The End Times. The Battle of Gog and Magog led by Russian Coalition.

Thank you for joining us in this study which runs parallel with our End Times study from Revelation and Daniel. We need to get this piece of prophecy in place as we draw nearer to the end of John's End Times vision in Revelation. 

The battle of Gog and Magog is going to take place in the future. The timing of this event is subject to much debate, but if we filter out everyone's opinions and look at scripture, it becomes clearer. 

First, this battle will take place at a time when Israel has been restored as a nation, living in the land that God promised to give them. This is the current state of Israel today. It seems to position this future battle as taking place  between the time of the Rapture of the church and the beginning of the seven year tribulation period. 

Right now Israel has been signing peace agreements with her Arab neighbors, something that was not thought possible even a few years ago. Also, when the great tribulation begins, the Antichrist will sign peace agreements with all the major nations of the world. Therefore, it seems like this battle will happen right after the Rapture. 

Second, when this battle of Gog and Magog is over it will take seven months to bury all the dead and seven years to destroy all of the weapons (Ezekiel 39:12-14). Therefore, since the Jewish people will be relentlessly persecuted during the last 3 1/2 years of the tribulation period, they will not be burying bodies or destroying weapons during that time. Rather, they will be fleeing for their lives. 

Third, the battle of Gog and Magog is not the battle of Armageddon. They are two distinct conflicts. There are several differences between the two conflicts to notice.

Differences between Armageddon and Gog, Magog. 

• Ezekiel lists a limited number of nations who are going to attempt to invade Israel at the battle of Gog and Magog. 

• Armageddon will be a battle that involves all the nations, not just a few. 

• Ezekiel describes an invasion of Israel from the north whereas Armageddon will be an invasion from all directions involving all nations. 

• The purpose of the invasion of Gog and Magog is to plunder the nation Israel (Ezekiel 38:6) whereas the battle of Armageddon will be a satanic effort to destroy all Jews. 

• Ezekiel tells us that other nations will take Israel's side against Gog and Magog's invasion, whereas Armageddon will see no one will defend Israel because all nations will be involved in the conflict. 

• The battle of Gog and Magog will be ended by God turning the forces of nature against the host of Gog and Magog.

• The battle of Armageddon will be ended by the coming of Jesus Christ. 

• The invasion by Gog and Magog concludes with the invaders being destroyed in the mountains of Israel whereas the battle of Armageddon concludes in the area between Petra and Jerusalem.

• The invasion of Israel from the north will take place when Israel is at peace whereas the battle of Armageddon will take place when Israel is fleeing and hiding.

Magog was an actual person. His father was Japheth, one of Noah's three sons. Therefore Magog was a grandson of Noah. Magog's descendants settled far north from Israel in regions of Europe and northern Asia.

Invasion prophesied; Judgment is certain. 

Ezekiel 38:1-6  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; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: 4) 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: 5) Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet: 6) Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee.  

Ezekiel is instructed to prophesy against the enemies of God and His people, Israel. The idea of setting his face against Gog and Magog means that God will judge them and the coalition of invaders will not escape it. 

There is a list of limited nations who will make up the invaders from the north. Many teachers will say that Meshech is Moscow, Tubal is Tobolsk, Gomer is Germany, and the Hebrew word translated "chief" is "rosh" which must mean Russia. In order to better understand the coalition of invaders we must search the scriptures.

Genesis and Ezekiel have names in common.

Genesis 10:1-4  Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth: and unto them were sons born after the flood. 2) The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras. 3) And the sons of Gomer; Ashkenaz, and Riphath, and Togarmah. 4) And the sons of Javan; Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim. 

This is a genealogy of Noah's family. Notice under his son Japheth we find some of the same names in Ezekiel's list of nations. Gomer, Magog, Meshech, Tubal and Togarmah. These were real people in the family line of Noah and the locations where they later settled became known by their family names. 

The word "rosh" does sound like the word "Russia" but it is never used in scripture as a place name and in this text it is used as an adjective describing a leader of the invading armies.  However, there are some indicators that seem to point to Russia leading this invasion against Israel. 

This map shows a compilation of locations mentioned by Jeremiah and Ezekiel. Notice the nations from Ezekiel's list. Meshech, Tubal and Togarmah are located in modern Turkey. Persia is modern day Iran, an avowed enemy of Israel. Gomer and Magog are in the area between the Black Sea and the Caspian sea which is part of or very close to modern Russia. Ezekiel said that the invaders would come from the far north which could certainly include Russia. Some of the nations listed are or have been under Russian influence, such as Iran, Libya, Ethiopia, Sudan  and Turkey.

Proverbs 21:1  The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.

This battle will be orchestrated by God. This reminds us that God is ultimately in control as King Solomon wrote in Proverbs. God turned Pharaoh's heart in the direction needed to accomplish His redemptive purposes for the Hebrew slaves in Egypt. God is going to put his hook in the chief prince, whether that will be Russia or another nation from that region. He will literally draw a leader from the area of modern Russia out of his land like a fisherman landing his catch. The leader will assemble an army to invade Israel.  

Ezekiel 38:8-9  After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them. 9) 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. 

God says that this future invasion will come through the mountains of Israel where God's people will be dwelling safely. This will be a swift and furious invasion that will resemble a storm cloud covering the mountains from view. 

Ezekiel 38:10-12  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: 11) 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, 12) 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. 

God reveals the motivation for this future invasion of Israel. The nations will invade to plunder the riches of Israel. Israel today is a technology hub that rivals Silicon Valley. They are also known for innovative agribusiness and manufacturing. Israel has a robust R&D sector and quality higher education resources. Their robust economy will make them a target for greedy neighbors. 

Thoughts to Ponder...

We can see that as the world careens toward the End Times widespread evil will corrupt cultures and people will act like uncivilized animals. It is scary to think of what may happen to our children and grandchildren as all things wax worse and worse.  God does not want us to remain fearful. He is ultimately in control and working things out according to His perfect plan. 

For believers, it is a question of trust. Are we trusting in our ability to get through these things and avoid what God says is going to happen? That would be foolish for what God says He is going to do is exactly what will happen.

We were made to live life depending upon God, our Creator and Sustainer. Born again believers must be ready to trust God at all times, especially when times are troubling and turmoil invades our nations. 

The best way to trust God is to simply take Him at His Word.  We can be confident that God will keep His promises and He will do all that He promised to do.

 

Bob