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Gog and Magog
Who Are They and What Do They Have to Do with the Last
Days?
Dr. Roger Barrier
Dear Roger, Who are Gog and Magog in Ezekiel
38-39 and what do they have to do with the last days? Sincerely, Christopher
Dear Christopher, I would be delighted to
give you some thoughts regarding Gog and Magog. Let me begin by spelling out
several caveats.
First: God has not
chosen to give us all of the details regarding the end times.
Second: as we read
about Gog and Magog in Ezekiel 38-39, we discover that understanding the
biblical material is quite difficult. I’m going to do my best to synthesize
these biblical teachings as simple as possible.
Third: I have used
modern names for the territories involved. When we’re talking about “Gog and
Magog” we’re talking about a leader in the land of Russia.
Note that 500 years
from now, if Christ delays, “Gog and Magog” from the North (Russia) will
have another name that fits another time.
Fourth: the main
reason that God encourages us to study prophecy is to lay a foundation for holy
living. We need to have our lives cleaned up and ready when the trumpet sounds.
Fifth: “Live as if
Christ is coming back in the next 10 minutes. Plan as if he’s not coming for
another thousand years.”
Many wonder if Russia will have any part to
play in the last days? The answer is a resounding “yes.” We find the
answer in Ezekiel 38-39.
Identifying God, Magog, and the Kings of the
North and South
Ezekiel 38:1-2: “The
word of the Lord came to me: ‘Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the
land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal;’”
Magog, Meshech, and Tubal were all sons of
Japheth, who was one of the three sons of Noah. Jepheth and his family migrated
to the area of modern-day Russia (Genesis 10:2-3).
Gog is a person who rules over the land of
Magog (Russia). Magog means the "Prince of Rosh." (Gog) Rosh
is the old root word for the land of Russia.
God informs Gog and
Magog in Ezekiel 38:15, "You will come from your place in the far
North” (the Hebrew word means "the uttermost part of the North."
What's north of Jerusalem? Moscow. What is
north Russia? Nothing.
Meshech is the old name for the capital of
Western Russia, which is known today as Moscow.
Tubal is identified as a city in Siberia.
Gog (Russia) is the King of the North. The
King of the South is an Arab-African coalition.
Ezekiel 38:5-6
identifies the rest of the nations that are dragged into battle between Gog and
Magog, versus the Kings of the South: Persia, “Cush and Put will be with
them, all with shields and helmets, also Gomer with all its troops, and Beth
Togarmah from the far north with all its troops — the many nations with you.”
Persia is a reference to modern-day Iran.
Cush describes present-day Ethiopia and the
black nations of Central Africa.
Put and Libya are located in northern Africa.
Gomer is the people who settled in Germany.
Beth Togarmah is Asia Minor and Turkey.
Note: these nations will basically align with
Russia in battles against the King of the South and later on the Antichrist.
Sometime before the beginning of the
seven-year tribulation, the King of the South (an African-Arab coalition
described in Daniel 11) moves to invade Israel.
The African-Arab coalition initially has the
upper hand, but is ultimately defeated by the King of the North (Russia).
After a short time of peace, seeing an
opportunity to enhance their domination, Gog and Magog (Russia and its Leader)
proceed with their own invasion of Israel.
However, God has no intention of allowing
Russia to take over the land of Israel.
The Antichrist intercepts Gog and Magog and
defeats them. Note that two battles are described here, separated by at least
2,500 years.
Gog and Magog in the Bible
Ezekiel 38-39 is what is known in biblical
hermeneutics (interpretation) as a double fulfillment.
The first battle is the maneuverings of the
nations during Ezekiel’s time.
The events of the first battle foreshadow the
second battle describing the same movements predicted by Ezekiel which will
occur in the latter days just before the seven-year tribulation begins.
Speaking with hyperbole (a literary tool that
exaggerates to make a point) God describes the devastating events of the battle
between Magog, Gog and the Antichrist.
Ezekiel 38:1-4: “This
is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘I am against you, Gog, chief prince of
Meshech and Tubal. I will turn you around, put hooks in your jaws and bring you
out with your whole army . . .’”
Ezekiel 38:17-22: “At
that time this is what will happen in that day. When Gog attacks the land of
Israel, my hot anger will be aroused. In my zeal and fiery wrath, . . . I will
execute judgment upon him with plague and bloodshed.”
Ezekiel 38:22-39:11: “I
will pour down torrents of rain, hail stones, and burning sulfur on him and on
his troops. . . The fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and the piece of the
field, every creature, and all the people in the face of the earth will tremble
at his presence. . .
“I will pour out
torrents of rain, hail stones, and burning sulfur on him and on his troops . .
. On that day, I give will give Gog the burial place in the Valley of those who
travel east toward the sea it will block the way of travelers, because Gog and
all his hordes will be buried there. So it will be called the Valley of Haman
Gog.”
We see in these verses what seems to describe
a nuclear holocaust. Fire and brimstone fall from the sky. The earth shakes.
The faces of the invading soldiers melt like hot wax.
It takes Israel seven years to decontaminate
the land. The burial of radiation contaminated men and women injures even more.
Thousands of invading soldiers lie unburied.
God sends the birds of the air to pluck the flesh right off their bodies (Ezekiel 38:14 and
39:1-7).
This sounds just like the grisly feast of God
in Revelation 19 at the Battle of Armageddon.
Again, this passage is a double fulfillment.
From Ezekiel’s day until the coming of the Romans in 70 A.D. Israel was
decimated by nation after nation thus fulfilling Ezekiel’s prophecy regarding
the future decimation of Israel.
Then, we recognize that the above passages
parallel the book of Revelation and the horrors of Armageddon.
Now we understand that these passages are no
longer hyperbole. This this is the second fulfillment of Ezekiel’s prophecy.
The previously mentioned passages are literal
words which describe the horrible events of the last days While Russia is
destroyed by the Antichrist just before the seven-year tribulation begins, Gog
and Magog will rearm and take part in the war of Armageddon.
As a result of the war between the King of
the North and the Antichrist, Israel is open to signing a seven-year-peace
treaty with the Antichrist to protect them from other invasions.
After three and half years the Antichrist
breaks the peace treaty by invading Israel and all the horrors of the book of
Revelation break forth over the earth.
During the last days, God brings the armies
of the Antichrist, Russia, the Middle East, the Arab-African coalition and
China together in the Valley of Megiddo for the Battle of Armageddon.
As Jesus returns, he laughs at his enemies (Psalm 2).
At the Second Coming Jesus enters the fray
and destroys the forces of the Antichrist, the King of the East and the king of
the North as recorded in Zachariah14:12-13:
“This is the plague
with which the Lord will strike all the nations that fought against Jerusalem:
Their flesh will rot while they are still standing on their feet, their eyes
will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths. On that
day people will be stricken by the Lord with great panic. They will seize each
other by the hand and attack one another.”
For hundreds of years, students of Bible
prophecy have wondered what kind of plague could produce such instant ravaging
of humans?
Until the advent of the atomic bomb, such a
thing was not humanly possible. But now, everything Zechariah predicted can
come true instantly in a thermonuclear exchange!
By the way, at the Second Coming, the
nonbelieving Jews of Israel will see the nail prints in Jesus’ hands, feet and
side and realize that they crucified their Messiah.
It will break their hearts. Many Jews will
turn to Christ.
Zechariah 12:10: “And
I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a
spirit] of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have
pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and
grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.”
During that time God
the Father invites anyone willing to come to Christ to “Kiss the Son”
which is the Old Testament way of saying, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ
and you will be saved.”
Many Jews will to the Christ.
The Two Suppers of God at the End of Time
Revelation 19:17-18: “And
I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds
flying in midair, ‘Come, gather together for the great supper of God, so that
you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and the mighty, of horses and their
riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, great and small.”’
The Wedding Supper of
the Lamb is described in Revelation 19:9: “Then the angel said to me, ‘Write
this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!”’
This is the marriage feast when Jesus, as the
Bridegroom, takes His church for his Bride. It is a tremendous time of
fellowship and praise.
There is a word picture here and we all have
a choice. We can enjoy the supper with Jesus or we can be the supper.
Revelation chapters 20 through 22 wrap up the
story with the destruction of Satan and his followers, the 1000 year reign of
Christ on earth, and the new Heaven and the new Earth.
By the way, people often ask does the United
States fit in prophecy?
The United States is not mentioned anywhere
in the Bible.
However, there is a reference in Revelation
to an eagle which protects Israel during the last times. Of course, the eagle
is a symbol for the United States.
Revelation 12-14: “The
woman was given the two wings of a great eagle, so that she might fly to the
place prepared for her in the wilderness, where she would be taken care of for
a time, times and half a time, out of the serpent’s reach.”
Of course, the United States has always been
a friend and supporter of Israel.
By God’s grace, we will stand by their side.
If we ever turn against Israel we will suffer the same fate as the Antichrist
and his forces.
Well, Christopher, I hope this gives you some
insight into Gog and Magog and to the extra material that I shared beyond your
question that you may find helpful.
May God bless you in your studies of the Book
of Revelation and please remember that God promises a blessing for those who
read it often. Love, Roger
Editor's
Note: Pastor Roger Barrier's "Ask Roger" column regularly appears at
Preach It, Teach It. Every week at Crosswalk, Dr. Barrier puts nearly 40 years
of experience in the pastorate to work answering questions of doctrine or
practice for laypeople, or giving advice on church leadership issues. Email him
your questions at roger@preachitteachit.org.
Dr.
Roger Barrier retired as senior teaching pastor from Casas Church in Tucson,
Arizona. In addition to being an author and sought-after conference speaker,
Roger has mentored or taught thousands of pastors, missionaries, and Christian
leaders worldwide. Casas Church, where Roger served throughout his
thirty-five-year career, is a megachurch known for a well-integrated,
multi-generational ministry. The value of including new generations is deeply
ingrained throughout Casas to help the church move strongly right through the
twenty-first century and beyond. Dr. Barrier holds degrees from Baylor
University, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Golden Gate Seminary
in Greek, religion, theology, and pastoral care. His popular book, Listening to
the Voice of God, published by Bethany House, is in its second printing and is
available in Thai and Portuguese. His latest work is, Got Guts? Get Godly! Pray
the Prayer God Guarantees to Answer, from Xulon Press. Roger can be found blogging
at Preach It, Teach It, the pastoral teaching site founded with his wife, Dr.
Julie Barrier.
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