Ezekiel 38 and the coming battle for Israel‏‎

“Surely the Sovereign Yehovah does nothing without

revealing His plan to His servants the prophets.”

(Amos 3:7)

End-time experts are talking a lot about the Gog-

Magog war of Ezekiel 38–39, a prophecy that predicts

a powerful confederacy, apparently led by Russia,
that is destined to someday invade Israel.  Some
think that its fulfillment is even knocking at our door.

But a lesser known prophecy is gaining momentum
and importance for our day: Psalm 83, in which a
different confederacy attempts to wipe out Israel.

This psalm seems to be addressing current issues
in the Middle East—nations conspiring to destroy
Israel.

Asaph’s Vision of a Future War

“O God, do not remain silent; do not turn a deaf ear,
Do not stand aloof, O God.  See how your enemies
growl, how your foes rear their heads.” (Ps:83:1–2)

Psalm 83 is more than a prayer or a plea to God for
vengeance on Israel’s enemies; it reveals that a 10
member confederacy wants to destroy the Chosen
People and possess the Promised Land.

This psalm, however, was not written during a time
of war. It was written some 3,000 years ago by King
David’s worship leader, Asaph, during a time of great
prosperity, liberty, and peace.

King David had decisively triumphed over Israel’s
enemies, and Israel could expand freely since the
superpowers of Egypt and Assyria were both
declining. (Aish)

David’s kingdom, therefore, extended from the Red
Sea to the Euphrates.

But Asaph was not just a worshiper; according to
2 Chronicles 29:30, he was also a chozeh (seer or
prophet).

As a prophet, Asaph saw beyond this period of
peace, to a time when this confederacy would
seek the utter destruction of Israel. That time
now seems to be nearing.

“Come,” they say, “let us destroy them as a nation,
so that Israel’s name is remembered no more.”
(Psalm 83:4)

Even though Asaph’s vision was received in a time
of peace, it must have been cause for some concern
since many named in the confederacy had previously
demonstrated their hatred.

Of course, even today, conspiring against the Jewish
People is considered nothing new. From the Philistines
to the Nazis, the Jewish People have been plotted against.

“See how your enemies growl, how your foes rear their
heads. With cunning they conspire against your people;
they plot against those you cherish.”  (Psalm 83:2–3)

The Coalition’s Motive: Break the Abrahamic Covenant

“With one mind they plot together; they form an alliance

against you.”  (Psalm 83:5)

The ten-member coalition of Psalm 83 forms a covenant

with each other against not only the nation of Israel, but

the God of Israel.

The coalition is not satisfied to only destroy Israel
as a nation; they want to wipe out the memory of
the name of Israel; in effect, breaking the Abrahamic
Covenant.

In the Abrahamic covenant, God pledges that a Chosen
People will come through Abraham (Genesis 22:17–18),

through Isaac (Genesis 26:2–4), and through Jacob

(Genesis 28:14) and that God would give them the

Promised Land (Genesis 15:18; Joshua 1:4).

“The Lord appeared to Isaac and said,...  ‘For to you

and your descendants I will give all these lands and
will confirm the oath I swore to your father Abraham.
I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars
in the sky and will give them all these lands, and through
your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed.’”
(Genesis 26:2–4)

Of course, if through a human coalition the adversary
could wipe out the name of Israel, that would effectively
make the God of Israel look powerless and a liar in the
face of the entire world.

It would also nullify other promises, including the following:

Davidic Covenant / Eternal Throne (2 Samuel 7:12–13;
Isaiah 9:6–7; Luke 1:31–33)

For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name
will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal
Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase
of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and
over His kingdom.”  (Isaiah 9:6–7)

New Covenant / Eternal Relationship (Jeremiah 31:33;
John 14:16–17)

“This is the covenant I will make with the people of
Israel after that time,” declares the LORD. “I will put
my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will
be their God, and they will be my people.”(Jeremiah 31:33)

The Word of God, however, is accurate and reliable
and no adversary can thwart God's plans.

His covenant with Abraham is unconditional and everlasting.
Even after Israel’s disobedience, which He foresaw, He
would bring His people home to their own land after a
period of exile.

“It is not for your sake, people of Israel, that I am going
to do these things, but for the sake of My holy name, which
you have profaned among the nations where you have
gone.... For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather
you from all the countries and bring you back into your
own land.”(Ezekiel 36:22, 24)

And God has been fulfilling this prophecy and others like
it, much to the dismay of those seeking to wipe out the
very memory of Israel.

The Ten-Member Coalition

While Israel’s many enemies have wanted to destroy the
nation of Israel and the Jewish People, Asaph specifically
identifies ten nations / groups that unite to form a coalition
for this very purpose:

“With one mind they plot together; they form an alliance

against you; the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, of
Moab and the Hagrites, Byblos [Gebal], Ammon and
Amalek, Philistia, with the people of Tyre. Even Assyria
has joined them to reinforce Lot’s descendants.”
(Psalm 83:5–8)

While these groups are no longer identifiable by their

ancient names, Bill Salus, author of Israelist and
Psalm 83: The Missing Prophecy Revealed ascertains
the modern-day equivalents / descendants of these
coalition members as the following:

Tents of Edom:  Palestinians and Southern Jordanians
Ishmaelites:  Saudis (Ishmael is the father of the Arabs)
Moab:  Palestinians and Central Jordanians
Hagrites:  Egyptians (Hagar is an Egyptian matriarch)
Gebal (Byblos):  Hezbollah and Northern Lebanese
Ammon:  Palestinians and Northern Jordanians
Amalek:  Arabs of the Sinai area
Philistia:  Hamas of the Gaza Strip
Tyre:  Hezbollah and Southern Lebanese
Assyria:  Syrians and Northern Iraqi’s

Salus has worked to identify some of these ancient groups

based upon their ancient locations and others by where

they migrated.

Author Joel Richardson has also identified each member

group, as well, basing his conclusions only on their

ancient location in 10th century BC; therefore, his locations

and conclusions differ slightly from those of Salus.

The Coalition's Goal:  Destroy Israel

While this 10-member coalition might not yet be overtly

united in an action against Israel, these nations do exists

today and are already united under the values of Islam.

Moreover, Islam is influenced by a sibling rivalry that

dates back to Ishmael and Isaac, and Esau and Jacob.

This ancient resentment against the son of promise is perhaps

fueling attacks and conspiracies against the existence of a

Jewish homeland.

Of course, these Psalm 83 countries are actively conspiring

today to either take over the land of Israel and make it their

own or to prevent Israel from being a Jewish state.  In other

words, they want to make Israel a country that cannot

protect and shelter the Jewish People from those who

hate them.

Palestinians—Tents of Edom (Esau); Moab and Ammon

(sons of Lot)

Although Israel is currently in peace negotiations with

the Palestinian Authority (PA) for a two-state solution,

on January 11, 2014, the PA president, Mahmoud Abbas,

made his intentions about Israel’s existence clear:

“We won’t recognize and accept the Jewishness of Israel.

We have many excuses and reasons that prevent us from

doing so,” Abbas said.

“We will march to Jerusalem in the millions, as free people

and heroes,” he asserted.  (JPost)

Jordanians—Tents of Edom; Moab and Ammon

Although Jordan and Israel have enjoyed a peace treaty

since 1994, on February 2, 2014, Jordan’s Foreign Minister

Nasser Judeh told his parliament that Israel should not be

recognized as a Jewish State nor should Jordan take in the

Palestinian refugees (Tents of Edom).  (ArutzSheva)

In response, on February 8, 2014, Jordan’s parliament voted

to not recognize Israel as a Jewish state.  (i24news)

Hezbollah and Lebanon—Gebal (Byblos) and Tyre

While Hezbollah, the terrorist group based in Lebanon,

has been helping Syrian President Assad wage war against

the rebels, on August 2, 2013, Hezbollah leader, Hassan

Nasrallah, came out of hiding to remind the people of

Lebanon that “Israel poses a danger on all people of this

region ... including Lebanon, and removing it is a

Lebanese national interest."  (JPost)

In February 2014, Nasrallah reinforced this idea,

deceptively telling the Lebanese people that “Israel

is still an enemy and a threat to Lebanon's people,

water, oil, security, and sovereignty.”

Hamas—Philistines

Although Gaza is officially a part of the Palestinian

Authority ruled by President Abbas, the terrorist group

Hamas (meaning “violence” in Hebrew) rules Gaza and

is ready to form a coalition with any Muslim group

willing to resist Israel.

Its charter states: “[Hamas] will only be of help to all

associations and organizations which act against the

Zionist enemy and those who revolve in its orbit.”

In January 2014, Hamas Interior Minister Fathi Hamad

said that the goal of Hamas is total destruction of Israel.

“We are coming after the Zionists with all our leaders and

soldiers,” Hamad said.  “You have only eight years on the

land of Palestine before your demise.”  (JPost)

Egyptians (or possibly Northern Jordanians)—Hagrites

or Hagarenes

A year after the Muslim Brotherhood leadership in Egypt

was overthrown in a coup, this country has been working

to undermine the power of Gaza’s Hamas. 

“We cannot get liberated from the terrorism of the

Brotherhood in Egypt without ending it in Gaza, which lies

on our borders,” an unnamed Egyptian senior security

official said.  (Reuters)

To accomplish this, Egypt has stationed thousands of

troops and equipment in the northern Sinai, well beyond

the number allowed in the 1979 peace treaty between

Egypt and Israel.  With another coup or change of heart,

Egypt is now well-positioned for a southern attack on Israel.

But at least one commentator believes that Egyptians are

not the Hagarenes.  Based on 1 Chronicles 5:10, which

Specifies a region east of Gilead, Joel Richardson believes

the Hagarenes are northern Jordanians.

If he is correct, then the peace and cooperation that Israel

is currently enjoying with Egypt might continue through

the coming war.  (wnd)

Gilead was a mountainous region east of the

Jordan River divided among the tribes of Gad

and Manasseh.  It is situated in what is today

called Jordan.

Saudis (or all Arabs)—Ishmaelites

Salus believes Saudi Arabia represents the Ishmaelite people

in Psalm 83.  Like most Arabs throughout the Middle East

and Africa, the Saudis claim to be the true chosen people

(as descendants of Ishmael).

Considering that Saudi Arabia is an ally of the US and a foe

of Iran, it may seem that it is not involved in a coalition

against Israel.

Nevertheless, Saudi Arabia voted “no” to the 1947 UN

resolution to create a Jewish state and supported the Arab

invasions of 1948, 1967 and 1973 with troops, as well as

with finances.  They do not have diplomatic relations with

Israel.

Arabs of the Sinai (or of the Negev area)—Amalek (grandson

of Esau)

Bill Salus places the Amalekites in Sinai.  He believes they

were a part of Esau’s family (the Edomites) who migrated

into the Sinai area, which is part of Egypt.

Others, however, think that the Amalekites originated near

Mecca and by the 10th century BC, migrated to the Negev

area of modern Israel (wnd).  It is possible, therefore, that

some Arab-Israelis currently enjoying citizenship within

Israel are of this group.

Indeed, some Arabs inside of Israel look for its destructionas

a Jewish state, and even have Arab representation in

the Knesset (parliament):

"Israel should be defined as a state of its own nationalities.

There are two nationalities in Israel.  One is [the] Jewish

majority, one is [the] Arab-Palestinian minority,” said the

deputy speaker of the Knesset Ahmad Tibi in January 2014.

 “Saying that Israel is the Jewish state is neglecting our

existence, our very existence and our narrative, and I will

not accept that," he added.  (CBC)

Syrians and Northern Iraqis (and possibly Turkey)—Assyria

Since the creation of both Israel and Syria in the mid-20th

century, diplomatic ties have never been established

between these two countries, which share a border.

Syria has attacked Israel in three major wars in 1948,

1967, and 1973.

The situation in Syria is incredibly volatile.  While Syria’s

President Bashar Assad shares the common hatred for

Israel with his neighbors, the U.S. is worried that if he

is defeated in his civil war, the many thousands of jihadist

rebels, including Hezbollah, will take control and eagerly

rally support for a war against Israel. (fox news)

Although the U.S. supports Israel’s defense against these

national threats, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has

unwittingly supported the ambitions of the coalition when

he said on March 13 that Israel should not require the

PA to recognize Israel as a Jewish State.

The Prophet Appeals for Victory

In Psalm 83, the prophet Asaph appeals to God, asking

Him to make the coalition members perish in disgrace

(Psalm 83:9–18).

In fact, Obadiah, Ezekiel 25–27, 37:10, and Jeremiah

49:1–6 prophesy that these coalition members will

indeed perish and be cursed as Genesis 12:3 predicts:

“I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses

you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed

through you.”

These connecting prophetic verses seem to refer to

Israel’s victory in Psalm 83.

A resulting sense of regional security may make Israel ripe

for the battle of Ezekiel 38—the invasion of a nine-member

coalition whose leaders say,

“I will go up against the land of unwalled villages.  I will fall

upon the quiet people who dwell securely, all of them

dwelling without walls, and having no bars or gates, to

seize spoil and carry off plunder...”  (Ezekiel 38:11–12)

While Israel today is indeed prospering and is a safe

country to visit, she will have incredible riches and live

in unparalleled safety after the victory of Psalm 83 is

complete.

Psalm 83: A Pending Prophecy

Some theologians have argued that the battle highlighted

in Psalm 83:5–8 was fulfilled in Israel’s 1948 War for

Independence; however, the tents (refugees or military

encampments) of Edom (Southern Jordan) only came

into existence in 1949, after the war ended.

And since Psalm 83 lists them first, Salus believes the tents

of Edom will play a key role in this coming war.

Other theologians have made the argument that the 1967

Six-Day War fulfilled this prophecy; still, only a portion

of the ten members listed were involved in that war, so

the Six Day War does not seem to be the fulfillment

of this end-time prophecy.

Since neither of these wars precisely fulfill the prophecy,

we can understand that some future war involving a

10-member coalition will fulfill it.

Today that coalition, which is united under the common

values and motives of Islam, fits the prophecy’s

requirements like no other time in history.

Therefore, many believe the war in Psalm 83 will

happen soon, before the invasion of Ezekiel 38.

In fact, none of the ten coalition members of Psalm 83

are mentioned in Ezekiel 38, though the book of Ezekiel

mentions them elsewhere.

Pitfalls in Interpreting Prophecy

"I have posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem; they

will never be silent day or night.  You who call on Yehovah,

give yourselves no rest, and give Him no rest till He

establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the

earth."  (Isaiah 62:6–7)

There is a saying that hindsight is 20/20.  Likewise, Bible

prophecy is more easily understood in hindsight, after its

fulfillment.

Psalm 83 reminds us that we must keep a watchful

eye on the Middle East and pray for the peace of Jerusalem,

as well as diligently study God’s Word.

As we watch, pray and study, God will give us wisdom

as events unfold and the pieces of the prophetic puzzle

come into place.

And when they do, that picture will be illuminated on the

same wall where God has displayed His plan for Israel

And mankind and where the Messianic prophecies are

permanently hung.

“Israel will be saved by Yehovah with an everlasting

salvation; you will never be put to shame or disgraced,

to ages everlasting.”  (Isaiah 45:17)

"For I am ready to set things right, not in the distant

future,but right now!  I am ready to save Jerusalem

and show My glory to Israel."  (Isaiah 46:13)