Upon forwarding Part 3 of Neil Mackereth’s article to my friend Chris Moyler’s Telegram, he takes time to make the following valuable response:

“Dear Richard,
Thank you for sharing Neil’s article. I don’t question his sincerity, but I do wish to strongly reject any notion that the Gog-Magog war of Ez 38 might soon be upon us.

To quote from Neil’s article:

“This is a very critical time in the history of modern Israel. I believe that decisions made in the next few days will determine whether the Gog and Magog war (Ezekiel 38) is precipitated or if, alternatively, there will be a victory of sorts in Gaza followed by a period of peace. The latter may seem the more attractive outcome; however, there is no doubt that the Gog and Magog war is coming.”

Re-reading Ez 36-39 this week, I am increasingly reminded of the powerful truth that Israel’s restoration is NOT primarily dependent on her faithfulness to the LORD!

Yes, the LORD has always kept for himself a righteous remnant within the Jewish people. Sometimes this remnant burns very bright. Sometimes the remnant is a flame so small it can be barely seen. But the LORD NEVER allows the flame of his firstborn don (sic) among the nations to be extinguished!

I am presently beginning to gather thoughts and scriptures around this important theme, but let us remind ourselves that Israel has survived numerous attempts to wipe her out.
These have all failed and they will CONTINUE to fail.

IMO, those of us who love biblical prophecy, and who love Israel, need to understand far more deeply the LORD’s profound commitment to her full and complete restoration.

For now, let us remember passages like Deut 3:19

“Now therefore write this song and teach it to the people of Israel. Put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the people of Israel.

The actual song is Deut 32. This song is all about Israel’s unfaithfulness contrasted with God’s faithfulness. It concludes with Deuteronomy 32:43

“Rejoice with him, O heavens;
bow down to him, all gods,
for he avenges the blood of his children
and takes vengeance on his adversaries.
He repays those who hate him
and cleanses his people’s land.”

Again and again, throughout the entire Bible, we see Israel’s unfaithfulness and weakness and yet the LORD ALWAYS comes through for her. His covenants within her can NEVER be broken, they are eternal.

Therefore we read these promises:

Ezekiel 36:22 I Will Put My Spirit Within You
“Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations to which you came.

Ezekiel 37:14 And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I am the LORD; I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the LORD.”

Jer 31:3,4
the LORD appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you. Again I will build you, and you shall be built, O virgin Israel! Again you shall adorn yourself with tambourines and shall go forth in the dance of the merrymakers.

– and scriptures like this, concerning Israel’s eternal kingship and priesthood:

Jer 33:17,18
“For thus says the LORD: David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel, and the Levitical priests shall never lack a man in my presence to offer burnt offerings, to burn grain offerings, and to make sacrifices forever.”

– and her eternal nationhood:

Jer33:25,26
Thus says the LORD: If I have not established my covenant with day and night and the fixed order of heaven and earth, then I will reject the offspring of Jacob and David my servant and will not choose one of his offspring to rule over the offspring of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For I will restore their fortunes and will have mercy on them.”

Ezekiel 43:7 and he said to me, “Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the people of Israel FOREVER. And the house of Israel shall no more defile my holy name, neither they, nor their kings, by their whoring and by the dead bodies of their kings at their high places,

The Gog-Magog war is in the far future, at the very end of the Gentile age ie immediately prior to Christ’s return.
Please note very carefully that the timing of the Gog Magog war is in God’s hands, and NOT Satan’s hands.
And please also note very carefully who initiates it:

Ezekiel 38:4
And I will turn you about and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed in full armor, a great host, all of them with buckler and shield, wielding swords.

Ezekiel 38:16 You will come up against my people Israel, like a cloud covering the land. In the latter days I will bring you against my land, that the nations may know me, when through you, O Gog, I vindicate my holiness before their eyes.

Meanwhile Israel, having been gathered from the nations, is going through the process of being washed, to sanctify her for the LORD’s good purposes in and through her.
Just as God has been faithful to gather her, he will also be faithful to protect her, to wash her, and to put his Spirit within her:

Ez 36:24-28

I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. You shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers, and you shall be my people, and I will be your God.

Dear Richard, in my judgement we, God’s prophetic people, need to banish from our minds any thoughts concerning Israel’s existential survival.
Our task is NOT to speculate concerning Israel’s future, but rather to be strongly and resolutely declaring her ongoing and final restoration!!

My entire theme here is summarised in Ezekiel 36:16-38, [The Restoration of Israel] which is a summary of Ezekiel’s whole book, and I warmly recommend that we all soak in its glorious truths.

God bless and keep you

Chris x”

RB: Next, a testimony of the Lord’s miraculous power for His people!