Israel’s War: The Prophetic Signs of Ezekiel 38 Decoded

For the first time in thousands of years of history, nations that will come against Israel right after the Church is raptured are literally lining up and getting into position for the Ezekiel 38 War.

This lineup makes it pretty clear that the Church leaves soon. Moreover, the nations of the world are aligning against Israel exactly as the Bible said they would. It’s not similar—it’s precise. And it’s flawless to watch. Jesus came to earth at a specific time, and He will return at a specific time. Meanwhile, we live in this pressure vacuum while the earth prepares for Jesus’ return—whether it be opposing nations and their armies, Gentiles and Jews, or even the Church. Everyone is under this umbrella of pressure squeezing right down to the end because Jesus of Nazareth is about to be revealed as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Joel saw it and said, “Wake everybody up!” (Joel 3:9). Isaiah saw it. Hosea saw it. Every prophet saw it and was in awe of God coming back to the planet. The first coming was quiet, but the Second Coming will be the universal grand

finale event of all events. Even now in preparation, there are rumblings and birth pangs from every corner of the earth and even in the heavens. A lot of what happens as we count down to the return of Jesus involves that one little piece of real estate called Israel. That’s definitely true when it comes to the Ezekiel 38 War.

Revelation 19:15 says of His return, “From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress” (NLT). Malachi 3:2 asks, “But who will be able to endure it when he comes? Who will be able to stand and face him when he appears? For he will be like a blazing fire that refines metal, or like a strong soap that bleaches clothes” (NLT).

There’s a showdown coming all right! Ezekiel says when Russia comes down on Israel, it’s the only time you see God intervene for Israel so the heathen will know He is God. God takes 82 percent of Russia out in one fell swoop, or five sixths of Russia, according to Ezekiel 38:20.

Nations Boldly Line Up

The nations that don’t attack Israel in the Ezekiel 38 War are making peace with Israel now while those nations that move against Israel are boldly lining up. Let’s compare how the nations divide up in Ezekiel 38 with what’s currently happening in world news, and you’ll see clearly how close we are to the Rapture of the Church.

Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him, and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal.”’” (Ezekiel 38:1-3 NKJV)

It’s interesting that these nations God calls out are today Russia and Turkey, which just happen to sit above Israel geographically.

I will turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and lead you out, with all your army, horses, and horsemen, all splendidly clothed, a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords. Persia [Iran], Ethiopia [Cush and Sudan], and Libya are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; Gomer [Turkey] and all its troops; the house of Togarmah from the far north and all its troops—many people are with you. Prepare yourself and be ready, you and all your companies that are gathered about you; and be a guard for them. After many days you will be visited. In the latter years you will come into the land of those brought back from the sword and gathered from many people on the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate; they were brought out of the nations, and now all of them dwell safely. You will ascend, coming like a storm, covering the land like a cloud, you and all your troops and many peoples with you.

Thus says the Lord God: “On that day it shall come to pass that thoughts will arise in your mind, and you will make an evil plan: You will say, ‘I will go up against a land of unwalled villages; I will go to a peaceful people, who dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates’—to take plunder and to take booty, to stretch out your hand against the waste places that are again inhabited, and against a people gathered from the nations [Israel], who have acquired livestock and goods, who dwell in the midst of the land” (Ezekiel 38:4-12 NKJV).

In this next verse, you will see that America, Australia, and European nations are mentioned.

Sheba, Dedan [Saudi Arabia], the merchants of Tarshish [Spain and other European nations], and all their young lions [England, America, and part of Australia] will say to you, “Have you come to take plunder? Have you gathered your army to take booty, to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods, to take great plunder?” (Ezekiel 38:13 NKJV)

All the other nations mentioned in Ezekiel 38 have old historical ties with Turkey or are portions of Turkey and Russia. The main players are Russia, Turkey, Iran (Persia). Ethiopia and Libya are involved as well. Ezekiel 38 says Israel will be attacked from the far north, so let me say this to help you visualize the area. In your mind, run a straight line north of Israel, and you’ll see it heads directly into Russia, Turkey, and connects with eastern Asia. The borders were different in Bible days versus now, but it’s still all connected and points to the exact same region. The Bible clumps Turkey with western Russia and doesn’t really define the two.

All of these nations are systematically helping the Palestinians surround Israel even now. These nations are blatantly and aggressively verbalizing their end-game goal to annihilate Israel.

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erodğan said last year that Jerusalem and the Temple Mount don’t belong to Israel. That’s crazy! That would be like saying Washington, D.C. and the Washington Monument don’t belong to the United States.

The Palestinians even said this past year that Big Ben doesn’t belong to England. “It belongs to us,” they said. How insane. But the Bible says the Antichrist will try to change dates and times in history (Dan. 7:25), and we see a prelude to that with these nations and their not-so-veiled threats toward Israel. Even now, they are demonstrating the spirit of the Antichrist.

Erodğan has said he would call on Islam, and they will ascend to the Temple Mount and take Jerusalem. Does that not sound familiar? Does it not remind you of Lucifer who said, “I will ascend to the sides of the North and be like the Most High” (Isa. 14:12-14)? It’s that same spirit, that same mentality.

Turkey’s actions are so bold that they are almost unbelievable. Turkey is training Hamas in Libya. Turkey is working its way into Greece. Turkey is already in northern Syria. Turkey is in the edge of Iraq. Technically, Turkey has Israel surrounded.

Russia also has nine airbases in Syria. Every single week, Israel must bomb the outskirts of Damascus to preemptively strike munitions plants there. Russia has said they won’t allow Israel to do it anymore, but Israel does it anyway. On top of it all, Iran is close to getting a nuclear weapon.

The Bible says in Isaiah 17:1 that Damascus will no longer be a city. I don’t know whether that happens before or after the Rapture, but a lot of end-time scholars believe it’s the action that instigates the beginning of the Ezekiel 38 War. Certainly, Damascus being wiped off the map would be a perfect precursor to bring Russia and Turkey down on Israel. I believe we’ll also see radioactivity during the Ezekiel 38 War. The Bible talks about troops returning to deal with it when they are more suited to handle the hazards (Ezek. 39).

Afghanistan in the News

A lot of people are wondering if the turmoil in Afghanistan in 2021 has anything to do with the Ezekiel 38 War. Of course it does. It is a precursor to how quickly nations can be altered, and it is also a pathway for how Russia will come down on Israel. The group that took over Afghanistan is among those who want to annihilate Israel. Afghanistan is a doorway to a corridor that makes way for Russia to invade Israel.

The Bible says the Euphrates River runs dry right before the Second Coming, and ISIS has been damming up the Euphrates over and over again. All these groups are doing things to facilitate what happens at the Second Coming. So, when you see nations altering themselves in a day, you’re seeing a setup for what happens just before we leave.

World War III

We read in Ezekiel 4 that God puts a hook in Russia’s jaw, and they come down to Israel for food or money. Turkey is the instigator, but Russia is the invader. The Ezekiel 38 War is all about Russia coming down on Israel for spoil. Even now, these guys are showing their true colors, and you have a front-row seat.

Ezekiel 38 is showing us that right after the Rapture of the Church, World War III will break out on the face of the earth. Russia has for some time now attempted to provoke war. They fly their airplanes in the Baltic Sea and over Alaska without their transponders on, which you can only do when you’re at war. (Transponders send out beacons alerting other nations where your planes are.) They buzz our Israeli and American jets and spy planes. A Russian submarine came up right off the coast of Los Angeles a while back, and the captain came out and literally thumbed his nose at America. Their actions are to provoke confrontation, which didn’t happen 30 years ago. It didn’t happen 20 years ago, but it happens frequently today.

After Russia invaded the Ukraine and Crimea in 2014, Putin seemed to develop a new thought pattern: We can do whatever we want to do. Russia demonstrates this attitude in many ways, and it’s especially disconcerting that the U.S. Secret Service theorizes that Russian President Vladimir Putin has Asperger’s Disease, which is a type of autism.3 Think about the fact that the head of a nation that has more nuclear weapons than almost anybody in the world all lined up for war may have mental issues. Like I said, right before your eyes, Russia is setting up for World War III.

Financially Strapped Russia

After the Rapture, something happens to Russia. They will say, “Hey, we’re taking Israel because we need her oil.” Keep in mind that by the time the Church is raptured, Russia will likely be completely bankrupt. For years, I’ve heard on-and-off-again reports of Russia facing near bankruptcy.

Several years ago, I was preaching right around Kennebunkport, Maine, where President George W. Bush was staying. Putin came to meet with him there, and his security team bought liquor with counterfeit $100 bills. Even then, they were printing their own money because they have no money.

As a result of the continuing war in Syria, do you know what the attrition is on all the Russian airports? A whopping 82 percent of their airplanes cannot fly because they don’t have the money to maintain them. I believe it will be easy for God to take out Russia because nothing works. I’ve preached there many times, and even in the middle of the day, the electricity and water go out. They say they are fixing wires and pipes, but I believe it all comes down to no money. The real reason it’s such a dilapidated country is because of godlessness. A country that reverences Jesus and honors God has blessings upon it.

Epic Chaos

Right after the Church leaves, there will be chaos all over the earth. Obviously, the media will come up with some pretty wild ideas about why so many people have disappeared. It will have catastrophic effects. Think of unsaved parents whose young children are raptured. Entire churches will be emptied out. What about airplane pilots who disappear mid-flight? Let me just tell you that it will not go unnoticed, and the massive chaos will set the stage for the greatest harvest in the Bible that takes place right after we’re raptured.

In the midst of Russia taking over Israel and Christians around the world vanished, the world will face a great wake-up call. Many people will be saying, “The churches of those crazy Christians are all empty. Maybe they knew something that we don’t.” Russia will be saying, “We need cash, and Israel is ripe for taking.” All combined, the scene is set for epic chaos.

Russia already just happens to have a S300 missile defense system set up in Syria. It’s got the most technologically advanced cyber warfare set up on the mountains of Syria to the point that Israel recognizes Syria eavesdrops on everything they do.

The whole world is set up for war. Twenty years ago, America and many other nations would have said, “We stand with Israel. If you fight Israel, you will fight us as well.” That isn’t necessarily the attitude right now. Beginning in 2014, America took a different position. In fact, not only did they take the position not to support Israel, but they also tried to basically prop up Iran to destroy Israel. There was a time that was unimaginable, but today it’s the making of news headlines.

Do you understand the significance of this? Right before our eyes, the nations have lined up setting the stage for the Ezekiel 38 War. I wish I had a bazooka I could fire or a trumpet I could blow to get everyone’s attention. Listen to me!

Right now, in Syria it’s the craziest coalition ever. Russia is fighting the Syrian rebels, who are trying to fight ISIS. Russia put up an air defense system that is unbelievably the most sophisticated in the world, and ISIS doesn’t have any airplanes. Okay, they put up the most elaborate air defense in the world all over the nation of Syria to fight ISIS, but again, ISIS has no airplanes. Think about it.

A Showdown with God

“Hey Joe, what do you mean that everything is in position for the Ezekiel 38 War?” The incidents are ready to fall like dominoes. The

Rapture happens, the Church or the restraining force against evil is gone. Russia needs money; its mighty weapons are in place. Russia looks at prosperous and bountiful Israel and says, “Let’s just help ourselves!”

Let’s read Ezekiel 38:14-16 as we did in Chapter 5 but this time from the New Living Translation:

Therefore, son of man, prophesy against Gog. Give him this message from the Sovereign Lord: When my people are living in peace in their land, then you will rouse yourself. You will come from your homeland in the distant north with your vast cavalry and your mighty army, and you will attack my people Israel, covering their land like a cloud. At that time in the distant future, I will bring you against my land as everyone watches, and my holiness will be displayed by what happens to you, Gog. Then all the nations will know that I am the Lord.

Russia will try to swoop down and overtake Israel, but God will show off for Israel. He will defend her. God said, “Then all the nations will know that I am Lord (or God).” He’s so awesome!

Let’s look at Ezekiel 38:23:

Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the Lord.

Continue reading in the next chapter in Ezekiel 39:6:

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.

Pay attention to the word carelessly, which means confidently. Let me give you Joe’s conjecture on this. My personal take is that right after the Rapture, the earth will see nuclear war. I believe that is the fire that comes on those isles. Isles is the word for coastal cities like Los Angeles, New York, Miami, etc. And again, this is Joe talking, but I believe these port cities will probably be nuked from Russia. Notice what the Bible specifically says in Ezekiel 39:

So will I make my holy name known in the midst 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 (Ezekiel 39:7).

As we discussed in Chapter 5, God’s tone changes after the Church leaves. God boldly deals with the heathen.

After the Ezekiel 38 War, munitions burn for seven years. In fact, there’s so much radioactivity that they mark things and come back after they are better equipped to deal with it. “What happens after the seven years?” someone might ask. The Second Coming. Jesus returns to the Mount of Olives with the brightness of His coming and stops war.

While you’re alive in 2022, you are watching Russia amp up. Man, I wish I had a printout of everything they’ve done recently. Russia is positioning more and more armaments in Syria, and they have let Hezbollah thwart Israel at every opportunity. Hezbollah is an Islamist political party and militant group in northern Israel that openly declares they want to annihilate Israel. They have 100,000 rockets and keep getting more from Russia.

Former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said to Russia a while back, “You do one more shipment down to Hezbollah, and we will fire on you.” So, there’s all these little things that happen right before a world war, and you’re watching the mechanics of it. The nations are gearing up for it because we are about to depart. This should send all of us a clear, loud message. It should tell us: “Lift up your head!” Why? The war that we have just talked about happens after we are gone. Friend, live in the mentality that you’re about to be caught up in the air to meet Jesus because you are!