Gog and Magog

By Mark Hitchcock, J.D., Ph.D. candidate
Pastor, Faith Bible Church, Edmond, Oklahoma

The prophet Ezekiel predicted 2,600 years ago, in the latter times Israel would be furiously invaded by a people "out of the north parts," Ezekiel 38.6,15. In Ezekiel 38.2,3 and 39.1, the Hebrew word rosh, meaning head, top, summit or chief, is used to identify these people from the north. The interpretive problem is the word rosh can be translated as a proper noun or an adjective. Many translations use rosh as an adjective and translate it as the word chief. I believe the better translation is to interpret rosh as a proper noun referring to a specific place: Russia.

The fulfillment of God's most amazing prophecies concerning Russia seems more imminent than ever before. As we track this nation in the prophecies of the End Times, we discover her footprints lead right to the land of Israel. In tracking the events which lead to this invasion, one must consider the appearance, the allies, the activity, the annihilation and the aftermath.

A madman called Gog by Ezekiel will be the end-time leader when he invades the land of Israel: Ezekiel 38.9. Eight other geographical locations are mentioned in Ezekiel 38.1-6: Meshech, Tubal, Gomer and Togarmah (Turkey), Magog: Central Asia including the Islamic southern republics of the former Soviet Union, Persia/Iran, Ethiopia/Cush/Sudan and Libya.

Ezekiel says these nations, led by Gog will come against Israel "in the latter years," at a time when the people of Israel are living in peace and prosperity: 38.8-12. This probably describes the first half of the Tribulation when Israel will be living under her peace treaty with the antiChrist. Near the middle of the Tribulation, Russia and her Islamic allies will descend upon the nation of Israel "like a storm…and like a cloud to cover the land," Ezekiel 38.9.

These nations will invade Israel to:

1. cash in on the wealth of Israel: Ezekiel 38.11,12
2. control the Middle East
3. crush Israel; the Islamic nations mentioned in Scripture hate Israel
4. challenge the authority of the antiChrist: Daniel 11.41-44.

Israel will be under her peace treaty with the antiChrist, so an attack against Israel is a direct challenge to the antiChrist's power. After he has destroyed the armies of Ezekiel 38, the antiChrist will break his covenant with Israel and invade her himself: Daniel 11.41-44.

When the antiChrist assembles this strike force, it will look like Israel is finished. But God will be in full control of the entire situation. He will come to rescue His helpless people and will use four judgments to destroy the nations:

1. a great earthquake: Ezekiel 38.19,20
2. infighting among the troops of the various nations: 38.21
3. disease: 38.22
4. torrential rain, hailstones, fire and burning sulfur: 38.22

The four key events occurring in the aftermath of this invasion are the call for the birds and the beasts to feast on the dead: Ezekiel 39.4,5,17-20 and Revelation 19.17,18; the burying of the dead, seven months: Ezekiel 39.11,12,14-16; the burning of the weapons, seven years: Ezekiel 39.9,10; and the blessing of salvation: Ezekiel 38.16,23 and 39.6,7,21,22.

From Tim LaHaye Prophecy Study Bible - King James Version
Published by AMG Publishers, 2000. Used with permission.