The Turkish government has just completed its largest security review
since the end of the Cold War. The National Security Council, a
gathering of top military officials, have published a document outlining
a list of perceived threats to Turkey's national security. The document
called 'Red Book', is considered to be a snapshot of the nation's
current security situation, and will form the basis of Turkish foreign
policy for the next five years.
Following the election of Prime Minister Erdogan's pro-Islamic Justice
and Development Party, Turkish relations with the West and in particular
Israel have been at an all time low. Only a few years ago, Turkey was
considered one of Jewish state's closest allies in the Middle East, and
trusted enough to act as mediator between Israel and Syria in secret
negotiations. Relations have since soured, and now the Turkish
government considers Israel to be a 'major threat'.
Israel's possession of nuclear weapons is cited as a prime factor for
spurring on a regional arms race. While nations such as Iran, who are
openly defying the international community by covertly developing a
nuclear weapons programme, are now considered to be allies of the
Turkish nation.
"The Turkish national security council recently designated Israel as a
"major threat" in a document known as the "red book," which lists
threats to Turkey, local media reported. The council decided to remove
Syria, Bulgaria, Georgia and Armenia from the list of threats. Greece,
however, is still considered a threat, whereas Iran was also removed
from the list. This is the first time Turkey has designated Israeli
activity in the Middle East as a threat."
Interestingly, Iran was also once considered to be one of Israel's
closest allies, before the Islamic Revolution of 1979. Now Iran
represents possibly the greatest security threat to both Israel and the
Western world.
But long before Turkey had even begun writing its 'Red Book' designating
Israel as a major threat, God had already documented the geopolitical
alliances that would exist in the latter days. The prophecy of Ezekiel
foretells how that after the Jewish people had come back to the land,
and had been gathered out of all of the nations to which they were
scattered, that a regional alliance would arise. This regional alliance
will include such countries as Iran (Persia), Turkey (Togarmah, Gomer),
Sudan (Ethiopia), Libya and possibly Russia and the former Soviet
satellite states (Magog, Meshech and Tubal, Ezekiel 38:2-6).
The Bible declares that in the latter days, these nations will be
gathered together to mount a massive invasion of the land of Israel. The
Bible also predicts that this invasion force will be completely
destroyed by divine intervention. Ezekiel states that God will "send
fire on Magog, and among them that dwell carelessly (or securely) in the
isles", Ezekiel 39:6, that the nations may know that He is the Lord.
As you can see from today's news, the Bible is always one hundred
percent accurate in its predictions. This is because it was written by
one who knows the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:9-10).
But why has God chosen to reveal these things to us? What is the purpose
of prophecy, if God is going to do as He pleases anyway? As Jesus said
in John 13:19,
"Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may
believe that I am he (the Messiah)".
The reason why God has revealed the future to us through the Scriptures
is so that we might realize that He is Lord and that we might put our
trust in Him. For the only person who could know all that will take
place in the future must be God, and if we can trust His Word, then we
know we can trust Him too.
As John discovered in the book of Revelation, the testimony of Jesus is
the spirit of prophecy (Revelation 19:10). All prophecy ultimately
points to Him, and it is in Him that we must place our trust. He is the
one who has died for our sins. He is the one who paid the price of our
salvation upon the cross. And all those who put their trust in Him shall
have the forgiveness of sins (Acts 13:38-39). Turn away from your sins
and put your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation today.
Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is
well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment
to the Gentiles. He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man
hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed shall he not break, and
smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto
victory. And in his name shall the Gentiles trust (Matthew 12:18-21).