‘Russia, Syria, Turkey and Iran hold high-level talks in Moscow’

“The foreign ministers of Russia, Syria, Turkey and Iran have met in
Moscow for high-level talks on rebuilding ties between Ankara and Damascus after years of animosity during Syria’s war.” (ALJAZEERA – May 10, 2023)

Burgeoning relationships between Russia, Turkey and Iran like the above headline suggests are among the reasons scholars are justifiably stirring over the possibility that the Ezekiel 38-39 Bible prophecy is about to find final fulfillment. The Hebrew prophet predicted approximately 2,600 years ago the coming of a Russian – Iranian led, nine-member strong coalition seeking to destroy Israel and confiscate its great booty. (Ezekiel 38:13).

These countries form into an outer ring around Israel. The outer ring map superimposes the modern-day equivalents over the ancient territories identified in Ezekiel 38:1-5.

This article develops the possibility that the Russian – Iranian led coalition of Ezekiel invaders implements a two-prong “choke and capture” campaign. Step one involves a possible political boycott of Israel’s booty, and step two matures into a military campaign to capture that booty.

International coalitions formed to level economic sanctions against a country have become politically expedient and often effective. Boycotting a country’s imports and exports is a common first step to accomplish the will of a coalition. An excellent example was the Persian Gulf War of August 2, 1990 – February 28, 1991.

Saddam Hussein had invaded Kuwait and in so doing brought down international economic sanctions upon the Iraqis. American President George H. Bush skillfully assembled a sizable coalition that ultimately invaded Iraq, when the sanctions didn’t work. The boycott matured into an invasion.

In the case of the Russian – Iranian coalition, this two-step process appears to occur. Identifying the modern-day equivalents of the Ezekiel 38:1-5 invaders, suggests this coalition is strategically assembled. There are geographic and religious commonalities to consider in their case.

First, apart from Russia, all of the other members hail from predominately Muslim countries. Second, locating the invaders geographically on a map provides another interesting clue into the coalition’s campaign. Several of the Muslim members border the major bodies of water surrounding Israel. Is this coincidence or calculated on Russia’s part?

Israel will desperately need access through these waterways in order to export its plunder and great booty to global markets. We know with some certainty that Israel will be conducting international commerce because the theme of merchants is introduced in Ezekiel 38:13.

“Sheba, (Yemen) Dedan, (Saudi Arabia) the merchants of Tarshish, (likely the UK) and all their young lions (likely including USA) will say to you, ‘Have you come to take plunder? Have you gathered your army to take booty, to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods, to take great plunder?’ ” (Ezekiel 38:13, NKJV; emphasis added)

The merchants of Tarshish and all their young lions are listed, and they appear to be upset with Russia. A suitable modern-day translation of these merchants would be the “customers from Tarshish.”

These international clients seem to abstain from joining the Russian consortia. Comments they make in Ezekiel 38:13 evidence concerns about Russian intentions to destroy Israel for its great booty. Their protests could be altruistic, but more likely show that they don’t want their commercial interests invested in Israel disrupted.

The Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, and Persian Gulf could easily be blockaded to Israel at Russia’s command, once the coalition is set in place. Israel would be forced to truck its exports through the Arabian Peninsula, into the Arabian Sea, on into the Indian Ocean in an effort to distribute goods to market.

All other transportation corridors would be choked off to Israel since they connect through coalition territories. The image below identifies some of the coalition and the arrows point out how Israel could become completely boxed in.

Turkey (Türkiye), Libya and Algeria could choke off the Mediterranean Sea. Sudan could blockade the Red Sea and Iran could close off the Persian Gulf.

Once Israel’s economic knees buckle from disrupted commerce, the Ezekiel invaders could initiate the military portion of their campaign. Historical war campaigns have often been conducted in this fashion. First the enemy surrounds its target, prompting those under attack to circle the wagons in defense. Once surrounded, the enemy sits it out, forcing their foes to sustain themselves upon stored supplies. When fatigue sets in, the enemy attacks.

Hooks in the Jaws

“I will turn you (Russia) around, put hooks into your jaws, and lead you out, with all your army, (coalition) horses, and horsemen, all splendidly clothed, a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords.” (Ezek. 38:4, NKJV; emphasis added)

This above verse introduces the idiom of “hooks into your jaws.” This might suggest a fishing typology and add credence to the blockade theory espoused above. An example would be likened to how a fisher draws a shark into his boat by putting a hook into its jaw. Perhaps this illustration pertains to the possibility that the Russian coalition has blockaded the waterways to choke off Israel’s commercial exports and the Lord will hook the coalition securely in its jaws to draw the forces into Israel for the invasion.

Why would the Lord do such a thing? Ezekiel 38:18-22 points out that the Lord will unleash His fury against the Russian coalition supernaturally. They will be defeated by a great earthquake, flooding rain, great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. This divine defeat will enable the Lord to fulfill the prophecy below.

“So I will make My holy name known in the midst of My people Israel, and I will not let them profane My holy name anymore. Then the nations shall know that I am the Lord, the Holy One in Israel.” (Ezekiel 39:7)

This explains that the Lord orchestrates and plans this epic prophetic event for His greater purposes. He plans to put the world on notice that He is the one true God and that His name is Holy. Thus, putting hooks into the jaws of the Russian coalition to steer it into the pre-designated battlefield, which according to Ezekiel 39:2-4 are the mountains of Israel, is part of God’s strategy.

Conclusion

It seems plausible that Russia will formulate a comprehensive “choke and capture” campaign, involving strategically located allies intent on invading Israel. This effort involves an outer ring of nations not presently sharing common borders with Israel. The inner circle shown in the image below of Arab states are likely not included in Russia’s consortia, because they have probably been defeated previously in the Arab – Israeli war of Psalm 83.

In the aftermath of Psalm 83, Israel seemingly annexes more territory and captures Arab spoils of war, making it potentially a very wealthy nation. Russia then forms its campaign and alliance to prevent Israel from burgeoning into a significant commercial goods and oil-exporting nation.

Russia strategically assembles Muslim nations sharing a hatred of Israel. This coalition seems to be strategically selected in order to blockade Israel’s exports first, and then destroy the Jewish State afterward. Perhaps the ominous phrase, “I will turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and lead you out . . .,” in Ezekiel 38:4 has something to do with a waterway-related campaign against Israel. However, instead of catching fish on the seas, it may involve exporting oil and gas through them.