Turkey, Iran and Gog

Submitted by Michael S, Jul 7, 2017 at 05:59

"Daniel Pipes: As I see it, the danger lies elsewhere: in Ankara and Tehran joining together to support Qatar. That potentially could precipitate a war between them and the Saudi-led alliance, and that in turn could jeopardize the Persian Gulf's oil and gas exports, possibly leading to a global economic crisis."

I agree; and this accords with Ezekiel 38

[3] And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal:
[4] And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords:
[5] Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet:
[6] Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee.

"Gog", or "Gyges" (Greek) or "Gugu" (Assyrian) was the founder of the house of Lydia during Ezekiel's day, a powerful, rich kingdom in what is now western Turkey.

Meshech and Tubal were, at the time, independent kingdoms in what is now central Turkey.

Persia corresponds to modern-day Iran; "Ethiopia" (lit. "Cush") to modern Sudan; "Libya" was literally "Phut", which corresponds to modern Cyrenaica, the part of Libya controlled by Gen. Haftar. Gomer was the ancient "Cimerii", who came from the southern Ukraine to settle in north-central Turkey. The "house of Togarmah" was in what is now eastern Turkey.

Taken together, these ancient kingdoms represent modern Turkey, Iran, Sudan and Libya-Haftar. The situations in Sudan and Libya are fluid; so the modern formation of a Turkish-Iranian alliance is a prerequisite to the fulfilling of Ezekiel 38. That seems to be happening today.

The last Turko-Iranian alliance was the CENTO treaty, comprising Turkey, Iran, Pakistan and the UK. Iraq was also part of the pact until 1959. Pakistan effectively left by 1971; and Turkey was excluded after invading Cyprus in 1974. Iranian participation ended with the Islamic Revolution in 1979. During that time, none of those countries attacked Israel, as CENTO (originally the "Baghdad Pact") was considered an extension of American and British policy. Now, Turkey and Iran are both Islamic states, as are Sudan and the western (non-Haftar) parts of Libya. All have the potential to turn against Israel, singly or in unison.

The modern Turks derive their culture, ultimately, from Turkic-speaking tribes in NE China. These became the Göktürk Khaganate, which stretched from NE China to SE Russia during the 6th Century. Some of those Turks became mercenaries of the Muslim Persian Empire; and when the latter became weak, took over modern Iran. The Iranians had become Shiites, so the Turks became Sunnis. This is a different history from that of the Sunni Arabs; so that the Turks, even though they are Sunnis like the Arabs, are actually historically and culturally more connected to the Iranians. Eventually, the Turks invaded and conquered modern Turkey, taking it from the Greeks and Armenians and then expanding it into the Ottoman Empire. The Iranians, meanwhile, reverted to native Shiite Persian control.

The latest on the Russia-Turkey-Iran Entente Cordiale in Syria is at:

https://www.dap-news.com/en/international-news/42118.html

There was a lame attempt (promoted by Russia) to include the US, Saudi Arabia and their allies; but neither the Turks nor the Iranians were ever keen on the idea. The real losers in the accords, as they stand, are the Kurds -- who are currently sponsored by the US; but may soon find themselves orphans. Israel may do well to support the Kurds clandestinely, to be a thorn in the side of Erdogan and the Ayatollah. (For Bible fans, the Kurds identify with the ancient Medes).

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