Inspired by Joel Rosenberg’s Epicenter Rob Amos, July 2010 1

EZEKIEL’S PROPHESY

UNFOLDING

Inspired by Joel Rosenberg’s Epicenter

Rob Amos, July 2010 1

US News & World Report, Nov ’03

It’s getting a little weird being Joel Rosenberg…first he wrote…about a terrorist’s kamikaze attack on a US city and the subsequent hunt for Iraqi WMD’s…well before 9/11. Now he has written The Last Days about a Palestinian attack on a US convoy, just like what happened a few weeks back. And look out, Yasser Arafat: Rosenberg offs you on Page 28.

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The Babylonian Exile – 586-516BC

He took into exile in Babylon those who had escaped from the sword…to fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed its Sabbaths. All the days that it lay desolate it kept Sabbath, to fulfill seventy years.

2 Chronicles 36:20-21 (esv)

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……

70 Years

~500 Years

Israel Will Be Restored!

This is what the Sovereign LORD says….My sheep…were scattered over the whole earth, and no one searched or looked for them….I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land.

Excerpts from Ezekiel 344

Two Exiles

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586BC

70AD

The LITTLE Exile

The BIG Exile

Mark Twain on Israel ~1870There is not a solitary village throughout its whole extent -- not for thirty miles in either direction. There are two or three small clusters of Bedouin tents, but not a single permanent habitation. One may ride ten miles, hereabouts, and not see ten human beings.

To this region one of the prophecies is applied:

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"I will bring the land into desolation; and your enemies which dwell therein shall be astonished at it. And I will scatter you among the heathen, and I will draw out a sword after you; and your land shall be desolate and your cities waste." [Lev 26]

No man can stand here by deserted Ain Mellahah and say the prophecy has not been fulfilled.

Israel Will AGAIN Be Restored!

This is what the Sovereign LORD says….My sheep…were scattered over the whole earth, and no one searched or looked for them….I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land.

Excerpts from Ezekiel 347

Two Returns

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516BC

1948

The LITTLE Exile

The BIG Exile

70AD

586BC

Israel Will Bloom

'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: On the day I cleanse you from all your sins, I will resettle your towns, and the ruins will be rebuilt. The desolate land will be cultivated instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass through it. They will say, "This land that was laid waste has become like the garden of Eden…”

Ezekiel 36:33-35

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Statistics from Israel’s Foreign MinistrySince Israel attained its independence in 1948, the total area under cultivation has increased from 165,000 ha. to some 435,000 ha. and the number of agricultural communities has grown from 400 to 900 (including 136 Arab villages). During the same period, agricultural production has expanded 16-fold, more than three times the rate of the population growth.

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The War of Gog & MagogSon of man, set your face toward 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, prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal.

I will turn you about and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and all

your army, horses and horsemen, all of them splendidly attired, a great company

with buckler and shield, all of them wielding swords;

Persia, Ethiopia [or Cush] and Put with them, all of them with shield and helmet;

Gomer with all its troops; Beth-togarmah from the remote parts of the north with all

its troops--many peoples with you.

After many days you will be summoned; in the latter years you will come into the

land that is restored from the sword, whose inhabitants have been gathered from

many nations to the mountains of Israel which had been a continual waste; but its

people were brought out from the nations, and they are living securely, all of them….

Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish and all her villages will say to you,

"Have you come to plunder? Have you gathered your hordes to loot, to carry off

silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods and to seize much plunder?" ‘

Ezekiel 38:1-8,13 (NAS)11

The War of Gog & MagogSon of man, set your face toward 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, prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal.

I will turn you about and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and all

your army, horses and horsemen, all of them splendidly attired, a great company

with buckler and shield, all of them wielding swords;

Persia, Ethiopia [or Cush] and Put with them, all of them with shield and helmet;

Gomer with all its troops; Beth-togarmah from the remote parts of the north with all

its troops--many peoples with you.

After many days you will be summoned; in the latter years you will come into the

land that is restored from the sword, whose inhabitants have been gathered from

many nations to the mountains of Israel which had been a continual waste; but its

people were brought out from the nations, and they are living securely, all of them….

Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish and all her villages will say to you,

"Have you come to plunder? Have you gathered your hordes to loot, to carry off

silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods and to seize much plunder?" ‘

Ezekiel 38:1-8,13 (NAS)12

Gog’s ArmyAlly Modern Notes

Magog Russia Son of Japheth, Scythians

Rosh Russia “Chief (Rosh) Prince of Meshech/Tubal”?

Meshech Moscow? Georgia? King Meshech founded Moscow?

Tubal Caucasus Iberians (Russia)? Georgia?

Claimed by both as ancestor

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14Historical Textbook and Atlas of Biblical Geography (1854) , Coleman

Gen 10:2 - The sons of Japheth were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech…

Josephus:Magogites = Scythians = Russia

10th c. Byzantines:Volga dwellers =the “Ros”17th c. Russian text: Moscow founded by King Meshech, son of JaphethTubal claimed by Georgians and Caucasus Iberians

Anti-Israel Views in Russian Military

Mitofanov (2004): I know people in the Russian Military—very nationalistic people—who have ideas that Jewish people have ruined Russia, and they have an idea to attack Israel. Colonel Chernov of the FSB, for example. He believes we should say to the Muslim world, ‘We have the power, the land, and the nuclear weapons. You have one billion people, living bombs. Let’s work together’ He said Russia must be Muslim, not Orthodox Christian…He wanted to push Jews out of all leadership positions in Russia.”

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Gog’s Plan

On that day thoughts will come into your mind and you will devise an evil scheme. You will say….I will plunder and loot and turn my hand against the resettled ruins and the people gathered from the nations, rich in livestock and goods, living at the center of the land.

Ezekiel 38:10-12

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Russia, Israel & Natural Gas

October 2009: Russia signs $3.5B natural gas trade deal with China, straining its gas reserves

June 2010: Israel discovers 15 trillion cu.ft of natural gas, enough to enable it to be a net exporter. Lebanon claims it’s in their waters

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Persia Iran Historically hostile to Russia, till now

18Persia, Ethiopia [or Cush] and Put with them, all of them with shield and helmet;








Ethiopia/Cush Sudan Son of Ham (Africa), now pariah










Put Libya Son of Ham, warming to Russia











Gomer Turkey Son of Japheth, newly hostile to Israel

21Gomer with all its troops;


Gen 10:2 - The sons of Japheth were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech…

Josephus:Gomer founded Galatia (Turkey)

Turkey Turkey: Historical ally of Israel, US Israel Relationship now at historical low Trend away from Europe/NATO to Russia/Syria Increasing Islamicism

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Gen 10:3 - The sons of Gomer:

Ashkenaz, Riphath and Togarmah.

Josephus:Beth-Togarmah = Phyrigia










Gomer Turkey Son of Japheth, newly hostile to Israel

Beth-Togarmah Armenia/ ‘Stans Phyrigia, now members of the SCO

25Beth-Togarmah from the remote parts of the north with all its troops;

It Can’t Be Literal?! Commentaries prior to 1948

From Jamieson, Fausset & Brown (1871): “Why [Ezekiel 38] is not literal. (2) The nations congregated are selected from places most distant from Israel, and from one another, and therefore most unlikely to act in concert (Persians and Libyans, &c.).”

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NOT IN Gog’s ArmyNon-Ally Modern Notes

Sheba/Dedan Saudi Arabia Sons of Cush

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Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish and all her villages will say to you, "Have you come to plunder? Have you gathered your hordes to loot, to carry off silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods and

to seize much plunder?"



K’phiyr of Tarshish USA?? “Young Lions” or “Merchants” of Tarshish (far West as imaginable, remember Jonah)

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K’phiyr of Tarshish USA?? “Young Lions” or “Merchants” of Tarshish (far West as imaginable, remember Jonah)

Egypt Egypt Historical enemy. 1979 Peace Accord.

Assyria/Babylon Iraq Historical enemy. 2003 Operation Iraqi Freedom.

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International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) 10/7/2009: The Director General of the

IAEA, Mohamed El Baradei, said

“Israel is the number one rogue state threat to Middle Eastern peace with its nuclear arms and acts of outright aggression towards its peaceful neighbours Syria and Lebanon – and genocidal actions against the marginalised Palestinians of the West Bank – and Gaza in particular.”

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Outcome of the WarIt will come about on that day, when Gog comes against the land of

Israel,“ declares the Lord GOD, "that My fury will mount up in My

anger. In My zeal and in My blazing wrath I declare that on that day

there will surely be a great earthquake in the land of Israel….I will call

for a sword against [Gog] on all My mountains," declares the Lord

GOD "Every man's sword will be against his brother. With pestilence

and with blood I will enter into judgment with him; and I will rain on

him and on his troops, and on the many peoples who are with him, a

torrential rain, with hailstones, fire and brimstone.

I will magnify Myself, sanctify Myself, and make Myself known in the

sight of many nations; and they will know that I am the LORD.

Ezekiel 38:18-23 (NAS)31

Aftermath of the WarThen those who inhabit the cities of Israel will

go out and make fires with the weapons and burn them, both shields and bucklers, bows and arrows, war clubs and spears, and for seven years they will make fires of them.

For seven months the house of Israel will be burying them in order to cleanse the land.

And the house of Israel will know that I am the LORD their God from that day onward.

Ezekiel 39:9,12,22 (NAS)32

Seven Years?? See Daniel 9!

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70 ADOf Gog/ Magog

WHAT ARE WE TO DO? DO NOT BE ALARMED (Matt 24:6) Interpret the signs, keep watch (Matt 16:2, 24:42) The Bible is AMAZING and TRUSTWORTHY Seekers: Now is the time to take Jesus Christ up

on his offer of salvation Christ Followers: Use this opportunity for

evangelism Everyone: NOT a good time to be in sinful rebellion Support ISRAEL, over its enemies PRAY FOR ISRAEL (Psalm 122:6) Don’t let your love as a church grow cold (Matt

24:10-13)

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Inspired by Joel Rosenberg’s Epicenter Rob Amos, July 2010 1