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HISTORY
OF THE INVADERS
After
the flood, as the waters descended, Noah's ark came to rest on Mt.
Ararat. Ararat is in the general area of the border of Russia,
Turkey, and Iran (Asia Minor) in the vicinity of Lake Van. (1) From
there the sons of Noah scattered to various regions.
Noah
had one son whose name was Japheth. Japheth remained located in this
general area where the ark came to rest (from south Europe to Iran).
Japheth
had four sons whose history are as follows:
1.
Gog - In the Bible, a northern people (Magog) often identified with
the Sythians, whose ruler was Gog. (3)
2.
Tubal - A country in Asia Minor. (1)
3.
Meshech - A people and country in Asia Minor. (1)
4.
Gomer (Cimmeria) - This people (nomads) invaded Asia Minor, Ararat,
Tubal and Meshech. (1)
Gomer had a son whose name was Scythian and whose kingdom was
associated with Ararat and Minni. They were the pushing force behind
the Cimmerian invasion of Asia Minor.(1)
It appears that the families of Gog and Gomer are very closely
related together, both being identified with Scythians. They also
seem to have dominion over their other brothers. However, we have
one important distinction; that is that Gomer, Tubal and Meshech are
definitely associated with Asia Minor, but no Gog. They are the
PEOPLE OF THE NORTH.
When examined a little closer, you find that Asia Minor is that
portion of Asia which extends as a peninsula between the Black Sea
and the Mediterranean, corresponding with modern Turkey.
However, our mystery lies in the area of the land in the
north. Look north of Israel. Directly above them are Lebanon and
Syria (Arabs); north of these countries lies Turkey (Asia Minor),
and north of Turkey lies none other than RUSSIA. Russia covers all
the land north of Turkey to the North Pole (the most extreme
northern point).
Therefore, if Gog was separated as a people who existed into an area
north of even his brothers (Asia Minor), there seems but one place
to be considered. That land is RUSSIA.
Ezekiel, in so many words, spoke of this people of the north as
barbaric. Let us examine a little of the history of Russia.
RUSSIA
The ancient Greek historian, Herodotus, described the customs of the
warlike Scythians, a people of Iranian origin, who ruled from the
8th to the 3rd century B.C. in what we know as Russia. Russian
history properly does not begin until the middle of the 9th century
A.D. when the Varangus (Vikings) descended overland from Scandinavia
and united Eastern Slavs.
During the 13th century A.D. new Asiatic tribes (nomads) invaded.
The Tartars, a Mongol people ruled Russia. The new rulers, cruel
and competent, applied the efficient and centralized methods
of administrative control that they had learned from the Chinese.
Exact population censuses were taken, taxes were collected and
recruits were impressed into the military.
Families and even whole towns were held collectively
responsible for the act of any one of the members. (3)
We can see from this small extract that Russia's entire history is
filled with barbaric revolution, rule, and bloodshed. Communism is
the most heartless and barbaric system which we know today. We have
seemingly seen a dramatic change in Russia's government and
structure. Please don't become confused by the smoke-screens being
thrown up in this end-time move. Communism is still alive and Bible
prophecy is still on track.
Maybe
you are wondering why Ezekiel didn't pinpoint this people (Gog) in
more definite terms. There is probably more than one reason. Maybe
it was because of us today; that we might search out that which is
in the Word of God more deeply. However, Ezekiel wrote this prophecy
in approximately 587 B.C. If you will notice, Russian history, as we
know it today, only began in the 13th century, or about 1800 years
later.
REFERENCES:
(1)
The Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible
(2)
The Interpreter's Bible (1956)
(3)
The American People Encyclopedia
COMMENTS:
It appears the following stages of the last days will come in this
order:
1.
Israel has been restored as a nation and is possessing the land God
promised to her.
2.
Peace truce comes between Israel and the Arab world.
3.
Israel is invaded by the forces of Gog.
4.
Israel prevails as God literally fights their battle.
5.
Israel, as a nation, accepts the Lord in revival.
6.
The rise of the Beast (Antichrist).
7.
Our Lord's return for His church.
THE
MYTH OF PRE-TRIBULATION RAPTURE
One of the most amazing concepts and teachings of the Christian
world is that of a "Pre-tribulation Rapture." The reason
it is so amazing is that it is embraced by probably 90% of all
Christian faiths and, yet, has no biblical basis when all scripture
is taken into account and rightly divided. One might ask, "If
this is true, why would so many from so many religious backgrounds
accept such a teaching." The answer is very simple. The want to
believe it, because it is the easy way out. That also amazes me
because the Christian way has never been the easy way out as far as
flesh and society is concerned. That alone should make a Christian
skeptical.
The truth is, the bible is full of statements and teaching that
contradict the myth of pre-tribulation rapture. Jesus explains to us
in Matthew chapter 24 that the Anti-Christ must be seen by the elect
(church) before that day and that the days would be shortened in
order for the elect to be saved. It further tells us why the days
are shortened; because of the great tribulation. (v.21)
Starting with verse 29, Jesus explains to us the events immediate
after the tribulation of those days. Verses 30-31 gives us the
specific sign of the Lord's coming. That sign is a great sound of a
trumpet. This trumpet sign is further verified by the Apostle Paul
in I Thess. 4:16-17. In the 15 chapter of I Corinthians, verses
51-52, Paul even tells us that this event takes place at the
sounding of the last trumpet. Revelation confirms Paul's
declaration. It teaches us that there are seven angels with trumpets
that sound, but verse 7 of chapter 10 tells us which one. "But
in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall
begin to sound, the mystery God should be finished, as he hath
declared to his servants the prophets. What is this "mystery of
God?" Paul tells us in the 51st and 52nd verses 1 Corinthians
chapter 15. "Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not sleep,
but we shall all be changed. In a moment, in the twinkling of an
eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the
dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
Two other parts of the myth try to tell us that the term
"elect" is not church, and the Jesus could come at any
moment and as a thief in the night. Both of these theories are
biblically unfounded. It has been said that if it be proven that the
Church is God's "elect", then there can be no question as
to when the Rapture of the Church will take place. It will take
place "immediately after the Tribulation."
The truth is; the bible does confirm that the Church is the
"elect." In Romans chapter 8, Paul is writing to the
church of the hope in Christ Jesus. He addresses those he is writing
to as ''God's elect." Paul tells Timothy that he had endured
all things for the "elect's" sake. This has to be for the
church. In Colossians chapter 3, Paul makes it perfectly clear that
the "elect" is the church and not Israel. Verses 10-12
shows us that Paul is speaking about those who have put on the
"new" man (Christians). He further explains that they are
neither Greek or Jew, circumcised or not, barbaric, Scythian, bond
nor free; but it is Christ that is all, and in all. They are then
addressed as the "elect" of God. This is the Church
without question. One might say we need verification from the mouth
of more than one witness. Peter begins his first epistle even
calling the strangers scattered throughout several regions as the
"elect" simply because they had been chosen by God through
sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the
blood of Jesus Christ.
Not only these two great men of God teach us that the church is
God's elect, they did not believe in the "imminent"
coming of the Lord. Both expected to die and go by the grave. Surely
Paul was preparing the church for that in II Tim. 4:6 when he
states, "For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my
departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my
course, I have kept the faith. Jesus informed Peter that he would
live to be an old man. (Jn. 21:18) Peter apparently believed the
Lord for he addresses the situation in II Peter chapter 1, verses
14-15. Peter writes these words, "Knowing that shortly I must
put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath
shewed me. Moreover I will endeavor that ye may be able after my
decease to have these things always in remembrance." How could
Peter or Paul be expecting the Lord to come at any moment as men
teach today. This would be a direct contradiction. The truth is; the
early church did not believe in the "imminent" coming of
Christ, nor did the preachers of the Reformation, like John Wesley,
Martin Luther, John Knox, John Calvin, Matthew Henry, and the list
goes on. In fact, there appears to be no evidence of any group
believing that the Rapture could take place at any moment
until the year 1830. In that year, a fifteen year old girl by the
name of Margaret MacDonald proclaimed that she had received a
revelation from the Lord that the Church would be raptured before
the Tribulation. Edward Irving of the Irvingite Church of
Scotland was her pastor. He accepted her revelation and began to
preach this new doctrine. It was not long until the Plymouth
Brethren accepted this teaching, and, with its "easy on the
flesh" impact, it has spread throughout
the church world for the last 165 years.
What a deception! Several years ago I was attending a bible
conference. One of the afternoon sessions was a panel of three
ministers representing the three different views of the point of
rapture. As they each brought their points of belief, I, very
quietly begin showing the people on the pew where I sit, not my
opinion, but what the Word of God said. The Holy Ghost moved me
through the Word in amazing fashion. These ministers could hardly
believe what I was showing them. When the allotted time for the
panel's discussion expired, they were no where near finishing the
discussion. I will never forget how the one minister, who chaired
the panel and believed in a pre-tribulation rapture, concluded with,
"Brethren, just take my word for it; the Lord will rapture the
Church before the Tribulation. He gave no scripture to base his
remark on, only his popularity with the crowd. I am convinced that
it would be better to not believe anything than to believe a lie.
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