What does the Bible say about Turkey in prophecy? Britain, the United States of America and Australia are from the children of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. When researching the Turkish people, one finds they are descended from the first-born son of Isaac, Esau. So, Esau’s brother was Jacob (who was later named Israel).  Then why is Turkey so bitter and hostile to its brother, Israel, today?

Perspective

Israel today isn’t just the tiny Jewish nation of Israel in the Mideast. Rather, it is also made up of the teeming millions of English-speaking people in the Western world (the lost Ten Tribes). The Western world, also known as the West, primarily refers to the various nations in the regions of Australasia, Western Europe, and Northern America. These peoples were destined to become the holders of the richest and most desirable portions of the entirety of this earth. This came to pass because of birthright promises made to our ancestor, Abraham. (Please read our booklet, "The United States and Britain in Bible Prophecy").

In Genesis 25 verses 13 and 27, it describes how Jacob received the birthright promises passed on to him by His father Isaac. Esau lost his birthright for a bowl of lentil stew and bread. The Bible says Esau despised his birthright. 

While Rebekah carried Esau and Jacob in her womb, “The Lord said to her, ‘Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the older shall serve the younger’” (Genesis 25:23).

Jacob valued the birthright promises

God’s will to bless Jacob was perhaps because he valued the promises which were passed down from Isaac, and Esau did not. Jacob had the desire and tenacity to secure the birthright for his future descendants. Esau apparently did not have a vision of what God first began to do with His grandfather, Abraham, and later with Isaac, when God made a covenant with him and his descendants: “Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings shall come from you. And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you”  (Genesis 17:4-7).

God chose Jacob because he had certain traits which would be the national characteristics He desired in the people He chose to fulfill His purpose. It is not to say God hated other peoples, but He called and chose those who He knew would fulfill His covenant and promises He had made to Abraham. 

Esau hated his brother

Because of this pivotal event in the lives of Jacob and Esau, Esau hated Jacob. He determined to kill him after the death of his father, Isaac (Genesis 27:41). This is where the bitterness and animosity of the modern-day descendants of Esau comes from, and, incredibly, they retain the same hostility towards Israel to this day.

Nevertheless, God did not totally neglect Esau’s descendants. Later, in Genesis chapter 36, the Bible speaks about the various leaders and dukes of the offspring of Esau. In Genesis 36 verses 1 and 8, it identifies Esau as Edom. One of the grandsons of Esau was Teman, as verse 11 shows. Teman became a great leader among the peoples in that area to the south and east of the Dead Sea. As the Edomites expanded to inhabit all the rocky mountainous areas east of the River Jordan, portions of the land began to bear the name of Teman, being called the "Land of Temani.” (As recorded in the Book of Job, one of the chief comforters of Job was Eliphas the Temanite.)   

After Israel left slavery Egypt, they attempted to travel through Edom’s land to the Promised Land, but the Edomites refused to let them pass. God intervened and helped Israel pass through. God told the Israelites not to detest them, “for he is your brother” (Deuteronomy 23:7). However, Edom has remained hostile to the descendants of Jacob (Israel) for hundreds of years. 

The Ottoman (Teman) Empire, historically known as the Turkish Empire, was centered in Anatolia, known as Asia Minor. Much of the area, later including the rocky Anatolian, Persian and Turkestan plateaus, became known as the Land of Temani (Genesis 34:34). Esau increased in power and his many descendants soon organized themselves into tribes. His ten grandsons and the three sons became dukes (Genesis 36:15–19). Esau married into Canaanite and Hittite families (Numbers 36:2). The Hittites, descended from Heth, son of Canaan, were, by far, the largest and strongest of the tribes. They possessed an empire that stretched from Asia Minor to Palestine. The capital was located in what is today central Turkey. 

Turkey considers itself to be European. It has been a member of the NATO alliance since 1952. It has been pro-Western, but since 2011 they have followed a foreign policy which includes anti-Western ideas. Turkey has now sought to improve relations with prominent Axis powers—such as Russia, China and Iran.

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is the 12th and current president of Turkey. Erdogan is often cast as an Ottoman revivalist. His critics suggest he wants to bring back the Ottoman Empire. The Jerusalem Post reported in an article on July 29, 2024: “Erdogan threatens Israel”: "Like we entered Karabakh and Libya – we will do the same to Israel." The article goes on to say: “Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan seeming to threaten military action against Israel tensions heated up between the Jewish state and the Iranian proxy group Hezbollah.”

Erdogan has brought relations between Israel and Turkey to rock bottom. He has compared Prime Minister Netanyahu to Hitler. Erdogan’s recent increased rhetoric against Israel was influenced by the speech given by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before the American Congress on July 25. 

Some are saying his threats towards Israel should be taken seriously. Will he move against the Jewish State? Possibly not, but prophecy indicates Turkey will take military action against Israel at some point. The Bible says God will punish Turkey for how they have taken vengeance on Judah: "‘Thus says the Lord God: “Because of what Edom did against the house of Judah by taking vengeance, and has greatly offended by avenging itself on them,” therefore thus says the Lord God: “I will also stretch out My hand against Edom, cutoff man and beast from it, and make it desolate from Teman; Dedan shall fall by the sword”’" (Ezekiel 25:12-13).

Coming punishment of Edom

Isaiah also speaks of the coming punishment on Esau’s descendants: “For My sword shall be bathed in heaven; indeed, it shall come down on Edom, and on the people of My curse, for judgment” (Isaiah 34:5).

Obadiah 10-12 speaks of Edom’s mistreatment his brother: “For violence against your brother Jacob, shame shall cover you, and you shall be cut off forever.  In the day that you stood on the other side—in the day that strangers carried captive his forces, when foreigners entered his gates and cast lots for Jerusalem—even you were as one of them. But you should not have gazed on the day of your brother in the day of his captivity; nor should you have rejoiced over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction; nor should you have spoken proudly in the day of distress.”

What will happen at Christ’s return? Obadiah 17 and 18 reveals the answer: “But on Mount Zion there shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions. The house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame; but the house of Esau shall be stubble.”  Verse 21 gives us incredible insight and hope as God’s Kingdom begins: “Then saviors shall come to Mount Zion to judge the mountains of Esau, and the kingdom shall be the Lord’s.”

As we watch, keep in mind, these events will precede the beginning of the Millenium when the King of kings and Lord of lords, Jesus Christ, will begin His rule. Even though God will severely punish Edom, it is important to remember, anyone, if they are called, can repent and overcome and enter the Kingdom of God. God will always have mercy on those willing to repent and change their lives to walk in His way!

This is my Perspective!