Lesson #27

REVELATION AND THE SECOND COMING
LESSON #27
THE GREAT RUSSIAN WAR AND TRIBULATION EVENTS

• MEMORY VERSE: EZE 38:23

• THE TRIBULATION EVENTS COULD POSSIBLY INCLUDE THE GREAT RUSSIAN WAR.
• THE CONTROVERSIAL TIMING OF THE RUSSIAN INVASION OF ISRAEL.
• THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE THAT THE GREAT RUSSIAN WAR OCCURS BEFORE THE TRIBULATION BEGINS. THAT IS CERTAINLY POSSIBLE.
• HOWEVER, IN EZE 38:16 IT SAYS THAT THE WAR OCCURS “IN THE LATTER DAYS”. THIS PHRASE IS A PROPHETIC PHRASE THAT REFERS SPECIFICALLY TO THE TRIBULATION PERIOD.
• THE TRUMPET JUDGMENTS THAT WE HAVE STUDIED IN REV 8 (LESSON #25) SEEM TO CHARACTERIZE A WAR EARLY IN THE TRIBULATION PERIOD.
• IT IS THE BELIEF OF THE TEACHER THAT THE GREAT RUSSIAN WAR OCCURS EARLY IN THE TRIBULATION PERIOD TO CORRESPOND TO THE TRUMPET JUDGMENTS IN REVELATION.
• EZE 38:8 TELLS US THAT THIS WAR OCCURS AT A TIME WHEN THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL WILL BELIEVE THAT THEY “DWELL SAFELY” IN THE LAND.
• THE JEWS HAVE NEVER DWELT SAFELY IN ISRAEL SINCE THE TIME OF KING SOLOMON.
• HOWEVER, IN THE TRIBULATION PERIOD, LIVING UNDER THE PROTECTION OF THE ANTI-CHRIST’S PEACE TREATY, THE JEWS WILL FEEL THAT THEY LIVE IN SAFETY FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1948.
• THERE ARE MANY WHO BELIEVE THAT THE GREAT RUSSIAN WAR AND THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON ARE THE SAME WAR.
• WHILE THERE ARE SOME SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THE TWO WARS, THE GREAT RUSSIAN WAR IS NOT THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON, BECAUSE THERE ARE TOO MANY SCRIPTURAL DIFFERENCES.
• THE GREAT RUSSIAN WAR AND THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON COMPARED:

• THE TRIBULATION SCENARIO OF EVENTS (THE FIRST 3 ½ YEARS):
• BEFORE THE TRIBULATION PERIOD BEGINS NO HUMAN BEING WILL KNOW THE IDENTITY OF THE ANTI-CHRIST OR THE FALSE PROPHET.
• BY THE TIME THE TRIBULATION PERIOD BEGINS, THE ANTI-CHRIST ALREADY WILL HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED AS THE LEADER OF THE REVIVED ROMAN EMPIRE (POSSIBLY THE EUROPEAN UNION). (DAN 7:8)
• THE ANTI-CHRIST ALREADY WILL HAVE REPLACED 3 NATIONS OF THE REVIVED ROMAN EMPIRE TO CONSOLIDATE HIS POWER.
• THE FALSE PROPHET ALREADY WILL HAVE ESTABLISHED A WORLD RELIGIOUS HEADQUARTERS. (ZEC 5:5-11)
• THE ANTI-CHRIST ALREADY WILL BEGIN USING THE WORLD RELIGION TO GAIN MORE POWER. (DAN 11:38-39)
• THE TRIBULATION PERIOD BEGINS WITH A PEACE TREATY CONFIRMED BY THE ANTI-CHRIST. (DAN 9:27)
• THE PEACE TREATY ENABLES THE JEWS TO REBUILD THE TEMPLE IN JERUSALEM AND TO BEGIN TEMPLE WORSHIP WITH ANIMAL SACRIFICE.
• TO TEST THE ANTICHRIST’S ABILITY TO MAINTAIN PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST UNDER THE SEVEN-YEAR PEACE TREATY, RUSSIA WILL INITIATE AN ATTACK ON ISRAEL. THIS ATTACK WILL BEGIN THE GREAT RUSSIAN WAR.
• THE GREAT RUSSIAN WAR
• READ DAN 11:21-32 THE ROLE OF THE ANTI-CHRIST IN THIS WAR.
• READ EZE 38:1-7 THE WHO’S WHO OF THE NATIONS INVOLVED IN THE GREAT RUSSIAN WAR:
• =1= THERE WILL BE A REVIVED ROMAN EMPIRE HEADED BY THE ANTI-CHRIST WHO IS THE GUARDIAN OF WORLD PEACE. (DAN 11:25-26)
• =2= THE NORTHERN BLOC OF NATIONS (EZE 38:1-7)
• GOG = THIS WORD REFERS TO A RULER. THE WORD MEANS = “ROOF”, OR “THE ONE ON TOP”. IT, THEREFORE, REFERS TO THE LEADER OF A NATION OF PEOPLE.
• MAGOG = THE HEBREW WORD IS, rosh, WHICH MEANS = THE “HEAD” OR “CHIEF”. THIS IS A NATION OF PEOPLE THAT WE KNOW TODAY AS SOUTHERN RUSSIA AND THE UKRAINE. THERE IS A LINGUISTIC CONNECTION BETWEEN THE WORD, rosh, AND THE WORD, RUSSIA.
• THE FIRST PLACE WE FIND THE WORD, MAGOG, IN SCRIPTURE IS IN GEN 10. THE MOST ACCEPTED ETHNOLOGIC EVIDENCE IS THAT THESE PEOPLE OCCUPIED THE TERRITORY NORTH OF THE BLACK SEA AND BETWEEN THE BLACK SEA AND THE CASPIAN SEA.
• LATER THE GREEKS CALLED THESE PEOPLE THE SCYTHIANS.
• WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE SCYTHIANS?
• THEY WERE A VERY FIERCE NOMADIC PEOPLE FAMOUS FOR THEIR ARCHERY SKILLS IN EZEKIEL’S TIME PERIOD. THEIR SYMBOL WAS A HORSE WITH AN ARCHER LOOKING BACKWARD.
• THEY ARE MENTIONED IN COL 3:l1 AS BEING NEXT TO BARBARIANS.
• LATER IN THE COMMUNIST REVOLUTION IN RUSSIA (1917), THE COSSACKS, A WARRIOR CLASS OF PEOPLE WHO CAME FROM THE SAME GEOGRAPHIC AREA AS THE SCYTHIANS, AND PERHAPS DESCENDED FROM THEM, FOUGHT AGAINST THE COMMUNISTS. THEY SUPPORTED THE MONARCHY HEADED BY THE CZAR.
• THE SYMBOL OF THE CZARIST REGIME IN RUSSIA WAS THE DOUBLE EAGLE LOOKING EAST AND WEST. IT WAS A SYMBOL THAT EXPRESSED THEIR DESIRE TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN ASIA AND EUROPE THROUGH CONQUEST.
• SINCE THE FALL OF COMMUNISM IN RUSSIA, THE WARRIOR CLASS OF COSSACKS HAS BEEN PUSHING FOR A REVIVAL OF THEIR POLITICAL POWER. THE NEW SYMBOL OF RUSSIA SINCE THE FALL OF COMMUNISM IS AGAIN THE DOUBLE EAGLE.
• EZEKIEL TELLS US THAT THE LEADER OF RUSSIA (GOG) IS ALSO THE CHIEF PRINCE OF MESHECH AND TUBAL (2). IN OTHER WORDS, THE NAMES MAGOG, MESHECH AND TUBAL IDENTIFY A UNIFIED ARMY UNDER ONE RUSSIAN LEADER.
• MESHECH = THIS IS THE ANCIENT NAME FOR THE CITY OF MOSCOW. THE ORIGINAL NAME FOR THE NATION OF RUSSIA WAS “MUSCOVY” AND THEIR KINGS WERE CALLED THE MUSCOVITE DYNASTY. THEREFORE, THERE IS A LINGUISTIC IDENTITY BETWEEN MESHECH AND MOSCOW.
• TUBAL = THIS IS THE ANCIENT NAME FOR THE CITY OF TOBOLSK, THE CAPITAL OF SIBERIA. OTHER EVIDENCE SHOWS THAT THEY MAY HAVE SETTLED IN EASTERN TURKEY NEAR THE NATION OF GEORGIA.
• GOMER = EAST GERMANY AND FORMER SOVIET NATIONS OF EUROPE.
• THE NAME, GOMER, REFERS TO AN ANCIENT PEOPLE CALLED THE AKKADIANS OR CIMMERIANS OF THE RHINE AND DANUBE RIVER VALLEYS OF EASTERN EUROPE SUCH AS EASTERN GERMANY, ALBANIA, POLAND, AND HUNGARY.
• TOGARMAH = ESTONIA, LATVIA, LITHUANIA, AND ARMENIA.
• THE ARMENIANS STILL REFER TO THEMSELVES AS THE HOUSE OF TOGARMAH TODAY.
• =3= THE SOUTHERN BLOC OF NATIONS (PREDOMINATELY ISLAMIC):
• PERSIA = IRAN (INCLUDING THOSE NATIONS IN THE FORMER PERSIAN EMPIRE, SUCH AS: IRAQ, WEST PAKISTAN, AFGHANISTAN, CYPRUS, JORDAN, LEBANON, AND SYRIA).
• CUSH = ETHIOPIA, SOMALIA, SUDAN
• PUT = LIBYA (EGYPT, ALGERIA, MOROCCO, TUNISIA, MAURITANIA)
• =4= ISRAEL, “THE LAND BROUGHT BACK FROM THE SWORD” (8)
• =5= WHILE OTHERS LOOK ON. (EZE 38:13)
• THOSE WHO LOOK ON AND DO NOTHING ARE:
• SHEBA = YEMEN
• DEDAN = THE ANCIENT CAPITAL OF SAUDI ARABIA
• TARSHISH = ORIGINALLY THIS NAME REFERRED TO A CITY-STATE ON THE COAST OF SPAIN USED BY THE PHOENICIANS AND THEN ENGLAND AS A TRADING CENTER.
• THE YOUNG LIONS = THE YOUNG LIONS OF BOTH ENGLAND AND SPAIN ARE CANADA, THE UNITED STATES, AND ALL THE NATIONS IN CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA EXCEPT FOR BRAZIL.

• THE STRATEGY OF THE GREAT RUSSIAN WAR
• READ EZE 38:8-13 THE BATTLE STRATEGY OF THE GREAT RUSSIAN WAR:
• THE PURPOSE FOR THE GREAT RUSSIAN WAR:
• THE PURPOSE FOR THE WAR IS A STRUGGLE FOR WORLD POWER AND TO TAKE SPOIL (EZE 38:13).
• THE LOCATION OF THE GREAT RUSSIAN WAR:
• INITIALLY THE WAR OCCURS IN THE MOUNTAINS OF ISRAEL BUT EXPANDS TO THE MOUNTAINS OF LEBANON (EZE 38:8) AND THEN EXPANDS TO THE RUSSIAN HOMELAND, AS WELL AS TO ISLAND NATIONS. (EZE 39:6-7)
• THERE IS ALSO INTERNAL CONFLICTS AND A SECOND FRONT OF THE WAR IN EGYPT.
• READ ISA 19:2-4
• THIS IS NOT A WORLD WAR, THOUGH 1/3 OF THE EARTH IS AFFECTED BY IT. (REV 8:7)
• READ EZE 38:14-23 THE WAR

• PHASE #[1] (DAN 11:23-24)
• “…LEAGUE MADE WITH HIM; WORK DECEITFULLY…” (DAN 11:23) =
• THE ANTI-CHRIST WILL DECEIVE EGYPT AND THE OTHER SOUTHERN COALITION ALLIES TO BELIEVE THAT HE HAS NO PURPOSE TO CONTROL THE LAND OF ISRAEL.

• “…SHALL BECOME STRONG WITH A SMALL PEOPLE” (DAN 11:23) =
• THE SMALL PEOPLE ARE THE ISRAELITES (JEWS) IN THE PROMISED LAND.
• THE ANTI-CHRIST WILL INTIMIDATE ISRAEL INTO AGREEING TO THE PEACE TREATY FOR THE SAKE OF PEACE.
• “…FORCAST HIS DEVICES (PLOT) AGAINST THE STRONGHOLDS…” (DAN 11:24) =
• THE ANTI-CHRIST WILL INDULGE IN POLITICAL INTRIGUE AND BRIBES TO OBTAIN THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE TREATY THAT WILL GIVE HIM POWER IN THE MIDDLE EAST.

• PHASE #[2] (DAN 11:25-28)
• “…STIR UP HIS POWER… AGAINST THE KING OF THE SOUTH…” (DAN 11:25) =
• WHEN RUSSIA BEGINS TO MOVE AN ARMY TOWARD ISRAEL, THE ANTI-CHRIST WILL RECOGNIZE IT AS A THREAT TO HIS NEW PEACE TREATY. HE DESIRES TO DIVIDE THE RUSSIAN COALITION. THEREFORE, THE ANTI-CHRIST WILL TRAVEL TO EGYPT TO DISSUADE THEM FROM JOINING THE RUSSIAN ATTACK. HOWEVER, THIS INITIAL ATTEMPT WILL FAIL. THE ANTI-CHRIST WILL ACCEPT PAYMENT BY THE JEWS TO ENFORCE THE PEACE TREATY.
• PHASE #[3] (DAN 11:29-30a)
• “…HE SHALL RETURN, AND COME TOWARD THE SOUTH… ” (DAN 11:29) =
• “…THE SHIPS OF CHITTIM (KITTIM)…” (DAN 11:30) =
• RUSSIA WILL SEE THAT THEIR COALITION IS FALLING APART AND THAT EGYPT AND THE SOUTHERN ALLIES ARE NOT FULFILLING THEIR AGREEMENT WITH RUSSIA. RUSSIA WILL BECOME EXTREMELY ANGRY WHEN THE ANTI-CHRIST PLOTS WITH EGYPT TO GIVE EGYPT SOME OF THE WEALTH OF ISRAEL.
• THEREFORE, INSTEAD OF ATTACKING ISRAEL, RUSSIA TURNS TOWARD RETALIATION AGAINST EGYPT FOR THEIR BETRAYAL. HOWEVER, THE PRESENCE OF THE ANTI-CHRIST’S ARMY ON CYRUS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA PREVENTS RUSSIA FROM FULLY DESTROYING EGYPT. RUSSIA TURNS BACK TO THEIR ATTACK ON ISRAEL.
• PHASE #[4] (DAN 11:30b–32a)
• THE ANTI-CHRIST WILL TAKE CREDIT FOR THE DEFEAT OF RUSSIA AND THE DEFEAT OF EGYPT INCLUDING THE SOUTHERN BLOC OF ISLAMIC NATIONS. AS A RESULT, MANY JEWS WILL THINK THAT THE ANTI-CHRIST IS THEIR MESSIAH.

• THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE GREAT RUSSIAN WAR:
• READ EZE 39
• GREAT FEAR
• TERRIBLE NOISE
• A POSSIBILITY OF JETS AND / OR MISSILES.
• A POSSIBILITY OF GERM WARFARE (PESTILENCE) (EZE 38:22).
• A POSSIBILITY OF NERVE GAS (BRIMSTONE AND BLOOD) (EZE 38:22).
• IT SEEMS TO BE LIKE THAT USED BY EGYPT IN THE 1967 WAR AGAINST ISRAEL. THIS GAS WAS MADE BY RUSSIA.
• ATOMIC BLASTS AND BURNING FLESH (ISA 3:8).
• AIR POLLUTION SO THAT THE SUN AND MOON ARE DIMMED BY 1/3 (REV 8:12).
• THE GRASS, THE TREES, AND THE CROPS BURNED BY NUCLEAR BLAST OVER 1/3 OF EARTH (JOE 1:19-20 REV 8:7).
• EARTHQUAKES ARE TRIGGERED BY NUCLEAR BLAST (EZE 38:18).
• A RAIN OF GREAT HAIL AS A RESULT OF AIR TURBULENCE FROM NUCLEAR BLASTS.
• THE WAR IS DEPICTED IN SCRIPTURE AS A WAR OF FIRE (ZEC 11:1-2 JOE 1:20 JOE 2:3).

• CONCLUSION:
• IN OUR NEXT LESSON WE WILL SEE THE DEFEAT OF RUSSIA AND THE RESULTS OF THIS GREAT RUSSIAN WAR IN EZE 39.

HOMEWORK
THE CONCLUSION TO THE GREAT RUSSIAN WAR
THIS IS A SELF-STUDY. PLEASE DO NOT SEND HOMEWORK ANSWERS TO THE TEACHER FORCORRECTION.

• APPLICATION OF THE STUDY OF THE GREAT RUSSIAN WAR:
• THE GREAT RUSSIAN WAR CONCERNS ITSELF WITH PEACE TREATY OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD. ALREADY WE SEE THE STRUGGLE FOR MIDDLE EAST PEACE TODAY. AS YOU OBSERVE THE STRUGGLE FOR PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST,
• PRAY FOR THE PEACE OF JERUSALEM.
• PRAY FOR THE SALVATION OF MULTITUDES OF PEOPLE IN ALL NATIONS.

• PREPARATION FOR THE CONCLUSION OF THE GREAT RUSSIAN WAR:
• READ EZE 38 AND 39.
• WRITE DOWN ALL THE TIMES IN EZE 39 THAT BECAUSE OF THE DEFEAT OF RUSSIA THEY WILL KNOW THAT HE IS GOD.

• WHO WILL KNOW THIS FACT?

• MEMORY VERSE: PSA 9:10