This question may be too down in the weeds, but that’s why I’m asking it. Can anyone with a familiarity with the Rapture and Millennialism sketch out a history of Russia and America’s role? Has this changed with time? I need help with context. I’m particularly interested in how these countries interrelate with Israel. Thanks.
No one is trying to shoehorn the prophecy of Ezekiel 38 – 39 into a geopolitical situation, as this prophecy has been around for many years and I first studied this in 1995 some 20 years ago. This prophecy written over 3,000 years ago details a very unique battle that has not yet happened. The combatants are described according to the names of where various people settled after the flood of Noah. As you know over times names change (Cape Canaveral for Cape Kennedy, etc.). If you study historically and biblically, the players are Russia (Magog), Iran (Persia), Former Russian states (Meshech / Tubal), Eastern Europe (Gomer), Turkey (house of Togarmah), Sudan (Cush), Libya (Put). Order of countries is important and the Iranians will be the major player and lead the attack but be supplied with materials and supplies by the Russians.
In this battle, the attack is from the north against Israel, but God will intervene (“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.”, and 7/8 of the attacking forces will be killed. Much of the terminology you can update to current times (e.g., arrows = missiles, bow launchers, horses –Calvary, tanks, … etc. ).
This is the only battle in the Bible where the Holy Spirit very carefully goes through the cleanup of the battle as there is obvious contamination (nuclear, chemical, biological). The cleanup includes burying the remnants downwind, cordon off the area and let no on inside for 7 months and anyone who sees any remnant is to call a government official to take care of the findings.
“And they shall sever out men of continual employment, passing through the land to bury with the passengers those that remain upon the face of the earth, to cleanse it: after the end of seven months shall they search.”
Israel will capture supplies / materials that they will use as fuel for seven years.
” And they that dwell in the cities of Israel shall go forth, and shall set on fire and burn the weapons, both the shields and the bucklers, the bows and the arrows, and the handstaves, and the spears, and they shall burn them with fire seven years:”
This battle could happen at any time as there as the alignment of players described by the prophecy is obviously occurring in our current times. Biblical scholars put this battle before the rapture and prior to the start of enforcement of a treaty by the “Man of Sin” between Israel and “the many” described in Daniel (9:25) and often referred to as the 70th week of Daniel, the 7 year tribulation in which the last 3-1/2 years are detailed by Revelation 6 through 19, and called the Great Tribulation and starts when the Man of Sin commits the “Abomination of desolation” spoken by Jesus in Matt 24 in the middle of the week. The identity of the “Man of Sin” will not be revealed until the church and Holy Spirit that indwells the church is taken out (Thess.), At this time, church is taken out, the blindness on the Jews will be lifted according to Paul in Romans (when the fullness of the gentiles is complete), and other places. The Jews will seek Jesus and ask Him as a nation to return. The tribulation period is a period of judgment upon the Jewish people for their offense according to Jesus in the gospel of Matt and Luke.
This of course does not agree with the Catholic view, but agrees with what scripture says.
