The Middle East Conflict And Bible Prophecy

The conflict in the Middle East has escalated to a new level. The United States has sent more warships and 40,00 troops to the area. Israel has begun a ground invasion in Lebanon. This nation has had to defend itself on all sides. The northern border is especially vulnerable. By the time you read this article things may be worse. The Book of Ezekiel is a major source of prophecy about the Middle East, written many centuries before the time of Jesus.

A passage in Ezekiel 38:5-6 says a coalition of nations will gather against Israel. The modern names for the countries listed in these verses, according to prophecy scholars, are Russia, Iran, and Turkey. This is the first time in history that these three nations have formed such an alliance. Ezekiel 39:1-4, specifically states that enemy forces will gather at Israel’s northern border on the mountains. There are mountains in northern Israel. Prophecy is very specific. Here, at some point in the future, there will be a major battle between the forces of good and evil.

At some point in the future, the conflict will spread into Syria. Isaiah 17:1 says, “Behold, Damascus will cease to be a city and will become a heap of ruins.” 

Battles will come and go, but the conflict is far from over. Psalm 83:4 says that Israel’s enemies will seek to “wipe them out as a nation; let the name of Israel be remembered no more.” Leaders of Iran and its allies have spoken almost those exact words. No world leader will ever be successful at obtaining peace in the Middle East until the anti-Christ comes on the world stage, and even then it will be a temporary and false peace.

All that is happening is fulfilling Bible prophecy written well over 2,500 years ago. It has been said that prophecy is writing history before it happens! The Bible is the inspired Word of God. II Peter 1:21 says, “For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”

Where will things go from here? Israel will continue to exist, and the Jews will have their homeland. It has always been their geographical nation as given by God. Those who bless Israel will be blessed; those who curse Israel and seek to divide their land will be cursed. It will play a very important role in the world for decades to come.

Zechariah 8:13 says in reference to Israel, “You have been a byword of cursing among the nations…so I will save you, and you shall be a blessing…”  Israel has already been a blessing to the entire world by inventions and discoveries made by Jews in terms of advances in medicine, science, and technology.

The time will come when “many people and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem and to entreat the favor of the Lord…In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue shall take hold of the robe of a Jew, saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you’”(Zechariah 8:22-23).

With the present sentiment toward Jews and Israel, one might want to say that this will never happen. But it will happen, because Bible prophecy says so, and it has never once been wrong!