The Coming Russian Invasion Of Israel Series

A family visiting Yellowstone National Park learned a valuable lesson: bears are smart. While driving in the park, they spotted a black bear on the side of the road and decided to take a few pictures from inside their car. Something they didn't think about? Locking their car doors.

The bear approached the vehicle and “managed to grab ahold of the door handle.” Amidst the screaming of the kids in the backseat, the father managed to shut the door, “but not without effort” (Ashton Edwards, “Black bear opens terrified family’s car door, family escapes unharmed,” Fox 13, Salt Lake City, 6-17-16; www.PreachingToday.com).

Thankfully, no one was hurt—but stories like these remind us how quickly threats can arise. So what do you do when someone or something threatens you? What do you do when you receive a scary diagnosis, a hit to your finances, or a threatening letter. What do you do when even the news threatens your sense of well-being?

Every year for the last ten years, Chapman University completes a survey of American fears. Last year (2025), the top 5 fears included:

• Corrupt Government Officials—69.1%,

• People I Love Becoming Seriously Ill—58.9%,

• Economic or Financial Collapse—58.2%,

• Cyberterrorism—55.9%,

• People I Love Dying—53.3%, and tied for 5th place,

• U.S. Becoming Involved in another World War—53.3%

What threatens you these days, and how can you best handle those threats? Well, if you have your Bibles, I invite you to turn with me to Ezekiel 38, Ezekiel 38, where God describes a future threat to the nation of Israel, which gives us perspective on handling the threats each of us face today.

Ezekiel 38:1-3 The word of the LORD came to me: “Son of man, set your face toward Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him and say, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal (ESV).

God declares that He is against Gog of Magog, the ruler of Meshech and Tubal.

Now, who is this Gog, and what is the land of Magog? Well, Ezekiel 39:2 says, in relation to Israel, he is “from the uttermost parts of the north,” which today is Russia, whose capital is directly north of Jerusalem. The ancient Jewish historian Josephus identified “Magog” as the land north of the Black and Caspian Seas, from which the Scythians descended. Again, this is Russia today. So, God declares He is against the ruler of Russia, which He will snag and drag to the south. God says to the ruler of Russia…

Ezekiel 38:4-6 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. Persia, Cush, and Put are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; Gomer and all his hordes; Beth-togarmah from the uttermost parts of the north with all his hordes—many peoples are with you (ESV).

God will drag Russia’s army and her allies south to Israel. Those allies include Persia, current day Iran, Cush, which today is Sudan and Ethiopia, Put, which is Libya today, and Gomer and Beth Togarmah, which comprise current day Turkey. All these nations surrounding Israel will unite with Russia to attack Israel.

Ezekiel 38:7-9 Be ready and keep ready, you and all your hosts that are assembled about you, and be a guard for them. After many days you will be mustered. In the latter years you will go against the land that is restored from war, the land whose people were gathered from many peoples upon the mountains of Israel, which had been a continual waste. Its people were brought out from the peoples and now dwell securely, all of them. You will advance, coming on like a storm. You will be like a cloud covering the land, you and all your hordes, and many peoples with you (ESV).

In the latter years, after God restores Israel to her land, He will bring Russia and her allies down like a storm on His ancient people, the Jews. Talk about a threat. This threat is huge and imminent for Israel.

The stage is set for God to fulfill this 2500-year-old prophecy. Russia and Iran have long been partners opposing the West. In fact, just last year (2025), they signed a 20-year treaty formalizing deeper ties, focusing on countering what they call “unilateral coercive measures” (i.e., sanctions) and boosting defense and economic links. Russia is Sudan's primary arms provider, and a 2020 agreement allows for a Russian naval logistics base at Port Sudan for 25 years, giving Moscow Red Sea access. New agreements between Russia and Ethiopia facilitate military training, technical modernization, joint operations, and arms deals, with Russia providing military support to Ethiopia. Libya serves as a key base for Russia to project power into Africa. And even though Turkey is still a member of NATO, Turkey relies on Russia as a major gas supplier and builder of Turkey's Akkuyu nuclear plant. On top of all that, Iran and Ethiopia recently joined Russia and 8 other nations in a loose bloc of non-Western economies called BRICS. They seek to coordinate economic and diplomatic efforts around the shared goal of countering US and European dominance in the world (Google AI, accessed 1/21/26).