Creation And The Second Coming Of Christ - Lesson 2

Middle East Conflict
There are various nations in the world whose religions are based on some form of God in nature called pantheism: Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Shinto, Animism. Some included belief in many gods representing various forces of nature and heavenly bodies. None of the systems include a Creator, a personal transcendent God.

Three religions are basically monotheistic, accepting a Creator God: Christians, Muslims, and Jews. The official home of the Jews is Israel, though there are Jews all over the world. Europe, the Americas, Australia, new Zealand, and South Africa are at least nominally Christian nations. Islam is the religion of the Middle East, as well as North and East Africa, Indonesia, and parts of central Asia.

The greatest turmoil is in the Middle East involving Muslims against Jews. This area is the center of most of Biblical (Old and New Testament) history. All the nations but Israel are Muslim. The greatest hatred comes from religious leaders of Islam, and militant fanatics who strike out against Israel. This will only get worse.

The 18 Muslim nations there: Afghanistan, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, North and South Yemen, Palestinian settlements in Israel with the P.L.O. pushing for a separate nation of Palestine.

Several of the republics of the former Soviet Union are also largely Muslim. There have been repeated conflicts within these nations. Iraq against Iran, then Iraq against Kuwait, leading to the Gulf War.

Iraq under Saddam Hussein considered itself the strongest Muslim nation. He apparently wanted to become the leader of all Muslim nations. Hussein considered himself the second Nebuchadnez'zar, the ruler of the ancient empire of Babylon.

Baghdad was close to the ruins of that ancient city, which Hussein had begun rebuilding in 1971. Many Biblical prophecies mention Babylon as part of the end times world government and religion. His role has ended with his life. Now that Iraq is no longer in the running for world domination, Iran seems to have taken up the cause for Muslim supremacy.

What other nations will align themselves with Iran is yet to be seen, though there are strong ties with parts of the former Soviet Union and Russia. Some claim that up to 40% of the former U.S.S.R. population consists of ethnic Muslims. There is no way of measuring how many are devout believers.

Muslims against Jews
Both groups trace their heritage back to Abraham. The Jews through Isaac, Moses, and David. The Muslims through Ishmael as revealed by the prophet Mohammed around 600 A.D. Their God is Allah, distant but almighty in judgment. To the Jews, Jehovah or Yahweh is loving and redeeming.

The Bible records from the time of Abraham, the coming hatred of the descendants of Ishmael against those of Isaac. This was prophesied by David's musician Asaph in the 83rd Psalm where a confederacy of nations surround Israel: "They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance." (Psalms 84:4.)

They are listed as those nations immediately around Israel during David's time, but represent the same areas today, though their names have changed. Israel's ancient enemies are the direct ancestors of their modern enemies. Israel still has prevailed in one war after another with their neighbors: Jordan, Egypt, Syria, Palestine, Iraq, Lebanon. It appears that all these nations plus Iran and Turkey continue to build up their armies and munitions for an eventual assault against the tiny country of Israel. Russia seems to be the greatest supplier of arms, with North Korea, China, Germany, and France joining in.

The Gog and Magog Prophecy of Ezekiel (chapter 3:38,39). This included the future return of Jews to their promised land after almost 2,000 years of exile following their rejection of Christ and the Roman destruction and deportation of 70 A.D. and following. Only in 1948, the U.N. recognized Israel as a nation and it has continued, against all opposition from its neighbors an enemies ever since. Unfortunately a large percent of the returned population, though Jewish, could not be described as devout in their religious views or practices. Then comes the great invasion in the latter days - a confederacy of nations invades against the mountain of Israel.

The leader is Gog of the land of Magog; the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal (or prince of Rosh). This designation is thought to refer to the Rus, or people of Russia. It is believed that the cities of Moscow and Tobolsk were named after Meschech and Tubal, sons of Japheth (son of Noah). They were far to the north of Israel. Along also will be Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya among others. This would include the modern nations of Iraq and Iran from ancient Persia. Turkey is also among the invading nations.

Ezekiel's description of the invasion (38). He had to describe what he saw in his vision according to what he knew - horses, swords, storm clouds, all sorts of armor, bucklers and shields, a great company ascending like a storm, a cloud to cover the land. This suggests a tremendous force - both on land and in the air.