by Michael G. Mickey
(10-20-09)

Based purely on bible prophecy and historic records connecting a number of regions referred to by name in Scripture to modern day Turkey, I've been telling readers of my website for years that, in spite of its status as a NATO member and European Union membership candidate, the mindset of the Turkish government was going to shift dramatically, to the extent it would begin aligning itself with its Middle Eastern neighbors in preparation for the prophesied battle of Gog-Magog foretold in Ezekiel 38-39 which Turkey is foreseen being a participating member of.

The cast of Ezekiel 38-39, the Battle of Gog-Magog as generally agreed upon by most:

• Magog - Most agree this is a reference to Russia.
• Meshech - Most associate this with modern day Turkey, ancient Anatolia, but some say it refers to the Moscow area.
• Tubal - Most associate this with modern day Turkey, ancient Anatolia.
• Persia - modern Iran.
• Ethiopia
• Libya
• Gomer - eastern Europe or Turkey
• Togarmah - southeastern Europe or Turkey

The last few weeks have been nothing short of dramatic in relation to Turkey posturing to assume its prophesied role as described in Ezekiel 38-39, so much so that, even though I've long expected it to occur, it's almost surreal to see what is unfolding before my eyes, to witness it being documented in the news of our world today. Let's have a look at some news demonstrative of what I'm referring to here.

France, Greece Obstacles To Turkish EU membership

Anyone who has followed Turkey's attempts to gain membership in the European Union, even from afar, is likely aware that France has proven to be a thorn in Ankara's side. Demonstrative of this, EUBusiness.com highlighted a variety of issues that are creating tensions between the two in an article dated 10-7-09 entitled "Turkey's Gul lobbies hostile France on EU bid". The following is an excerpt from that article:

Sarkozy says Turkey -- of which only a small portion west of the Bosphorus is geographically in Europe and whose large population would be the first in the bloc to be mainly Muslim -- should settle for a partnership agreement.

In June, hopes that France might soften its stance were raised when Sarkozy appointed a new minister for Europe, Pierre Lellouche, known to favour Turkish membership. The minister, however, now publicly backs his president.

"We want Turkey to be a bridge between East and West," Sarkozy declared in June during an appearance with President Barack Obama at which he disagreed with the US leader's support for Turkish EU membership.

"I told President Obama that it's very important for Europe to have borders. For me, Europe is a force stability in the world and I cannot allow that force for stabilisation to be destroyed," Sarkozy declared.

This position, which is popular with a French electorate nervous of allowing 76 million new citizens to compete on the European job market, is unlikely to change this week.

And, despite window dressing such as a Turkish cultural season to be held in France from this week, relations between the two countries are tense.

Not only is France disrupting Turkey's already-frustrated efforts to join the European Union, Greece is making demands that aren't being well-received in Ankara either, as documented in an EUBusiness.com article dated 10-19-09 entitled "Turkey must pull troops out of Cyprus for EU bid: Greek PM".

Despite periodically issuing statements that sound conciliatory in tone with EU requests on this front, the situation in Cyprus has changed little "since Turkey invaded the island in 1974 in response to a coup seeking to unite it with Greece."

Turkey Slams Israel, Makes Friendly With Syria, Iran

A dramatic string of events unfolded over the course of a few days this month that are very telling in light of bible prophecy.

On 10-11-09 the United States and Italy pulled out of a planned military exercise after Turkey indicated an "unwillingness" to allow the Israeli Air Force to participate in the exercise.

On 10-13-09, the following took place as reported by Israel National News:

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday accused the State of Israel of deliberately wounding Gaza children, by using white phosphorous bombs during its counter-terrorism military operation in the region last winter. On the same day, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu signed a series of military and civilian pacts with Syrian, a declared enemy of the State of Israel.

On the same day, 10-13-09, Syria, as reported by Reuters, announced it would be holding military exercises with Turkey.

On 10-14-09, Israel National News posted an article the first paragraph of which reads like a foreword to Ezekiel 38-39:

The threat of the anti-Israel axis north of the border worsened Wednesday with the announcement that Turkey, which has close ties with Iran, conducted joint military drills with Syria after snubbing Israel.

By October 16th, the following was the headline of a Jerusalem Post article: 'No Israeli wants to fly to Turkey now'. Before our very eyes, NATO member Turkey is becoming a Gog-Magog ally to Persia (modern day Iran) to the extent that Israelis traveling abroad no longer want to set foot on Turkish soil!

Lastly, posted by Irishtimes.com on 10-19-09, is a headline that places an exclamation point on this entire commentary: "Turkey, Israel tension linked to Ankara's new alliances"

Final Thoughts

The following is the last paragraph of the Irishtimes.com article referred to above (emphasis added mine):

Despite Turkish diplomats’ predilection for visiting their new allies in the Middle East and the growing coldness of relations with Israel, analysts believe it may be too soon to say Turkey is drifting out of the West’s orbit towards the Middle East.

Personally? I don't believe it is too soon to say Turkey is drifting out of the West's orbit towards the Middle East. Not at all, mostly because I've been expecting it to do so based on bible prophecy.

While this is far from the first time I've been able to document Turkey leaning toward its prophesied future, I can't recall a period of time when the atmosphere between Ankara and Jerusalem has waxed as cold as it presently is in conjunction with Turkey nuzzling up to its future Gog-Magog allies.

What is left to be said, prophecy watchers? Keep your eyes on the skies! Our redemption draweth nigh!