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RETURN TO SYLLABUS
EZEKIEL 38:14-23
LESSON #33
THE BATTLE STRATEGY OF THE RUSSIAN WAR
v MEMORY VERSE: PSA 29:11
v IN EZE 38:1-13 WE HAVE DISCUSSED THE TIMING, THEPURPOSE FOR THE GREAT RUSSIAN WAR YET TO COME, AND THE NATIONS INVOLVED IN THIS WAR.HOWEVER, WE HAVE NOT CONSIDERED THE BATTLE STRATEGY OR THE ROLE THAT THE ANTI-CHRIST WILLHAVE IN THIS WAR.
v READ EZE 38:14-23 AN OVERVIEW OF THE RUSSIAN BATTLE AGAINST ISRAEL
Ø REMEMBER THAT THIS BATTLE WILL OCCUR WHENISRAEL IS DWELLING SAFELY IN THE PROMISED LAND. (14)
§ PROBABLY THIS WILL BE ATTHE BEGINNING OF THE TRIBULATION WHEN THE ANTI-CHRIST SIGNS A PEACE TREATY ENSURING ISRAELSSAFETY.
Ø I SHALL BE SANCTIFIED IN THEE, O GOG,BEFORE THEIR EYES. (16)
§ GOD SAYS THAT HE WILL USETHE DEFEAT OF GOG, THE RUSSIAN LEADER OF THIS COALITION ARMY, TO MAKE HIMSELF APPEARSANCTIFIED.
· SANCTIFIED MEANS = SET APART FORSPECIAL TREATMENT; HOLY.
¨ NON-BELIEVERS WILL KNOW THAT GOD IS APOWERFUL, HOLY GOD WHO PROTECTS HIS PEOPLE. HE IS A GOD WORTHY TO BE SEPARATED FROM ALLOTHER GODS. HE IS A GOD WORTHY OF SPECIAL WORSHIP.
Ø IN OTHER WORDS, GOD WILL MIRACULOUSLY PROTECTISRAEL THROUGH THIS WAR. IT WILL NOT BE LIKE THE DEFEAT OF JERUSALEM IN EZEKIELS DAYWHEN THE TEMPLE WAS DESTROYED AND ALL THE PEOPLE TAKEN OUT OF THE LAND.
§ ISREAL WILL NOT TOTALLYLOSE THE LAND IN THE RUSSIAN WAR.
· THIS FACT IS TO BE A GREATENCOURAGEMENT TO THE PEOPLE OF EZEKIELS DAY WHO THOUGHT THAT GOD HAD FORSAKEN HISPEOPLE.
v EZEKIEL DOES NOT MENTION THE ANTI-CHRISTSROLE IN THE RUSSIAN WAR, BUT DANIEL DOES.
Ø READ DAN 11:21-23
§ BACKGROUND:
· THERE ARE TWO FULFILLMENTS TODANIELS PROPHECY.
¨ THE FIRST FULFILLMENT REFERS TO A SYRIAN KINGNAMED ANTIOCHUS IV EPHIPHANES (171-164 BC). THE SECOND FULFILLMENT REFERS TO THEANTI-CHRIST.
Ø IT WILL HELP US UNDERSTAND THE ANTI-CHRISTAND WHAT HE WILL DO IF WE UNDERSTAND ANTIOCHUS EPIPHANES. ANTIOCHUS EPIPHANES IS APREFIGURE OF THE ANTI-CHRIST.
§ A VILE PERSON (DAN 11:21) =
· ANTIOCHUS IV EPIPHANES(ILLUSTRIOUS) 171-164 BC.
· THE ANTI-CHRIST.
¨ ANTIOCHUS EPIPHANES WAS A VERY CRUEL ANDIMMORAL MAN. THE ANTI-CHRIST WILL BE LIKE HIM.
§ COME IN PEACEABLY ANDOBTAIN THE KINGDOM BY FLATTERIES(DAN 11:21) =
· ANTIOCHUS NEPHEW,DEMETRIUS, WAS THE LEGAL HEIR TO THE THRONE, BUT ANTIOCHUS FLATTERED THE ROMANS, SYRIANS,AND PERGAMITES, THUS SEIZING THE THRONE.
· THE ANTI-CHRIST WILL OBTAIN POWERBY FLATTERY, CHARM, AND PERSONAL CHARISMA. HE WILL APPEAR TO HAVE THE SOLUTION TO PEACE INTHE MIDDLE EAST. DAN 9:27 TELLS US THAT THE ANTI-CHRIST WILL CONFIRM A PEACE TREATY TOENSURE THE SAFETY OF THE JEWS. THIS IS THE EVENT THAT BEGINS THE TRIBULATION PERIOD.
§ WITH THE ARMS OF AFLOOD SHALL THEY BE OVERTHROWN (DAN 11:22) =
· ANTIOCHUS ENEMIES WEREQUICKLY OVERTHROWN IN HIS RISE TO POWER, BUT FINALLY IN THE END, ANTIOCHUS WAS DESTROYED.
· ANY OPPOSITION TO THE ANTI-CHRISTWILL BE QUICKLY NULLIFIED IN HIS RAPID RISE TO POWER. HOWEVER, IT IS THE ANTI-CHRIST WHOWILL BE DESTROYED AT THE END OF THE TRIBULATION.
Ø READ DAN 11:24-35 THE STRATEGY OF THE ANTI-CHRIST, PEACE, AND THERUSSIAN WAR:
§ PHASE #[1] (DAN11:23-24)
· LEAGUE MADE WITH HIM; WORKDECEITFULLY =
¨ ANTIOCHUS EPIPHANES CAME INTO EGYPT. HEPROFESSED TO BE A FRIEND OF THE PHARAOH, AND HE GAVE GIFTS FREELY TO THE PEOPLE. HISDECEITFUL PURPOSE WAS TO CONTROL THE LAND OF ISRAEL WITHOUT ANY INTERFERENCE FROM EGYPT.
¨ THE ANTI-CHRIST WILL DECEIVE EGYPT AND THEOTHER ARAB ALLIES TO BELIEVE THAT HE HAS NO PURPOSE TO CONTROL THE LAND OF ISRAEL.
· SHALL BECOME STRONG WITH ASMALL PEOPLE =
¨ THE SMALL PEOPLE ARE THE ISRAELITES (JEWS) INTHE PROMISED LAND.
Ø ANTIOCHUS EPIPHANES THEN INTIMIDATED THEJEWISH PEOPLE INTO SUBMISSION.
Ø THE ANTI-CHRIST WILL INTIMIDATE ISREAL INTOAGREEING TO THE PEACE TREATY FOR THE SAKE OF PEACE.
· FORCAST HIS DEVICES (PLOT)AGAINST THE STRONGHOLDS =
¨ ANTIOCHUS INDULGED IN POLITICAL INTRIGUE AND BRIBES TO OBTAIN HIS OBJECTIVES.
¨ THE ANTI-CHRIST WILL INDULGE IN POLITICALINTRIGUE AND BRIBES TO OBTAIN THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE TREATY THAT WILL GIVE HIM POWER IN THEMIDDLE EAST.
§ PHASE #[2] (DAN 11:25-28)
· STIR UP HIS POWER AGAINSTTHE KING OF THE SOUTH =
¨ ANTIOCHUS MADE WAR WITH EGYPT’S PTOLEMYPHILOMETOR. ANTIOCHUS IV FAILED PARTIALLY BECAUSE SOME OF HIS OWN MEN WHO ATE WITH HIMBETRAYED HIM. HE RETURN ED HOME THROUGH PALESTINE, VENTING HIS ANGER ON THE JEWS (IMACCABEES 1:20-28). HE STRIPPED THE TEMPLE OF ALL ITS GOLD AND TREASURES AND MASSACREDMANY PEOPLE.
¨ WHEN RUSSIA BEGINS TO MOVE AN ARMY TOWARDISRAEL, THE ANTI-CHRIST WILL RECOGNIZE IT AS A THREAT TO HIS NEW PEACE TREATY. HE DESIRESTO DIVIDE THE RUSSIAN COALITION. THEREFORE, THE ANTI-CHRIST WILL TRAVEL TO EGYPT TODISUADE THEM FROM JOINING THE RUSSIAN ATTACK. HOWEVER, THIS INITIAL ATTEMPT WILL FAIL. THEANTI-CHRIST WILL ACCEPT PAYMENT BY THE JEWS TO ENFORCE THE PEACE TREATY.
§ PHASE #[3] (DAN 11:29-30a)
· HE SHALL RETURN , AND COMETOWARD THE SOUTH =
· SHIPS OF CHITTIM (KITTIM)=
¨ ANTIOCHUS EPIPHANES MADE A SECOND ADVANCE ONEGYPT WITH AN ARMY, BUT ROMAN SHIPS ON THE ISLAND OF CYPRUS KEPT HIM FROM ATTACKING EGYPT.
¨ RUSSIA WILL SEE THAT THEIR COALITION ISFALLING APART AND THAT EGYPT AND THE SOUTHERN ALLIES ARE NOT FULFILLING THEIR AGREEMENTWITH RUSSIA. RUSSIA WILL BECOME EXTREMELY ANGRY WHEN THE ANTI-CHRIST PLOTS WITH EGYPT TOGIVE EGYPT SOME OF THE WEALTH OF ISRAEL.
Ø THEREFORE, INSTEAD OF ATTACKING ISRAEL,RUSSIA TURNS TOWARD RETALIATION AGAINST EGYPT FOR THEIR BETRAYAL. HOWEVER, THE PRESENCE OFTHE ANTI-CHRISTS ARMY ON CYRUS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA PREVENTS RUSSIA FROM FULLYDESTROYING EGYPT. RUSSIA TURNS BACK TO THEIR ATTACK ON ISRAEL.
v IN OUR TIME LINE REGARDING THE POLITICALSTRAGTEGIES OF THIS WAR IN DANIEL 11, HERE WE MUST INSERT THE DEFEAT OF THE RUSSIAN ARMYTHAT OCCURS IN EZEKIEL 38 AND 39.
Ø NOTICE THAT DANIEL DID NOT SEE THE ROLE OFRUSSIA IN THIS STRUGGLE FOR MIDDLE EAST PEACE, JUST AS EZEKIEL DID NOT SEE THE ROLE OF THEANTI-CHRIST. THIS IS WHY WE MUST PUT EZEKIELS PROPHECIES AND DANIELSPROPHECIES TOGETHER TO UNDERSTAND THE RUSSIAN WAR.
Ø WHILE THE ANTI-CHRIST IS BUSY TRYING TOCONTROL EGYPT BY DEFEATING THE EGYPTIANS IN EGYPT, THE RUSSIAN ARMY ATTACKS ISRAEL.
§ IT IS GOD WHO MIRACULOUSLYDEFEATS RUSSIA.
· WE WILL CONSIDER THIS DEFEAT INDETAIL IN OUR NEXT LESSON WHEN WE STUDY EZE 39.
§ PHASE #[4] (DAN 11:30b32a)
· ANTIOCHUS EPIPHANES RETURN S HOMEVIA PALESTINE AND RENEWS HIS INDIGNITIES AGAINST THE JEWS. HE SLEW 80,000 JEWS AND TOOK40,000 PRISONERS AS SLAVES. HE POLLUTED THE TEMPLE SANCTUARY BY OFFERING A HOG ON THEALTAR. HE CAUSED THE DAILY SACRIFICE TO BE STOPPED AND PUT A STATUE OF HIMSELF OR ZEUS INTHE HOLY PLACE. HE SUCCEEDED IN TURNING MANY JEWS FROM THEIR RELIGION BY FLATTERIES ANDCAUSED THEM TO WORSHIP HIS IMAGE.
· THE ANTI-CHRIST WILL TAKE CREDITFOR THE DEFEAT OF RUSSIA AND THE DEFEAT OF EGYPT INCLUDING THE SOUTHERN BLOC OF ISLAMICNATIONS.
¨ AS A RESULT, MANY JEWS WILL THINK THAT THEANTI-CHRIST IS THEIR MESSIAH.
Ø HOWEVER, AT THE MIDDLE OF THE TRIBULATION,THE ANTI-CHRIST WILL BREAK HIS OWN PEACE TREATY AND TURN ON THE JEWS. HE WILL STOP THEJEWISH ANIMAL SACRIFICE. HE WILL KILL MANY JEWS AND MAKE SLAVES OF MANY JEWS. THESE JEWISHSLAVES WILL BE PUT INTO A PENAL COLONY IN EGYPT. THE ANTI-CHRIST WILL PUT HIS OWN IMAGE INTHE JEWISH TEMPLE IN JERUSALEM. PEOPLE WILL BE FORCED TO WORSHIP THIS IMAGE OR SUFFERDEATH.
§ JESUS CALLED THIS EVENT,THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION IN MAT 24:15
§ PHASE #[5] (DAN 11:32b-35)
· THEY THAT KNOW THEIR GOD SHALL DOEXPLOITS =
¨ THE JEWISH FAMILY OF THE MACCABEES FINALLYDEFEATED AND KILLED ANTIOCHUS EPIPHANES.
¨ GOD WILL GIVE POWER TO JEWISH AND GENTILEBELIEVERS IN JESUS CHRIST TO STAND FOR THEIR FAITH IN THE FACE OF PERSECUTION AND DEATHUNTIL JESUS CHRIST RETURN S TO EARTH TO DESTROY THE ANTI-CHRIST.
v SUMMARY AND APPLICATION:
Ø GODS MESSAGE IN EZE 38 IS THAT GOD WILLNOT FORSAKE HIS PEOPLE IN THE FUTURE. HE HAS ALL NATIONS AND POLITICAL POWERS IN HISHANDS. LIKE A PUPPETEER, HE IS PULLING THE STRINGS TO WORK OUT HIS PLAN TO BRING ALL THEEVIL POWERS TOGETHER AGAINST ALL THE POWERS OF GOD IN THE TRIBULATION PERIOD.
Ø THE MESSAGE FOR THE NEW TESTAMENT BELIEVER ISTHAT WE MAY GO THROUGH TIMES IN OUR LIVES WHEN WE THINK GOD HAS FORSAKEN US. WE MAY NOTSEE GODS PROTECTION. WE MAY NOT SEE GODS VICTORY. HOWEVER, GOD HAS PROMISEDTHAT HE WILL DO WHAT IS HIS VERY BEST FOR YOU BECAUSE HE LOVES YOU. (ROM 8:28-29) IN THEEND, HE WILL DEFEAT SATAN AND ALL YOUR ENEMIES AND GIVE YOU THE VICTORY. THAT ULTIMATEVICTORY MAY NOT COME UNTIL CHRIST RETURN S TO EARTH, BUT IT WILL COME!
HOMEWORK
EZEKIEL39
THIS IS A SELF-STUDY. PLEASE DO NOT SEND HOMEWORK ANSWERS TO THE TEACHER FORCORRECTION.v APPLICATION FOR EZE 38
Ø IF YOU HAVE EVER FELT FORSAKEN BY GOD, WRITEDOWN HOW YOU EVENTUALLY DISCOVERED THAT GOD HAD NOT FORSAKEN YOU.
v PREPARATION FOR EZE 39
Ø READ EZE 39:1-29
§ WRITE DOWN ALL THE TIMESWHEN GOD SAYS IN THIS CHAPTER THAT BECAUSE OF HIS MIRACLE THEY WILL KNOW THAT HE IS GOD.
§ WRITE DOWN WHO WILLKNOW THIS FACT.
v MEMORY VERSE: PSALM 9:10
