Ezekiel 38&39

@josephw said
"Is the alternative view that seeking such parallels is a nonsense?"

No. The alternative view is that the battle described in Ezekiel 38&39 is referring to a battle that occurs at the end of the millennium when Satan is released from the bottomless pit to deceive the nations one last time.

[b]"How many previous wars have been linked with such biblical ramblings? ...[text shortened]... ssion, but don't feel too bad because even divegeester, who claims to be a believer, doesn't either.

I'm simply looking at Ezekiel 38&39 and questioning whether or not what is happening on a global scale, specifically in the region of the Ukraine bordering Russia north of Israel, is in any way indicative of the possibility of a buildup to the battle described.

7. "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places: 8. all this is but the beginning of the birth pangs."

@josephw said
"Is the alternative view that seeking such parallels is a nonsense?"

No. The alternative view is that the battle described in Ezekiel 38&39 is referring to a battle that occurs at the end of the millennium when Satan is released from the bottomless pit to deceive the nations one last time.

[b]"How many previous wars have been linked with such biblical ramblings? ...[text shortened]... ssion, but don't feel too bad because even divegeester, who claims to be a believer, doesn't either.

I have something very substantive indeed to bring to the thread and that is to dismiss your hypothesis entirely. Why is the current (horrible) situation in Ukraine any more fulfillment of Ezekiel 38&39 than either of the world wars or indeed any significant war in the last 2000 years?

@josephw said
With the information Jesus gave his disciples when they asked what will be the signs at the end of the age, do you think that if this is the end of the age would you recognize those signs?

Do you see any prophecy being fulfilled in our day?

Yes, of course, but it is all coming together too slowly to suddenly stand up and say "Okay, this is happening right now."

One can see storms looming on the horizon, but it is still too early to claim it is raining "right now".

I think the one event we need to be aware of when it happens is the rebuilding of the Temple on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. When this happens, all bets are off. Even the Abomination of Desolation spoken of by Daniel cannot happen until then.

Even IF "the sword, the famine and the pestilence" spoken of in Jeremiah and Ezekiel are upon us, the end times are still in future. The Beast is not yet upon us, and the stage is not yet fully complete for the final act.

@suzianne said
Yes, of course, but it is all coming together too slowly to suddenly stand up and say "Okay, this is happening right now."

Haven't Christians been saying they "see the prophecy being fulfilled" in "our day" for 2,000 years?

@fmf said
Haven't Christians been saying they "see the prophecy being fulfilled" in "our day" for 2,000 years?

I can not rule out the type of "wish fulfillment" you often speak of among some Christians. But this is still counting chickens before they hatch.

@suzianne said
I can not rule out the type of "wish fulfillment" you often speak of among some Christians. But this is still counting chickens before they hatch.

The only poster who's said to me they eagerly anticipate the "end times", and hope it happens sooner rather than later, is sonship. Is that what you mean by "wish fulfilment"?

@ghost-of-a-duke said
I have something very substantive indeed to bring to the thread and that is to dismiss your hypothesis entirely. Why is the current (horrible) situation in Ukraine any more fulfillment of Ezekiel 38&39 than either of the world wars or indeed any significant war in the last 2000 years?

Fine. Dismiss the hypothesis. I understand your point of view. How else could you respond to it?

I'm not categorically stating that the crisis in the Ukraine is in fact a fulfillment of Ezekiel 38&39.

But if you are wrong about the veracity of the scriptures in question, would it not appear as though Russia (Gog) is headed in the direction of Israel? That the situation in the Ukraine is a preliminary step toward an objective, the details of which we are not in a position to know, that Ezekiel prophecied of?

This is your day to observe and know and perceive. If you think you'll go through life on your merry way and never see the fulfillment of biblical prophecy, who am I to stand in your way?

@suzianne said
Yes, of course, but it is all coming together too slowly to suddenly stand up and say "Okay, this is happening right now."

One can see storms looming on the horizon, but it is still too early to claim it is raining "right now".

I think the one event we need to be aware of when it happens is the rebuilding of the Temple on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. When this happe ...[text shortened]... in future. The Beast is not yet upon us, and the stage is not yet fully complete for the final act.

I agree with everything you're saying. It's a sound perspective.

@fmf said
The only poster who's said to me they eagerly anticipate the "end times", and hope it happens sooner rather than later, is sonship. Is that what you mean by "wish fulfilment"?

I've heard this from Christians before, it is not uncommon.

These who say this often think they will be spared.

@josephw said
I agree with everything you're saying. It's a sound perspective.

I know even faithful Christians can forget scripture.

Go look at this small book in the OT. Habakkuk.

Much is there for current times.

@suzianne said
But this is still counting chickens before they hatch.

The second advent has had the characteristic of being imminent since the first century, but shy of the "wishful thinking" of Harold Camping type Christians, do you think the church, the world, is in or close to the season prior to the fulfillment of the prophetic return of Christ?