A2. Some Nations Oppose the Attack Some nations oppose the attack. Ezekiel 38 v 13 tells us that some nations will speak against what Gog and the other nations are doing to Israel. Verse 13 reads: "Sheba, Dedan, the merchants of Tarshish, and all their young lions will say to you, ‘Have you come to take plunder? Have you gathered your army to take booty, to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods, to take great plunder?’" Again, biblical and historical scholars have attempted to identify who it is that these nations refer to. Sheba and Dedan have been identified with the southern countries around Israel, like Oman, Yemen and Saudi Arabia, and the merchants of Tarshish are generally identified as the English speaking Western powers like America and Britain. It seems that these countries will also come to Israel, but they will oppose this northern invasion headed by Gog. However, the rest of Ezekiel 38 makes it clear that this opposition will not be effective. A sign that Jesus’ return is coming soon…? Since World War 2, America and Britain have had Europe as their allies, as part of NATO. But recently, you will have noticed in the news that there are increasing splits between Europe as a whole and America. Britain often tries to please both camps, but it was interesting that over the issue of Saddam Hussain and Iraq (known as Persia in the Bible) in 2003, Tony Blair (the UK Prime Minister) very much sided with America rather than Europe. With regard to the same issue Europe and Russia were also of one mind, but opposed America and Britain. Is this the start of the sides taking shape as prophesied in Ezekiel 38?