World News Through the Third Lens: Ezekiel's War

The "New Hizballah" built by Syria sparks ME summer war fear;

Gates: US has no policy for stalling Iran's nuclear drive.

Thus read the headlines of two exclusive reports posted by DEBKAfile on April 18, 2010. I will attempt to summarize these two reports, followed by a biblical commentary. DEBKAfile's military sources stated that Syria has increased the flow of smuggled Syrian and Iranian weaponry across the Lebanese border to Hizballah, transforming the 25,000 man militia into an organized, mobile army.

The new Hizballah is being trained to carry out offensive operations such as capturing parts of Israel's Galilee, and launching missiles, such as the Syrian M-600, to knock out warplanes, warships, and armored units as well as the Dimona reactor in southern Israel. This new arsenal will be added to the 40,000 rockets that Hizballah has been allowed to stockpile since the 2006 Lebanon war. Iran and Syria's joint training will produce 5 Hizballah commando brigades. While Jordan's King Abdullah has expressed concern that a Middle East war will break out this summer because of the Israeli-Palestinian diplomatic stalemate (pinning the blame on Israel), sources in Israel claim that war this summer depends on 2 actions: 1) a decision by US and/or Israel to launch strikes against Iran's nuclear facilities, or 2) a decision by Tehran to unleash its allies against Israel, spearheaded by Hizballah, to preempt such an attack.

In another report, the NY Times, Sunday, April 18 revealed a secret memo from US Defense Secretary, Robert gates, determining that the White House has no effective policy for dealing with Iran's steady progress towards nuclear capability. Israel's leaders have been assuring people that it was safe to line up behind the US's strategy for preventing Iran from developing or obtaining nukes. Gates confirmed that there was no strategy to line up behind.

Through the third lens of Scripture: The prophet Ezekiel spoke of a day when a coalition of nations to the north of Israel, along with some North African nations (Ethiopia and Libya) and Persia (the name by which present day Iran was known until 1935) would attack Israel. The prophet speaks of Israel as being a land recovered from war and whose inhabitants have been gathered from many nations. The land would be made up of unwalled cities and be living in relative peace. (Ezekiel 38:1-11) In spite of tensions, 2009 was one of the most peaceful years Israel has experienced in her 62 year history. One of the objectives of the attack would be the looting and plundering of goods. (Ezekiel 38:12-13) The prophet also foresees God sovereignly involving Himself in behalf of Israel, supernaturally defeating her attackers. (Ezekiel 38:18 - 39:6)

As a nation, Israel has been fighting against a numerically superior enemy since day one. President Harry Truman, against the counsel of his political and military advisers, was the first head of state to acknowledge the fact and right of Israel's existence among the nations of the world. Since then, Israel has (understandably so) sought the love, affection and support of the nations, especially the USA. In their desire to be like the USA and to be liked by the USA, God has this to say: "You say, 'We want to be like the nations, like peoples of the world, who serve wood and stone.' But what you have in mind will never happen." (Ezekiel 20:32)

While it is not this writer's objective to state that the war, prophesied by Ezekiel, will occur in the Summer of 2010, it is clear that things are heating up. It's as thought many prophecies yet to be fulfilled are rushing towards a period of convergence when they will be fulfilled within a very short time span. Events and nations are lining up on the world stage to play their respective roles at the Director's command. Israel is about to become extremely wealthy due to the discovery of resources beneath the surface, namely oil and natural gas. God has a purpose for Israel to fulfill, and it will be fulfilled. Despite all of the power the enemy can muster to destroy her; despite all of the deception the church can purvey through replacement theology, God's purpose for Israel will be fulfilled. It will not be easy for Israel. Continue reading in Ezekiel 20 and and you will see that Israel goes through a judgment and a purging (v. 35, 38).

We must continue to pray for Israel and for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalms 122:6). Pray that God would raise up leaders like David - men of prayer AND action. Pray that the USA would not abandon Israel, perhaps the one remaining strong reason for God to bless our nation. And let us keep our eyes on Israel, that we would not fall asleep during these critical days.