jews, but also to transform their spiritual condition in order to prepare them for the coming of the Messiah.

In the Book of Ezekiel, we read how the glory of God departed from the Temple before it was destroyed by the Babylonians because of the sin of the people of Israel (Ezekiel 8:11). It is quite possible that the glory of God did not return to the Second Temple, despite the fact that the prophet Haggai prophesied about this temple: “The glory of this latter house shall be greater than that of the former,” says the Lord of Hosts; and in this place I will grant peace,” says the Lord of Hosts. (Haggai 2:9). However, the glory of God did come to the Second Temple in the person of the One to whom all people—including the Jews—must come to find protection: Yeshua, Jesus the Messiah. The Apostle John wrote about Him: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were made through Him; and without Him nothing was made that has been made.” (John 1:1–3) … And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth. And we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father. (John 1:14).

The Apostle John tells us that the One he calls the Word was there in the beginning with God, and all things were made through Him, but He Himself was not made. Therefore, He Himself is a divine Person. Then the Word became flesh (took on human form). The word that the Apostle John uses in Greek for “He dwelt among us” is a word that means to pitch a tent or to dwell and may be related to the Hebrew word for “to dwell.” So God dwelt in the body of Yeshua, Jesus the Messiah, and wherever He went, He carried the glory of God with Him. This was recognized by the elderly priest Simeon, even when Jesus was a small child, when Mary and Joseph brought Him to the Temple to present Him to the Lord: “Now, Lord, you may let your servant depart in peace, according to your word. For my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared in the sight of all peoples, a light to enlighten the Gentiles and the glory of Your people Israel.” (Luke 2:29–32).

The prophecies for the last days of this age are being fulfilled as never before. Very soon the time of the prophesied tribulation will come, and therefore, now, we must all be at peace with God before the door leading into His presence is shut.

Jews all over the world must take refuge under Yeshua’s protection before the conflict of the last days begins. Yeshua prophesied both the dispersion and the gathering of the Jewish people: “They will fall by the edge of the sword and be taken as captives among all the nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” (Luke 21:24).

He first came as a man of sorrows, acquainted with suffering, who took upon Himself the sin of the world: “Yet He bore our infirmities and carried our sorrows, and we thought He was being punished, struck 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 laid on Him the iniquity of us all… He was taken away by oppression and judgment. But who among those of His generation believed that He had been cut off from the land of the living and struck down by death for the sins of my people?… Therefore, I will give Him His portion among the great, and He will divide the spoils with the mighty, because He gave Himself up to death and was numbered among the transgressors, for He bore the sins of many and interceded for the guilty. (Isaiah 53:4–12). But the Messiah will come again with all the power of God to judge the world with righteousness, will establish the Messianic Kingdom, and will reign with righteousness in Jerusalem from the restored Temple (Isaiah 2:1–4, Ezekiel 40–48, Zechariah 14).

The events of the last days will cause the people of Israel to recognize Yeshua as the Messiah. The prophet Zechariah shows that in the last days, the period of strife, war, and desolation in Jerusalem will end when Yeshua is recognized as the Messiah, for they will look upon Me—whom they have pierced—and mourn for Him as for their only Son. (Zechariah 12:10).

The book of the prophet Zechariah also describes a period in history when the land of Israel is the focus of the world’s attention, and yet lasting peace cannot be established, despite the efforts of those involved: “Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of reeling to all the surrounding peoples, and even to Judah, when Jerusalem is besieged. On that day, I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the nations. All who lift it up will be severely wounded, and all the nations of the earth will gather against it.” (Zechariah 12:2–3).

The book of Joel reveals that the nations of the world will attempt to divide the land, and because of this, the final war before the Day of the Lord will break out: “For behold, in those days and at that time, when I restore the exiles of Judah and Jerusalem, I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will enter into judgment with them on behalf of My people, Israel, My inheritance, whom they have scattered among the nations and divided My land among themselves.” (Joel 3:1–2).

The leader of this evil alliance against the people of Israel is Gog, from the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal (Ezekiel 38:2). It is believed that this leader will come from Russia, a country that has recently become involved in the wars in the Middle East in ways it never has before, establishing military bases in Syria, on Israel’s northern border, to help the Syrian leader remain in power. Russia is also involved in Lebanon, which is likewise among the countries participating in the war of Gog and Magog.

Russia is closely monitoring the development of oil and gas production from the field located offshore in the Mediterranean Sea, west of Haifa (Israel)—a potential threat to its own oil and gas trade with Europe, Russia’s main source of revenue.

Turkey will also be involved in the future global conflict as an ally of the forces in the War of Magog. Turkey currently has an Islamic leader with a strongly anti-Israel stance, President Erdogan, who aspires to revive the Ottoman Empire that ruled over Jerusalem from 1517 to 1917. Turkey is already involved in the Syrian conflict, likely helping Russia and Iran resolve the issues in Syria.

Iran (Persia) will also be part of the coalition of nations that will rise up against Israel in the last days, in the War of Gog and Magog. All those who support this coalition will be crushed by God, so they would do well to heed what God says and refrain from hostile actions against the people of Israel: “Then I will bring terror upon him from all My mountains, says the Lord God; everyone’s sword will turn against his brother. I will judge him with pestilence and bloodshed, with torrential rain and hailstones; I will rain down fire and sulfur upon him, upon his armies, and upon the many nations that are with him. In this way I will display my greatness and holiness; I will make myself known before the multitude of nations, and they will know that I am the Lord.” (Ezekiel 38:21–23).

Now is the end times. Biblical prophecies are being fulfilled before our very eyes, just as we have outlined in previous articles. In these troubled times of the end, we must turn to God and enter into the New Covenant so that we may receive forgiveness of sins and peace with God.

God calls all people—Jews and Gentiles alike—to repent and believe the Gospel before the Day of Wrath begins, before the door of grace closes and it is too late. Only He can save us from the coming wrath. Amen!