Know Jesus, Know Peace-Follow Up

“Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say unto Gog, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In that day when My people of Israel dwelleth safely, shalt thou not know it?  And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army: And thou shalt come up against My people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against My land, that the heathen may know Me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes.”  Ezekiel 38:14-16

On June 1, 2020, I published a blog, “Know Jesus, Know Peace”.  It has been one of the more popular pieces that I have done considering the number of times it has been read.  It was written right after the riots began in the U.S. after the death of George Floyd.  At that time, COVID-19 was making its way across the country, causing much illness, and taking lives.  Although there is some controversy about the number of deaths attributed specifically to the coronavirus, there is no doubt that many folks died as a result of this deadly virus.  I also contracted it, but, while suffering somewhat, I did survive.  There is also a controversy about its origins, but it seems more logical that it was leaked from a lab.  However it began, it has certainly caused a world of panic.

It is apparent that much has happened since June 1, 2020, in this nation and around the globe.  In my earlier blog, I wrote that I wasn’t a prophet by any stretch of the imagination, but my thought a few years ago was that all heck would break loose after the death of Billy Graham.  He was probably the greatest evangelist of the gospel since the Apostle Paul.  I remembered how God promised to bring His wrath upon Judah for their idolatry and disobedience, but He would delay until after the deaths of Kings Hezekiah and Josiah, both counted as righteous kings in God’s eyes.  Perhaps God delayed His further judgment upon America and the world to spare Mr. Graham from the agony of watching a world gone mad.  I heard Mr. Graham as he was interviewed several years before his death.  He was asked if there was anything that he would change about his message.  He replied that he would preach more on God’s wrath.

I ended that earlier blog by stating that I didn’t see anything getting better but hoped that I was wrong.  Unfortunately, so far, I haven’t been wrong.  The world is now on edge because of a brutal, tyrannical dictator, a megalomaniac who desires to control the world.  I suppose his mentor was Joseph Stalin, another brutal dictator of years past, responsible for the deaths of thousands, if not millions of people, whose goal was to have dominion over the entire continent of Europe.  Many Christians, as well as others who have some knowledge of scripture, are wondering if these recent and current events are ushering in the last days.

In the book of Ezekiel, Chapters 38-39, we find the prophecy of a nation/nations who will attack Israel in the last days, but they will not be successful.  Many commentators believe that Gog and Magog refer to Russia and its leader, whoever that will be at that time.  Even if the present leader of Russia has died or been deposed, there is always some other dictator who is just as ruthless as the present one and will step in and continue the fight for world dominion.  To read a concise commentary on this future event, please check out the website www.gotquestions.org and the subject, “Does the Bible say anything about Russia in relation to the end times?”  I have found this website to be trustworthy and scripturally sound.

Time and events will tell if this is the beginning of the last days leading up to the seven year period of tribulation.  Whether it is the beginning or not, it will come one day.  The best way to be prepared for such a time is to be ready to meet the Lord by repenting of sin and placing faith in Jesus Christ.  Those of us who belong to Him do not have to worry about our future, for we are held in God’s hands.  I would hope that all believers are praying for the Holy Spirit to convict Russia’s leader of his sins, and that he would repent and place his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  His actions and words lead us to believe that this would not happen, but all things are possible with God.  We also need to pray for the people of Ukraine that they would stand strong and depend on the Lord to see them through this devastating crisis.  Most of us probably feel rather helpless in this situation, but we can go to the One who can help.