Hello Mr. Collins,
I have enjoyed reading your articles. Thank You.
I have a few questions and thoughts for you.
1. How did you draw conclusions that “Mountains of Israel”,
geographically speaking, is not, in fact, the Holy land in Palestine?
All passages in the Scripture identify the “Mountains of Israel” as an
actual geographical location of the Land of Israel.
I understand very well, the difference between Israel (modern ten
tribes of Israel) and Judah (Israelis).
2. Secondly, could it be possible that the Ezekiel 38,39 attack on
“Israel” means that at the time of attack, according to Ezekiel 37,
all families of Israel have already been reunited and all of them
dwell in peace and security as the text of Ezekiel indicates?
Therefore, when the prophet speaks of Israel, it means that the attack
of Gog and Magog will take place in the Land of Israel.
3. Lastly, how did you come to the conclusion that it will be Russia,
China and company, to lead the attack?
Wouldn’t it be better deciphered that Turkey and all the Muslim
countries from the south of Russia would, in fact, lead this attack?
I share your point of view of the rest of the alliances.
Despite the words Rosh, Meshech and Tubal conveniently point to
Russia, there are stronger indications that those words represent
Turkey.
I look forward to your insightful thoughts.
Regards,
Alex Zafran
MyReply
Dear Alex,
Thanks for your questions, and I’m glad that you enjoy reading my material. The “mountains of Israel” in Ezekiel 38:8 are described as having “been always waste (emphasis added).” That would eliminate the “mountains” in the Promised Land as those mountains have had many civilizations built, destroyed and rebuilt on them. However, the Rocky Mountains of North America have been mostly “waste” (uninhabited) for millennia. The Rocky Mountains are far higher than the mountains in the Promised Land. The “mountains” in the hill country of Ephraim (where I have been and have seen them) would be classified as mere “foothills” in the Rocky Mountain chain. Also, Ezekiel 38 refers not only to the mountains of Israel (which can mean nations as well as literal mountains), but verse 14 and 16 refer to the “people of Israel” as the targets of this attack. This can only mean that the Gog-Magog attack is directed against the modern nations where the people of Israel are living in the latter days (see verses 8 and 16).
Ezekiel 37 and Ezekiel 38-39 are found in entirely different prophesies and have no similar time context. Ezekiel 38:1 has the prophetic language that Ezekiel uses throughout his book to indicate that a previous prophetic utterance has ended and a new one is about to be given. These prophecies (of which there are many in Ezekiel) are not consecutive visions. Each one has its own subject matter and time context. The prophecy which concludes Ezekiel 37 (the “two sticks” prophecy) is found in Ezekiel 37:15-28 and this has to occur after the Millennium/Messianic Age is under way as King David is mentioned as being a king over the tribes of Israel. That prophecy must be fulfilled in the Millennium/Messianic Age as it must occur after the resurrection of the dead saints (including David). Ezekiel 38 states clearly that its time context is before the Millennium/Messianic Age as it is for the “latter days” (verses 8 and 16) of this age when the Israelite nations are sinful and do not yet know who the Creator is (39:7).
I don’t see Turkey mentioned anywhere in Ezekiel 38. I regard Turkey as an Edomite nation. Edom (or Esau) is not mentioned in Ezekiel 38 at all. The previous name of Turkey was the Ottoman Empire and the word “Ottoman” has the consonants (T-M-N) of one of the primary tribes of Edom, which was “Teman” (Genesis 36:15 and 34). Russia is identified by the words Magog, Meshech and Tubal. Magog was historically the region of South Russia, the consonants of “Meshech” can be found in the word “Moscow” (M-S-C), and the name of Tubal is found in such names as the Tobolsk River and the city of Tobol in Russia. I see China as Gomer, which has to be a very populace nation in Asia as Ezekiel 38:6 mentions that it will come with “all its bands (tribes).” At the Beijing Olympics, the Opening Ceremonies had representatives from each of China’s “bands” or “tribes” (I believe there were over 40 of them). Russia and China have become strategic allies and are militarizing themselves to fulfill this prophecy. Also, Persia (Iran) is prophesied to be an ally of Magog, Meshech, Tubal and Gomer, and Iran is indeed a modern ally of Russia and China. Turkey is not mentioned in Ezekiel 38, but its destiny is not yet clear. Turkey’s military has traditionally favored Ataturk’s vision of a secular Islamic state, the West and has wanted a strong relationship with the Israelis, but Turkey’s current leader is pushing the nation away from Ataturk’s vision and toward radical Islam.
Steve
