WHAT EZEKIEL 38-39 REVEALS
About
A FUTURE WORLD WAR III
By
Steven M. Collins
P.O. Box 88735
Sioux Falls, SD 571009-1005
Introduction and Context:
The "latter day" prophecy found in Ezekiel 38-39 has long been seen by many Christians as
a key prophecy describing events which will occur among the nations in the time preceding the
Millennium (or Messianic Age). This is a lengthy and very "meaty" prophecy which needs a
thorough examination in order to be understood and appreciated. This research paper has been
prompted by the fact that so much is happening in world events which is directly setting the stage
for the fulfillment of this prophecy in future world geopolitics. It is needful to warn as many
people as possible about what will occur in the years ahead of us, because when it is fulfilled, it
will shock all nations and it will drastically affect the lives of everyone on the planet. Ezekiel 38-
39 reveals, in advance, many details about a future World War III which will occur in the years
ahead of us.
What is noteworthy about this prophecy is that it has God's "guarantee" that he will
personally intervene as needed to make sure it comes to pass exactly as prophesied. If you are
interested in knowing the future, consider what Ezekiel 38-39 has to say. If you doubt that there is
a Creator God who can influence or control world events, your doubts will also be addressed in
this report. As a reassurance to all potential readers, this research paper will not "grind an ax" for
or against any religious denomination and it will not ask you for money.
A common Christian view is that Ezekiel 38-39 is a pre-millennial prophecy about a
Russian-led alliance which will attack the small Jewish-Israeli nation just prior to the second
coming of Jesus Christ/Yahshua. A literal application of this prophecy shows this view is correct
in terms of the time context of this attack and the fact that Russia will lead an alliance of nations to
attack someone else. However, most Christians completely misunderstand which nations will be
targeted by this attack due to a widespread misunderstanding of what is meant by the
biblical/prophetic term "Israel."
This report is intended to apply the prophecies of Ezekiel 38-39 toward many modern
nations. When applied literally, this prophecy is strikingly accurate in predicting the current
Copyright 2005 Steven M. Collins
2
alliances and geopolitics of the modern world and it reveals future events yet to occur. As the
reader will see, these future events can be seen as an inevitable, logical, result of what is now
occurring in modern world events; however, few believe that the future will unfold as the Bible
prophesies. This research paper will first examine Ezekiel 38-39 in its proper context within the
book of Ezekiel, and then it will examine the Ezekiel 38-39 prophecy in depth.
To begin with, it is necessary to examine this prophecy in context within the book of
Ezekiel. Doing so will allow the reader to better understand this prophecy. This book contains a
lengthy series of individual visions and/or prophecies given by God to the prophet Ezekiel. The
Bible nowhere indicates that these prophecies are to be understood sequentially or chronologically.
Instead, each prophecy in the book of Ezekiel has its own subject matter and time-setting. Each
prophecy is also clearly marked by specific language so the reader can understand when each
prophecy begins and ends. Ezekiel 2 begins a long series of prophecies which God gave to Ezekiel
and the first prophecy is introduced with these words of God in verse 1: "Son of man…I will speak
to you." Another prophecy is introduced in Ezekiel 6:1 with the words: "And the word of the Lord
came unto me, saying…" indicating that God was giving a new prophecy to Ezekiel which was
distinct from the previous one. Another prophecy is introduced with the same wording in Ezekiel
7:1. New prophecies are introduced to the reader with similar language in Ezekiel 12:1, 13:1, 14:1,
14:12, 15:1, 16:1, etc. Approximately 26 such individual prophecies are introduced with similar
introductory language between chapters 16 and 37. Some chapters contain two prophecies and
other prophecies involve more than one chapter. Many subjects and time-settings are contained
within these prophecies. It is obvious that they are not connected by any sequential flow. A key to
understanding prophecies in the book of Ezekiel in their proper context is the realization that each
time one encounters distinctive wording like "The word of the Lord came unto me, saying…," a
dividing mark is made between the previous prophecy and the new one. It is vital to understand
this fact as we approach Ezekiel 37-39.
Ezekiel 37 contains two separate prophesies in one chapter while Ezekiel 38-39 contain a
single prophecy. There is no language in the biblical text that indicates these three distinct
prophecies should be understood as chronologically linked. Like the many prophecies contained
in the previous chapters of Ezekiel, the three prophecies in Ezekiel 37-39 have their own unique
subject matters and different time-settings.
The Two Prophecies of Ezekiel 37:
Ezekiel 37:1-14 can be understood as a separate prophecy or as a continuation of the
prophecy which began in 36:16. This is the famous "dry bones" prophecy, and it describes a future
resurrection of all the deceased members of "the whole house of Israel" (verses 11-13). The term
"whole house of Israel" is very expansive, and it includes anyone who was a member of any of the
twelve tribes of Israel throughout history. This resurrection is not the resurrection of the righteous
saints which occurs when the Messiah comes to the earth (i.e. the Second Coming of Christ). The
resurrection at Christ's return involves dead saints of any race who are given spiritual, eternal
bodies. The resurrection of Ezekiel 37 is an entirely different resurrection. It is a mass resurrection
of countless members of the "whole house of Israel." This "exceedingly great" multitude is given
sinews, flesh and skin and then receives "the breath of life" from the Creator. This resurrection is
a partial glimpse of a general resurrection of all the dead who will be resurrected to a second life in
a physical body. Revelation 20:1-5 reveals that all mankind from all ages (not just the Israelites)
Copyright 2005 Steven M. Collins
3
will be raised to life again in a massive resurrection to a second physical life. Rev. 20:5 adds that
this resurrection of "the rest of the dead" occurs after the millennium/Messianic Age. This
resurrection is also called "the great white throne" resurrection in Revelation 20:11.
The subject matter of Ezekiel 37:1-14 concerns the Israelite portion of the great
resurrection of all deceased mankind to a second physical lifetime at the end of the millennium. It
will be fulfilled after the millennial reign of the Messiah, and it clearly has no applicability to
events to be fulfilled in this age in which we now live.
Ezekiel 37 contains a second and distinct prophecy in verses 15-28. It can easily be seen
that this is a new prophecy, not a sequential prophecy linked to the previous "dry bones" prophecy.
Verse 15 introduces the new prophecy with the standard language found in the book of Ezekiel
which indicates the previous prophecy has concluded and a
new one is beginning: "The word of the Lord came again
unto me, saying…" This second prophecy has a subject
matter about a time when the "house of Israel" (the ten tribes
of Israel) are reunited with the members of the "house of
Judah" (the tribes of Israel led by Judah). This reunion is
symbolized by "two sticks" coming together, one for Joseph
(the lead tribe of the ten tribes of Israel) and the other stick
for Judah (the leading tribe of the house of Judah). Ephraim
and Manasseh jointly composed the tribe of Joseph.
Christians of many denominations widely understand that
"Judah" references the Jews. However, most Christian
denominations wrongly assume that the northern ten tribes
"died out" or became "lost" when they were exiled from the
Promised Land. Nothing could be more biblically incorrect!
The critical matter of understanding who the tribes of Israel
are in the modern world will be examined now as it is a point
vital to understanding the prophecy in Ezekiel 38-39.
The Abrahamic Covenant and "Birthright" Promise:
God was bound by an unbreakable covenant with Abraham to make Abraham's
"birthright" descendants exceedingly numerous, prosperous and powerful. This covenant is
described and affirmed by God many times in the book of Genesis, and its terms require review.
The "birthright" promises of this covenant were given by Abraham to Isaac, then to Jacob and
finally to the sons of Joseph: Ephraim and Manasseh (Genesis 48:8-22). Ephraim and Manasseh
became the leading tribes of the tribes of Israel. The covenant between God and Abraham predated
the covenant God made with Israel through Moses, and the Abrahamic covenant's terms are not
affected or rescinded by anything which happened (A) under the Mosaic covenant made at Mt.
Sinai, and (B) the exile of the tribes of Israel from the Promised Land. The Abrahamic covenant
with the Israelite tribes remained in effect even after the Israelites were exiled from the Promised
Land. God himself affirmed this fact in Hosea 1. Hosea 1 prophesies that God will expel the house
of Israel (the northern ten tribes) from their portion of the Promised Land, but he affirms that in the
Copyright 2005 Steven M. Collins
4
future he will still honor the Abrahamic covenant with them in verses 7-11. Even though he is
expelling the northern ten tribes of Israel for their sins as required by the Covenant God made with
Israel via Moses, God affirms that he will still convey great blessings upon the tribes after their
expulsion, as required by God's covenant with Israel through Abraham. Many Christians have
missed this critical fact, and have therefore misunderstood Ezekiel 38-39.
God proclaims in Hosea 1:10 that after Israel's tribes are exiled from the Promised Land,
he will make "…the number of the children of Israel…as the sand of the sea, which cannot be
measured nor numbered…" Remember that this blessing of huge population growth was to be
inherited by the ten tribes of Israel after they were expelled from the Promised Land for their sins!
This statement confirms that God had not forgotten that he
was immutably bound by his covenant with Abraham to
convey the "birthright" blessings upon the tribes of
Ephraim and Manasseh (who led the ten tribes of Israel).
The promise of exceptional population growth was a key
part of the Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 13:16, 17:2-7,
22:15-18). This prophecy precludes any possibility that the
"ten tribes of Israel" could "die out" or "become lost" in
history. In Jeremiah 51:5, God also declared that he would
not forsake either "Israel" (the ten tribes) or "Judah" (the
Jews) in the future. As the millennia passed by, the ten
tribes of Israel gradually lost an awareness of their roots
even though the Jews ("Judah") retained an awareness that
they were an Israelite tribe. When the ten tribes of Israel
were expelled from the Promised Land by the terms of the
Mosaic Covenant, it had the effect of ensuring that the
blessings of the Abrahamic Covenant would be poured out
upon them in nations and lands distant from their former
inheritance in the Promised Land.
An awareness of the modern locations of the tribes of Israel is critical in order to
understand Ezekiel 38-39, and that is why this important digression is found at the beginning of
this paper. As we will see, the nations attacked in Ezekiel 38-39 are the latter-day descendants of
the ten tribes of "Israel." While the Jews/Israelis are mentioned in a variety of latter-day
prophecies, Ezekiel 38-39 is not one of them. Judah (the Jews) is not specifically mentioned at all
in Ezekiel 38-39.
The modern nations of the ten tribes of Israel (because of the great blessings of the
Abrahamic Covenant which God affirmed in Hosea 1 would still be applicable in the post-exilic
period) must be found in the modern world among the major nations of the earth. The tribes of
Ephraim and Manasseh, which were fated to have wealth and national power in addition to large
populations, must especially be found among the major powers or superpowers of the earth. Even
as Ephraim and Manasseh were both sons of Joseph, their modern descendants will be "brother"
nations with a common culture and language. The Abrahamic Covenant requires in Genesis 22:15-
18 that the nations of Ephraim and Manasseh would be given the "gates" of their enemies (i.e.
strategic chokepoints such as the Suez Canal, the Panama Canal, Gibraltar, etc.). The nations of
Copyright 2005 Steven M. Collins
5
Ephraim and Manasseh, the "birthright" tribes of Israel, also inherited a divinely-given clue of the
Abrahamic Covenant that their offspring will be known by the name of Isaac (Genesis 21:12).
Since vowels were not written in ancient times, these Israelite tribes will be known by the
consonants "S-C." Names with these consonants (written different ways in different languages
over the millennium) include such terms as "Sacae," "Saka," etc.) The Romans substituted the
Latin "x" for the Semitic "c" or "k" sound and rendered the name of the birthright tribes as
"Saxons." The Israelites were prophesied to become "many nations" (Genesis 17:1-7), far more
than the single nation of Judah (the Jews). The tribe of Manasseh was prophesied to eventually
become a mighty single nation while the tribe of Ephraim was prophesied to become a "multitude"
(company or commonwealth) of nations (Genesis 48:14-19).
One reason why researchers have been unable to locate the tribes of Israel in history is that
they wrongly assume they will be found in forsaken, tiny little knots of people around the globe
with vestigial Jewish customs. Based on God's decrees in Hosea 1 and Jeremiah 51, the ten tribes
of Israel can only be found among the larger, wealthier, more powerful nations in history! While
the nations of the ten tribes throughout history will be Semitic, they will not be "Jewish." The tribe
of Judah on the other hand, has always been recognized as Jewish.
For those who wish to read and review more evidence about the history and modern
identifications of the tribes of Israel, a large body of evidence is available. This author has written
a four-book series with abundant evidence and documentation tracing the tribes of Israel
throughout history. Their migrations, wars, empires and modern locations are extensively detailed
in these books, and it will provide the reader with an entirely new perspective on ancient history.
These books may be previewed and ordered on-line at the publisher's website:
www.bibleblessings.net. These books contain photographs of key artifacts, hundreds of
illustrations, copious endnotes and extensive bibliographies so readers can duplicate the same
research and "prove all things." Indeed, readers are urged to do so! Those who wish to read articles
re: the Israelite tribes by this author can do so by accessing the "Christian Authors" link at:
www.israelite.info. Also, an Orthodox Jewish author, Yair Davidy, has also written a series of
books which agrees with many of the main conclusions of this author's books. Mr. Davidy utilized
different sources in coming to his conclusions, and his books can be obtained at: www.britam.org.
These books and articles make it clear that there is a Creator God who is real and also engaged in
the affairs of nations to guarantee that his prophecies are fulfilled in human events.
Back to the prophecy of Ezekiel 37:15-28. In it, God prophesies that he will finally join
together the "two sticks" representing the long-separated ten tribes of Israel and the house of
Judah. This joining will occur at a time when ancient King David is resurrected to rule over the
reunified tribes (verses 24-25). Since David is one of the saints listed in the "Faith" chapter of
Hebrews 11 (see verse 32), this resurrection is the resurrection of the righteous saints to eternal life
in spirit bodies at the beginning of the millennium/ Messianic Age. The time setting of this
prophecy is at the very beginning of the millennium when the events of the "latter days" have all
been concluded and the resurrection of all deceased saints occurs. It is worth noting that the
descendants of the ten tribes of Israel in this prophecy (Ezekiel 37:21) are gathered by God "from
among the heathen whither they be gone…" Since this prophecy is fulfilled as the millennium/
Messianic Age dawns, all the tribes of Israel have to be present on the earth in order for them to be
gathered together and joined to the house of Judah (the Jews). It also must be pointed out that this
Copyright 2005 Steven M. Collins
6
re-joining of all the tribes of Israel does not occur until King David is resurrected to be their
collective king! This means that the ten tribes of Israel cannot be found among the tribe of Judah
(the Jews) in our current time. They will be found "among the heathen" (i.e. they will be non-
Jewish nations), and scattered around the world far from the old Promised Land. A prophecy in
Zephaniah 2:6-10 (rightly regarded by many Christians as prophesying the founding of the modern
Jewish/Israeli nation in 1948) indicates that only the tribe of Judah (the Jews) will be living in the
old Promised Land at the end of this age. The other tribes of Israel will be living elsewhere.
Prophetic Time-Setting of Ezekiel 38-39:
The next prophecy in the book of Ezekiel is the subject of this paper. It is the famous
prophecy about the attack of "Gog and Magog" against the nations of Israel in the latter days. This
prophecy begins in Ezekiel 38:1 with the usual introductory words used throughout the book of
Ezekiel which indicate a previous prophecy has concluded and a new one is beginning. This
language is the now-familiar: "And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying…," and this new
prophecy continues through Ezekiel 39:29. The language in Ezekiel 38:1 makes it clear that the
prophecy contained in Ezekiel 38-39 cannot be a continuation of any prophecy contained in
Ezekiel 37. The prophecy which God gave to Ezekiel in chapters 38-39 has a subject matter and
time context of its own and it is not a continuation of any previous prophecy in the book of
Ezekiel.
At the end of Ezekiel 39, the long string of prophecies in the book of Ezekiel ends, and its
later chapters discuss matters pertaining to the Temple and new land inheritances for Israel's tribes
at the beginning of the millennium. As the final prophecy in a long progression of prophecies in
the book of Ezekiel, Ezekiel 38-39 needs to be seen as the climactic prophecy which it truly is.
There is much material to cover in Ezekiel 38-39, but first some contextual comments are
needed. It is now obvious that the three separate prophecies contained in Ezekiel 37-39 are not
sequential. Indeed, they are in three different, biblical "ages," and they are written in reverse time
order. The "dry bones" prophecy in the first half of Ezekiel 37 will be fulfilled in a Judgment Age
after the millennium concludes and after a second resurrection has occurred. The "two sticks"
prophecy at the end of Ezekiel 37 has a time-setting which occurs at the very beginning of the
millennium just after the first resurrection of the saints (including King David) occurs at the return
of the Messiah: Jesus Christ/Yahshua. These two prophecies are obviously not in a forward
chronological sequence. They are in a reverse chronological sequence as the first prophecy in
Ezekiel 37 will be fulfilled 1000 years after the second prophecy contained within Ezekiel 37! If
one wishes to assume the prophecies of Ezekiel 37-39 are in a chronological sequence, the reverse
chronological sequence of Ezekiel 37's prophecies should be continued into Ezekiel 38-39. This
means Ezekiel 38-39's prophecy should have a time-setting in an age earlier than the preceding
prophecy in Ezekiel 37:15-28 even as the prophecy of Ezekiel 37:15-28 had a time-setting one
thousand years earlier than the "Dry Bones" prophecy which preceded it. Interestingly, that is
exactly the case as God reveals Ezekiel 38-39 will be fulfilled during "the latter days," the
climactic years at the end of our current age before the Millennium/Messianic Age begins.
There can be no doubt about the time-setting for Ezekiel 38-39's prophecy as God states
very clearly when it will be fulfilled. All that is needed is to accept God's Word at face value.
Ezekiel 38:16 states the prophecy will be fulfilled "in the latter days," which is the same prophetic
Copyright 2005 Steven M. Collins
7
phrase commonly used for many other biblical, pre-millennial prophecies. Indeed, this biblical
language is so clear that virtually all Christian denominations do take it at face value and
understand that it will be fulfilled at the end of our modern age just prior to the return of Jesus
Christ.
A second time-dating statement for this prophecy is found in Ezekiel 38:8 which states this
prophecy will be fulfilled "in the latter years" (KJV). This wording comes from a very closelyrelated
phrase indicating the latter years of this age instead of the latter days of this age, but the
expressions reinforce each other. Ezekiel 38:8 also adds this prophecy will be fulfilled "after many
days." This wording indicates the prophecy would be fulfilled in a time far into the future from
when it was originally given to the prophet Ezekiel. The evidence is abundant that Ezekiel 38-39
will be fulfilled in the latter days (and years) of this age just prior to the return of the
Messiah/Jesus Christ/Yeshuah.
The "Evil Alliance" led by Gog:
The subject matter of the Ezekiel 38-39 prophecy reveals many details about a surprise
attack to be launched by an alliance led by "Gog" against the latter-day descendants of the ten
tribes of Israel. Who is "Gog" and who are the nations led by Gog who will launch this attack at
the climax of our age? The attacking and defending nations named in Ezekiel 38 are so numerous
that it will be constitute a World War III which will have a destructive nature far in excess of
World Wars I and II combined.
Ezekiel 38:1-7 reveals who Gog and its allies are. The first names mentioned are "Gog, the
land of Magog… Meshech and Tubal…" The term "Gog" comes from the Hebrew word "Rosh"
which means "head" or "chief." It means either the individual who is the "chief" or leader of this
alliance or the nation which "heads" it. The "land of Magog" is identified with the region of Asia
which is within the modern territory of Russia.1 Gog is identified as "the chief prince of Meshech
and Tubal." These entities have long been identified by Christian teachers as designating Russia in
the modern world, and they are correct. There is much support for this designation. Ancient words
did not have vowels so words can be traced into modern times by their consonants. The consonants
of Meshech and Tubal are "M-S(h)-C(h)" and "T-B-L." The chief city of Russia is Moscow, and
the first three consonants of Moscow match the principle consonants of Meshech (i.e. "M-S-C").
The consonants of Tubal ("T-B-L") can be seen preserved in the Russian city of Tobolsk and the
Tobol River in Russia as well as in the Georgian city of Tblisi, which was long a part of the old
Soviet Union. According to Ezekiel 38-39, Russia will lead the attacking alliance. Russia led the
USSR in creating an anti-American and anti-Western alliance of Communist nations during the
decades of the Cold War. Who are named in Ezekiel 38 as Russia's latter day allies?
The allies of Russia will constitute a "great company" (verse 4) and verses 5-6 identify
Persia, Ethiopia, Libya, Gomer, Togarmah and many others who are not named. Many of these
nations can be identified in the modern world, and most are already cooperating with Russia in the
modern world.
Persia is the region now called Iran. In ancient times, these people were known as the
Medo-Persians. The word "Medes" is derived from the word for their forbear named "Madai," a
son of Japheth in Noah's formative family. It was Noah's family which repopulated the earth after
Copyright 2005 Steven M. Collins
8
the Deluge and Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham and Japheth. All modern nations have descended
from one of these three sons of Noah or from a mixture of these three main branches of mankind.
All modern nations have descended from the sons and grandsons of Noah who are named in
Genesis 10. A prophecy about Noah's sons is found in Genesis 9:25-29. It states Shem was to be
"blessed of God," indicating his descendants would grow into prosperous nations and
foreshadowing the fact that they would include the "birthright" nations of the tribes of Israel which
would later descend from Abraham. Canaan, one of the sons of Ham, was cursed for a specific sin
and his descendants were destined to be in a state of servitude or subordination to Shem's
descendants. However, this biblical curse applies only to Canaan's descendants, not the other
branches of Ham's family. Japheth's descendants were to be "enlarged," indicating his
descendants would be the most numerous of the three major groupings.
Shem's descendants generally include Caucasian and European nations as well as Jews,
Turks, Arabs, etc. Hamitic nations include the Black- and Brown-skinned nations of Asia and
Africa (i.e. ancient Egypt was long known as Mizraim, the name of one of the sons of Ham). The
nations of Japheth are identified with the Oriental nations of Asia. The listing of formative nations
in Genesis 10 is important because the Bible utilizes these ancient biblical names in Ezekiel 38 to
describe the destinies of modern nations.
Iran (Persia) is a radical Islamic nation which has been very anti-American since the
Ayatollahs overthrew the Shah. Iranian leaders refer to the United States as "the Great Satan" and
the Israeli nation as "the little Satan." As this paper is being written, Iran is building nuclear
facilities and European nations led by England, France and Germany have been attempting via
diplomacy to motivate Iran to abandon its nuclear industry. These efforts appear to be
unsuccessful. Iran obviously does not need nuclear facilities for energy as it is one of the leading
nations of OPEC with large reserves of oil. This argues that the real goal of Iran is to build nuclear
weapons. Media articles and reports have long identified Russia as the supplier and builder of
Iran's nuclear facilities so Ezekiel 38-39's identification of Iran as a Russian ally is accurate. The
United States has lobbied Russia to cease exporting its nuclear skills to the Iranians, but Russia has
"stiffed" these American requests. As this paper was being written, media articles have speculated
about whether the USA and/or Israel will launch a preemptive strike against Iran to prevent it from
becoming a nuclear power. If this happens, Iran will crave revenge against America and be driven
ever-closer into an alliance with Russia. However, since Iran is already allied to Russia via its
nuclear program and is very anti-American, no preemptive strike is needed to place Iran in the
Russian orbit. It is already there, exactly as Ezekiel 38 prophesied.
The next nation named as Russia's ally is "Ethiopia," translated in the King James Version
of the Bible from the Hebrew word for "Cush." Cush's descendants do include the nation of
Ethiopia in the Horn of Africa, but they are only a small portion of Cush's descendants. Most
Cushites migrated eastward toward and into the Indian subcontinent and the name of their
forefather Cush is still on the "Hindu Kush" mountains along the border between Afghanistan and
Pakistan. The Hindu Kush region is where Al Queda had its infamous terrorist training camps that
were attacked by the USA in the aftermath of Al Queda's attack upon the USA on 9/11. This
region is inhabited by tribes with much sympathy for Al Queda and the Taliban and it has long
been rumored as a likely hiding place for Osama Bin Laden. While the USA is attempting to create
a pro-Western government in Afghanistan, Islamic warlords control most of the nation.
Copyright 2005 Steven M. Collins
9
Pakistan is another Cushite nation sharing the Hindu Kush Mountains. While Pakistan's
current government is pro-Western, much of Pakistan's Islamic population is anti-American. India
is a Hindu Cushite nation which is Islamic Pakistan's rival. India is a democracy and that fact
would seem to argue against it becoming an enemy of the USA and the West. However, during the
Cold War India was largely anti-American and much of its military equipment was imported from
Russia. In recent years, India has been drawn closer to the USA and other western nations due to
the outsourcing of English-speaking jobs from the USA and the rest of the English-speaking world
to India. It is not clear how many of the modern Cushite nations will join Ezekiel 38's "evil
alliance" headed by Russia. Ezekiel 38 specifically prophesies (as we will see) that some Cushites
will not join Russia's alliance so it is not clear which Cushite nations will join Russia's alliance.
India is the biggest "wild card." Future events will reveal the answer.
The next nation named in Ezekiel 38 as an ally of Russia is "Libya." The Hebrew word
translated "Libya" is "Phut" or Put." Phut is a nation descended from Phut, a son of Ham (Genesis
10:6), and Young's Analytical Concordance to the Bible (October, 1978 Ed.) defines Phut /Libya
as "…the region W[est] from Egypt along the African coast."2 This describes the region which
includes Libya, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, etc. Again, as for "Cush," Ezekiel's prophecy does not
specifically state "all of Phut" will join Russia's alliance, so time will tell whether all or part of this
region joins Russia. Libya's Col. Khaddafi was long a very anti-American leader in Russia's orbit,
but has apparently given up his nuclear program in the aftermath of the War on Terrorism. Given
the prophecy in Ezekiel 38, only time will tell if Libya's move toward the West is genuine or not.
Algeria has a strong radical Islamic faction while Morocco has been friendly with the western
nations.
The next nation identified as an ally in Russia's alliance is "Gomer," identified in Genesis
10:2-3 as one of the sons of Japheth. Ezekiel 38:6 refers to "Gomer and all his bands," indicating
that Gomer will have an extremely large population and it will have many internal ethnic groups
defined as "bands." The nations of Japheth are found in Oriental regions of Asia and the most
populous nation is China. China is an aggressively anti-American and anti-Western nation in the
modern world. It is building its military strength at a rapid rate and is perennially at odds with the
USA over the issue of Taiwan. China is the largest Communist nation on the earth and while it has
"loosened up" to entice western factories and investments, it is still a totalitarian nation. It is also
becoming more closely allied to Russia as recent media reports have confirmed that Russia is
supplying advanced weaponry to China. Russia and China have also agreed to conduct joint
military exercises. Russia and China were the two heads of the world Communist alliance which
opposed the USA and the West in the Cold War, and Ezekiel 38-39 reveals they will be allies in
the final war of this age.
China and America Heading for Conflict:
China is preparing for an asymmetrical war against America and the West. Whether by
accident or design, it has a cunning strategy to forestall American intervention in behalf of Taiwan
if China attacks the pro-Western island nation. For many years, China has attracted a prodigious
number of factories from America and other Western nations to its soil via the allure of cheap
labor costs. The label "Made in China" is now ubiquitous for clothing, electronics, etc. for sale in
America. The American government has been strangely passive as American global corporations
Copyright 2005 Steven M. Collins
10
have relocated their production facilities to China. This is a growing political issue in American
elections because vast numbers of manufacturing jobs were lost when these facilities were
relocated to China. China is effectively stealing the industrial capacity of America without having
to wage war to obtain it and America has an incurable and massive trade deficit with China as a
result. China has also been unusually willing to help finance America's insatiable lust for deficit
spending as China has purchased immense amounts of America's Treasury debt offerings.
America has benefited temporarily from this arrangement with artificially low inflation and
interest rates for its domestic economy, but China has arranged a cunning trap for a gullible
America.
America is in an increasingly dangerous security situation with China. If China attacks
Taiwan, America has long proclaimed that it will come to Taiwan's aid. However, China is now
in a position to issue an ultimatum to America to "stay out." China's ultimatum could declare that
if the USA militarily aids Taiwan, China will (A) refuse to buy any US government debt for many
years, (B) it will dump all its holdings of US Treasury debt on the world markets, (C) nationalize
all production facilities of all American corporations now located in China and (D) double or triple
the price of all goods sold to America from these production facilities. America would face a
Faustian choice. Any American president or political party who "abandoned Taiwan" (while cable-
TV stories documented the slaughter of a multitude of people in Taiwan as they pleaded for US
help) would be politically ruined, and America's credibility as an ally would evaporate all over the
world if it abandoned Taiwan. If America abandoned Taiwan to a Chinese invasion, such nations
as Japan and South Korea would have little choice but to quickly develop nuclear weapons of their
own as America's credibility as a defender would become non-existent.
China has cunningly created an ability to collapse the US economy if the USA militarily
helps Taiwan. China is a Communist nation which still remembers the Communist adage about
capitalists being willing to sell to the Communists the very rope on which the Communists will
hang the capitalist nations. China's trade and monetary policies have been designed for years to
create the ability to "hang" the USA and the capitalist, Western nations in a crisis over Taiwan. On
the other hand, the USA has some "high cards" of its own to play if China opts for "hardball" with
the USA. Indeed, if America did not rise to meet such a possible Chinese challenge, America's
superpower era would be over.
If China issues the above ultimatums to the USA, the USA can respond with these tough
measures: (A) It can declare China's threat "an act of war" and declare all US Treasury debt
instruments bought or held by the Chinese to be non-negotiable and forever "null and void," (B) it
can place high tariffs on all Chinese goods, (C) effectively "foreclose" on nationalized US
factories in China by launching hundreds of cruise missiles to destroy these facilities so the
Chinese cannot use them, and (D) convert the trillion dollars or so "saved" by the voiding of all
Chinese-held US debt instruments into interest-free loans to US companies to rebuild their
production facilities in the USA.
China is a growing military power and it has many missiles aimed at Taiwan. Will a
military confrontation between the USA and China over Taiwan happen? While such a
confrontation seems likely, it is possible that a shooting war between America and China over
Taiwan will not occur. However, if it does occur, America and China will become greater enemies
Copyright 2005 Steven M. Collins
11
regardless of the outcome and a vengeful China will be drawn ever-closer to Russia. It is even
possible that a war over Taiwan could become a flashpoint (or a precursor) for the world war
prophesied by Ezekiel 38-39.
Financial markets and diplomats like to gloss over the worsening situation between the
USA and China, but the above risks are obvious to serious observers of world geopolitics.
America's self-destructive willingness to allow its critical production facilities to be effectively
"stolen" by the Communist Chinese makes no sense. Why has the USA allowed this to happen?
The only reason apparent to this author is that America and its western allies are trying to use
economic relationships to so closely link China to America and other western nations that war
between them becomes unthinkable. This policy worked well with Germany and Japan after World
War 2 so it is apparently being attempted with China as well. Biblical prophecy makes it clear that
this policy will fail in regards to China. China will be part of an alliance which attacks America in
the latter days. Every facility America relocates to China will eventually be used against America
in a future war. China will be a major ally in the Russian-led alliance of Ezekiel 38-39.
Other Members of Gog's Alliance:
The next member of Russia's latter-day alliance to be identified in Ezekiel 38-39 is
"Togarmah of the north quarters and all his bands." Togarmah was a son of Gomer (Genesis 10:2-
3), so it is closely-related to the Chinese ethnically. This group is also described as being very
populous and having many ethnic groups ("bands"). It will be located in the "northern" regions of
Asia and its close relationship with Gomer indicates it will be located just north of Gomer's latterday
descendants. With Gomer identified as China's many ethnic groups, Togarmah would dwell in
the regions located to the north of mainland China: Mongolia, Siberia and perhaps Manchuria and
North Korea. All these regions are already in China's or Russia's territory or their spheres of
influence. North Korea is especially anti-American and will logically be part of Russia and China's
anti-American alliance. However, South Korea has long been pro-western, and another part of
Ezekiel 38 indicates it will remain pro-western.
After identifying the above nations and regions as part of Russia's alliance, Ezekiel 38:6
adds the phrase "and many people with you," allowing for other unnamed nations to a part of this
Russian-led alliance. From what the Bible reveals, it will be an alliance of Russia, China and Iran
along with other Communist or east-bloc nations and radical Islamic nations in South-Central Asia
and North Africa. Given today's headlines, this biblical prophecy is already proving to be
strikingly accurate.
This Russian-led alliance is prophesied in Ezekiel 38:4 to be heavily-armed. Russia has
more nuclear warheads than any nation on earth, China is in the midst of a prodigious weapons
build-up, and Iran is becoming a nuclear power with Russia's help. China has the greatest reserve
of manpower in the world to furnish soldiers for this alliance.
The Target of Gog's Attack:
Ezekiel 38:8 states that this prophecy will be fulfilled far in the future from when Ezekiel
first received it in the 6th century A.D., and that it would be fulfilled in the "latter years" of this
age. This verse prophesies the "evil alliance" led by Gog will:
Copyright 2005 Steven M. Collins
12
"…come into the land that is brought back from the sword and is gathered
out of many peoples, against the mountains of Israel, which have been
always waste; but it is brought forth out of the nations and they shall dwell
safely all of them." (Emphasis added.)
Many Christians assume that this prophecy designates the Jewish/Israeli nation in the
Middle East as the target of this attack, but that is based on a non-literal, mistaken application of
this prophecy. It is true that the Jews have had a Diaspora and that leads a cursory reader to assume
it means the Israelis. However, when biblical prophecy refers to the descendants of the tribe (or
house) of Judah, it calls them "Judah," not "Israel." Such references to the Jews/Israelis are found
in Zephaniah 2 (where the term "Judah" is used in a prophecy about the founding of the Jewish
State in 1948) or Zechariah 14 (where "Judah" is used for the Jewish inhabitants of Jerusalem and
the Israeli nation who are also involved in the great world war at the climax of this age). When the
Bible prophesies about Jews/modern Israelis, it uses the term "Judah." When the Bible refers to the
descendants of the ten tribes of Israel, it uses the term "Israel." Ezekiel 38-39 doesn't mention
"Judah" as a target of the attack by Russia and its allies in the latter days. The target of this attack
in this prophecy is described by such terms as:
Ezekiel 38:8 -- "Mountains of Israel
Ezekiel 38:16 -- "my people of Israel"
Ezekiel 38:18 -- "the land of Israel"
Ezekiel 39:7 -- "my people Israel"
Ezekiel 39:12 -- "the house of Israel"
Ezekiel 39:22-23 -- "the house of Israel"
Clearly, the nations of modern "Israel" (not "Judah") are the primary target of Gog's attack
in the latter days. This term "Israel" must be seen in its proper biblical context. In Genesis 48:14-
16, the man named "Israel" (who previously was named "Jacob") placed his own personal name
on Joseph's sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. From that point forward in the Bible, the term "Israel"
applies mostly to the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, but broadly to all the tribes of the "house of
Israel" (the ten tribes of Israel led by Ephraim and Manasseh). Illustrating this point is the fact that
even during the times of the United Kingdom of Israel under Kings David and Solomon, the
northern ten tribes were called "Israel" and the southern tribes led by Judah were called "Judah" (II
Samuel 5:5 and I Kings 4:20-21). After the Israelite tribes divided into two separate kingdoms
called Israel and Judah, they fought many wars against each other. To modern readers, such
references as II Kings 16:5-6 and II Chronicles 13 sound contradictory because they describe wars
in which Israel fought against the Jews/Judah. In the modern world, the terms "Israel" and
"Jewish" are seen as synonymous, but they are not synonymous in biblical usages. The modern
world would understood these biblical definitions much easier if the Jews in 1948 had called their
new Middle Eastern nation "Judah" (after the ethnicity of the nation) instead of "Israel" (after the
land where Israel and Judah both lived in biblical times).
The books of Ezra and Nehemiah confirm that Israel and Judah never reunited. Only
contingents of Judah's tribes (Judah, Benjamin and Levi) reestablished a Jewish enclave in the old
Promised Land in those books. The famous Jewish historian, Josephus, also noted in the 1st century
AD that the ten tribes of Israel were not living anywhere near Judea. Indeed, Josephus recorded the
Copyright 2005 Steven M. Collins
13
nations of the ten tribes of Israel in the 1st century AD were extremely numerous nations which
were located outside the Roman Empire.3 Since Josephus even names one of the geographic
borders of the ten tribes of Israel at that time, it is easy to identify them in that era. The locations in
which the ten tribes of Israel lived at that time are documented in the third book of this author's 4-
book series on the history of the ten tribes of Israel (see www.bibleblessings.net).
Ezekiel 38-39 prophesy that Russia's alliance will attack the latter-day nations of the ten
tribes of Israel just prior to the end of this age which will be climaxed by Divine intervention in
human affairs. As noted above, the ten tribes of "Israel" are led by Ephraim and Manasseh, the
"birthright" tribes. Therefore, the attack of Gog's alliance in Ezekiel 38-39 is primarily directed at
the modern nations of the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh! Biblical clues given earlier in this
paper revealed that these tribes/nations will have large populations, possess strategic geographic
chokepoints, have great national power and wealth, and that they will be "brother" nations with a
common culture with Manasseh being a single great nation and Ephraim being a company or group
of nations. These nations can only be the United States of America and Great Britain. No other
nations can fit the prophesied descriptions of Ephraim and Manasseh. The single great superpower
nation of Manasseh is the USA and its powerful brother nation of Ephraim, which was destined to
grown into several nations, is Great Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. These nations
also bear the name of Isaac ("Saxon" in English or "Sachsisch" in German) upon them as
prophesied in Genesis 21:12 and have long enjoyed a "special relationship." The reason for this is
that they are the descendants of the two leading "brother" tribes of Israel. The remaining nations of
the ten tribes of Israel are found primarily in Europe and Scandinavia. Abundant and conclusive
biblical and secular evidence for these identifications are found in the fourth book of this author's
4-book series on the history of the tribes of Israel.
It is easily seen in the Bible's prophecies that the ten tribes could not die out or become
insignificant nations. We have seen in Hosea 1 that God prophesied they would become very large
nations in the future after they were exiled from the Promised Land. Genesis 49, Jeremiah 30,
Revelation 7 and other prophesies confirm that the Bible asserts all of the ten tribes of Israel will
be present and active among the nations of the world in the "latter days" and throughout human
history. Those who declare the ten tribes died out or cannot be found inadvertently deny the Bible
because God Himself emphatically prophesied otherwise!
The ten tribes of Israel in the modern world are found in NATO, the EEU and other
multinational entities led by the nations of North America and Europe. These nations are also, in
our modern times, the nations most hated, envied and opposed by the nations in the Russian-led
alliance, so this grouping of modern rival alliances has perfectly fulfilled the prophecy of Ezekiel
38-39. Indeed, the ancient prophecy found in Ezekiel 38-39 precisely predicted the opposing
alliances of the modern world. During the Cold War, a Communist alliance led by Russia and
China opposed the western alliance led by the western nations of NATO which was founded and
led by the USA and the UK. The "Cold War" ended with the fall of the Soviet Union, but Russia
and China are being joined by Iran and other radical Islamic nations in a new anti-American, anti-
Western alliance. The USA and UK remain allied to many European nations in NATO and to other
non-NATO nations in the western world's economy. The fact that a prophecy written thousands of
years ago is now coming to pass in great detail in our current age is striking evidence that an all-
Copyright 2005 Steven M. Collins
14
powerful Creator inspired the Bible and is guiding world events to ensure his prophecies are
fulfilled.
While Judah is not specifically named in the prophecy of Ezekiel 38-39, other biblical
prophecies (Jeremiah 30 for example) make it clear that Judah will be an ally of the ten tribes of
Israel in the latter days, and the Israelis are solidly part of the Western World's culture and
economy. Jeremiah 30 clearly shows Judah will be attacked at the same time as the nations of the
modern house of Israel are attacked in the "latter days" of this age. While Zechariah 14 is a
prophecy about the role of "Judah" in this latter day war, Ezekiel 38-39 is a prophecy about the
role of the ten tribes of "Israel" in this same war.
Ezekiel 38:8's wording shows the primary target of the Russian-led attack will be a nation
which is "gathered out of many people." In other words, it is a "melting pot" nation. The United
States of America fits that prophetic description perfectly and it is also the leading nation of the
Western alliance and is the nation most hated by the Russian-led alliance. It is entirely logical that
the USA would be the "number one target" of an attack by the east-bloc and radical Islamic states.
The USA was always the primary enemy of Russia during the entire Cold War period, China is
increasingly hostile to the USA and Iran now calls the USA "the Great Satan." These nations have
learned their history well. The lesson of World Wars I and II is that the USA will become an
unstoppable "arsenal of Democracy" if it is unscathed and free to supply and reinforce its
European allies (the other tribes of the ten tribes of Israel). The Russian-led alliance will logically
assume that if the USA is "taken out" in an initial strike, the European Democracies and the rest of
America's allies cannot fight on and win by themselves.
Ezekiel 38:8 also refers to "the mountains of Israel which have always been waste." This
cannot possibly mean the central highlands of the Israeli nation for two reasons: (A) they are not
high enough to be true mountains and (B) they have most assuredly not been "always waste."
Many civilizations and cities have risen and fallen in the highlands of the Promised Land and their
ruins are numerous and widespread. However, one can fly over the Rocky Mountains of North
America and not see any sign of human habitation over much of its expanse. Again, this prophecy
describes North America, not the Israeli nation.
Ezekiel 39:9 and 15 gives more detail about the Russian-led attack against the West in the
latter days. The attacking alliance will "come like a storm…like a cloud" and it will mostly come
"from the north" with many armed forces. The ancient imagery of this latter-day attack aptly
foretells the fact that military attacks in our time will be initiated with aerial attacks by airplanes
and missiles (which travel through the atmosphere like storms and clouds). During the Cold War, it
was widely understood that Russia would likely attack "from the north" (i.e. "over the north
pole"), and America and Canada positioned their defenses in that direction. While Great Britain
and Europe could easily be attacked from the east, they would also be attacked from the north as
Russia has much of its naval and long-range bomber forces stationed north of Europe in the Kola
Peninsula. Russia also has military forces stationed in the far north of the European continent at
Kalinigrad on the Baltic Sea. China and its allies would logically attack Australia and New
Zealand from the north.
The Motive for the Attack:
Copyright 2005 Steven M. Collins
15
Ezekiel 38:10-12 gives us the motive for this attack. Russia, China, Iran and their allies will
attack the nations of the West to "take a spoil…cattle and goods." The attacking nations are
envious of the wealth of the West and they will mistakenly think that the nations of the West have
become "soft targets" that can be defeated and occupied in a surprise attack. Notice that the
primary motive is to seize the wealth of the West, not annihilate its people (who can either be
killed later or used for slave labor after Gog's expected triumph). Nuclear weaponry would destroy
the very goods and wealth that the Chinese, Russians, etc. wish to seize. While this does not rule
out some nuclear weapons being used in the initial strike, the prophecy's language indicates
conventional weapons will dominate this attack. In this respect, the attack can be seen as an attack
of the "have-nots" of the world against the "have" nations of the world. The nations of the house
of Israel enjoy the Divinely-decreed blessings of the covenant God made with Abraham, and the
attacking nations will be so envious of these blessings that they will seek to steal them. Ezekiel
38:11 also prophesies that this will be a surprise attack against the nations of modern Israel (i.e. a
climactic "Pearl Harbor" surprise attack).
Verse 11 personifies the nations of modern Israel as "dwelling without walls" and "having
neither bars nor gates." This is very appropriate ancient terminology for a people who have
foolishly "let down their defenses." An ancient city's primary defensive weapons against attack
were a strong wall and strong gates which could withstand sieges, battering rams, etc. A city
without walls and gates was a "sitting duck" for an attacker. Modern readers who have seen such
epic movies as "El Cid" or the recent "Lord of the Rings" series and the movie "Kingdom of
Heaven" can easily understand this prophetic imagery. This imagery has accurately foretold the
rapid disarmament which has been implemented in the Western nations of the House of Israel
since the "Cold War ended." The West has dramatically smaller military forces than during the
Cold War ended, and even the "superpower" USA now has such a small army that it is straining to
meet its obligations to stabilize Iraq and Afghanistan. Indeed, by accident or design, the East Bloc
nations have, by "losing" the Cold War, succeeded in weakening the West's defense of its own
homelands. Also, by involving American and western forces in a variety of wars which tie down
America's reduced military forces abroad, America's enemies have ensured that fewer forces are
actually available to defend American home soil.
Nations NOT attacking the Western Alliance:
The content of Ezekiel 38-39 examined so far might lead some readers to assume
that all the Israelite, Caucasian and Semitic nations will be attacked by nations descended
from Ham and Japheth. Ezekiel 38:13 shows that to be an incorrect concept. Verse 13
foretells that when Gog's attack begins, several nations question (or object to) it. They
are "Sheba, Dedan…[and] the merchants of Tarshish with all the young lions thereof."
This prophecy poses both clear answers and interesting questions. While Ezekiel 38:5
stated "Cush" was among the attacking allies of Russia and China, verse 13 states "Sheba
and Dedan" will not be among the attackers. Genesis10:6-7 reveal that Sheba and Dedan
are also nations descended from Cush; therefore, not all modern Cushite nations will
attack the USA and the West. Tarshish, a nation shown by Genesis 10:4 to be descended
from Japheth, is also not among the attackers. There are other nations affiliated with "the
merchants of Tarshish" who also do not join the attack against the West, and these
nations can also be identified.
Copyright 2005 Steven M. Collins
16
It is easy to identify the "merchants of Tarshish." Tarshish was a son of "Javan" in Genesis
10:4 and its people will be an Asiatic "nation of merchants" in the latter days. Ancestral veneration
is a part of Asiatic culture so the modern nation of Tarshish could still be named in honor of its
ancestor: Javan. In modern times, there is one Asian nation which has effectively pioneered and
developed an economy based on merchandising finished goods to the Western nations. That nation
is Japan (with a name strikingly close to "Javan," the father of Tarshish. Japan is such a nation of
merchants that the world's financial press even called it "Japan, Inc." as it developed into a
commercial powerhouse. The "young lions thereof" would be smaller Asian nations which copied
the mercantile example of Japan in shaping their own economies. These nations include: South
Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore, etc. The biblical expression "young lions" describes modern
geopolitics in a strikingly accurate manner. There were no tigers in the ancient Holy Land so the
Hebrew word for "lion" was used by Ezekiel. However, since the focus of this part of the prophecy
is not the Middle East but instead is on the Western Pacific Rim where tigers are dominant over
lions, the prophecy's translation could easily be the "young tiger" nations. The world financial
press has called the nations of South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore, etc. the "young tiger"
nations for their aggressive export-driven economies modeled after the example of Japan.
It is easy to understand why Japan and the young tiger nations would not attack the USA
and the West. Their economies are so linked to the West in banking, manufacturing, and trade
relationships that any attack against the West would destroy their own economies! One could say
China's attack is equally self-defeating but Ezekiel 38:12 reveals Russia and China have an overall
goal of world domination. Japan and the "tiger nations" seek prosperity, not world domination.
That Tarshish would not attack the nations of modern Israel is historically logical. Tarshish has
enjoyed a commercial trading relationship with the Israelite nations since biblical times (II
Chronicles 9:21).
Also, while the name of "Javan" is very similar to "Japan" and the mercantile policies of
Japan argue that Japan is the nation identified in the prophecy as "Tarshish," one other possibility
needs to be considered. The name of "Javan" is also present in "Java," one of the principal islands
of the Islamic nation of Indonesia. Does the prophecy also imply Indonesia will not be allied with
the attackers of the West? This is not clear. The nations of Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and
India have received much help from America and the West in the aftermath of the great tsunami of
2004, and this factor argues in favor of a positive response toward America and the West, but such
a response is not certain. Indonesia may opt for an export-driven economy and become one of the
"young tigers" allied to Japan or it may opt to ally itself with China and the radical Islamic nations.
What about "Sheba and Dedan?" These Cushite nations have more than one possible
fulfillment in the modern world. Cushites are located in the Indian subcontinent and include
nations such as Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. There is another "brown"-
skinned nation in Asia which has long been close to the USA. That nation is the Philippines, which
is also a likely member of the Cushite family of nations. The Philippines have been linked to
America since the Spanish-American war, and Filipino and American blood was shed together as
allies in World War II. The Philippines are also located in the midst of the "young tiger nations"
which are identified as not attacking the Israelite nations in the latter days, and it is logical that the
Philippines are included among the "Sheba and Dedan" nations. However, there is a "wild card" in
this analysis.
Copyright 2005 Steven M. Collins
17
India is the largest Cushite nation, and it is also a Democracy. It is an axiom of world
geopolitics that "democracies do not attack other democracies," and this would argue that India
will not be with the anti-American alliance. Also, since the Ezekiel 38-39 alliance of anti-Western
nations includes radical Islamic nations such as Iran (and Cushite Pakistan is strongly Islamic), it
makes little sense that India, a historic rival of Pakistan and Islam, would be part of an East
Bloc/Radical Islamic alliance against the USA. Furthermore, through the "outsourcing" of many
jobs from America to English-speaking India, India is being drawn inexorably closer to the USA
via economic ties. Because it was once a part of the British Empire, India retains historic ties to
Great Britain and the English language is spoken by many in India. On the other hand, Russia was
one of India's main weapons suppliers in the Cold War and India was a leader of the "Non-
Aligned Nations" during the Cold War. Those non-aligned nations were generally perceived to be
anti-American. Ezekiel 38-39 leaves the latter-day destinies of such important nations of India and
Indonesia unclear. What can be said with certainty is that the modern Cushite nations will be
divided: some will be allies of Russia and China and others will be allied to America and the
Western alliance.
Ezekiel 38:14-16 include commentary by God himself directed at Gog's alliance. God
repeats verse 6's information that Gog's attack against Israel's nations will be out of the north, and
that it will constitute a very large military force. God reiterates it will be fulfilled "in the latter
days" (i.e. the end or climax of this current age). God chides Gog's alliance that they will attack
Israel while Israel is dwelling "safely." The Hebrew word translated "safely" in the King James
Version of the Bible can also be translated "carelessly" or "without care."4 The word "carelessly"
fits the context of this chapter better than "safely" because this prophecy makes it very clear that
the Israelite nations will not be dwelling safely. Indeed, they are about to be attacked very
violently, but they are dwelling carelessly, oblivious to the imminent danger. This fits the imagery
of verse 11 that the Israelite nations would be dwelling "without walls or gates," having let down
their defenses. Verse 12 acknowledges that the Israelite nations will be prosperous nations when
they are attacked so in modern terms the Israelite nations will be pursuing materialistic comforts at
a time when they should be preparing to defend themselves! In verse 16, God says he will "bring
Gog" into Israel's land in order for God to "sanctify" and reveal himself to the world's nations
when God himself intervenes in this war.
Ezekiel 38-39 Parallels other Prophecies:
Ezekiel 38:17 links this prophecy together with other biblical prophecies. God says of
Gog's alliance: "Art thou he of whom I have spoken in old time by my servants the prophets of
Israel, which prophesied…that I would bring thee against them?" This is a "smoking gun" verse in
which God himself declares this prophecy has parallels in other, previously-inspired prophecies in
the Bible. Let's look for such prophecies, knowing that they must pre-date the lifetime of Ezekiel
in the 6th century BC.
Genesis 49 was a prophecy given by Jacob (renamed "Israel") about the fates of the tribes
of Israel in the latter days. Since it was for "the latter days," we know conclusively that it is for the
same time context as Ezekiel 38-39. It also confirms that all of the 12 tribes of Israel will be
present and involved in global events in the latter days, so no one can assert that the tribes of Israel
"died out" or cannot be found. Indeed, this prophecy contains specific clues on how to find each of
Copyright 2005 Steven M. Collins
18
the tribes of Israel in the latter days, and the nations of the modern ten tribes of Israel are identified
in this author's books which apply Genesis 49's clues to the modern world. [These books are
available at: www.bibleblessings.net]. Genesis 49's prophecy dates to over a millennium before
Ezekiel's lifetime so there is no question it was penned "in old time" from the perspective of
Ezekiel's day. This prophecy foretells in verse 22-26 that the tribe of Joseph (the birthright tribes
of Ephraim and Manasseh, the sons of Joseph) will have many "blessings" of prosperity, favorable
climate, population growth, etc. during the latter days. However, verses 23-24 also foretell that
these tribes will be attacked by enemies who hate them in the latter days. The term "Israel" was
placed specifically on Ephraim and Manasseh (Joseph's sons) in Genesis 48:14-16 so the term
"Israel" in Ezekiel 38-39 directly parallels Genesis 49's term for "Joseph." Ezekiel 38 reveals
which nations will constitute the nations who "hate" and "attack" Joseph's tribes in Genesis 49.
Interestingly, the imagery of Genesis 49 indicates the attack against Ephraim and Manasseh in the
latter days will begin with archers shooting "arrows." In ancient times, arrows were long-distance
weapons which were shot while far from an opponent. In modern applications, such weapons
would be called ICBMS, cruise missiles, etc. Genesis 49:24-25 also states Joseph's tribes will not
remain helpless against this attack. God is prophesied to strengthen Joseph's "bow" and "arms" to
fight against his enemies, and God declares that he will personally "help" Joseph in this climactic
war. This exact same theme is found in Ezekiel 38-39.
Another prophecy which predates Ezekiel 38-39 is Joel 2, which was written circa 800 B.C.
(centuries before Ezekiel lived). Joel 2:1 confirms that its prophecy will be fulfilled just before
"the day of the Lord," a time when God intervenes in human affairs. It describes God's angelic
army which will not be hurt by human weaponry (verse 8), and adds that a great earthquake and
heavenly signs will occur simultaneous to this event as God himself utters his voice at the head of
this spiritual army (verse 11). Who do they intervene to protect and who do they attack? Verse 17-
27 reveal that God intervenes to "spare his people" who are also called "Israel." This directly
parallels Genesis 49 and Ezekiel 38-39 as those prophecies also address a time when God
personally intervenes to rescue Israel (the ten tribes) at the end of this age. God's divine army
attacks and slaughters an invading enemy which is called "the northern army" (Joel 2:20). He does
so only after God's people pray and entreat him to intervene in their behalf (verses 17-20). This
directly parallels Ezekiel 38 which described Gog's army as one which attacks Israel "from the
north." The enemy army is destroyed by God in Israel's latter-day land which has an "eastern" and
a "western" sea. What modern nation is known as the land "from sea to shining sea" because it is
bordered by two oceans on its west and east? The United States of America, the latter day nation of
Manasseh fits that description. Great Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, the nations of
modern Ephraim, are also all located between eastern and western seas, just like the USA. All the
nations of modern Joseph (or "Israel") fit the description of Joel 2's target nations which are
attacked by a northern army. The modern Jewish nation doesn't fit this description. It has a
western sea, but the "Dead Sea" on its eastern side is not a "sea" defining its entire eastern border,
but is rather a shriveled salt-water lake.
One more prophecy written before Ezekiel's time will be mentioned: Jeremiah 30. It
describes a time of "Jacob's Trouble" (verse 7) which will occur in "the latter days" (verse 24).
This parallels Genesis 49, Joel 2 and Ezekiel 38-39. This prophecy reveals that the attack against
Israel's enemies is also directed simultaneously against Judah (the Israelis and Jews) as well as
against "Israel" (verse 3). Verse 3 is badly mistranslated in the King James Version as most other
Copyright 2005 Steven M. Collins
19
versions of the Bible render the phrase not as "I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel
and Judah…" but rather as: "I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel and Judah…"
Jeremiah's prophecy confirms that the attack of Russia, China and Iran will be against the
Jewish/Israeli nation as well as against the USA, the UK, NATO, etc. It is a time of global danger
and warfare so great that it is unparalleled in human history (verse 7), but the prophecy declares
Israel and Judah "will be saved" by God's divine action. This also parallels the previouslyexamined
prophecies. The fact that this will be a time of unparalleled danger on the earth indicates
that this event also parallels other prophecies in Daniel 11:40-12:4 and in Matthew 24:21 which
call this time the "Great Tribulation." Combining all these prophecies together, it is the invasion of
the nations of the latter day ten tribes of Israel by Russia, China, Iran, etc. which constitutes
"Jacob's Trouble." However, the modern nations of Israel strike back with breathtaking violence
against their attackers, quickly escalating this world war into a threat to all humanity (i.e. "the
Great Tribulation" which threatens all life on our planet). All these prophecies are climaxed by
Divine intervention which ends the war, saves the nations of Israel and ushers in the Messianic
Age/the millennium.
God Intervenes Against Gog's Alliance:
Now back to Ezekiel's prophecy. In Ezekiel 38:18, God states that "at the same time"
Russia, China and Iran launch their invasion against the nations of the latter-day tribes of Israel:
"my fury shall come up in my face." In other words, God gets very angry at Gog and its allies, and
he enters the war on the side of Israel and Judah (the USA, the UK, much of Europe, the Israelis
and all their allies). Verses 18-19 prophecy a great earthquake will occur as God intervenes, an
event directly paralleling Joel 2:10 and other prophecies which foretell of global earthquakes at the
time of Divine intervention at the end of this age. Joel 2:10-11 prophesied that immediately after
this great earthquake, God himself shouts at the head of a divine army which intervenes to rescue
Israel from a northern army. Genesis 49 and Jeremiah 30 also predicted a divine rescue of Israel
and Judah at the end of this age. Ezekiel's prophecy parallels these other prophecies because just
after a great earthquake, God declares "my presence" will be on the earth and all men will "shake"
at this event! For Christians this event is the return of Jesus Christ while for Jews this is the arrival
of the Messiah (who also rescues Judah in Zechariah 14).
In Ezekiel 38:21, God calls for "a sword" against Gog's invaders "throughout all my
mountains" (i.e. in all the nations of the modern house of Israel and house of Judah). This confirms
that the nations of Israel have regrouped and are fighting back against their invaders with their own
weaponry (as was also prophesied in Genesis 49:23-24). Realizing that God has intervened on their
side, the people of Israel and Judah counterattack their enemies with terrible ferocity. The phrase
"every man's sword will be against his brother" indicates the diverse nations in Gog's alliance will
start fighting among themselves as their morale collapses. God also plagues the armies of Gog
with "pestilence," and "fire and brimstone." God could do this by divine miracle or he may also do
this via the Israelites and Jews as his surrogates since God told them to use their own swords
(weaponry) against Gog's armies in verse 21. If the latter option is what occurs, the phrase
"pestilence" could refer to a chemical and bacteriological attack against Gog's armies and "fire
and brimstone" is an apt description of a nuclear attack against the armies and homelands of Gog's
alliance. However, since Joel 2:1-11 describes God's divine army as being involved in the combat,
it is apparent that God's divine armies and the armies of all the tribes of Israel combine to wage
total war against the armies and nations of Russia, China, Iran, etc. Verse 23 adds that this divine
Copyright 2005 Steven M. Collins
20
intervention reveals the reality of God and his power to "many nations." When this event occurs,
no one will ever again believe in the unscientific, illogical theory of evolution.
Ezekiel 39:1 contains God's "declaration of war" against Gog and its allies (either directly
through divine action and/or via his Israelite surrogates). Verse 2 again mentions that Gog's armies
have come from the north and adds the chilling fact that the slaughter of Gog's alliance will not
stop until only "a sixth part" of them are left. Then God declares the war over. This prophecy
could mean that 5/6ths of all the soldiers in the armies of Russia, China, Iran and their allies will
be killed in this world war or it could mean that 5/6ths of both the military and civilian populations
of Russia, China, Iran and their allies will be slaughtered before the fighting ends. That would be
easily possible if the USA, the UK, France and the Israelis launch all-out nuclear strikes against
the homelands of their attackers. This is a fitting application of the biblical proverb that people and
nations "reap what they sow." Russia, China, Iran and their allies will "sow" an attack to subjugate
the nations of the western alliance, but it is their own homelands, peoples and armies which "reap"
a terrible destruction.
Zechariah 14 discusses these same events, but from the perspective of the Israelis and Jews,
not the nations of the ten tribes of Israel. It prophesies that Judah and the Lord will fight against
the nations that invaded Israeli territory and Jerusalem. When God intervenes, he describes in
verse 12 what will happen to the enemies of Judah: "…their flesh shall consume away while they
stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall
consume away in their mouth." While God could do this via Divine action, it also describes very
precisely what happens to human beings who are caught in a nuclear explosion. In a nuclear blast,
human beings literally "consume away" while they are still standing. Revelation 16:12 reveals an
army led by "the kings of the east" will be attacking out of Asia as they head westward across the
Euphrates River. This will be part of the army of Russia, China, Iran, etc. as it heads toward
Jerusalem and the Israeli nation while its other forces attack the nations of the ten tribes of Israel.
Zechariah 12:2 relates that while Jerusalem falls to the enemy just before the Messiah returns
(verse 3-4), Judah's nation is not yet conquered as it is still actively fighting in the region of
Jerusalem when Divine intervention occurs.
Knowing the "never again" determination of the Jews/Israelis in the aftermath of the
Holocaust of World War II, the capture of Jerusalem by its enemies would be the likely moment
when the Israelis would unleash their full nuclear arsenal on their enemies. The Israelis are widely
believed to have at least several hundred nuclear weapons, and the Israelis can deliver them by
aircraft, land-based Jericho missiles, sub-launched cruise missiles and perhaps other means. If the
Israeli nation faces an existential crisis (and Zechariah 14 prophesies they will face such a
moment), can there be any doubt that the Israelis will unleash every weapon of mass destruction at
their disposal? Since God tells the ten tribes of Israel to use their weapons vs. Gog and all its allies,
there is no reason to doubt God will permit the house of Judah to do the same thing. Since the
enemies of Judah "consume away while they stand" (Zechariah 14:12) in the midst of a war raging
in Israeli territory at the end of this age, it argues that Israeli nuclear weapons will be used
massively as this age draws to an end. Most likely, the Israeli attack with nuclear weapons will be
coordinated with nuclear strikes by the USA and its NATO allies.
Copyright 2005 Steven M. Collins
21
This does not mean the nations of the modern ten tribes of Israel will be unscathed. They
will also reach an existential crisis. They are targeted by the Russian-led attack and we do not
know exactly how far God will allow this invasion to progress until he intervenes on the side of the
modern Israelite nations. Joel 2, a parallel prophecy, indicates that God will not intervene until the
priests, ministers and people of the attacked nations implore God to rescue them (Joel 2:17-20).
Jeremiah 30 also indicates that God's divine intervention rescues the nations of Israel and Judah
from a defeat and prevents a looming captivity. The combined message of the prophecies is that
the Israelites could lose this war unless God intervened to save them. However, Matthew 24:21
also indicates that unless God intervened, there would be "no flesh" at all left alive. This
prophesied World War III would quickly become so violent that nothing would survive the conflict
unless God intervened to stop it.
The Defeat of Gog's Alliance:
In Ezekiel 39:3 God states the following to Gog's invaders when they attack the nations of
the modern house of Israel: "I will smite your bow out of your left hand and will cause your arrows
to fall out of your right hand." To put this in modern military terms, God promises to personally
disable some of the arrows ("missiles") and bows ("launch platforms") of the Russians, Chinese,
Iranians, etc. It is entirely possible that with a coordinated initial attack of EMP weapons,
saboteurs pre-positioned inside the western nations, and salvos of well-placed cruise missiles from
off-shore vessels, the Russian-led alliance could deliver a knock-out blow to America and Europe
from which they could not recover. This Divine promise in Ezekiel 39:3 indicates God will nullify
at least a portion of Gog's weaponry so that more of America and the West's weaponry survives
the initial attack than the attackers thought possible. Genesis 49:23 also prophesies that God will
"strengthen" the "bow" (weaponry) of Joseph's nations during this latter-day attack, which
parallels God's similar promise in Ezekiel 39:3.
In Ezekiel 39:6, God promises that he will "send a fire on Magog and among them that
dwell carelessly in the isles…" This indicates that the Russian homeland (indicated by "the land of
Magog" in Ezekiel 38:2) will be hit hard by nuclear weapons, God's divine fire or both.
Interestingly, the Hebrew word translated "carelessly" in Ezekiel 39:6 is the same Hebrew word
("betach") which is translated "safely" in Ezekiel 38:11 although "carelessly" would be a more
appropriate translation in both cases. The word translated "isles" can as easily be translated
"seacoasts," indicating that the coastal regions of Russia, China, Iran, etc. in which their attack
fleets were based will also be struck.
Ezekiel 39:7 contains this declaration of God as he directly intervenes in human affairs:
"So will I make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel; and I will not let them
pollute my holy name any more: and the heathen shall know that I am the Lord, the Holy One in
Israel." This declaration is what one would expect when God intervenes unexpectedly in human
affairs and the nations are forced to realize that there is an actual Creator God who can intervene in
mankind's affairs at any time he chooses to do so. This declaration indicates that the nations of the
ten tribes of Israel are sinful and unconverted nations who do not really know who God is until he
intervenes, which aptly describes the current status of these nations in the modern world. The
gentile nations also are stunned at God's divine intervention to help the Israelite nations. This
intervention of God is, to Christian readers, the second coming of Jesus Christ, and Jewish readers
will see this scripture as the arrival of the Messiah. This divine intervention is followed by the
Copyright 2005 Steven M. Collins
22
"millennium" or "Messianic Age" during which God's reality will be well-known in all nations
and no one will be allowed to "pollute" God's name.
"It Is Done":
Ezekiel 39:8 directly parallels another pre-millennial prophecy in Revelation 16:17. Ezekiel
39:8 cites God as saying "It is done" when the events of Ezekiel 38-39 are fulfilled, and these
exact same words also proceed from the divine throne in Revelation 16:11 when this age draws to
a close. The contexts of the two chapters show they are directly parallel, premillennial events.
Ezekiel 39:8's statement follows God's divine intervention in a great war taking place on earth and
it occurs in the wake of a massive global earthquake (Ezekiel 38:20). The words ("It is done") in
Revelation 16:17 follow Jesus Christ's intervention in a great war ("Armageddon"—verse 16) and
associated with an unprecedented earthquake (verse 18). The parallel nature of these chapters
could scarcely be more obvious. The book of Revelation calls this climactic war "Armageddon,"
and Ezekiel 38-39 reveal the alliances of nations fighting in this climactic world war at the end of
our age.
In Ezekiel 39:9-16 some of the denouement of this climactic war is given. It mentions that
the weaponry strewn abroad the earth's surface will take seven years to clean up, and verse 12
states it will take the nations of the house of Israel (the ten tribes of Israel) seven months to bury
the dead bodies following this war. This is the time prophesied in Micah 4:3 and Isaiah 2:4 when
the nations will "beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks."
There is another very clear parallel between Ezekiel 39:17-21 and Revelation 19. Both
Ezekiel 38-39 and Revelation 19 prophesy about the divine intervention which will occur at the
end of this age just before the Millennium/Messianic Age is established. In Ezekiel 39:17-21, God
calls for the beasts and birds to eat the flesh of the fallen combatants. In Revelation 19:17-21, God
calls for the beasts and birds to eat the flesh of the fallen combatants. The parallelism of these
chapters is unmistakable. This makes sense from a practical point of view. Ezekiel 39 prophesies
that it will take seven months to bury the dead. That means there will be a lot of rotting flesh on
the earth and it will help stop the spreading of diseases if the animals and birds are employed to
help consume the carcasses.
Ezekiel 39:22 repeats the theme of Ezekiel 39:7 that "from that day and forward" the
nations of the house of Israel will know their God is real indeed. The prophetic phrase "in that
day" appears in a number of other biblical prophecies indicating the climactic events at the end of
this age. Verses 23-24 state that the heathen (all non-Israelite nations) will know that the Israelites
"went into captivity because of their iniquity." This prophecy was written circa 586 B.C. The
house of Israel had gone into captivity/exile in a period of time circa 741-721 B.C. so it had
already happened by the time the prophet penned these words. Ezekiel 38-39 show that God
actually rescues the Israelites from a pending captivity to Gog and its attacking alliance so this
cannot reference a latter-day captivity but rather the one in 741-721 B.C. Verse 25 shows the
events of Ezekiel 38-39 culminate in God having mercy "upon the whole house of Israel" and that
he will "restore the fortunes of Jacob." [Both translations are from the Revised Standard Version of
the Bible.]
Copyright 2005 Steven M. Collins
23
The King James Version of the Bible contains a mistranslation in Ezekiel 39:25, which
renders this passage "I will bring again the captivity of Jacob," which some Christians mistakenly
assume means that another captivity of the Israelite nations will occur at the end of this age. An
accurate translation reveals this will be a time when God prevents another captivity of his people
and that it is actually a time of their "restoration." The same mistranslation occurs in Jeremiah 30,
another latter-day prophecy which indicates that "Israel" and "Judah" will be attacked at the same
time in the latter days (by the attacking alliance which Ezekiel reveals will be led by Russia).
Jeremiah 30:3 repeats the phrase: "bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah" in the
KJV, but the RSV (and other Bible translations) correctly translate this phrase as "I will restore the
fortunes of my people Israel and Judah [in the latter days]."
Ezekiel 39:26-29 concludes with God reiterating that God rescues the Israelites, sanctifies
his name in the sight of many nations, and that he will "pour out my spirit upon the house of
Israel." This last phrase is a fitting phrase for what will, indeed, occur as the
Millennium/Messianic Age begins when God and the resurrected saints (Revelation 5:10, 20:1-6)
will directly rule over the nations on the earth.
Unanswered Questions:
While it contains much information, Ezekiel 38-39 does not answer every
possible prophetic question. As explained above, it does give preordained
information about the nations of the USA, UK and their western European allies in
NATO, Japan and the "young tiger" nations of Asia, Russia, China, Iran and nations on
the Asian subcontinent and northern Africa. We have examined several parallel
prophecies which indicate the fate of the Jewish/Israeli nation is linked to that of the
NATO and Western nations. However, since many prophecies focus on the Middle East,
what about the Arab nations? Since Ezekiel 38:2-6 states clearly that the attacking "evil
alliance" of Gog and Magog will include "bands" and "many people" who are not named,
it allows for the possibility that the Arab nations will be allied with Russia, China and
Iran. Since the Islamic nation of Iran ("Persia") and various Islamic nations of Cush on
the Asian subcontinent and Islamic nations in North Africa will be allied to Gog's
alliance, it could easily be assumed that the Arab nations will be part of that alliance.
However, another option is possible.
The Arabs have a long tradition that they are the descendants of Ishmael, the first-
born son of Abraham via Hagar. This author agrees with that belief, and this opens up a
whole new possibility. The connection between modern Arabs and Ishmael, a son of
Abraham, is mentioned in three encyclopedias (the Britannica, the Americana and
Colliers).5 The Arabs have a great deal of oil wealth and are linked closely to America,
Great Britain, and the Western nations via economic and commercial ties. As fellow
descendants of Abraham, might the Arabs be allied to the Israelite nations in the final
battle of this age? The fact that Iran ("Persia") is allied to Russia can also be a reason
why the Arabs would NOT be part of the Russian-Chinese-Iran alliance. While united by
Islam, the Arabs are ethnically different from the Persians, and the Arabs suffered under
Persian rule in the past. Iraq was supported by many Arab nations in its war with Iran in
the 1980s in order to prevent Iranian hegemony over the Arab nations.
Copyright 2005 Steven M. Collins
24
In modern geopolitics, the Bush administration of the USA has made a major effort to link
the Arabs to the West by spreading democracy to the Arab nations. Iraq has had a national
election, Kuwait has given the vote to women, Lebanon may become a real democracy after the
withdrawal of Syrian troops, etc. If this effort ultimately succeeds, some or all of the Arab nations
may become allies of the West in the Ezekiel 38-39 war.
Abraham's grandsons via Isaac were Esau and Jacob. Jacob gave birth to twelve sons who
were the namesakes of all the tribes in the house of Israel and the house of Judah. Esau's
descendants (called Edomites in the Bible) were not given the choice "birthright" promises of
God's covenant with Abraham, but they also comprise a variety of nations in the world as Esau
gave birth to over a dozen sons (Genesis 36). The oldest, named Teman, is one of the most
prominent. His name encompassed all the Edomites in Genesis 36:34, and Teman's name was also
prominently borne by one nation in the modern world. Turkey used to be called the "Ottoman
Empire" and the consonants of "Teman" and "Ottoman" are identical. This author believes the
modern Turks are Esau's Temanite descendants, and the Turks are already allied to the West in
NATO, and are seeking closer ties to Europe and the West. This author believes the Edomites are
found in more locations than just Turkey. However, there is one branch of the Edomite family of
nations which, historically, is intensely hostile to all the tribes of Israel. That branch is the
Amalekites and it is very unlikely that this group of Edomites will be allied to the Western nations
at the end of this age.
Abraham was promised to be the father of many nations (Genesis 17:5), and his seed via
Sarah includes all modern nations descended from the house of Israel, the house of Judah, Ishmael,
and Edom. Abraham also had sons from his final wife, Keturah, and their descendants also have to
be present in the modern world. The nations descended from Abraham are Semitic and/or
Caucasian nations. Since the prophecy of Ezekiel 38-39 does not name a single Semitic nation in
the attacking alliance headed by Russia, China and Iran, it allows for the possibility that all the
modern nations descended from Abraham will be on the same side in the great world war at the
end of this age.
Other Resources:
This concludes this detailed explanation of the critically-important prophecy of Ezekiel 38-
39. A few closing issues need to be addressed. While the roles of many nations are identified in
this research report, some are not. This author previously authored another lengthy research report
on the topic of prophecy which includes more detailed information comparing Ezekiel 38-39 with
other "latter day" prophecies found in Daniel, Numbers and other books of the Bible. The other
research report identifies more modern nations (Germany, Egypt, Jordan, etc.) in terms of whether
they will be allied to the nations of the house of Israel, NATO and the Western World) or the
attacking nations of Gog's alliance (Russia, China, Iran, etc.). The previous research paper was
written in the aftermath of the events of the terrorist attacks upon America in "9/11" of 2001. It is
entitled "A New Look at Prophecy" and it may be accessed at: www.israelite.info or
www.biblestudy.org/prophecy/main. This previous research report also contains a specific scenario
re: how the attack of Russia, China, Iran, etc. could take place and unfold against the USA, the
NATO nations, etc.
Copyright 2005 Steven M. Collins
25
In April, 2005, there were media reports that Iran was threatening to cripple the USA via
the use of an EMP (electro-magnetic pulse) nuclear weapon. These weapons could be aimed
against the USA and the West on cruise missiles launched from ships located off our coasts. This
report was on FOX-News, national talk radio and the internet. One report on this possibility can
likely be found at: www.worldnetdaily.com (see archives for an article on 4-25-05 by Joseph Farah
entitled "Iran plans to knock out U.S. with one nuclear bomb"). The earlier prophecy report written
by this author in 2001 proposed a scenario where Russia, China, Iran, etc. could cooperate by
attacking the USA with an EMP nuclear bomb coupled with volleys of cruise missiles from ships
located off our coasts. I encourage the reader to look for the recent media report at
www.worldnetdaily.com and then to read this author's earlier research report ("A New Look at
Prophecy") found at the prophecy links of www.biblestudy.org. This author still regards the
scenario presented in the earlier report to be consistent with biblical prophecies and modern events.
Many media articles have also indicated that China is engaged in a rapid expansion of its
military forces, and that it is cooperating closely in this effort with the Russians. Seeing the
advance of NATO, the EU, and, of the democratic governments that were once ruled by Russia in
the old Soviet Union become nations, Russia is becoming increasingly angry and resentful at the
USA, Europe and the Western bloc of nations. As Ezekiel 38-39 approaches its inevitable
fulfillment, the reader should expect Russia, China and Iran to mask their hostile intentions with
peaceful gestures, disarmament agreements, etc. This may deceive gullible western governments,
but Ezekiel 38-39 will still be fulfilled. Indeed, since Ezekiel 38-39 reveal that the western nations
will not expect the surprise attack launched by Russia and its allies, western blindness to the
dangers posed by Russia, China and Iran is to be expected. God states in Ezekiel 38:10 that he will
put in the minds of the Russian, Chinese and Iranian leaders the decision to attack the nations of
the modern tribes of Israel at the time of his divine choosing. When God decides this event should
occur, no force in heaven or earth will stop it from occurring.
Most readers will already realize that modern Jews/Israelis constitute the "house of Judah,"
but many will find the concept that the "house of Israel" (i.e. "the ten tribes of Israel") can be
found among the modern nations of North America, Europe, Scandinavia, etc. to be a new one.
For abundant evidence and documentation about this assertion, the reader is referred to the
author's books on this subject, which can be previewed and/or ordered at: www.bibleblessings.net.
Articles by the author about the history and migrations about the ten tribes of Israel may also be
accessed without charge at: www.israelite.info.
Could The Prophecy Fail?
It is worth noting that God has sometimes uttered prophecies which he later
decided to cancel or delay. One famous example is the prophecy about the doom of
Nineveh in the book of Jonah (Jonah 1:2, 3:4) which did not come to pass because the
King of Assyria and the people of Nineveh humbled themselves before the Creator God
(Jonah 3:4-10). Another is a pronouncement of doom upon the dynasty of wicked King
Ahab of ancient Israel (I Kings 21:21-22) which was delayed for a generation because
Ahab humbled himself before God (I Kings 21:27-29). We must always remember that
God is utterly sovereign and responsible only to himself; there is no higher authority
requiring God to do or not do something. In both the above-cited cases, simply
"humbling oneself" before God altered the fate of nations and national leaders.
Copyright 2005 Steven M. Collins
26
While it is possible that modern nations could "humble themselves" before God,
it is unlikely because modern nations have been duped by the theory of evolution into
thinking there is no real Creator Being who monitors and directs human affairs. The
above-cited biblical examples also involved short-term prophecies which were intended
for fulfillment within the lifetime of the prophet and the national leaders involved in the
prophecies. There was no great alteration of God's overall plan for mankind's history
involved with reversing or delaying such prophecies which had limited application (for
one nation or one human king).
However, Ezekiel 38-39 was given during the 6th century BC and it is a very
critical prophecy about the fates of many nations on earth in the time frame just prior
to the return of Jesus Christ (i.e. "coming of the Messiah") to the earth. This period of
time is called "the latter days," and (as we have seen) there are many prophecies about
this pre-millennial period of time throughout the Bible. Because this prophecy involves
the destinies of many nations who will be involved in the climactic, global events on the
earth at the end of this age, this prophecy represents a major aspect of God's overall plan
for mankind. Therefore, it is highly likely to come to pass as originally inspired. Based on
the prayers of God's people, however, the timing or details of events in this prophecy
could be altered even as the overall fabric of the prophecy is preserved. The prophecy in
Joel 2 illustrates this point as it indicates God's intervention in human affairs will occur
only after his priests and people pray fervently to him for that intervention.
The prophecy of Ezekiel 38-39 is also the most divinely affirmed prophecy in the
entire Bible! The phrase "thus saith the Lord God" is a particularly strong one when
found in prophecies in the King James Version of the Bible. The prophecy of Ezekiel 38-
39 contains this strong divine affirmation seven times (38:3, 10, 14, 17 and 39:1, 17 and
25). No other prophecy in the Bible is so divinely "stamped with God's personal
affirmation" than Ezekiel 38-39. The fact that Ezekiel 38-39 is "sevenfold affirmed by
God" indicates it is very likely that this prophecy will be fulfilled in it's entirely.
When Will Ezekiel 38-39 Be Fulfilled?
This author offers no prediction for any specific year for the fulfillment of the prophecy of
Ezekiel 38-39 as no year is identified in the prophecy itself. However, world events confirm that
this prophecy is heading inexorably toward fulfillment. There are some biblically-based guidelines
which do describe some benchmark events which will indicate the fulfillment is near.
Revelation 11 includes a prophecy that just prior to the end of this age, God will send two
great prophets, called "the Two Witnesses," which will give a final warning to mankind about the
climactic events about to be fulfilled before this age ends. Revelation 11:3 reveals their mission
will last three and half years ("1260 days"), which coincides with the time allotted to the final rule
of a figure called "the beast" in Revelation 13:4-5. This author believes the two time periods will
be simultaneously fulfilled. Revelation 11:5-6 indicate that the Two Witnesses will be given
unprecedented divine power to work miracles and smite the nations with plagues "as often as they
will." The Beast will be allied to a second figure, called the "false prophet" or "son of perdition" in
some prophecies, and the beast and false prophet will also do great miracles by the power of Satan,
Copyright 2005 Steven M. Collins
27
the dragon (Revelation 13, II Thessalonians 2:3-11). Biblical prophecies indicate that the nations
and most people will follow the beast and false prophet. After 3 and ½ years, the Two Witnesses
will be killed by the forces of the Beast and false prophet, and the nations declare a great
celebration (Revelation 11:7-10), thinking the beast and false prophet have won and an era of
peace and safety has begun. However, their joy is short-lived. I Thessalonians 5:3 prophesies this
declared time of "peace and safety" is quickly replaced by a time of "sudden destruction" and the
arrival of "the day of the lord" (the time of divine intervention at the end of this age).
Ezekiel 38-39, Joel 2, Jeremiah 30, Zechariah 14, etc. (examined above) all describe
portions of the divine intervention which occurs at the end of this age (i.e. "the day of the Lord."),
and all of them conclude with God's personal intervention in man's affairs. Therefore, they can all
be quickly fulfilled right after the death of the Two Witnesses. This indicates that the attack of
Russia, China and Iran will occur soon after two events: the death of the Two Witnesses, and, the
global party which will occur after their deaths. Indeed, it is highly likely that the miracle-working
power of the Two Witnesses is the only thing holding back this attack, and, that Russia, China and
Iran launch this attack quickly after their deaths.
Revelation 11:9 reveals that the Two Witnesses will be dead for only "three and 1/2 days"
before they are resurrected, so the resurrection of the dead which accompanies God's divine
intervention (i.e. the return of Jesus Christ) occurs three and ½ days after the Two Witnesses die.
Many Christians expect a "seven year tribulation" divided into two distinct three and ½ year
portions. However, scriptural fulfillment does not require so much time. Revelation 11 indicates
there will be a 3 and ½ year period of time followed by a three and ½ day period of time. Matthew
25:1-13 includes a parable that at the end of this age, the Lord will return much earlier than most
Christians expect. A mistaken assumption that there must be a seven-year tribulation period could
easily foster such a false impression. Scripture indicates there will be a three and ½ year period of
time during which the Two Witnesses will contend with the Beast and False Prophet. However,
Revelation 11 reveals this will be followed by a 3 and ½ day period of time, not a second three and
½ year period of time before the Lord's return.
If the reader can determine who the Two Witnesses are, they can be reasonably sure that
the attack of Russia, China, and Iran will be launched within the three and ½ day period of time
between the death of the Two Witnesses and the end of this age. It is the surprise attack of Ezekiel
38 which will be the "sudden destruction" prophesied by I Thessalonians 5:3. Once this attack
begins, a vast number of latter-day prophecies are fulfilled and the day of the Lord concludes this 3
and ½ day period of time. Also, a great earthquake will strike the earth (Ezekiel 38:20, Revelation
13:18). Given the lethality of nuclear weapons, it is not surprising that a nuclear World War III
would quickly threaten the existence of mankind on the earth, triggering divine intervention
(Matthew 24:21-22). However, unless the Two Witnesses start doing miracles on the very first day
of their ministry, it may not be easy to determine when their 3 and ½ year mission has begun. Once
they die though, the war of Ezekiel 38-39 will begin (perhaps within hours of the deaths of the
Two Witnesses) and the end of this age will occur within three and ½ days of their deaths.
THE GREAT HOAX OF EVOLUTION:
It was mentioned earlier that modern nations have been so deceived by
evolutionary theories that they have lost sight of the fact that a very real Creator Being
Copyright 2005 Steven M. Collins
28
exists and that he can intervene in human affairs whenever he wishes to do so to fulfill
his biblical prophecies. Even readers of this research report may have difficulty with their
faith in a Creator God due to the fact that students have been "force fed" the theory of
evolution for decades in modern public school systems. For this reason, the fallacy of
evolutionary thought must be addressed directly.
Even though evolution is only a weak and unproven theory, those who control the
educational and scientific communities have taught evolution as if it were an established
fact. To be scientifically verifiable, all theories must be conclusively demonstrated as
factual in empirical evidence which is confirmable, predictable and observable. This is
the essence of the scientific method. Evolution fails all these tests. Indeed, it can be
shown via the scientific method that evolution is a complete hoax.
If all life truly "evolved" from non-living things, then there must be powerful
forces in the universe which inexorably reshape matter (A) from simple forms into
complex new ones, and (B) from chaotic into orderly new forms. No such forces exist.
Indeed, it is easy to prove that the opposite is true: That without outside intelligence
acting upon it, matter inexorably deteriorates (A) from complex into simple forms and
(B) from orderly into chaotic forms.
If a prairie farmstead is abandoned and untouched by any outside intelligent
actions, does it (A) spontaneously evolve into a brand new strip mall or an office
complex or (B) inexorably deteriorate back into its simpler component elements?
Obviously, the latter is true, but for evolution to be true, option "A" above must occur.
Indeed, given enough time, an abandoned farmstead will eventually deteriorate so
completely that there will be no evidence it ever existed! It is a scientifically predictable,
observable, and confirmable fact that matter, left to itself, will inexorably deteriorate into
ever-simpler forms. Evolution cannot be true, based on this scientific fact.
Also, if a well-tended garden is abandoned and it is untouched by outside
intelligent actions upon it, will it (A) spontaneously evolve into an ever-more beautiful
and well-ordered garden, or will it (B) deteriorate into a chaotic, disorganized weed
patch? Everyone knows that answer "B" is the correct one. It is totally observable,
predictable and confirmable that matter, if left to itself, will not evolve into more orderly
forms. Only if an abandoned garden spontaneously "evolves" into an ever-more beautiful
and orderly garden can evolution be seriously considered, but anyone who has ever
tended a garden knows such an option is laughable and ridiculous! These examples
utilizing the scientific method will allow any observer to confirm that there are no
evolutionary forces in the physical universe.
Another reason why the evolution of life forms is impossible involves what some
scientists have called "irreducible complexity." Stated simply, it means that all life forms
have internal systems which are so interdependent that unless ALL the component
systems of any and all life forms came into existence at precisely the same instant in
time, the life form itself cannot ever live. This is a true scientific principle, and it verifies
that the theory of evolution is a complete hoax. Let's consider human beings, mammals,
Copyright 2005 Steven M. Collins
29
reptiles, birds, etc. No such creature can live at all unless it comes into existence at a
specific point in time with functioning circulatory, nervous, digestive, skeleton-muscular,
respiratory, and other systems! If any of these systems are not fully developed, the
organism cannot live. There is no possibility of life unless it comes into existence at a
specific point in time with all internal systems fully developed and functional.
It is a logical and scientific impossibility for an organism to live if it has one internal
system "ready to go" but the other systems are only partially formed. Indeed, no living organism
can propagate itself unless it comes into existence with the capacity for a fully-developed
reproductive system as well! A creature also needs to come into existence at the same point in time
and in the same geographical location as a member of its own species with the opposite gender! If
this does not occur, there can be no mating or reproduction of the species. Given these logical
facts, the account of the beginning of life in the biblical book of Genesis is the only logical,
scientific explanation for the existence of all life forms. Most Americans are logical enough
thinkers to see this fact. An NBC poll released on the evening news on 3-25-05 reported that 57%
of respondents believed the biblical account of creation and only 33% believed in evolution.
However, some will say that that the biblical account of creation can't be true because it
says "the earth is only 6000 years old" and science has shown that the physical universe is much
older (perhaps millions or billions of years old). A careful reading of Genesis 1 reveals the Bible
actually is consistent with the scientific evidence that the earth is much older than 6000 years!
When one carefully reads Genesis 1, it can be seen the "Genesis Week" creation account does not
begin until Genesis 1:3. However, before anything happens in this Genesis Week account of
creation, Genesis 1:2 states the "earth" was already present and that "darkness was upon the face
of the deep (the oceans)." In other words, the book of Genesis states that earth and its oceans
already existed and that they were shrouded in a darkened atmosphere before "Creation Week"
ever began! The conditions of the earth in Genesis 1:2 echo what scientists call a nuclear winter,
which could occur in the aftermath of a comet or large meteor striking the earth and causing an
"extinct level event."
The Creation Week account which begins in verse 3 actually tells the story of God recreating
life on the earth after a mass extinction has destroyed life on the earth. Science has
confirmed the existence of mass extinctions in the earth's history and Genesis 1:1-2 has an account
of one of those extinctions. Another near-extinction is found in Genesis 6-8's account of the
Deluge in the time of Noah when mankind came close to extinction and many mammalian subspecies
disappeared. The Bible is actually in agreement with the scientists that the earth is far older
than 6000 years; however, the Bible does assert that our current species on the earth came into
existence in a literal 7-day Creation Week.
This digression about evolution was deemed necessary because the illogical theory of
evolution permeates our entire culture and it acts as an inhibition to faith in the Bible and the
prophecies contained in the Bible. Readers should realize that the apostles of evolution actually
have no logic or solid science to support their case. No matter how many times it is repeated in
word or print, evolution will always be illogical and unscientific. This author believes the apostles
of evolution actually know this is true, and that is why they vehemently oppose the teaching of true
Copyright 2005 Steven M. Collins
30
creation science in the schools. They realize that if true scientific creationism is taught side by side
with evolution in schools, the theory of evolution will be the loser.
Once evolution is exposed to be the hoax it is, the only alternative for the cosmos and the
stunning complexity of life on earth is a divine creation. For this reason, you can be sure that the
Bible is the word of a Creator God and that his prophecy of Ezekiel 38-39 will come to pass. If the
reader desires further evidence that biblical prophecies have been fulfilled throughout world
history, much more evidence will be found in the author's book which can be previewed and/or
ordered at: www.bibleblessings.net.
Conclusion:
While this research paper is protected by the usual copyright statements to insure the
integrity of its content, the author gives permission to readers to freely forward, print, download
and distribute this research report, unchanged and in its entirety, to anyone in the public domain.
1 Young's Analytical Concordance to the Bible, October, 1978 Edition, see word "Magog," subheading 2, p. 627
2 Ibid, see "Libya," p. 601
3 Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, XI, V, 2
4 Young's Analytical Concordance to the Bible, see word "Safely," p. 830 and see word "betach," Hebrew Lexicon
Section, p. 8
5 Encyclopedia Britannica, 1943 Ed., Vol. 12, pp. 706-707, Encyclopedia Americana, 1988 Ed., Vol. 15, p. 489, and
Collier's Encyclopedia, 1957 Ed., Vol. 11, pp. 183-184.
Copyright 2005 Steven M. Collins