Prophecy Watchers Podcast Summary

Episode Title: Is Psalm 83 Really Prophetic? Answering the Critics | Bill Salus
Date: March 30, 2026
Hosts: Gary Stearman, Mondo Gonzales
Guest: Bill Salus

Episode Overview

In this episode, Gary Stearman and Mondo Gonzales invite prophecy author Bill Salus to address common objections to the view that Psalm 83 is a future war prophecy, not merely a historical event or lament. Salus, the main voice throughout, responds point-by-point to theological criticisms—such as claims that the Psalms are not prophetic, objections based on historical fulfillments, and debates over the link between Psalm 83 and other prophetic wars described in the Bible. The discussion delves deeply into scriptural analysis, drawing on historic, linguistic, and contextual arguments while referencing both modern and classic scholarship.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Are the Psalms Prophetic?

• Objection: "The Psalms are not prophetic."
• Salus’ Response: Many Psalms are explicitly prophetic, especially about the Messiah. He cites Dr. David Reagan, who affirms, "The Psalms are filled with prophecies about the end times... Asaph is considered to be a prophet.” (03:00)
• Biblical References:
  • Asaph authored 12 Psalms and is called a "seer" (prophet) in 2 Chronicles 29:30 and 1 Chronicles 25:2.
  • Psalm 78 is quoted prophetically in Matthew 13:34-35.

Notable Quote

"Asaph was a prophet... Chozah is the Hebrew word. It means beholder of vision. It means a prophet like Ezekiel and Jeremiah." – Bill Salus (03:59)

2. Is Psalm 83 Only a Lament Prayer?

• Objection: "It’s only a lament prayer—never prophetic."
• Salus’ Response: Some Psalms, including Psalm 102, blend lament and prophecy, describing events like the Lord building up Zion at His second coming (Psalm 102:16). Thus, lament and prophecy are not mutually exclusive. (08:31)
• Discussion of Imprecatory Prayers: Psalm 83 is both a lament (sorrow) and an imprecatory psalm (calling for divine judgment), and references real geopolitical actors.

Notable Moment

"Let me just say that Bill has talked about Psalm 83 as an imprecatory prayer... But it's also a prophecy because this group of people is very much a contemporary group of people." – Gary Stearman (08:04)

3. Do the People Groups Still Exist?

• Objection: "The Psalm 83 people groups don’t exist anymore."
• Salus’ Response: Just as ancient names in Ezekiel 38 (Magog, Meshech, etc.) represent territories, Psalm 83’s names represent modern lands and populations (e.g., Moab = Jordan, Edom = Palestinians). The core issue is the territory, not ethnic continuity. (08:31)

"Although the names of these terrestrial locations have changed at various points in history, the geographical territory remains unchanged." – Bill Salus (08:31)

4. Was Psalm 83 Fulfilled in 2 Chronicles 20?

• Objection: "It was fulfilled historically."
• Key Differences Noted by Salus:
  • Subject: Psalm 83 concerns “Israel” (the broader state), while 2 Chronicles 20 is only about “Judah.”
  • Combatants: Psalm 83’s confederacy totals ten groups—2 Chronicles 20 lists fewer; some are missing.
  • Nature of Warfare: In 2 Chronicles 20, "the battle is not yours, but God's" (no Israelite fighting required); Psalm 83 implies active Israeli military involvement. (See also prior episodes.)

Notable Quotes

"In 2nd Chronicles 20 you did have Edom, Moab, and Ammon... But missing between the two accounts are the Ishmaelites, the Hagarites, Gabal, Amalek, Philistia, and the inhabitants of Tyre." – Bill Salus (approx. 17:10–18:30)

5. Does Psalm 83 Lack Prophetic Language?

• Objection: "No prophetic language; not a prophecy."
• Response (via Mondo Gonzales): Not all prophecies must contain explicit markers like “latter days.” The substance and context are key. Many biblical prophecies lack these formulaic introductions but are still prophetic. (19:50)

Notable Quote

"These are all assumptions, and many passages have full accounts. But this is not a requirement for prophetic material, and the lack of these items does not negate prophetic material outright." – Mondo Gonzales (19:50)

6. Was Psalm 83 Fulfilled in 1948 or 1967?

• Objection: "Psalm 83 was fulfilled in the 1948 (or 1967) Israeli-Arab wars."
• Salus’ Critique:
  • 1948: While the 1948 war involved the general coalition described in Psalm 83, none of the major prophecy teachers historically taught Psalm 83 was fulfilled then. The war did not result in lasting defeat or shame for Israel’s enemies, as subsequent wars occurred.
  • 1967: Only Egypt, Jordan, and Syria were involved; the confederacy was incomplete.
  • Unfulfilled Criteria: Key verses (9–18) describing Israel’s enemies’ utter defeat, so they "never oppress again," remain unmet.

Notable Moment

"Did these two verses find fulfillment in 1948? The obvious answer is, no... Thus, Psalm 83 has not found entirely its final fulfillment." – Bill Salus (25:39)

Memorable Illustration

"The only –ites you’ll find in the modern day are the megabytes, gigabytes, and termites." – Bill Salus (approx. 09:30)

7. Requirements for Fulfillment: Verses 9–18

• Exegesis: Asaph petitions God to defeat the enemy as He did with Midian and Sisera, where Israel’s foes were utterly destroyed, never to oppress Israel again. This has not occurred with any Arab confederacy post-1948.

Notable Passage

"Make them like whirling dust, chaff before the wind." (Psalm 83:13, read and discussed at 24:45)

8. The Role of Peripheral Prophecies

• Correlations: Multiple Old Testament prophecies are cited as correlating:
  • Jordan: Zephaniah 2, Jeremiah 49
  • Syria: Isaiah 17 (destruction of Damascus)
  • The Palestinians: Obadiah 1:18
  • Zechariah 12: Surrounding nations besiege Jerusalem, but the Israeli Defense Forces prevail.

Notable Illustration

"Jerusalem shall remain in this place again forever... the Israeli Defense Forces... will be like a fiery torch. The enemies around them will be like sheaves. They shall devour them on the right hand and on the left..." – Bill Salus (26:38)

9. Psalm 83 vs. Ezekiel 38 vs. Armageddon

• Distinct Differences:
  • Psalm 83: Inner circle of Israel’s border-sharing Arab enemies, defeated by IDF action (not God acting directly).
  • Ezekiel 38: Outer circle—nations like Russia, Iran, Turkey—are not bordering Israel and are defeated supernaturally by God (earthquake, fire, hailstones).
  • Armageddon: End of Tribulation; Antichrist leads global campaign, defeated by Jesus Christ at His second coming, not by Israeli forces.
• Different Motives/Results:
  • Psalm 83’s confederacy seeks Israel’s annihilation; Ezekiel 38’s coalition seeks plunder.

Notable Explanation

"Psalm 83 involves an inner circle... Ezekiel 38 is really non-Arabs... Different motive. Psalm 83 is defeated militarily by the Israeli Defense Forces... Then you get into Ezekiel 38. It is not stopped by the Israeli Defense Forces or the American forces. The Lord stops it supernaturally..." – Bill Salus (29:23)

Notable Analogy

"The way I would size it up, the Muslim countries involved in Psalm 83, when they're defeated, it becomes like a punch to the gut of Islam. Then Ezekiel 38... will be enough to cut to the jawbone… Ultimately… Islam will be knocked out for the 10 count and Allah will lose his Akbar at that point..." (31:24)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• Dr. David Reagan on Prophecy in the Psalms:
  "The Psalms are filled with prophecies about the end times. Most experts agree that there are 16 Psalms that contain Messianic prophecies..." (03:00)

• Asaph Confirmed as Prophet:
  "Asaph was a prophet, we're told in 2nd Chronicles 29:30... It means a prophet like Ezekiel and Jeremiah." – Bill Salus (03:59)

• Contemporary Relevance:
  "This group of people is very much a contemporary group of people." – Gary Stearman (08:04)

• Modern Parallel:
  "The only –ites you’ll find are the megabytes, gigabytes, and termites." – Bill Salus (09:30)

Important Timestamps

• [00:00] Introduction and overview of objections to Psalm 83 prophecy
• [03:00] Dr. David Reagan’s endorsement and prophetic Psalms
• [03:59] Asaph’s prophetic credentials
• [08:04] Lament vs. prophecy discussion
• [08:31] Addressing the people groups’ existence
• [17:10–18:30] Differences between Psalm 83 and 2 Chronicles 20
• [19:50] Mondo Gonzales on prophetic requirements
• [24:45] Exegesis of Psalm 83:9–18
• [26:38] Peripheral prophecies
• [29:23] Psalm 83 vs. Ezekiel 38 comparison
• [31:24] Theological analogies involving Islam, Ezekiel 38, Armageddon

Episode Takeaways

• The podcast robustly defends the view of Psalm 83 as an unfulfilled, future prophecy concerning a confederation of Israel’s immediate neighbors. The discussion is scholarly but accessible, with both historic and contemporary applications.
• The objection that Psalm 83 was fulfilled historically—in the Old Testament days, in 1948, or in 1967—is judged insufficient, given the ongoing nature of the conflict and unfulfilled scriptural specifics.
• Psalm 83 is distinguished from other end-times prophecies (Ezekiel 38, Armageddon), focusing on different coalitions, motives, and outcomes.
• The hosts and guest encourage listeners to engage with peripheral biblical prophecies and the geopolitical developments in the Middle East as these relate to Psalm 83’s potential fulfillment.

For deeper study, Bill Salus’s book "Psalm 83" is recommended, along with articles at prophecydepot.com.