This book contains the prophecies attributed to the prophetpriest ezekiel, and is one of the books of the prophets. Ezekiel identifies him as the prince of rosh, meshech and tubal. One of the most challenging prophecies in the bible is the war of gog and magog as detailed in ezekiel. To understand the topic of gog and magog, it is best to approach the matter systematically. The imagery of gog and magog in revelation is adapted from ezekiel.
In ezekiel s prophecy, gog will be the leader of a great army that attacks the land of israel. Who are gog, magog, tarshish, and the other nations of. If not russia, which or what nation is the gog and magog. According to the prophecy contained in the 38th and 39th chapters of the book of ezekiel, on a distant day when the jewish people are living secure in israel.
So there are two battles referred to as gog and magog, the first right before the second coming and the other at the end of the millennium. As to the specifics of ezekiel 3839, the events described in these chapters must refer to the summoning of antichrist and his armies to the final slaughter at armageddon and not to previous episodes in the tribulation or to the similarly named gog magog rebellion at the end of the millennium because. The growing unrest in the middle east has caused many to wonder if the bible speaks of a future time when the nations of this area will turn to catastrophic war. What gog and magog represent in prophecies about the last. Ezekiel says gog s armies are destroyed by rain, hailstones, and burning sulfur ezek. We cannot identify these areas precisely, but ezekiel likely has in view the peoples to the far north of the land of israel in modernday turkey and beyond. Gog of magog the friends of israel gospel ministry. This is apparent not only from the fact that gog is mentioned first in the list but also that the invading force is subsequently referred to summarily as gog e.
Nov 29, 2017 the following post is largely adapted from chapter 40 of his book. Ezekiel prophecy of russia with a great company coming against israel ezek 3839. In ezekiel gog was the leader and magog his land, while in revelation both represent nations. Mar 31, 2020 hank hanegraaff, the host of the bible answer man broadcast, talks to chris who wonders who are gog and magog in the book of ezekiel. The first battle is the maneuverings of the nations during ezekiel s. Gog and magog are referred to in ezekiel 3839 and in revelation 20. Gog and magog prophecy in the book of revelation ancient pages. Ezekiel 3839 kjv and the word of the lord came unto me. Now this could mean that there are two gog magog wars, the first with rain, hail, burning sulfur, and fire, and the second with just fire. The bible speaks not only of the attack by gog of magog but also of the attack by the king of the north.
While similarities exist between gogmagog and armageddon, their differences far outweigh their similarities. Gog is the leader or head of an alliance of nations. In that book, certain hostile forces rose against israel. Ezekiels vision concludes with fire coming down from heaven, destroying gog and magog, thus relieving god s people from any evil threat. Ezekiel 3839 gogmagog are followed by chapters 4048, which talk about the millennium.
The aggressors of the war of gog and magog ezekiel 38. Ezekiel 3839 king james version kjv 38 and the word of the lord came unto me, saying, 2 son of man, set thy face against gog, the land of magog, the chief prince of meshech and tubal, and prophesy against him, 3 and say, thus saith the lord god. But squeezed in between these two book ends are ezekiel 38 and 39. The battle described in ezekiel 3839 involves numerous nations, but the chief antagonist appears to be gog. The two wars of gog magog ezekiel 38 and 39 explained.
To answer that question, we need to search the scriptures to find out who attacks gods people. Armageddon differences and contrasts by chris schang. The lord prophecied about this he who is that person. The names gog and magog gained prominence because of a prophecy in the book of ezekiel and a reference in the book of revelation. But in the end, god will bring victory and destroy all enemies. And shall go out to deceive the nations which are i. Two bible prophecies help us to identify gog of magog. One of the most challenging prophecies in the bible is the war of gog and magog as detailed in ezekiel 38 and 39.
The prophecies in ezekiel 3839 were written approximately 2,500 years ago from today in the early 21st century. Like other prophets, ezekiel wrote about the coming captivity, the restoration to the land, and the coming kingdom of the messiah. For many decades, that is what our publications said. Ezekiels battle of gog and magog occurs in the tribulation period, more specifically in the first 3 12 years. What gog and magog represent in prophecies about the. For more about turkey in bible prophecy watch magog made easy. One new testament passage uses the words gog and magog in a context different from that of ezekiels prophecy. Andy woods discusses the battle of gog and magog in ezekiel 3839 and answers who, when, why, what and how. First, consider the setting and context of ezekiels visions. At the end of time, these enemies will come together to fight against gods people, trying to destroy them. Ezekiel 38 who is gog, the mysterious he that gods. This prophecy of ezekiel concerning gog and magog cannot be identified with the prophecy in re 20. From ezekiels description, we may conclude that gog is an enemy of pure worshippers.
In ezekiel s prophecy, gog will be the leader of a. Ezekiel was instructed to denounce these enemies and prophesy their overthrow by the lord himself. But the apostle john has written in the book of revelation that gog and magog make their appearance after the 1,000year reign of christ. Ezekiel 38 is the thirtyeighth chapter of the book of ezekiel in the hebrew bible or the old testament of the christian bible. A topic of great importance in the bible prophecy community is whether the conflict mentioned in ezekiel 3839 is the same one as mentioned of armageddon in the book of revelation. The first battle is the maneuverings of the nations during ezekiel. This explanation was based on the fact that the book of revelation identifies satan the devil as the leader of the worldwide. Mar 20, 2019 they are mentioned again with gog and magog twice as those against whom the prophet is to set his face ezekiel 38.
Son of man, set your face against gog, the land of magog, the chief prince of meshech and tubal, and prophesy against him, son. Like the view that proposes ezekiels gogmagog battle is the uprising of satan at the end of the millennial kingdom, the view that places the timing at the end of the tribulation proposes that ezekiels gogmagog battle is armageddon. Gog and magog are both biblical characters from the book of genesis, the book of ezekiel, and the book of revelation as well as names that appear in a variety of subsequent legends. The order in the bible shouldnt determine the sequence of. Gog and magog what is the meaning of revelation 20. Gog and magog religionwiki fandom powered by wikia. What in ezekiel s prophecy suggests that gog of magog is not a spirit creature.
Through the prophet ezekiel, god says to gog of the land of magog, you. The exact meaning of these names will be discussed below, but ezekiel identifies gog as being of magog. In the book of revelation, john uses the words in his apocalyptic prophecy of a great conflict at the end of the millennium. This explanation was based on the fact that the book of revelation identifies satan the devil as the leader of the worldwide attack on god s people. While these two instances carry the same names, a close study of scripture clearly demonstrates they do not refer to the same people and events. One new testament passage uses the words gog and magog in a context different from that of ezekiel s prophecy. This land is now what we call central asia the stans and possibly includes. Therefore, it seems best to place ezekiels battle in the great tribulation. Jan 16, 2018 the battle of gog and magog is found in ezekiel 3839. The ultimate message of the revelation of christ is the glorious prophecy of his ultimate triumph for the cause of the almighty. If you understand johns visions in revelation, ezekiel s prophecies are easier to understand, since they parallel coming events. The book of ezekiel records a series of visions received by the prophet ezekiel, a.
Who are gog, magog, tarshish, and the other nations of ezekiel 38. Ezekiel described this war as being waged in the mountains of israel against the children of israel gathered to these lands. Ezekiel 3839 speaks of a great battle that will occur in israel in the latter days and that will involve a people from magog led by a king named gog. Now you are ready to read ezekiel 3839 with great understanding. The battle of gog and magog is found in ezekiel 3839. In these two prophecies, gog and magog lead an army that attacks israel at the end of time. Zoroasters doomsday prophecy about comet gochihr and its similarity. The wars of gog and magog have come to be understood as essential to the jewish eschatological vision of the end of days, a final battle between good and evil that will usher in a period of eternal peace. Their depiction with the hooked noses noted by paul meyer. Some respected scholars apply it to the battle of armageddon later in the book of revelation. Commentator henry wallace makes a strong case against the russian conspiracy.
The 3rd book of the sibylline oracles, for example, which originated in egyptian judaism in the middle of the 2nd century bc, changes ezekiel s gog from magog to gog and magog, links their fate with up to eleven other nations, and places them in the midst of aethiopian rivers. Oct 11, 2018 the prophet of ezekiel is not specific as to when this great battle will take place. Next, compare the visions of ezekiel concerning gog and magog with other prophecies to see a more complete picture. The position of these chapters show us the timing of these events the gog and magog war will occur somewhere between israel becoming a nation again and the return of jesus. Therefore, gog does not refer to satan in either ezekiels prophecy or the book of revelation. The order in the bible shouldnt determine the sequence of events of prophecy. Ezekiel 38 gnv 2 he prophesieth that gog and magog bible. Lets take a deeper look at who are gog and magog in the bible and their role. The origins of this belief lie in the prophecy of ezekiel, who identifies gog as a prince and his land as magog. Gog and magog in the bible ezekiel 3839 is what is known in biblical hermeneutics interpretation as a double fulfillment. Is gog a prophetic name for satan the greatest of all enemies of true worship. The book of revelation foretold an attack by the kings of the earth on the king of kings, the. The ezekiel invasion is destroyed on the mountains of israel, whereas the revelation 20 force is destroyed around jerusalem. Mar 10, 2019 just the kind of war described in the prophecies of ezekiel 38, which begins with verses like.
This is a reference to modern russia or at least parts of it in this area north of the black sea. Theyre the distant barbarian hordes that god drags in from the far north. When we compare all these scriptural references about the final attack on gods people, it becomes evident that the name gog of magog refers, not to satan, but to a coalition of nations. Just the kind of war described in the prophecies of ezekiel 38, which begins with verses like. Ezekiel 38 does indeed speak of such a future time when many lands from this area will come. In addition to taking his name from the old testament, magog represents the golden calf, that is, a false idol. Timing gogmagog tribulation lamb and lion ministries. Jan 02, 2020 in ezekiels prophecy, gog will be the leader of a great army that attacks the land of israel. This leader who leads this final attack upon israel will be a longtime enemy of gods people. The interpretative key to the vision is found in the old testament. Gog is described as of the land of magog, the prince of rosh, meshech, and tubal ezekiel 38.
While the quran asserts that gog signifies the eastern nations of europe, quranic scholars identify magog as the western nations of europe, personified as england. For a number of years, our publications have explained that gog of magog is the name given to satan the devil after his ouster from heaven. The gog magog prophecies are actually a series of 5 messages given to the prophet ezekiel directly from god. The following post is largely adapted from chapter 40 of his book. For centuries, it was taught that this was another view of the final battle of armageddon.
Bible prophecy about the gog and magog war described in ezekiel 38 and 39. Gog and magog occur widely in mythology and folklore. Gog is the name of a leader of the land of magog, the prince of meshech and tubal, territories named after noahs grandsons gen. In the times in which we live, the modern american prophecy industry has turned ezekiel 3839 gog magog into a completely separate event. In gogmagog of ezekiel 3839 the armies are destroyed supernaturally by god using his classic tools of fire, brimstone, hailstones, etc. The book of ezekiel, one of the major prophetical books of the old testament. We relate it to the war of the second seal in revelation 6. Set thy face against gog, the land of magog we find, genesis 10. I offer it here in the hope that others can enter into conversat. My purpose in this brief essay is to propound an explanation for this passage that i have not encountered in any of my commentaries, but that makes more sense to me than any other. Hank hanegraaff, the host of the bible answer man broadcast, talks to chris who wonders who are gog and magog in the book of ezekiel. The gog and magog war, hal lindsey, and the russian. This war is known as the gog and magog war because the people of magog and their leader gog will lead the attack against israel.
Ezekiel 3839 is what is known in biblical hermeneutics interpretation as a double fulfillment. According to dates given in the text, ezekiel received his prophetic call in the fifth year of the first deportation to babylonia 592 bc and was active until about 570 bc. Gog is probably the political leader who organizes this alliance. Ezekiel 38 gnv 2 he prophesieth that gog and magog. In ezekiels prophecy, the battle of gog and magog is used by god to draw israel to himself. Gog magog ezekiel chapters 38 and 39 give details of an end times battle. This and the following chapter form a section dealing with gog, of the land of magog. Posted by christian research institute apr 16, 2020 video. As mentioned at the beginning of this study, chapter 40 starts a completely new vision that was given years after that of chapters 3339. The prophetic description in ezekiel 3839 of the invasion of gog, of the land of magog ezekiel 38. There are two biblically prophesied wars before the last return of jesus christ.
Who are gog and magog, and whats so evil about the north. In the book of ezekiel, god predicts that in the future, a wicked king from the north named gog, from the land of magog, will come against israel and try to defeat it think ice wall plot in game of thrones. Ezekiel 3839 gog magog are followed by chapters 4048, which talk about the millennium. Scripture teaches that there are two distinct battles involving the gogmagog coalition. The background behind the names gog and magog is found in the book of ezekiel. With ezekiel, written roughly 2,500 to 3,000 years ago and the book of revelation written 2,000 years ago, there are two ancient prophecies talking about the modern future. Ezekiel is to proclaim the message to gog through the centuries and into the future, when the event occurs. They are variously presented as men, supernatural beings giants or demons, national groups, or lands. Behold, i am against thee, o gog, the chief prince of meshech and tubal.
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