Matthew 24:3-8 (KJV)
And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? 4And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. 6And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 8All these are the beginning of sorrows.
God, through the prophet Ezekiel, identifies the geographic region from which the land, and people, of Israel will be attacked. In Ezekiel 38:15 the word from God, through Ezekiel, identifies the geographic location as “the north parts”. Prior to the time of the attack against the land and the people of Israel, the events of which Jesus spoke will be taking place – Matthew 24:5-7. A couple of those prophesied events should be catching our continued attention as we watch their continued escalation: “war and rumours of wars” (Matt. 24:6, KJV). One of the things Jesus did not address in His response to the questions posed to Him by those of the first called out assembly is ‘the politics of war’. Why? Because the politics will not change, nor deter, the prophesied attack against Israel. Undoubtedly the Lord both knew, and knows, exactly what will happen between which countries in order to form a coalition of ‘ten kings’ identified in Daniel as “toes” (2:42-44) and, also, as “ten horns” (7:7-8).
The present politics and positioning of countries and their specific identified leaders, or rulers, may change any number of times and, quite possibly, result in some puzzling alliances. However, none of these changes can change God’s Word. God, through the prophet Ezekiel, has plainly stated that the land and people of Israel will be attacked from the north by a huge military force (Ezek. 38:14-16).
One of the political events that is scheduled to take place this week is the visit of the president of Iran to Syria.
There may be changes coming in Turkey.
Additionally, as strange as it may seem to those of us in our Western culture, the leader in Syria, Bashar al-Assad, has continued his rule of terror through the entirety of the civil war that began in 2011. Now look what may happen.
So, who will be the face of the attack against Israel? I wish I could tell you because that would mean that I know. But please know that whoever is the face of the invasion, one of the more dependable ways to know, with a certain amount of assurance, of the validity of the coming attack and its timing will be a great earthquake:
Ezekiel 38:19-20 (HCSB)
I swear in My zeal and fiery rage: On that day there will be a great earthquake in the land of Israel. 20 The fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the animals of the field, every creature that crawls on the ground, and every human being on the face of the earth will tremble before Me. The mountains will be thrown down, the cliffs will collapse, and every wall will fall to the ground.
As always, regardless of the politics, it is hard to misunderstand, and misinterpret, an earthquake.
Revelation 22:20 (HCSB)
He who testifies about these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!