Author and pastor Greg Laurie says the war in Israel could be a major step toward events prophesied in the Bible and that supporters of peace should monitor closely the Russia-Iranian coalition, which he described as dangerous.
The pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship made his remarks during a weekend sermon after Hamas terrorists killed more than 800 Israelis, sparking the biggest war in the Holy Land since 1973.
“The Bible predicted thousands of years ago that the End Time events would revolve around Jerusalem -- not Irvine. not Riverside, not San Francisco, not Los Angeles, not Moscow, not Paris. But Jerusalem, this tiny little city, in this tiny sliver of land,” Laurie said. “[It] will play a key role in the events of the last days. It's the focal point of End Times events.”
Laurie criticized the Biden administration for agreeing to “unfreeze” $6 billion in Iranian funds as part of a U.S. prisoner swap. Iran is a supporter of Hamas.
“What a bad move it is to give any money to this nation that sponsors terrorism around the world,” Laurie said.
Is this attack on Israel by the terrorist organization, Hamas, which is funded by Iran a fulfillment of Bible Prophecy? I answer that here. We also “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem” as Scripture tells us to. (Ps. 122:6) Join me. pic.twitter.com/c6ONMomWi4
— Greg Laurie (@greglaurie) October 9, 2023
The California pastor then discussed how the current war may fit with the events prophesied in Scripture. Those events, he said, began with the creation of the modern state of Israel in 1948.
“The sign that sets the prophetic clock ticking is the re-gathering of the nation Israel into their homeland,” he said. “On the heels of the Holocaust, who would have ever thought that these Jewish people who lost 6 million of their people to the Nazis would somehow regather in their homeland? But it happened against all odds. And on May 14, 1948, Israel became a nation. I'm proud to say the United States was the first nation to acknowledge that.”
Ezekiel 37 and 38, Laurie said, “speaks of the regathering of Israel” and then an attack on Israel from the North.
“That [attacking] force is identified as Magog. Who is Magog? Listen, no one can say with absolute certainty. But many Bible students and prophecy teachers believe it's modern-day Russia. I think you can make a very good case for that. If you get out a map of the Middle East and look to the north of Israel, you will find Russia. Why would Russia ever want to invade Israel? Well, there's another thing the Bible says about Magog if she is indeed Russia -- and that one of her allies that will march with her is Persia. Persia is the ancient name for modern Iran. So the Bible predicted hundreds [of thousands] of years ago that this large force from the north of Israel would attack her after she was regathered, and one of the allies that would attack Israel with mother Russia or Magog ... would be Iran -- or Persia.”
Only recently, Laurie said, did Russia and Iran form a coalition.
“They have now signed a billion-dollar deal to sell missiles to Iran, and the Iranians have helped the Russians by providing them with drones -- weaponized drones -- to use in the Ukraine war,” Laurie said. “[Israeli] Prime Minister Netanyahu said of this: Iran and Russia are very disturbing to us. Iran is supplying Russia with drones, and Russia is helping Iran with nuclear weapons. The only way to stop Iran is with a credible military threat.”
If Israel struck Iran, Laurie said, it could “produce the conflict we read about in Ezekiel.”
“The Bible says that Magog will come against her will. The Bible describes hooks in her jaws pulling her forward, almost as though Magog is coming in reluctantly, along with her ally, Persia, or Iran. I'm not saying this is going to lead to the Ezekiel 37-38 scenario. But I'm saying it's very interesting. If you get up in the morning and read this headline: ‘Russia attacks Israel,’ fasten your seat belt. You're seeing Bible prophecy fulfilled in your lifetime, in real-time before your very eyes.”
The event predicted in Scripture, Laurie added, should bring comfort to Christians.
“When you see these things begin to happen, look up because your redemption is drawing near,” he said, quoting Jesus. “That's what we need to be doing -- looking up.
“The Bible tells us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem,” Laurie added. “And we want to pray that they arrive at some kind of peace. We want to pray that this horrific terrorism stops, and that they're able to get their hostages back.”
Photo Courtesy: ©Getty Images/Amir Levy / Stringer
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.