Tim Moore: For several weeks, American and European leaders warned that Russia was about to attack Ukraine. Now we know that the Russian Bear is indeed trying to expand his empire!
We've all watched the terrible devastation now being inflicted upon Ukraine since Russia aggressively rolled its military across the border in an attempt to overthrow the Ukrainian government and install a puppet government of its own. We've recoiled in horror as Russian President Vladimir Putin has devastated that nation and attacked and killed innocent people in his crusade.
[Note: For the reasons behind Putin's attack, watch the video below or read this article.]
Foretold in Prophecy?
Nathan Jones: Let's look at the Russian invasion of the Ukraine from a prophetic perspective. Christians want to know if Russia's attack on Ukraine was foretold in Bible prophecy. I think what we are witnessing is Russia becoming the major threat the nation was prophesied to become leading into the end times.
Tim Moore: It's important to realize that when a war like the one we're witnessing begins, no matter how much planning the Russians made, nor even the Americans or NATO's allies have made, things go sideways. The situation very quickly begins to be squeezed like a balloon. You think you can control the pressure, but then all of a sudden there's a popout from another area. Russia could become so desperate that it raises the stakes dramatically. Mr. Putin could raise the alarm level to nuclear, which he has already threatened to do, which would be catastrophic for the world.
We could also see Mr. Putin become so desperate that he decides to form alliances with some of the Islamic nations listed in Ezekiel 38. He may even turn his sights southward because Russia is already fully engaged in Syria.
So, are there implications from the Ukrainian invasion that move the world towards the fulfillment of Bible prophecy? Most certainly! But, I don't think that this war is directly tied to the Gog-Magog War. Though, we are seeing all of the nations and peoples mentioned in Ezekiel 38-39 — Iran, Turkey, Sudan, Libya, and so forth — beginning to be stirred up. And again, events could go southward towards the land of Israel very quickly.
Nathan Jones: I believe this invasion falls into one of the ten end times signs that Jesus gave in Matthew 24 and Luke 21. Jesus foretold that as we got closer to His return, there would be an increase in wars and rumors of war. As Matthew 24:6-7 reads: "And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom."
So, Russia's invasion of Ukraine certainly falls under the increase in wars and rumors of wars sign. But, it is not an actual prophetic war. After all, Ezekiel 38 and 39 — the Gog and Magog War — goes into great detail about how a leader from Russia — a man designated as Gog — leads Iran and the Sudan and Libya and all those 'Stan nations and Turkey together in an attempt to plunder and destroy Israel. That hasn't happened, certainly not yet. But, we are seeing Russia getting its power back so that it can one day lead a multi-national coalition.
In reading Ezekiel's prophecy, the prophet tells us that "Sheba, Dedan, the merchants of Tarshish, and all their young lions" just sit back and watch the Russian coalition invade Israel (Ezek. 38:13). Sheba and Dedan are the ancient names of the Saudi countries, the Merchants of Tarshish would be the nations at the ends of Europe along the Atlantic Ocean, and all their young lions would be the descendants or colony countries of the New World.
That means that when the world gets to the point in history when Russia has gathered a large Islamic coalition and is ready to attack Israel, it believes that there is no nation standing in its way. Why isn't Europe standing in Russia's way? Well, it could be because the European Union remains rather weak at that point. But, I think it's because the Rapture will even more severely weaken the West, along with China.
After all, when this coalition attacks Israel, God Himself personally steps in to defeat these armies using supernatural disasters and earthquakes and by turning the invading armies against each other. Ezekiel even reveals that God will send fire raining down on their countries. That's God stepping directly back into the affairs of the world once again. Therefore, the Gog-Magog War is not a Church Age event.
Does the Russian invasion of Ukraine mean that we're getting closer to the Rapture? Well, every day we're getting closer to the Rapture! But, no, the invasion of Ukraine is certainly not the Gog-Magog War. It is merely the beginning tremors, or birth pangs, you might say.
Tim Moore: Christians, we condemn the aggression that's taking place in the Ukraine. We condemn all of the weakness that's being manifested by the Western nations. We do not wish for any kind of armed conflict, obviously, for that could become very catastrophic very quickly due to a nuclear-armed Russia. History shows that when the Russian Bear is backed into a corner, in desperation it will lash out in a way that would be unthinkable with today's weaponry.
Therefore, Christians need to be watching end time events unfold very carefully. We need to understand the background causes behind these conflicts. And, we need to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ in the Ukraine, because they will be continuing to endure much suffering in the weeks and months to come.
Nathan Jones: I'm sure the Russian people don't want this conflict just as much as the rest of us. After all, this is Putin's last hail. He's 70 years old and he wants to cement his legacy. So, we should also pray for the Russian people. And, know that the Lord has got this all in His hands for His inevitably good purposes.
[Note: For more details about the Gog-Magog War, check out our articles and podcasts.]
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