Does Ezekiel 38 Prophesy of Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine?

Ezekiel 38 a prophecy of Russians invasion of Ukraine.

That's just one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity will hi this is Bill Meyer along with Pastor Israel Sanchez and this is the radio program where we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day. Obviously, the Ukraine situation on a lot of our minds right now we would encourage you to continue to pray for the people in that country and we are receiving questions is what is that one about prophecy here in just a minute. If you have a question about the Bible or the Christian life. We would love to hear from you. Here's the phone number it's 833, the court, that's 1-833-843-2673. Now you can also watch a drill live in the studio right now on our YouTube channel and send us a message.

That way you can post a message on one of our social media sites you're always welcome to email us at questions at core, Christianity.com first up today let's go to a voicemail from one of our listeners named Travis by Marianne and labor.

Now that were not to be on a totally out a lot around the Travis thank you for that question. It sounds to me like this is maybe a very practical question for you, potentially you're considering marrying someone who is not a believer not a Christian. And so you're wondering will does that mean I would be cut off forever from you know the grace of God. Look for Seo. I would say is yes, you're absolutely right that were not to be unequally yoked, and this is certainly in a situation in which that's relevant to meet you think about what Paul says in second Corinthians chapter 6, verse 14, the words of the apostle Paul. Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers.

For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness, what fellowship has light with darkness.

What a court has Christ with Lyal. What portion does a believer share with an unbeliever. What agreement has the temple of God with idols, for we are the temple of the living God. If you're a believer in Jesus Christ, brother.

You are the temple of the living of the temple of the Holy Spirit and you are called.

If if you're to be married and were free to be married in the Lord Paul says in first grade. In chapter 7 we are called to be joined to someone else who believes in Christ and loves the Lord marriages itself. This picture of the relationship that exists between Christ.

Christ and the church and so I would just say don't don't you know do what you know you shouldn't do, which is marry someone who is not up, not a believer, with the hope that maybe just after the fact.

God will forgive you. That kind of a thing. That's the wrong way to approach this. You need to be obedient to the Lord into God's word. First and foremost, and if you're if you're Incan well I can just do this and then God will forgive me. There are all sorts of issues with me the apostle Paul says, should we continue in sin that grace may abound by no means may it never be.

That's not how are called to live in and let me just say the reality will be is if you continue in disobedience to get into a relationship that you shouldn't be in. According to Scripture that's is can it create all sorts of problems for you in your walk with the Lord there's gonna be attention there because the two of you disagree on this most fundamental thing who Christ is and what the gospel is about. And so if this is something to consider if it was a one obey God first and foremost obey what God says in his word and and seek to be faithful to the Lord. And if you're in this relationship. Don't let the relationship progress at Alton, certainly not towards towards marriage.

If this person is not a believer enough they come to faith, and of course we've all heard stories where where that happens in God's providence we praise God for that will then yeah it would be permissible to get married but but right now, the answer is no, and I know that that's gotta be difficult for you to hear but but really for your own good obedience to the Lord even when it costs a certain things is always better for our joy for our growth in grace for our sanctification, and so brother obey the Lord in this. Thank you for your question. God bless some great counsel a drill follow-up question for you. I was single until I was 40 and I knew a lot of older singles who participated in what you might call missionary dating they would date someone who wasn't exactly close to the faith and their hope was well they'll go to church with mail, bring them along and eventually to become a Christian, maybe not right away, but maybe once were married. I'm wondering what you would say to a person who's considering that kind of missionary dating that just say I would say no that's not one how missions work in an terms of evangelism that should be the strategy is. Let me know.

Go date, an unbeliever and try to win them over to Jesus and that way that we can have friends and and and those kinds of relationships with people who are not Christians.

In fact, this is something that's assumed in Scripture and places like first printing chapter 5, but it in terms of pursuing a romantic relationship. We have to make sure that we we agree fundamentally on on who Jesus is and what he's done for us and grow together in that first and foremost you can do that with somebody who is a nonbeliever so even though God has worked in this way, and I've seen God in open people come to faith in these in these kinds of situations.

I praise God for that.

It's certainly not something that I encourage because I've also seen it go really bad in a number of instances and so thanks for the follow-up. The score Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez and today we are offering a free resource that focuses on a topic that we actually received a lot of calls about you on the program.

We get a lot of questions about what repentance is, what is it mean to turn from my sin and to cling to Christ how I put to death. My sin is with the apostle Paul talks about in places like Romans chapter 8 again I say that I'm truly a Christian if I still struggle with sins repeatedly over and over to get to really repent of that sin questions and many, many people have and so we made resource seven things everyone should know about repentance. That's a free download over core, Christianity.com and it really gets to the heart of what repentance is and so we want to help you in your walk with the Lord as you think about this really important subject and so head over to core Christianity.com to get a hold that resource to get hold seven things everyone should know about repentance. This would be great for you, or maybe for someone you know who is struggling with that whole issue of repentance and am I truly a Christian. What is it all about to get the resource for free. Just go to core Christianity.com/offers again core Christianity.com/offers. You can give us a call anytime for any one of our resources. Here's the phone number. In fact, you can call us right now.

If you have a question about the Bible or the Christian life. Maybe even a question about doctrine or theology here is the number it's 833-843-2673. That's 833. The core we should mention were also open to questions.

If your maybe you consider yourself to be an atheist or an agnostic and you've got questions or doubts about the Christian faith it will be more than happy to talk to you about that as well so give us a buzz right now. Her phone lines will be open for the next 15 minutes or so at 833, the court, let's go to a voicemail that came in earlier this week, having to do with prophecy. I just can't think of what you're doing it core Christianity through the tough questions. May God continue to bless you with wisdom. My question is in regards to Ezekiel 38, 39, where the prophet writes about God of the land of Magog rising up along with Persia cushion put I think few other nations coming down to come after Israel from the north. My question is, is his dog in the land of Magog considered Russia. I know Persia is modern-day Iran, but I just want to know your thoughts and also wrote quickly. Is this Ukraine and Bashan, possibly the lead way of that to come. Thank you again. You know, I wondered if we would get a question like this in light of everything that's going on. Just because it is so heartbreaking when we take a moment first to pray briefly about the the situation going on Ukraine and then I'll get right to your question father once again today. We cry out to you asking for you to bring peace. Lord God an end to war, praying Lord God, in particular for the conflict in Ukraine praying for the protection of those who are suffering asking Lord God especially for your church in that area. Lord God that you would grant them boldness, sense of your presence and an even Lord God, that somehow through the circumstances you would do is so often you've you've done throughout history. Lord and continuing to advance your gospel and I pray that your church would rise up at this time and meet the needs of those who are suffering, especially throughout Ukraine and so would you please, Lord God be with the people there which you grant peace.

Would you grant your presence in Jesus name, amen. There have been I've seen this popular pastors and Bible teachers on television on the radio on Sunday mornings. Who you know they see these events and they open up the Scriptures, and particularly into the prophetic literature and they so I think this is what Ezekiel was talking about in Ezekiel 38 Ezekiel was prophesying about Russia and the invasion of Ukraine or the invasion of Israel or on invasion of Israel. Let me just read the text because so important for us to to just get into the word says Ezekiel 30 verse one the word of the Lord came to me, Son of Man, set your face toward God of the land of Magog, the chief prince of me shack and two ball and prophesy against him and say, thus says the Lord God, behold, I am against you, O Gog chief prince of me shack and two ball and I will turn you about and put hooks into your jaws and I will bring you out and all your army, horses, and horsemen, all of them clothed in full armor, a great host. All of them with buckler and shield wielding swords Persia cushion put our with them. All of them with shield and helmet Gomer and all his hordes that tall grandma from the uttermost parts of the north, with all his hordes.

Many peoples are with you. What you have here is a coal coalition of the seven nations that are coming against the people of God. It's a picture of the.

The final battle, if you will be end times war were all the nations are gathered together against the people of God to bring destruction against them from we read here from the uttermost parts of the north of the become be blessed with the right there in the north of Israel. You have turkey you have Russia even further there, so this must be a prophecy about Russian people.

Even Satan you know in in verse two. It talks about me shack in two ball that sort of felt like Moscow that would be is is called in anachronisms of reading present-day things back into the text really me shack in two ball, probably a reference to peoples from East Anatolia mother would be modern-day Turkey. But we do have in this passage is a clear picture of this end times eschatological battle against the people of God, and it seems to be like this all encompassing not just Russia but I want to reside at the you have seven nations. His is this picture of fullness. The whole world. If you will coming against Israel with the people of God.

There, as is Ezekiel sees it specifically now. One of the really important II think principles of Bible interpretation, especially when were thinking about Bible prophecy is that we let Scripture interpret Scripture and one of the places where what we see here in Ezekiel 38 is is talked about her commented on is in the book of Revelation. In Revelation chapter 20 verses seven and following. Listen closely to what Revelation 20 says when the thousand years are ended. That is after the quote unquote millennial reign of Christ. Satan will be released from his prison and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog is right here.

It was John is is prophesying. Gog and Magog are just you know isn't just direct reference to Russia. This is a reference to the nations, all of them right. Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle. Their numbers like the sand of the sea and they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints in this and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consume them, and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur with the beast and the false prophet work and they were to be tormented day and night forever and ever. So again, this is a picture of the final battle now couple of things that you throughout the history of the world, especially in the last 2000 years. I think the people of seen these wars that happen around me wanted to read those experiences. In light of what the Bible says this you know I understand that but I think we have to be careful that were not twisting or misinterpreting Scripture, and not just thing we want to see their yes there is a final battle of final war that is coming.

Is this invasion of Ukraine. You know that the this sort of beginning of that.

I don't think that that that's what we would get from Ezekiel chapter 38, and in particular the focus on Russia that so many people have Ezekiel 38 Revelation 20 really is not just one nation. It's it's the nations of the world gathered against the people of God.

But here's what you need to know here's I think that that the comfort that you can have from the Scriptures. As you know who's over all of this. It's the Lord himself. In fact, in Ezekiel 38 in verse 16 we read, you will come up against my people Israel like a cloud covering the land in the latter days, I will bring you against my land, that the nations may know me when through you, O Gog, I vindicate my holiness before their eyes. Here's what you can't lose sight of so many people do when they think about Bible prophecy when they think about the cataclysmic events happening around the world wars and and and so forth it.

It's so easy to be discouraged to be afraid. Here's what you need understand God is on his throne even that final eschatological end times battle is not something that outside of his hands, and he's the one who is orchestrating everything somehow by his sovereign Providence for what purpose so that the nations might know his power to vindicate his holiness before their eyes. And so here's what I want you to know if you're worried about these things if if you're struggling you see these things, know that the Lord is on his throne, and our job right now is to love those who are in need and to seek to to support them in whatever ways that we can, especially those who are suffering through prayer, through through any number of women supporting missions agencies that are that are out there seeking to provide humanitarian relief. Those can think of is a really good things and so I just want to encourage you because it like I said a lot of people take these verses in light of the things that are happening and they'll just have this sort of doomsday perspective about everything creates a lot of fear and concern and often times it's not really the right approach to these passages, and so appreciate your question and may God bless you and be with you and and be with the people who are suffering on Ukraine great words of reassurance.

Thank you that a drill this is core Christianity with Israel Sanchez.

By the way were to be taking calls for an additional program today were to be recording a second core Christianity show after this one goes off the air. So if you have a question about the Bible or the Christian life doctrine or theology or maybe how your Christian walk intersects with what's going on in today's culture. Feel free to give us a call for the next 35 minutes or so.

Here's the phone number is 833-843-2673. That's 833 the Cory might want to make a note of that would love to hear from you.

Feel free to call us for the next 35 minutes. Let's go to Steve in O'Fallon, Missouri Steve what your question for pastor atrial development, somewhat confused about the word repentance of different responses from different people owners unable to disclose a dual unwanted elected actual capital.

Sending what you should be going after Christian consult so many people call themselves Christians then keep on sinning amendment to your event. Other people say to stop confessing of your central disc your faith and trust in Jesus. Now I'm just so much computer you can answer that for me.

I'll hang up in your response. Steve, thank you for the question well below the word repentance means to change one's mind if you will to its change of mind. The word in the New Testament. Of course with that.

You also have me think of when one individual change their mind about something they confess their sin. There is there is fruit of that there is evidence of that right a mean guy John the Baptist when he's talking the religious leaders calling them to repent is in bear fruits. In keeping with repentance.

And so, so that there's nothing wrong with with viewing it as a 180 or a change of mind. One thing that I would want to say to you, Steve, is repentance and this life is is always imperfect, meaning it's it's this daily thing right when we can genuinely repent of sins, and still struggle with those same sins, you know, down the line even the very next day, believing that the very next hour we can sincerely confess our sins to the Lord and were still in this this battle the entire Christian life is a life of repentance.

One thing I think that has encouraged me is thinking about the life of the apostle Peter. You remember when Jesus was being crucified what Peter was doing. He was cowering in fear hiding you know just a total coward denying even the Lord, why was he denying Jesus, will it was it was the fear of man.

It was the fear of what would happen to him if he was associated with Jesus and then of course you know Jesus restores Peter and and Peter goes on to preach an amazing sermon on the day of Pentecost and and boy he's just this amazing the witness of the resurrection of Jesus. But you know what throughout his life. He continued to struggle with the fear of man and the evidence of that is found in Galatians chapter 2 where Paul says when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face because he stood condemned for before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles, but when they came, he drew back and separated them and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party and the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with them so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy.

When I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel. I said to Cephas or to Peter before them all if you though. Would you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews.

In other words, later in his life. Years later, Peter is still struggling with the fear of man. If Peter the apostle struggled with the same sins throughout his life. What makes us think that that were to have them all conquered. You know that were never going astray. We should we should be through with them in the evanescent we feel man I like I shouldn't. Patient wrestled with anymore yeah I get it, but we have to recognize that the Christian life is, you know, the Christian walk is really limp were limping towards God, receiving his grace growing in repentance in truly putting to death the sinful deeds of the body.

As Paul says in Romans chapter 8 and that's that's ultimately only a work of the Holy Spirit. What I'm what I'm wanting to communicate to you is that struggling with sin and even the same sins doesn't mean that you haven't truly confess them and receive God's forgiveness and we continue to confess and enter bring those sins into the light.

I think that's I think that's okay. In terms of growing in and actually and actually over time. Having that the kinds of victories. I think that God it says are possible by the grace of the Holy Spirit through Christian community to the gospel and what God has done but but it is this process sanctification is this process and I think all of us wish we were further along then we are, but we rest in the grace of God and what he's done for us and so that's that somehow validity. Repentance is a change of mind, we are turning away from sin but it is this daily fight this daily battle now. One thing I want to read for you from second printing chapter 7 verses 10 through 11 is godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death foresee what earnestness process.

The Corinthians is godly grief has produced in you but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing with zeal, what punishment at every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter. In other words, Paul makes this distinction between godly grief over sin over having disobeyed the Lord which leads to repentance and worldly grief may be just, you know all man. I'm bummed I was caught that kind of thing but II really don't care to repent and I have an article over core, Christianity.com that really unpacks the difference between those two things true versus false repentance. It's called what's the difference he had a record Christianity.com to to check that out and as such an important topic is in it. Building this topic of repentance. Without a doubt, and I'm so glad you touched on the godly grief or godly sorrow that Paul talks about because there's a big difference between truly being sorry for our sin and wanting to repent and then just being feeling guilty because we got caught, pictures, and so by the way, we have a great resource on this topic is free and we make that available to you. It's some called the seven things everyone should know about repentance, you can find that by going to court, Christianity.com/offers and just remind them to do a second program right now it looks we can take some more calls yeah absolutely I give us a call over the next 30 minutes and will look forward to it to hearing from you and answering your questions about the Christian faith.

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