With respects to the second confederacy of nations mentioned previously those who take no part in the physical invasion, but who nonetheless do nothing to impede it, Brother Frank Shallieu has another perspective as to who these might well represent somewhat similar to that of Brother Hagensick. (This second perspective is the one I myself favor of the two).

First let us take a look at the text once again,

“Sheba, Dedan, the merchants of Tarshish, and all their young lions will say to you, ‘Have you come to take plunder? Have you gathered your army to take booty, to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods, to take great plunder?’”

“Here is still another grouping: Sheba, Dedan, and Tarshish. However, these three will NOT be part of Gog’s host. As separate observers, they will inquire of Gog, “Have you come down to Israel to take a spoil and a prey?” Since these words are expressed in question form, we know these three powers will be on the scene but will nevertheless feel relatively powerless to avert the intent of the enemy.

What is the identity of these three nations?

All three are Western powers as follows:

1) “Sheba” represents THE UNITED STATES. As ruler of Egypt and Ethiopia, the queen of Sheba traveled from the coasts of the earth (from Upper Egypt, which was like another continent in that day) to see Solomon’s Temple. The Prophet Isaiah referred to the United States as “the land shadowing with wings, which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia” (Isa 18:1); hence Sheba symbolizes the United States, a country that was far, far away, on the outer extremities of the world, as it were. Just as the queen of Sheba had wealth, so the United States is a wealthy country. Moreover, Queen Hatshepsut, who was the queen of Sheba, had a mixed race of black and white, just as the United States does.

2) Dedan is France.

3) “Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof” is a symbol of England with all the colonies she had until recent years. England is the main or mother “lion,” as it were. Moreover, a lion is the symbol of Britain. The “merchants,” indicating a naval power, also help to identify Tarshish as England.

The point is that the United States, France, and England will have expeditionary, representative, peace-keeping forces on the scene in Israel, such as United Nations forces.

(These forces stationed in and around Israel are most likely the results of the first invasion/war by the Arabs Psalms 83 as mentioned in our last post. Peacekeeping forces would naturally be installed after such a devastating war between Israel and its Arab neighbors.)

However these forces, being limited in number, will be powerless to stop the host of Gog. God’s purpose is to “gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle” (Zech 14:2). The leading powers of earth will be attracted to Israel so that they will be on hand to see God’s glory in rescuing Israel. With most if not all communication being cut off, the Gentile survivors will return to their homelands and be able to give eyewitness accounts. The survivors of Gog and of Sheba, Dedan, and Tarshish will probably be about the same ratio: 1 out of 6 (Ezek 39:2).

Other Scriptures, such as Psa 83, suggest that prior to Jacob’s Trouble, a conflict will occur in which Israel will defeat her immediate Arab foes in a remarkable victory. As a result, it is likely that the United Nations will providentially establish a peace-keeping force there. The victory will lead to temporary prosperity and security for Israel. During the presence of the peace-keeping forces, the Gog host will come down.

And there is another point. Since their own homelands will be in anarchy at the time of Jacob’s Trouble, the peace-keeping forces will not be inclined to return to their respective countries. They will feel they are better off staying right where they are. Ezek 39:6 is a proof text of the anarchy that will be occurring in Russia and elsewhere at that time: “I will send a fire (trouble, calamity) on Magog, AND among them that dwell carelessly in the isles (in the “coastlands, on those who believe their distance from the battle will somehow shield them from the turmoil developing in the Holy Land): and they shall know that I am the LORD.”

Isa 34:2 is another such text: “For the indignation of the LORD is upon ALL nations, and his fury upon ALL their armies: he hath utterly destroyed them, he hath delivered them to the slaughter.”

All nations worldwide will experience anarchy. The Scriptures seem to indicate that there may be the possibility of a *limited nuclear exchange, but even that as devastating as that might be would not be the real Time of Trouble. It will, however, prepare the way for anarchy, for nuclear warfare will disrupt everything: communications, employment, food supplies, etc. Being sick of war and the results, the people will curse their governments in each of their lands (Isa 8:21).

As for the Gentile survivors, when the Gog host finally realize God is fighting for Israel, they will be deathly afraid to do any more damage. They will be only too glad to have survived and will go back to their homelands to give eyewitness accounts.” (“The Keys of Revelation”, Page 220, 221)

*The reason we suggest any nuclear exchange would be “limited” in scope is because we don’t believe the Lord would allow an all-out nuclear exchange as the results would not only make much of the earths surface uninhabitable for many years to come, but likewise such wide spread and intense destruction would surely result in the deaths of many individuals (if not from a direct hit by subsequent radiation poisoning) for whom the Lord favors should survive this trouble, howbeit not totally unscathed by it. This is not to suggest that the Lord is incapable of insuring the lives of those he favors but the fact that he has chosen them to pass through this trouble suggest that he deems it necessary to their own well-being and development.

Continued with next post.