by

Stanley Harris

Peace and prosperity is the hope of the free world today. But can we have peace while communism continues to spread over the earth? The Ideologies of Russia are not compatible with those of the free nations. The outstanding doctrine of communism is world revolution. Communism has infiltrated into all parts of the world including the United States. The atheistic anti-God crusade of the Reds seemingly cannot be stopped short of another war.

Though the Russians talk peace and wear smiles of friendship, they have actually intensified their world-wide subversive efforts. Intelligence reports indicate that the Reds have shifted their policy from slow infiltration to that of surprise attack. Their guided missiles' program has been intensified and they are racing their atomic weapons production and the planes to deliver them. The peaceful gestures of the Reds are only to lull America into a state of lethargy.

As we study the unsolvable predicament of the nations we are struck by the intensified development of terrible weapons of destruction. The ordinary man on the street does not realize how catastrophic these weapons are. Sir Philip Gibbs of England made this statement some time ago, "Scientists of today are filled with grave anxieties about the near future, and predict dark things. They are afraid of the powers in men's hands."

Another noted commentator, James Douglas, has said, "The heart of the nations is sick with fear. Statesmen with their ears to the ground are terror-stricken and perplexed." Now is this a world fact today? Are the nations terror-stricken and perplexed? What did Jesus say regarding our day. He said, "Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth." Luke 21:26. Beloved, I believe we are living in that time now. Don't you think so?

The discovery of atomic weapons has changed the entire world atmosphere. We live in a time of great fear. Whether consciously or unconsciously, men are living under a strain. The mighty communistic hordes of the East are poised for a strike at the West. We might as well face it, sooner or later It will come, whenever they feel that they are ready. We face the prospect, though unpleasant it may be, of our cities being bombed in a far more terrible bombardment than any that has ever been known before. America has always felt secure in the past, but this is not true of the present. The enemy is now preparing to deliver these weapons upon our own cities.

Many of us grieve over America which is supposed to be the strong-hold of Christianity. The people of America seem to be pleasure mad, and are rapidly becoming the most intemperate of all nations. Although religion is growing and there are more people joining churches than ever before, there is very little spirituality. Religion like so many other things is becoming a mere formality.

The nations cannot stand an atomic war. The last war practically wrecked the world. Another total war with atomic weapons would be almost sure to complete the job and leave the world in a state from which it could never recuperate. Isn't it odd that the nations should knowingly prepare for their own destruction? A major portion of the budgets of the leading nations on earth is being appropriated for instruments of destruction. The next world conflict promises to literally set the world on fire. The only real security in this time is that which Christians find in their God.

Let us turn to one of the great prophecies of God's word, one which I believe reveals Russia and her plans. I read from the prophecy of Ezekiel, the 38^th chapter, beginning with the first verse, "The word of the Lord came unto me, saying Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him. And say, thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: and I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords: Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet: Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands; and many people with thee." Verses 1-6.

Notice this strange array of names. Names like Gog and Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal and Gomer. What do these names represent? To whom is God speaking in this prophecy? We notice that God says He is against them. If you will look on a map of the ancient world, which you will find in most Bibles, you will see how the posterity of Noah settled in various places. Where do we find these names mentioned in this prophecy? The amazing fact is that they are found in the territory which is today represented by Russia. So it seems very simple that God is talking to the peoples that are represented today by the nation called Russia. The prophecy also reveals that Persia, Ethiopia and Libya will be allied with Russia, -- in other words the Mohammedan and heathen lands of the East.

Reading further we find that it says "Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands; and many people with them." Russia is noted for its many varieties of tribes or bands. It is also noted for the horsemanship of these bands. The Russian Cossacks are perhaps the most notable of all, and undoubtedly the most outstanding horsemen in warfare that can be found in the world. It was the Cossacks who turned back Hitler's army from the very gates of Moscow. We might mention a few of these "many people" or bands of Russia as follows:

Great Russians numbering 100,000,000

White Russians numbering 10,000,000

Saams numbering 1,700

Jews numbering 5,000,000

Germans numbering 1,500,000

Georgians numbering 2,200,000

Uzbeks numbering 5,000,000

Balkarians numbering 43,000

Turkmen numbering 800,000

Tadzhiks numbering 1,200,000

Ukrainians numbering 38,000,000

Ostiaks numbering 25,000

Buriats numbering 500,000

Kirghiz numbering 885,000

Kazakhs numbering 3,000,000

Beludzhistanians numbering 1,000

Kalmyks numbering 135,000

Yakuts numbering 300,000

And there are many, many more of these tribes or bands. There are the Mongolians, the yellow, the white, and the black races. To further substantiate the fact that these names in Ezekiel 38 represent the power that we know today as Russia, let us read from various authorities. Here is a statement from Watson's Biblical Dictionary which says: "According to Ezekiel Gog was the prince of Magog. Magog signified the country of people and Gog the king of that country; the general name of the northern nations of Europe and Asia, or the district north of the Caucasus or Mt. Taurus."

In the revised version Eze. 38:2-3 are given as follows: "Son of man, set thy face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshach, and Tubal, . . . and say, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal."

Quoting again from Watson's Biblical Dictionary we read, "The Hebrew speaks of a people called Rosh. The Orientals hold that Japheth had a son called Rous, not mentioned by Moses, who peopled Russia, that is Muscovy. We question not but Rosh or Ros signified Russia or the people that dwell on the Araxex called Rosch by the inhabitants . . . This opinion is supported by the testimony of various Greek writers who describe the Ros as a Scythian nation bordering on the northern Taurus. Mesok or Meshech appears to be the same as Moskwa or Moscow of the moderns, and we know that not only is this the name of the city but also the river on which it stands."

We further read from Dr. Watson as follows: "Meshech is the sixth son of Japheth who was first seated in the northeastern angle of Asia Minor . . . Tubal and Mesheck are spoken of as workers in brass and iron as inhabitants of the same countries have been in all ages."

Here is another interesting statement from Smith's Bible Dictionary in regard to Meshech, "The sixth son of Japheth and founder of the nation that traded with Tyre, a neighbor of Gog and Magog. Herodotis speaks of the Meschi and Tiburini in Persia, and these are the Meshech and Tubal of the Scriptures. They were settled in the mountains of the Caucasus. . . Their name is written Muskai on the Assyrian monuments. They are the Moscovs of Russia."

Smith's Bible Dictionary further states, "Magog: second son of Japheth and founder of a race, the great Scythian tribe now called Russians."

It seems clear from these Bible Dictionary statements that the names in Ezekiel 38 pertain to Russia. In recent years we have noted the tremendous advance in the power of the Asiatic nations. It has been predicted in God's word that these Eastern powers would awaken in the last days and would be instrumental in plunging the world into the final conflict called Armageddon. Here is a striking prediction from the Bible which says, "Let the heathen be awakened, and come up the valley of Jehoshaphat; for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about. Put ye in the sickle; for the harvest is ripe; come, get you down; for the press is full, and fats overflow; for their wickedness is great." Joel 3:12, 13.

The nations of the East are referred to as heathen because they are not Christian powers. God says that these heathen nations will be awakened. For generations, yes millenniums, they have been dormant, asleep. But today they are awake and are on the march. God says that these heathen nations are going to come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat. The valley of Jehoshaphat is a short distance north of Jerusalem. When they do, God says that it will be time for the harvest. What is the harvest? Jesus says in Matthew 13: 39 that the harvest is the end of the world. Therefore the awakening of the eastern nations and their militaristic advances will be a great sign to us that the end of the world is near.

The prophet Zechariah reveals another prediction of God as follows: "And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people; all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it." Zech. 12: 3. Notice that God says that all the people of the earth are going to be gathered together against Jerusalem some day. In Joel 3:2 God says, "I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat." The valley of Jehoshaphat, as I have already said, is immediately north of Jerusalem.

In Zech. 14:2, we read another statement from God: "I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle."And so the final setting of this great conflict between the East and the West is right in the heart of the earth at Jerusalem.

Now I shall read again from Ezekiel 38. "After many days thou shalt be visited; in the latter years." Notice it says in the latter years or in the last days, or the end of the world. "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." vs. 8.

Now what land is it that is gathered out of many people? Why that is none other than the land of Palestine where people have come from all parts of the world. Where the Jews are returning from different countries. And as the prophecy says, "A land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste; but it is brought forth out of the nations and they shall dwell safely all of them."

It seems clear from this prophecy that the tribes of Russia -- Gomer, Magog, Meshech, and Gog are going to come to the land of Israel, to the land of Palestine against Jerusalem. The very next verse of this prophecy is an amazing revelation since it was written many hundreds of years ago. "Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee." Notice that it says that those who come against God's holy land are going to ascend like a cloud. This can have no other meaning but that they are going to ascend into the sky. The only way that you ascend like a cloud is by airplane. It says that they are going to come up as a storm. That they will be a cloud to cover the land. Literally this means that the sky will be filled with airplanes.

Reading in the next verse, we find the following amazing statement: "Thus saith the Lord God; it shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought." vs. 10.

What is the meaning of this evil thought that Russia will think? In Revelation 16 it tells us that evil angels will be responsible for leading the nations into war. Here is what it says: "They are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty." vs. 14.

It is the evil angels who put the evil thoughts into the minds of the leaders of Red Russia. The world is convinced that there is something devilish about the plans of Russia. There seems to be no way to come to any peaceful agreement with them. They seem bent upon leading the world to destruction. Not long ago we saw how the mind of Hitler became devil possessed and how he plunged the world into a terrible state of war.

We read further in Revelation 16 how the evil angels will inspire those who listen to them, with their evil thoughts to lead them on to Armageddon. Here is what it says, "And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the East might be prepared . . . And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon." vs. 12, 16.

The battle of Armageddon will be the sixth of the seven last plagues. We find in this prophecy that it agrees with those in the Old Testament. The kings of the East, or the heathen powers, are going to come up to the Holy Land or valley of Jehoshaphat as it is called in another place, or Jerusalem for this final battle. The word Armageddon means Mt. Megiddo which is a mountain north of Jerusalem overlooking the valley of Jehoshaphat. So all of these prophecies tie together.

We read further in Ezekiel as follows, "Thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates." (And that is true for they do not build walls around the cities in Palestine as they used to do.) "To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land."

This represents the land of Israel. The word for midst in the margin of the Bible says navel, or in the heart of the earth. Palestine is the cross roads of the nations, it is right in the middle of the world or the navel or the midst of the world. It is a land without walls and gates. It is a place where people have gathered out of the nations and who have received donations of cattle and goods so that they might build a new nation. But it is here at the cross-roads of the nations, at the place which was the battle ground between good and evil when Christ was on earth, that the final controversy between good and evil will be fought.

The Near East is a very strategic spot in the world. A statement was made by Peter the Great, the most outstanding leader of Russia as follows:

"Take every possible means of getting Constantinople, for he who rules there will be the true sovereign of the world," Article IX, dated 1725. Turkey and the Dardanelles, which connects the Black Sea with the Mediterranean Sea, is considered by Russia to be its very life line. The holy lands with their tremendous resources of minerals and oil are very much coveted by the Russian power. In order for them to fight a war against the West, using a mechanized army and a mighty air force, they would almost have to have the oil rich lands of the Near East. One of the greatest pipe lines that exists in the world today flows right through Palestine to the Mediterranean Sea.

The great statesman Kossuth has said, "In Turkey will be decided the fate of the world." In order for the communistic hordes of the East to reach the Holy Land they would more than likely have to remove Turkey which stands as a buffer between them and what they desire. When the huge host of the East with the many bands comes plowing through on its way to the Holy Land with a cloud of airplanes darkening the sky, this will be the signal for the final showdown which will take place at Armageddon.

Reading on in Ezekiel 38, we find the following statement, "Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, (A number of Bible commentators say that these merchants of Tarshish are the British who have been known for their merchandise and their shipping for years.) with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, art thou come to take a spoil? Hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil?" vs. 13.

The young lions, dear friends, are a fitting representation of the colonies of Great Briton. The symbol of Great Briton is a lion, and the young lions or the merchants of Tarshish, the merchants of Great Briton, will say to Russia are you come to take a great spoil, are you come to overcome these nations and to break our life line, to take the Suez canal and the Dardanelles and gain control of the Mediterranean Sea, the very life line of the British Empire and its trade? Briton and her colonies will raise a tremendous protest as Russia and her satellites move toward the Near East to conquer it. But the protest of the vast Western powers will not be heeded, and a most furious conflict will ensue.

Reading on in Eze. 38: 14-16 it says, "Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say unto Gog, thus saith the Lord God; in that day when my people of Israel dwelleth safely, shalt thou not know it? And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts (out of Russia), thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army; and thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land: it shall be in the latter days."

Notice that there will be a great land army and many horsemen as well as a huge armada of airplanes covering the land as a dark cloud overhead. Also take special notice of the fact that this is going to be in the latter days, or in the end of the world. We read on: "It shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes." vs. 16, last part.

This huge military power of many bands or races of various skins and types of people is in actual preparation tonight for this final showdown. Teeming millions are preparing for this conflict, and the greatest air force in the history of the world is being built for this great show-down. It will be the most furious and the most devilish and demoralizing conflict that has ever been fought.

As we read further the prophecy says, "Thus saith the Lord God; art thou he of whom I have spoken in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, which prophesied in those days many years that I would bring thee against them?" Note that the prophecies of ancient times have revealed this final show-down between the nations in the battle of Armageddon.

As we read further it says, "It shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord God, that my fury shall come up in my face, for in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel." vs. 17-19.

An amazing fact is presented here for God says that in this time when the heathen hordes of the East come up against the Holy Land and the western powers, He is going to be angry and that His wrath is going to be poured out in that day. In Rev. 15:1 it tells us that the wrath of God is the seven last plagues. One of these seven last plagues is the battle of Armageddon which is the sixth plague. Whenever we see the communistic forces of the East start on the march toward the Near East or Holy Lands, that will be the signal that our world's probation is closing. It will be the signal for the wrath of God in the seven last plagues to be poured out upon the earth. We will know that the hour of God's mercy has come to its end. Friends, that hour is drawing near, much nearer than many of us realize.

Reading again from the 19^th verse it says, "Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel." In Revelation it tells us that at this time there will be a mighty earthquake. Also the prophet Daniel tells us there will be an earthquake that will shake the earth in a way that it has never been shaken before. Rev. 6:14-17 tells us that when the wrath of God is poured upon the earth, the world will be mightily shaken. It says, "The kings of the earth, and the great men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; and said to the mountains and rocks, fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?"

The Lord Jesus is going to come in the midst of this final battle between the nations. When He comes the earth will be shaken from one end to the other. The Lord is going to sit in judgment upon those who have denied His redeeming grace. Rev. 16: 19 says, "The cities of the nations fell; and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath."

The wrath of God is going to fall upon the earth, the false religions and those who have lived in wickedness and have refused the wonderful love of God will perish. The prophecy says that the cities of the nations will fall. In the prophecy of Ezekiel, as I read it a moment ago, it says, "Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking." O what a shaking that is going to be! As we read on to the climax of Ezekiel 38, we find that it says, "So that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall and every wall shall fall to the ground." vs. 20.

When God shakes the earth even the fish and the animals and everything that is in the world is going to feel the tremendous convulsion. The mountains, God says, shall be cast down and the cities shall fall.

The prophecy of Ezekiel 38 further declares that "Every man's sword shall be against his brother." vs. 21. When the nations that are in combat see the great glory of the coming of the Lord, they will realize that their cause is a lost one and in desperation they will turn upon each other, and as the prophecy says every man's sword shall be against his brother. There will be the most awful bloodshed that has ever been known, the greatest carnage that the world has even witnessed.

Reading on in this prophecy it says, "And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone." vs. 22.

This verse describes more fully the plagues that will finally fall upon the world. The pestilence represents the terrible sores that will afflict man under the first plague, and the blood is a description of the waters being turned to blood under the second and third plagues as described in Revelation 16. And the hail stones are described under the seventh and last plague, for God says that great hail stones will fall from heaven every one the weight of a talent, or around fifty-seven pounds. We read about these huge hail stones in Rev. 16: 19-21. There will be no military weapons that can compare to the mighty artillery of God. Huge chunks of ice the size of bushel baskets falling from heaven will completely demoralize the armies of earth. And they shall run from the presence of God seeking to hide and crying out in terror for the rocks and the mountains to fall on them and hide them from the wrath of God.

When this final climax to the world's sinful history comes, everything in nature will be turned out of its course. The earth will heave and stagger like a drunkard. Rev. 16:20 says, "and every island fled away, and the mountains were not found." The mountains will literally be swallowed up by this tremendous earthquake. Islands will disappear, cities along the sea coast that have been like Sodom and Gomorrah for wickedness will be engulfed by huge tidal waves. The cities of the nations will fall, according to the prophecy, as they are shaken by the earthquake and beaten to a pulp by great chunks of ice. In Rev. 16: 21 it says, "And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent; and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great."

Way back in ancient times the Lord revealed about these hail stones to the prophet Job. In Job 38:22, 23, it says, "Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail, which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?" Think of it, millenniums ago God revealed to Job that in the final great battle, He would have reserved the artillery of heaven, huge chunks of ice.

We need not fear that Russia will ever conquer the world. God will not permit this. However, the very fact that the eastern nations have awakened and are preparing for Armageddon should be a signal to us that the coming of the Lord is very near, even at the door. And when these final momentous events take place, those who have refused the mercy of God and held out against the pleadings of His Holy Spirit, will cry out, O how we wish that we had listened to God's message of mercy! But then it will be too late. And so we know from the Scriptures that today is the accepted time. Today if ye will hear His voice harden not your heart.

To those who walk in the ways of God we have this blessed assurance in Ps. 91: 9-11, "Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the Most High, thy habitation; there shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways."

There will only be two classes of people in the world when Jesus comes. They are the saved and the unsaved. The unsaved are going to be destroyed by the most awful destruction, the greatest calamity that could ever befall mankind will soon fall upon them and they will be cast into a lake of fire. But the saved shall be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and taken to dwell with Him in glory forevermore.

Which of these groups are you going to be found in, my friend? Are you prepared to meet Jesus? We need not fear the course of events in our world. We need not be concerned with the way the tremendous number of the heathen of the Far East are preparing for war. We need not be concerned about hydrogen bombs and other weapons of destruction. What we must be concerned about is our soul's salvation! If we are living for God a life that is true we shall soon triumph gloriously with the Lord Jesus Christ. May God grant that we will make our calling and election sure through Jesus the Saviour. Let us pray.