posted on Apr, 25 2008 @ 04:20 PM
Got this from my daily Glen Beck e-mail and found it rather interesting. I,m sure this has been debated here but, could not find it. Do the ATS'ers
out there think this is coming true.
B
Special Report: Russia, Iran and Bible Prophecy
Russia, Iran and Bible Prophecy
By Joel C. Rosenberg
Does the Bible really predict the rise of a dictator in Russia? Does it really foretell the emergence of a Russian-Iranian alliance against Israel in
the End of Days? And if so, is the military, political and economic alliance being formed in recent years by Russian President Vladimir Putin and
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad evidence that such prophecies are actually coming true in our lifetime? Glenn and I have been discussing these
questions all week. But let me lay them out in more detail here for those interested in going a bit deeper.
One of the most fascinating sets of End Times prophecies in the Bible are found in the Book of Ezekiel, chapters 38 and 39. Remarkably, the Hebrew
Prophet Ezekiel, writing more than 2,500 years ago, was able to look down the corridors of time and see nations not yet born, and alliances not yet
formed. In doing so, he actually did foretell the rise of a Russian military alliance with Iran and other Middle Eastern countries to annihilate
Israel during the earth's "last days." This is known by many Bible scholars as the "War of Gog and Magog."
In a moment, I will walk you through the prophecies step-by-step. But first, let me note that the predictions found in Ezekiel chapters 36 & 37 have
already come true. These are the famous chapters that foretell:
• The rebirth of the State of Israel in the end times (both chapters)
• The return of the Jews to the Holy Land after centuries in exile (Ezekiel 36:10-11, 36:24, 36:37-38, 37:12, 37:21)
• The rebuilding of the ancient ruins in Israel (Ezekiel 36:36)
• The re-blossoming of desolate, desert lands to produce abundant food, fruit and foliage (Ezekiel 36:8-9 and 36:30-35)
• The creation of an "exceedingly great army" (Ezekiel 37:11)
Such prophecies began to be fulfilled in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, accelerated in 1948 and 1967, and continue to come to pass to this
day. This, of course, raises an intriguing question: If Ezekiel 36 and 37 have largely come true in our lifetime, isn't it possible that Ezekiel 38
and 39 will soon come true as well?
WHO?
That said, let's examine Ezekiel 38 and 39 more carefully. In Ezekiel 38:1-6, the Hebrew prophet gives a list of obscure names that will form a
united coalition. In my non-fiction book, Epicenter: Why The Current Rumblings In The Middle East Will Change Your Future, I carefully walk readers
through these prophecies and document the historical detective work necessary to determine what modern nations are referred to by the ancient text.
But here's an executive summary of the major points.
• "Gog" is described as being "of the land of Magog" and as the "prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal." Most Bible scholars believe Gog is not a
name but a title, like Pharoah or Czar. He is a dictator who will hatch an "evil plan" (Ezekiel 38:10).
• "Magog" - Leading Bible scholars say this is Russia and republics of the former Soviet Union. The first century Roman historian Josephus said
the "Magogites" were the peoples whom the Greeks called "Scythians." Scythians were a fierce, blood-thirsty civilization that settled north of the
Baltic Sea in what is now Russia and the European republics of the former USSR.
• "Rosh, Meshech and Tubal" - Many, though not all, Bible scholars believe "Rosh" refers directly to Russia. Meshech is believed by many
scholars to be Moscow (though some believe it refers to an ancient people group in Turkey). Some Bible scholars believe Tubal refers to the
city/region of Tobolsk in Russia along the Tobol River. Others say it refers to a section of modern-day Turkey. (Interestingly, in 1964, massive
reserves of oil and gas were discovered