This is near the anniversary of the last time Israel was officially at war, in 1973, when she was attacked by Egypt, Syria, and others. But this was a different kind of war. Thousands of rockets rained on Israel from multiple directions. Hamas gunmen invaded by land, sea, and sky, and hundreds of people were murdered and kidnapped. They were using what we might describe as ISIS-like methods.

They specifically targeted young women and young children. They launched massive, indiscriminate rocket fire toward civilian population centers, as well as terrorist infiltration of cities and settlements close to the Gaza border. They went home to home, door to door, looking for the young and the elderly. Some of the women they took as hostages were survivors of the Holocaust.

When it’s all said and done, this number tragically will only get larger. There are 700 dead and over 2,000 wounded. This is without precedent, causing the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, to say they are now at war.

Who is Hamas? They’re a terrorist organization funded by Iran. That’s not a secret. In fact, a PR person from Hamas stated that this was funded by Iran. This is something that’s an established fact.

Iran has long stated their objective, which is to destroy Israel. An Iranian leader celebrated the attacks, putting out this message: “We will stand by the Palestinian fighters until the liberation of Palestine and Jerusalem is completed.”

Iran has also signaled that they are developing a nuclear weapon. In the past, they have threatened to, in their own verbiage, wipe Israel off the face of the map.

One leader of Iran said, “Is it possible for us to witness a world without America and Zionism? But you had best know that this slogan and this goal are altogether attainable, and surely can be achieved. This regime that is occupying Jerusalem must be wiped from the map.”

It’s interesting how it always comes back to Jerusalem.

The Bible predicted 1000s of years ago that the end-times events would revolve around Jerusalem. Not Irvine. Not Los Angeles. Not Moscow. Not Paris. Jerusalem, this tiny little city, this tiny sliver of land, will play a key role in the events of the last days. It’s a focal point of end-times events.

In Zechariah 12:2-3, God says, “Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.”

The irony of all of this is that the Biden administration just gave $6 billion to Iran. What a bad move it is to give any money to a nation that sponsors terrorism around the world.

But here’s where it gets interesting for students of Bible prophecy. The Bible tells us in the end times that Israel would be scattered and re-gathered. This has happened. You want to talk about signs of the times; the super sign of the last days, the sign that sets the prophetic clock ticking is the regathering of the nation of Israel into its homeland.

It happened on the heels of the Holocaust. Who would have ever thought that these Jewish people, who lost 6 million of their people to the Nazis, would somehow regather in their homeland, but it happened against all odds. On May 14th, 1948, Israel became a nation. The United States was the first nation to acknowledge the State of Israel.

In Ezekiel 37 and 38, the Bible speaks of the regathering of Israel, and then it speaks of a large force from her north attacking her. That force is identified as being led by Magog.

Who is Magog? No one can say with absolute certainty. But many, many Bible students and prophecy teachers believe it’s modern-day Russia. I think you can make a very good case for that. On a map of the Middle East, look to the north of Israel, and you will find Russia.

Why would Russia ever want to invade Israel? Well, there’s another thing that the Bible says about Magog: one of the allies that will march with her is Persia, the ancient name for modern Iran.

The Bible predicted this thousands of years ago. It’s only recently that the Iranians and the Russians have developed a special connection. Not once in the past 2,500 years has Russia formed a military alliance with Iran, but they have now signed a billion-dollar accord for the sale of missiles, and the Iranians have helped the Russians by providing them with weaponized drones to use in the Ukraine war.

How do you stop something like what is happening in Israel? Some hostages are women, little children, and soldiers. It’s very tricky.

Let’s just say, for the sake of a point, if they decided to strike at Iran, specifically because of their funding of this attack, what would that produce? It could produce the conflict we read about in Ezekiel.

I’m not saying this is going to lead to the Ezekiel 38 scenario, 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.

You’re seeing Bible prophecy fulfilled in your lifetime, in real-time, before your very eyes.

What should we do in light of all of this?

Did Jesus say, When you see these things begin to happen, freak out because you’re dead in the water? He didn’t say that. Jesus said, “When these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh” (Luke 21:28).

I’m going to ask you to join me in prayer. The Bible tells us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. We want to pray that they arrive at some kind of peace. We want to pray that this horrific terrorism stops and that they’re able to get their hostages back. Even then, that is not going to replace the hundreds of lives that were lost in this unprecedented attack.

About the Author

Greg Laurie is an evangelist, author, and the senior pastor of Harvest Riverside.