Most who will read this commentary are certainly at least cursorily familiar with the term “Gog-Magog.” This is the prophecy most who look at end-times matters from the pre-Trib perspective believe is the first foretold event that will likely be the prophecy to be fulfilled following the Rapture of the Church–either that attack on Israel or, possibly, the destruction of Damascus, Syria.
Likewise, most are also familiar with the term “automatic pilot.” This is the switch on an aircraft pilot’s flight-control console that, when activated, causes the plane to fly without outside help. That is, the aircraft flies the course the pilot sets in the flight plan with pilot’s hands off the controls.
I think we have just witnessed the automatic-pilot setting switched on that will culminate with the fulfillment of Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39. This is a plan of movement foretold long ago, and the course will be followed no matter what. Any external forces that are applied attempting to divert that course will fail.
It was astonishing to many that U.S. President Donald Trump, almost without forewarning, announced that U.S. forces and diplomats will be pulled from the Syrian theater of conflict. This, although he had said as part of his campaign for the presidency that he planned to remove America’s forces, which he believed had spent too much American blood and money in the war-torn area of Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan. He is, in fact, following up on that campaign declaration.
In so doing, he has caused many staunch supporters, including the likes of talk show host Rush Limbaugh, to say that they think it is a mistake to make this move at this time.
Yet Mr. Trump is making the move without much consultation with anyone, so far as we can tell. This is believed to be one reason General Jim “Mad Dog” Mattis is leaving the administration as secretary of defense. Whether it influenced the removal of General John Kelly as chief of staff is a matter of much conjecture. Certainly, it seems a strange course of events for one who has been as forthcoming (transparent) as President Trump.
To those who are considered more or less expert observers of biblically prophetic development, the move to remove American forces and diplomatic service types from Syria invites Russia, Iran, and Turkey to fill the power vacuum created with the evacuation. These three actors on the geopolitical scene in the Middle East are the key nations many, including this writer, believe Ezekiel the prophet referred to in his chapters 38 and 39 prophecy. Russia (Rosh), Iran (Persia), and Turkey (Torgomah) are slated to attack over the mountains of Israel to take “great spoil.”
Not coincidentally, many believe, Israel is developing significant accomplishments in the production of oil and gas in the Golan area and in its Mediterranean coastal waters territory. Plus, Israel’s technological achievements in practically every area are becoming legendary. There is “great spoil” to be had as we move forward into the new year.
Whatever else is to be considered, the fact that America is being removed as a blocking agent to what goes on in the immediate area north of Israel is most relevant to prophetic development. The United States, by name, is not mentioned anywhere in prophecy yet to be fulfilled. The nation’s absence is particularly intriguing in the matter of the Gog-Magog assault.
The only reference anyone can find of any realistic possibility of the presence of America is when the nations observing the attack send their note of diplomatic protest.
Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, 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? (Ezekiel 38:13)
The phrase “all the young lions thereof” are thought by many to refer to the nations that have sprung from the British Empire, which are thought to be “the merchants of Tarsish” entity that precedes the “young lions” reference.
At the very least, this abdication of American power from this region that has such prophetic significance portends dynamic prophetic movement for the immediate future. It is happening, again, as if on automatic pilot. Protests by people on the president’s side politically and by those who are rabidly against him don’t seem to affect his decision.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and other diabolists have praised the move. This would seem to give credence to the ludicrous claim by Trump’s political enemies that Mr. Trump colluded with Russia in “stealing the 2016 presidential election.” Still, even that collateral political damage consideration–that this proves collusion–has no seeming effect on Trump taking America out of the picture as a direct actor in the Syrian matter and, most likely, the Afghanistan matter.
The whole thing appears to be on automatic pilot.
God doesn’t cause individual leaders to make mistakes in the sense that He manages them a moment at a time. That would take away the free will in their ability to do right or wrong and to make decisions on a personal level.
Now, I know I’m getting into some deep water here–and probably some trouble.
What I mean is that the Lord doesn’t make these leaders think in one direction or another. God does know the end from the beginning, however, so He has given his prophets like Ezekiel the thoughts these human leaders will have. God will put “hooks” in the “jaws” of Gog (Ezekiel 38:4). Ezekiel tells us that the leader called “Gog” will have things come into his mind “and he will ”think an evil thought” (v. 10).
This seems to indicate that God is making Gog take the action he will take. However, I view it as God simply knowing what this leader will do. God’s holy will is bound to be done no matter what in the prophecy. The prophecy will be on automatic pilot at that point of the fulfillment process.
The year 2019 indeed looks to be one for students of Bible prophecy to “watch”–as given in Titus 2:13, which can be most comforting as the new year proceeds. In that sense I can say without reservation, Happy New Year!
Terry James Prophecy Line 
Reblogged this on BibleProphecyWatch.
Hi Terry, I just read your article about Gog-Magog and enjoyed it. I also am of the persuasion that we are very near to the Lord’s return in the rapture. Yesterday I gave a message on Facebook entitled “Silence In Heaven?” during the 7th seal judgment (Revelation 8:1) when the Anti-Christ goes to war with Russia and defeats her and her allies. He then becomes the absolute dictator of the whole world all by himself. I also wrote a corresponding blog: https://kelseypeach.wordpress.com/2018/12/25/silence-in-heaven/ and have a chart of what I believe will be the order of things to come: https://kelseypeach.wordpress.com/2016/02/20/the-order-of-coming-events-2/
Unwalled Villages
Amen. Ty and Look up. 🙂
I have every expectation that our president and anyone connected with him, past or present, will be so preoccupied by unending investigations from Nancy Pelosi’s House of Representatives that it will be pretty much paralyzed. I think impeachment will be at the top of her list. Don’t be surprised if Justice Cavanaugh ends up there, too.
I expect that this will diminish further our presence and influence in the Middle East of which our pulling our troops out Syria is bit a first sign. All this is also happening at the same time Putin is increasing his influence.
Domestically, I expect an acceleration of the our on-going moral decay now that the “Progressives” are regaining influence. Historically, no nation or empire has ever survived such a moral inversion for very long. Sodom and Gomorrah, the Greek and Roman Empires were places where unnatural human relations were not only accepted but embraced. In Nazi Germany, the persecution of human beings based entirely on ethnicity became the law of the land. In all these places good was called evil and evil good.
I see this trend not being limited to single countries or regions in the days to come, but becoming planetary in scale. The thing is, we no longer even have much of the modern church to set the example of what is truly right and decent. How long can we expect this kind of evil to persist before God once again steps into history and makes things right?
Maybe not even another year.
[…] via Gog-Magog on Automatic Pilot […]
Greetings brother Terry,
no disagreeing with your Gog-Magog analysis.
Just an additional thought to the Real Meaning Of The Hooks in The Jaws, and The Hardening Of Heart, and other apparently Cruel Things GOD DOES.
First there are some who point to Isaiah xlv : 7, saying That GOD CREATED Evil as well as Good, and therefore that the poor wicked are predestinated to do evil against their own will, as the hapless pot would say to the Potter in Romans ix : 17-23.
Pharaoh is also mentioned in Verse 18 to remind us Of GOD HARDENING Pharaoh’s heart (Genesis iv-xiv) for him to go to his doom.
Well, so ”poor” Pharaoh and ”poor” numerous enemies of Israel down to ”poor” Gog-Magog of our day, just want to be friends with Israel.
But Israel’s GOD ”evilly manipulates” them, so that they are being provoked into turning against nasty Israel who is doing nasty things (yeah like slaughtering the gentle, peace-loving ”Palestinians”) with impunity, and then
GOD will take pretext to punish them for having just wanted to discipline GOD’S nasty little darling.
Is that so ?
Or is that fallen man’s own actions are determined by his own character ?
Someone has correctly said that character is destiny.
And Lucifer’s character is one of iniquity (Ezekiel xxviii : 15) which destines him For The Lake Of Fire.
In The Cosmic Chess Game he the devil plays against GOD, he constantly
complains that he cannot see Any OF GOD’S MOVES, WHILE GOD ALWAYS SEES IN ADVANCE every one of his (the devil’s) moves.
Well, GOD’S ANSWER IS THAT If the devil looks more closely at his own moves, that is with objectivity in regard to his own character, he would have seen GOD’S MOVES.
But objectivity has never been in the devil’s character.
His character is totalitarian.(*)
Were it not so, he would not have fallen.
(*) Interestingly, Nicolai Berdyaev wrote that, no one however powerful has the right to be totalitarian.
ONLY GOD HAS THIS RIGHT AND HE HAS CHOSEN NOT TO EXERT IT.
So, from Pharaoh to Gog-Magog, from their hardened hearts to their hooks in the jaws, it’s all in their own minds formed by their own characters.
Proverbs xxiii : 7 Teaches us among other things That
”As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.”
GOD BLESS you brother Terry.
Terry,
Not to stir up any sort of theological hornets’ nest, but treating the Pre-Tribulation “rapture” as a forgone conclusion could cause many Christians to panic if they find themselves face-to-face with the man of sin when he is “revealed”. It’s better to be “prepared” for that event, having our lamps fill with oil (Matthew 25), than being “surprised” by world events … if they happen to occur in opposition to our belief system. May God Bless You!
Tim
The reason I view the Pre-Trib Rapture as I do as a “foregone conclusion” is not because of what I think, but what I “believe” thus “trust.” I believe and trust with all that is within me –after decades of prayer, study and thought, that God’s Word “teaches” the pre-Trib Rapture of the Church.
Nothing that God’s Word teaches can harm people when they read or hear it, because it is perfectly given and is absolute truth.
The responsibility of each Believer in Jesus Christ is to study and discern, then trust what he or she has read or heard. The Holy Spirit guides when this effort is made earnestly and prayerfully. That Christian can thus know beyond any doubt that he or she will never face Antichrist, because God’s Prophetic Word –in total context– plainly teaches that we are not appointed to wrath (the wrath of God) which will be administered during the rule and reign of that beast.
Terry,
Well said!
In fact, having done the same over the last 45 years, the only part of your comment I disagree with is your conclusion. My own conclusion concerning the timing of “our gathering together unto him” is shortly after the “revealing of the man of sin” (who will initiate the great tribulation upon the saints), but before the “wrath of God” (which Christ Himself will initiate upon the Earth at His appearing).
It’s interesting that we can be equally assured and confident, trusting upon what the Holy Ghost has revealed to each of us over much study and prayer, and yet disagree on this point. But that seems to be the nature of modern-day Christianity, and I look forward to meeting you in His Kingdom to come.
Tim
Greeat post thank you