Sometimes it feels like the pages of the Bible are leaping right off the text and into the headlines. Wars, rumors of wars, nations rising against nations, these aren’t just abstract ideas but daily realities we see playing out on our screens. Long before many of these events escalated, the late Bible teacher Chuck Missler spoke with Jewish Voice about what Scripture says we should expect before the return of Jesus. His words carry a weight that feels even more relevant today.
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“Pre‑Signs” of the End
Missler was careful to note that what we are witnessing now are what he called “pre‑signs.” These aren’t the end in themselves but signals of what’s approaching. Referring to Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 24, he explained that the upheavals we see, conflicts, global instability and moral decay, are like birth pangs, precursors to the greater events still to come.
“These are not the signs of the end, they are the signs that precede the end,” Missler said, emphasizing that believers shouldn’t confuse the two.
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Israel at the Center
At the heart of Missler’s message was Israel. He pointed out that the prophetic stage in Ezekiel and Psalms centers on the survival and conflict surrounding the Jewish people. “Psalm 83 is about Israel’s immediate neighbors,” Missler noted, pointing out that the objective of these nations is not plunder but elimination: “to wipe Israel off the map.”
Ezekiel 38, however, involves a broader coalition of nations motivated by economic interest. In Missler’s view, these two events, Psalm 83 and Ezekiel 38, are sequential. First comes a conflict with Israel’s nearby enemies, and then the larger, more devastating invasion from afar.
Gog, Magog and Spiritual Forces
Missler also offered a perspective that surprised many viewers. He argued that “Gog” may not be a political leader at all but a spiritual title tied to demonic powers. “Gog is not a person, it’s a demon king,” he explained, drawing from the Greek Septuagint’s reading of Amos 7:1. This lens placed the wars of Ezekiel 38–39 not just in the geopolitical realm but in the spiritual one.
The World in Turmoil
Missler didn’t shy away from applying these prophecies to modern events. He spoke about Iran’s nuclear ambitions and America’s uncertain role, warning that the United States, though not explicitly mentioned in prophecy, may not escape involvement. He also cautioned that America’s moral decline could strip away the protection it once enjoyed.
At the same time, he reminded believers not to be surprised. Quoting Paul’s words in 1 Thessalonians 5, he said: “The true believer will not be caught by surprise… we are children of the day, not of the night.”
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A Call to Readiness
For Missler, prophecy wasn’t about date‑setting or fearmongering. It was a call to readiness. “The Lord will not return until His people acknowledge their offense and seek His face,” he said, referencing Hosea 5:15. Until then, believers are called to stay awake, to study Scripture and to share their faith with others.
James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.