GNITN - Special Edition

Israel At War – Day 404

A Future War

Turkey Falls Into Line

It might not seem like it, but the nation of Turkey is becoming the country Ezekiel said it would in the end times as we see in an article from Ynetnews.com:

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday told reporters that his country has severed diplomatic relations with Israel, although Jerusalem has not been informed of this.

"A Republic of Turkey that is headed by Tayyip Erdogan can't continue to develop its relationship with Israel. We have no such intention," he was quoted as saying by local TV channel TRT Harber. "We have cut trade and ties with Israel, period."

Turkey and Israel have been on good terms up until the war against Hamas started:

Since the beginning of the war, Erdogan has often made statements against Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Israel's policy in the Gaza Strip since the October 7 massacre. His announcement comes in in the wake of severe criticism of Erdogan in the Turkish media, where it is claimed that, contrary to his harsh public statements, there are apparently "secret economic ties" with Israel.

Turkey withdrew its ambassador in Israel for consultations after the Gaza war broke out, but has not officially severed its ties with Israel and its embassy remains open and operational.

We also read in an article from i24news.tv that one of the reasons for the diplomatic falling out is the war against Hamas:

In a statement reported by the Turkish Arabic-language channel Anadolu, Erdogan emphasized, "Turkey will stand with the Palestinians until the end."

Erdogan's announcement comes amid escalating tensions in the region, as he warned that Israel's actions are becoming increasingly aggressive.

"Israel will become more aggressive as long as weapons and ammunition continue to flow," he stated, expressing concern over the deteriorating situation in the Palestinian territories and Lebanon.

Such talk sounds like Turkey has decided to align with the terrorists and against Israel. In the not so distant past the two Middle East nations were friends and what the Bible predicts in Ezekiel 38 didn’t seem to make sense. But now, it does.

A Coming War

I think it is a good thing to take a quick look at the war seen in Ezekiel 38 and how the current conflict is setting the table for a war that Bible prophecy students have been studying for a very long time. Here is the setup for it:

The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshek and Tubal; prophesy against him 3 and say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against you, Gog, chief prince of Meshek and Tubal. 4 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. 5 Persia, Cush and Put will be with them, all with shields and helmets, 6 also Gomer with all its troops, and Beth Togarmah from the far north with all its troops—the many nations with you.(Ezekiel 38:1-6, NIV)

I could give you the break down of the nations, but I’ll let an article from charismanews.com do it for me:

Why do we need to pay attention to Turkey? Well, for one, 2,600 years ago, the prophet Ezekiel foretold of a time when a coalition of predominately Muslim Nations would gather together to invade the nation of Israel.

The author goes on to give us more on one of the next wars against Israel:

This well-known war is known as “The War of Gog and Magog.” According to the book of Ezekiel, chapters 38 and 39, this confederacy of nations will attack Israel during a relatively peaceful state that appears to be generated by a recent conflict resulting in a “state of peace” for the Jewish nation. According to the prophet, “After many days you shall be called. In the latter years you shall come into the land that is restored from the sword, whose inhabitants have been gathered out of many peoples, against the mountains of Israel which had been always a waste. But its people were brought out of the nations, and they, all of them, are dwelling safely … and you shall say, ‘I will go up against the land of unwalled villages. I will go against those who are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls and having neither bars nor gates'” (Ez. 38:8, 11, MEV).

She goes on to tell us an important distinction to Israel today and Israel when this invasion occurs:

Notice in this passage the prophet tells us that in the “latter years” of Israel they would actually dwell in a time when they would be “without walls,” having no bars or gates. This is definitely not the case in 2016. Israel has many walls that prevent terrorists and her enemies from breaching the city of Jerusalem and the surrounding cities of Israel. However, the Word of God tells us that the day is coming that they will come into a false sense of peace, in which they will lower their guards making them vulnerable for these nations to invade. Personally, I believe this will fulfill the Bible passage that says:

1 Thessalonians 5:3: “When they say, ‘Peace and safety!’ then sudden destruction will come upon them, as labor upon a woman with child, and they shall not escape.”

The article goes on to show where the modern day nation of Turkey fits in the list of nations:

The nations cited by Ezekiel are each referenced in the Old Testament, yet they all represent nations which exist today. Long before Russia became a major world power, most biblical scholars identified Magog as the nation of Russia and Gog as the ruler of Russia. These other nations mentioned in Ezekiel 38 are:

Magog = Russia

Persia = Iran

Cush = Ethiopia

Put = Libya

Gomer = Turkey (Some have identified as eastern Europe)

Beth-Togarmah = Turkey

While some believe that the drawing of Russia into this conflict is detailed, but it may actually be all of them that are pulled into the war:

The Bible indicates that in the “latter days” the Lord will put a “hook in the jaw” of these nations listed, including the nation of Turkey, and according to the prophet, “you shall ascend and come like a storm; you shall be like a cloud to cover the land, you and all your troops, and many peoples with you” (Ez. 38:9).

That’s why I decided to elaborate on the news of Turkey distancing itself from Israel. They are going to be a major player in the future and Israel won’t need any outside help to win the war. In fact they won’t have to fight at all:

So Turkey will be significant in the near future regarding biblical prophecy. They will unite with several other nations and attempt to destroy the nation of Israel but will ultimately fail, according to what has been foretold in the Bible. So just what will befall these nations? Well, Israel will not need to rely on America, Britain or any of her allies to defend her because God Himself will step into the scene and the following will take place:

Ezekiel 38: 18-23: “And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog comes against the land of Israel, says the Lord God, that My fury shall come up in My anger. For in My jealousy and in the fire of My wrath I have spoken: Surely in that day there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel. The fish of the sea and the fowl of the heavens and the beasts of the field and all creeping things that creep upon the earth and all the men who are upon the face of the earth shall shake at My presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground. I will call for a sword against him on all My mountains, says the Lord God. Every man’s sword shall be against his brother. I will enter into judgment with him with pestilence and with blood. And I will rain upon him and upon his troops and upon the many peoples who are with him, an overflowing rain and hailstones, fire and brimstone. Thus I will magnify Myself, and sanctify Myself, and I will be known in the eyes of many nations. Then they shall know that I am the Lord.”

As we continue to pray for the peace of Jerusalem we must also look to the future and also intercede for this war and all the ways God will position not only the Jews but all the other nations.