“We don't thrive on military acts. We do them because we have to, and thank God we are efficient.“ (Golda Meir) These days—with everyone glued to the current Russia/Ukraine conflict—it’s understandable that much of the chitchat amongst astute prophecy-watchers is centered around the possible expansion of the Russia/Ukraine skirmish—now contained to one specific area of Asia—and the fear it could ultimately lead to the infamous intercontinental Gog and Magog War, found in Ezekiel 38 and 39.
However, the prophetic Word says otherwise…since, BEFORE Gog and Magog can take place, the nation of Israel must FIRST be at peace—must first “DWELL SAFELY“ amongst her surrounding neighbors—as the prophet Ezekiel explains: "In the latter years (End Times) you (Gog, aka Putin) will come into the land of those brought back from the sword (Israel) and gathered from many people on the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate (prior to Israel’s rebirth in 1948); they (Israel) were brought out of the nations, and now ALL OF THEM DWELL SAFELY.” (Ezekiel 38:8)
Ask yourself…does the nation of Israel currently “dwell safely”? ABSOLUTELY NOT. On the contrary, the nation of Israel—a divided state; surrounded on three sides—must daily defend her borders against the “barbarians at the gate”; namely Iranian proxies, such as Hamas (in Gaza) and Hezbollah (in Lebanon); as well as various Al-Qaida affiliates (in Syria and Egypt) and radical Palestinians (in Jordan).
Knowing this—knowing Israel must FIRST be at peace BEFORE the Gog and Magog War can commence—one has to wonder exactly how Israel plans to solve this existential threat posed by her enemies…before entering into an extended 3 ½ year period of PEACE?
Easy. Israel removes her enemies via WAR...but not on a major scale, but by way of a smaller regional conflict—a conflict that will ultimately “set the table” for WW3…
The Battle of Psalm 83…or as some refer to it: the LITTLE battle, before the BIG (Gog & Magog) war.
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1. Please explain why Psalm 83 is likely the NEXT event on God’s End Times calendar? “They (Israel’s enemies) have said, “Come, and let us cut them (Israel) off from being a nation, that the name of Israel may be remembered no more.” (Psalm 83:4)
3,000 years ago—sick and tired of being hassled by Israel’s violent neighbors—King David’s choir director, a man we know as Asaph, sat down and penned Psalm 83: an imprecatory (and highly prophetic) prayer against Israel’s regional enemies, for the reason of destroying and removing Israel’s enemies as an existential threat. In typical Old Testament fashion, Asaph pleads with God to DESTROY Israel’s enemies—in much the same way God did in times of yore—by reminding God of several victorious battles from Israel’s past…all events where God caused great carnage to Israel’s foes.
Now, three millennia later, the nation of Israel finds themselves in a similar position, once again faced with the same unenviable task of having to remove a major threat—both outside AND inside their borders…but this time, as a precursor to PEACE.
So, does the Bible mention a FUTURE prophetic event that would accomplish the exact same wishes as Asaph, 3,000 years ago…and remove this threat? Yes, it does; via the total fulfillment of Psalm 83.
BTW…Asaph, the choir director—the writer of Psalm 83? His name in Hebrew means “to GUARD, to REMOVE, to DESTROY”.
2. Who are Israel’s enemies in the Psalm 83 battle, both past and current? “For they have consulted together (against Israel) with one consent. They form a confederacy against You (God): The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites; Moab and the Hagrites; Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek; Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre; Assyria also has joined with them; They have helped the children of Lot.” (Psalm 83:5-8)
Philistia (Gaza) – Palestinians/Hamas
Tyre/Gebal (Lebanon) - Hezbollah
Edom (Southern Jordan) - Palestinians
Ammon (Northern Jordan) - Palestinians
Moab (Central Jordan) - Palestinians
Assyria (Syria/Iraq) – Al-Qa'ida affiliates
Amakek/Hagrites (Egypt) - Al-Qa'ida affiliates
3. I don’t see Iran (Persia) mentioned anywhere in this prophecy. Are they involved in the Psalm 83 battle?
Surprisingly, NO…at least, not directly. Indirectly, though, we know Iran—Israel’s current ENEMY #1—controls their proxy terrorist organizations, Hamas (in Gaza) and Hezbollah (in Lebanon)…the latter, in particular, being the most dangerous, since Hezbollah boasts to having thousands of missiles aimed at Israel, to their south.
As well—to escalate matters even further—just this week, Iran successfully launched a military satellite into orbit. The news of this most recent provocation—combined with the soon-to-be announced details of Iran’s new nuclear deal (the details of which we’re hearing are NOT at all favorable to Israel and the west)—make it easy to imagine Israel undertaking the Psalm 83 battle, sooner than later…as a way for Israel to try and nullify Iran’s growing influence in the region.
4. Please explain how the Psalm 83 battle differs from the Gog and Magog War? “Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him, and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal. I will turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and lead you out, with all your army, horses, and horsemen, all splendidly clothed, a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords. Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; Gomer and all its troops; the house of Togarmah from the far north and all its troops—many people are with you.” (Ezekiel 38:1-6)
Magog, Rosh, Meshach and Tubal (Russia)
Persia (Iran)
Cush (Ethiopia/Sudan)
Put (Libya/Algeria)
Gomer (Eastern Europe)
Togarmah (Turkey)
First, when comparing the list of Israel’s enemies in Psalm 83, to those in Ezekiel 38, we immediately notice that not one of the nations is the same; not a single nation. Thus, we can assume that—not only did Israel decisively win the battle of Psalm 83—but the opposing nations in that battle (Lebanon, Jordan, Gaza) will no longer be viable, at least not enough to participate in a future Gog and Magog War, against Israel…even years into the future.
Another reason these two events are completely different from one another is in the outcome. Whereas Israel decisively defeats her foes in the Psalm 83 conflict, the outcome of the future Gog and Magog War is much different. Does Israel successfully defend herself against the Gog and Magog onslaught? Yes…in a manner of speaking…although the gentile world will not necessarily see it that way; instead, realizing it was GOD who supernaturally assisted Israel by inflicting Russia, Iran and others with such devastating losses. “Thus I (God) will magnify Myself and sanctify Myself, and I will be known in the eyes of many nations. Then they shall know that I am the Lord.” (Ezekiel 38:23)
And yet, the nation of Israel—although technically winning the Gog and Magog War— does not come out of it unscathed. Heavily damaged—and no longer under the protection of Trump—the next war (against Trump, by then, acting as the Beast)—will destroy much of Israel, as is witnessed in Isaiah 17, when a nuclear blast completely erases Damascus from the face of the earth, and destroying the top one-third of Israel (aka the Golan Heights). “The fortress ALSO will cease from Ephraim (northern Israel).” (Isaiah 17:3)
From that point on—where Israel is concerned—it’s EVERY MAN FOR HIMSELF. "In that day, it shall come to pass, that the glory of Jacob (Israel) will wane.” (Isaiah 17:4)
5. Realizing Israel’s success at winning skirmishes has been pretty shaky of late, why do you think Israel can not only win this war…but win it DECISIVELY?
If you are familiar with Israel’s recent history—dealing with her regional enemies (like Hamas and Hezbollah)—then, no, the results have not been favorable. In fact, the last time Israel and Hezbollah tangled, in 2006, Israel was lucky the conflict ended in a draw. For that reason, most Middle East pundits would not expect Israel to win another head-to-head battle with the enemies on her border…but instead, the consensus is that Israel would be satisfied with inflicting a considerable amount of damage on her enemies; thus—at the very least—muting Iran’s growing influence.
However, Psalm 83 points to just the opposite: a total and decisive victory by Israel; possibly even reminiscent of Israel’s shocking victory in the 6-Day War of 1967, where —beyond all odds—Israel defeated formidable foes Egypt, Jordan and Syria…mostly because the enemy began firing on each other; a phenomenon that Ezekiel said will happen again—in the Gog & Magog War—when, “Every man’s sword will be against his brother.” (Ezekiel 38:21)
One question people will certainly ask: out of the Psalm 83 conflict, will the Palestinians finally get their own state, as Trump proposed in 2020, in his pre-Abraham Accord DEAL OF THE CENTURY? I have no idea…although—if Trump and his Abraham Accord partners do create something for the Palestinians—I doubt it’s on Israeli soil…since that would seem to contradict scripture…notably God’s ultimate desire to CLEASE Israel of people who worship “pagan gods”.
Also, an important fact to keep in mind is that Israel RARELY instigates these events themselves, by directly attacking other nations. Instead, I’d expect Israel to somehow provoke the enemy to attack FIRST—possibly, by creating a false flag event—thus, allowing Israel to attack under the guise of protecting the interests of Israel.
6. We know Israel is currently relying on Donald Trump to protect them? How much is Trump involved in this battle?
100%. In fact, Israel would be unable to undertake this battle without the complete and willing support of Donald Trump, the US Military, and (likely) other partners...possibly even other Arab partners, like Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
Just last year, in 2021, I quoted Donald Trump in a Tweet, after reading him say that one of his last objectives will be to FINALLY clean up the mess between Israel and her neighbors—ultimately bringing much-sought-after PEACE…something we already see Trump very involved in with his highly popular Abraham Accords peace initiative.
So, why would Trump do this? Well, I already mentioned Trump’s goal of bringing peace to the Middle East; and ideally, solving the Israeli/Palestinian conflict.
But Trump’s ultimate goal is WORLDWIDE PEACE—ideally, involving all 195 nations, including Russia, China and, yes, even Iran—all unified under a single 7-year Peace initiative—all of Trump’s own doing—a peace deal destined to fail, 3 ½ years later. “Then he (Trump) shall confirm (strengthen) a (peace) covenant with many (other nations) for one week (7 years); but in the middle of the week (after 3 ½ years) he (Trump) shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering (by desolating the Jewish Temple)." (Daniel 9:27)
7. After the battle of Psalm 83 has finally concluded, can we expect Gog and Magog War to commence soon after? “Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, ‘Come and see.’ And I looked, and behold, a white horse (signifying PEACE). He (TRUMP) who sat on it had a bow (but no arrows, signifying PEACE); and a crown (a STEPHANOS, a victor’s crown…not the DIADEM, worn by Jesus) was given to him (TRUMP), and he went out conquering and to conquer.” (Revelation 6:2)
Emphatically…NO...for the simple reason that we already know–from Revelation 6:2 (above)–that Trump (acting for the FIRST TIME, as the Biblical Antichrist) will FIRST strike a massive 7-year international peace deal...a deal Trump will break 3 ½ years later.
8. In your estimation, what are the next SEVEN prophetic events to happen? "For you yourselves know perfectly that the Day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “PEACE and safety!”–AS THE WORLD WILL SURELY SAY, DURING THE FIRST 3 ½ YEARS OF THE TRIBULATION–then sudden destruction comes upon them (during the final 3 ½ years), as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.” (1 Thessalonians 5:2-3)
Psalm 83 battle
Rapture
7-year worldwide Peace Treaty is established. In the wake of the Psalm 83 battle, the shock of the sudden Rapture, and the threat of WW3...the world will be more than happy to take a TIME-OUT; then sign Donald Trump’s 7-year peace accord–likely, an extension of Trump's already wildly-popular ABRAHAM ACCORD…a peace treaty that will be broken by Trump himself…after 3 ½ years...after he becomes the Beast. (Daniel 9:27, Revelation 6:2)
144,000 Jews are sealed by God, one by one. Once 100% of these 144,000 special, young Jewish evangelists are SEALED, the Great Tribulation can finally begin, with the first Trumpet judgment. (Revelation 8) Not coincidently, the sealing of the 144,000 took almost 3 ½ years to be completed SEALED, during a time when God held back on sending TRIBULATION to the earth (Revelation 7:1-4)...the exact same amount of time the world will be at peace, under Trump.
Trump is killed, then resurrected as the Beast. At the height of his popularity (as a peacemaker), Antichrist Trump will be killed (by a head wound), then miraculously be resurrected three days later, now as the Beast. (Revelation 13:3-4) In an event eerily similar to Christ's resurrection, 2,000 years earlier, most the world will now worship Donald Trump as a god.
Abomination of Desolation. Back on his feet, the first duty of the newly resurrected Trump—now as the NEW Beast—is that he desolates the new Jewish Temple, by allowing a False Prophet (aka the 2nd Beast) to place a Satanic Image of Trump on the temple altar…most likely, as a memorial to Trump’s amazing resurrection. Jesus said—to all Jews—when they see this happen…RUN! (Matthew 24:15-21, Daniel 9:27, Daniel 11:31)
Great Tribulation begins. After 3 ½ years of PEACE—followed by the Beast's desecration of the Temple—Trump’s next act against Israel will be less subtle, when he STOPS PROTECTING ISRAEL; then allows his friend Vlad Putin (aka Gog, the demon) to attack Israel, in the Gog and Magog War. (Ezekiel 38:13)
