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Today’s Devotion:
Boxed In

A classic set-up in old-time cowboy movies was to have the good guys be chased into a box canyon by the bad guys—steep canyon walls on three sides and no way out. It’s where the saying “He was boxed in!” originates. Of course, in the movies the good guys always find a way to escape and survive.

On more than one occasion in the Old Testament, a king of Israel or Judah felt boxed in by surrounding armies. Vastly outnumbered, slaughter seemed inevitable. In such cases—when all human alternatives had been exhausted—the kings would turn to the King of Heaven in prayer. King Jehoshaphat did just that when Jerusalem was surrounded by three enemy armies. You can read his prayer in 2 Chronicles 20:5-12. But his last words are those which we should take to heart: “Nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.”

When you find yourself boxed in by life, do what the kings did: Pray and ask God for His solution and deliverance.

When I pray, coincidences happen, and when I don’t, they don’t. 

William Temple

Since 2018, Turning Point has partnered with TBN Russia to bring the Gospel to our Russian brothers and sisters worldwide. Turning Point's Russian broadcasts have a potential viewership of over 200 million people spread across 100 countries. Turning Point also started a YouTube page in 2018 that will allow Russian speakers to access Bible-based teaching at their convenience. Join us in praying that Turning Point's Russian ministry will bring many people to Christ and strengthen believers through the teaching of the Word.

There are more than 10 million Russian-speaking people currently living in the U.S.

Russian is the 5th most spoken language in the world.

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— Tatiana from Moscow

In Ezekiel 38, the Lord revealed a ten–nation coalition that will assemble in the Last Days. The names and places that Ezekiel describes are foreign to us today, but a closer look at Scripture and history will help us translate these into modern times.

You will not find the name Russia anywhere in the Bible. But the nation we know as Russia figures prominently in prophecy. In Ezekiel’s list of ten names, the third name, Rosh, is most likely the territory we know as Russia. Not only do the two names bear phonetic similarity, but Ezekiel’s description of the location also points to Russia.

Biblical prophets assumed Israel to be the center of the world. Whenever we find compass points or geographical directions in prophecy, they are given in relation to the position of Israel.

Ezekiel and Daniel both describe Israel’s End Times aggressor as descending from the north. Daniel used the phrase “king of the North” to describe the commander of the alliance (Daniel 11:5-35). Ezekiel’s prophecy lends support to Daniel’s, indicating the invading armies will arrive in Israel “from the far north” (Ezekiel 38:6, 15). Russia is the only modern nation to match this description.

Here is a glimpse of what the future Russian alliance will look like:

Map of Russia

The Commander of the Alliance:

Gog (Ezekiel 38:1–2, 7)

  • The name of a person rather than a nation.

  • Some scholars believe Gog is a title rather than a personal name.

Nations in the Alliance:

Magog

  • Modern-day “–stan” countries (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and perhaps Afghanistan)

  • Home of Gog

  • Noah's second son (Genesis 10:2; 1 Chronicles 1:5; Revelation 20:8)

  • Today, these nations are predominantly Muslim.

Rosh

  • Modern–day Russia

  • Ruled by Gog

Meshech and Tubal

  • Many experts identify these as territories in modern Turkey

  • The fifth and sixth sons of Noah (Genesis 10:2)

Persia

  • Changed its name to Iran in 1935

  • Fiercely opposes Israel today.

Ethiopia

  • Modern–day Sudan and Ethiopia

  • Founded by Cush, grandson of Noah (Genesis 10:6)

  • Sudan is one of Israel's greatest enemies

Libya

  • The same as modern–day Libya

  • Founded by Put, the grandson of Noah (Genesis 10:6)

  • Has current ties with Russia

Gomer

  • Modern Germany (theorized because the name sounds similar to "Gomer")

  • First son of Japheth, grandson of Noah (Genesis 10:2)

Togarmah

  • "From the far North" (Ezekiel 38:6); possibly modern–day Turkey

  • Third son of Gomer, great grandson of Noah (Genesis 10:3)

These are the nations that will form a coalition and march against Israel, setting the stage for this gigantic world war focused on the Holy Land. Though the northern armies of Russia and Turkey will lead the coalition, they will be joined by Iran from the east, Sudan and Libya from the south, and (possibly) Germany from the west in the form of a revived European coalition of nations.

To darken the picture for Israel, these likely represent the chief allies in the invasion. In Ezekiel 38:9, the prophet added that the nation will have “many peoples” on its side.

When Russia is ready to move against Israel, its allies will include the Arab states of the Near East and likely the nations in the former Soviet Bloc.

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