Ezekiel 38:8 says that Israel must be in this position before the Russian-Islamic Invasion of Israel can occur, when it says that Israel, returned to its ancient homeland, will be "living securely." (Ezekiel 38:8) Only then will the stage be set for the "Magog" invasion of Ezekiel 38-39. Is Israel in that position today? When "security" is rightly understood, not as secure from ATTACK, but rather secure from DEFEAT, then Israel has been in that position since 1948. MORE BELOW...SEE ALSO

Statement given at Various Conferences 2014-16
Today, Russia and Iran have created a power hegemony encompassing Iran, Iraq, Syria, Hezbollah-Lebanon, centered in Syria, directly to the North of Israel. None of the prerequisites for the Magog invasion of Ezekiel 38:1-8 are missing. When the real event stacks up to the North of Israel, it will look very much like it does Today.
(Statement on the Events North of Israel given at the Lake Charles Prophecy Conference in Sep. 2014 and the Pre-Trib Prophecy Study Group in Dec. 2014, and the Mid-America Prophecy Conference in Tulsa, April 14-16, 2016)

When My People are Living Securely

The Bible says that "On that day when My people Israel are living securely,” the Russian-Islamic (Magog) forces will invade Israel. (Ezekiel 38:14) The prerequisite to the Magog invasion is that Israel will be “living securely.” When will that be? We find the answer in the Bible’s 4-part capsule history of the Jews since their dispersion from the land in 70 AD.

            1. The first part, summarized in Deuteronomy 28:64-68, begins with the 70 AD expulsion of the Jews from their land and continues through centuries of persecution culminating in the Holocausts of World War II.

            2. The second part of Jewish history picks up with the return of the Jews to their land in 1948 until our current time. (Ezekiel 38:8)

            3. The third part foretells of the ultimate Jewish holocaust yet to come called Jacob’s (Israel’s) trouble and known as the Great Tribulation. (Jeremiah 30:5-7; Matthew 24:21-22)

            4. Finally, the fourth part prophesies that Jewish history will culminate in the restoration of all Jews to their land under their everlasting King, Jesus Christ (Zechariah 14:9-11).

            5. In part one and part three, the Jews are in a radically unsecure state.

            6. In part two and part four, they are “living securely.”

            7. But part four is the everlasting kingdom of security.

            8. Therefore, part two, with Israel “living securely” today, is Ezekiel’s reference and must serve as the springboard for the Russian-Islamic invasion of Israel.

Deuteronomy 28 sums up part one of Jewish history since 70 AD. It is a graphic prophecy of the entire 70 AD—1945 span of Jewish persecution.

"Moreover, the LORD will scatter you among all peoples, from one end of the earth to the other end of the earth; …And among those nations you shall find no rest, and there shall be no resting place for the sole of your foot; but there the LORD will give you a trembling heart, failing of eyes, and despair of soul. So your life shall hang in doubt before you; and you shall be in dread night and day, and shall have no assurance of your life. In the morning you shall say, 'Would that it were evening!' And at evening you shall say, 'Would that it were morning!' because of the dread of your heart…” (Deuteronomy 28:64-68)

Nineteen centuries of Jewish suffering culminated in the Holocaust during the Second World War where 6 million Jews disappeared in the Nazi death camps. “You shall find no rest...no assurance of your life...because of the dread of your heart,” all of which couldn’t be more graphic in describing Jewish ‘unsecurity’ throughout that period.

Part two of post-AD 70 prophetic history saw the Jews return to the land of Israel. Ezekiel 38, our Magog passage, prophesied of that miraculous event, which was fulfilled in 1948.

"After many days you will be summoned; in the latter years you will come into the land that is restored from the sword, whose inhabitants have been gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel which had been a continual waste; but its people were brought out from the nations, and they are living securely, all of them. (Ezekiel 38:8)

Note especially this phrase, “they are living securely.” After Israel is re-gathered to their land, they will be “living securely.” The evidence shows that time to be now. Here is why. Take another look at the four parts of Israel’s prophetic history above.

First, 1900 years of pure fright, fright prompted by constant terror and “death camps.” It is all capped by the infamous Holocaust.

Next, look at part three of their history (yet future), the “time of Jacob’s trouble,” the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:21-22).

Sandwiched in-between is part two of Jewish history—their return to the land in 1948—continuing up until today. Now, it is no stretch of one’s imagination to say that there is no comparison between the security of today’s Israel and, on the one hand, the Holocaust, and on the other hand, the Great Tribulation. By comparison, Israel today is absolutely secure.

Here is a sure test of this assertion. Ask any Christian tour leader to Israel what he tells his group about “tour safety in Israel” today. I’ve heard them, and I myself have said the same on a tour I led to Israel in 2004—”Today the streets of Israel are safer than the streets of Chicago and New York!” And it is the truth. The same couldn’t be said about a visit to the Jews in the 1945 Nazi death camps, or at any time in preceding 1900 years! Nor could the same be said about a “tour” to Israel during the Tribulation. Every Christian tour leader proclaims that today, Israel is secure, terrorists and the 1948, ‘54, ‘67 and ‘73 wars notwithstanding. Those wars actually enhanced Israel’s security. See NOTES Below... What CONFUSION !

In 1948 Israel came out of nineteen centuries of extreme ‘unsecurity’! During the coming Tribulation they will return for a short time to an even more intense period of ‘unsecurity.’ But today Israel is sandwiched into a brief period— by comparison— of super-security! Interestingly, when we observe the use of the word used by Ezekiel for “securely,” the Hebrew “betach,” we find it defined as “properly, a place of refuge, security, safety.” 10   That is exactly what the State of Israel represents for Jews worldwide since its inception in 1948. Today, then, Israel is a secure land of “refuge” from the nightmare of the previous 1900 years of Jewish suffering.

Now, let’s look at what history says about the fulfillment of these prophecies, keeping in mind Ezekiel’s prophecy that when Magog invades, Israel will be “living securely.”

Prophetic historian John Walvoord writes,

The sad condition of being scattered to the ends of the earth has persisted until the twentieth century, and with it has come untold sufferings to the people of Israel climaxing in the terrible scourge of Hitler who murdered some six million of the people of Israel. 11 

Notice that Walvoord says that this first period of Jewish ‘unsecurity’ was climaxed by the Holocaust. It came to an end with the founding of Israel in 1948. “The world was shocked that such barbarism could take place in the 20th century” and so the world demanded a place of refuge for the surviving Jews— a national homeland— a return to the land of Israel.. 12   The world’s response was that “a Jewish national homeland was finally brought into being by a horrified, conscience-stricken international community which viewed Israel as a necessary refuge for Jews throughout the world. 13

In light of both their previous history (Holocaust) and their future history (Tribulation), Israel today is far and away “secure.” Jews worldwide continue to migrate, right along with the tourist, to their “secure place.” “Having their own country was …a practical answer to the problem of having a secure place to go to.” 14   Max Dimont, the great historian of the Jews, acknowledges that “the State of Israel today is a citadel of Judaism, a haven of refuge.” 15

Israel’s only other time of “living securely” will be in their eternal kingdom when “the LORD will be king over all the earth… and there will be no more curse, for Jerusalem will dwell in security. (Zechariah 14:9-11)  

Summarizing the above, we find that after 70 AD, the Bible tells of TWO TIMES of security in Israel’s future, and Israel is in the first one NOW. And it is this time of Israel “living securely” that sets the stage for the Russian-Islamic invasion of Israel. Therefore, the Russian-Islamic invasion of Israel is an imminent event—it could happen any day!

A False Security

This raises the question, why would Magog attack Israel if they are actually secure in their armed forces? The answer we glean from Scripture is that there are three perspectives on what it means to be secure— the perspective of Israel, that of their enemy Gog-Magog (Russia), and that of the Lord. Obviously, in Ezekiel 38, Israel believes that they are “living securely.” But from Magog’s perspective, that security can be breached, or else they wouldn’t risk an attack. And from the Lord’s perspective, any security apart from trust in Him is a false security. Israel’s confidence in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) apart from the Lord is a false security, and no one, including Israel’s superb defense forces, will receive the glory that is due to God alone, for “I will not give My glory to another.” (Isaiah 42:8)

That Israel’s trust in its own security is evident in this simple statement by Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu in response to the ever-present “peace” negotiations,

                    “We want peace, but not at the price of security” 16

Netanyahu believes that “peace” and “security” are not one and the same. He is right. The Ezekiel 38 prediction of Israel’s condition at the time of the Russian-Islamic invasion is not one of peace, but one of security. Netanyahu obviously believes that Israel is presently secure by virtue of its military power. The source of that security? Netanyahu continued by making an admiring reference to a statement Israeli patriot Theodore Herzl said a century earlier. On June 11, 1901, Herzl said, “Do not rely on the help of foreigners nor on that of benefactors …A people that wants to stand upright must put all its trust in itself alone.” Israel’s perspective on “living securely” is the same one they had when they were driven out of the land 2000 years ago, which is summed up in                                                                                            Ezekiel 33:26:"You rely on your sword … Should you then possess the land?”

Then there is the perspective of the Russian-Islamic arch enemy. They see Israel’s security-”walls” wide open for a breach, for

“thoughts will come into your mind, and you will devise and evil plan,

and you will say, ‘I will go against the land of unwalled villages…” (Ezekiel 38:11).

If the Russian-Islamic invaders really believed that the IDF was an impenetrable wall of defense, with unbreachable “gates” of security, then of course they wouldn’t attack in the first place! But the prophecy says that “thoughts will come into [their] mind” and they will view Israel as “living without walls, and having no bars or gates.” (Ezekiel 38:11)

The third perspective on Israel’s security is the Lord’s—the only one that matters. “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the LORD of hosts.” (Zechariah 4:6)

Regarding the belief that Israel (and many Christians) have that Israel is secure behind the Israeli Defense Forces, the Bible declares something else,

“The king is not saved by a mighty army; A warrior is not delivered by great strength.” (Psalms 33:16)

“For I will not trust in my bow, Nor will my sword save me.” (Psalms 44:6)

“But they will be held guilty, They whose strength is their god.” (Habakkuk 1:11; NASB)

“Some boast in chariots, and some in horses; But we will boast in the name of the LORD, our God.” (Psalms 20:7)

Israel’s trust in itself and its IDF gives rise to a false security that the nation is self-secure behind “walls” and “barred gates.” However, “thoughts will come into the mind” of the Russian-Islamic coalition, and they will have a different perspective—Israel will be ripe for an invasion because Russia “will say, 'I will go up against the land of unwalled villages. I will go against those who are at rest, that live securely, all of them living without walls, and having no bars or gates.” (Ezekiel 38:11) As to why Israel will find itself in this predicament, parallel phrases (note the bold print) in the Bible about “security,” “walled villages,” and “bars and gates” give us the answer.

            1. Israel dwells ALONE among hateful neighbors in the Mid East. The Babylonians attacked a “secure” Arabian people precisely because they were isolated, alone without allies. Israel did the same to the city of Laish in the days of the Judges because they also were living in an isolated false security, without allies to help them.

"... Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has formed a plan against you And devised a scheme against you. "Arise, go up against a nation (Arabia-dwellers) which is at ease, Which lives securely," declares the LORD. "It has no gates or bars; They dwell alone. (Jeremiah 49:30-31)

Then the five men departed and came to Laish and saw the people who were in it living in security, after the manner of the Sidonians, quiet and secure; for ... they were far from the Sidonians and had no dealings with anyone. (Judges 18:7)

            2. Israel is “complacent” about its security. Jeremiah’s indictment of the “complacent” women of Jerusalem came as a warning about false security before Jerusalem’s destruction by Babylon.

Rise up you women who are at ease, And hear my voice; Give ear to my word, You complacent daughters. (Isaiah 32:9)

            3. Israel is prideful of being self-sufficient. God is not in the equation. Babylon trusted in its self-security in the same way. So did the Assyrian super-city of Nineveh two centuries earlier.

"Now, then, hear this, you sensual one [Babylon], Who dwells securely, Who says in your heart, 'I am, and there is no one besides me. I shall not sit as a widow, Nor shall I know loss of children.' (Isaiah 47:8)

This is the exultant city [Nineveh] Which dwells securely, Who says in her heart, "I am, and there is no one besides me." How she has become a desolation, A resting place for beasts! Everyone who passes by her will hiss And wave his hand in contempt. (Zephaniah 2:15)

            4. Israel is arrogant about its own strength. With that same attitude in the eighth century BC, Israel fell to the Assyrians.

Woe to those who are at ease in Zion, And to those who feel secure in the mountain of Samaria ... the LORD God of hosts has declared: "I loathe the arrogance of Jacob... Therefore, I will deliver up the city and all it contains...You who rejoice in Lo-debar, And say, "Have we not by our own strength taken Karnaim for ourselves?" (Amos 6:1, 8, 13)

            5. From our Ezekiel 38 passage on the Russian-Islamic invasion of Israel, we find a remarkable similarity in the phrasing of the “security” conditions in the first four above.

“…its [Israel’s] people were brought out from the nations, and they are living securely, all of them…and you will say, 'I will go up against the land of unwalled villages. I will go against those who are at rest, that live securely, all of them living without walls, and having no bars or gates…’” (Ezekiel 38:8, 11)

However, God will use the Russian-Islamic invasion of Israel to raise up a remnant of believing Jews who "will know that I am the LORD their God from that day onward.“ (Ezekiel 39:22) These will be the 144000 Jewish “first fruits” of salvation (Revelation 7:1-8; 14:4) They will testify to the rest of Israel during much of the Tribulation period. After God miraculously destroys Magog, Israel will begin a transition to an everlasting trust in the Lord, and by the end of the Tribulation that follows, “all Israel will be saved,” and Israel’s false walls of security will then be changed to this,

'Jerusalem will be inhabited without walls … 'For I,' declares the LORD, 'will be a wall of fire around her…’ Zechariah 2:4-5

NOTES:

NOTE THIS...
[Referencing a recent study, one prophetic ministry leader writes]... "Israel is the fifth safest among the 50 countries in the world most widely visited by tourists.
     Turns out that the question that many first-time visitors to Israel are asked by friends and relatives when they reveal their plans to visit—'Are you sure it's safe?' — is misplaced. Not only is it safe, but it is very safe...
There is a breath of relief when landing in the Promised Land, and sometimes an undefined fear when landing back home.
...it was repeatedly experienced that when just one terrorist act occurred in Israel, 20-30 percent of participants — some of whom had paid their deposit — cancelled. We always responded that your country (the USA in particular) is significantly more dangerous than Israel.

(3001/19-20, February 2023 )

BUT A MONTH EARLIER...in the SAME MAGAZINE !...(the problem is rejecting "Current-Age" Security—correctly espoused above—& injecting "Millennial-Age" Security as erroneously proposed below... thus a CONTRADICTION in 2 back-to-back issues of the same magazine; below, I have inserted in [ brackets ] where both Current-Age Security and Millennial-Age Security is described)

The march of Russia (Gog and Magog from the far north; Ezek 38:1-2, 15) will come at a time when Israel is dwelling in safety and without walls (vv. 8-11). This isn't the case today. Although "Shalom" is the common greeting in Israel, true peace is still a pipe dream. Large security walls, electric fences, military checkpoints, a large army contingent, and continuous military standby are part of everyday life in Israel. Additionally, terrorist plots are uncovered (and prevented, for the most part) on a daily basis

                            [ better, for 75 years since 1948—through multiple wars Israel has NEVER been DEFEATED—WHY???...

                                                                                                                                                                                            God-given, Current-Age Security ].

Yes, people are talking about peace a great deal (1 Thess 5:3) and making peace treaties with more and more nations. Nevertheless, Israel's peace is threatened daily, and powerful enemies (first and foremost Iran, Hamas, Fatah, the Islamic State, and others) are denying Israel's right to exist. Because of this, the march of Gog and Magog (Ezek 38-39) couldn't be taking place today. This future march is the deployment of a great army and many peoples led by Gog (Ezek 38:14-23), an enemy from the far north (v.15). It will occur when Israel is gathered from among the Gentiles one last time. Biblical prophecy shows that Israel will be scattered again during the Great Tribulation after the Rapture of the Church, but will be preserved in a safe place by God himself. After that, the remnant of the Jews will return to Israel and dwell in complete safety (cf. Rev 12:6; Ezek 38:8; Mark 13:27). [ Millennial-Age Security] The attack of God and Magog will then threaten this safety, but the Lord Himself will fight for Israel and judge Gog and Magog (Ezek 39:11). This victory will be the final victory of the Lamb, Jesus Christ, over His enemies. Then the Lord, as King of Israel, will establish His Millennial Kingdom. This will forever change Israel's fate (Ezek 39:25-28), for God Himself will be Israel's guarantee of security. He will pour out His Spirit on Israel and never hide His face from His people again (v.29).
The March of Gog and Magog in Revelation
We see another March of Gog and Magog at the end of the book of Revelation. This deployment, however, must be distinguished from the march of Gog and Magog in the book of Ezekiel. The two are completely separate events. One will take place at the beginning of the Millennium and will be the final challenging of God's rule on earth. The other event will take place at the end of God's reign on earth. It is the very last rebellion of Satan and his accomplices. God's fire will end their rebellion and irrevocably seal Satan's fate (Rev 20:7-15). [ My NOTE: Since only Saved people—and NO Weapons — enter the Millennial Kingdom of Christ, the "TIMING" cannot occur at the beginning of the Millennium as proposed in this article; SEE HERE FOR MORE ON "TIMING" ]
(3001/16-17,  January 2023)