"Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog ..." Ezekiel 38:2
"Thus saith the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind,
and thou shalt think an evil thought:
And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages;
I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls,
and having neither bars nor gates, To take a spoil, and to take a prey..."
Ezekiel 38:10-12
:: the Magog Invasion
Those of us who believe whole heartedly that the Bible is indeed the
infallible and inspired Word of God also realize that when the Bible declares something is going to happen ...
it is going to happen!
To date, Bible Prophecy has been fulfilled not only with 100% Accuracy ... but literally as well.
This gives us every reason to believe this trend will continue with the yet to be fulfilled prophecies in God's Word.
One such prophecy would be the famed "Magog Invasion."
This prophecy in Ezekiel 38 & 39
was written over 2,500 years ago.
It details an attempted surprise attack on the nation of Israel.
However, it is not a surprise for any student of God's Word, as this same
passage lists - in detail - WHO is involved, WHAT they will do, WHY they will do it, HOW they will
be defeated, and even the curious battle clean-up!
When this drama unfolds it will grab the attention of the entire world for 2 reasons...
"Ezekiel was still not finished: he said that if a traveler finds something that the professionals have missed,
he is not to touch it, he is to mark the location, and let the professionals deal with it. These
are contemporary department of defense procedures for handling nuclear, chemical, or biological warfare materials."
(Learn the Bible in 24 Hours, Dr. Chuck Missler, Page 136)
:: Magog --> the Scythians --> Russians
To figure out the different countries who have a role to play
we need to start at the beginning with
Many ancient sources have clearly identified "Magog" as referring to the "Scythians"
One of the earliest references to Magog was by Hesiod, "the father of Greek didactic poetry"
In the 5th century B.C. Herodotus of Harlicarnassus, known as "Father of History"
wrote extensively about the the Scythians, and how they terrorized the southern steepes of Russia from
the 10th century B.C. to the 3rd Century B.C.
Another well known source is Josephus Flavius, who records that the Magogians were called "Scythians" by the Greeks.
"But even the Scythians, who delight in murdering people and are little better than wild beasts, nevertheless think
it their duty to uphold their national customs." - Josephus Flavius, 1st century A.D.
Philo, is another in the 1st century who identifies Magog with southern Russia.
The Great Wall of China, in an 8th century reference, was called:
The Moslems refer to Gog and Magog as Vadjudj wa madjudj in the Koran.
"Herodotus recounts many bizarre and savage practices of the descendants of Magog known as the Scythians:
they drank the blood of the first enemy killed;
they carried the heads of their victims to their chiefs;
they scalped their enemies and used their scalps as "napkins";
they used the skins of their victims to cover their quivers;
they drank from the skulls of their victims;
they practiced blood brotherhood by drinking each other's blood mixed with wine.
The Scythians "bathed" in the vapor from heated hemp seeds.
When their king died they sacrificed one of his concubines and several servants .
After a year, they commemorated his death by sacrificing fifty servants and fifty horses.
... Rough bunch, these Scyths."
The tortuous path from the horseback archery of the early Scyths to the nuclear missles of the Russian Federation
includes many centuries of turbulent history. The various descendents of Magog terrorized the southern steepes
of Russia from the Ukraine to the Great Wall of China."
(The Magog Invasion - Chuck Missler - pg 30-31)
In the New Testament the word Scythian occurs once.
Paul is stressing the point that even people with the most diverse backgrounds
can still be one in Christ.
Now that we have identified Magog ... Let's look at the company they keep in this upcoming drama...
:: Among the Allies ...
"..... Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal:
And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen,
all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords:
Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet:
Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee."
Ezekiel 38:3-6
Tubal: The 5th son of Japath and brother of Meshech. 9th century B.C. Assyrian
inscriptions refer to it as Tabal, West of Meshech in Eastern Anatolia.
Geographical neighbors, they became allies against the Assyrians in 713 B.C.
The classical Greek writers called them the Tibareni and the Moschi.
Herodotus also places them both along the Southeast shores of the Black Sea.
Some associate it with Tobolsk of Russia.
:: Sitting on the Sidelines
TARSHISH ...
Some, again, argue that Carthage was the place so named. There can be little doubt, however, that this is the name of a Phoenician port in Spain,
between the two mouths of the Guadalquivir (the name given to the river by the Arabs, and meaning "the great wady" or water-course).
It was founded by a Carthaginian, and was the farthest western harbor of Tyrian sailors.
It was to this port Jonah's ship was about to sail from Joppa. It has well been styled "the Peru of Tyrian adventure;"
it abounded in gold and silver mines." (Bible Encyclopedia - christiananswers.net)
:: Syria Not Involved?
Notice, Syria, an extremely anti-semetic country is not listed in this battle.
This may be because they have already - by the time of the Magog Invasion - been dealt a blow.
As described in: Isaiah chapter 17, Jeremiah 49:23-27 and elsewhere ...
Presently many terrorist organizations have their bases within Damascus.
If Syria were fully functional when the Magog Invasion were to occur,
you can just bet they would want in on it.
But God declares that Damascus will become a ruinous heap.
As of this writing, we believe this is yet future...
(See Also: the Burden of Damascus)
:: When Could the Magog Invasion Occur?
Let's start with when this could NOT have occurred.
This prophecy had to be fulfilled "in the latter years"
Interestingly, Ezekiel chapter 37
is the remarkable passage referred to as the "Vision of Dry Bones".
This chapter spoke of Israel being regathered back into her land in the last days.
This occurred May 14, 1948. (See Also: Israel, God's Timepiece).
This is when prophecy students believe the end times officially began. (Some count from June 1967, when Jerusalem was
back within their control after the six-day war.) In either scenario, we see that Ezekiel 37, a last days vision,
has indeed taken place.
Then we see in the very next chapter Ezekiel 38, the Magog Invasion.
Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee.
Thus saith the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought:
And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates,
To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land."
Ezekiel 38:8-12
Ezekiel also describes "unwalled villages" which he probably had never even seen in his day.
Zechariah also prophesied of this:
:: Is this "The Battle as Armageddon"
Some hold to the view that what is described here in Ezekiel is the
'The Battle of Armageddon' as described in the book of Revelation.
While others believe it is an altogether different battle.
(One thing we all seem to agree with is that it is after the Rapture of the church.)
While there are undoubtedly enough similarities between the passages to make this a good argument on either side.
There also seems to be some very distinct differences or omissions if these scenarios where to be one in the same.
Let's start with who is "missing" in Ezekiel's description:
Babylon ... also not listed in the Ezekiel 38 scenario, yet is listed at the final battle - center stage!
Another point, that may surely stand out against the two being synonymous would be the idea that in the
Ezekiel passages Gog/Magog is attempting a "surprise" attack on those who think they are dwelling "safely"
albeit in a false security...
But we know the Battle of Armageddon is no surprise and it occurs as the grand finale of the Great Tribulation
culminating with the Second Coming of Jesus Christ to rescue Israel from ALL the Nations
of the world!
It would be hard to imagine that Israel will be feeling "safe" just prior to Messiah's appearance at Armageddon.
Because we also know that the last half (last 42 months) of the Tribulation (i.e. The Great Tribulation, the Time of Jacob's Trouble)
it will be anything but business as usual for Israel.
(Jeremiah 30:7 ...
Matthew 24:21)
It seems at the time of the "attempted surprise attack" in Ezekiel 38,
they are instead experiencing "peace & security" just prior to ... or at the onset of the 7 year tribulation.
Which is why many place this Magog Invasion, somewhere between the Rapture of the church and the
early part of the Tribulation or thereabouts.
We also know when the Antichrist shows up, it is "by peace that he will destroy many"
Daniel 8:23-25
There are other definite differences. But also many similarities in the language which is why some
people believe they are one and the same.
(Example: Ezekiel 38:19-23
and Ezekiel 39:4-5
as compared to Revelation 19:17-21)
Clean-Up Time!
The weapons will be burned with fire for 7 years - (Ezekiel 39:9)
The House of Israel will be burying Gog and all his multitude for
The Antichrist & False Prophet Destroyed!
*Note:
No mention of any clean up, which Ezekiel 39 spent entire chapter covering for the Magog Invasion.
No need for Israel to burn weapons for 7 years in Millenial Kingdom.
*Important Babylon References:
:: Literal Babylon = Iraq. The Land of Shinar. "the Beauty of the Chaldees"
:: Mystery Babylon = Vatican City / Rome
See Also: B a b y l o n
We believe both "Babylons" have a huge part to play on the prophetic horizon!
The roots of Mystery Babylon are from Literal Babylon and
Zechariah 5 implies a future connection of some sort back at the ol' home base.
:: Who is GOG?
Gog is obviously the leader of the people of Magog.
In Chuck Missler's book "The Magog Invasion" (pgs 248-249) he mentions:
There is, however, a provocative reference that has been widely overlooked in the Book of Amos.
Our English Bible takes its translation from the Masoretic text, a 9th century source.
However, an earlier translation of the Old Testament into Greek,
known as the Septuagint, embodies a different rending of Amos 7:1:
The identification of Gog as the king of the locusts would have profound implications.
Proverbs 30:27 reveals that
"the locusts have no king," implying that the "locusts" of Amos 7 are not intended to be natural locusts, but an
idiom for something else.
We encounter a similar passage in Revelation chapter 9 where locusts there are described as having a king, and so are
clearly a demon host.
The passage in Amos 7:1 suggests that Gog is the king of the demon locusts, and this would put an entirely new light on the
Gog of Ezekiel 38 and 39....."
While this undoubtedly sounds "out there" to some ... this may be significant.
Let's remember it is not the first time we have heard about demonic forces behind kings and kingdoms.
Consider Daniel chapter 10
where Daniel has prayed and fasted for 21 days, then an Angel appears to him.
The Angel tells Daniel he had been dispatched 21 days earlier (when he began his prayer & fast)
but was "withstood" by a demonic force he refers to as 'The Prince of Persia'.
The prince of Persia, was the angel of darkness that represented the Persian world power, to which Israel was then subject.
He even goes on to say Michael (the Archangel /one of the Chief Princes) came to help him.
He then gives Daniel the visions, and says he now has to go deal with 'The Prince of Grecia' (Greece).
(The Greek empire was another that would be coming!)
"The powers of darkness work through the rulers of this world. Satan, the prince of this world, is the power
behind the world's governments and systems in rebellion against God. There's constant warfare in the spiritual
world over the control of people's lives. Through prayer we're able to bind the works and power of the enemy and to battle for God's side."
Chuck Smith
(See Also on Spiritual Warfare:
Ephesians 6:12 ...
2 Corinthians 2:4)
:: Not Gog AGAIN?!?
In the above passage we see yet another appearance of Magog - led by Gog!
We are told Satan was bound for this 1000 years but that after the Millennium, Satan will be released just for a
very short while and he will unsuccessfully try to destroy the Millennial Kingdom!
So, who does he gather for his last doomed rebellion ... Gog and Magog!
As for the devil ...
He gathers the nations which are in the four corners of the earth.
They will come up on the broad plain of the earth and surround the camp
of the saints and the beloved city, (Jerusalem) and fire will come down
from Heaven & devour them!
That is the end of our unworthy adversary. The next scene we see in Scripture is the Great White Throne Judgment.
Followed by the New Heavens & the New Earth! This is the happily ever after part for those who have placed their trust
in the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Jesus the Christ!
:: A Final Thought
We would like to close with this thought ...
The most important issue is certainly not whether you can list from memory the allies of this Magog Invasion
... or detail their historical or prophetic role.
While we personally think EVERY ASPECT of Scripture is exciting and well worth our study ...
we also know that if a person does not know Jesus Christ as Lord & Savior
... studies such as these will not amount to anything.
If you have taken the time to read this article and yet do not know Jesus please
take a little more time to read the following ...
Because ultimately HE is what it is ALL ABOUT!
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