Podcast Summary: "Are We Watching Ezekiel 38 Unfold Now?"

Prophecy Watchers – The Week in Bible Prophecy
Hosts: Gary Stearman, Mondo Gonzales
Guest: Dr. Mike Spaulding
Date: April 2, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode delves into the current intensifying Middle East situation through the lens of biblical prophecy, focusing on Ezekiel 38–39 and Jeremiah 49. Hosts Gary Stearman and Mondo Gonzales, joined by Dr. Mike Spaulding, analyze whether recent events may be fulfilling the prophecies concerning Israel and its future. The conversation explicitly resists sensationalism, instead advocating careful, contextual reading and responsible speculation about these prophetic passages.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Context and Modern Significance of Ezekiel 38

• Not Past, But Future: The team stresses that Ezekiel 38–39 hasn't been fulfilled historically (01:42–03:43).
  • “We’re not here to sensationalize…we anticipate it as a future event.” (Dr. Mike Spaulding, 01:42)
  • “We’ve never seen a coalition of nations like this come against Israel.” (Mondo Gonzales, 02:53)
• Divine Orchestration: Ezekiel describes God as orchestrating this coalition for His purposes—magnifying His name and delivering His people. (02:53–05:41)
  • “He is orchestrating this and He’s bringing this for a reason…to magnify his own name and deliver his people.” (Mondo Gonzales, 02:53)

Chronology and Restoration in Ezekiel

• The narrative from Ezekiel 33 onward develops thematically toward restoration (esp. 36–37’s dry bones vision), making 38–39 “fit very nicely” as a next stage (04:25–05:41).
  • “The goal is…the Lord is going to deliver his people, Israel. That’s the bottom line.” (Mondo Gonzales, 04:25)

Interpretations of Names and Geography

• Gog, Magog, Rosh, Meshech, Tubal, Gomer, Togarmah:
  • Names are ancient and tied to places, not necessarily modern countries (06:10–10:54).
  • Caution against common but linguistically unsound conflations—e.g., Meshech ≠ Moscow, Tubal ≠ Tobolsk, Rosh is a Hebrew term (“chief”), not “Russia.”
    • “You cannot get Russia from Rosh.” (Mondo Gonzales, 10:35)
    • “Grammatically, etymologically, linguistically, it doesn’t work.” (Dr. Mike Spaulding, 10:36)
  • Magog’s connection with Scythians (Josephus, Jerome) covers a broad area north of Israel, including modern Ukraine, the steppes, and Russia. The “key player” is more likely to be Turkey (Anatolia) rather than Russia. (12:37–13:34)
    • “The key player is not necessarily Russia. The key player is Turkey. Almost all these names go to Anatolia.” (Dr. Mike Spaulding, 13:10)

Turkey’s Evolving Role and NATO

• Turkey has shifted from a secular, western-oriented country to one increasingly antagonistic toward Israel under Erdogan.
  • “How in the world did they ever admit Turkey [into NATO]?…He says some very antagonistic things about Israel.” (Mondo Gonzales, 14:01)
  • Turkey’s break from NATO seen as plausible in the near-term context (14:17–14:34).
  • Erdogan’s role reshapes the interpretation—“in the last 20 years, he’s completely revamped…especially the vitriol and the spoken words against Israel” (Dr. Mike Spaulding, 15:47).

The “Remote Parts of the North”

• The phrase likely refers to both the supernatural and geographical enemies, with possible symbolic reference to Mount Hermon (08:21–08:34).
  • “That phrase would refer to the supernatural enemies of God in the remote parts of the north…pointing towards Mount Hermon.” (Mondo Gonzales, 08:36)
  • Both supernatural and geographic meanings may coexist (09:33).

Current Geopolitics and Prophetic Possibilities

• NATO and U.S. Involvement:
  • The U.S. remains, for the moment, Israel’s hedge against invasion. Should America withdraw support, it could set the stage for the coalition described in Ezekiel 38. (26:59–28:08)
    • “If the United States wasn’t there, then they would be a little bit more tempted…Israel will not have the big brother of the United States there.” (Dr. Mike Spaulding, 27:30)
• Iran’s Role and Weaknesses:
  • Recent failures by Iran and its proxies (e.g. in the recent rocket strikes) may drive Iran into a future anti-Israel alliance, fulfilling the coalition scenario. (28:08–28:39)

Latter Days, Latter Years: Timing the Prophecy

• Emphasized that language in Ezekiel points to a “latter years, latter days” context (03:43, 19:45).
  • The period of desolation and Israel’s regathering is best fit by the modern era (1948 onward), not any ancient return (20:54–21:41).
    • “Is it 70 years or is it 1878 years? …48 [1948], right.” (20:54–20:56)

Contemporary Relevance and Watching the Times

• Hosts reflect on the uncanny precision of prophecy to modern news (esp. current rocket attacks on Israel), but caution not to overstate or sensationalize (23:58–25:07).
  • “Do I dare say that we’re this far into Bible prophecy that we can say this is happening right now?” (Gary Stearman, 24:58)
  • “What we aren’t saying is that what we’re seeing right now in Iran is Ezekiel 38. What we’re saying is…how it’s playing out, it does contribute ultimately…” (Dr. Mike Spaulding, 25:55)

The Prophetic Importance of Watching

• Christians are encouraged to “understand the times” and use prophecy as a tool for evangelism—though carefully (18:33, 32:47–34:56).
  • “We’re supposed to understand the times in which we live.” (Mondo Gonzales, 18:33)
  • “Can we use this as perhaps a proof…there may not be much time…?”
    “I don’t think it’s overstating it, Gary.” (Gary Stearman/Mondo Gonzales, 32:47)

Jeremiah 49 & The Prophecy Against Elam (Iran)

• Discussion extends to Jeremiah 49:34–39’s prophecy against Elam, identifying it as southwest Iran—home to major nuclear facilities.
  • Not yet fulfilled; possibly linked to modern events, but caution advised (36:52–38:16).
  • “Elam was an ancient territory within what is now modern day Iran.” (Mondo Gonzales, 37:17)
  • “But it shall come to pass in the latter days that I will bring again the captivity of Elam…” (Gary Stearman reading Jeremiah 49:39, 39:12)
  • No clear historical record of fulfillment; “too early to tell” if now being fulfilled. (39:26–39:52)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

“You cannot get Russia from Rosh…grammatically, etymologically, linguistically, it doesn’t work.”
— Dr. Mike Spaulding (10:35–10:41)

“Almost all these names go to Anatolia, which is basically what we understand as modern Turkey.”
— Dr. Mike Spaulding (13:10–13:34)

“We have to be careful…grammatically correct when I interpret it, historically correct. And that’s a real responsibility.”
— Gary Stearman (42:26)

“We’re not here to sensationalize anything…we anticipate it being a future event.”
— Dr. Mike Spaulding (01:42)

“He [God] is orchestrating this…bringing this for a reason…and that is so he can magnify his own name and deliver his people.”
— Mondo Gonzales (02:53)

“We are supposed to be curious—we are supposed to be hearing from the Spirit as we study the Scriptures.”
— Mondo Gonzales (42:08)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Introductions, Purpose, and Setting Context: 00:08–01:42
• Past or Future Fulfillment of Ezekiel 38: 01:42–03:43
• Chronology and Israel’s Restoration: 03:43–05:41
• Identifying the Nations in Ezekiel 38: 05:41–13:34
• Turkey’s Role & Changing Attitude: 13:34–15:47
• Supernatural vs Geopolitical North: 08:21–09:42
• NATO, the U.S., and the Geopolitical Scenario: 14:34–17:38; 26:59–28:08
• Are We in the “Latter Years”?: 19:45–21:41
• Relevance to Current Events (Israel Under Attack): 23:58–25:07
• Evangelism and Prophecy's Urgency: 32:47–34:56
• Jeremiah 49 (Prophecy Against Elam/Iran): 36:52–39:52
• Cautions in Prophetic Interpretation: 41:04–43:20

Final Thoughts

• The hosts urge careful, contextual reading of prophecy: avoid dogmatism and sensationalism, but don’t ignore the “convergence” of modern events with biblical prophecies.
• The coalition predicted in Ezekiel 38 is unprecedented and not yet fulfilled; it may be forming now, with Turkey (not Russia) as its likely leader.
• Events in Israel and Iran are “possibly” part of larger prophetic fulfillment, but wise caution is necessary.
• Christians are encouraged to stay alert, use prophecy as a conversation starter, and remember that understanding the times is part of our call, always grounded in the hope and urgency of the gospel.

Closing Prayer (43:40):
“…I pray that the Lord will touch your heart, open your eyes, open your mind to the prophetic Scriptures that we have in the Bible. And we just pray that in Jesus’ name.” (Gary Stearman)