The Bible is not explicit regarding the precise dates upon which most future end
time events will occur. It does however give the observant student of the Scriptures a
sequential chronology of those events. Christ for example, wanted His followers to know
certain aspects of the end time events so they would not be caught unaware of them if they
unfolded during their lifetime. He did not tell exactly when they would take place. In fact
he clearly stated that the exact date would not be known (Matt 24:36). Christ clearly
explained the events leading up to the great final battle and what preparations His
believers should undertake to avoid it (Luke 21:36).
The timing of other prophetic events in the Grand Master Plan of God for His earth
are similarly given in terms of relative timing to other events. The precise timing at which
it will happen is unknown but we know in which chronological section, the grand
sequence of end time events will occur. One such prophecy is the Allied Invasion of Israel
by a group of coalition forces, which have severely persecuted Israel in years past.
The world is setting the stage for this prophecy to be fulfilled by various peace
negotiations and demanding that Israel give up land and most importantly their security.
In order to fully understand this prophecy and its proper placement within the broad
overall Grand Master Plan of human history it is important to carefully evaluate all aspects
of a given Bible passage. One must keep in mind that the more literally the Biblical text is
taken, the more fundamentally the theology becomes. Conversely, the less literally the
biblical text the more liberal theology becomes. The liberal route spiritualizes the text
with some ethereal unintended rendering or views it all as hyperbole then it becomes
difficult to grasp God’s message to His people. There is only one interpretation of the
Bible. It is up to the reader to realize it through the utilization of proper grammar, syntax
and basic understanding of normal parts of speech. It may have been a while since the
Bible student has taken basic grammar, but that does not invalidate the obligation to utilize
common grammar in deciphering the biblical text. God did not speak to us with a divided
mind and allow us to decide for each person what the message means. It is up to the
student of Scripture to discern the meaning by sound hermeneutics utilizing proper
grammar, syntax and figures of speech to understand the written word and fully
understand that God Has Spoken. Some would even say it is impossible to know absolute
truth. This is not true and Christ taught that He is truth.
The biblical text as stated in Ezekiel 38:1-39:16 describe an invasion of Israel from
the north and the subsequent total destruction of the coalition of invading forces once they
reach the area of the mountains of Israel. It appears that there is a preemptive attack by the
Israelites with a nuclear weapons exchange that results in a seven-year clean-up period. It
is first necessary to look at all the details of the invasion in order to accurately decipher
these passages. They have particular relevancy to the world in the twenty-first century. We
will finish our study with determining the timing of the invasion.
Ezekiel 38: 1-6 And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying, Son of man,
set thy face toward Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech,
and Tubal, and prophesy against him, and say, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah:
Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal: and I
will turn thee about, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth,
and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed in full armor, a
great company with buckler and shield, all of them handling swords; Persia,
Cush, and Put with them, all of them with shield and helmet; Gomer, and all
his hordes; the house of Togarmah in the uttermost parts of the north, and all
his hordes; even many peoples with thee. (ASV 1901)
At the beginning of this prophecy we see Ezekiel receiving a prophecy from the God
of the universe and he is told to “set his face” against Gog of the land of Magog and that
he is the chief prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal. Ezekiel as God’s representative is in
direct opposition to the man Gog and his goals. In the beginning of this section of
Scripture the focus is on one person named Gog, the leader of the land of Magog. He is
further described as the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal. Gog is not a name but a title
much like King, or Kaiser or Czar. The unidentified person who will be leading this
alliance will be Ezekiel’s Gog at the time of the invasion. Some have referred to Vladimir
Zhirinovsky the notorious Russian Jew hater as the One Who Would Be Gog.
Vladimir Zhirinovsky the ultra Russian nationalists is presently a four time
presidential hopeful. In the December 1993 elections he was elected to the Russian
parliament. His Liberal Democratic Party shocked the nation by receiving twenty-five
percent of the votes cast. This is the party that has been compared to Hitler’s Nazi party.
Liberal Democrat in the Russian sphere of political influence has a different meaning than
what we are accustomed to in the United States. Some call them ultranationalists. This
kind of nationalism often has as its avowed goal racial, ethnic, or religious purity.
Zhirinovsky has written extensively of the future war that Russia must engage in with the
people to the south. His autobiography titled the “Last Dash to the South” discusses the
Russian fate of attacking the Mediterranean people in Russia’s last great war. He, like
Hitler has claimed that the Jews are infecting the nation a nd were responsible for both
World War I and II. He sees Israel as a nation with tremendous wealth. He says that he
envies the Jews because they are the richest nation in the world! While he may not be Gog
his attitude, rhetoric, and fervor would lead one to believe that God’s prophecy is
immanent. Scripture does not identify a person here, only a title along with some
interesting characteristics, which he possesses. The Bible states that even though God is
against him God will nevertheless lead him and his allied armed forces against the Jews.
The phrase in the text is written as God speaking in the first person singular “I will put
hooks in your cheeks (jaws) and bring thee forth with all your army.”
In order to understand the people/countries involved it is important to determine
who exactly are:
1. Magog
2. Rosh
3. Mechech
4. Tubal
5. Persia
6. Put
7. Gomer
8. Togarmah
We must look back to Genesis in order to see which people groups God is referring
to in His exposition of these passages. God always uses the same names throughout the
Scriptures that have been presented in earlier genealogies of mankind. When Noah, his
wife and three sons Shem, Ham and Japheth left the ark after it landed on Mount Ararat
after the worldwide flood they began to migrate to different directions.
One important consideration of which to be aware of in the Bible is that individual
countries names are always referenced to their ancient tribal name. For example the
identification of Magog, Rosh, Meshech and Tubal is determined from Japheth’s progeny
that populated the ancient world in the areas of modern day Russia (see map on previous
page and chart of this page). The three sons of Noah all migrated in different directions
from Ararat after the Flood. Magog, Meshech and Tubal were located between the Black
and Caspian Seas, which today is Southern Russia. It also includes part of Iran (ancient
Persia) and Turkey. Accordingly, the tribes of Meshech and Tubal later became cities that
today are called Moscow, the capital, and Tobolsk, is a major city in the Urals in Siberia.
Rosh was in what is now Northern Russia.
The map on the preceding page clearly demonstrates the migration patterns of the
sons of Noah from Genesis after the flood. Note that Japheth’s migration is toward the
north between the Black and Caspian Seas and on into the Russian Steppes region. He also
went to the Northwest into Southeastern Europe. The migratory pattern of Japheth as seen
in the map clearly demonstrates that modern day Turkey was a settling spot for some of
the Japhethites. God highlighted Turkey and Southern Russia to demonstrate where the
invaders to the north would come from. The geographic region where the invasion will
come from allows us to see how the coalition forces organize around Gog from the north
and are comprised of the nations that exerted the worst Jewish persecutions that have ever
occurred, specifically, those that came from Russia, German and the Muslim nations.
From Genesis Chapter 10 we can see who the sons of Noah are and in particular
Japheth and his progeny were as well as the directions they migrated.We must look back to Genesis in order to see which people groups God is referring
to in His exposition of these passages. God always uses the same names throughout the
Scriptures that have been presented in earlier genealogies of mankind. When Noah, his
wife and three sons Shem, Ham and Japheth left the ark after it landed on Mount Ararat
after the worldwide flood they began to migrate to different directions.
The identification of Magog, Rosh, Meshech and Tubal is determined from
Japheth’s progeny that populated the ancient world in the areas of modern day Russia.
Magog, Meshech and Tubal were located between the Black and Caspian Seas, which
today is Southern Russia. It also includes part of Iran and turkey. According to some, the
tribes of Meshech and Tubal later gave names to cities that today bear the names of
Moscow, the capital, and Tobolsk, a major city in the Urals in Siberia. Rosh was in what is
now Northern Russia. The name Rosh is the basis for the modern name Russia. These
names, then, cover the modern territories of northern and southern Russia in Europe and
Siberia to the east in Asia. The modern nation of Russia encompasses all these areas of
Ezekiel. As if to avoid any possible doubt, verse six adds that these come from the
uttermost parts of the north. This is repeated in 38:15 and 39:2. From Israel the uttermost
parts of the north is Russia, with Moscow being almost a straight line due north from
Jerusalem. Therefore, Russia is the leader of the northern confederacy, with Gog as the
leader of Russia. This has also been the rabbinic view. The Artscroll Commentary on
Ezekiel written by Rabbi Moshe Eisemann states:
The Gaonim had a tradition that these controls were indeed located in
Russia.. One tradition passed down from the Vilna Gaon states: When the
Russian navy passed through the Bospores on the way to the Dardanelles, it
will be time to put on Sabbath clothes, in anticipation of the coming of the
Messiah.
In the Gog and Magog war, Messiah the son of Joseph will be killed which will then
bring the coming of the Messiah the son of David.
But Russia is not alone in the invasion of Israel. She is part of a confederacy and the
leader of it. Other nations are listed in verses 5-6. Involved in the confederacy is Persia, or
present day Iran. Once, Iran was generally pro-western and pro-Israel; after the Khomeini
Islamic revolution, Iran became anti-western and anti-Israel and more within the Russian
sphere of influence. Israel and now the United States consider Iran their most dangerous
enemy. Another nation involved is one called Cush. In the Bible there were two places
that had that name. One was in Mesopotamia (Gen 2:13). But all other usages of this word
refer to Ethiopia. While looking at current events, it is tempting to identify it with the
Mesopotamian countries of Syria and Iraq. Consistent with the usage of the word “Cush”
elsewhere in the Scriptures demands its identification with Ethiopia. Current events must
never be the basis for interpreting Scripture.
Put is mentioned next, which is not Libya (for which the name Lub would be used),
but Somaliland or Somalia. Somalia borders Ethiopia. This is followed by Gomer, located
in present day Germany. This too was the rabbinic view. The Midrash calls Gomer
Germania. And that is also the way the Talmud refers to Gomer. The last name is
Togarmah, which is present day Armenia. Verse six adds the phrase, even many peoples
with you. This phrase may simply define the numbers of the nations already mentioned, or
it may include other nations not mentioned. In all probability, it is the former that is
meant. In answer as to who is involved in this confederacy, it is Russia and the allied
states of Iran. Ethiopia, Somalia, Germany and Armenia.
These nations are located geographically north and south of Israel but the
controlling nation is Russia. The invasion comes from the north.
While the names of these nations have changed over the centuries (e.g. Persia to
Iran) and may change again, the geography itself remains intact. Regardless of what
names they may carry at the time of this invasion it is these very geographical areas that
are involved. The Orthodox Jewish commentary Artscroll written by Rabbi Moshe
Eisemann regarding Ezekiel 38:2 makes this additional observation:
“Yerushalayim Megillah 3:9, which renders Magog as Guitya (or Gutya…)
the Goths, a group of nomadic tribes who destroyed the Scythians and made
their home in Scythian territory.
Considering that the Goths were a Germanic people, the identification of
Magog’s descendants as the Goths in accord with Targum Yonasan to
Genesis 10:2, which renders Magog as Geramenia, which in Bereshit Rabbah
37:1 is given as Germania.
The cup of iniquity of Russia is almost full. With this invasion it will overflow, and
this will precipitate God’s judgment on Russia. It is God Who is in control; it is He who is
bringing the invasion about. We can see the sovereignty of God in this invasion. This will
be the means by which God will punish Russia for her long history of Jewish persecution.
Daniel E. Woodhead Ph.D.