Recently, the discovery of an immense oil field in the Golan Heights in Israel, along with strategic moves by Russian President Putin into Syria have brought many prophecy students to believe this could be the beginning of the preparations for the battle of Gog and Magog. 
 
 Interestingly, God seems to be allowing the gathering of all the elements of what He foretold in Ezekiel 38 and 39. In these chapters, there is an amazing description of the details of Russia’s invasion of the nation of Israel in the latter days.  Read the first four verses of Ezekiel 38. You will see that Rosh, which is an early form of the word Russia is used twice in verses 2 and 3 in the NASB translation.  

“And the word of the LORD came to me saying, “Son of man, set your face toward Gog of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him and say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal. “I will turn you about and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and all your army…” (Ezekiel 38:1-4a, NASB)

As you can see, God is planning to influence Russia to prepare an attack. This attack will include allies from among the present day Islamic nations it will be a all out assault on Israel. The passage continues:

“Persia, Ethiopia and Put with them, all of them with shield and helmet; Gomer with all its troops; Beth-togarmah from the remote parts of the north with all its troops—many peoples with you.” (Ezekiel 38:5-6, NASB)

H.L. Willmington lists the nations under their current names that are identified here as among Russia’s allies:
    (1) Persia – Modern Iran
    (2) Ethiopia – South Africa
    (3) Libia – Arabic African
        nations (North Africa)
    (4) Gomer – East Germany
    (5) Togarmah – Southern 
        Russia and the Cossacks,
        or perhaps Turkey.
      
This passage, among many other details, clearly delineates how this prophecy of Russia’s attack on Israel must occur in the “latter days,” after Isreal has been restored as a nation. In 1948, Israel was once again restored as a nation, and Jews have been returning to that land since then. The Bible describes the latter days as those days surrounding the rapture of the church, the great even year tribulation and the second coming of Jesus Christ to the earth:

      “Be prepared, and prepare yourself, you and all your companies that are assembled about you, and be a guard for them. “After many days you will be summoned; IN THE LATTER YEARS you will come into the land that is restored from the sword, whose inhabitants have been GATHERED FROM MANY NATIONS to the mountains of Israel which had been a continual waste; but its PEOPLE WERE BROUGH OUT FROM THE NATIONS and they are living securely, all of them. “You will go up, you will come like a storm; you will be like a cloud covering the land, you and all your troops, and many peoples with you.” (Ezekiel 38:7-9, NASB)

Russia is now planning with Iran to dominate Syria, but their plan, I’m am sure, does not end there. Russia, or “Rosh,” in the literal rendering of Ezekiel 38:3 has a master plan that will ultimately include attacking Israel for “spoil” (38:13, remove the s and the word spells “oil.”) Israel has many areas of wealth: agriculture, military weaponry, strategic location as well as being an intersection to the East, South, and western European nations, as well as highly desirable ports, technology, and perhaps most of all, Israel has people who can be enslaved and used for the greater cause of Russia and her allies.  The Islamic allies of Russia like Iran and Syria and others all want the destruction of the Jews, but the Koran also calls for their enslavement. Ezekiel 38:13 speaks of weak nations (like America under Obama) simply asking Russia diplomatically what they are doing but not lifting a finger to step in in behalf of Israel.  The battle of Gog and Magog, that is of Russia attacking Israel, is in the preparation stage now, and it could occur either before or after the rapture. I believe it will certainly happen before the beginning of the tribulation or at the start of it to “gut” Islam and the power of Russia, in order for the Antichrist to have the freedom to establish a peace treaty with Israel for seven years and to permit them to rebuild their temple. This temple he will desecrate at the midpoint if the tribulation and demand worship. Then he will seek to destroy Israel etc.
 
Therefore, Israel’s discovery of Oil is always an indication of God’s favor for Israel. Yet, also this is part of the Divine lure (“hooks,” Ezekiel 38:4) to draw Russia and her allies to attack so God can destroy them; and for the church, which ignores prophecy and the coming of the Lord in it’s preaching, to take notice that the return of the Lord draws nearer every day!