agree with what you say here in part regarding Egypt being aligned with the West might be what keeps them from the Gog/Magog war.
"Then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains" (Matthew 24:16).
I believe the initial invasion of the Middle East by Gog (Russia) will take place exactly as indicated by Matthew 24:16). The West Bank of Israel, called "Judea" in ancient times. Vladimir Putin and his Arab coalition forces will enter Judea ostensibly to liberate the Palestinian people and create a viable Palestinian State. This pretext for war against Israel is I believe found in the prophecies of Ezekiel.
And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages, I will go up to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates"
(Ezekiel 38:11).
At a glance, a superficial reading of this prophecy seems to describe Israel living securely under the terms of some Pre-Tribulation Arab Israeli "Peace Agreement". However. a more thorough examination which takes Bible symbolism into account renders quite a different interpretation of Ezekiel 38:11. The word
wall (or hedge) is used as a
metaphor to describe the
protection God places around the
righteous, (Isaiah 49:15-15, Job 1:10, Psalms 80:12, Jer. 49:3, Matthew 21:33).
The mention of "bars and gates" also has special meaning in Bible symbolism. Clearly this isn't a reference to the bars and gates of the "Security Barrier" constructed by Israel. Any
removal of the Security Barrier separating Israel from the West Bank would be a "non-starter" for
any proposed Arab-Israeli "Peace Agreement". So what does the prophecy of Ezekiel refer to when it mentions Israel living without "bars and gates"?!
In the first six chapters of Nehemiah, which describe the rebuilding of the wall around Jerusalem, each
gate represents part of God's
redemptive plan for Israel. Now the meaning of Ezekiel 38:11 becomes quite clear.
Israel has "comparatively speaking" lived at "
rest and in relative
safety" since building the Security Barrier. Gone are the days of intifada uprisings pouring into the streets of Jerusalem and Israeli cities, leaving thousands bleeding in the streets. However, much of the world views Israel's Apartheid system as treating Arab Palestinians "
unrighteously", (so acting unrighteously, Israel has no
walls, or protection of God). And since Israel has no intention of
ever creating a viable Palestinian State, it can be argued Israel is "
unredeemable" on this point, (having neither bars nor gates). Now read Ezekiel 38:11 again. It isn't a prophecy describing Israel living securely under an Arab-Israeli Peace agreement, is it ?! It is a "casus belli", A DECLARATION OF WAR instead.
However, the likelihood of Israel taking this invasion without any counter attack is completely improbable. So you can sat goodbye to Damascus (most of southern Syria), and Lebanon from which Hezbollah will be launching thousands of Russian missiles at Israeli cities and the port of Haifa. I'm sure the West Bank (Judea) itself will become a place of
desolation and
slaughter as Russian and Israeli forces trade blows. Hence the biblical warning, no one is to
enter into the land of Judea at this time, and all should
flee (Luke 21:21).
Question is, where are 4.4 million Arab Palestinian civilian non-combatants going to flee to ??? As I said before, Syria and Southern Lebanon are not likely places of refuge. Obviously, they can also forget about crossing Israeli territory to reach Jordan. Diving into the Mediterranean Sea and trying to reach Cyprus won't work either. The
only destination that makes any sense is EGPYT via the Gaza Strip and the Sinai Peninsula where a U.N. Peacekeeping Force will cover their retreat.
Needless to say, the arrival of hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees in Egypt will destabilize the country to the point of collapse. Perhaps Egypt will become a "
failed state" much like present day IRAQ in the Last Days when Russia attacks Israel. Hence the symbolism of the waters (people) of the Nile being dried up. Just as the waters (people) of the Euphrates River have been (and will be) dried up at the Time of the End.
