Will Turkey play “a positive, productive” role for postwar Gaza? The U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, thinks so. On Saturday, January 6, 2024, Blinken said that Turkey has expressed its commitment to playing “a positive, productive” role for postwar Gaza (Associated Press).
Recently I wrote an article for Blessors of Israel sharing my reservations about Blinken’s confidence in Turkey especially after reviewing Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s post-October 7th comments about Israel’s war against Hamas and Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.
Unfortunately, the Biden administration is rewarding Turkey for its anti-Israel and anti-NATO actions. Last Friday, the BBC reported that the U.S. has approved a $23 billion sale of 40 new F-16 fighter jets along with upgrades to 79 current jets in Turkey’s fleet. Why? Because Erdogan’s government ratified Sweden’s membership to NATO (BBC).
And it was reported today that the U.S. may sell F-35’s to Turkey as well even though Turkey was ejected from the F-35 program after it purchased the Russian-made S-400 air defense system (The National Interest).
Speaking of NATO, Turkey has been a member of NATO since 1952 and it also has NATO’s second largest army. But does this member of NATO align with its fellow NATO allies in standing with Israel while opposing Hamas, Iran, and even Russia?
Let’s look recent actions by President Erdogan for some answers.
- December 17, 2023 – The Jerusalem Post reported that Hamas leaders held secret meetings in Turkey because “it was deemed safe enough for the leaders to meet there” (Jerusalem Post).
- January 24, 2024 – Iran’s president Ebrahim Raisi met with Erdogan in Turkey because Iran’s President said, “Iran and Turkey have a common position in supporting the Palestinian people and the resistance of the oppressed, powerful Palestinian people” (RUDAW).
- And today it was announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet with Erdogan in Turkey on February 12, which marks the first time that Putin has met with a NATO member since Russia attacked Ukraine in February of 2022 (USA News).
So, again I ask, why is the U.S. rewarding Turkey when Turkey is clearly not playing “a positive, productive” role as a member of NATO?
And how could Erdogan possibly play “a positive, productive” role for postwar Gaza when he has clearly taken the side of Hamas and Iran?
These developments are important for us to keep in mind as we pray for Israel because Turkey will eventually join forces with Russia and Iran to attack Israel in a significant event that will precede the Great Tribulation.
As I have shared repeatedly, both in print and during the Blessors of Israel podcasts, the Battle of Gog and Magog will precede the Great Tribulation according to Ezekiel 38-39. During the Battle of Gog and Magog, there will be an alliance of nations against Israel which will be led by the leader of Russia, “Gog, prince of Rosh” (Ezek. 38:4). “Persia,” modern-day Iran, and “Beth-togarmah,” modern-day Turkey will be part of that alliance (Ezek. 38:5-6). They will attack Israel “in the latter years” (Ezek. 38:8) after they “devise an evil plan” against Israel. The Scripture reveals that Israel will be attacked by an overwhelming force that will “come like a storm. . . like a cloud covering the land” (Ezek. 38:9-10).
In the midst of this great opposition, God will come to Israel’s rescue and pour out His “blazing wrath” upon her foes in order to deliver Israel from certain destruction through a series of cataclysmic judgments (Ezek. 38:18-23). First, God will send a “great earthquake in the land of Israel. . . and all the men who are on the face of the earth will shake at My [God’s] presence; the mountains also will be thrown down, the steep pathways will collapse and every wall will fall to the ground.” Second, the invading armies will turn on each other because God will “call for a sword against him on all My [God’s] mountains. . . Every man’s sword will be against his brother.” Third, God will send a deadly “pestilence” upon Israel’s enemies and “with blood I [God] will enter into judgment with him.” Finally, God will rain down upon the invading armies “a torrential rain, with hailstones, fire and brimstone.”
God’s judgment against Israel’s enemies will be so severe that it will take Israel seven months to bury their enemies and seven years to gather and destroy their weapons (Ezek. 39:9-16). This divine deliverance will be in keeping with God’s promise to Abraham, “I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse” (Gen. 12:3).
These developments between the Turkey, Russia, and Iran are setting the stage for the events prophesied by the prophet Ezekiel 2,600 years ago. And through it all, God will reveal Himself to Israel and the many nations so that they will know that He is the Lord (Ezek. 38:23).
Please join me in praying for the leaders of the United States and for the peace of Israel.
Dr. Matthew Dodd, Executive Director
January 31, 2024