After a series of significant threats of missile attacks from Russia, and in response to escalating tensions with Iran in Syria, and the terror groups Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza, the nation of Israel was forced to deploy the Iron Dome missile defense system to the second largest city in Israel; the economic center of Tel Aviv. With a population of 438,818, Tel Aviv is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is widely known for its thriving culture and for the numerous technology companies based there. Tel Aviv University is the largest university in Israel and has more than 30,000 students. Thus, for Israel to feel the need to immediately protect this city represents the seriousness of the threats that have developed recently. Speaking at a military base in southern Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated “Iran has declared its intention to destroy us with nuclear weapons, weapons we must interdict. But they are also building up forces in our region, a forward base in Lebanon, with the help of Hezbollah, and a southern front, supported by Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Now they want to set up another front, on the Golan, right on our border. We must fight all these things.”
Escalation of Attacks against Israel
Israel’s enemies have escalated the level of violence recently including violent border clashes, and Iran firing a missile – from inside Syria – at Israel's Mt. Hermon ski resort. This missile was destroyed by the Iron Dome system in place at Mt. Hermon. However, Israel launched a series of retaliatory airstrikes on the Iranian bases only to find Russia then threatening to launch a missile attack against Israel if Israel further responded Iranian attacks! Additionally, Bashar Jaafari - Syria’s envoy to the United Nations - recently threatened that “Syria would practice its legitimate right of self-defense” and attack Ben Gurion International Airport outside Tel Aviv. Jaafari called on the U. N. to adopt measures to stop Israel from retaliating. With such an escalation of violence and threats toward Israel, we cannot help but recognize the similarities between this situation and what Scripture teaches.
Relevant Bible Passages
Obviously, Ezekiel’s prophecy of a time when a confederation of nations would align themselves against Israel and attack Israel from the north (Ezekiel 38-39) come to mind when we read of Russia, Iran, and Syria simultaneously threatening Israel. Other passages also related to this event can be found in Revelation 19:17-18, where Gog and Magog are not mentioned by name but the language there appears to be borrowed from Ezekiel’s prophecy, and Revelation 20. These two events are most likely two different events that both threaten Israel. Ezekiel prophesied of a Russian-led attack on national Israel which we believe could take place very soon, while John prophesied of an attack on the literal city of Jerusalem at the end of the future 1000-year Millennium. Considering both events in the context in which the Bible has recorded them, we can see that the security of Israel – especially as it is threatened by Russia and Iran – will play a significant role in the timing of the last days. With this in mind, we should be in very serious prayer.