The October 7, 2023 Hamas terrorist attack against unarmed Israeli citizens has exposed the true hearts of nations mentioned in end time prophecies that come against Israel. Turkey, a member of NATO, has come out of the diplomatic tents in favor of the anti-Israel terrorists. On October 25, Reuters reported that Turkey’s leader Tayyip Erdogan told members of the Turkish parliament that “Hamas is not a terrorist organization.” He said it was a liberation group of those fighting for their faith “waging battle to protect its lands and people.” He also said, “Israel’s attacks on Gaza, for both itself and those supporting them, amount to murder and mental illness.” This political stand has carried over to athletics.
Enter the story of 28 year-old Sagiv Shalom Yehezkel, a professional Israeli soccer player who played on the Israel national team and, until recently, was a member of a Turkish professional club. On Sunday, January 14, Yehezkel scored a goal. Celebrating the goal, he pointed toward a bandage on his wrist that read “100 days. 07/10” next to a Star of David. This simple gesture calling attention to the hostages held by the Hamas terrorists lit a firestorm in Turkey. Yehezkel was arrested. A criminal investigation was launched by Turkish prosecutors claiming Yehezkel’s “incitement to hate.” He was released after a short detention and Israel had to send a private plane to collect him and his family.
According to several media outlets, Yehezkel told the Turkish police, “I am not pro-war. I want this 100-day process to come to an end. I want the war to end. I have never engaged in anything related to politics since my arrival…I have never disrespected anyone since the day I arrived. The point I wanted to draw attention to was [the need] for an end of the war.” Turkish officials saw it otherwise as his club fired him for “exhibiting behavior that goes against our country’s sensitivities.” Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant characterized the arrest as scandalous and accused Turkey of being the “executive arm of Hamas.” Indeed, Turkey’s actions are an indicator of the direction ancient Biblical prophets foretold about that country. We have been watching Turkey and its “president” Erdogan for quite some time as a prophetic indicator.
The Islamic Caliphate/Ottoman Empire, headquartered in Turkey, was one of the longest lasting empires in history spanning 624 years from 1299 to 1923. Its control over the Middle East was far greater than the Roman Empire. Some scholars now believe that a revived Ottoman Empire is the one prophesied as the end-time antichrist system. The end time battle of Ezekiel 38 is led from specific locations in modern Turkey–Magog, Meshech, Tubal. Also Christ is quoted in Revelation 2:13 that Pergamos is “even where Satan’s seat is…where Satan dwells.” Pergamon is in Turkey. Once again, Turkey is in the news ignited by an athlete using his platform in support of the victims of terrorism. This is the rising tide where any Israeli standing against hatred becomes a target of hatred. To the point that now even soccer plays a prophetic role.
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