Ezekiel 38 Predicts Peace Between Israel & Saudi Arabia

The prophecy in Ezekiel 38 describes a future time when various nations, including those from the "ends of the earth" (often interpreted as Russia, Iran, and their allies), will come against Israel.

The passage doesn't directly mention Saudi Arabia, but many modern interpretations have seen this prophecy as hinting at a shift in geopolitical dynamics involving Israel and its neighboring nations.

In recent years, there have been notable developments in Israeli-Saudi relations that could be viewed as a fulfillment of this prophecy, particularly in the context of Saudi Arabia’s changing stance toward Israel. Here are a few key points highlighting this shift:

1. Strategic Cooperation Against Common Enemies: Both Israel and Saudi Arabia have found common ground in their concerns over the growing influence of Iran in the region, particularly through Iran’s support of militant groups like Hezbollah and its nuclear ambitions. This shared interest in countering Iran's power has led to behind-the-scenes cooperation between Israel and Saudi Arabia, although public acknowledgment has been limited until recently.

2. The Abraham Accords (2020): While the Abraham Accords primarily involved Israel and the UAE, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco, they paved the way for a potential future normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia. These agreements marked a shift in Arab-Israeli relations, with Saudi Arabia playing a key role in facilitating discussions without formally joining at that time. The Accords have increased regional collaboration on security, trade, and technology, signaling the potential for more peace between Israel and Arab nations, including Saudi Arabia.

3. Cultural and Religious Dialogues: There have been unofficial meetings between Israeli officials and Saudi leaders, and in some cases, visits by Israeli journalists and religious figures to Saudi Arabia. This signifies a growing, though cautious, openness between the two nations.

4. Economic Ties: Though not fully public, there have been reports suggesting that Israel and Saudi Arabia are cooperating in sectors like technology, defense, and trade. The two countries share an interest in economic diversification, with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 seeking to reduce the kingdom’s dependency on oil, which could create more opportunities for collaboration with Israel in areas like technology and innovation.

5. Public Statements by Saudi Leaders: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) has made more nuanced statements indicating a shift toward potential cooperation with Israel. While Saudi Arabia maintains its official stance on the Palestinian issue, MBS has indicated that Saudi Arabia could normalize relations with Israel if a peace agreement is reached between Israel and the Palestinians, which aligns with the broader shift in Arab-Israeli relations.

In the context of Ezekiel 38, where some interpret the prophecy to predict a time of peace between Israel and certain Arab nations, Saudi Arabia’s current trajectory—albeit gradual—toward normalization of relations with Israel can be seen as a partial realization of this prophecy. However, it’s important to note that while relations are improving, the fulfillment of the prophecy remains a subject of interpretation and will likely continue to unfold over time as geopolitical and religious factors evolve.