Distant Thunder: Firestorm on the Horizon
With so much going on in the world today, even amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, many significant events are converging that concern soon-to-be-fulfilled Bible prophecy and the end of the age. Israel rarely shows up in Western media but events that have been incubating for years (decades even) are rapidly evolving into a dangerous endgame, not just for Israel but for the world.
The biblical prophet Ezekiel foretold of a last days invasion of Israel by specific enemies wherein the attack would be so swift and colossal that God Himself would protect her by supernatural means–a firestorm, torrential hail, earthquakes, et al (Ezekiel 38-39). Many believe God to be getting humanity’s attention via global current events. Truly, when Ezekiel’s prophecy unfolds, He will have our attention indeed, for “all who are on the earth shall shake at His presence” (Ezekiel 38:20).
I have written an up-to-date detailed analysis of the geopolitical and biblical historical context involving the coming world-changing event (see link below). I do not employ the pop-culture practice of “newspaper exegesis” or “headline news theology” that attempts to interpret Scripture via the lens of world events. Rather, I seek to prayerfully interpret world events via the lens of Scripture.
The report is some 30 pages, so for anyone desiring to skip some of the historical and modern geopolitical backstory of nations, I would suggest beginning on page 9 with the subheading “The Sum of All Fears.”
>>>Read/Download here: “Distant Thunder: The Imminent Invasion of Israel”
[UPDATE 2022]
Since spring/summer 2020 there have been numerous developments, specifically concerning topics addressed in the “Distant Thunder” report. The nations of Russia, Turkey, Iran, China, and North Korea (who boast numerous mutual extant alliances and treaties) have allied themselves with the Taliban in Afghanistan and are growing collectively more hostile toward Israel, though Russian and Chinese military and political aggression overall is rising in direct challenge to the West. The crisis in Ukraine will soon reveal much of Czar Putin’s intentions.
Persian Aggression, Nuclear Ambition, and Divine Judgment
Highly notable is that Iran has crossed a “red line” set by Israel’s Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu in 2012. Speaking at the United Nations, Netanyahu warned that if Iran crossed a specific and dangerous threshold in their nuclear weapons development, Israel would be forced to take military action. In January 2021, Iran announced it is enriching uranium to 20% (crossing the “red line”). Yet according to US Ambassador Dennis Ross, Iran has produced 12 times more highly enriched uranium than legally permitted by the International Atomic Energy Agency, which makes building a nuclear weapon possible anytime! Israel is not likely to announce an attack (note their surprise strikes against Iraqi and Syrian nuclear reactors in 1981 and 2007). In June and July 2020 (and sporadically to date) a series of “mysterious” explosions, power outages, and cyber attacks rocked several of the major Iranian nuclear facilities and military sites, crippling Iran’s nuclear program. But in reference to current Iranian bluster, for how long? Iran has kept quiet concerning how much damage was done. The Israelis and/or the Americans were suspected of the 2020 attacks, but both have denied involvement. Meanwhile, cyber warfare and internal sabotage against Iranian nuclear weapons development continues unabated.
Iran has also been hit hard by sanctions that have frozen billions of dollars that would undoubtedly be funneled into global terrorism campaigns and weapons development. In 2018 US President Donald J. Trump rightly scrapped the farcical 2015 Nuclear Deal with Iran, but with a radically new US president taking office in January 2021, Iran is now seeking a resurgence of the deal and a lifting of those sanctions, some of which have been lifted. Israel and its growing coalition of allies are pressuring the US Biden regime to refrain from aiding Iran and neglecting Israel, as the former Obama regime had done. This development is more serious and urgent than most people realize, particularly concerning the prophetic root that has sprouted and is beginning to bloom (Ezekiel 38). Moreover, China has recently entered into newly minted multi-faceted treaties with Iran that includes a “gift” of 400 billion dollars, which essentially nullifies any extant sanctions. Indeed, a nuclear deal between Iran and Western nations is strictly an empty specter at this point, particularly since the International Atomic Energy Agency–the “watchdog” that is supposed to keep rogue nations in line–is just as politically and professionally corrupt as Iran.
Due to the American retreat from Afghanistan and from much of the Middle and Near East, Iran is growing bolder in its militant threats against Israel. It is almost cliche to hear Iranian leadership call for Israel’s annihilation, to “wipe them from the map.” But in recent months, Iranian media campaigns have appeared that explicitly call for and rehearse Israel’s destruction.[1] Notably, the rhetoric eerily recalls instances in Scripture when Israel’s enemies proclaimed their method of intended destruction only to receive the same via divine judgment, effectively calling down their own doom. This would surely be the case with Iran in reference to Ezekiel 38. Israel certainly has first strike capability with both conventional and unconventional strategic and tactical munitions. Israeli military and political leaders are now openly (but vaguely) discussing the logistics of a preemptive attack on Iran and weighing which nations of the world would support and/or aid in such an attack. However, the tiny Jewish nation under threat has repeatedly claimed it is prepared to act alone. In all probability, an Israeli strike on Iran would occur without warning.
To Whom Has the Hand of the LORD Been Revealed?
Let it be known, however, that the approaching divine retribution on Iran, Russia, and axis nations (Gog and Magog; Ezekiel 38:2-6) will not come from Israel’s nuclear arsenal. Scripture is explicitly clear that the fiery doom and great hailstones from the sky, in tandem with earthquakes, confusion, and blindness will be of supernatural origin and not by human proxy. God Himself says, “You [Gog/Magog] will come up against My people Israel like a cloud to cover the land. It will be in the latter days that I will that I will bring you against My land, so that the nations may know Me, when I am hallowed in you, O Gog, before their eyes… and all men who are on the face of the earth shall shake at My presence… I will call for a sword against Gog throughout all My holy mountains [northern Israel]. Every man’s sword will be against his brother. And I will bring him to judgment with pestilence and bloodshed; I will rain down on him, on his troops, and on the many peoples who are with him, flooding rain, great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. Thus I will magnify Myself and sanctify Myself, and will be known in the eyes of many nations. Then they shall know that I am the LORD“ (Ezekiel 38:16-23).
Even those nations from around the world–far from the Middle Eastern epicenter–who ally with Israel’s enemies will not be spared the firestorm, for God adds, “And I will send fire on Magog and on those who live in security in the coastlands. Then they shall know that I am the Lord“ (Ezekiel 39:6). The context in Ezekiel 38-39 of “knowing the LORD” does not specifically mean spiritual salvation, but rather an open global revelation that the Creator God has supernaturally intervened and upset humanity’s natural order. The world will be forever changed.
The Israeli Elections and the COVID Crisis
Israel’s political climate has been in disastrous flux for the past five years; in March 2021, Israelis held elections for the fourth time in two years! Prime Minister Netanyahu had been a popular conservative mainstay for a decade but the political landscape has changed massively in just the past few years. In December 2020 Israel failed to pass a budget, and a seven-month-long contentious coalition between Netanyahu and Benny Gantz came to an end. With Netanyahu weakened politically by corruption indictments and a looming trial, his Likud party fractured and he faced many leadership challenges even from within his own conservative wing, notably from Gideon Sa’ar who recently left Likud to challenge Netanyahu. Sa’ar is even more conservative than Netanyahu and is gaining a significant following with his freshly minted New Hope party, surely to be a source of increasing policy influence.
However, in June 2021 it was another former Netanyahu associate and fellow conservative, Naftali Bennett (allied with now Foreign Minister Yair Lapid), who won the Knesset as Prime Minister, ousting Netanyahu’s government and avoiding a fifth round of elections. Most Israelis and Evangelical Christians are sad to see Netanyahu go, but they recognize a season of change is necessary as Israel faces many new challenges in a fast-changing, pandemic-stricken, and increasingly politicized culture–nationally and globally. Many are deeply appreciative of Netanyahu’s solid legacy (particularly concerning Israel’s national security and desire for genuine peace with her Arab neighbors) and the new PM Bennett will indeed build upon that legacy, for he fully supports the Abraham Accords and is just as conservative–even as hawkish–as Benyamin Netanyahu.
Netanyahu struggled to campaign for reelection as he also strived to lead Israel through and out of the COVID pandemic. Although, with three full lockdowns since March-May 2020 and with the last two lockdowns (in Sep-Oct 2020 and Jan-Feb 2021) doing more harm than good on many fronts, Israeli citizens are turning on their governing leadership–a situation that Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid are attempting to diffuse. Many doctors and private sector leaders have even proclaimed the lockdowns and Green Passport for the vaccinated as hazardously unnecessary since the results have actually revealed sharp increases in COVID-19 cases; an unprecedented economic crisis; rising frustration and declining mental health in the populace; and unraveling political stability. Iran/Hezbollah, Turkey, Russia, Hamas, ISIS, and any other surrounding enemies of Israel are smelling blood in the water. And a weaker US Administration that is less likely to come to Israel’s aid may prove to be an opportunity for those enemies as they conspire toward a possible window to attack the Jewish State (Ezekiel 38:10-12). An Israeli strike on Iran or on a key target in Syria may be the catalyst toward the same. Meanwhile, the ongoing Gaza conflict and its far-reaching global agitation of anti-Semitic insanity has long served as a nefarious tactic to turn the world against Israel nationally, politically, economically, and spiritually.
From Russia Without Love
Syria is considered a failed Arab state wherein Iran and Turkey are attempting to claim territory, though they are mostly kept at bay by their Russian overlord who unites them and who also holds the greatest territorial claim. Since the Syrian Civil War began in 2011, and in an effort to prevent Iran from gaining a more established presence in Syria, Israel has in the past decade launched airstrikes against tens of thousands of Iranian targets (primarily long-range missiles), and thousands since the start of the COVID pandemic! Curiously, Iran has not directly retaliated. This is likely because Russia has tolerated Israeli sorties against Iranian armament of its Syrian-based militias, as long as Israel does not interfere with Russian interests. Curiously, however, a recent shift in Russian tolerance has occurred in that Russian warplanes are now patrolling the Syrian-Israeli border within the Golan territory, limiting Israel’s own liberties into Syrian airspace. This may reflect Czar Putin’s developing strategy concerning Ukraine and an expanded theater of war. Case in point: Russia and China have formally bonded against Ukraine and the West, not surprising when considering that Putin’s view of his “right to Ukraine” mirrors Xi’s view of his own “right to Taiwan.”[2] A simultaneous multi-theater war may soon be unleashed that could very easily include the Ezekiel 38 surprise attack on Israel and the divine firestorm against Israel’s enemies.
Of course, with Russia (Gog) being the de facto overlord of the region, both Turkey and Iran and its proxy militias (Magog collectively) will not act without the Russian Bear’s consent and/or directive (Ezekiel 38). For now it is all geopolitical smoke and mirrors, entreaties and saber-rattling, smiles and handshakes… until “God’s hooks in Gog’s jaw” draws him and his army (Magog/Turkey) out from the far north (Russia) to come up against Israel like a storm (Ezekiel 38:3-16). As I detail in the “Distant Thunder” report, Russia has been establishing a presence in Syria (immediately north of Israel) since 2006, and is now well-entrenched throughout the region–a naval presence on the Mediterranean, command of Syrian ports, command of Syrian airspace via multiple airfields, and dominance of the Syrian frontier via armed ground bases and patrols. Moreover, the list of Israel’s enemies in Ezekiel 38:3-6 are each contemporary Middle and Near Eastern client states of modern Russia. In tandem with the major players already mentioned, other enemies include Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Ethiopia, and part of Sudan; of course those countries may simply be represented by the varied radical Muslim expats who comprise the surrounding militias of Hezbollah, Hamas, Fatah, ISIS, al Qaeda, and the Taliban.
Indeed, Jerusalem will be “a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it” (Zechariah 12:3).
The Abraham Accords
Astounding the world in summer/autumn of 2020 and continuing its progress into the foreseeable future are the Abraham Accords brokered by the US Donald J. Trump Administration, Israel, and a growing alliance of moderately Islamic Arab nations. The only Arab allies to hold formal peace treaties with Israel prior to this unprecedented event are Egypt (1979) and Jordan (1994). The decades of stymied “peace processes” between Israel and her Arab neighbors have been due to a narrow view of how peace should be defined, who should represent the Arab perspective, and a few overzealous US presidents looking for a political legacy. This senseless obstacle was overcome by Israel and America simply refusing to negotiate with the terrorist-backed Palestinian Authority that refused (by its own Charter) to even recognize Israel as a legitimate nation. Instead, Israel and the US Trump Administration invited other Arab nations to the table that were willing to work together toward a stable Middle and Near East.[3] Thus, the Abraham Accords were born, named in reference to Abraham, the father of both Jews and Arabs.
Presently, the Arab nations officially joining with Israel in this peace accord are Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, Sudan proper, and Morocco. Others formally moving toward the same are Oman, Indonesia, Mauritania, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia (a very strategic partner!). Deeper diplomatic ties are also coming to fruition between Israel and various moderate Islamic states such as Kosovo, Serbia, and Bosnia. A recent template of constructive Arab unity manifested as Operation Decisive Storm in 2015, a coalition of moderately Islamic states that formed in opposition to Iran attempting to take control of both Yemen and the Bab al-Mandeb strait via Iranian backed (tribal) Houthis. While successful in thwarting Iran’s designs, the conflict continues to escalate. Specifically, the Houthis have been launching terror attacks against both Saudi Arabia and the UAE, which have both appealed to the US for assistance. In cowardly fashion, the US Biden Administration has removed the Houthis from an international list of terrorist organizations, and has refused to offer the Arab nations any help.
Islamic Reformation?
A primary reason (and need) for the Abraham Accords is modernization and mutual goodwill in a rapidly growing and shrinking world. A secondary reason is mutual protection against barbaric terrorism of any sort, as such seeks only to destroy, divide, and dominate. Notably, Islam has been undergoing an internal “reformation” since 9/11. Muslim leaders from imams to scholars are beginning to openly and honestly revisit the Koran’s jihadic contexts, Islamic hadiths, and the blatantly hypocritical and brutally violent nature of Islam’s founder, Muhammad. Much discussion and debate continues about the very heart of Islamic meaning and its place in the world, particularly in relation to other non-Muslim regions, religions, and nations in our modern era which is vastly alien to Muhammad’s medieval cultural context. The UAE and Saudi Arabia are leading the way.
This “reformation” within the Islamic world has surely sharpened the divide between the moderate and radical Muslims, including the longstanding division between the Sunni and Shi’ite sects. Yet there is hope. Many Arab nations are friendly toward the West and have chosen the path of a peaceful moderate Islam coupled with modernization, which makes possible a positive participation in global affairs and healthy relationships with other national states and entities. The alternative is a backward and oppressive form of Koranic government (rigid Sharia law) that suppresses personal freedoms and breeds a brutal and radicalized martial religion that seeks world dominance devoid of goodwill, innovation, or anything of use to the world overall. Adherents to moderate forms of Islam are becoming more outspoken toward the extremists, demanding they wake up and join the 21st century! Thorough and highly readable investigation into this Islamic reformation can be found in author Joel C. Rosenberg’s Inside the Revolution (Tyndale, 2009) and Enemies and Allies (Tyndale, 2021).
Shadows of the Future
So how might the Abraham Accords foreshadow end-time events? Remarkably, the Arab nations that have joined in peace with Israel (and those expressing interest in the same) are condemning all radical forms of Islamic terrorism, and are not on the list of enemies found in Ezekiel 38. And those nations that are listed as enemies of Israel in Ezekiel 38 are presently bound to each other by their anti-Semitic speech and violence, their ties to Russia (Gog), and their desire for a world under totalitarian Islamic rule.
It is these radical Muslim enemies that will be supernaturally destroyed when they launch an unexpected invasion of Israel in the near future. When the smoke clears, those nations of the Abraham Accords will be left intact and will be the foundational confederation of nations that the rising Antichrist will use to mediate his false covenant with Israel (Amos 3:7; Daniel 9:27; Revelation 6:1-4). This does not at all imply that the Abraham Accords are an evil design. Rather, the Accords are a wonderful design towards peace that, sadly, the Antichrist violates toward his own ends. But these trends reveal the Creator God of prophecy bringing about the final days of the latter years of our present earth age (2 Timothy 3:1).
The end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers (1 Peter 4:7).
*See All Israel News & All Arab News for expanded reference.
1. Seth J. Frantzman, “Why Iran’s Threat to Attack Israel’s Dimona Matters,” 12.26.21, https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-689777
2. “Putin and Xi Proclaim Bond as Russia Deploys More Forces,” article thread, 2.3.22, https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/02/03/world/russia-ukraine-xi-putin
3. For superb insider analysis on the development of the Abraham Accords, see Joel C. Rosenberg, Enemies and Allies, (Tyndale, 2021).
[Photo credit: Russian Artillery, Forbes]