The Timing of the Gog-Magog War :: By Randy Nettles

Published on: September 3, 2024 by RR10

As with most prophecies and significant events in the Bible regarding Israel, Jerusalem, and the Jews, the timing of such is usually a point of contention or debate. Some examples are the year of Jesus’ birth, the year of Jesus’ death, the year of the start of Daniel’s seventy-week prophecy, and the year of the end of Daniel’s sixty-ninth week. The Gog-Magog War prophecy in Ezekiel 38-39, a significant and often debated topic, is no exception. This article will explore the various theories surrounding its timing.

Prophecy expert Mark Hitchcock notes: “By far, the most controversial issue is the setting or timing of the invasion. The specific time of the invasion in Ezekiel 38 is difficult to determine.” {1} Dr. Thomas Ice, another prophecy expert, agrees. ”There is no doubt that this is the greatest problem to overcome in our understanding of this passage. In fact, the various positions are labeled according to one’s view concerning when these events will be fulfilled.

Among those who believe that the Gog-led invasion is historical, some believe that it has already occurred. For example, (partial) preterist Gary DeMar says, “The battle in Ezekiel 38 and 39 is clearly an ancient one.” When does he believe that this battle took place? Amazingly, DeMar and only a handful of commentators insist that Ezekiel 39-39 was fulfilled by the events described in Esther 9, occurring in about 473 BC in the days of Queen Esther of Persia. The other views that take this invasion as a historical event place its occurrence in a time future to our day.” {2}

This is very flawed reasoning. If you go to Esther 9, you can clearly determine that this non-military conflict differs from the Gog-Magog War in about every conceivable way. In the book of Esther, Israel’s enemies do not even invade the land of Israel, and the Jews defend themselves to defeat the Persian agitators without supernatural assistance. Partial Preterist David Lowman agrees with DeMar on this issue. They both believe the battles of Ezekiel 38-39 and Revelation 20 are not the same event. For a comparison between the Gog-Magog War and the Esther 9 conflict see Ezekiel 38 & 39 (Part 12) – by Thomas Ice – The Pre-Trib Research Center.

Another partial preterist, Kenneth Gentry, believes that Christ’s coming from heaven to wage war in Revelation 19 represents His judgment coming on Israel when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple in 70 AD. He believes it reflects the theme of the book found in Revelation 1:7, where He comes against the ones who pierced Him (the Jews). Thus, Revelation 20 “presents the consequence of Christ’s judgment of Israel, Christianity’s first major enemy: the binding of Satan, the vindication of the martyrs, and the spiritual rule of believers with Christ in the present age.” {3}

Kenneth Gentry’s position is that Ezekiel 38-39 was likely fulfilled in the second century BC, and John uses its imagery to foreshadow the events of Revelation 19:11-21 and Revelation 20:8-10. For this position, the battles of Ezekiel 38-39 and Revelation 20 are not one and the same (nor are the battles of Rev. 19 and Rev. 20).

Most full preterists believe that Ezekiel’s prophecy was fulfilled in the 2nd century B.C. at the defeat of the Greek/Syrian invaders of Palestine by Judas Maccabeus. At least this view has the invaders actually ascending upon the land of Israel, as noted in Ezekiel’s prophecy. However, very few similarities exist between this invasion and the one prophesied in Ezekiel. Most preterists have to rely heavily on allegorical interpretation of scripture for a past fulfillment of the Gog-Magog War. Watch Preterism: The Eschatology of Unbelief (rev310.net) by Pete Garcia for a detailed study of Preterism and its beliefs.

There are three prevalent theories for dispensational premillennialists on the timing of the Gog-Magog war found in Ezekiel 38-39: 1) Before the Tribulation, 2) During the Tribulation, and 3) At the end of the Tribulation; it is the same war as the Armageddon campaign.

The last theory, and least likely in my opinion, is that the Gog-Magog war is the same as the Armageddon campaign and will conclude at the end of the Tribulation when Christ returns to the Earth. In this scenario, Russia and its allies are merely part of a worldwide coalition that comes against Israel at the end of days. However, there are several problems with this view. According to Dr. Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum and other Bible scholars, many objections exist to this timing of the Gog-Magog war.

According to Fruchtenbaum, there are at least seven problems with this view. “First, in Ezekiel, definite allies are mentioned, and they are limited in number, while other nations stand in opposition. In the campaign of Armageddon, all nations are allied together against Jerusalem without exception.” This author’s note: At Armageddon, the Lord “will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle” (Zechariah 14:2). The Gog Magog War is more of a regional war, while the campaign of Armageddon involves all the nations of the world (that are still in existence at this time).

“Second, the Ezekiel invasion comes from the north, but the Armageddon invasion comes from the whole earth.” This author’s note: The Armageddon campaign will begin with the sixth Bowl Judgment, as recorded in Revelation 16:12-16. The Euphrates River will be dried up, making it easy for the kings of the east (and all their armies) to cross over with their forces to gather in the Valley of Megiddo (which is called in Hebrew Har-Magedon – the mountain of Megiddo) to destroy the Jews once and for all. This will only be a gathering place, for the major battles will be fought in Jerusalem and around Bozrah/Petra.

“Third, the purpose of the Russian confederacy invasion is to take spoil or plunder; the purpose of the Armageddon campaign is to destroy all the Jews. Fourth, in the Ezekiel invasion, there is a protest against the invasion; in the Armageddon invasion, there is no protest because all the nations are involved.

Fifth, the Armageddon invasion is destroyed by the personal second coming of Jesus the Messiah.” This author’s note: Let me reiterate the fifth point of Mr. Fruchtenbaum. Gog and allies will meet their demise by natural and supernatural means: a great earthquake, fighting amongst themselves, pestilence and bloodshed, flooding rain and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. The Armageddon forces will meet their demise by supernatural means as well, but it will be on a personal level as Jesus Christ, the KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS, defeats them in person with no outside help.

“And out of his mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he has on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords” (Revelation 19:15-16).

“For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come. And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me. And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth” (Isaiah 63:4-6).

“Sixth, the Ezekiel invasion is destroyed on the mountains of Israel; the Armageddon invasion is destroyed in the area between Jerusalem and Petra. Seventh, the Russian invasion takes place while Israel is living securely in the Land; the Armageddon campaign takes place while Israel is in flight and hiding.” {4}

Dr. Thomas Ice observes, ”If these two campaigns are one and the same, then there is not any time for Israel to bury the dead (7 months) or burn the instruments of war (7 years), according to Ezekiel 39:9,12. Scripture implies that seventy-five days after Christ’s return, the thousand-year kingdom will commence and that it will begin a cleansing of the judgment from the tribulation (Isaiah 2:1-4; 65:17-25; Daniel 12:11-12).

Ron Rhodes observes another difference between the two battles as follows: At Armageddon, the Beast is the head of the invasion campaign (Revelation 19:19), whereas Gog is the head of the invading force in Ezekiel’s prophecy (Ezekiel 38:7). The more one contemplates the differences between the two events the more one realizes that they cannot be the same. The details of the two events just do not match up.” {5}

Ezekiel 38:8 identifies the general timing of the confederacy invasion. “After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have always been waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them.”

It is clear from this verse that the invasion will occur at the end of the ages (latter years) before Jesus’ second advent. This verse does not refer to the return to Judah after the Babylonian exile but rather the diaspora of the Jews after 70 and 135 AD. It refers to a time after the Jews returned (out of the nations) to their homeland and established the modern state of Israel in 1948. Due to the power of their armed forces, the Jews dwell safely in their land once again (relatively speaking).

Due to the soon-coming Rapture and Daniel’s 70^th week hot on its heels, I don’t see the Gog-Magog War occurring before the Rapture. I do believe it will happen before the Tribulation, however. Some who hold this view include Chuck Smith, Chuck Missler, Arnold Fruchtenbaum, Randall Price, Tim LaHaye, and Joel Rosenberg.

What are some reasons that support this view? First, Fruchtenbaum describes the pretribulation view as follows: the Russian invasion will occur before the Tribulation begins. This view arrives at certain conclusions from the text of Ezekiel 38:1–39:16. First, Israel is established before the Tribulation and is dwelling securely. Second, the Russian confederacy invades Israel during this time of security before the Tribulation. Third, the confederacy is destroyed in Israel before the Tribulation.

Perhaps the strongest argument for this view relates to the fact that if this event is pretribulation, then there would be time for the seven months to bury the dead (Ezek. 39:12) and the seven years to burn the implements of war (Ezek. 39:9). I used to believe that due to the Antichrist’s persecution of the Jews at the mid-point of Daniel’s 70^th week (when he commits the abomination of desolation in the newly built third temple in Jerusalem), as per Matthew 24:15-21, that the Jews wouldn’t be able to burn the weapons of war for seven years because they would be on the run until they reached the mountain fortress of Petra, Jordan, for the remainder of the last 3.5 years of the Tribulation. I have since changed my opinion on this and believe it could be possible to burn the weapons for seven years (and before the Millennium Kingdom begins).

Suppose the Jews take Jesus’ advice (In Matthew 24). In that case, they won’t take anything with them once they witness the abomination of desolation by the A.C., including clothes or any household items, much less those of war that could be used for burning to keep warm. The only way any weapons/fuel could be gathered to Petra would be if they had foreseen this moment (by reading their Bible?) and carried their cache there beforehand. Also, I believe there will still be people in the land of Israel and Jerusalem during the Great Tribulation (last 3.5 years) who will be burning these spoils of war. We know there will be Jews in Jerusalem during the Armageddon campaign wars, according to Zechariah 14:2 and other O.T. scripture.

I agree with Mr. Fruchtenbaum that there will be no burying of the dead or burning of weapons during the Millennial reign of Jesus Christ on the earth. The Gog-Magog war must start before Daniel’s 70th Week and is not a part of the Armageddon war (IMO).

I believe that the next biblical event to occur is the rapture of the Church. This will significantly speed up the end-time birth pains mentioned in Matthew 24, including war. After the Rapture (and maybe even before), the United States of America will no longer be a dominant world power.

As I wrote about in Now, What’s Next? :: By Randy Nettles – Rapture Ready, I believe the prophecy of Isaiah 17 regarding the destruction of Damascus by Israel will be one of the early birth pains, as well as the prophecy of Jeremiah 49:35-37 regarding disastrous ruin to Elam (part of modern-day Iran).

Russia will continue exerting its military might (as it is doing now) in reclaiming lost territory that was part of the old Soviet Union until God puts hooks in the jaws of Gog and turns him and his host around toward Israel. “I will turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and lead you out, with all your army” (Ezekiel 38:4). No country, including America, will come to the aid of Israel.

I believe this war will begin relatively soon, as Russia needs this ‘spoil’ (gas, minerals, cattle) to finance its wars, and the Muslim nations allied with Russia will not be able to contain their demonic hatred of the Jews much longer without making good on their promise to annihilate them. Of course, they are in for a rude awakening. “For we know Him who said, Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry” (Hebrews 10:30-31,37).

Many scholars, including Grant R. Jeffrey, believe the Gog/Magog war will start on Kislev 24 of the Jewish calendar. Haggai describes this war similarly to Ezekiel’s Gog/Magog war, with a massive earthquake and the various peoples/nations fighting amongst themselves. Haggai even gives the date, the 24th day of the ninth month (Kislev). Compare Haggai 2:18-22 with Ezekiel 38:18-22 (they even have the same numbered verses – 18-22).

“Consider now from this day forward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, from the day that the foundation of the Lord’s temple was laid – consider it: Is the seed still in the barn? As yet the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have not yielded fruit. But from this day I will bless you. And again the word of the Lord came to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month, saying, Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying: I will shake heaven and earth. I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms; I will destroy the strength of the Gentile kingdoms. I will overthrow the chariots and those who ride in them; the horses and their riders shall come down, every one by the sword of his brother” (Haggai 2:18-22).

Regarding where this invasion originates from, God tells Ezekiel to prophesy and say to Gog, “Then you will come from your place out of the far north, you and many peoples with you” (Ezekiel 38:15). However, the American Bible Revised Edition Version says, “leaving your base in the recesses of Zaphon, you and many nations with you.”

Also, in chapter 39, the word/name Zaphon is substituted for the far north. “I will turn you around, even though I urged you on and brought you up from the recesses of Zaphon and let you attack the mountains of Israel.” The word Zaphon is used ten times in the Old Testament by the American Bible Revised Edition Version.

Zaphon is a mountain on the Syrian-Turkish border near what used to be the port city of Ugarit. It is now called Mount Aqraa or Jabal al-Aqraa, and Mount Cassius to the Greeks. The Canaanites in the region believed it was where the storm god Baal-Hadad lived. Zaphon became a metonym and the word for the direction of ‘north’ in Hebrew.

The port city of Ugarit was initially located near (what is now) Latakia, Syria. Latakia has been the target of many Israeli air raids in recent years. Russia deploys large troops to this vital port city on the Mediterranean Sea. It would undoubtedly enrage Russia if Israel were to kill Russian soldiers through an airstrike in Latakia, Syria.

“Currently, Damascus and Homs are being protected by Hezbollah and other Shiite militias. Holding this territory is essential for the regime, Hezbollah, and their Iranian backers. Meanwhile, Latakia represents less of a strategic interest for Iran than Russia, which wants to maintain a presence along the coast more than in Damascus or the Golan Heights. As for the influx of Russian troops, they are needed to protect the city, given the present weakness of Syrian forces. Russia is also fortifying its position along the southern Turkish border, with the ultimate goal of preventing Sunni Syrian forces from gaining access to the sea.” {6}

Latakia, Syria, could be the location from where Russia will amass its coalition and “hook up” with Turkish, Iranian, and other nations’ military forces. Gog will then lead them to their ill-fated journey south toward Israel to start the Gog-Magog war. They will have to skirt around the destroyed city of Damascus, probably to the west, possibly entering Lebanon and then entering Israel by way of the Judean mountains. Due to the rugged terrain, cavalry forces will be deployed in large numbers. In the mountains of Israel, they will meet their fate. “You shall fall upon the mountains of Israel, you and all your troops and the peoples who are with you; I will give you to birds of prey of every sort and to the beasts of the field to be devoured” (Ezekiel 39:4).

This invasion to take booty or spoil will not work out precisely as Gog envisions, as it will go horribly awry. On that day of destiny, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob will fight for the children of Israel when no other nation will. Of course, no one else is needed when God fights for you.

“And it will come to pass at the same time when Gog comes against the land of Israel, says the Lord God, that My fury will show in My face. For in My jealousy and in the fire of My wrath I have spoken: Surely in that day, there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel, so that the fish of the sea, the birds of the heavens, the beasts of the field, all creeping things that creep on the earth, and all men who are on the face of the earth shall shake at My presence. The mountains shall be thrown down, the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground.

“I will call for a sword against Gog throughout all My mountains, says the Lord God. Every man’s sword will be against his brother. And I will bring him to judgment with pestilence and bloodshed; I will rain down on him, on his troops, and on the many peoples who are with him, flooding rain, great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. Thus I will magnify Myself and sanctify Myself, and I will be known in the eyes of many nations. Then they shall know that I am the Lord” (Ezekiel 38:18-23).

The defeat of the military might of Russia, Turkey, Iran, Ethiopia, Libya, and the other nations of Ezekiel 38-39 will leave a power vacuum amongst the world’s nations. The Ten Kings’ Kingdom of Daniel 7:24 and Revelation 17:12 will immediately fill this power vacuum and fill the void, becoming the dominant world power. Even China will become a part of this one-world order. The anti-Christ will emerge soon after this and will confirm a covenant with Israel and others, which will begin the seven-year Tribulation, aka Daniel’s 70th Week. I believe all of these end-time events could occur within a few years.

God’s prophecies always come true. It’s only a matter of when and not if. “For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end, it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry” (Habakkuk 2:3).

Because of the supernatural means of destruction in the Gog-Magog war, it will be evident to the Jews that God intervened for Israel to save them. “I will set My glory among the nations; all the nations shall see My judgment which I have executed, and My hand which I have laid on them. So the house of Israel shall know that I am the Lord their God from that day forward” (Ezekiel 39:21). They will, at this point, attempt to renew their old covenant (the Law) with God and make preparations to rebuild their third temple in Jerusalem. They will not, however, at this time, accept Jesus as their Messiah.

I believe Ezekiel 39:25-29 is a continuation of Ezekiel 37:22-28 and is referring to the Millennial Kingdom of God after Jesus Christ returns to the earth when He will gather all 12 tribes of the children of Israel back to the Promised Land after Jacob’s Trouble (Tribulation). Israel will then have fulfilled all the objectives of Daniel’s 70 Weeks/Sevens prophecy. This will only happen at the end of the Tribulation when Israel (remnant Jews) finally recognize Jesus as the Messiah and confess their national sin, fulfilling the prophecy of Hosea 5:15. “I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offense, and seek my face: in their affliction, they will seek me early.”

Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Randy Nettles

rgeanie55@gmail.com

You searched for randy nettles – Rapture Ready: archived articles

End Notes:

{1} Mark Hitchcock, Iran The Coming Crisis: Radical Islam, Oil, And The Nuclear Threat (Sisters, OR: Multnomah, 2006), p. 178

{2} Ezekiel 38 & 39 (Part 1) – by Thomas Ice – The Pre-Trib Research Center

{3} Kenneth Gentry, Recapitulation v Progress

{4} Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum, The Footsteps of the Messiah: A Study of the Sequence of Prophetic Events, Rev. ed. (Tustin, CA: Ariel Ministries, 2003), p. 119

{5} Ezekiel 38 & 39 (Part 28) – by Thomas Ice – The Pre-Trib Research Center

{6} www.washingtoninstitute.org – Latakia is Assad’s Achilles Heel by Fabrice Balanche

The New International Order :: By Daymond Duck

Published on: August 31, 2024 by RR10

Unelected officials called globalists, the Global Elite, the Shadow Government, and various other names want to create and run a New World Order.

A New World Order implies the demise of the current world order.

The slogan of many globalists (including the Biden Administration, the UN, and Pope Francis) has been “Build Back Better,” but to build back, the current world order must be destroyed first.

To Build Back Better implies a better world, but globalists are really trying to gain total control of everyone on earth (our religious system, our political system, our economic system; what we buy, what we sell, what we say, what we own, where we live, where we work, who we worship, and more).

Concerning world government: on July 24, 2024, the Activist Post posted an article by Derrick Broze (journalist, author, radio host, and more) titled “The UN Will Sign the Pact of the Future in 60 Days – Here’s Why It Matters.”

Here are just a few things Broze said:

The Summit of the Future will be voted on at the 79^th UN General Assembly meeting in New York City on Sept. 22-23.
Member states are expected to declare a planetary emergency as part of the so-called Pact for the Future.
The Summit of the Future website says the outcome of the Pact for the Future will be “a world – and an international system – that is better prepared to manage the challenges we face now.”
UN member states are also likely to vote to radically alter the UN itself – what some are calling UN 2.0 – and the very nature of how nation-states make decisions regarding the future of the planet.

Having said this, I thought I would give you my understanding of how this new international system (the last Gentile world government) will develop.

It is my understanding that it will develop in phases or stages (Dan. 7:23-28).

Phase 1: A kingdom will devour the whole earth (probably an altered U.N.).

The U.N. is not a world government now (I have often called it the United Nothing).
But many people are working to turn it into a world government.

Phase 2: This world kingdom will be divided into ten regions (probably ten political, economic, or health regions with one leader over each region (It will be a G-10).

It won’t be ten regions in a revived kingdom of Iron (the EU).
It will be ten regions in the kingdom of Iron plus Clay (the EU plus others; ten regions in the world, not ten regions in the EU).

Phase 3: Each region will appoint a leader or king, giving us ten leaders or ten kings (one leader for each of the ten regions).

Phase 4: After the ten Kings or ten regions appear, an eleventh leader (the Antichrist) will rise to power (out of the European region, according to Daniel 9:26).

This eleventh king will be diverse from the ten (Dan. 9:24).
He won’t be one of the ten.
He will be the eleventh (the Antichrist).

Phase 5: The Antichrist will subdue three kings (forcefully take over three of the ten regions; Dan. 7:24).

Phase 6: The heads of the other seven regions will agree to give their power and authority to the Antichrist (Rev. 17:12-13).

According to the Bible, the Antichrist will rise to power as a highly respected man of peace, but after he is given control of the entire world, he will transform his government into a Satanic world government (Dan. 9:26:27; Rev. 6:2; 17:11).

Phase 7: The Antichrist will blaspheme God and persecute the saints (Jews and those saved after the Rapture; Isa. 45:4; Rev. 12:17) for three and one-half years (Dan. 7:25; Rev. 13:5-7).

Phase 8: His dominion will be taken away from him (Dan. 2:34-35; 7:26; Rev. 19:11-21).

Phase 9: God will establish the Millennial Kingdom.

Phase 10: The Church and Tribulation Saints will reign with Jesus during the Millennium (Rev. 20:6).

The harder people try to set up a world government, the more things seem to go to pot.

Too many people have their own agendas.

Too many are trying to impose their will on everyone else.

Anyway, what happens at the Summit of the Future at the 79^th UN General Assembly meeting in New York City on Sept. 22-23 could be incredibly significant.

Here are some recent reports that seem to indicate that the end of the age is close.

One, concerning all nations, including the U.S., turning against Israel at the end of the age: God can bring good out of every crisis, and here is how He is doing it:

God is teaching the Jews to trust Him, and they are becoming more spiritual.
God is causing more Jews to immigrate to Israel.
When the U.S. started withholding heavy bombs and slowing delivery of smaller bombs, God inspired Israel to build the facilities it needs to develop and produce the bombs it must have rather than to depend on other nations.
God has inspired Israel to greatly expand its inventory of weapons (increase its inventory of tanks, tank ammunition, ships, jets, etc.).

(More: On Aug. 25, 2024, it was reported that 600 Jews from foreign nations – 200 from the U.S. and Canada – are expected to relocate to Israel this week.)

(More: On Aug. 27, 2024, it was reported that 30,000 Jews have immigrated to Israel in the 11 months since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack.)

(FYI: God made an everlasting covenant to give all the Promised Land to Abraham and his descendants through Isaac and Jacob forever; Gen. 17:7-8, 18-21; 28:13. God said He would put the disobedient Jews off the land on different occasions, but He would bring them back before the Tribulation period, and they would never be removed again; Gen. 17:7-8, 18-21; 28:13; Isa. 11:11-12; 54:7-8; 66:7-10; Ezek. 36:24-28; 37:21-22; Amos 9:14-15. The return of the Jews to Israel is God’s doing. Israel must build and expand settlements to provide housing, schools, utilities, water, medical and shopping facilities for them, etc. Those that oppose the building and expansion of settlements are opposing what God is doing, and no weapon formed against Israel shall prosper because God’s promises must be fulfilled; Isa. 54:17. And some of this opposition in the West is due in part to preachers not understanding or talking about what God is doing.)

Two, concerning America’s attitude toward Israel: on Aug. 22, 2024, U.S. Vice-Pres. Kamala Harris told the Democratic National Convention (DNC):

Let me be clear: I will always stand up for Israel’s right to defend itself, and I will always ensure Israel has the ability to defend itself.
At the same time, what has happened in Gaza over the past 10 months is devastating. So many innocent lives lost. Desperate, hungry people fleeing for safety over and over again. The scale of suffering is heartbreaking.
We (Biden and her) are working to end this war, such that Israel is secure, the hostages are released, the suffering in Gaza ends, and the Palestinian people can realize their right to dignity, security, freedom, and self-determination.

Richard Goldberg, a senior adviser at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, understood what Harris said this way:

Harris just made clear she is for Israel’s defense from terrorists but opposes its offense against terrorists.

She will support Israel when the Jews are defending their nation, but she will not support the Jews when they go on offense against their enemies.

(On Aug. 23, 2024, it was reported that Abraham Foxman, longtime leader of the Anti-Defamation League, who now serves as director emeritus, said, “After 50 years fighting anti-Semitism in America, I could not have imagined a time Jews would have to meet in secret locations in Chicago at DNC.”)

Three, concerning corruption in Washington and the upcoming election: on Aug. 23, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. dropped out of the 2024 presidential race and endorsed former pres. Donald Trump.

He said three things caused him to leave the Democratic Party and run as an independent, and now to support Pres. Trump: the Democrat’s attack on free speech, their support for the war in Ukraine, and their attack on our children.

Kennedy said the Democratic Party has abandoned Democracy and the American values his father and uncle lived and died for.

He said the Democratic Party he described has abandoned its roots as the party of the working class, government transparency, and environmental stewardship.

He called Democrats the party of war, censorship, corruption, big Pharma, big tech, and big money.

Four, concerning wars and rumors of wars: on Aug. 18, 2024, Global Research posted an article by Peter Koenig titled, “A NATO invasion of nuclear Russia is currently underway, and the world is unaware that it is in World War III.”

Koenig asked, “Has President Putin’s Patience Reached Its Limits?”

He said, “Step by step, Washington and its NATO partners have been crossing one red line after the other.”

First, NATO weapons in Ukraine.
Then NATO troops in Ukraine.
Then F-16 fighter jets in Ukraine.
Then NATO soldiers commanding the sophisticated weaponry supplied by the West.
Then NATO troops on Russian territories; then NATO drones and aircraft attacking Russian targets on Russian territory – and finally NATO troops attempting to take over an entire Russian district, taking Russian prisoners, killing Russians.

Five, concerning wars and rumors of wars: on Aug. 23, 2024, Germany said they have spotted drones (that they believe are Russian surveillance drones) repeatedly flying in a no-fly area over key nuclear plants in Germany.

Six, concerning wars and rumors of wars: on Aug. 24, 2024, Russia accused Ukraine of attempting to attack a Russian nuclear power plant with a drone.

Seven, concerning wars and rumors of wars: on Aug. 23, 2024, Israeli intelligence learned that Hezbollah was preparing to launch a large number of rockets and missiles at Israel.

Israel struck first with about 100 jets attacking thousands of Hezbollah rocket launchers (many in civilian neighborhoods).

Prime Min. Netanyahu said, “What happened today is not the end of the story.”

On Aug. 25, 2024, Hezbollah fired about 320 rockets and suicide drones at Israel, but Israel destroyed most of them.

Hezbollah called this the first phase of its response to Israel for assassinating one of its top leaders.

(My opinion: It makes me wonder how many strikes Israel needs and how many phases Hezbollah needs before we call this an all-out war.)

(More: In the past, Hezbollah said they will stop attacking Israel when there is a ceasefire in Gaza, but on Aug. 25. 2024, following Israel’s acceptance of the latest ceasefire proposal, Hamas rejected it.)

(More: On Aug. 27, 2024, an Israeli military official said Hamas is in shock over how many planes Israel used and how many targets they hit in a brief period.)

Eight, concerning wars and rumors of wars, Iran’s effort to destroy Israel, and the failure of the UN: on Aug. 25, 2024, Danny Danon, Israel’s ambassador to the UN, sent a letter to the UN Security Council (UNSC) that said in part:

The State of Lebanon and the Hezbollah terrorist organization, which is operating under the guidance of Iran, bear responsibility for the deterioration of the security situation on the northern front.
Since the day after the October 7 massacre, Hezbollah has launched over 7,500 rockets and hundreds of explosive UAVS at Israel, resulting in extensive damage and the ongoing evacuation of over 60,000 civilians from northern Israel.
These actions have been carried out as part of a wider strategy by the Iranian axis aimed at the destruction of Israel through attacks from multiple fronts.
The Hezbollah attack against Israel planned for this morning unequivocally demonstrates the presence of illegal weapons in southern Lebanon in flagrant violation of UNSCR 1701 (2006), and serves as a reminder of the threats Israelis have been facing on a daily basis for the past 11 months.
This situation highlights the urgent need to demilitarize the area south of the Litani River and achieve the disarmament of Hezbollah and other armed militias operating in southern Lebanon.
I call upon the Security Council members to condemn in the strongest terms the ongoing hostilities conducted by Hezbollah and its Iranian patron and their relentless attempts to destabilize the region.

(My opinion: U.S. contributions to the UN are a waste of money.)

Nine, concerning lying and deceit in the White House and FBI: on Aug. 24, 2024, Meta (Facebook) CEO Mark Zuckerberg triggered a firestorm by sending a letter to the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee admitting that he caved to pressure from the Biden-Harris administration and censored U.S. citizens’ posts about Covid-19.

Zuckerberg also acknowledged that he caved to pressure from the FBI and made information on the Hunter Biden laptop story harder to find during the 2020 presidential election (the FBI falsely claimed that the laptop story was Russian disinformation).

(More: On the same day that Zuckerberg sent his letter to the Judiciary Committee, Telegram’s CEO Pavel Durov was arrested in France for not censoring unapproved speech.)

(My opinion: Biden, Harris, and the FBI deliberately lying to U.S. citizens and censoring them for trying to get the truth out is a real threat to democracy. Americans desperately need to drain the swamp on election day.)

Here is my daily update on the Israel-Hamas war.

Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024 (Day 320): The two-hundred sixty-fifth day of the resumed war. Day 107 of the attack on Rafah.

The cross-border attacks by Israel and Hezbollah are escalating.
Israel’s Defense Min. said Israel has defeated Hamas’ Rafah Brigade.
Israel’s Defense Min. ordered Israeli troops to destroy all remaining tunnels.
After saying that the thousands of Palestinian deaths following his attack on Israel were necessary sacrifices, Yahya Sinwar demanded that Israel spare his life in any hostage deal.
S. officials believe Sinwar is trapped underground, running out of supplies and ammunition, and he wants to strike a deal.

Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024 (Day 321): The two-hundred sixty-sixth day of the resumed war. Day 108 of the attack on Rafah.

In retaliation for the death of Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas announced that it will start killing Jews abroad.

Friday, Aug. 23, 2024 (Day 322): The two-hundred sixty-seventh day of the resumed war. Day 109 of the attack on Rafah.

Israel struck more than 30 targets in Gaza, and troops said they have killed dozens of terrorists in the last 24 hours.
Hezbollah in Lebanon fired about 100 rockets at northern Israel.
The U.S. assassinated a senior leader of an Al-Qaeda terrorist group in Syria.

Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024 (Day 323): The two-hundred sixty-eighth day of the resumed war. Day 110 of the attack on Rafah.

Israel assassinated a terrorist who made weapons for Hamas.

Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024 (Day 324): The two-hundred sixty-ninth day of the resumed war. Day 111 of the attack on Rafah.

Hamas officially rejected the latest ceasefire-hostage negotiations.
The U.S. has joined Israel in the search for Yahya Sinwar.

Monday, Aug. 26, 2024 (Day 325): The two-hundred seventieth day of the resumed war. Day 112 of the attack on Rafah.

America’s Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said Israel’s pre-emptive strike on Hezbollah in Lebanon temporarily eased the threat of an all-out war there.
Hezbollah launched more cross-border attacks on Israel, and Israel struck back with more cross-border attacks.
An Israeli drone blew up a Hamas command center in Samaria and killed 5 Hamas terrorists.

Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024 (Day 326): The two-hundred seventy-first day of the resumed war. Day 113 of the attack on Rafah.

Israel rescued an Oct.7 hostage that was being held in a Gaza tunnel.

Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024 (Day 327): The two-hundred seventy-second day of the resumed war. Day 114 of the attack on Rafah.

Israel’s Foreign Minister urged Netanyahu’s government to consider the temporary evacuation of civilians in Palestinian camps in Israel while troops deal with terrorists in those places.
Hundreds of Israeli troops conducted counterterrorist operations in several Palestinian locations on the West Bank in Israel (9 gunmen were killed, several wanted terrorists were arrested, bombs were detonated, and weapons were seized).

FYI: God does not send anyone to Hell (all of us are born with a sin nature and destined to go to Hell because we sin), but God has provided a way (Jesus) for everyone to go to Heaven (and Jesus is the only way to get there; John 14:6).

Finally, are you Rapture Ready?

If you want to be rapture ready and go to heaven, you must be born again (John 3:3). God loves you, and if you have not done so, sincerely admit that you are a sinner; believe that Jesus is the virgin-born, sinless Son of God who died for the sins of the world, was buried, and raised from the dead; ask Him to forgive your sins, cleanse you, come into your heart and be your Saviour; then tell someone that you have done this.

duck_daymond@yahoo.com