Credit Josh Appel, unsplash.com
Over the past few weeks, Greg Laurie who pastors Harvest Christian Fellowship, in Riverside, California, has been preaching on the end times.
Though the series officially ended in September, Pastor Laurie revived it this past Sunday, the day following Hamas’ brutal invasion of Israel, as he addressed the end-time implications of this war, the Christian Post reports.
The Hamas terrorist group, which is backed by Iran, controls the Gaza Strip a small strip of land in the Southwest corner of Israel bordering the Mediterranean Sea. It launched well over 5,000 missiles against Israel and killed over 1,300 people mostly civilians during its attack and also took about 150 people captive.
While addressing this war in the context of end times events, Laurie made four key points.
The Restoration of Israel
The first critical step was the restoration of Israel as a nation which took place on May 14, 1948. It was a miracle in itself but unfortunately was predicated on the death of six million Jews by the Nazis in World War II.
This regathering of the Jews back to Israel was predicted by prophets throughout the Old Testament, particularly in Ezekiel chapters 37 and 38.
Laurie referred to Israel’s national restoration as a ‘super sign’, that in his words started the end times prophetic clock ticking.
The End Times focuses on Jerusalem
Secondly, the Biblical prophets said the apocalyptic events surrounding the end times would focus on what is happening in Israel and Jerusalem.
“Interesting how it always comes back to Jerusalem,” Laurie said. “The Bible predicted, thousands of years ago, that the End Time events would revolve around Jerusalem. Not San Francisco. Not Los Angeles. Not Moscow. Not Paris.
“But Jerusalem, this tiny little city, in this tiny sliver of land, will play a key role in the events of the last days. It’s the focal point of End Times events.”
Nations marching against Israel
Thirdly, Laurie noted that the prophets spoke of the armies of the world marching against Israel and specifically referred to a prophecy given by Zechariah 2,500 years ago:
“3 On that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples. All who lift it will surely hurt themselves. And all the nations of the earth will gather against it.” (Zechariah 12:3 ESV).
And as we watch what is happening in Israel, Hamas has been deliberately urging the bordering Islamic nations to become involved.
Iran particularly has called for the annihilation of Israel but to this point has not been directly involved.
At this point, only the Hezbollah located in Lebanon along Israel’s northern border have shown any interest in participating and launched missiles against Israel.
Also backed by Iran, Hezbollah is a much larger and better-equipped terrorist group than the Hamas.
Gog and Magog
Finally, Laurie referred to Gog and Magog who would participate in this battle against Israel. Magog is described as a nation located to the north of Israel.
39 “And you, son of man, prophesy against Gog and say, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. 2 And I will turn you about and drive you forward, and bring you up from the uttermost parts of the north, and lead you against the mountains of Israel. (Ezekiel 39:1-2 ESV)
Because the Hebrew implies that Magog is located to the farthest north of Israel, it has led to speculation that this is a reference to Russia,.
Russia is not only opposed to Israel but is increasingly becoming allied with Iran which is supporting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine by providing drones.
“Why would Russia ever want to invade Israel?” Laurie asked. “Well, there’s another thing the Bible says about Magog, if she is indeed Russia, and that one of her allies that will march with her is Persia,” he added noting that Persia is modern-day Iran.
“So the Bible predicted hundreds of years ago that this large force from the north of Israel would attack her after she was regathered, and one of the allies that would attack Israel with mother Russia or Magog, whoever it is, would be Iran, or Persia.”
It is difficult to know if the Hamas invasion will spark this end-time war.
“I’m not saying this is going to lead to [that] scenario,” he said. “But I’m saying it’s very interesting. If you get up in the morning and read this headline: ‘Russia attacks Israel,’ fasten your seat belt,” Laurie added.
In recent years, Russia has become increasingly aggressive on the world stage, but at the moment is preoccupied with its invasion of Ukraine.
Personally, I wonder if it may be a bit premature.
The prophet Daniel mentions that one of the things that Satan will specifically try to do as we approach the end of the age is to change the times.
He shall speak words against the Most High,
and shall wear out the saints of the Most High,
and shall think to change the times and the law;
and they shall be given into his hand
for a time, times, and half a time. (Daniel 7:27 ESV)
This suggests that part of Satan’s strategy will include trying to change God’s timetable for the end times events.
But ultimately, God is sovereign.
OpentheWord.org 
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