Awaken Bible Prophecy Update 2-15-23: A Soon-Coming Psalm 83 Proxy War

The signs of the times are everywhere and are closing in upon us.  What do the signs tell us?  That the end of the age is near – very near.  In years’ past when Bible-believing Christians thought the pre-Tribulation Rapture was at hand, they pointed to this indicator or that in relation to the various latter days prophecies and were convinced time had run out – that the secular Doomsday Clock should be striking midnight right now!  Particularly in the aftermath of Hal Lindsey’s book The Late Great Planet Earth written in 1970, the belief was that time was definitely up in the era.  When that long-awaited Blessed Hope didn’t materialize, people lost hope.  Maybe Jesus isn’t coming back, or at least not in the anticipated timeframe.  In their disappointed laments, many of them fulfilled the prophecy in 2 Peter 3:1-4:

“This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.”

Of course, this attitude is prevalent not only within the church, but also secular society at large.  “Who is Jesus?  Do you really think He’s coming back?  You Christians who believe this nonsense are a joke.”  The fact that fellow believers spout this kind of rhetoric is astounding and distressing – but you know they do.

So, the question becomes: When should we really, truly look for the return of Jesus?

Despite the convergence of literally all the signs of the end, the key to the doorway to heaven still turns in the lock of the nation of Israel.  Israel was and still is God’s prophetic timeclock.  As Israel goes – so goes the rest of the world.

If that’s the case, what should we anticipate happening in the Middle East concerning Israel that will put a wrap around the rest of the prophetic indicators?  Because I don’t know the day or the hour any more than the rest of you, I can’t be dogmatic about my hypothesis regarding this subject, but I think it’s one worth considering for the timing of the pre-Trib Rapture.

What is that?  I think it may closely coincide with the upcoming Psalm 83 War.

 

 

Transcript:

The signs of the times are everywhere and are closing in upon us.  What do the signs tell us?  That the end of the age is near – very near.  In years’ past when Bible-believing Christians thought the pre-Tribulation Rapture was at hand, they pointed to this indicator or that in relation to the various latter days prophecies and were convinced time had run out – that the secular Doomsday Clock should be striking midnight right now!  Particularly in the aftermath of Hal Lindsey’s book The Late Great Planet Earth written in 1970, the belief was that time was definitely up in the era.  When that long-awaited Blessed Hope didn’t materialize, people lost hope.  Maybe Jesus isn’t coming back, or at least not in the anticipated timeframe.  In their disappointed laments, many of them fulfilled the prophecy in 2 Peter 3:1-4:

 

“This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.”

 

Of course, this attitude is prevalent not only within the church, but also secular society at large.  “Who is Jesus?  Do you really think He’s coming back?  You Christians who believe this nonsense are a joke.”  The fact that fellow believers spout this kind of rhetoric is astounding and distressing – but you know they do.

 

So, the question becomes: When should we really, truly look for the return of Jesus?

 

Despite the convergence of literally all the signs of the end, the key to the doorway to heaven still turns in the lock of the nation of Israel.  Israel was and still is God’s prophetic timeclock.  As Israel goes – so goes the rest of the world.

 

If that’s the case, what should we anticipate happening in the Middle East concerning Israel that will put a wrap around the rest of the prophetic indicators?  Because I don’t know the day or the hour any more than the rest of you, I can’t be dogmatic about my hypothesis regarding this subject, but I think it’s one worth considering for the timing of the pre-Trib Rapture.

 

What is that?  I think it may closely coincide with the upcoming Psalm 83 War.

 

We’ll take a look at this idea in a moment after we pray and read from God’s Word.

 

<PRAY>

 

Scripture

 

Revelation 6:9-12

When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. 10 They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11 Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.

 

A Soon-Coming Psalm 83 Proxy War

  • First of all, let me repeat what I’ve said many times. . .
  • Not a single one of us who teaches Bible prophecy is going to get it all right
  • If someone isn’t humble enough to admit that, well. . . there’s issues
  • God in His sovereignty has mysteries up His sleeve, and none of us on earth have any particular claim to insights as to what those might be
  • The best we can do is study Scripture and interpret what’s going on in the world through a Biblical, prophetic lens – all the while asking God to bring clarity to what we see and think
  • Of course, from the statements I’ve already made, you know I think there will be a Psalm 83 War
  • It’s also very possible that it will be seen initially as a 3rd “Palestinian” intifada
  • BTW – here is a definition of intifada from the American Heritage Dictionary:

 

A protracted grassroots campaign of protest and sometimes violent resistance against perceived oppression or military occupation, especially either of two uprisings among Palestinian Arabs in the Gaza Strip and West Bank, the first beginning in 1987 and the second in 2000, in protest against Israeli occupation of these territories.

 

  • Many people don’t believe there will be a Psalm 83 War; rather they believe the next conflict for Israel will be the Gog-Magog War of Ezekiel 38-39
  • That’s fine
  • Like I said: none of us will get it all right
  • If those of us in the Psalm 83 War camp are correct, there will still be surprises that no one foresees
  • If those in the Gog-Magog faction are spot-on, they’ll also miss some key aspects surrounding that war – you can count on it

 

  • There’s a fellow whose mail list I’m on who is quite adamant that he’s got the chronological key to the next prophetic events
  • He’s convinced that the Gog-Magog War must happen first and then the Rapture will occur. . .
  • That, in fact, this war is the trigger for the Rapture
  • Quoting various Scriptures, he believes that since the Lunar Year begins with the new moon on the Hebrew calendar coinciding with Nisan 1 – which is our Western date of March 23 – this is the high probability date for the beginning of Gog-Magog
  • Once this war starts, he is convinced the Rapture will occur shortly thereafter. . . actually 10 days later on Nisan 10, which would be our April 1
  • Now he has stated very clearly that he hasn’t been wrong yet in his predictions, so these two events will happen this year of 2023
  • However, he also hedges a little bit in saying: “If God has scheduled our resurrection & rapture to happen in THE YEAR 2023. . . “
  • So maybe it’ll be this year; maybe it won’t
  • Okay, fine with me – actually, wonderful with me
  • If these events develop and we’re only a month or so away from the Rapture – count me in
  • . . but. . .
  • For the Gog-Magog War to come like the storm it’s portrayed as upon Israel, certain things have to be in place, which as you’ll see, would seem to argue against this conflict occurring within the next month
  • Under the generally accepted belief that Russia is the nation of Magog and either Putin or his successor is the leader named as Gog in the prophecy, shouldn’t Russia be marshalling its troops and resources now to the north of Israel in Syria, along with its co-attackers Iran and Turkey?
  • I mean, it takes time to make all the preparations for a massive invasion, which is what is described in the Biblical text
  • And, last I looked, Russia was pretty heavily involved with the Ukraine War
  • I’m somewhat skeptical that the timing of God’s hook in the jaw of Gog will occur while this other conflict is raging
  • It simply doesn’t make sense
  • That being the case, maybe this year isn’t the one
  • Maybe it’s next year according to my email friend
  • That is, if you think Ezekiel’s War even comes next and there is no Psalm 83 War. . .

 

  • Let’s look at the situation on the ground in Israel
  • Benjamin Netanyahu just won the race for Prime Minister again and has created a conservative ruling faction – seemingly stronger than those he’s had in prior years
  • However, the Left in Israel is going crazy
  • We could ask where and when the Left doesn’t go crazy, but that’s another issue
  • In this case, the former caretaker Prime Minister Yair Lapid has called for:
    • “. . . fighting in the streets”: “We’ll fight here in the streets. We’ll fight in the Knesset. We’ll fight in the courts. We’ll rescue our country, because we’re not willing to live in an undemocratic (country).”
  • Why is this?
  • Because the Left is doing what it always does
  • It is accusing the Right of what its tactics and beliefs are
  • One prominent member of the opposition has actually called for the assassination of Netanyahu
  • He said recently:
    • “If the prime minister assumes dictatorial powers, he has to die, plain and simple, along with his ministers and followers. We, too, should have din rodef.” (i.e. a Jewish law authorizing the murder of someone who intends to harm or kill others)
  • More than that, the leaders of the Left have been ginning up protests and riots
  • Again, as all Communist sympathizers do – which is exactly who these people are – they have doctored photos of the crowds to make them seem much larger than in reality
  • Inciting them even more, another prominent Leftist said that he would:
    • “. . . have no choice but to use live fire” if someone tried to force him “to live in a dictatorship”
  • Adding to this leftist rhetoric that’s causing immense disruption within Israel is another disturbing factor
  • According to Jim Fletcher, writing in Bill Koenig’s weekly Koenig’s Eye View from the White House newsletter, a recent report from the Israeli Border Crossing Authority revealed an increasing problem
  • Extremely similar to our situation that the Biden Regime has created on America’s southern border, in 2022 there was a 55% rise in the number of “Palestinians” who crossed the border between Israel and the areas of Judea and Samaria – popularly and incorrectly called the West Bank
  • This was allowed – and perhaps even encouraged – by Yair Lapid, the leftist caretaker prime minister, as noted earlier
  • As Jim Fletcher states, in a small nation like Israel, such a huge increase in hostiles coming illegally into the country is catastrophic
  • Many of these people will be terrorist factions that will likely take up arms in places like Nablus and Jenin
  • Already there has been a significant rise in violence against Israelis – one of the latest by a brainwashed 13-year-old suspect
  • Like Fletcher says: “This is what years of incitement will get you.”

 

  • As you can see, all is not well politically in Israel
  • This can’t be a good sign going forward
  • Accompanying this are some other ominous developments
  • On one hand Israel is very concerned about Iran’s continued rhetoric and significant progress on nuclear devices it has sworn to use against what it considers as the Little Satan
  • A number of analysts have predicted that it won’t be long before Israel feels it must strike first against the Iranian facilities producing these weapons
  • Back in 1981 Iraq had progressed in its nuclear weapons program to the point that Israel saw Saddam Hussein and this development as an existential threat
  • Israel made the decision to strike first to destroy the primary factory and did so with an attack on the Osiraq nuclear facility
  • So, Israel has a precedent
  • If sufficiently concerned that Iran will use its nuclear weapons, Israel – at least with this right-wing government in place – probably won’t hesitate to do a preemptive strike
  • The likely site for this – because of the Biblical prophecy in Jeremiah 49-34-39 – is the Bushehr facility in southwest Iran
  • In this prophecy, Jeremiah in the power of the Holy Spirit states:

 

The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning Elam, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah.

 

Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Behold, I will break the bow of Elam, the mainstay of their might. And I will bring upon Elam the four winds from the four quarters of heaven. And I will scatter them to all those winds, and there shall be no nation to which those driven out of Elam shall not come. I will terrify Elam before their enemies and before those who seek their life. I will bring disaster upon them, my fierce anger, declares the Lord. I will send the sword after them, until I have consumed them, and I will set my throne in Elam and destroy their king and officials, declares the Lord.

 

“But in the latter days I will restore the fortunes of Elam, declares the Lord.”

 

  • Elam is that southwest portion of Iran I mentioned
  • FYI – the ancient nation known as Persia is the area encompassing the rest of Iran to the northeast
  • From this Word of God, it’s apparent that something big will happen there at some point
  • Will it be Israel’s attack on and destruction of this nuclear bunker?
  • The news coming from this region indicates that we’ve got a balancing act going on between Iran and Israel with a lot of tension
  • Now if Iran isn’t really ready to take on Israel – and from Scripture it appears as though that timing won’t occur until the coalition of Russia, Turkey, and Iran comes together – then to keep from a full-our engagement with Israel, what might Iran do to keep Israel busy until it’s ready to rumble?

 

  • Well, guess what else is in the news?
  • Multiple sources tell us that the terrorist faction of Hamas is preparing to attack Israel from Lebanon
  • In fact, it is building up quite a military infrastructure there
  • And, do you recall who else happens to maintain power in Lebanon?
  • That’s right – Hezbollah
  • The same articles discussing the Hamas preparations in Lebanon also note the liaison it has with Hezbollah and approval of its actions
  • This arrangement and military build-up is in addition to that which Hamas is continuing to do in the Gaza Strip and from which it periodically launches rockets and fire balloons into Israel
  • Strategically, this buildup in Lebanon would enable Hamas to attack Israel on two fronts, no doubt also engaging Hezbollah’s participation, as it has a very large weapons inventory
  • According to a September 2022 article:

 

Hezbollah has an estimated ground force of 30,000 fighters, according to the IDF. The group’s fighters have gained valuable operational experience in recent years, fighting in the Syrian civil war . . . Despite suffering huge loses . . . ,the group is now better prepared for multiple war scenarios.

 

Hezbollah’s arsenal includes an estimated 150,000 surface-to-surface rockets and missiles. Most are inaccurate short-range rockets, but some are more accurate and have ranges of up to several hundred kilometers. During a potential conflict, the group is capable of challenging the IDF, destroying critical military and civilian infrastructure, disrupting Israel’s economy, and inflicting significant civilian casualties (including by potentially hitting chemical storages tanks and nuclear facilities).

 

Hezbollah’s primary weakness, however, is that its rockets have been inaccurate. Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and other Iranian proxies have the same problem. This is why, over the last decade, Iran has launched a project to enable Hezbollah, and perhaps other groups, to hit targets in Israel more accurately. The ultimate goal is to strike military and civilian targets in Israel, a small country with little redundancy in terms of critical infrastructure.

 

  • This strategic program initiated by Iran uses what are known as Precision-guided munitions, or PGMs:

 

Precision-guided munitions are the weapon systems that can enable Hezbollah to achieve this objective [i.e. of accurately striking military and civilian targets]. PGMs can correct their course during flight to hit the target in a precise fashion, thus maximizing lethality and efficiency.

 

  • This preparation and the current political disruption in Israel may lead to what many believe will be a 3rd Intifada by the “Palestinians”
  • As another recent article states:

 

Concern over escalation is greater than ever.

 

  • We’ll come back to these hostile players in a moment, but let’s also consider Turkey as the 3rd leg of the troika of Russia-Iran-Turkey that will invade Israel during the Gog-Magog War
  • As most of the world is now aware, Turkey this week has experienced a horrific earthquake and series of aftershocks in the range of 7.8 on the Richter Scale
  • The devastation is massive and the loss of life difficult to comprehend
  • As I report this, the number of deaths is closing is on 50,000 and the sense I get is that there are many more people buried in the rubble
  • The weather is quite cold and that is contributing to the mounting death toll as searchers try to recover some survivors and keep them from freezing to death
  • Given this terrible humanitarian catastrophe, I think it’s safe to say that Turkey is in no position today to launch an attack on Israel in a month – as would have to happen for my email friend to be correct in his prognostications
  • Better luck next year

 

  • Now let’s come back to Hamas and Hezbollah

 

  • As it turns out, quite oddly, neither of these hostile groups appears to be involved with Ezekiel’s War
  • Don’t you find that puzzling?
  • Here we have two terrorist organizations that have hated Israel from time immemorial
  • They have focused their total existence upon the destruction of Israel
  • Yet, in the major conflict of the century with Israel being attacked by a huge and apparently unstoppable coalition, Hamas and Hezbollah are nowhere to be seen
  • How could that be?
  • Why would they not joyfully join with the evil axis of their primarily Muslim brothers – plus Russia?
  • In fact, consider how their participation would enhance the attack
  • Russia-Iran-Turkey all come over the Golan Heights in the northeast like a tsunami with rocket fire, probably tanks, and a very large armed ground force
  • Wouldn’t Hamas and Hezbollah attacking from the north in Lebanon, and Hamas also breaking through from Gaza in the west add to the probable desired destruction of Israel?
  • The very interesting aspect of Gog-Magog is that when we look at the list of players also involved with the Big 3, not a single one of them has a border touching Israel
  • Wouldn’t you think – given the hatred toward Israel by the surrounding nations – regardless of the fragile peace deals in place – that perhaps even some others like Jordan and Egypt might join in the fray?
  • This is exactly what we see when we consider a Psalm 83 War
  • There is much to say about the potential for this conflict to still be one that must be fulfilled completely in the future
  • I highly recommend reading the Bill Salus book titled: Psalm 83: The Missing Prophecy Revealed in order to get the full picture of this war
  • Many people believe it has been completely fulfilled over the course of the various wars Israel’s neighbors have waged since she became a nation on May 14, 1948
  • Here’s a question: If the fulfillment of this prophecy took several wars to complete, including 1948 War of Independence, 1956 Suez War, 1967 Six Days War, 1973 Yom Kippur War – what is it about those wars that completely ends the prophecy?
  • Who is to say that the final completion of the prophecy won’t still take place – namely in what we’re calling the Psalm 83 War of today?
  • The circumstances of the war – whether previously fought in a partial manner or considered today – all remain the same
  • Consider Psalm 83:2-5:

 

For behold, your enemies make an uproar;
    those who hate you have raised their heads.
They lay crafty plans against your people;
    they consult together against your treasured ones.
They say, “Come, let us wipe them out as a nation;
    let the name of Israel be remembered no more!”
For they conspire with one accord;
    against you they make a covenant—

 

  • Do not Israel’s enemies still hate her and make a continuous commotion against her?
  • Do these enemies not want to completely destroy the name of Israel just as they have from the beginning of her existence as a nation in this era?
  • Haven’t the hostile nations seeking to eradicate Israel always conspired with one another?
  • Is there anything today that would keep them from likewise doing the same so as to attack as a coordinated collation?
  • The next several verses in Psalm 83 note the coalition combatants
  • I won’t get into them right now, but suffice it to say that either the direct nations or their descendants are very much alive, available, and part of those of those comprising the hostile peoples
  • Jumping down to the end in Psalm 83:13-18, consider the end of the matter as noted by the psalmist:

 

13 O my God, make them like whirling dust,
    like chaff before the wind.
14 As fire consumes the forest,
    as the flame sets the mountains ablaze,
15 so may you pursue them with your tempest
    and terrify them with your hurricane!
16 Fill their faces with shame,
    that they may seek your name, O Lord.
17 Let them be put to shame and dismayed forever;
    let them perish in disgrace,
18 that they may know that you alone,
    whose name is the Lord,
    are the Most High over all the earth.

 

  • Hear what is said:
  • These antagonists attacking Israel to wipe her out are actually themselves destroyed
  • Their faces are filled with shame
  • They are dismayed forever
  • They perish in disgrace
  • They come to realize that Almighty God is ruler and sovereign over all the earth
  • Question: Who among Israel’s immediate neighbors, including Hezbollah and Hamas – the so-called Palestinians – fit this description?
  • Aren’t these enemies still there plotting and planning Israel’s demise?
  • Have any of them slunk away to their corner of the world and disappeared from the world stage because of the tail-whupping Israel gave them?
  • Have these Islamic nations given up on Allah and acknowledge the God of Israel as supreme?
  • Can we legitimately say that Psalm 83 has been completely fulfilled given these questions and the reality in the world?
  • I don’t think so
  • If that’s the case, this war is still future – or at least the final completion of its various stages begun in the prior wars noted earlier
  • Just think what a decisive victory by Israel over these combatants would look like
  • All these are Muslim nations
  • Allah – the god of Mohammad – would be shown to be weak and useless
  • As a result, I can guarantee you that many Muslims would abandon Allah
  • Some number would turn to the God of Israel
  • Muslims are very attracted to power and might
  • It’s why capitulation to Islam is never a good idea
  • When someone shows himself greater and more powerful, Muslims respect that
  • They do not respect weakness
  • This decisive victory by Israel against all the nations that surround and border her also then puts the Gog-Magog War into perspective
  • None of the combatants in that war are from a bordering nation – neither are Hamas or Hezbollah
  • Doesn’t that make sense if all of them have been defeated?
  • Once Hamas and Hezbollah are removed from the equation as proxies for Iran, that opens the door for the final conflict that Iran engages in against Israel – namely Gog-Magog – because Iran can no longer manipulate others to fight for her
  • There’s nobody left
  • Thus, when Russia and Turkey are actually able to act in this regard, Iran joins those nations at the appropriate time to finally accomplish its grand purpose, i.e. what it sees as its destiny of annihilating Israel

 

  • Now, what about timing?
  • I’ve outlined my position about this in prior Prophecy Updates, however, just to review briefly:
  • There is nothing definitive in Scripture that says all the Judgments of the 7-year Tribulation must begin with the covenant agreement executed between Israel and the other party and overseen by Antichrist
  • To that end, I agree with Bill Salus who has postulated what he terms as an Alternative View to the opening of the Seal Judgments
  • This approach speculates that Jesus opens the first 5 Seal Judgments in the Gap Period after the Rapture and before the official start of the 7-year Tribulation
  • These Seals, of course, depict the Four Horsemen, which unleash:
    • Antichrist, coming as a man of peace
    • War
    • Famine
    • Death & Hades
  • The 5th Seal reveals the myriad of those before the throne of God who have come to trust Christ after the Rapture and die as martyrs as a result of the preceding Seal Judgments
  • The one thing they do, which is key, is to cry out: How long, O Lord?” in Revelation 6:10
  • In other words, because their death occurs in the Gap Period, they have no idea when the actual countdown clock of the Tribulation happens
  • If they had died within the seven years, they would know this timing because it’s very precise
  • As it is, they are without any clues to when God’s judgment will actually take place and be completed
  • The Gap Period between the Rapture and the Tribulation is of indeterminate length
  • It could be 3 1/2 years – which I think is a minimum, or it could conceivably be somewhat longer
  • These martyred saints simply don’t know – hence the reason they ask God for an indication of when – effectively – Jesus will return to wrap things up
  • God tells them – to paraphrase – “Chill out a little longer, rest in Me, and I’ll take care of everything in My timing.”
  • My belief is that the Gog-Magog War of Ezekiel 38-39 occurs as part of the 2nd Seal with the Red Horseman of war
  • I think also, that this will be the point at which literally all hell breaks out on earth with all the other potential wars stirring around us finally coming to fruition:
    • China – Taiwan
    • North Korea – South Korea
    • American civil war
    • And who knows what else
  • It’ll be an awful time of chaos, violence, and destruction
  • Not to mention the rise of the Harlot One World Religion which will be seeking out to convert or kill real Christians during this time
  • Just think Inquisition from the Middle Ages where the Catholic church sought out supposed heretics
  • The blood-letting was horrific
  • Now just think of the demonic rage that will incite the Harlot faithful during this period
  • Good luck all you Christian preppers who think you’ll hunker down and be immune from this terrible period of devastation

 

  • Given this scenario, where does the Psalm 83 War fit in?
  • Obviously, only God knows
  • However, my best take on the timing is that this proxy war – the Iran-inspired Intifada of Hamas, Hezbollah, and other Muslim-Arab peoples surrounding Israel will actually occur prior to the Rapture and could happen as early as this year of 2023 – certainly 2024 or 2025 at the latest
  • That means we who will be Raptured would actually see this war take place
  • In that event, we would surely know that our uniting with Jesus in the clouds as He comes for His beloved Bride would will not be far off
  • Just think of the anticipation we’d have at that point!
  • If you’re like me eagerly watching and waiting, by seeing this dramatic milestone event of the Psalm 83 War – we’d know that God is on the move and our heavenly destination will be upon us shortly
  • Wow!
  • Gives me chills thinking about it!

 

  • Our hope and our confidence is in Christ Jesus
  • He will not let us down
  • For those who are truly His walking in obedience, I think He will give us a heads-up
  • Maybe it’ll be this Psalm 83 War
  • Maybe it’ll be something else or in addition to it
  • Whatever it might be, the Rapture will not catch us unprepared
  • We will be like that faithful servant whose master might come at midnight – thus we’ll be prepared
  • We’ll be like that homeowner standing ready for the thief who comes in the dead of night
  • We’ll be like the Parable of the Ten Virgins with 5 of them having the oil in our lamps ready
  • When that fateful and glorious call comes, we’ll absolutely be looking up for our Blessed Hope
  • Let’s keep watching the world through the Biblical, prophetic lens that enables us to see clearly
  • Our long wait is almost over

20 Responses to “Awaken Bible Prophecy Update 2-15-23: A Soon-Coming Psalm 83 Proxy War”

  1. Reply RobinL

    Thought provoking message Gary, I’ll have to listen to it again. I tend to agree with Dr. Andy Woods about Psalm 83, but we only know what the Lord has revealed and sometimes it’s as clear as mud…until it becomes clear as crystal. Likely because God doesn’t want Satan to know every last thing coming at him.

    What I do know for certain:

    Matthew 24:6-8 is unfolding for us in real time, like never before in history. 6-And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. 7-For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8-All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.

    Wickedness is growing exponentially around the world, we are on the verge of global financial collapse, and the love of many is growing cold.

    We have great apostasy in the churches, false prophets and false teachers are coming out of the woodwork, and the evil one is no longer hiding. He is active in every aspect of our lives, there is no avoiding it.

    Instead of running the Jesus and seeking salvation through repentance of sin and placing complete faith in the finished work of Jesus’ death on the cross, and in His resurrection, we have people loudly mocking Him and the Church, and believing in anything and anyone but our Lord. Worship of aliens, demons, and the like, are exploding today; most people will earnestly embrace the AC and False Prophet when they arrive. They are looking for any deliverer instead of the One True Deliverer.

    We are so near the Rapture, I believe God is giving us signs everywhere! A singular event that tells us it will happen momentarily isn’t really important with all the things He is showing us today. We know…it is so obvious. Daniel 12:8-10 describes us, the Chruch of today, which is a thrilling and humbling thing to recognize.
    Daniel 12:8 I heard, but I did not understand. Then I said, “O my lord, what shall be the outcome of these things?” 9 He said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end. 10 Many shall purify themselves and make themselves white and be refined, but the wicked shall act wickedly. And none of the wicked shall understand, but those who are wise shall understand.

    We understand, maranatha!

    • Reply Gary Ritter

      Wait till next week for a “thought-provoking” and very controversial message! I think I missed the classes that told us how to expand your audience.

      • Reply RobinL

        One other thing I know, we don’t know all and it’s edifying to discuss and work through.

        And virtual shoe throwing is much safer than doing it live. 😉

  2. Reply Robin McCann

    To the scoffers, I always say that His coming is yet to be, but you can find the promise of it in
    1Cor. 15:51-54
    1Thess. 4:13-18
    and Rev. 3:10
    Just to name a few.

  3. Reply Layne Dewlen

    Hi Gary,
    Loved the article and appreciate you so much for all your time and effort.
    I see your viewpoint and agree that it could be true. I too have thought there could be an amount of time between the Rapture and the start of the Tribulation. My question is, what is your reasoning for saying 3 1/2 years or more? I’m curious. God bless.

    • Reply Gary Ritter

      It hinges on the Gog-Magog War. There is a 7-year clean-up that occurs in Israel. This means – as far as I’m concerned – that this war cannot take place at the end of the Millennium. God does the clean-up then by creating a New Heaven and New Earth.

      Same problem for placing the war inside the 7 years. At the mid-point when Antichrist desecrates the temple, he also begins a ruthless campaign to persecute and kill Jews in Israel and beyond. They won’t be cleaning anything up in Israel at that time. Thus, it has to take place outside the official 7-year period – in this case 3 1/2 years so that it doesn’t spill past the midpoint and the Jewish persecution. It has to take place in the Gap and be 3 1/2 years prior.

      This also touches on why I like the Bill Salus Alternative View that the first 5 Seals are broken prior to the official beginning of the Trib. Gog=Magog becomes part of the 2nd Seal of war, along with all the other wars. Then when the martyrs gather around the throne in the 5th Seal, they don’t know how long until things will be resolved because they aren’t part of and within the official 7-years. If they were, then they wouldn’t ask that question since we’re given much info as to that timing and they would know. In the Gap, they face an unknown amount of time.

      That’s my best take on it. Of course, as I say, I and everybody else trying to figure this out will be wrong in some aspect of all this. – LOL!

  4. Reply Jim Eastman

    I have always liked the idea of the pre-trib rapture with the gap period. The sooner we leave the better. Hallelujah!

    • Reply Gary Ritter

      Jim, I just telling my wife the other day how I appreciate – since that day you called the church and we spoke – that you’ve hung in there with me these several years. Thanks so much!

      • Reply Jim Eastman

        Gary thanks for the kind words. I really enjoy your writings and blogs. There arent many of us around who love Bible Prophesy. My intial interest goes back to Hal Lindseys Book The Late Great Planet Earth in the 70’s.

        One final thought on a gap period. You mentioned the martyed individuals who said “how long’. They wouldve know had they been killed during the tribulation. That was a good point you made.

  5. Reply Pamela P.

    Thanks Gary for this article. A lot to chew on. I too, like you, believe the Ezekiel war has to begin at least 3.5 years before the start of the peace agreement between Antichrist and Israel, because of the logistics of the 7 years of clean- up operations. Plus, as you stated, Russia is still over-occupied with Ukraine to even be thinking Israel at this time. Not to mention the mess in Turkey. Things are definitely heating up and speeding up – exciting times for those of us looking up! Come, Lord Jesus. (But not before all those appointed to salvation have come in!) That is my prayer.

    • Reply Gary Ritter

      As you know, when I try to figure this stuff out, I make every effort to lay out the logic of my position. Do you hear that much from others who say, for instance, that Gog-Magog must be at the end of the Millennium or that the Psalm 83 War isn’t a thing because it’s only an imprecatory prayer? Does anyone adequately explain how the nations surrounding Israel simply disappear from sight if Ezekiel is next? Just curious if I’m the only one who doesn’t see sufficient reasoning coming out on other positions.

  6. Reply Pamela P.

    No, you’re not the only one noticing a lapse in reasoning. For example, there are just too many differences in the details between the Ezekiel war and the war at the end of the Millennium for these to be the same events. One other detail regarding Ezekiel’s war I’ve never heard addressed is the statement that Gog and Magog are coming down against those “dwelling securely”, which is anything but what we see in Israel right now. To my thinking both Hezbollah and Hamas must be dealt with before Ezekiel’s war can ride out into world history. One thing we can definitively know is that everything God has declared and preserved for us in His Word will occur exactly as stated to the smallest detail and at His appointed timing, including His rapture, snatching us away to be with Him forever! Can’t wait!

    • Reply Gary Ritter

      Exactly. As I see it, by eliminating all her surrounding enemies, Israel can expand territory and reach the point of not needing (supposedly) any walls, etc. Too many of these details are ignored by too many.

  7. Reply David Cogburn

    Gary, when you study scripture and see the really “few” times God brings down His “wrath” onto earth, He “always” puts His righteous in a SAFE PLACE “just before” He brings down His wrath. With Noah and the flood, it was one week and then the flood came. With Lot and his family, it was immediately upon them leaving town. With Moses and the 10th plague to destroy the first born, it was overnight once the lamb’s blood was on the doors of the Jewish people. This seems to indicate when the rapture comes and God puts His righteous in a “safe place – heaven” then His wrath, the tribulation, should begin very soon afterwards. Time will tell. Good article.

  8. Reply allan pochop

    Is the Psalm 83 war a prophecy or a pray?
    OK, lets review a few Bible passages for debate/understanding/questioning/.
    Genesis 32:28–God informs Jacob that his name is now Israel.
    Northern Jewish tribes of Jacob called Israelites.
    Southern Jewish tribes of Judah called Judahlites.
    May14, 1948—-the land of the Jews now became a nation.
    Names suggested: Zion an Tzabar……voted on Israel 7 to 3.
    Now back up the clock to when the book of Psalms written, quoting from Psalm written by King David 83:1-4 passage regarding the surrounding nations intentions, “that the name of Israel may be remembered no more”.
    So, if King David was writing this thousands of years past……….how did he know that the country that the Jews were taken from an only the Jewish people in history to be restored into their home land, that the new nation would be NAMED ISRAEL?

    So with this it appears that the nation of Israel was recognized way before 1948, an that this is not a pray, but a prophecy of soon to come War, an all land given to the Jewish people to be restored to them?

    • Reply Gary Ritter

      I was just looking at Genesis 15 this morning where God tells Abram that the land of Israel will reach from the Euphrates River to the Nile – quite a bit more than what Israel has today! I certainly believe the Psalm 83 War will establish that AND bring the conditions of peace and security that will meet the prophetic declaration for Ezekiel’s War.

  9. Reply Stephanie

    This is an excellent explanation of Psalm 83 and potential timing. Thank you. It seems we may be seeing Psalm 83 prophecy beginning now with the terrible attacks on Israel. I’m very curious to see whether this will fulfill the prophecy of Damascus’ and Elam’s destruction.

    • Reply Gary Ritter

      Yes, so much is going on right now that has both current and future prophetic significance. It’s not pretty, but it must happen, and we’re actually privileged to be on the cusp of seeing these prophecies fulfilled.

Leave a Reply to Pamela P.