What is JAPAN'S role
in Bible Prophecy?

Where might Japan be mentioned in Biblical prophecy? Obviously, it would not be called "Japan" in prophecy as the nation would be designated by an ancient name (even as the United States of America is called "Manasseh," Great Britain is called "Ephraim," etc.). This short article will first discuss the two giant global alliances that will exist before the return of Jesus and the SUPRISE ATTACK one will make against the other. Then, we will take a look at prophecy pertaining to Japan and other Asian nations plus review some news quotes indicating Japan is PRECISELY fulfilling its role in prophecy.

What two global alliances will wage WAR before Jesus returns?

The 38th and 39th chapters of the book of Ezekiel reveal important information about what happens to certain nations and groups just before the return of Jesus Christ to the earth and the establishment of his Kingdom.

It describes a great world war between two global power blocs. The first power block, which starts the war, is composed of:

"Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying,  "Son of man, set your face against 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, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal."'"

"'PERSIA, ETHIOPIA, AND LIBYA are with them, all of them with shield and helmet;  GOMER and all its troops; the house of TOGARMAH from the far north and all its troops — many people are with you.'" (Ezekiel 38:1-3, 5-6 NKJV throughout)

Who are these ancient groups of people TODAY?

Who is GOG, of the land of Magog, in prophecy?

Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh: The English word "Rosh" comes from the Hebrew word (Strong's Concordance #H7218) which means "head" or "chief." It means either the individual who is the chief or leader of this alliance or the nation which leads it.

Gog is identified as the prince of Meshech and Tubal. These entities have long been identified by Christian teachers as designating Russia in the modern world, and they are correct. There is much support for this designation. Ancient words did not have vowels so words can be traced into modern times by their consonants. The consonants of Meshech and Tubal are "M-S(h)-C(h)" and "T-B-L." The chief city of Russia is Moscow, and the first three consonants of Moscow match the principle consonants of Meshech (i.e. "M-S-C"). The consonants of Tubal ("T-B-L") can be seen preserved in the Russian city of Tobolsk and the Tobol River in Russia as well as in the Georgian city of Tblisi, which was long a part of the old Soviet Union. According to Ezekiel's prophecy Russia will lead the attacking alliance.

Persia is the region now called Iran. In ancient times, these people were known as the Medo-Persians. The word "Medes" is derived from the word for their ancestor named Madai, a son of Japheth in Noah’s formative family:

"Now this is the genealogy of the sons of Noah:  Shem, Ham, and Japheth.  And sons were born to them after the flood.  The sons of Japheth were Gomer, Magog, MADAI, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.  The sons of Gomer were Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah . . . The sons of Ham were Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan.  The sons of Cush were Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabtechah;  and the sons of Raamah were Sheba and Dedan." (Genesis 10:1-3, 6-7)

The next nation named as Russia’s ally is Ethiopia, which is derived from the Hebrew word for Cush (Strong's Concordance #H3568). Cush’s descendants do include the nation of Ethiopia in the Horn of Africa, but they are only a small portion of Cush’s descendants. Most Cushites migrated eastward toward and into the Indian subcontinent and the name of their forefather Cush is still on the "Hindu Kush" mountains along the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan. This ally will come from the Afghanistan and Pakistan Region.

The next ally is called Libya. The Hebrew word translated "Libya" is Phut or Put (Strong's Concordance #H6316). Phut is a nation descended from Phut, a son of Ham (Genesis 10:6), and Young's Analytical Concordance to the Bible defines Phut / Libya as " . . . the region W(est) from Egypt along the African coast." This describes the region which includes Libya, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, etc. Ezekiel’s prophecy does not specifically state "all of Phut" will join Russia’s alliance, so time will tell whether all or part of this region joins Russia.

The next Russian ally is labeled Gomer, who was one of the sons of Japheth (Genesis 10:2-3). The Hebrew word translated as "troops" in Ezekiel 38:6 means "bands." Gomer will have an extremely large population and it will have many internal ethnic groups defined as "bands" or "troops." The nations of Japheth are found in the Oriental regions of Asia and especially in the most populous nation on earth: China.

The last major ally listed is Togarmah, who was a son of Gomer (Genesis 10:2-3), so it is closely related to the Chinese ethnically. This group is also described as being very populous and having many ethnic groups ("bands"). It will be located in the "far north" regions of Asia and its close relationship with Gomer indicates it will be located just north of Gomer’s latter-day descendants. With Gomer identified as China’s many ethnic groups, Togarmah would dwell in the regions located to the north of mainland China: Mongolia, Siberia and perhaps Manchuria and North Korea. All these regions are already in China’s or Russia’s territory or their spheres of influence.

Who is the OTHER global alliance?

The second large global alliance, attacked by the first one led by Russia, is called "Israel," "or "the house of Israel" in Ezekiel's prophecy:

" . . . In the latter years you (the global alliance led by Russia) will come into the land of those brought back from the sword and gathered from many people on the mountains of ISRAEL . . . "

"Thus says the Lord GOD:  "On that day when My people ISRAEL dwell safely, will you not know it?  Then you will come from your place out of the far north, you and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great company and a mighty army.  You will come up against my people ISRAEL like a cloud . . .

"For seven months the HOUSE OF ISRAEL will be burying them, in order to cleanse the land." (Ezekiel 38:8, 14-16, 39:12)

The "house of Israel" or "Israel" is is a common biblical term for the ten tribes of Israel, who were prophesied in Hosea 1:10 to be vastly increased in population (and therefore, power) after they were exiled from the Promised Land circa 723 B.C.

WHERE were the lost tribes of Israel at the time of JESUS?

The well-known Jewish historian, Josephus, wrote in the first century A.D. that the ten tribes had very massive populations in Asia (his account designated the empire of Parthia as their home), and Parthian Magi or "Wise Men" were Divinely led to worship Jesus in Matthew 2. When Parthia's massive empire fell in the 3rd century A.D., the millions of Parthian refugees poured into Europe and were called "Caucasian" tribes as they migrated out of Parthia into Europe via the "Caucasus" Mountains. These Caucasian tribes were the Goths, Germans, Saxons, Vandals, etc., and they eventually inundated the Roman Empire and furnished the population base of modern European nations. Many of the migrating Caucasian tribes were the descendants of the very numerous ten tribes of Israel mentioned by Josephus.

The European tribes grew to form modern European and Scandinavian nations and colonized to include such nations as the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand as well. Today they are allied or united in such groups as NATO, the EU, etc. They also have allies around the world who are part of the Western Alliance and the Western economic system. Such nations include the Israelis (the modern Israelite tribe of Judah), Eastern and Southern European nations, moderate Arab states, and others. Prominent in the Pacific region is Japan. It is a critically important nation in the Pacific region and the Bible does not neglect to mention it in Ezekiel's 38th - 39th chapter expansive prophecy about the world's nations at the end of our age.

Is there a THIRD power bloc in the world at the end time?

After describing the surprise attack of the alliance led by Russia, China and Iran against the nations of the Western world (headed by the nations descended from the ten tribes of Israel), Ezekiel 38 mentions another bloc of nations which is NOT part of the attacking alliance. Indeed, they OBJECT to it when it occurs:

"SHEBA, DEDAN, the merchants of TARSHISH, and all their young lions will say to you (the Russian-led alliance),  'Have you come to take plunder?  Have you gathered your army to take booty, to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods, to take great plunder?’ " (Ezekiel 38:13)

Sheba and Dedan are increasingly looking like the nation of modern India. India is a large democracy with an English-speaking history from its membership in the British Empire. It is increasingly being drawn toward the West via economic ties as well as mutual concerns about Islamic terrorism and the rapid militarization of China.

WHO, then, are the "merchants of Tarshish, and all their young lions" who also have the same negative reaction to the Gog-led attack as did the people of Sheba and Dedan?

Who are the Merchants of TARSHISH?

Genesis 10:4 identifies Tarshish as a people descended from Japheth, whose descendants are now mostly located in Asia. Tarshish was the son of Javan as well as the grandson of Japheth. Since it as one of the initial tribes of Japheth's descendants, it should also have grown into a large nation. A huge clue as to their modern identity is that Ezekiel 38:13 calls them "the MERCHANTS of Tarshish." Their entire nation is so closely linked to merchandising goods to others that they are called a nation of merchants! Japan pioneered the export-driven model of mercantile sales to other nations as a national policy. This trait was so well-known that the nation was sometimes called "Japan, Inc." in media articles. Japan perfectly fits the prophecy about Tarshish in the latter days. Japan's culture and religion is known for reverencing ancestors. The original ancestor (i.e. the father) of Tarshish was named Javan, and the name is little changed in the national name of Japan. The island of Java in Indonesia also preserves the name of Javan into the modern world. Tarshish was just one of five sons of Javan (Genesis 10:4) so there are other descendants of Javan who are not Japanese.

The prophecy of Ezekiel also states there would be "young lions" that would be closely linked to the "merchants of Tarshish" in the latter days. This prophecy has been so precisely fulfilled in the modern world that it can only mean that there is a Creator God of the Bible who is actively guiding the destinies of nations to fulfill his prophecies (Isaiah 41:21-26 quotes God as challenging skeptics to look at his ability to fulfill prophecy as proof of his reality and authorship of the Bible).

There are a number of smaller Asian nations on the Pacific Rim which have copied the mercantile, export-driven success of the Japanese nation. These nations are even called the "young tiger" nations or "young tiger" economies of Asia. Since there were only Asian lions, not tigers, in the region of the ancient Promised Land and Fertile Crescent (in which Ezekiel lived and wrote), the term "young lions" could as easily be translated "young tigers" in an Asian application. Is it not amazing how precisely the Bible foretold millennia ago the modern realities and traits of Japan and various Pacific Rim nations? The "young tiger" nations include such nations as South Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, etc. These nations are all closely-integrated into the economies of the Western world, and it makes sense they would object to an attack upon their allies and best customers!

Is Japan a close trusted ally of the West?

Now let us examine specific media reports to see that Japan is, indeed, becoming more closely allied to the United States and the Western Alliance. Japan is an island nation and it lives at the doorstep of two powerful nations: Russia and China. Japan has fought wars with both nations, and China bears a vengeful grudge against Japan as a result of World War II. Russia seized Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands after World War II and its retention of these formerly Japanese islands is a bone of contention between Russia and Japan. Japan cannot hope to make allies of these nations. Therefore, Japan must side with the United States and the West by default. However, Japan and the United States have grown to be genuine allies in the period after World War II. The United States was not a harsh conqueror of Japan. The United States (in Japan's post-World War period of reconstruction) preserved Japan's monarchy, treated the Japanese people and their culture with respect and laid the foundation for Japan's mercantile success by blending Western, democratic institutions with Japan's own unique culture. Japan has become a trusted ally and friend and it becoming an ever-more important nation in the Western alliance.

An article entitled "Abe blows Japan's trumpet, cautiously," appeared in the May 5, 2007 issue of The Economist. It cited a January visit by the Japanese Prime Minister to Europe to "emphasize that Japan was a staunch democratic partner on NATO's eastern flank." It also noted that:

"Japan is playing 'a huge great game' in which it must compete with a rising China and a newly-confident Russia for resources, power and prestige."

The Europeans reportedly welcomed Mr. Abe's insistence that "Japan should play an ever more energetic role in the alliance." The article further noted that Japan still dwells under "America's nuclear umbrella," even as "two American-made anti-ballistic missile systems" will be deployed in Japan and that Japan may even be allowed to buy the United States's F-22 Raptor warplane for its own air force. Importantly, The Economist article also stated that Japan:

 "seeks closer ties with democratic India and recently formalized a security alliance of sorts, only Japan's second, with Australia (and seeks) an 'arc of freedom and prosperity' from Japan, swinging through India via moderate Middle Eastern states into Europe."

In its March 17, 2007 issue, The Economist stated in an article entitled "We're Just good friends, honest" that in addition to becoming an ally of Australia, Japan "sought a new partnership with India while building security ties with Southeast Asia," and that "the main catalyst for the security pact (is) the rise of China." 

The Southeast Asian component of this "arc of freedom and prosperity" sounds a lot like Ezekiel 38:13's description of "Sheba and Dedan (India), Tarshish (Japan) and the young lions thereof (the "young tiger" nations of Asia). Formalized security ties to both the United States and Australia also unite Japan in an alliance with the modern Israelite nation of Manasseh (the United States) and one of the modern Israelite nations of Ephraim (Australia). Since Manasseh and Ephraim lead the ten tribes of Israel and many other Israelite tribes are found among modern European nations, Japan is now an ally of the ten tribes of Israel (who will be the targets of the prophesied attack led by Russia).

The Wall Street Journal, in a September 1, 2006 article entitled "Japanese Agency Seeks More Funding for Missile Defense," wrote that;

"Washington and Tokyo agreed . . . to expand cooperation on a joint ballistic-missile-defense shield, committing themselves to joint production of interceptor missiles."

Japan a nuclear power?

An editorial in the July 13, 2007 Wall Street Journal observed that:

"Japan has already greatly expanded joint military ties with the U.S..."

The editorial also commented on the threat to Japan from North Korea (it did not cite the even greater threat from China) in stating that a "nuclear armed Japan is 'probably' inevitable," and in a further significant observation, estimated that Japan could become a nuclear power within "days or weeks." 

Obviously, one does not design and build nuclear weaponry within "days or weeks." This observation sounds like an "officially approved leak" of strategic information, and much was conveyed between the lines of this observation. Japan's pacifistic constitution is now a vestigial relic of World War II, and its provisions do not allow Japan to be a nuclear power. Efforts are underway to revise the Japanese constitution to remove the language which now hinders a fuller role for Japan in the Western alliance. In order to "go nuclear" within days or months, Japan must already have constructed all the components of nuclear weapons, so that all that is needed is mere "days or weeks" to assemble the components of nuclear weapons together once a new Japanese constitution is in place permitting such weaponry. However, if a dire threat to its security emerged, I have no doubt Japan would do so anyway (with the likely support of other Western nations). Japan is, therefore, only "days or weeks" from becoming a major nuclear power whenever it wishes to do so.

The Washington Times National Weekly Edition of March 12, 2007 printed an article by David Axe entitled "US Air Force Jets deploy to Okinawa; Pacific buildup is 'contingency' plan." The article documented how closely Japan and the United States are integrating their military efforts in the Pacific region. It cited that new American F-22 jets were deployed to Kadena Air Force Base in Okinawa and three squadrons of F-22's will be based in Pacific locations. It adds the Kadena Air Force Base " is one of the biggest in the world," and that Okinawa is now home to many US and Japanese military forces.

The Economist in an article in its February 24, 2007 issue ("Overpaid to move over here") stated that the Iwakuni Military Base near Hiroshima, Japan is "America's most important base in northeast Asia." Japan and the United States are very close allies in the Pacific region, and their long- and short-term interests are very convergent. That Japan has already made security agreements with the United States and Australia and is seeking closer ties with India illustrate that the prophecy of Ezekiel 38:13 is coming to pass before our eyes.

Are there TWO ways of interpreting the prophecy of Ezekiel 38?

One could read the prophecy stated in Ezekiel 38:13 two ways.

The FIRST way to interpret Ezekiel 38:13 is that a bloc of Asian nations, including Japan, are an ally of the ten tribes of Israel. The SECOND way to interpret the prophecy is that the alliance, including Japan ("Tarshish"), is a neutral bloc between two warring alliances. Based on my extensive research, I believe that Japan will be a military ally of the United States in the final world war at the end of our age. Even if Japan, India and other Pacific Rim nations are not initially targeted when Russia, China and Iran attack the Western alliance, the United States would surely retaliate with forces based in Japan. Additionally, Japan, India, etc. would all surely realize that if the United States and the West fell, Japan, India and the other nations would be the NEXT target for attack by Russia, China, Iran, etc. Matthew 24:21-22 calls this climactic world war at the end of our age the "Great Tribulation," a time which will result in the death of "all flesh" if God were not to Divinely intervene to stop it:

"For then there will be GREAT TRIBULATION, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.  And unless those days were shortened, NO FLESH would be saved;  but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened." (Matthew 24:21-22)

Ezekiel 38-39 prophesies that God will intervene in this final world war to fight on the side of the ten tribes of Israel and their allies. The nations who are on the side of Russia, China, Iran, etc. will suffer an incredibly high death rate of their populations (Ezekiel 39:1-6).

Conclusion

Ezekiel the 38th and 39th chapters contain a prophecy, written millennia ago, that fortell the composition of world alliances and how the great and last world war, at the end time, will unfold. We would do well to take heed of such prophecies. It does not matter what you and I believe will occur and it matters not at all what national leaders and planners attempt to do. What God has prophesied in Ezekiel 38-39 WILL COME TO PASS in the years just ahead of us.