The Coming Wars
Pastor Charles Cooley
08/01/06
There are
three major wars prophetically described in these last
days: the first, in Jeremiah 50 and 51, which describes the destruction of
Babylon (modern Iraq) by a great northern coalition of powers (the U.S. and its
allies), the second, in Ezekiel 38 and 39, which describes a coalition of
Islamic nations led by Russia coming against Israel, and the third, in
Revelation 16 and 19, which is often called the battle of Armageddon. They are
so close together that many confuse them as one. It is likely that each one sets
the stage for the next and leads into it.
We are currently well into the first war, the war against
Iraq, which is Babylon. "For lo, I will raise and cause to come up against
Babylon an assembly of great nations from the north country, and they shall set
themselves in array against her; from thence she shall be taken: their arrows
shall be as a mighty expert man; none shall return in vain." - Jeremiah 50.9.
This is a description of modern warfare. Few can forget the
pictures of our cruise missiles seeking out their targets without error, like
arrows that know not how to miss. If you draw a line around the globe from Iraq,
it goes right through Savannah, Georgia, USA. Most of the nations in our
coalition were from north of Babylon. Our goal was to remove Sadaam Hussein from
power and establish a Democracy in Iraq. We are still trying to do the latter.
Jeremiah prophesies that we shall fail in that effort: "We would have healed
Babylon, but she is not healed: forsake her, and let us go everyone to his own
country: for her judgment reacheth to the heaven, and is lifted up even to the
skies." - Jeremiah 51.9 KJV. When we withdraw, Iran will come to further destroy
Iraq and make it part of Iran. "Sharpen the arrows, take up the shields! For the
Lord has stirred up the spirit of the king of the Medes: for his devise is
against Babylon, to destroy it; ..." Jeremiah 51.11 KJV. The Iranian 'devise' is
terrorism and deceit. Iran is responsible for most of the trouble in Iraq, and yet is free
from any repercussion for it! Imagine what they will be like when they get
nuclear weapons and control the oil of Iraq!
Those voices yelling for retreat from Iraq probably do not
know they are fulfilling prophesy, neither do they understand they are laying
the groundwork for an even greater devastation, the second war described in
Ezekiel 38 and 39. President George Bush also is supporting what I believe to be
a false assumption - that Islamic nations just yearn for freedom.
Their idea of
freedom is different from ours. Our forefathers clearly understood that true
freedom is based upon Biblical truth and Christianity. "The general principle on
which the Fathers achieved independence were the only principles in which that
beautiful assembly of young gentlemen could unite ... And what were these
general Principles? I answer, the general Principles of Christianity..." - John
Adams in an 1813 letter to Thomas Jefferson. He also said, "Statesmen ... may
plan and speculate for Liberty, but it is religion (Christianity) and Morality
alone, which can establish the Principles upon which Freedom can securely stand
... The only foundation of a free Constitution, is pure virtue, and if this
cannot be inspired into our people, in a greater measure than they have it now,
they may change their rulers, and the forms of government, but they will not
obtain a lasting Liberty." - John Adams.
The western idea of freedom is foreign to Islam, which places
the Quaran and what the Imams say above any constitution. They do not yearn for
democracy, they yearn for victory! Iran is testing our resolve now with their
proxy Hezbollah and it's attacks on Israel. How will Israel react? How will the
United States react? If either shows weakness, it will speed the inevitable 2nd
war. To place hope in the United Nations is like leaning on a staff that will
break. They speak "Peace, peace", but they do not know the way of peace. A
United States withdrawal from Iraq now, will signal victory for Iran, but that
seems to be what Jeremiah 51 predicts.
Before the second major war happens, there will be a series of
smaller regional wars between Israel and her Arab neighbors. Isaiah 11:12-16 and
Zephaniah 2:9 describes them. After God sets up a banner for the nations by
beginning the great return of the Jews to Israel, the Arab nations will try in
vain to stop it. The wars they begin with Israel will only result in their
destruction and Israel regaining more of its ancestral land. Isaiah writes:
"But they (restored Israel) shall fly down upon the shoulder
of the Philistines toward the west; together they shall plunder the people of
the East; they shall lay their hand on Edom and Moab; and the people of Ammon
shall obey them. The LORD will utterly destroy the tongue of the Sea of Egypt;
with a mighty wind He will shake His fist over the River, and will strike it in
seven streams, and make men cross over dry-shod. There will be a highway for the
remnant of His people who will be left from Assyria, as it was for Israel in the
day that he came up from the land of Egypt." - Isaiah 11:14-16
Since Israel once again became a nation they have been
attacked by their Arab neighbors six times; the 1948 war of independence, the
1956 Sinai war, the 1967 war for Jerusalem, the 1973 Yom Kippur war, the 1982
Lebanon war, and the Infatada uprisings that are still simmering. I say 'still
simmering' because Hezbollah attacks in the North and Hamas attacks in the West
are still going on resulting in constant low-grade military actions for Israel.
It is interesting that Isaiah says Israel 'shall fly down' on her Arab attackers
since Israel's main strength is her air force. However, I do not believe this
prophesy of Isaiah is complete yet. The people of Edom, Moab, and Ammon, which
are the modern nations of Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the Palestinians, certainly
cannot be said to 'obey' Israel today. Psalm 83, which also describes this
prophesy of Isaiah, also includes modern day Syria and Hezbollah in the picture.
It describes the utter destruction Hezbollah, the Palestinians, and Syria, to
the point where "They may know You, whose name alone is the LORD, and the Most
High over all the earth." - Psalm 83:18. It seems these Arab groups will once
again attack Israel. They will say "Come, and let us cut them off from being a
nation, that the nation of Israel may be remembered no more." (Ps. 83:4). This
conflict will simply result in Israel gaining more or her ancestral land. Egypt
and Jordan will get drawn into this conflict to their detriment. Lebanon, which
is losing its sovereignty to Hezbollah and Syria will finally be set free, but
will lose its southern territory. Syria will lose Damascus as Isaiah 17
describes. Sadly, even though this conflict will result in Israel's wealth and
peace, it will lead directly into the coming 2nd great war.
The coming 2nd war is described in Ezekiel 38 and
39. Ezekiel predicts a power from the far North will lead a coalition of Islamic
nations against Israel. The leader of this coalition is called "Gog, of the land
of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal" - vs. 38.2. Most Biblical
scholars equate them with the Scythian or Tartar tribes. Magog was a son of
Japeth, who was a son of Noah. Historically they settled between the Caspian and
Black Seas. Scholars as early as Gesenius (1500 B.C.) identify them as Russia.
It is interesting that Moscow is due north of Jerusalem, the far north,
and the modern Hebrew name for Russia is Rosh. The nations of the coalition are
listed as Persia (Iran), Cush (Somalia or Ethiopia), Put (Lybia), and Beth
Togarmah (either Turkey or the southern 'stan' countries of the old USSR).
Presently all of them are Islamic and they all hate Israel. Since these names
included more or less territory at various times in history, it could be a
reference to the fundamentalist Islamic countries of the Middle East. Even now,
their stated goal is the destruction of Israel. Russia's desire to have an
active roll in the Middle East is well known. They have invested heavily in
Syria, and now even more in Iran. If something were to threaten either Syria or
Iran, I believe Russia would be drawn into the conflict. As God says, "I will
put hooks in your jaws (Gog's) and draw you out." - vs. 38.4.
Russia has tied herself to the fanatic of Iran who believes it
is his destiny to usher in the "last Imam" and conquer the world. We have seen
how he has no qualms at starting a war with Israel with his proxy, the
Hezbollah, even though it could have easily drawn Iran into the war. And even
now, he thinks he has won. He believes Israel is weakened and America is weak
politically. He will think now is the time to strike! Even Syria, who is under
the sway of Iran, is proclaiming that George Bush's Middle East peace plan has
failed. Iran is also courting Hugo Chavez, left-wing president of Venezuela, who
himself has no love for the United States. Suppose our attention is diverted to
South America instead of the Middle East. Iran might then try another
'adventure' against Israel, thinking we would too preoccupied to react. Or
perhaps Syria will be persuaded to attack Israel and so incur the judgment
spoken of by Isaiah 17.1, "See, Damascus will no longer be a city but will
become a heap of ruins." This judgment has not occurred, as Damascus is the
oldest, continuously lived in city in the world. Such a destruction of Damascus
could very well be the "hooks in his jaw" that brings Russia against Israel.
Whatever the cause of this war, it will happen, and Russia and
the Islamic fundamentalist countries will be destroyed by God. In this battle,
Gog is described as coming "like a storm that sweeps over the mountains of
Israel, like a cloud covering the land." - 38.9. Many have supposed that this
speaks of an airborne invasion, which Russia has used in the past, striking deep
in the country to quell resistance from within. But, God will destroy Gog and
his armies with a great earthquake, torrents of rain and hailstones, and burning
sulfur. Only 1/6th of them will be left. Some have suggested that the Israelis bring out the ark of the Covenant,
which their Rabbis say they have now, to invoke God's help. God will confuse
Gog's armies so that they fight each other. Considering the obvious language
barriers that will be between the Russians and the Islamic troops, this could
easily happen.
The implication in Ezekiel is that God alone fights for
Israel. Other nations are listed as making diplomatic protests but that is all.
"Sheba, Dedan, the merchants of Tarshish, and all their young lions will say to
you, 'Have you come to take plunder? Have you gathered your army to take booty,
to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods, to take great
plunder?'" Sheba (Aden or part of Ethiopia) and Dedan (Muscat or Arab
Emirates) are both references to the northwest region of the Persian Gulf
region, which has had an English influence since 1830's. While others disagree,
I believe Tarshish to be a reference to England. According to Ezekiel 27.12,
Tarshish was known to be rich in "silver, iron, tin, and lead," minerals England
has long been known for. This was known to the Phoenicians who named it "Barath-anak"
or 'land of tin'. Through the Greek this name was changed to Britain. Herodotus,
the historian, also called the British isles "tin islands." Britain has always
been renowned for its merchants and sea faring trade. The phrase "the young
lions thereof" would then be a reference to the colonies started by Great
Britain, chief of which is the United States. There seems to be only diplomatic
action on their part which begs the question, why? Perhaps there will have been
a political shift in Britain and the United States, or perhaps they will have
been humbled by earlier actions with Russia, as is foretold in Isaiah 2.12,16
and Ezekiel 39.6:
"For the day of the Lord of hosts shall come upon everything
proud and lofty, upon everything lifted up - and it will be brought low - ...
Upon all the ships of Tarshish and upon all the beautiful sloops." - Isaiah
2.12, 16
"And I will send fire on Magog and on those who live in
security in the coastlands. Then they shall know that I am the Lord." - Ezekiel
39.6
While Tarshish seems to have been humbled for a time they will
re-appear as Messiah sets up His kingdom in Israel.
"Who are these who fly like a cloud, and like doves to their
roosts? Surely the coastlands shall wait for Me; and the ships of Tarshish will
come first, to bring your sons from afar, their silver and their gold with them,
to the name of the Lord your God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because He has
glorified you." - Isaiah 60.8, 9
It will take Israel 7 years to burn the left over weapons and
bury the dead. This will begin the return of Israel to their God. I believe it
will be in these days that the Temple will be rebuilt and Israel will begin to
return to their biblical faith. The Islamic nations will have suffered such a
defeat that they will not be able to protest the Temple's rebuilding. Perhaps it
may even lead to a fresh outreach of Christianity into Islamic lands.
Sadly, it will also mark a transition that prepares for the
3rd great end time war, Armageddon. The antichrist will emerge as a peace broker
and establish a covenant which Israel will accept - to their hurt. I will cover
this in a future article known as The March to
Armageddon.