By Don Davis
IN my earlier column, I examined if the strife and unrest being witnessed in the Middle East region are indicative of the End Times and if they were, then there are 5 things that could possibly happen to Israel, God’s chosen people, as a result of all the turmoil and upheavals. Part 1 of this series ended with a theoretical attack on Israel prior to Gog and Magog in Ezekiel 38.
Gog’s attack on Israel and God’s revenge in Ezekiel 38-39 is not in dispute. What needs a closer examination is only the timing of the prophesied event – whether it’s now or for later.
Alternatively, I will profile Gog, Babylon the Great, the Beast and the Rapture.
Many suggest that Gog is Russia, and her allies are believed to be Turkey, Iran, Iraq, parts of Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, and possibly China.
Russia has the nuclear ability and space technology. They are upgrading, supplying and retraining their military, building massive shelters (projected completion is said to be 2012), consolidating ownership of resources, and deploying decoys.
However to be able to do all these, Russia (Gog) would also need to neutralize the United States (USA) before attacking Israel. By attacking USA and Israel, Russia would be fulfilling two prophecies. That is if one considers USA as ‘Babylon the Great’.
Currently, the United States is the only nation that fulfills the ‘Babylon, woman, and the prostitute’ description in Revelation 17-18.
- USA rules the world (Revelation 17:18)
- Federal Emergency Management Agency has organized the 50 states into 10 districts and during emergencies ‘kings’ or czars can assume control of each 10 regions (Revelation 17:12).
- USA is comprised of ethnic backgrounds (Revelation 17:15).
- Several unfriendly organizations and individuals are bent on destroying the population and culture (Revelation 17:16).
- Residents of USA have a country of origin to escape judgment (Revelation 18:4, Jeremiah 51:9).
- World leaders and merchants have gotten rich and corrupted from USA (Revelation 18:3, 17:2, 18:9, 18:23).
- USA is decaying ethically and converting to other beliefs and worship (Revelation 18:2).
- USA can be viewed from the sea (Revelation 18:17-19), in addition to other descriptions in chapter 18.
Consequently, if the ‘End Times’ have begun and USA is Babylon the Great, USA will eventually be ruled by the Beast (Revelation 17:11). (Please note the word ‘antichrist’ is only used in 1st & 2nd John).
The Beast is shrewd, talented and powerful. He will not regard the god of his fathers (Daniel 11:37-39) which lead some to believe the Beast might claim to be Christian or Jewish but will turn against both (Daniel 7:21-22, 8:24, Revelation 12:17, 13:7).
Satan will give his supernatural power to the Beast (Revelation 13:1-4) and the Beast, along with his false prophet (Revelation 13:11-13) and kings (Revelation 17:12-13) who hate the USA will cause her destruction (Revelation 17:16-18, 18:24). Afterwards, the Beast continues creating havoc (Matthew 24:15-22, Mark 13:14-20).
Furthermore, there is no indication in the Bible that Christians will be ‘raptured’ before the Beast, or the Great Tribulation, instead we are instructed to flee (Revelation 18:4, Jeremiah 51:9, Mark 13:14-16).
Therefore, Christians must expect that they might be subjected to horrible events (Revelation 17:6).
When asked ‘when will these things happen?’ Jesus Christ replied in Matthew 24:3-51, Mark 13:3-37 and Luke 21:7-36 (and the first thing he said which must be important), “Take heed lest any man deceive you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am Christ,’ and, ‘the time draweth near, Do not follow them, and false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect if that were possible.’ Next Jesus talks about intense persecution, wars, earthquakes, pestilence, fearful events, signs in the heavens, and warns us “these things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.”
Now, I’ve seen and heard of wars, nuclear and natural disasters, famine, pestilence and various persecutions. Nowhere have I seen anyone believable claiming to be Christ or performing great signs and miracles like Jesus Christ.
But, with the accelerated growth of demonic religions, it is only a matter of time before antichrists appear (Matthew 24:24, Revelation 13:13, 13:15) and I am concerned that Christians will falter since they are unprepared for serious persecution before Jesus Christ returns (Matthew 24:9, Mark 13:9-13, Luke 21:12-17).
This would explain the rebellion, betrayal, fear, deaths and ‘great falling away’ in Matthew 24:10, Luke 18:8 and Mark 13:12-13.
Except, since there will be so much anxiety, confusion, deception and persecution before and during the ‘End Times’, how will we know?
Jesus answers in Mark 13:32, and Matthew 24:36 “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” and as a result the Lord strongly advises us to ‘watch’ and ‘be ready’ at all times (Matthew 24:42-44, Mark 13:33-37, Luke 21:36).
In Part III, the epilogue, the writer will write at length about Israel and Russia according to Ezekiel 38 and the Rapture according to other prophecies.
Read another column by Don Davis
Don Davis has over 20 years experience in analytic research particularly regarding Israeli, Middle Eastern culture, behavior and historical patterns. Don is based in Israel, from where he monitors and evaluates worldwide information on finance, technologies, industries, and the military/political environment for a US consulting company.
