Psalm 83
Lately there has been a lot written about Psalm 83 and an imminent attack on Israel by her Arab neighbors. According to this theory, Israel will respond and destroy Damascus and the Arab nations. As intriguing as this theory is, it is probably false.
Our own interpretation of Psalm 83 is that it has a partial historical relationship to II Chronicles 20:1 and 2 and a prophetic relationship with the Battle of Ezekiel 38 and 39 (the Battle of Armageddon) near the end of the Great Tribulation. Our reasoning is as follows:
1. The time
Their theory believes the time will be soon, before the Rapture and the Tribulation. We believe the description fits much better at the end of the Tribulation at Armageddon.
2. The nations involved
Psalm 83 Ez. 38, 39
1. Lebanon (Tyre, Gebal) 1. Lebanon*
2. Syria (Amalek) 2. Syria*
3. Jordan (Ammon, Moab, Edom) 3. Jordan*
4. Palestinia (Ishmaelites, Philistines) 4. Palestinia* (W. Bank, Gaza)
5. Egypt (Assyria, Hagarenes) 5. Egypt*
6. Iran (Assyria) 6. Iran*
7. Iraq (Assyria) 7. Iraq*
8. Turkey (Assyria) 8. Turkey (Gomer, Togarmah)
9. Libya (Assyria) 9. Libya
10. Ethiopia (Assyria) 10. Ethiopia
According to Ezekiel 38 and 39 the ten counties above will accompany Russia when they invades Israel at the end of the Tribulation at the Battle of Armageddon. The seven nations marked with an asterisk* were all parts of “Persia” during the height of its empire.
The books of Jeremiah and Isaiah also refer to such a coalition of nations against Israel at the end of the Tribulation period:
Jeremiah 25:15-38
1. Lebanon (Tyrus, Zidon)
2. Syria (king of the near north)
3. Jordan (Edom, Moab, Ammon)
4. Palestinia (Gaza Strip) (Philistines, Ashkelon, Azzah, Ekron)
5. Egypt (v. 19)
6. Iran (Zimri, Elam, Medes)
7. Iraq (Sheshach)
8.Turkey (king of the far north)
9. Libya (mingled people, land of Uz?)
10. Ethiopia (mingled people, land of Uz?)
11. Saudi Arabia (Dedan, Tema, Buz, desert people)
Isaiah 13:1-18:7
1. Iraq (Babylon 13:1-14:32) 2. Palestina (Palestina 14:28-32)
3. Jordan (Moab 15:1-16:14)
4. Syria (Damascus 17:1-14
5. Egypt (Egypt 19:1-25)
6. Ethiopia (Ethiopia 20:1-6)
7. Saudi Arabia (Arabia 21:13-17)
8. Lebanon (Tyre, Sidon 23:1-18)
9. Libya (land beyond Ethiopian rivers 18:1-7)
It is clear that all of these nations against Israel are similar. Just because they may vary in some details does not mean that they are different battles. Each of the four gospels, for example, gives a different description of the sign on the cross. That does not mean that there were four signs. By simply combining the four signs we get the complete message on the one sign.
So here, by comparing these four references to Israel’s last enemies we are able to identify the 10 countries (the ten horns of the Beast) who, with Russia, will attack Israel near the end of the seven-year long Tribulation. The battle of Psalm 83 is not different from the battle of Ezekiel 38 and 39 as is obvious from the conclusion of the conflicts as shown next.
3. The battle
Psalm 83
9 Do unto them as unto the Midianites (and the Lord set every man’s sword against his fellow-Judges 7:22).
14 As the fire burneth a wood, and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire;
15 So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm.
17 Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish:
18 That men may know that thou, whose name alone in JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.
Ezekiel 38 and 39
21 And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord God: every man’s sword shall be against his brother.
22 And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, and overflowing rain, and great hailstones. fire, and brimstone
23 Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the Lord.
Compare also the conclusion of the battle and the glory of the Kingdom
Psalm 84
1 How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts!
2 My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.
3 Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O Lord of hosts, my King, and my God.
Ezekiel 39
21 And I will set my glory among the heathen, and all the heathen shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid upon them.
25 Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Now will I bring again the captivity of Jacob and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel, and will be jealous for my holy name;
29 Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord God.
With President Obama’s recent withdrawal from Syria, Egypt and the Mediterranean, Vladimir Putin has been quick to fill the vacuum. He is busy furnishing Egypt with the latest rockets and armaments from the Russian arsenal. With the recent addition of Saudi Arabia as Russia’s newest ally, the list of the 10 horns of the Beast is now complete.
We believe that there are enough similarities in Psalm 83 and Ezekiel 38 and 39 to conclude that they are one and the same battle. It is difficult for us to understand how Israel’s enemies could “perish” in Psalm 83:17 and still be able to mount another attack a few years later at Armageddon.
Lately there has been a lot written about Psalm 83 and an imminent attack on Israel by her Arab neighbors. According to this theory, Israel will respond and destroy Damascus and the Arab nations. As intriguing as this theory is, it is probably false.
Our own interpretation of Psalm 83 is that it has a partial historical relationship to II Chronicles 20:1 and 2 and a prophetic relationship with the Battle of Ezekiel 38 and 39 (the Battle of Armageddon) near the end of the Great Tribulation. Our reasoning is as follows:
1. The time
Their theory believes the time will be soon, before the Rapture and the Tribulation. We believe the description fits much better at the end of the Tribulation at Armageddon.
2. The nations involved
Psalm 83 Ez. 38, 39
1. Lebanon (Tyre, Gebal) 1. Lebanon*
2. Syria (Amalek) 2. Syria*
3. Jordan (Ammon, Moab, Edom) 3. Jordan*
4. Palestinia (Ishmaelites, Philistines) 4. Palestinia* (W. Bank, Gaza)
5. Egypt (Assyria, Hagarenes) 5. Egypt*
6. Iran (Assyria) 6. Iran*
7. Iraq (Assyria) 7. Iraq*
8. Turkey (Assyria) 8. Turkey (Gomer, Togarmah)
9. Libya (Assyria) 9. Libya
10. Ethiopia (Assyria) 10. Ethiopia
According to Ezekiel 38 and 39 the ten counties above will accompany Russia when they invades Israel at the end of the Tribulation at the Battle of Armageddon. The seven nations marked with an asterisk* were all parts of “Persia” during the height of its empire.
The books of Jeremiah and Isaiah also refer to such a coalition of nations against Israel at the end of the Tribulation period:
Jeremiah 25:15-38
1. Lebanon (Tyrus, Zidon)
2. Syria (king of the near north)
3. Jordan (Edom, Moab, Ammon)
4. Palestinia (Gaza Strip) (Philistines, Ashkelon, Azzah, Ekron)
5. Egypt (v. 19)
6. Iran (Zimri, Elam, Medes)
7. Iraq (Sheshach)
8.Turkey (king of the far north)
9. Libya (mingled people, land of Uz?)
10. Ethiopia (mingled people, land of Uz?)
11. Saudi Arabia (Dedan, Tema, Buz, desert people)
Isaiah 13:1-18:7
1. Iraq (Babylon 13:1-14:32) 2. Palestina (Palestina 14:28-32)
3. Jordan (Moab 15:1-16:14)
4. Syria (Damascus 17:1-14
5. Egypt (Egypt 19:1-25)
6. Ethiopia (Ethiopia 20:1-6)
7. Saudi Arabia (Arabia 21:13-17)
8. Lebanon (Tyre, Sidon 23:1-18)
9. Libya (land beyond Ethiopian rivers 18:1-7)
It is clear that all of these nations against Israel are similar. Just because they may vary in some details does not mean that they are different battles. Each of the four gospels, for example, gives a different description of the sign on the cross. That does not mean that there were four signs. By simply combining the four signs we get the complete message on the one sign.
So here, by comparing these four references to Israel’s last enemies we are able to identify the 10 countries (the ten horns of the Beast) who, with Russia, will attack Israel near the end of the seven-year long Tribulation. The battle of Psalm 83 is not different from the battle of Ezekiel 38 and 39 as is obvious from the conclusion of the conflicts as shown next.
3. The battle
Psalm 83
9 Do unto them as unto the Midianites (and the Lord set every man’s sword against his fellow-Judges 7:22).
14 As the fire burneth a wood, and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire;
15 So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm.
17 Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish:
18 That men may know that thou, whose name alone in JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.
Ezekiel 38 and 39
21 And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord God: every man’s sword shall be against his brother.
22 And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, and overflowing rain, and great hailstones. fire, and brimstone
23 Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the Lord.
Compare also the conclusion of the battle and the glory of the Kingdom
Psalm 84
1 How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts!
2 My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.
3 Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O Lord of hosts, my King, and my God.
Ezekiel 39
21 And I will set my glory among the heathen, and all the heathen shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid upon them.
25 Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Now will I bring again the captivity of Jacob and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel, and will be jealous for my holy name;
29 Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord God.
With President Obama’s recent withdrawal from Syria, Egypt and the Mediterranean, Vladimir Putin has been quick to fill the vacuum. He is busy furnishing Egypt with the latest rockets and armaments from the Russian arsenal. With the recent addition of Saudi Arabia as Russia’s newest ally, the list of the 10 horns of the Beast is now complete.
We believe that there are enough similarities in Psalm 83 and Ezekiel 38 and 39 to conclude that they are one and the same battle. It is difficult for us to understand how Israel’s enemies could “perish” in Psalm 83:17 and still be able to mount another attack a few years later at Armageddon.