World War III

Zechariah 11:1-2

Jeremiah 22:23

 

INTRO: Could what is happening in Israel and Lebanon be the precursor to World War III?

Lebanon and Israel are the two countries that we have been hearing about over and over in recent days.  We know that Israel is mentioned hundreds of times in the Bible, but folks may not know that Lebanon is mentioned by name 64 times in scripture and is referred to numerous other times.

The politicians and those who know Biblical prophecy understand that this conflict is not with Lebanon and Israel, nor is it with Hezbollah and Israel.  This conflict is with Iran, Syria, and Israel.

Congressman Duncan Hunte ( R. CA) says, “Hezbollah can get anything Iran has.”  (7/28/06 Fox News).  Concerning any significant cease fire, Ambassador Stuart Eizenstat says: “Iran will have to be a part of this” (Fox News 7/28/06).  He also stated that Hezbollah was just a surrogate of Syria and Iran.

Could we be on the brink of WW III?  Many folks think so.  July 7, 2006 - At an Anti-Israel rally in Tehran, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called Israel a ‘fake regime,’ and warned that the Israeli invasion of Gaza could cause a violent world-wide backlash.  ‘They should not let things reach a point where an explosion occurs in the Islamic world,’ he said.  ‘If an explosion occurs, then it will not be limited to geographical boundaries.’  He says, ‘It will also burn all those who created [Israel] over the past 60 years.’” (Voice of America).

This is from the Jerusalem Post, July 18, 2006.  Several top US political figures, including Sen. John McCain ( R) Arizona and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich ( Rep) called the current Middle East crisis the beginning of ‘World Ward III’ and said they were ‘gravely concerned’ in an interview of CNN’s Larry King Live.

‘We need to make our European allies understand that this is the most serious challenge we have faced in the Middle East in a long time,’ McCain said.  He added that the US might be forced to take direct action in the crisis.  McCain has been widely speculated to run in the next presidential race.

Gingrich, who called the crisis Word War III in several interview over the weekend, said that the US and Israel were acting with much restraint and that the US should shoot down Iranian planes sending supplies to Lebanon.  ‘It is not even a full-scale war yet, but in theory they are right that Hizbullah is the spearhead of the axis of evil, who are cooperating with Hizbullah,’ said MK Yuval Steintx (Likud).  ‘In a sense it is part of a global conflict.  The US has to deal with Iran and Syria.’

Friends, be assured of this, WWIII is coming and the Middle East will be the flash point!

To understand what is going to take place during WWIII, we must go to Ezekial 38 and 39.

There are two key words that I want us to see in Ezekiel 38.  The words “latter years” in verse 8 and “latter days” in verse 16.  The events that take place in Ezekiel 38 and 39 are “latter day” events.  These are things that take place before Jesus sets foot on the Mount of Olives.  It was from the Mount of Olives that He was taken up, and it will be on the Mount of Olives that He descends when He comes back to earth to rule and reign.

Before Jesus comes back to earth, there are some things that must take place in the Middle East.  Some things that set the stage for His coming have already happened.  Jesus is coming back to Israel.  The fact that Israel is a nation is a miracle.  For nearly two thousand years, the Jews were scattered; and then a marvelous chain of events took place:

1. In 1917, the Jews were able to return to Israel under British mandate.

2. In 1948, Israel became a nation recognized by the US and others.

3. In 1967, the Jews regained the wailing wall and much of the Temple area.

The Middle East has been called the hub of ancient history.  It is the hub of latter day history.

 

I.        THE TIME OF THE EVENTS IN EZEKIEL 38 AND 39

A.       The latter year and latter days (Eze 38:8, 16).

B.       During the tribulation period.

1. During the seventieth week of Daniel’s prophecy.

2. During the last 3 ½ years of tribulation.

 

II.          RUSSIA IS TO BE A MAJOR PLAYER IN THE MIDDLE EAST AFFAIRS

A.       All of the nations of the earth are descendants of Noah’s grandsons (Gen 10:1-6).

B.       Ezekiel 38:2-3 gives us important names and places concerning the affairs of the Middle East and the second coming.

1. Gog and Magog– read Scofield footnote 1909 edition on Ezekiel 38.

a. God is the Russian ruler.

b. Magog– the rulers land.  “Magog left Asia Minor settling in southern Russia” (Josephus bk 1 chp 6).

2. “Meshech– this is Moscow.

3. Tubal– this is Tobolsk the eastern capital of Russia.  This is where Francis Gary Powers was shot down in his U2.

4. The word chief in Ezekiel 38:2 is the Hebrew word Rosh.  When the Jews read about Russia in their Hebrew papers, they read the word Rosh for Russia as it is found in Biblical Hebrew.

a. In our papers, we read Russia.  In the Jewish papers, they read Rosh.

b. On page 75 of Wilson’s Old Testament Word Studies, the word chief is Rosh or Russia.

c. In 1890, Gaebelin said that the reference in Ezekial 38:2 was to Russia.

d. Over 250 years ago Bishop Lowry crossed Britain saying Ezekiel 38:2 referred to Russia.

 

III.          BEFORE JESUS SETS FOOL ON THE MOUNT OF OLIVES, ISRAEL WILL BE INVADED FROM THE NORTH

A.       The invader form the North, coming down into the Middle East, will be Russia (Eze 38:15).

B.       Joel 2:20 speaks of Russia.  The late Dr. M. R. Dehann said that this is unmistakably Russia.

 

IV.          LINKAGE AGAINST ISRAEL IN THE LATTER DAYS

1.               Ezekiel 38:5-6 tells us about Middle Eastern countries that will link up with Russia to fight Israel.

1.               Persia– for many centuries Iran was called Persia.  The Shah of Iran was the Shah of Persia.  Tom McCall and Zolo Levitt say: “Persia, or Iran, would make a first rate ally for Russia in a land invasion of Israel.  Its location and terrain would greatly facilitate troop movements” (29).

2.               Ethiopia and Libya- parts of Africa.

1.               Ethiopia– communist– Biblical Cush.  The descendants of Cush migrated southward into all parts of Africa (Gen 10).  This may represent more than the country of Ethiopia.

2.               Libya– also Phut, a terrorist nation.

3.               Egypt– Dan 11:43 indicates that Egypt will be involved in war against Israel.

4.               Gomer– Gomer is identified by Gibbons, the writer of The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, as modern Germany (Vol 1, p 204).  In the Talmud, Gomer is identified as Germany.

5.               Togarmah– Turkey.

1.               Syrians are of Turkish descent.

2.               Heika Turk left Turkey and settled in Syria.

2.               Orientals will align themselves with the enemies of Israel.  Daniel 11:44 indicates the involvement of China in this war.  Rev 16:12– Asiatic power will have a path.

 

V.        THE ALLIES OF ISRAEL IN THE MIDDLE EAST WAR DURING THE TRIBULATION

A.        Ezekiel 38:13.

1. Sheba and Dedan– this pictures Saudi Arabia and other Muslims not going along with the Arab pact.  These are oil rich countries who side with Israel’s allies for economic reasons.

2. Tarshish– Great Britain.

a. Famous trade merchants.

b. Britain– “Land of Tin,” this is what Tarshish means.

c. Lion– symbol of Britain.

d. Young lions– U.S. and Canada.

 

VI.       THE MIDDLE EAST WILL BE THE HUB OF LATTER DAY EVENTS

A.        In Ezekiel 38-39, the Middle East is referred to seventeen (17) times.

B.        Ezekiel 38:8, 16; 39:2, 4, 12.

 

VII       WHY ISRAEL WILL BE THE FOCAL POINT OF THE MIDDLE EAST DURING THE LATTER YEARS.

A.        Ezekiel 38:12 tells us that those who invade Israel do so for a spoil and a  prey.

1.               A spoil– Israel is the bread basket of the Middle East.

1.               The land that had been desolate is blooming.

2.               In the 1950's, the world-wide plea of the Jews was “Plant a tree in Israel.”  Now Israel is blooming.

2.               Dead Sea is worth two trillion dollars in minerals.

B.        The Jews are a hated people.

1. Anti-Semitism abounds.

2. The devil hates the Jews.

3.               Every week there are new threats against Israel.

3.               Russia would like to be the hero by settling the long-standing dispute among the nations as to Israel’s claim to Palestine.

4.               Protest made to invasion (38:13).

 

VII.      WAR IN THE MIDDLE EAST BEFORE JESUS COMES

A.        Large armies in the invasion– Ezekiel 38:16, “as a cloud.”

1. Rev 9:16 – 200 million.

2. Large Russian army and large Chinese army.

B.        Deadly weapons

1. Advanced weapons will be used.

2. Deadly effects of these weapons.

a Joel 2:3.

b Joel 2:31

c Zech 14:12 neutron bomb.

C.        Bloody battle.

1. Jer 30:7, “None like it.”

2. Dan 12:1, “Such as never was.”

 

VIII            TERRIBLE DEFEAT IN THE MIDDLE EAST FOR RUSSIA AND HER ALLIES IN THE LATTER YEARS

A.        Ezek 39:1-7, 5/6 of Russian army will be destroyed.  Convulsions of nature aids in defeat (38:20-23).

B.        Ezek 39:11-14, greatest burial.

C.        Joel 2:20, Russian army driven to Siberia.

D.        Ezek 39:9-10, weapons of war will be used as fuel by Israel.  Russia has perfected a wooden gun; they compressed wood harder than steel, lighter but combustible.

5.               Ezek 39:17-20, Fowls will feast on flesh and blood.