As Russia’s military involvement in Syria increases, many Christians are now beginning to believe that the country is Magog from the End Times. Some suspect that the War of Gog and Magog, as prophesied in the Books of Ezekiel and Zechariah, could happen this year on the Jewish holiday of Sukkot.

The link between Sukkot and the War of Gog and Magog is made explicitly clear in Zechariah 14:16, which notes the annual celebration in Jerusalem after the battle:

“And it will come to pass that everyone left of the nations who came up against Jerusalem will go up from year to year to prostrate himself to the King, the Lord of Hosts, and to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles.”

Is Israel’s northern border Magog?

The Bible states that Gog is the leader of the land of Magog; however, it doesn’t state what the land of Magog will be called during the End Times. The belief that Magog is located at Israel’s northern border is based on Ezekiel 37:2:

“And I will unbridle and entice you and lead you up from the utmost parts of the north and bring you upon the mountains of Israel.”

Russia is the nothernmost country in Eurasia, while Syria resides at Israel’s northern border.

At present, Russian president Vladimir Putin decided to send approximately 150,000 soldiers to Syria. He is also forming a coalition with several countries, including Syria, Iran, Iraq and China to wage war against ISIS. Many people believe this coalition is a prophecy fulfilled, as seen in Ezekiel 38:15:

“And you will come from your place, from the utmost north, you and many peoples with you, all of them riding horses; a great assembly and a mighty army.”

Some people praise the coalition and their fight against ISIS, whereas others see a storm brewing in Israel’s northern border. Some suspect Russia’s efforts to help Syria are fueled by a major oil discovery found in the Golan Heights. The coalition could easily turn against Israel for oil.

In fact, Sputnik News, an international news agency owned and controlled by Russia, has already declared that the oil deposits belong to Syria.

“The oil deposit lies in the Golan Heights, which is internationally recognized as Syrian territory but has been occupied by Israel since the 1967 war between Israel and Arab states.”

Teetering on the brink of war

Despite claims to the contrary, End Times author and rabbinic scholar Rabbi Pinchas Winston insists that we are now witnessing the War of Gog and Magog unfold before our very eyes.

“There is a prophecy about Moshiach (Messiah) coming from the north. There is also a tradition that Magog may have migrated to some place around what is today modern day Moscow,” he told Breaking Israel News.

“From a secular point of view, the Syrian conflict and war against ISIS is just the latest and deadliest of a long history of conflict. From a Biblical point of view, it is an eyebrow raiser as so many End of Days elements start to come together just north of the Jewish State.”

Additionally, insight from an 18th century Rabbinic sage called the Vilna Gaon adds further reason to believe that Russia will play a crucial role in the End of Days:

“When you hear that the Russians have captured the city of Crimea, you should know that the times of the Messiah have started, that his steps are being heard. And when you hear that the Russians have reached the city of Constantinople (today’s Istanbul), you should put on your Shabbat clothes and don’t take them off, because it means that the Messiah is about to come any minute.”

Sources:

BreakingIsraelNews.com

BreakingIsraelNews.com