Scholars, rabbis and numerous authors have for years discussed the Magog war.  Early theories thought Napoleon's attack on Russia fit the description.  Later, in the 20th century, they were sure it was Hitler.  In 1971, Ronald Reagan, then governor of California told state legislators at a dinner that 'Russia was Gog of the book of Ezekiel."  Hal Lindsey, Grant Jeffery, M R DeHaan, Tim LaHaye, Jack Van Impe and Chuck Missler are just some who, for the most part, agree on the Gog and Magog players that are on Biblical schedule to descend on tiny Israel.  Ezekiel 38 and 39 outlines the battle which involves the entire world; 'every man's sword will be against his brother'.  Though the effect of war would be horrendous enough, God's particular judgment affects man and beast alike, shaking in His presence as the 'mountains are thrown down, the steep pathways will collapse, and every wall will fall to the ground'.

 Who are the Magog antagonist that the scriptures call 'Tarshish and her young lions, Sheba and Dedan'?  Sheba and Dedan were the nomadic Arabic tribes of ancient days, their descendants now comprising some of the Arab countries.  Tarshish was referred to in several places of the old testament, sometimes  to particular nations which traded by ships as  was an ancient Phoenician port in Spain.  It is also used without reference to loyalty to indicate anyone who used ships for long voyages, primarily merchant ships showing great success in the economical arena.  Today, the US navy is the largest navy in the world.  If the next 17 forces on  the list were combined, they would still fall short.  Through the dominance of our large oil corporation technology, we are inextricably linked with 'Sheba and Dedan' who today are our Arab allies.

The US is Israel's only friend, though not entirely a good one as of late, and is aligned with them in opposition to Iran's nuclear program and Syria's brutal regime.  May 18, 2011:  Joel Rosenburg warned that ' Washington is distracted by the death of Osama bin Laden and the Arab spring revolution.  The real threat is Iran's nuclear advances and their apocalyptic philosophy opposite Christian beliefs:  To hasten the coming of the 12th Imam, their Messiah, you have to kill millions and millions of people, obliterate Israel and  the US, and the end will come'.  The news has been full of the saber rattling that 'Rapture Ready' has been so thorough in updating.  Just this week, another American carrier group has entered the area of the Med in preparation for the inevitable.  The Russians have their own ships in the area and 'military advisors' in Syria.  If Israel does in fact make good on its' threat to eliminate the Iranian nuclear program (which after the verbal threats of Iran's leader to exterminate them, leaves them little alternative) they and the Russians, who built the nuclear processing systems, will have a solid case for retaliation.  They would have the support of Turkey and many of the Arab nations not aligned with us.  Would the United States or China stand idle while Russia and her allies run over Israel and then possibly continue into other surrounding oil rich countries where she could then put the strangle hold on the rest of the world?

Ezekiel 39:6  "And I shall send fire upon Magog and those who inhabit the coastlands in safety; and they will know that I am the Lord."  'Wikipedia' lists the countries with the most coast line as #1 Canada, #2 USA, and #3 Russia.  It is safe to say that we living in North America, for the most part, feel secure in our borders.

Why should this country, which for so many years has been considered the bastillion of Christianity receive judgment?  'NationMaster.com' has some interesting statistics.  Under 'number of abortions':  #1= Russia, #2 =USA.  Under total crime (most recent):  #1= USA, #5= Russia.  Teen pregnancy:  #1 =USA by a 15 to 1 margin over the next country, Poland.  Russia didn't make the top 25.  Our country has continued its' long down-hill slide away from God.  As other authors have so frequently mentioned on this site, every year God's precepts are rejected with new laws promoting homosexuality, removing any mention of Him in governent and school and stifling the freedom that allows Christians to voice consern over such things.  One only need to look at the moral decline of the entertainment industry, the epidemic corruption in business and government to see the deeply sinfull hearts of our citizenry.  It is becoming clear why the United States is not mentioned in the Bible as a major participant of the tribulation period.

Living in the 'Bible Belt' in Texas, I was encourage to see the out-pouring of giving and the public acknowledgement of God's grace and mercy during the recent tornados.  It gave me pause to wonder what our response should be if there were to be a truly catastrophic event like a nuclear war.  Would we hoard food and water, shooting anyone that comes to our door as some are reported to be preparing to do.  Or will we, as true Christians, give what we have to anyone who needs it, even if it is our last?

Isaiah 24: "Behold, the Lord lays the earth waste, devastates it, distorts its surface, and scatter its inhabitants.  And the people will be like the priest, the servant like his master, the maid like her mistress, the buyer like the seller, the lender like the borrower, the creditor like the debtor.  The earth will be completely laid waste and completely despoiled, for the Lord has spoken this word.  The earth mourns and withers, the world fades and withers, the exalted of the people of the earth fade away.  The earth is also polluted by its inhabitants, for they transgressed laws, violated statutes, broke the everlasting covenant.  Therefore, a curse devours the earth and those who live in it are held guilty.  Therefore, the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men are left. vs 19, 20:The earth is broken asunder, The earth is split through, The earth is shaken violently, The earth reels to and fro like a drunkard.  And it totters like a shack, For its transgression is heavy upon it, And it will fall, never to rise again."

Isaiah 26:3, 4:  "The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in You.  Trust in the Lord forever, for in God the Lord, we have an everlasting Rock."