I. Introduction

A. There has been War since the beginning of time:

-Cain killing Abel, and it hasn't stopped

-Abraham fought in a war

-The Israelites History is full of war

-occupying Cana

-fighting Antiochus Ephines

-Masada

-fighting the Crusaders in the Middle Ages

-WWII

-and today we are fighting the Palestinians

-the History of humankind is replete with War

- WWI, WWI, Korean, Vietnam and Gulf War, etc

B. Here we are again with WAR in the headlines

*People love to dissect wars - especially this one

*There hasn't been a war like this before

- Precision bombing destroying buildings not humans

- laser guided missiles

- MOAB - mother of all bombs

- bombs that can think w/ GTR-bombs that hit go down then explode

- 24 hour telecasts

- little deaths on our side

- huge warships that make it possible to shoot hundred of miles away

- Most of us go our way while our military is fighting

- never happened before like this

*There are questions that arises in every war though

1. Who are the combatants?

1. one old adversary and a new one

2. US vs Iraq (Western Civ. Vs a resurrected Babylonian Empire)

3. The free vs the suppressed

- coalition vs the Iraqi's

2. Why are we there?

1. to bring down the regime of a madman

2. to liberate the Iraqi's

3. to protect the US interest

4. to send a message to terrorists

5. to protect the oil fields (economics)

*Pick any of these, or a combination of all

3. What are the strategies?

1. US

a. strike and awe

b. bombs away-then have foot soldiers move in

c. take over bridges-

d. have troops from the North & South converge on Baghdad

e. IRON RING around Baghdad

2. Iraqi's

a. Stay alive

b. Invite troops to urban warfare

c. Use anyone to trap us

4. What will the outcome bring?

1. Good question? Will Iraq be free

2. Will we stop terrorists

3. Will we set up another dictator in place of this one

4. Will this be a set up for another war?

5. Only time will tell

*As you can see there are still many questions to ask and answer concerning this war, and when it is finished books will be written, we will analyze the strategy, mourn the loss, celebrate the victory and then go on until the next war, it will not stop

C. *What happens next-do we just keep fighting the terrorists, will it ever stop?

1. Who do we liberate next, or who attacks whom next?

2. Is this just the tip of the ice-burg for something next?

D. *What does the Scripture teach us about war?

War ... what is it good for?

D The Messiah helped us understand this subject

- Talking to his disciples, who probably thought like every Jew that the Messiah would put an end to war.

- After leaving the Temple, it became apparent by His words, there would be more trouble and the temple would even be destroyed.

- So, they ask Him, if not NOW, when? And what will be the sign of you coming and bringing peace

The Signs of his return

1. Deceivers

vs 5 mislead many

very subtle:

a. self help programs

b. many false religions

very bold

c. David Koresh, Schneerson, Rev Moon

Have you ever noticed that the only person in the world that people say they are is Jesus? ... never Moses, never Ho Chi Men, George Washington ... Its always Jesus.

Vs 5 Do not be mislead

2. vs 6 Disturbances

vs 6 wars and rumors of more wars have always been going on.

vs 6 Do not be Frighten

However Sept 11th changed everything

1. I was in my office when someone said a small plane hit the WTC

2. When we turned on the TV, just then the 2nd plane hit

3. I knew that this was just the beginning, the United States had now been drawn into the world of kingdom vs kingdom at home

We are no longer living outside looking in, but inside looking out

3. vs 7 Distress-we are no longer safe

vs 7 nation against nations

vs 7 kingdoms against kingdoms

vs 7 famines, earthquakes

vs 13 do not give up hope

vs32 Learn the parable of the fig tree:

He is near ... The end is Near

Illustration: Learn about the fig tree

NOW LEARN A PARABLE (or a lesson) OF THE FIG TREE (of the Israeli nation). (Note, the Israeli nation had to be reborn. Without this key event being in place, no other prophecy of the latter days meant anything.)

WHEN HIS BRANCH IS YET TENDER, AND PUTTETH FORTH LEAVES (the branch on the tree becomes tender after the long, cold winter. When Israel is yet tender and puts forth leaves�s indicates the springtime),

YE KNOW THAT SUMMER IS NIGH. (When one would see the Israeli nation come forth, and his branches tender, and leaves coming forth, you would know summer is near or you would know that certain things are near.)

SO LIKEWISE YE, WHEN YE SHALL SEE ALL THESE THINGS (the list of things that Jesus just gave in the previous verses),

KNOW THAT IT IS NEAR, EVEN AT THE DOORS. (Again, we see the command to know that certain events are at the doors and are going to happen almost immediately, as already covered in previous pages.)

VERILY I SAY UNTO YOU, THIS GENERATION (the generation of the fig tree, the generation of the Israeli nation) SHALL NOT PASS, TILL ALL THESE THINGS BE FULFILLED. ("All these things" includes the rebirth of Israel, the Tribulation, the Battle of Armageddon, the return of Jesus Christ, and the gathering together of the elect. All these things would happen during the period of this generation.)-Mt 24:32-34; ref Mk 13:28-30.

Learn about the fig tree

Illustration: Being a chef, you might be amazed at how many people are busy getting everything together, to make a great dish

You need salad greens, dressing, tomatoes, onions, etc

You need beef, starch, veggies, and sauce

You need deserts, coffee

Everything has to be gathered first, and then has to be eaten in order, to make a truly great meal. The Lord is a Master chef, getting the recipes for the final times together

I Everything is being set up for the end. Could this war be the beginning of birth pangs? ... Let's take a look at the end times and see where we are?

Ez 37 The re-birth of the Land of Israel

Wars ...

Nations against nation..kingdom vs kingdom

Ez 38 The War of Gog and Magog

1. Who are the participants for this war?

IV Ezekiel 38:1-7 gives 10 names as participants in the invasion of Israel that will follow the regathering of the Jews to their homeland. First mentioned, is the land of Magog.

The most common identity for Magog is in Central Asia. The Jewish historian Josephus said, "Magog founded the Magogians, called Scythians by the Greeks. Scythians were a nomadic tribe who inhabited the ancient territory from Central Asia across the southern part of ancient Russia." Today this area is inhabited by the former Soviet Republics of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and possibly northern parts of Afghanistan. All of these nations that make up the land of Magog have one thing in common - Islam. Militant Islam has been on the rise in these countries since the fall of the Soviet Union, when Islam no longer had to be practiced secretly. Radical Islamic groups such as the Islamic Renaissance Party, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, and Hizb ut-Tahrir al-Islam are working to reunite central Asian nations and ultimately the entire Muslim world. It is from this part of the world that a leader will arise to bring together a great coalition of nations to invade Israel.

All areas with a Muslim majority. THE KURDS ... what will happen to these people after the Iraqi war?

Medes, Scythians and Sagarthians are just the better-known clans of the Indo- European-speaking Aryans who settled in Kurdistan. By about 2,600 years ago, the Medes had already set up an empire that included all Kurdistan and vast territories far beyond. Medeans were followed by scores of other kingdoms and city-statesQall dom- inated by Aryan aristocracies and a populace that was becoming Indo-European, Kurdish speakers if not so already.

Probably the most debated verse is Ezekiel 38:3.

Rosh as chief

Other versions of the Bible translate 'rosh' as an adjective. The argument here is that in the Massoretic text the words 'chief prince':

"Behold, I am against thee, o Gog, the prince, {pause} chief of

Meshech and Tubal"

Meshech and Tubal in verses 2 and 6, were the names of the 6th and 5th sons of Japheth, the son of Noah (Gen. 10:2). Ezekiel 27:13 also mentions Meshech and Tubal as trading partners with Tyre (Modern Lebanon). It's likely that Meshech and Tubal refer to the ancient Moshi/Mushki and Tubalu/Tibareni who dwelled in the area around, primarily south of, the Black and Caspian Sea in Ezekiel's day. Today these nations would be in the modern country of Turkey, parts of Southern Russia and Northern Iran.

Verse 6 adds Gomer and Beth-Togarmah to the coalition. "Gomer" was the first son of Japheth. The Gomerites were the ancient Cimmerians, expelled in 700 B.C. from the southern steppes of Russia into what is today Turkey. "Togarmah" is the 3rd son of Gomer and beth at the beginning of the name is the Hebrew word for 'house' or 'place of'. In Ezekiel's time there was a city in Cappodocia (Modern Turkey) known as Tegarma, Tagarma, Til-garimmu, and Takarama.

The possibility that four of the names mentioned in Ezekiel are now in Turkey makes a pretty strong argument for Turkey being a part of the invasion of Israel. Current circumstances in that country also lend this view some credibility. Since the break-up of the Soviet Union, Turkey has been gaining inroads into Central Asia (Magog). It is also linked to Central Asia both ethnically and linguistically, and has a growing number of political parties that support opposition to Israel, establishment of a Turkish Islamic Republic, and the worldwide rule of Islam.

Verse 5 brings three more names into the mix. God tells us that

"Persia, Cush and Put will be with them".

Persia is a pretty easy one. In 539 B.C. the Persians conquered the city of Babylon. You only need look at a map of the ancient Persian Empire to see that it was centered in the nation known today as Iran. In fact Iran was called Persia until 1935 when it was changed to Iran and then to the Islamic Republic of Iran in 1979 during the Iranian Revolution. It's no secret that Iran is an archenemy of Israel and the West, and a supporter of the Palestinians. They are actively working to get other Arab countries to change camps in their cooperation with the U.S. and Israel.

The ancient kingdom of Cush in Ezekiels time was the land just south of Egypt on the Nile River. Today this land is occupied by Sudan. Sudan is home to the National Islamic Front, is ruled by an Islamic military dictatorship, a strong supporter of Iraq, home to Osama bin Laden from 1991-1996, and harbors countless Islamic terrorist groups. Sudan would easily fit into the coalition, as it is already close allies with Iran, trading military supplies for docking rights on the Red Sea shipping routes.

Ancient Put was the land just west of Egypt, or what is today Libya. Libya is another sponsor of terrorism, and openly refuses to recognize Israel's right to even exist. When the coalition against Israel is formed, Libya won't have to be asked twice to join.

Verse 6 adds "and many people with you." The nations listed specifically are all somewhat distant from Israel. By adding "and many people with you", God may have been indicating that those nations and peoples in closer proximity to Israel will join the Jihad. Other nations that might join the alliance are Iraq, Syria, Jordan, and Egypt. All of them are Islamic nations, and all of them would not hesitate to support the destruction of Israel were the opportunity to join such a vast coalition presented to them.

Maybe Germany and France and Russia will be a part of this?

vs 7 Israel, and in fact the war will be fought in Israel

**However there is a third party, who plays a vital role in this whole thing

vs 3 Thus says the Lord

- can you imagine that the Lord is involved in all wars?

- Why did we attack Babylon ... Is it the Lord's will

2. What is the purpose?

War ... what is it good for?

a. Nations understanding ... they want to destroy Israel

The first reason God gives for the invasion in Ezekiel 38 is a desire by the coalition to cover the Jewish land and wipe them off the face of the earth.

Vs 10 you will devise and evil plan

Urged on by a hatred of the Jewish people they will seek to destroy them and the nation of Israel. This is the stated goal today of almost every Islamic nation in the Middle East. The only nations not currently in a declared state of war with Israel are Egypt, Turkey, and Jordan, yet they would certainly be glad to see Israel eliminated if presented with a willing leader and an opportunity to rid the Middle East of Islam's archenemy.

vs 12 "seize plunder ... and to capture great spoil". Many verses in the Quran advocated plundering for the benefit of Islam and there are several instances of this war tactic throughout the history of Muhammad's life. In fact, it is a common theme in his teachings.

Vs 12 They admire the cattle, silver and gold and who live at the center of the earth

- Jealousy ... they don't like the Jews being better than them

This invasion of Israel and attack on the Jewish people will indeed be a Jihad, but it will also be the final Jihad.

Ezekiel 38:13 "Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish with all its villages will say to you, 'Have you come to capture spoil? Have you assembled your company to seize plunder, to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to capture great spoil?'"

As this invasion develops, a few countries will make a lame protest. This isn't hard to believe when you look at the indifference most nations display as Israel is repeatedly attacked by terrorists.

Most likely the UN, who has promoted more sanctions on the State of Israel than any other nation combined. In fact 33% of all initiatives by the UN deal with Israel.

You have Libya leading its' human rights committee

The specific nations who question Gog's actions are "Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish". Sheba and Dedan are not hard to identify. These were ancient names for what is known today as Saudi Arabia.

Tarshish is most commonly agreed to be ancient Tartessus or the area of present day Spain in Western Europe. In Ezekiel's day, Tarshish was in the farthest west regions of the known world. By referring to Tarshish and all her merchants, Ezekiel could have been indicating that Western Europe will join with Saudi Arabia in denouncing the invasion. Interestingly, Saudi Arabia is the only Arab nation to consistently side with the West against radical Islamic elements around the world. The royals of Saudi Arabia mostly side with the West out of an interest in self preservation, and at times oppose us behind the scenes, but they would most probably put on a show of opposition to radical Islam in order to maintain the support of western governments.

b. The Lord's reason for doing this? ... Judgment

Vs3 I am against you ... why?

- Russia, Iran, Libya, - these countries have persecuted us.

- I will bless those ... and curse those

vs16&18 The Lord is remembering all the past of these nations

The Lord is furious at these people coming again

Vs22 I will enter into judgment on him

3. What is the strategy?

a. Nations:

vs 8 These countries waited for Israel to be reborn

vs9 I will come like a storm cloud covering the land

vs11 I will go up to the Land of unwalled villages

vs 12 I will go up when there is peace

Looks like they attack after make a peace treaty, and forming a huge alliance ... looks like Russia will align themselves with Islamic nations

b. Israel's strategy

vs 8 They are living securely

vs 9 those who are at rest and unwalled villages

Looks like they make a peace treaty of some kind

c. The Lord's strategy

vs9 The Lord has called Israel back, thus making liars of all nations

The best way to call God a liar, is to disprove the Bible

Vs15 You will know the Israel's are living in peace

Vs15 you will have a mighty army as well

Looks like Israel is a sitting duck ... too tempting to pass

Illustration: Deserts sitting in the front of every diner

Verse 21-22 The Lord does all the fighting with:

Nature: War of the Worlds? ... sandstorms today

- plagues, torrents of rain, hailstones, and burning sulfur.

- earthquakes

Psychology

- every man's sword will be against his brother

Other nations:

- fire and brimstones ... bombs away again

4. What is the outcome?

a. Nations: judgment and total defeat

b. Israel: to come back to the Lord and be his people

c. The world: The Lord shall be

Magnified:

Sanctified:

He will be known:

III Ez 39:21-29

War ... What is it good for? To give glory to God!