Erdogan Gains Virtually Unlimited Power to Dictate

Theology and Politics from a Conservative, Biblical Perspective

Turkey voted to hand Recep Tayyip Erdogan sweeping authority in the most radical overhaul since the republic was founded 93 years ago on the expectation he’ll safeguard security amid regional wars and kickstart the economy.

Because so much of the European Union (EU) and other parts of Europe and the Middle East are in such disarray, Turkish citizens voted to give Erdogan much more power in the hopes of being able to grow their economy. But of course, with any good comes a great deal of potential bad.

Once implemented, Erdogan will have authority to appoint ministers and top judges at his discretion and call elections at any time. It will also give him much greater sway over fiscal policy and may deepen investors’ concerns about the independence of the central bank.

Ultimately, this means that Erdogan has the ability to become Turkey’s dictator. Though history is replete with example after example of how bad things often become under dictators, it would seem that due to fear of a terrible economy, people are willing to risk granting Erdogan that type of power in the hopes that he won’t abuse it.

Because of the newly created 18 amendments added to Turkey’s Constitution, through manipulation, Erdogan could effectively remain in power through 2029. This would also give him ample opportunity to further change things in his favor. Ultimately, he could be president for the remainder of his life.

But what is interesting to me is that it is very possible that Erdogan (or a successor), could be in power when the Northern Invasion of Ezekiel 38-39 occurs. This invasion, with rather fanciful language and word pictures, defines a time in the future (this event has not occurred yet in all of history), when an individual labeled “Gog of Magog” sets his sights on Israel to capture their “spoil,” He then gathers other nations and together with them, advances on Israel.

What is interesting now of course is what’s been referred to before here in this blog, with respect to the Qatar-Turkey Pipeline. The pipeline is not set to run through Israel, but it would give Israel the opportunity to sell their natural gas supplies (discovered in 2009, with other fields discovered in 2011 and 2012), to neighboring nations as well as throughout Europe. Israel discovered the gas supply 15 miles offshore and a mile beneath the ground. Several of Israel’s large discoveries should be producing gas by 2019. There are millions of cubic feet of gas waiting to be tapped. This trove of wealth will make Israel energy independent and provide them with a steady flow of income.

Could it be that by the time Israel gets these gas fields completing up and running, someone like Erdogan would take notice and develop a tremendous desire to gain control over them? That seems to be what happens with the upcoming leader referred to as Gog in Scripture. Gog is most likely a title, though it could also be a variation of his name.

On that day it shall come to pass that thoughts will arise in your mind, and you will make an evil plan: You will say, ‘I will go up against a land of unwalled villages; I will go to a peaceful people, who dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates’— to take plunder and to take booty – Ezekiel 38:10-12a NKJV

I like how thoughts will appear in Gog’s mind giving us the impression that Gog thought them up by himself. Yet, we know from previous verses that God is the One who places these thoughts in Gog’s mind.

I will turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and lead you out, with all your army, horses, and horsemen, all splendidly clothed, a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords. – Ezekiel 38:4

This is all God’s doing, but Gog is held responsible because he could have said “no” to his thoughts and desires. Instead, he gave into them and follow their dictates. It’s also clear from the numerous mentions in the context that this event happens in the “latter days” (38:8, 16, 17). It is also clear that the people of Israel will have been gathered back to Israel after having been scattered among the nations for centuries (38:12).

Certainly, we won’t know who Gog is until that fateful day when he gathers armies of people from many nations including his own, and Iran (Persia), Ethiopia, Put (a coastal area of Africa near the lower Red Sea), and “**Gomer to her northwest (in the Taurus mountains of Anatolia and possibly farther northwest in modern western Europe), and Beth-togarmah to her northwest (southeast of the Black Sea).”

Gog himself controls Magog, which as Constable notes* is “what is now parts of southwestern Russia, Georgia, eastern Turkey, Armenia, and Azerbaijan.”

This future invasion is going to be intense. It’s a plan that Gog thinks of (with God’s help), and who gathers troops for the express purpose of attacking and pillaging Israel. Because of the vast number of people with him, Gog will be convinced that he can’t lose. However, starting in Ezekiel 38:14 we learn of God’s response to Gog’s attempted assault. It’s not pretty and it proves God’s sovereignty over all things.

As Gog comes to the Mountains of Israel, God Himself goes into action fighting for Israel without them having to raise a finger to defend themselves. God’s response starts with a massively large earthquake that is even noticed by the birds of the air (v. 19-20). The earthquake will be so great that nothing in the epicenter will remain standing. This means that the Dome of the Rock mosque as well as the smaller Al Aqsa mosque will be decimated and flattened (v. 20). Nothing will remain standing, not even mountains in the area.

Next, God will turn soldier against soldier because of their abject fear of what has just taken place (v. 21). Those who originally allied themselves with Gog will turn on him to defeat him.

But God is not done yet. He then tosses pestilence and blood into the mix (disease and bloodshed), as well as rain, hailstones, fire, and brimstone (v. 22). God is going to use Gog as an example in the same way God used Pharaoh of old as an example.

For the Scripture says about Pharaoh, ‘I have raised you up for this very purpose, to demonstrate my power through you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.’ – Romans 9:17 NET

This is exactly what God does through Gog,

I will magnify Myself, sanctify Myself, and make Myself known in the sight of many nations; and they will know that I am the Lord. – Ezekiel 38:23

Theology and Politics from a Conservative, Biblical Perspective