Gog’s Power Play

By Steve Meehan

As we rapidly approach the onset of the final seven-years of human government, it is intriguing to look about the world’s landscape to observe how the key players of prophesied events are being maneuvered into position to take up their roles of foretold occurrences.

Like the ever-popular board game, Risk, the frontline operatives of the end- time battles are planning their strategies and placing their weapons of warfare─troops, anti-aircraft and anti-ship missile batteries, weapons of mass destruction─in and along the frontiers of key-engagement-points in their quest to achieve a successful outcome.

Unbeknownst to the major combatants, there are supernatural forces behind the scenes manipulating the war room planning discussions─by infiltrating their thought processes to ensure that battle-ready assets are moved into the foremost theaters of operation.

Most students of Bible prophecy are aware of at least two foretold conflicts that will transpire during the final seven-year Tribulation period: The Isaiah 17 prophecy detailing the destruction of the city of Damascus and the Ezekiel 38 and 39 Gog-Magog war, dealing with a massive invasion into Israel by Russia and some key Islamic nations.

Another event that some Bible prophecy, students contend could happen soon is described in Psalm 83, describing the immediate nations surrounding Israel that are seeking her demise. Whether this is an actual battle or a plea for help on Israel’s part, is a topic for discussion.

The central figure of the Ezekiel 38 and 39, battle -- is this character: “Gog” from “the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal” (Ezekiel 38:2). It is widely understood from most Bible scholars that the land of Magog is the region around the Black Sea and the Caucasus mountains of southern Russia. The cities of Meshech and Tubal could be references to the major Russian cities of Moscow and Tobolsk, or Tubal might also be the Georgia capital city of Tbilisi.

Some believe these two cities are located within Turkey, just south of the Black Sea. Since Turkey (“the house of Togarmah”) seems to be one of the allied groups – along with Russia, Persia (Iran), and other Islamic nations from Africa – that comes to invade Israel in this battle, it would appear that this figure, Gog, has influence over that nation─along with Russia and the others, to get them to participate in this invasion. Just who or what is: Gog?

Gog is described as a “chief prince” in the Ezekiel 38 and 39 passages. In the Old Testament book of Daniel, in chapter 10 it tells us that Daniel was praying, fasting, and seeking direction from the Lord. After three weeks, he was given a message from God, delivered by an angel. The angel confided to Daniel that this angel was being withstood for 21 days by the prince of Persia, which had to be a demonic force that held sway over that region of the globe.

Daniel was physically in Babylon at that time, and Babylon fell under the reigning governance of Persia in those days. After the angel delivered his message to Daniel, he informed Daniel that he would leave but continue to fight against this prince of Persia, then later with the prince of Grecia (Greece), who would be the next ruling empire on Earth.

Two interesting aspects of this chapter are: First, despite the fact that Satan is the ruler of this world and its systems, and has his demonic henchman in place to govern certain spheres of influence and regions of the world, God also has His angels in place to help with our daily battles and to do combat against our mortal enemy.

Secondly, this angel also tells Daniel that Michael “one of the chief princes” (Daniel 10:13) came to assist this angel in battling the prince of Persia. If Michael is “one of the chief princes,” there must be others. It would seem that the term “chief prince” is a reference given to these angelic beings of a superior hierarchy whether of the fallen or unfallen class─while the classification “kings of the earth” seem to apply to men.

The name Gog also shows up in the 20th chapter of the book of Revelation. At the end of Christ’s 1000-year reign on earth from the city of Jerusalem, it talks about how Satan will be given one last opportunity to deceive and gather together all those people who still wish to rebel against God. Listed among those who will attempt to overthrow Christ’s rule and reign is none other than Gog from Magog.

Clearly, this can’t be a reference to a resurrected and newly reinvigorated Vladimir Putin or any other mortal Russian leader after a 1000-year hiatus. Gog has to be a demonic force, and one of Satan’s chief princes. He will be the one who ultimately gets the “hook in the jaw” by God Himself, who will use this being to bring glory to God:

“Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD” (Ezekiel 38:23).

 

In a buildup to this confrontation, though, Gog is feverishly at work, along with his fellow fallen comrades─including his top general─Satan, to influence, coerce, manipulate, and to deceive all the key players of the region who will come up against the nation of Israel in an all-out war against the Jewish nation. Persia (Iran) can’t work hard enough or more diligently in its pursuit to develop atomic weapons to destroy Israel.

 

Ahmadinijad of Iran only has a little over a month left in office. Could he be so emboldened as to start something that would bring on his 12th Imam – the Mahdi? Supposedly, he can’t show himself until a catastrophe takes place. Who might be whispering into Ahmadinijad’s ear to hasten the arrival of his long desired Messiah?

 

Turkey, a once somewhat close ally to Israel and the lone Islamic nation to conduct trade with Jerusalem, has now joined the ranks of those who despise her, due to the killing of some of its sailors aboard the boat that made an ill attempt to penetrate Israel’s sea blockade of Gaza. Someone has already convinced him to turn on the Jewish nation.

 

Then, of course, there is Russia. Out of the whole conglomeration that will come-up against the Jewish people to overtake them, they are the power, the muscle of the operation. They have the tanks, the fighter aircraft, and a vast array of nuclear weapons and delivery systems.

They were the constant nemesis of the West during the Cold War years, going back as far as the conclusion of World War II, right up until their system collapsed and its satellite countries of the old Soviet Union broke away, under Gorbachev’s “Perestroika and Glasnost.” They began to warm up to the West, by allowing free trade and travel in and out of the country.

Then came along, Vladimir Putin, a former KGB type who wants to restore the past glory and prestige of the Soviet empire, and to hold sway and influence in world affairs. Gog has his man in place that can be used and influenced to accomplish his bidding. The old Russian TU-95 Bear Bombers have resumed their forays into Alaskan airspac.

They have thrown their weight around with their neighboring countries who depend on the natural gas being piped out of Russia; they have wielded the veto pen repeatedly in the UN to thwart any measures by the West to punish offending nations; and the Russians have been adversely influencing what is presently happening in the Syrian civil war.

Benjamin Netanyahu, the leader of Israel, made a trip to Moscow last week in an attempt to stop the sale and positioning of Russian anti-aircraft missile systems within and along the Syrian borders. They promised no new sales, but that prior contracts and agreements of military hardware would be honored. Now comes word that anti-ship missile batteries will be installed in Syria by Russia, along with Russian crews to advise, train and to operate such equipment alongside their Syrian counterparts.

Also, more Russian warships will soon be entering the Syrian harbors. A naval blockade and any anti-aircraft or anti-ship missile batteries will make it more difficult for any nation to try to end the Syrian conflict. It will be an especially difficult impediment for Israel, should they feel the need again to launch air strikes within Syria to stop the transfer of any dangerous weapons to groups like Hezbollah.

What is Russia’s end game?

Could they be making a move into Syria to further along their agenda? We know from Bible prophecy that Gog will make a power play move eventually into Israel “to take spoil and goods.” Newly found gas fields and possibly oil reserves within and off the coast of Israel would be most desirous for Putin and Moscow to covet. Plus a warm water port along the Mediterranean, the Suez Canal, and the Gulf of Aqaba would also be enticing.

If Russia were to move into Syria clandestinely at first, by offering aid, assistance, and training to operate defensive systems, they could end-up being occupiers for awhile, much like the USA had done in Iraq during the overthrow of Saddam Hussein. They could establish a foothold in the country, and from there, it would be a much easier excursion into Israel when the time comes. Whether or not that scenario plays out, time and actions on their part will tell.

In the meantime, Gog and his counterparts, along with the human authorities giving ear to his influences, are ratcheting up the tensions and making incremental moves to properly align along important points of entry. As in the game of, Risk, there will be various battle rounds, border clashes, surge attacks, mass invasions, and spoils of war campaigns. The exact movements to set the troops may not yet be predictable, as the “devil is in the details”─through Satan and one of his chief princes: Gog.

 

But the end time prophecies will play out and the power play for control of Jerusalem will commence. Ultimately, the Lord wins the overall battle, but the causality count of this rapidly nearing war will be staggering. It will take Israel seven months to bury the dead, and a full seven years to burn the left over weaponry.

 It won’t be a game; it will be very serious stuff─especially for Israel.

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee”(Psalm 122:6).

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