Does Russia play a role in end time events according to the Bible? Is the current conflict in Ukraine a sign of the end? Many believe there is a connection to Gog and Magog and that the antichrist will rise in Israel. What do the scriptures reveal about these questions? Join Pastor Mark Finley as he opens the word of God to study the truth.

<p>Does Russia play a role in end time events according to the Bible? Is the current conflict in Ukraine a sign of the end? Many believe there is a connection to Gog and Magog and that the antichrist will rise in Israel. What do the scriptures reveal about these questions? Join Pastor Mark Finley as he opens the word of God to study the truth.</p>

<p>Free sharing permitted under the Creative Commons <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/">BY-NC-ND 3.0 (US)</a> license.</p>

HopeLives365

Mark Finley

Will Russia Play a Role in Last Day Events?

Does Russia play a role in end time events? Is the current conflict in Ukraine a sign at the end? Will this culminate in Russia defeating Ukraine coming into Turkey, attacking Israel, eventually sailing to attack Israel, bringing its troops there, then having the anti-Christ rise in Israel, driving back, Russia, setting up his chair, his dominion in the temple of God as as Christ w. How does this all fit together? There are those who believe that Russia plays a significant part in the time of the end based on a prophecy. In Ezekiel chapter 38 and 39, we're gonna examine that prophecy. But first, let's notice what the Bible does say very clearly about wars conflict in strife at in time. Jesus in Matthew chapter 24, gave to his disciples a discourse, a sermon on the signs of the times. He spoke about the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 ad as the Roman armies came down under Titus attacked Jerusalem and destroyed it. Jesus gave signs that would lead up to the destruction of Jerusalem. The disciples thought an event as cataclysmic as the destruction of Jerusalem must be the end of the world. Jesus masterfully blended signs that would lead up to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 80 with signs of the end, and he gave as one of at least 20 signs in Matthew 24, this particular sign, Jesus said, Matthew 24 verse six, you'll hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you're not troubled for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. So merely because we see a single war doesn't mean the end, but then Jesus goes on for a nation will rise against nation, kingdom against kingdom. So Jesus predicts widespread war, widespread conflict. Luke also records this in Luke the 21st chapter. The Dr. Luke who also wrote the book of Acts describes an end time conflict as one of the signs. Luke chapter 21, verse six, Jesus says, after these things which you, which you see the days shall come in, which no, not one stone will be left upon another. So Jesus is talking about the destruction of Jerusalem. He gives you signs that lead up to that, but signs that are in miniature but will be on a much wider scale before the end of the world. Then he says verse nine, when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified for these things. Again, notice through words must come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately. So Jesus predicts an unsettled state of of society predicts wars, rumors of wars, kingdoms rising against kingdom. The apostle Paul essentially says the same thing in two Timothy three verse one when he says, in the last days perilous or dangerous times will come. So the Bible teaches that before Jesus returns, there will be international conflict, but will that international conflict focus on Israel? Is Russia a fulfillment of Bible prophecy? There are those people who read Ezekiel chapter 38 and 39. They word read the word rash and they believe that's Russia. They read the word ishk in the prophecy. They believe that's Moscow. They believe Gog and Magog refer to the Russian forces and their attack on Israel eventually. What does the Bible say about that? Let's go to Ciel chapter 38 and look at the total context to get the the picture. Remember in the book of Peter second Peter chapter one, verse 19 to 21, the Bible says, no prophecy shall be of private interpretation. What is private interpretation? It's reading a Bible passage and then saying, this is what I think the passage means when we read the Bible. It's important to take the Bible in context. Ezekiel was a prophet living in Old Testament times and Ezekiel is talking about attacks on literal Israel in Old Testament times and he says, Ezekiel 38, verse one and two. 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 meshk in tubal and prophesy against him and say, thus says the Lord. Behold I am against you. Oh God, the prince of Ro mesh and tubo. Now what do we know about Ro in the Bible? Rash is mentioned only twice in the Bible. It's mentioned in the book of Genesis, rash was one of the sons of Benjamin. This is the second time Ro is mentioned in the Bible. What about Misha? What do we know about Misha? We know a little bit more. Mishek was the sixth son of Jth, one of the three sons of Noah that survived the flood in the Bible. These numbers, RO names, RA and Misha represent enemies of God, those who are opposed to and against God's people. A good explanation of that is found in Psalm one 20, the hundred and 20th Psalm. So when we're reading about RA and Micha, we're reading about enemies of God's people, wicked Barbaras forces that would attack Israel in the days of Ezekiel Psalm one 20, and you're looking at the hundred 20th Psalm if you happen to have your Bible and notice again, whoa, it is me that I sojourn in misk, that I dwell among the tents of qar, my soul, Haswell too long with one who hates peace. For I am four peace. But when I speak there for war, so when we read about misk and the people of Misk, they love war. Now let me be very clear. Neither rash nor misk in the Bible speaks about Russia or Moscow. Misha existed hundreds and hundreds of years before Moscow ever became a city. So what does Russia represent? Misk God, magog enemies of God, enemies of God's people. As you study Bible prophecy, God and Magog are also mentioned in the book of Revelation. This gives us a key to understanding the significance of Gog and magog in Ezekiel chapter 38. One more thing about Ezekiel 38, that's important to notice. Anne 39, Gog and Magog do not win these Barbaras forces, these treacherous forces, these war-like forces. Remember it said they love peace. I mean they love war. They don't love peace. These forces do not win. According to the book of Ezekiel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel 38. Let's look and see what happens to these forces and try to put this whole story together. Then make a comparison with the book of Revelation. Ezekiel chapter 38, you come to the end and it says, talking about God, magog me, rush. It says Ezekiel 38, 22, and I will bring him to judgment with pestilence and bloodshed. I'll reign down on him, on his troops and on many peoples who are with him flooding, rain, great hailstones, fire and brimstone. Verse 23. Thus, I will magnify myself and sanctify myself and I will be known in the eyes of many nations. Then they shall know that I'm the Lord. So in this passage, misk and Rosh and gogan, magog do not win. They do not conquer. They lose. Now look at Ezekiel 39 verse six, and I will send fire. Now underline and circle that I will send fire. It's very significant as you'll see in the book of Revelation, on Magog, on those who live in security and coastlands. Then they shall know that I'm the Lord. So what can we deduce from these texts? Ezekiel was speaking about wicked nations living at his time in Old Testament period that would attack literal Israel at that time, not speaking about Russia, not speaking about Moscow. The amazing thing is that when you come to the last days of verse history, God and Magog become representatives symbolically of those forces that hated God's law, that despised God's covenant, that united to try to bring the world together. They represented those, that conglomerate of nations that would war against God's commandment, keeping people. Let's now go to Revelation chapter 19 and see how this all fits together. Remember when we read about Gog and Meg rush and mesh, what are we reading about a conglomerate of enemies that attack God's people? Revelation chapter 19, we come to the final climax of human history and as we come to that climax of human history, we read in Revelation 19, then I saw heaven opened and behold a white horse and he was sat on him, was called faithful and true. In in righteousness, he judges and makes war. Jesus judges, Jesus makes war. He descends down the court of the sky, inflaming brightness in glory. His eyes write the flame of fire. His head is many crowns. He had a name written that no man knew except himself. He was called with a robe dipped in blood and his name is called the word of God. Why a robe dipped in blood. Reminder the sacrifice of Christ, reminder of Christ who died on calvary to save all mankind, the word of God, the faithful word of God that his people have cherished in the armies in heaven, clothed with fine linen, white and clean followed him on white horses. A white horse was always the steed that was ridden upon by Roman generals after they vanquished the enemy. So Christ is symbolically pictured. This is a symbol of course of coming down victoriously through the clouds of heaven. Out of his mouth goes a sharp sword that he should strike the nations and he himself shall rule them with a rot of iron. He himself treads the wine press of the fierceness of the Almighty God and he had on his name a and on his thigh name written King of kings and Lord of lords. So in the last moments of time when God's people are oppressed, when the mark of the beast is enforced upon them, Christ steps in to human history. He descends on the court of the sky to deliver them. Now notice revelation chapter 20. Where do do God and Meg fit in? When Jesus comes the second time, the Bible says, the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout not secret with the Trump of the ark angel with a voice of God and the dead in Christ will rise first and we will chair alive and remain shall be caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air. First Thessalonians chapter four, verse 16 and 17. So get this picture, Christ comes in glory. The righteous dead are resurrected to receive immortal bodies. The righteous living received their immortal bodies. One Corinthians chapter 15, verse 51 to 54, this mortal must put on immortality. So we put on immortality when at the last trumpet, the second coming of Christ we're caught up in the sky to meet Jesus. Remember Jesus said, let not your heart be troubled. Do you believe in God? Believe also in me, John 14, one to three in my father's house. There are many mansions. If it were not so, I would've told you, but I go to prepare place for you and if I go and prepare place for you, Jesus says, I will come again. Jesus coming to receive us to himself, not coming down here on earth. Right then the dead are resu, living dead are resurrected, right? The righteous dead are resurrected. The living righteous are caught up to meet Christ in the sky. What happens to the wicked at that point? You say, when the Bible tells us, second Thessalonians chapter one verse seven to nine tells exactly what happens to the unrighteous. It says, and to give to you who are troubled rest with us. The Lord Jesus is gonna be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels. Verse seven, inflaming fire taking vengeance on those that don't know God and on those that don't obey the gospel of Jesus Christ who'll be punished with everlasting ction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power when he comes in the day to be glorified in the saints and to be admired in all those that believe. So when Christ comes the second time, according to this, the wicked will be destroyed by the brightness of his coming. The the wicked dead remain in their graves. The wicked living are destroyed by the brightness of his coming. What happens to Satan at this time? And what about this God in Magog? We're coming to it. Stay with me. Revelation chapter 20. So the righteous, all righteous are now in heaven with Christ immortal bodies. He's come to receive them unto himself. They're caught up to meet the Lord in the air according to the Bible. Revelation chapter 20 verse one. Then I saw an angel come down from heaven having the key to the bottom list pit. What is that bottom list pit? It's not some subterranean cavern. The earth has been destroyed by the brightness of Christ coming. Jeremiah 25 33 says, the slain are cross the earth from one end to the other. That's a slain wicked. Jeremiah chapter four says, the cities are broken down by his fierce anger. The bottomless pit is not some dark subterranean cabinet cavern. In the Bible, the word is Abu abusa in the Greek language of the New Testament, meaning a place of desolation, a place of darkness, great chains in his hands. Satan is chained by circumstances because there is nobody to tempt. It says he laid hold of the great dragons serpent of old who's the devil in Satan inbound him a thousand years. So Satan is bound for a thousand years, but after a thousand years, he must be released for a little while. The Bible then says that verse four, that the where are the saints, the people of God at this time, they're reigning with Jesus in heaven for that thousand years. Would the dead ever live again to receive their final reward during the thousand years? According to first Corinthians six, verse two, the Bible says that the saints so judge the world. So we participate with Christ in that final judgment according to scripture, then it says the rest of the dead live not again till the thousand years were finished. So at the end of the thousand years, the holy city begins to descend from God out of heaven. John, in Revelation chapter 21 says, I saw the new Jerusalem coming down from God. Out of heaven is a bride adorn for her husband. So the new Jerusalem's coming down the thousand years are finished. Verse seven, revelation 20, Satan will be released from his prison. Go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth. Now don't miss it. Here's the second mention of God and magog God and may God to gather them together to the battle of whose number is as the sand of the sea. So who are God and magog in Ezekiel 38? They are symbolic of the wicked that'll finally be destroyed at end time. What is all this about God? Magog rush mesh, those evil, Barbaras treacherous forces that attacked ancient Israel. God's people are who violated God's law, who disobeyed God's command are symbolic of all the wicked at end time who have been deceived by Satan, who've oppressed God's people who've been obedient to God, who've oppressed God's people, who've, who've who've loved Jesus and kept his law and had the faith of Christ living in their hearts. No notice he'll go out to deceive. Verse eight, the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, God and may Gog can gather them to the battle of the great whose numbers as the sand of the sea. Verse nine, they went up on the breath of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints in the beloved city and fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. Do you remember what we read in Ezekiel chapter 38, that God and may God mesh and rush would attack God's people in the Old Testament, but they wouldn't be successful. They would ultimately be destroyed. So John in Revelation takes that symbolic picture and applies it to the end of the thousand years. The holy city comes down and as it's descending, Satan now unchained. Why? Because he can tempt those who have been the wicked dead have been resurrected. They come up on the city to take it, to destroy it. Fire comes down from God out of heaven, destroys what God and magog God, Satan, magog mat God, the, the children of Satan and they are destroyed. There are no more bombs that fall, no more death cries because of exploding ammunition. Now there are songs of praise. There are songs of joy. One pulse of harmony and gladness beats through the vast creation that all things anime and inanimate declare. God is love. The meek, Matthew five, verse five shall inherit the earth. This earth is made over again in its den splendor. It will come to its first dominion. Joy in peace will hold hands in dance through the land. War will be no more. The weapons of warfare gone forever. No more fear, no more worry, no more tension, no more anxiety, no more sickness, no more suffering, no more heartache, no more death. I'm looking forward to that land. Aren't you? Aren't you? You see, the devil wants to deceive us with some false prophecy, getting us to think that this all is about ancient literal Israel. Know my friend. The Bible teaches that the great controversy between Christ and Satan is a universal controversy over faithfulness to God, over obedience to God over the law of God. And that's why Revelation cries out in Revelation 1412. Here are the patie. Here is the patience of the saints, the endurance of the people of God. Here are they that keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus. The devil will attack those end time people. But you and I are on the winning side to live with Christ forever and ever and ever. Let's pray together. Father in heaven, we thank you so much that in the great controversy between good and evil, between Christ and Satan, we can be on your side, the side of Jesus. Help us to be obedient to you, to be faithful to you. Help us know that you are a going to lead us to win in the great controversy between good and evil. We pray in Christ Me. Ah, amen. This media was brought to you by Audio verse, a website dedicated to spreading God's word through free sermon, audio, and much more. If you would like to know more about Audio verse or if you would like to listen to more sermons, please visit www.audio verse.org.

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Will Russia Play a Role in Last Day Events?

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