NOTE: When writing about God and Jesus, The Daily Jot means YHVH as God and Yeshua Ha Mashiach as Jesus–the actual original names and the true nature and character of them.
Wednesday, August 2, 2017
Ezekiel 38 prophesies about a tremendous end-time battle where a coalition of nations led by an antichrist figure coming from areas in modern Turkey invades Israel and is destroyed by God. The coalition, led by “Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal (v 38:3)” is comprised of Persia, Ethiopia, Libya, Magog, Gomer and Togarmah. Ancient history and maps confirm that Magog, Meshech, Tubal, Gomer and Togarmah are located in modern Turkey. Persia is modern Iran. Libya is Libya and Ethiopia is likely modern Sudan. For this coalition to come against Israel, Shiite Iran must submit to and unite with Sunni Turkey, something that appears nearly impossible today, but may be changing even as you read this.
There is a complex matrix in which Turkey’s leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan appears to be moving the pieces in place where Iran and Turkey can become allies. In May, Turkey and Iran signed a Russian-brokered agreement to establish safe zones in Syria, where the two countries are at odds over Syria’s leader Bashar Assad. This may not seem like much, but since then there has been more activity seeming to bring Iran and Turkey together. This strange relationship is tied together by Qatar, which has caused a diplomatic “crisis” with Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain over accusations that Qatar is supporting “extremists” -most likely translated-Iran. This group wants Qatar to expel Turkey’s troops and limit it’s ties with Iran.
Turkey has a strong trade and military relationship with Qatar, sporting a military base there that opened in 2016. On July 23, Erdogan met with the Saudis and Kuwaitis, attempting to deescalate the crisis. At the same time, however, Erdogan proclaimed that all Muslims should visit the Temple Mount and protect Jerusalem while accusing Israeli Jews of “attempting to take the Mosque from Muslim hands on the pretext of fighting terrorism.” On July 30, Erdogan organized thousands in Istanbul to protest Israel’s Temple Mount actions and to show solidarity with the “Palestinian” people. At the same time Erdogan provoked “Palestinians” to act against Israel, Iran worked in tandem to literally “feed” the riots.
The Times of Israel reported that Iran provided boxes of food and drink to Palestinian protesters at the Temple Mount. The aid reportedly came with a flyer attached depicting the Dome of the Rock and a quote attributed to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei reading, “With the help of God, Palestine will be freed. Jerusalem is ours.” Turkey’s cooperation with Iran in Syria, the apparent teamwork against Israel on the Temple Mount protests, and Turkey’s attempts to hold Saudi Arabia and Egypt at bay while strengthening ties with Iran’s ally Qatar lend some small insight into how these Sunni and Shiite nations may join together against Israel in the “acharit-hayamim,” meaning the end of days. But it won’t last when God intervenes with fire and brimstone as Ezekiel 38: 21 says, “…every man’s sword shall be against his brother.”
