The Bible states in the book of Ezekiel, chapters 38 & 39, that God will bring an army from the north, Rosh, and its allies from Persia, or modern day Iran, to fight against Israel in the last day's battle of Gog and Magog.

Interestingly, only one major world superpower has its capital located directly north of Israel ... Moscow, Russia. Just look at any map.

According to the Washington Bureau, last month the Shanghai Cooperation Organization conducted joint multinational war games in western China and the Ural Mountains of Russia. Participating countries included Russia, China and four former Soviet Central Asian republics. Yet, when asked American officials were denied entry. Iranian President Ahmadinejad, allie of Russia, is also seeking to join this alliance.

Could this be the beginning of the Gog and Magog alliance as described in Ezekiel? Only time will tell. However, the Bible clearly talks about these geographic areas as potential nations that will rise against Israel in the days prior to Christ's rapture.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

To look at some polls, it appears America is very much a Christian nation. But you have to wonder how many of the people surveyed say they’re Christians because they believe there’s a God, grew up with Christian parents who taught them about Christ, or once repeated the sinner’s prayer.

Undoubtedly the sincere claims people make are sometimes far from reality.

As chilling as that thought may be, there are countless well-meaning people who believe they’re saved, but aren’t. Could you or someone you know be one of them? How do you know your faith is built on a solid foundation? Or is that something you can ever know this side of eternity?

Determine for yourself whether you’re in the faith. John MacArthur helps you do just that in the study he calls Examine Yourself.