Chapter 9 -

Battle for the land and the city 

 

 

 

 

One of the most essential features of the events before the coming of Jesus Christ is the conflict around Israel and especially around Jerusalem, because this area and the Middle East will be the main stage in the last days. This geographical area has also been in the media and in the headlines probably more than any other issue over the last decades and often in a negative way. It is probably due to the fact that this country has continuously been a target of attacks from the outside and from the inside – it has experienced three large wars and numerous suicide attacks – which has sustained the interest of the media.

  Before we start to examine present-day events in this area and the future of this area in light of the Bible's prophecies in more detail, we are going to quickly review its history. We are going to look at the fate of the land and its rulers after the year 70 A.D. when Jerusalem and its temple were destroyed. We are also going to look at the origin of Palestinians and other relevant issues. These are important if we are to understand the background of modern-day problems.

 

THE FATE OF THE LAND AFTER 70 A.D.

 

After 70 A.D. when the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple took place, there were several rulers one after the other. When the hedge of the vineyard of Israel and Jerusalem was taken away (Isa 5:5: And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down) and destroyed and trampled, the land fell into the hands of different rulers for centuries. There were at least eight successive ruling groups:

 

- ...        - 395 A.D.   - Romans

- 395    - 636 A.D.   - Byzantines

- 636   - 1072 A.D.  - Arabs

- 1072 - 1099 A.D.  - Seljuks

- 1099 - 1291 A.D.  - “Crusaders”

- 1291 - 1516 A.D.  - Mamluks

- 1516 - 1917 A.D.  - Turkish Ottomans

- 1917 - 1948 A.D.  - British mandate administration

 

The list illustrates that the land was in the hands of different rulers in turn across many centuries, actually almost for two millennia. A change did not take place until 1948 when the country of Israel became independent and got to be under the Jewish rule. Actually, there were Jews living in the region almost all the time. In Jerusalem in 1896, for example, Jews were a clear majority among Christians and Muslims. There were 45,420 residents, 61.9% of them were Jews, 19.3% Christians, and 18.8% were Muslims. 

  The consequence of the land being under foreign rule was that it started to deteriorate and became deserted little by little. Muslims and other groups in possession of the land neither settled down nor made it flourish. A good example of this is the fact that during Muslim rule, which lasted for centuries after the year 636, only one town was built, the town of Ramlen, and the land started to deteriorate.

  The deterioration of the country reached its climax during the 400-year rule of the Muslims (1516–1917) when even trees were taxed, which led to trees being destroyed because people wanted to avoid the payments. The consequence of all this was that the land became perfectly deserted because the erosion-preventing vegetation was gone. Some areas became swampy, others got parched, and conditions for living became almost impossible – a fact that caused population to decrease. Descriptions from the 1700s and1800s indicate that the land then was a desert, sparsely inhabited, and that it was burdened by illegality:

 

­1738 "... The people who would have cultivated the fruitful soil of the land were gone" (Th. Shaw, Travels and Observations Relating to Several Parts of Barbary and the Levant, London 1767).

 

1785 "The land was ruined and deserted" (C.F. Volnay, Travels Through Syria and Egypt in the Years 1783, 1784 and 1785, London 1787).

 

1844 "During Volnay, the land had not yet achieved the last degree of depopulation" (A. Keith, The Land of Israel, Edinburgh 1844).

 

1865 "...both in the north and the south (Sharon plain), agriculture is coming to an end and whole villages are rapidly disappearing." (H.B. Tristram, The Land of Israel: A Journal of Travels in Palestine, London 1865) (51)

 

Another feature worth noting about the land ownership is that the Jews bought areas of sandy and peat-covered land at a dear price. When the land was mainly in the possession of twenty large landowners and, of course, in the possession of the Turkish Ottoman administration and later in the possession of the British mandate administration (when the British mandate administration came to an end in 1948 and they gave up the land, it automatically went to a new state – before that it was not in the possession of the Arabs any more than the Jews), the Jews bought these extensive areas from them. So the land was not stolen – as some may have said – but it was legally obtained and often even at a hundredfold price. Many were greatly amused that someone even wanted to buy that kind of land that was treeless or just mere swamp. However, many queued up to sell their land, because they got a good price and got rich:

 

The nationalists in the neighboring states of Israel, whether they were in the service of the government or business, Palestinians, Syrians or the descendants of tribes living in the cities, all know that in the beginning of the century, during the British mandate, their fathers and uncles sold the swampy plains and stony hills to Zionists for gold, which often meant a beginning of their political and commercial career. Migratory and partly settled peasants who populated border regions know very well in what state the green plains, reforested hills and blooming fields in Israel used to be. Those Palestinians who are refugees in the neighboring countries today and who were adults at the time of their escape know all of this and no anti-Zionist propaganda, common propaganda of either Arabs or Muslims, can make them forget that their current nationalist exploiters are the honorable boys of their former feudalist exploiters and that the thorns in their life were originally caused by the Arabs and not the Jews. (Algerian politician Abdel Razek Kader, The Jerusalem Post, 8 January 1969) (52)

 

WHO ARE THE PALESTINIANS?

 

From the surrounding Arab countries. As to the background of Palestinians, we may occasionally hear that they have always been one nation and that Jerusalem has always been their capital.

  History does not, however, support these ideas. If we look at the time after 70 A.D. when Jerusalem and its temple were destroyed and the Jews were dispersed, we can see that there was no Palestinian state, a state that would have had its own rulers, its own army, its own currency, its own language, recognizable borders, and other features signifying national identity. These important features were completely missing.

  Instead, history teaches that present-day Palestinians are Arabs who came from surrounding states. They are generally the descendants of Ishmael, who was the son of Abraham and to whom rightfully belongs a blessing equal to that of his brother Isaac – a blessing which will probably be restored in the millennial kingdom (Isa 19:24 25: In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the middle of the land: Whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel my inheritance.).

  These people did not represent one nationality but several: Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Iraq, etc. They arrived from neighboring Arab states or (before the year 1917) from the former Turkish Ottoman region, which until a hundred years ago still had possession of most of the Arab states. They could not, at that time, have had any kind of Palestinian identity, neither did the neighboring Arab states speak about anything like that in those times; this came a lot later.

  In addition, what led people to move away from the surrounding areas to the present land of Israel was the fact that conditions were much better there. Consequences of the migration of the Jews were an increase in wages and the standard of living, and this tempted them to move away from the surrounding areas. The people mostly migrated to those areas where the standard of living had increased the most.

 

When the land started to react to the hard work of the Jews, they became victims of their own success. The Muslims who had not cared about what happens to the land for centuries heard about the success of the Jews. They started to flow into the land from the neighboring Muslim states, intending to work for the Jews. When they moved back they did not want to settle down in new areas but to the areas where the Jews were. (53)

 

An issue to which we should pay attention is that Palestinian identity is a relatively new concept. It started to appear only after the war in 1967, which was won by Israel. These people often represented several nationalities. Their parents arrived from the surrounding countries and were mainly the descendants of Abraham. They did not get their new identity until then. Representatives of the PLO, especially, sought self-identity for tactical reasons because they wanted to use it against Israel. There has not been a long historical foundation:

 

We only emphasize our Palestinian identity for political reasons. (…) A special Palestinian identity serves only tactical goals. Establishing a state of Palestine is a new tool in the continuous battle against Israel. (…) When we have received all our rights in all of Palestine, we will not waste any more time in uniting Jordan and Palestine. (Zuheir Muhsini, the leader of PLO's operational department said this in an interview which he gave to Dutch Trouw-magazine on 31 March 1977.) (54)

 

The refugee problem. One issue connected to the so-called Palestinians, or Arabs who live in the Israeli area and elsewhere, is the refugee problem and the fact that many of them have had to spend years in camps in the surrounding Arab areas and often in bad conditions. This and other factors have been the reason for their suffering and have caused them to become bitter:

 

Taking all this into consideration, the sufferings of the Palestinians also pierce my heart. I have visited my Palestinian friends in Lebanon at camps ravaged by the wars and seen how they have fought against Israeli soldiers. I have interviewed the local Palestinian leaders and read their newspapers. To me, they are not mere statistics but living persons whose grievances I have heard. A man must be totally hardened in the heart not to see that the Palestinians are suffering. (55)

 

But what has caused the Palestinian refugee problem? What is the reason behind it and where did it come from?

  The answer can be found in the actions of the Arabs. This problem arose when the neighboring Arab states began warfare against the newly-born state in 1948, and advised their kinsmen, the so-called Palestinians, to get out of their way, to leave because then there would be a free opportunity to conquer the land, and because it would be difficult to know who is a Jew and who an Arab amidst the total destruction.

  This problem did not arise from the fact that these people were expelled by force, as is often said in the Arabic media. Instead, it was caused by their own negative propaganda. The official stance of Israel was that the Arabs should stay in their homes. This command was obeyed by some of the Arabs, and as a result they got to carry on with their lives in their original places. (It is true that some Jewish extremist organizations were guilty of fraudulent practices. In Deir Jassin, for example, several Arabs died. So their reputation is not spotless, either. However, this was an exception to the official political stance and goals of Israel.) Those who listened to the speeches of their Arab brothers left the area. As a consequence, the refugee problem arose, as the following quotes indicate:

    

We the refugees (…) left our homeland because we trusted in the crooked leaders of the Arab states and their deceitful promises. They promised us that our absence would take no longer than two weeks; it would be like a trip, after which we would return. (Jordanian newspaper Falastin, 30 May 1955)

 

Those Arab states that advised Palestinian Arabs to leave their homes temporarily at the time of the attack and occupation have broken their promise to help these refugees. (Jordanian newspaper Falastin 19 February 1949)

 

Who brought the Palestinian refugees to Lebanon, where they now have to suffer the negative attitudes of the press and Arab leaders? These newspapers and leaders have no conscience or honor. Who was to blame for the fact that they were brought out of their country under terrible adversity, having lost their money and honor? The Arab states, Lebanon among them, are guilty. (Magazine Kul-Shay, Beirut 19 August 1951).

 

King Hussein, 17 January 1970: "The Arab leaders have used the nation of Palestine for their selfish political purposes. It is ridiculous, and I would even go so far as to say that it is criminal."

 

THE ATTACK AGAINST ISRAEL

 

Above, we examined the background of the problems in the Middle East, and noted that the problems are mainly connected with history, with what has taken place in the last two hundred years.

  However, according to the Bible, this same area and the Middle East will also play an important role in the events of the last days. We can understand from many parts of the Scriptures that the present dispute around Israel will finally culminate in several nations gathering around Israel to destroy it. Current events and the negative attitudes of nations are not a separate matter or a mere coincidence; they are, most probably, just the initial stage of an attack by numerous nations that will occur at the end of this age. Current events are connected to prophecies written centuries ago that will surely be fulfilled.

  Zechariah, for example, prophesized about end times: that the central issue in the dispute will finally be Jerusalem, the city that has a long history, in which Jesus had his ministry, and which is the central place of three religions (in Islam Jerusalem is actually the third holiest place after Mecca and Medina). It will become a ‘cup of trembling’ and ‘a burdensome stone’ for all the nations who are gathered against it:

 

- (Zec 12:1-3) The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, said the LORD, which stretches forth the heavens, and lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him.

2  Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling to all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem.

3  And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.

 

Next, we are going to bring out some points that are connected with this subject. These include the resistance against Israel, Jerusalem being the main issue of the dispute, and the impact of Islam on this area.

 

THE RESISTANCE AGAINST ISRAEL

 

If we think about the possibility that Israel will be attacked at the end of this age, certainly the first requirement is that the nations express a negative attitude towards Israel. They must show hostility towards this nation before prophecies in the Bible can come true.

  It is interesting to observe that signs of hostility have appeared since the date of Israel’s independence, and are still evident. These signs include the following:

 

Wars. Firstly, wars already fought against Israel are one example of the opposition this country faces. It is remarkable that even though there are no large natural reserves in Israel, such as large oil reserves, and the surface area is also insignificant when compared to the surrounding Arab states, it has been involved in wars and has been attacked many times. Many nations, especially the surrounding Arab states, have wanted to deny Israel as a state and have already attacked it several times, especially in 1948, 1967, and 1973. In all those wars, the existence of the nation of Israel was greatly threatened. Miraculously, it has been preserved. The next quote discusses the war of 1973:

 

The outcome of the War of Six Days in 1967 is deemed a wonder, but it was nothing compared to the war of Yom Kippur. And when we see the whole truth in the coming years we will see that Israel's salvation from destruction absolutely went against all reason.

  (…) The attacks at both fronts were large-scale and terrifying. At the Syrian front, there were more tanks than in the German attack of the Soviet Union in 1941 when there were 1,000 tanks on a frontline of 300 kilometers. At the Syrian front on the hills of Golan, there were 1,200 tanks along a line of 33 kilometers. And later at Sinai the largest tank battle in history was fought, which was more massive than the fight of El Alamein during the Second World War.

  We Englishmen tend to incline towards imperialist attitudes because we have regarded Syria as an insignificant, small and petty state of the Middle East, which can be destroyed in one attack. However, Syria had more tanks in its initial attack than England and France had on the front line altogether. (56)

 

The statements of Arab leaders. The same issue, the desire to annihilate the state of Israel, can be clearly found in the speeches of Arab leaders. The following is an example, a statement by a leader of the Hamas movement. Many representatives of these extreme groups do not accept Israel as a state; they want everything for themselves. This is the reason behind several armed attacks they made in Israeli territory. The same attacks also cause damage to themselves because Israel tries to track down these attackers. These attacks are one reason behind Israel’s recent construction of a protective wall. (“Israel has 46,000 guards protecting the country from extremist attacks, and many of them may now lose their jobs because of the wall.” / Newspaper Etelä-Suomen Sanomat, 24 June 2004.) When the situation and attitudes are like this, it is difficult to speak of peace. Peace is quite impossible to achieve in the current climate.

 

Leader of Hamas Not Agreeing to Cease-fire

Goal Still Destruction of Israel

 

The Palestinian organization Hamas does not plan a cease-fire with Israel, said the leader of organization Mahmoud al-Zahar on Sunday. According to him, the organization still aims at destroying the state of Israel.

  - A cease-fire is not being discussed. Our strategy is to release all Palestinian areas, he said, referring to the West Bank, Gaza, and Israel itself.

  The statement given by Al-Zahar to the press in Gaza annulled the conciliatory statement of another leader of the Hamas. The leader of extreme organization of the West Bank, Hassan Jussef, said on Friday that the extreme organisation could accept the establishment of a Palestinian state on the West Bank and to Gaza and a cease-fire with Israel.

  Hundreds of Israelites have died in the suicide attacks and armed attacks arranged by the Hamas. The Palestinian administration fears that the continuation of violence may disrupt the election of the successor of president Jasser Arafat in January. (Newspaper Etelä-Suomen Sanomat 6 December 2004)

 

The same issue and same attitude in the Arab countries is clearly illustrated in a short quote from the article Uusi antisemitismin aalto arabimaissa ("A new wave of anti-Semitism in Arab countries”, Etelä-Suomen Sanomat, 28 September 2003). The article’s writer states the following about the present situation and general developments in Arab countries:

 

What is hiding behind the definition of new anti-Semitism and how widespread is it? Unlike in the classical anti-Semitism, which was targeted against the Jews as individuals and as a nation, the target of new anti-Semitism is also the Jewish state Israel. In extreme cases, new anti-Semitism questions Israel's right to exist. New anti-Semitism has indeed gained more and more momentum in the Islamic world and Arab countries.

 

These Arab attacks and attitudes are special in that they resemble the contents of Psalm 83. This psalm seems to describe the current situation when Israel is harassed and despised by neighboring countries. Many Arabs today have a similar attitude – an anti-Israel attitude, which becomes apparent in their speeches and propaganda. This Psalm is also like a description of the Charter of the PLO because it has a similar statute regarding the state of Israel:

 

- (Ps 83:1-5) Keep not you silence, O God: hold not your peace, and be not still, O God.

2  For, see, your enemies make a tumult: and they that hate you have lifted up the head.

3  They have taken crafty counsel against your people, and consulted against your hidden ones.

4  They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.

5  For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against you:

 

THE DISPUTE OVER JERUSALEM

 

The dispute over Israel becomes apparent in the statements of Arab leaders. We mentioned above that the central issue of the last dispute would be Jerusalem and it is completely consistent with the present situation in the world, sessions of the UN, and with statements by Arab leaders. This city, even though there are thousands of other cities in the world, has become the central point of dispute and ‘a cup of drunkenness’ and ‘very heavy rock for all nations’, as Zechariah prophesied.

  The following quote refers to the same issue. It refers to Yasser Arafat's statements over the years that were related to Israel and Jerusalem. The second-to-last of the statements was given to his supporters in the mosque of Johannesburg only eight months after signing a peace treaty with Israel, which resulted in him receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. He promised in his speech to carry on fighting despite the peace treaty. It indicates that the information we get in Western countries is often quite different from what leaders say to their own supporters behind closed doors.

  However, we should note that these statements by Arafat are not exceptional in any way; similar statements have repeatedly been made by other Arab leaders and confirmed during international conferences. These leaders do not accept the fact that the city of Jerusalem is in Jewish possession. (Underlining added.)

 

- March 1970. The Washington Post. "The final goal of our resistance is the end of Israel and it cannot be compromised."

- February 1980. Caracas Venezuela, newspaper El Mundo. "The word peace, to us, means the destruction of Israel."

- May 1994. Johannesburg, South Africa. "This treaty (Oslo) does not mean to me any more than what Al-Hudaybiyah's agreement with the Qurayshs meant to Muhammad. Jihad – the holy war – will continue. You must understand that the goal of our battle is Jerusalem. It is not their capital but ours."

- September 1995. Jerusalem Post. "I swear by the name of Allah that the Palestinians are ready to sacrifice their last sons and daughters until the Palestinian flag waves above the walls, mosques, and churches of Jerusalem." (57)

 

The Bible describes these statements and attitudes. If we look at the Books of Zechariah, Revelation and Joel, we can find references to attacks on Jerusalem by the nations, and to Gentiles’ trampling of Jerusalem until the time of Gentiles is fulfilled (Jesus' words describing the day of the Gentiles have not yet been fulfilled wholly. Read Luke 21:24).

  An observation that we can make from the last of these Bible passages (Joel 3) is the reference to a ‘holy war’ (in the Finnish version, Joel 3:9), which is completely in accordance with the Muslim way of thinking. This reference may well refer to Muslims because they often use this expression and because the Islamic world is already now very anti-Israel. In the same verses there are also references to Jerusalem, the Diaspora of the nation, and the Sun and Moon being darkened, which might refer to a nuclear war:

 

- (Rev 11:1,2) And there was given me a reed like to a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.

2  But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given to the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.

 

- (Zec 13:8-14:3,16) And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, said the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein.

9  And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.

1  Behold, the day of the LORD comes, and your spoil shall be divided in the middle of you.

2  For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.

3  Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.

16  And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.

 

- (Joel 3:1,2, 9-16) For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem,

2  I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.

9  Proclaim you this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up:

10  Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong.

11  Assemble yourselves, and come, all you heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause your mighty ones to come down, O LORD.

12  Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about.

13  Put you in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great.

14  Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.

15  The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining.

16  The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel."

 

ISLAM AND ISRAEL

 

One influence on anti-Israel attitude is Islam. Muslims often feel deep anger towards this country. Muslims do not believe in the Bible but in the victory of Islam and they are almost unanimous in their negative attitude towards Israel. It is impossible for them to bless this country and the citizens of Israel (Num 6:22 27, Gen 12:3).

  However, it is interesting to note that the Koran, the holy book of Islam, teaches that the Holy Land belongs to Israel, and that they are elected. Thus, many Muslims deny their own holy book:

 

Moses said unto his nation: "My nation, remember the mercy, which God showed you when he set prophets among you, made kings from you and gave for you such, what he has not given to anybody else. My nation, go to the holy land, which God has regulated for you, don't turn away, that you wouldn't be ruined." (5:20,21)

 

We led the Israelites over the sea, and pharaoh with his troops followed them because of his wickedness and his hostility, until he was engulfed by the waves. Then he said: "I believe that there is no other god other than the one whom the Israelites believe in, and I too submit to him."... We led the Israelites to live in the blessed land and we fed them with all good, but they began arguing when they found out. God will solve their dispute on the day of the resurrection. (10:90 93)

 

After that, we said to the Israelites: "Settle down to live in this land, and when the last moment comes, we will bring you all together before us." (17:104)

 

This took place, for we wanted to let the Israelites inherit the land. (26:59)

 

Israelites, remember my mercy that I showed you, when I chose you from among the nations. (2:47)

 

We gave the Israelites the Book, wisdom and prophecy, we fed them with all good, we chose them from among all people (45:16)

 

Instead, many Muslims are raised to hate Israel. Maybe the best evidence that children and young people are being led astray is found in the fact that suicide attacks are idealized.  They are told as little children that dying in the holy war on behalf of Allah -- exploding themselves along with a few others -- is heroic and admirable. That is certainly a lie of the devil (John 8:44). However, they are provoked to do this with the promise of a better place in heaven where 72 dark-eyed lovely virgins and other pleasures of paradise await every martyr. The prerequisite is that they must also take others to death. As taught by Islam, if they die alone they will lose these virgins.

  There is not much hope for peace in such circumstances. As long as Islam controls Arabs and their way of thinking, it is completely impossible because they cannot accept Israel as a state and cannot accept its existence. So they will never give up the idea that this area should be under Islamic control. Only when they are faced with God's love in Jesus Christ and a change occurs within their hearts can this perverted attitude leave their hearts. The following quote indicates the common attitude among the Muslims:

 

Perhaps it is time now to listen to what the main actors on the Middle Eastern stage have to say and believe their words for real. Hashemi Rafsanjani, who has sometimes been called a ‘moderate’ leader of Iran, compressed the causes of the crisis into a few sentences: "All the problems of our region are caused by only one reason; the infidel Jews and imperialistic Westerners penetrating Dar al Islam. Each political dispute, every border conflict and all internal conflicts arise from UMMA's inability to faithfully begin a successful Jihad. The everlasting battle between Ishmael and Isaac cannot come to an end before one or the other has been perfectly destroyed." (58)

 

WHO WILL TAKE PART IN THE WAR OF GOG? 

 

Above we discussed the negative attitude of bordering Arab states towards Israel and how it will finally lead to a war in which several nations will take part. The Six Day War of 1967 and the Yom Kippur War of 1973 were only prologues to this event. We also noted that Jerusalem and the Middle East are at the center of today’s events as evidenced by newspaper headlines. Seventy to eighty years ago many people might have laughed at this thought because the Middle East was a distant and insignificant part of the world that could never take a central position. Now, it is absolutely possible.

  If we were to ask an expert's opinion about the most likely target of multinational military groups, he would probably suggest Jerusalem. He would certainly base his opinion, in part, on the current political situation.

  Another event to occur during the last days as described in the Bible is the so-called war of Gog, which was foretold by Ezekiel and still seems to be in our future. It is uncertain whether it will be an entirely separate battle or a part of a larger war going on around Israel and Jerusalem during the last days. Generally, it has been regarded as a separate war but there is no consensus.

  Noteworthy in this attack envisioned by Ezekiel millenniums ago are at least three points: the time of the attack, the exile preceding it, and the number of attackers:

 

The time of the attack: It will take place after many days, in the latter years, and in the latter days. All the passages refer to the fact that the war in question will take place just before the coming of Jesus and before the end of the present age.

 

After the exile. The war of Gog will take place after the nation has been assembled from amongst the many nations and the land has been desolate for a long time. This, too, refers to the present time when the old ruins have – after centuries – been inhabited and people have gathered from amongst many nations. These passages do not fit well with, for example, the captivity of Babel because it did not last for a long time and because people at that time were in exile in one region only.

 

Several attackers. Ezekiel mentions several nations and names – Gog, Magog, Rosh, Meshech, Tubal, etc – that will take part in the attack. These names may sound strange to people today. However, during Ezekiel's time these names were in common use and most of them were included in what is called the table of nations recorded in the Book of Genesis (Gen. 10:1-6: Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth: and to them were sons born after the flood. The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras. And the sons of Gomer; Ashkenaz, and Riphath, and Togarmah. And the sons of Javan; Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim. By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations. And the sons of Ham; Cush, and Mizraim, and Phut, and Canaan.) We will take a look at these names and what is included in them a little later.

 

- (Eze 38:1-17) And the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

2  Son of man, set your face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him,

3  And say, Thus said the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal:

4  And I will turn you back, and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you forth, and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armor, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords:

5  Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet:

6  Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with you.

7  Be you prepared, and prepare for yourself, you, and all your company that are assembled to you, and be you a guard to them.

8  After many days you shall be visited: in the latter years you shall come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them.

9  You shall ascend and come like a storm, you shall be like a cloud to cover the land, you, and all your bands, and many people with you.

10  Thus said the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into your mind, and you shall think an evil thought:

11  And you shall say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates,

12  To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn your hand on the desolate places that are now inhabited, and on the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the middle of the land.

13  Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say to you, Are you come to take a spoil? have you gathered your company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil?

14  Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say to Gog, Thus said the Lord GOD; In that day when my people of Israel dwells safely, shall you not know it?

15  And you shall come from your place out of the north parts, you, and many people with you, all of them riding on horses, a great company, and a mighty army:

16  And you shall come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring you against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in you, O Gog, before their eyes.

17  Thus said the Lord GOD; Are you he of whom I have spoken in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, which prophesied in those days many years that I would bring you against them?

 

Gog, from the land of Magog. When we look at the names of the attackers appearing in Ezekiel, we can see first the mysterious Gog, a name that appears in Ezekiel 38 and 39 altogether 11 times, more often than any other named attacker.

  This special word is usually connected with the symbolic name of a national leader; so it must be a military leader or person who will play an important role in the attack upon Israel during the end of time. This word may also, however, mean “great, supreme and highest” or “a high mountain”, but in this reference it refers to a person, not a place, because Gog is described as the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, coming from the land of Magog and because he is referred to in the "you" word form: 

 

- (Eze 39:1-7) Therefore, you son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, Thus said the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal:

2  And I will turn you back, and leave but the sixth part of you, and will cause you to come up from the north parts, and will bring you on the mountains of Israel:

3  And I will smite your bow out of your left hand, and will cause your arrows to fall out of your right hand.

4  You shall fall on the mountains of Israel, you, and all your bands, and the people that is with you: I will give you to the ravenous birds of every sort, and to the beasts of the field to be devoured.

5  You shall fall on the open field: for I have spoken it, said the Lord GOD.

6  And I will send a fire on Magog, and among them that dwell carelessly in the isles: and they shall know that I am the LORD.

7  So will I make my holy name known in the middle of my people Israel; and I will not let them pollute my holy name any more: and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel.

 

There is enough information to study the origin of the word Magog. This name which appears in the table of nations in the Book of Genesis (Gen 10:1-6) has generally been connected with the Scythians, the nation of which Paul spoke (Col 3:11: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.) The historian Josephus stated:

 

"Magog was the ancestor of the Magogians, who were named after him. However, the Greeks called this nation Scythians."

 

Likewise, the Roman author Plinius referred to the connection of Magog and the Scythians by saying:

 

"Hierapol, which the Scythians took into their possession, was later called Magog."

 

If we think about where the Scythians lived and where their kingdom was situated, they have always been situated to the north from Israel's point of view. To put it more accurately, they have been located north of the Black Sea and beyond the Caucasus. However, the Scythians, whom the Greeks regarded as the northernmost nation of the world had spread over vast areas, from the north of the Black Sea and from Ukraine all the way to the borders of China. They may be referred to in the Bible by the expression ‘from the far north.’ The area of the Caspian Sea, Lake Aral, and the southern side of Lake Balhash were a part of it. Nowadays, this area consists of parts of Russia and former southern Soviet Republics, such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kirghish, Turkmenistan, Tadzhikistan, Ukraine, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. The prophecy of Ezekiel can be said to refer to the tribes in these areas.

 

In a restricted sense, the Scythians were tribes that lived in the area which Herodotus defined as Scythia (the area north of the Black Sea) and who spoke the Scythian language. (…) In the broader sense, the word Scythian can mean some of the other tribes in the vast steppes of Russia that extend from Ukraine in the west to Siberia in the east. (59)

 

Russia. As to the alternative that Russia constitutes a part of the groups taking part in Gog's war, we cannot regard this alternative as completely impossible. Even though Russia's predecessor, the Soviet Union, supported the independence of Israel, the same country was taking sides with the Arab countries at a later stage when they attacked Israel. This support became evident during the wars in 1967 and 1973 when the Soviet Union strongly assisted the Arab countries in bordering Israel and supplied them with weapons. The Soviet Union itself did not take part in operations but acted behind the scenes of conflict.

  Thinking about the situation in Russia now, it seems that nationalism and enmity towards foreigners is increasing. Because the democratic development that began in the country about fifteen years ago has not brought health and work to everyone, nationalism and enmity towards foreigners are more evident.

  Behind this increasing nationalism is the fact that many Russians long for the return of those glorious days of the former Soviet Union, even though the Russian Federation is still the largest country in the world, and its arsenal of weapons of mass destruction is vast. Many people may feel left out and unwanted in the development of Europe because former Eastern block nations have drifted into the Western camp one by one. This development and the feeling of being left out can stimulate anger and strengthen nationalism.

  It is also worth noting that the current situation very much resembles the times of the World Wars in Germany. Germany was humiliated by its defeat, which ended the First World War. Many Germans felt then the same way as Russians do today. It led to consequences that are well known. It was topped off by the gigantic inflation rate that enabled the increase in Nazism and nationalism. It is very possible that in the present situation in Russia, which resembles the historic Germany, the situation may similarly escalate. This may be possible if economic conditions all go wrong:

 

A wave of foreigner-hatred is trying Russia

 

 (…) "Foreigner-hatred and nationalism have increased to colossal dimensions in Russia in a few years. Fascism and racist crimes are the tip of the iceberg of this phenomenon," says Vladimir Ljushenko, an older scholar in the Russian science academy.

  He regards the Russian duma, chosen in December, as good evidence for this phenomenon of foreigner-hatred because the voters abolished all liberal parties from the duma.  The socialistic party Native Country rose to replace it and the extreme nationalist Liberal Democrat party tripled its support. These nationalist populist parties received altogether a fifth of the votes.

   "A large nationalist reserve that remains in check only because of the economic growth has been created in our society. They are ready to blame others if things start to go wrong. In this situation, the political consequences of a collapse in the price of oil could be destructive from Russia's point of view," the professor wrote.

  (…) A national survey regarding foreigner-hatred among 16- to 26 year-old Russians that was initiated by the University of St. Petersburg was published in March. According to the survey, four out of ten young Russians support the extremist nationalistic groups and every tenth 16- to19 year-old is ready to assault foreigners for payment.

  "Two-thirds of Russians think that Russia belongs to the Russians. At the same time nationalism is opposed only by a fifth of the population. The public opinion in Russia is beginning to resemble that in Germany after the First World War," Iljushenko warns.

  According to him, a 10 percent change for the worse has occurred in the past five years. (Helsingin Sanomat 9 May 2004)

 

The former southern Soviet Republics. The second area where the ancient Scythians lived is that of the former southern Soviet Republics, which are Muslim states – Kirgisia, Turkmenistan, Tadzhikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaidjan, except Armenia, Ukraine, and Georgia. They are all located in the ancient Scythian area, in the area of ancient Magog, and many of them also have a vast arsenal of weapons that originally came from the Soviet Union.

  The part that these countries will play in the so-called attack of Gog can probably be explained by Islam. Many other countries that will take part in the attack are Islamic states such as Iran, Turkey, Libya, and Sudan (we will examine this later), and it can be the common factor connecting the preceding countries to the other Muslim countries. What is significant is that two of these countries, Iran and Turkey, have already tried to establish economic, religious, and military connections with these countries; in addition to the fact that they already had something in common besides Islam: a common linguistic and ethnic background. An indication of this increasing cooperation between them is the economic unions (in 1992 Turkmenistan, Tadzhikistan, Uzbekistan, and Kirgisia joined with Iran, Turkey, and Pakistan to form the Islamic Common Market), but also the fact that the former Soviet states have sold weapons to Iran. This was in 1990 when Iran could purchase weapons from Kazakhstan.

 

The facts that are known from Iran's usual weaponry are almost as alarming. According to Gates, Iran annually uses at least 2 billion dollars for arms. Iran is modernizing its navy, air forces, and land forces. It has bought Russian submarines and sent submarine crews for training in Russian naval bases. Iran wishes to be able to get modern weapons at the lowest possible prices and therefore, it has created close relationships with the Muslim states of the former Soviet Union. (Jerusalem Post, 30 May 1992: Russia-Iran)

 

Rosh. Concerning the word Rosh that is mentioned in the list in Ezekiel, there have been two ways of using it. Often it is simply translated as prince and ruler – the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal – because in Hebrew it means ‘head’, ‘peak’, ‘chief’, ‘ruler’ and ‘prince’. Many Bible translations favor this solution.

  However, using the word ‘Rosh’ as a proper name is also justified. This practice is favored by several Bible translations. It should be noted that the Greek translation of the Bible, the Septuagint, favors this alternative, i.e. the Hebrew-lingual word "Rosh" has been translated into the proper name "Ros".  What is significant with the Septuagint is that it was completed only about 300 years after the writing of the Book of Ezekiel; quite close to the time of Ezekiel. That is why it is justifiable to regard the word ‘Rosh’ as a proper name.

  In any case, the word ‘Rosh’ has usually been connected with the Sarmatians, about whom we also know something. They were a nation, which lived in almost the same areas as the Scythians, i.e., in the vicinity of the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea and in the steppes of Southern Russia. They could, of course, have migrated to other larger areas:

 

“From this we can see that the ancient Magog were the Scythians, who came from Middle Asia and spread out to South Russia in about 700 B.C. We see also that the ancient Rosh were the Sarmatians who populated the surrounding area of the Caspian Sea in the 10^th century B.C. They pushed to South Russia and beat the Scythians about 200 B.C." (60)

Meshech, Tubal, Gomer, and Togarmah. Some names mentioned in Ezekiel are connected with the present area of Turkey.

  Firstly, Meshech and Tubal usually appear together in the Bible and are the sons of Japheth as are Gomer and Magog (Gen 10:1,2). The historians Herodotus and Josephus both wrote about the ancient history of these nations. Herodotus wrote in the fifth century before Christ that these tribes were in the Pontos province in northern Turkey (Histories, III, 94; VI, 78). Josephus placed these nations in the same area as Turkey, but said that the old names Meshech and Tubal had changed into Mesen and Teobeliathe by his time (Antiquities, I, 124,125).

  As to Gomer, it is known that people of this nation lived in eastern Asia Minor near Armenia, i.e., in the eastern parts of modern-day Turkey. They moved on from there to the middle and northern areas of modern Turkey, even though some were thought to have also moved to the area of present-day Eastern Europe. Josephus the historian connected Gomer with the Galatians who lived in the central parts of Turkey. He says that the nation that the Greeks called Galatians, were Gomers (Antiquities, 1. Part, VI, I).

  As to Togarmah, it is almost certainly known that it, too, was in the area of present-day Turkey. It is usually connected with eastern Cappadocia, i.e., the northeastern part of modern Turkey. Josephus held a different view: he called the people of Togarmah, who lived mainly in the western parts of modern Turkey, “Phrygians”.

  Concerning Turkey's part in Ezekiel's prophecy it does not seem very likely at the moment because there has been military and economic cooperation with Israel and because its leaders have been quite moderate in their attitudes. There is also the army as the guarantor of the situation. It has supervised the rising of extremist Islam and the preservation of the situation as it was before; i.e., the soldiers have regarded the preservation of earthly traditions as one of their most important responsibilities.

  So if Turkey was to be in with the troops of Gog, there should at least be an exchange of power within the country. It could well mean rising of extremist Islam, for example – as Iran also changed within when the Shah was deposed and replaced by a radical Islamic government – because extremist Islam has some support in Turkey. It is true that it seems impossible under present conditions, but if the economy goes down, the situation can quickly change.

 

Persia. When we continue studying the names that appear in chapters 38 and 39 of Ezekiel, we see that one of them is Persia, which is certainly the same as the present-day Iran because the name of the country used to be Persia and because Farsi or the Persian language is still spoken there. So it will be one of the attacking countries that constitute the troops of Gog.

  It certainly cannot be regarded as a surprise that Iran would join the attack against Israel. One of the official goals of the country ever since the Islamic revolution (in 1979) has been to destroy Israel and conquer Jerusalem; an objective that which still has not been given up. The country is also known for supporting organizations such as Hezbollah and Hamas, and for the country itself trying to become the spiritual leader of the Muslim world.

  The activity and objectives of Iran are serious because ever since the war in Iraq in 1988, the country has increased its armament. It has bought arms from Russia and China including submarines, tanks, and fighter planes. This armament and the possible presence of nuclear weapons development makes Iran the most powerful Muslim state in terms of military power.

 

Demonstrators in Iran demand the destruction for Israel

 

Tens of thousands of demonstrators proclaimed their support to the Palestinians in the capital of Iran, Teheran, on Friday. The demonstrators shouted slogans like ‘death to Israel’ and ‘death to the United States’.

  Iran's president Mahmud Ahmadinejad, who just a few days ago publicly demanded Israel to ‘be wiped off the map’, was supported in the demonstration.

  Demonstrations were arranged also elsewhere in Iran. The radical Muslims arranged the marches on the so-called Day of Jerusalem which in Iran is celebrated on the last Friday of the Muslims' month of fasting, Ramadan.

  In Iran's opinion, Israel does not have the right to exist. The government of Teheran still denies American accusations that Iran supports armed Muslim groups who oppose the peace between the Arabs and Israel. Iran says that it gives these groups moral support only.

  The demonstrators who marched in Teheran trampled flags of both Israel and the United States. Most of the leaders of Iran, including President Mahmud Ahmadinejad, took part in the march.

  The statements of the leaders of Iran were immediately condemned by the European Union, the United States, and Russia. Israel demanded dismissing of Iran from the United Nations.

  "Ahmadinejad speaks on behalf of all Iranians. We are all ready to die for Palestine,” said 25-year-old Mohammad Mirzayi, who is a member of organization Basiji that enforces social regulations such as the dressing code for women.

  The support for the Palestinians is one of the foundations of Iran’s foreign policy. (Helsingin Sanomat, 29 October 2005)

 

Sudan. When we continue to study the list in Ezekiel, another name we see is Ethiopia, which literally means Cush. It is not a question of the present Ethiopia, but it refers to a state that was located directly south of Egypt (Eze 29:10: Behold, therefore I am against you, and against your rivers, and I will make the land of Egypt utterly waste and desolate, from the tower of Syene even to the border of Ethiopia.) Its southern part reached all the way to present-day Khartoum, the capital of Sudan. Nowadays, this area is Sudan, the largest state in Africa. The conclusion is that it must also be a factor in the troops of Gog.

  Sudan becoming a part of this war is not a surprise. The country is ruled by an extremist Islam government and it has been a powerful opponent of Israel, and thus it is realistic to expect it to play a part in the troops of Gog. Sudan’s good relationship with Iran is also significant. Iran has supplied Sudan with weapons, oil, military experts, and other assistance. These two countries that will both attack Israel already work in close cooperation. We will examine the issue in light of the following newspaper article:

 

Sudan stirs up the flame of extremist Islam

 

   (…) The position of the head of state of Sudan is currently been held by general Omar Hassan al-Bashir, who usurped power from the government of Sadig al-Mahdi in 1989.

  The de facto ruler is considered to be sheikh Hassan Turab, even though he is not a member of the government.

  Doctor Turabi who completed his jurisprudential studies in the Universities of London and Sorbonne, is the leader of the National Islamic Front, NIF, Sudan's only permitted party. He is also the secretary general of the Arab-Islamic Conference whose founder he is.

  Turabi supports strict Islamic values. Over the years, he has created connections with the Muslim fraternities in various Arab countries.

  According to Turabi, the earthly Arab governments are collapsing. Arab nationalism is coming to its end and is being replaced by the Islamic spirit, believes Turabi who happens to be considered as one of the leading thinkers of Islamic nationalism.

 Turabi is sure about the victory of the new form of Islam, because ‘Allah and history are on his side’.

  The progress of fundamentalism is, according to Turabi, unavoidable: It will fill the vacuum that Western socialism and Arab nationalism have created.

  According to Turabi, Islam is the only thing that inspires young people, gets them on the move and gives them new viewpoints.

  (…) Sudan's closest ally is Iran, despite the fact that the Iranians are Shiah and the Sudanese Sunni Muslims. Iran is trying to get a foothold in Africa through Sudan.

  (…) In the West, Sudan is regarded as a nest of international terrorism. In 1993 the United States put Sudan on the black list for supporting international terrorism because of the evidence the USA had gathered against Sudan.

  It is known that there are several training camps of extremist Islamic organizations in Sudan. The Hezbollah of Lebanon, the FIS of Algeria (on the Islamic rescue front) the Palestinian Jihad, Hamas and Abu Nidal groups, such as Gama al-Islam of Egypt, all have bases in Sudan.

  Sudan has denied accusations of terrorism as ‘a conspiracy of the West that is colonialist and willing to expand and which tries to keep Islam in check’.

  According to Sudan's interpretation, those who fight against Israel are not terrorists but freedom fighters. (Etelä Suomen Sanomat, 16 August 1995)

 

Libya or Put. The last name mentioned in Ezekiel's list is Libya (in some translations Put) that can also include a wider area in North Africa (Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, and Mauritania). The fact, that both Josephus and Plinius spoke of Libya as the first dwelling place of the Put tribe is used as an explanation for the connection between the two names. It is also significant that the Greek translation of the Old Testament, the Septuagint, made a few centuries after Ezekiel’s prophecy, uses the word Libya for Put. This gives us reason to believe that Put actually means the present-day Libya.

  It cannot be deemed impossible for Libya to be a participant in future attacks against Israel. Since the country has been known as Israel's opponent for a long time, and its objective has been to destroy the Jewish state, it cannot be a surprise that it will also be a part of the troops of Gog.

  Libya's role in supporting coups, disorder, and terrorism is also known. It has been included among the top three supporters of various terrorist groups and activities; sometimes it has held even the top place.

  Libya is a strongly Islamic state, as are several other countries that will constitute the troops of Gog. It seems as if the one common factor connecting these states is Islam, even though – from Israel's point of view – they will come from different directions.