Russia, Iran, and Israel: Are We Seeing Prophecy Unfold? | Ezekiel 38 | Gary Hamrick

Summary

Pastor Gary Hamrick presents recent Middle East events through his interpretation of Ezekiel 38, arguing that biblical prophecy is meant to prepare believers, not frighten them. He cautions against assuming that recent military action has brought lasting peace and says the conflict described in Ezekiel may still lie ahead.

Main ideas

• Recent events as possible prophetic context: Hamrick discusses Israel’s attacks on Iran and U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in June 2025. He argues that these actions may have delayed Iran’s nuclear ambitions but will not resolve the underlying conflict. He also cites reports of a Russia–Iran partnership and Russian statements suggesting Iran could receive help rebuilding its nuclear capabilities.
• Ezekiel 38’s coalition against Israel: Hamrick reads Ezekiel 38:1–17 and interprets its names as references to modern nations. In his view, the passage describes a coalition led by Russia that will eventually attack Israel:
  • Gog is a leader or ruler, which Hamrick associates with Russia’s leadership.
  • Magog, Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal are interpreted as references to Russia and places within it.
  • Persia is identified with Iran.
  • Cush is associated with Ethiopia and, in Hamrick’s interpretation, parts of northern Sudan.
  • Put is identified with Libya.
  • Gomer is associated with parts of Eastern Europe, especially Germany and Poland.
  • Togarmah is associated with Turkey and possibly Armenia and Georgia.
• Russia and Iran: Hamrick points to their reported cooperation in military and other areas as a contemporary parallel to the alliance he sees in Ezekiel 38. He argues that pressure on Iran could push it closer to Russia.
• The conflict’s timing and scope: Hamrick distinguishes the Ezekiel 38 campaign from the Battle of Armageddon. He suggests the campaign may begin around the start of the tribulation, last for much of its seven-year period, and culminate in Armageddon. This is presented as his prophetic interpretation, not as an explicit timeline stated in the passage.
• Nations that question the attack: Hamrick interprets Sheba and Dedan as Saudi Arabia and Tarshish as possibly England. He speculates that Tarshish’s “young lions” could refer to former British colonies, possibly including the United States. In his reading, these nations question the coalition’s motives but do not intervene to defend Israel.
• Countries he says are absent: Hamrick notes that Egypt, Jordan, and Syria are not named in Ezekiel 38. He connects the absence of Egypt and Jordan to their peace agreements with Israel, and suggests Syria may be weakened or destroyed, citing Isaiah 17:1.
• Divine intervention and the end of the conflict: In Ezekiel 38:18–23, Hamrick emphasizes God’s response—earthquake, destruction, and judgment—as evidence that God will defend Israel and make his power known. He compares this imagery with Revelation 16, which describes the gathering at Armageddon and judgment, and Revelation 19, where Christ returns as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
• Hope and readiness: Hamrick concludes that believers should remain hopeful and spiritually prepared. He cites Jesus’ words in Luke 21:28—“look up” because redemption is drawing near—and emphasizes that, whatever happens in world events, God remains sovereign. He also expresses the belief that Christians will be raptured before or around the events he associates with Ezekiel 38.

Interpretive approach used in the sermon

Hamrick’s approach is to:

1. Read Ezekiel 38 and identify the named peoples and places.
2. Compare those ancient names with locations described by historians and with modern geographic or national identities.
3. Relate those identifications to current political and military developments.
4. Compare Ezekiel’s descriptions of judgment with Revelation’s accounts of Armageddon and Christ’s return.
5. Treat the resulting conclusions as a reason for vigilance and hope, rather than fear.

Speakers and sources featured

• Gary Hamrick — The sole speaker; pastor presenting the sermon and its interpretations.
• The Bible — Especially Ezekiel 38; Revelation 16 and 19; Luke 21:28; Psalm 121:4; and Isaiah 17:1.
• Martin Luther — Quoted on the importance of addressing the issues of one’s time when preaching.
• Josephus, Pliny, and Herodotus — Cited in connection with historical identifications of ancient peoples and places; Herodotus is also cited regarding Tarshish.
• Fox News — Cited for a report about Dmitry Medvedev’s statement concerning possible nuclear assistance to Iran.
• The Associated Press (AP) — Cited for a report about a Russia–Iran cooperation agreement.
• The U.S. State Department — Cited for a statistic about Ethiopia’s Muslim population.
• Dmitry Medvedev — Quoted in the Fox News report discussed by Hamrick.
• Vladimir Putin — Mentioned in connection with Russia’s relations with Iran and an offer to mediate.
• Benjamin Netanyahu — Quoted regarding Israel’s opposition to Iran establishing itself near Israel or obtaining nuclear weapons.