The second Window

The First Window in discerning the signs of the times is Israel. The Second window is the Middle East and Far Northern East. Israel does not exist in isolation, they are surrounded by countries that are predominantly Islamic. This is an age-old struggle that started when Abraham could not wait for his promised child, Isaac, and then created Ismael. The descendant of Ismael, Muhammed, would then much later create the Islamic religion.

The Middle East will include countries like Iran, Iraq, Syria, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, etc. The Far Northern East will include countries like Russia, Turkey, Ukraine, etc.

The Old Testament of the Bible predicted war between Israel and the surrounding nations

Zechariah 12:3 (New International Version)

A prophecy: The word of the Lord concerning Israel.

"The Lord, who stretches out the heavens, who lays the foundation of the earth, and who forms the human spirit within a person, declares:  “I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that sends all the surrounding peoples reeling. Judah will be besieged as well as Jerusalem. ³ On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations. All who try to move it will injure themselves."

Ezekiel 38: 1-6 (New International Version)

The Lord’s Great Victory Over the Nations

"The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshek and Tubal; prophesy against him and say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against you, Gog, chief prince of Meshek and Tubal. I will turn you around, put hooks in your jaws and bring you out with your whole army—your horses, your horsemen fully armed, and a great horde with large and small shields, all of them brandishing their swords. Persia, Cush and Put will be with them, all with shields and helmets, also Gomer with all its troops, and Beth Togarmah from the far north with all its troops—the many nations with you."

Question: Where is Gog of Magog

People often wonder about Gog and Magog in the Bible (Ezekiel 38–39). God tells Gog and Magog he will “put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed in full armor, a great host, all of them with buckler and shield, wielding swords” (38:4).

Earlier in the chapter, Ezekiel indicates Gog and Magog will drag many other nations into a devastating battle against the kings of the South.

Two passages in Scripture have cemented Gog and Magog in our minds when we think of the apocalypse: Ezekiel 38–39, and Revelation 20. Both passages reference a figure named Gog and a huge army that attacks the people of God.

• Through the prophet Ezekiel, God says to Gog (of the land of Magog), “You will come from your place in the far north, you and many nations with you, all of them riding on horses, a great horde, a mighty army. You will advance against my people Israel like a cloud that covers the land.” (Ezek 38:15–16)

• Toward the end of our Bible, John the Revelator sees in a vision: “When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—and to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore.” (Rev 20:7–8)

These prophecies are well-known and much-disputed. There’s plenty of debate over who Gog is, what Magog represents, and what these prophecies ultimately refer to.

Who is Meshek and Tubal

Meshech (also spelled Meshek) and Tubal were sons of Japheth, one of the three sons of Noah who survived the flood with him (Genesis 10:1–2). Meshech (whose name means “long, tall, or drawn out by force”) is the sixth son of Japheth. The land of Meshech is closely associated with that of Tubal, especially in a prophecy of Ezekiel. The region of Meshech is often identified as being north of the Black Sea (southern Russia and Ukraine and possibly the Republic of Georgia), and Tubal as an area in central Turkey.

The land of Meshech is used in Psalm 120:5 as a generic reference to barbarous regions where “those who hate peace” live (verse 6). The lands where Meshech’s and Tubal’s descendants settled figure significantly in some prophecies of Ezekiel, and it is in that book where they are mentioned most. In the prophecy of Ezekiel 38, Meshech and Tubal are ruled by Gog, a prince over those territories: “The word of the LORD came to me: ‘Son of man, set your face toward Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him and say, “Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal”’” (Ezekiel 38:1–3). Ezekiel repeats God’s words of judgment against the descendants of the two sons of Japheth when he prophesies that God will defeat them in a war against Israel (Ezekiel 39:1–5).

Many biblical scholars equate the land of Gog in Ezekiel’s prophecies with Russia, who will attack Israel “from the far north” (Ezekiel 38:15). Meshech and Tubal could be two of the “many nations” joining Russia in their invasion of Israel (verse 6).

The advance of the alliance involving Meshech and Tubal will be like “a cloud covering the land” (Ezekiel 38:9). Some commentators believe this war, often called the Battle of Gog and Magog, will be one of the events leading up to the end-times’ tribulation. Others believe it will occur close to the midpoint of the tribulation, since Israel will feel secure at the time, “dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates” (verse 11).

God will defeat this powerful alliance (Ezekiel 38:22) to reveal His greatness to all the world (verse 23) and restore the people of Israel to a right relationship with Himself (Ezekiel 39:21–29). Meshech and Tubal, despite the strength of their numbers and the help of their allies, will fall.

No Surprise!

It should therefore be no surprise to the Bible-believing Christian that there is a war between Israel and the Islamic world surrounding it. What might be lesser known in the war between Israel and Russia?! However, it should not come as a surprise, as Russia has long been supporting the enemies of Israel, like Iran, Syria, etc.

Conclusion

Keep a close eye on the Middle East and Far Northern East.