Those words, “the whole world’s watching,” were chanted by demonstrators on the streets of Chicago in the summer of 1968, as policemen used force to restrain rioters from disrupting the Democratic National Convention. TV cameras were on the scene, and those history-making moments flashed onto screens all over the globe so that, indeed, the whole world was watching!
Today, the whole world is still watching as history is being made; but the focus of the world at this very hour is not on the streets of Chicago but, rather, the cradle of civilization—the strategic, oil-rich, trouble-laden region of the Middle East.
Iran, Israel, Lebanon, Turkey, Greece, Egypt, Libya, Syria—these nations are now in the forefront of the news. In a sense, not only is the whole world watching; the whole world is, at it were, holding its breath. The political and economic crises in these countries have created a volatile environment that is, to say the least, explosive.
In the middle of it all is Israel, which did not even exist as a modern nation until 1948. But, how the nations of the world act and react to Israel is of primary concern to those of us who believe prophecy is daily being fulfilled. Israel, inheritor of God’s ancient promises to Abraham, will be in the center of the spotlight of world history from now until the end of time.
In Ezekiel, chapters 38 and 39, God gives us a preview of history that is written before it happens—otherwise called prophecy. These chapters relate to Israel and what will happen to her, in the latter times, when nations from the north invade what God calls “my land,” Israel. (Ezek. 38: 16) Consider with me these fascinating facts and how they impact every one of us today: The What, Where, When and Why of this yet future invasion of “the holy land.”
( Note: This blog post, up to this point, is nearly verbatim the introduction to a message I preached on March 23, 1980, at Thompson Road Baptist Church in Indianapolis. I have repeated the introduction, word for word, to demonstrate the relevance of God’s Word—then and now. The stage had already been set when that message was delivered 44 years ago, and nothing has changed.)
The curtain of the last act of history’s saga could rise at any moment. We call it the “rapture” (of the Church). After the rapture, during the seven years that follow, commonly called “the tribulation” (as depicted in Revelation, chapters 4-19), the events outlined in this message will ensue.
- The What of the events in Ezek. 38, directed at Israel:
• There will be a military invasion of Israel by Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. (Ezek.38:1-3) Most lexicographers and commentators identify these invaders as Russia, joined by Persia (Iran), Ethiopia, and Libya along with other nations from the north. (Ezek. 38:2-6,13)
• The invaders will be divinely defeated. (38:4,6,13; 39:3,4)
• The invaders will be devastatingly defeated, with 5/6 of them dying. (38:18,19, 20; 39:1-6)
2. The Where of this invasion of Israel:
• The invasion will take place in Israel. (38:8; 39:4)
• The invasion will take place in the midst of the land. (38:12)
3. The When of the invasion of Israel:
• It will occur in the “latter years” (38:8,16)—after the first half of the 7-year tribulation—when Israel will be dwelling in peace. (38:11; cf. Daniel 9:24-27)
4. The Why of this invasion of Israel:
• It will be initiated by God to show the heathen that He alone is God. (38:16,23)
• God will make His holy name known to His people, and show them—as well as the heathen—that He alone is God, the holy One of Israel. (39:7)
Conclusion: Of course, at this moment, Israel is at war with the Hamas terrorists, having been invaded October 7, 2023. This is not the fulfillment of Ezekiel 38, but it surely must be a prelude. Jesus warned: “When ye see these things begin to come to pass, then lift up your heads, for your redemption draweth nigh.” (Luke 21:28)
Are you ready?
(For further study, see J. Dwight Pentecost’s Things to Come: A Study in Biblical Eschatology.)
YOU and GOD 