Question: As Ezekiel 38 mentions several nations that will come against Israel in a future battle, who are the nations of today that is described in the Scripture? Who are the Nations in Ezekiel 38? What does it mean by Gog and Magog? Can you please relate Gog and Magog in relation to the Millenial rule of Jesus Christ.
Answer: Greetings in Jesus wonderful name!
Yes, here is the Old Testament Scripture you referred, "1 Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him, 3 and say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal. 4 I will turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and lead you out, with all your army, horses, and horsemen, all splendidly clothed, a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords. 5 Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; 6 Gomer and all its troops; the house of Togarmah from the far north and all its troops—many people are with you." (Ezek 38:1-6).
Gog is noted 11 times in Ezekiel 38-39 as the leader of the invasion. Gog appears to be the leader of the group of nations that will lead a war against God in rebellion to his righteous judgment upon the humankind for their sins. Gog of Magog, meaning "Gog from the Land of Magog" or "Gog from the Land of Gog" (the syllable ma being treated as equivalent to "land"), and his hordes from the north will threaten and attack the restored land of Israel whose leader is God Himself who gave it intially through a covenant made with Abraham their forefather in a everlasting way (Gen 17:8; Lev 25:23). Instead of repentance (Rev 16:10-11), Gog and Magog will choose to instigate rebellion among the nations under the direct leadership of Satan instead of submitting to God and humbling oneself before Him, both before the Millenial rule of Jesus Christ and after the Millenial rule of Jesus Christ (Jam 4:7). In Genesis 10 Magog is a person, son of Japheth son of Noah, but no Gog is mentioned there because Gog came out of that Magog line of people who were by nature became rebellious against God. So the bottom line is, Gog is within the land limit of the nations of Magog, but is the mother of rebellion against God out of which all other nations related to its ideology come together against Him. Magog in a larger sense is the nations of rebellion against God.
Pre-Millenial Gog-Magog War is what is mentioned in Ezekiel 38-39.
In it nine other names of nations are mentioned.
Valley of Hamon-Gog is a place in Israel which will be used by God to allow this battle of Gog-Magog to take place. Valley of Hamon-Gog, a phrase from Ezekiel 39:15, literally means "Valley of the multitudes of Gog". It is to be the place where all of Israel buries the five-sixths of the army of Gog and Magog that are struck down by God (Rev 19:17-21).
The following nations and/or groups are listed:
Magog: According to first century Jewish historian Josephus, the land of Magog was inhabited by the Scythians. The Scythians lived throughout Central Asia, indicating its identity is associated with nations today such as Kazakhstan, Kirghizia, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan. Some also include Afghanistan in this group. I would include China and Mongolia in this list of nations because it is very much likely that there is a end time "kings of the east" mandate God has called these nations to come along as a major force along with India and Japan which will stand on the other side to oppose China which will give a balance to end time kings nations. Together these "kings of the east" in its full might can be able to raise up a 200 million army in a unprecedented way to join hands with the "kings of the earth" to fight against God (Rev 16:12, 14; 19:19). These are Magog nations.
Rosh: Rosh is the remote part of the north (Ezekiel 38:6, 15; 39:2). This is Russia in its entirety, at least part of Russia, or perhaps Russia and some of the former Soviet nations connected with it. Russia will be the final superpower of the whole earth and will lead the Magog nations with its cutting edge warfare machines to be superior than all other nations that stands shoulder to shoulder along with it. The spiritual climate of the end time for Russia is a socialist and a communist ideology which stands against the existence of God in its foundation and is a rebellious ideology that is influencing it. When you take the Magog nations, one thing you can notice in its similarity with Gog of Russia is the same socialist and communist fabric that is woven together with idolatry of materialism and mammon-god and idolatry of spiritism and idol worship in temples that has come out of rebellion against God (Psa 14:1; 115:4-6; Isa 57:13; Jer 10:14).
Meshek (or Meshech) and Tubal: Noted together in this passage, this area is located in part of modern-day Turkey. Some say Tubal as Tubolsk which is the area of Western Siberia of Russia.
Persia: This is the land of modern Iran.
Cush (or Ethiopia): This land, often translated as Ethiopia, is not the same as modern Ethiopia. It represented the land south of Egypt. Today, this nation is Sudan.
Put: Also translated in some versions as Libya, this land is still known as Libya today.
Gomer: Mainly Eastern Germany and possibly part of Poland.
Beth Togarmah: Part of modern Turkey.
Answer: Greetings in Jesus wonderful name!
Yes, here is the Old Testament Scripture you referred, "1 Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him, 3 and say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal. 4 I will turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and lead you out, with all your army, horses, and horsemen, all splendidly clothed, a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords. 5 Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; 6 Gomer and all its troops; the house of Togarmah from the far north and all its troops—many people are with you." (Ezek 38:1-6).
Gog is noted 11 times in Ezekiel 38-39 as the leader of the invasion. Gog appears to be the leader of the group of nations that will lead a war against God in rebellion to his righteous judgment upon the humankind for their sins. Gog of Magog, meaning "Gog from the Land of Magog" or "Gog from the Land of Gog" (the syllable ma being treated as equivalent to "land"), and his hordes from the north will threaten and attack the restored land of Israel whose leader is God Himself who gave it intially through a covenant made with Abraham their forefather in a everlasting way (Gen 17:8; Lev 25:23). Instead of repentance (Rev 16:10-11), Gog and Magog will choose to instigate rebellion among the nations under the direct leadership of Satan instead of submitting to God and humbling oneself before Him, both before the Millenial rule of Jesus Christ and after the Millenial rule of Jesus Christ (Jam 4:7). In Genesis 10 Magog is a person, son of Japheth son of Noah, but no Gog is mentioned there because Gog came out of that Magog line of people who were by nature became rebellious against God. So the bottom line is, Gog is within the land limit of the nations of Magog, but is the mother of rebellion against God out of which all other nations related to its ideology come together against Him. Magog in a larger sense is the nations of rebellion against God.
Pre-Millenial Gog-Magog War is what is mentioned in Ezekiel 38-39.
In it nine other names of nations are mentioned.
Valley of Hamon-Gog is a place in Israel which will be used by God to allow this battle of Gog-Magog to take place. Valley of Hamon-Gog, a phrase from Ezekiel 39:15, literally means "Valley of the multitudes of Gog". It is to be the place where all of Israel buries the five-sixths of the army of Gog and Magog that are struck down by God (Rev 19:17-21).
The following nations and/or groups are listed:
Magog: According to first century Jewish historian Josephus, the land of Magog was inhabited by the Scythians. The Scythians lived throughout Central Asia, indicating its identity is associated with nations today such as Kazakhstan, Kirghizia, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan. Some also include Afghanistan in this group. I would include China and Mongolia in this list of nations because it is very much likely that there is a end time "kings of the east" mandate God has called these nations to come along as a major force along with India and Japan which will stand on the other side to oppose China which will give a balance to end time kings nations. Together these "kings of the east" in its full might can be able to raise up a 200 million army in a unprecedented way to join hands with the "kings of the earth" to fight against God (Rev 16:12, 14; 19:19). These are Magog nations.
Rosh: Rosh is the remote part of the north (Ezekiel 38:6, 15; 39:2). This is Russia in its entirety, at least part of Russia, or perhaps Russia and some of the former Soviet nations connected with it. Russia will be the final superpower of the whole earth and will lead the Magog nations with its cutting edge warfare machines to be superior than all other nations that stands shoulder to shoulder along with it. The spiritual climate of the end time for Russia is a socialist and a communist ideology which stands against the existence of God in its foundation and is a rebellious ideology that is influencing it. When you take the Magog nations, one thing you can notice in its similarity with Gog of Russia is the same socialist and communist fabric that is woven together with idolatry of materialism and mammon-god and idolatry of spiritism and idol worship in temples that has come out of rebellion against God (Psa 14:1; 115:4-6; Isa 57:13; Jer 10:14).
Meshek (or Meshech) and Tubal: Noted together in this passage, this area is located in part of modern-day Turkey. Some say Tubal as Tubolsk which is the area of Western Siberia of Russia.
Persia: This is the land of modern Iran.
Cush (or Ethiopia): This land, often translated as Ethiopia, is not the same as modern Ethiopia. It represented the land south of Egypt. Today, this nation is Sudan.
Put: Also translated in some versions as Libya, this land is still known as Libya today.
Gomer: Mainly Eastern Germany and possibly part of Poland.
Beth Togarmah: Part of modern Turkey.
We know that this end time event of Ezekiel 38 will be the last war of the old world system with the new world system of government under Jesus Christ that will take its rightful place to rule this earth for a thousand years under God, we can even identify the locations where this war will take place in the nation of Israel today against it.
At a soon coming future time, may be few years or some decade from now, God will draw these nations against Israel where Scripture predicts they will be supernaturally defeated by the Lord.
Post-Millenial Gog-Magog War is what is mentioned in Revelation 20:7-10.
Here is what is mentioned about Gog-Magog in the New Testament Scripture, " 7 Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. 9 They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. 10 The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever."
The context starts with "Now when the thousand years have expired", which cleary shows to us that God's intention in releasing Satan from his prison in which he has been bound for a Millenium, is to make people understand that no matter how much of a perfect life God provides on earth in righteousness, humans need transformation in their heart to follow God. Other wise no matter how much goodness they have received from God through peace and saftey, their unsaved heart will make them follow the deceptive dictates of their own evil heart which Satan is able to use anytime to make them go against the will of God. So humans need to get saved from sin through believing Jesus Christ, before it becomes too late in life to alter their destiny.
When ever Satan is released, his character never changes a bit, he as usual will work to deceive the nations. Gog-Magog no more stays a physical nation at this point of time unlike the pre-millenial war against the nation of Israel which was physically present on earth with physical enemies. Now as it has been the time of the Church which has ruled the world for a thousand years from the New Heaven and New Earth (2 Peter 3:13), the unsaved people from all nations from the four corners of the earth come against the physical Jerusalem at this point of post-millenial time to surround the camp of the saints and the beloved city (Matt 5:35), not knowing that all the saints are in their supernatural bodies operating from Zion of Heavenly Jerusalem and that they cannot be killed even as the living saved Millennial-Saints at that time will have the final and the last resurrection before the destruction of the present heaven and earth through fire forever (2 Peter 3:10-11; Rev 20:6).
Satan deceives people by making them believe that all is physical and nothing is spiritual, but according to God though physical things are involved first in this life, but yet all things are controlled by spiritual things of the other world that rules over it (1 Cor 15:46; Job 38:33).
When people trust Satan and the dictates of their own evil heart of unbelief over God and His Word, they become blind towards God and His eternal purposes. That is why Satan is able to raise a physical unsaved army of people like the "sand of the sea", even though they have lived and multiplied and enjoyed the goodness of God for a thousand years time.
When we see John the apostle speaking of Gog and Magog in the Book of Revelation, it clearly means that he is speaking about all "the nations which are in the four corners of the earth" which in other words are all the unsaved people of all the nations of the world living at that point of time. The unsaved rebellious human heart can always be deceived and tuned by Satan to do his will and go against God and his purposes (John 8:44), thus we see the unsaved wicked were directly influenced by Satan "to gather them together to battle [against God and his saints]". Because these same people though unsaved yet God in his goodness had given them the "Peace and Security" they needed to multiply and be blessed (Matt 5:45, 48) for a Millenium, their physical rebellious army under the leadership of Satan "whose number is as the sand of the sea" was able to be formed from all of the whole world to come against the good God who had kept them alive and well until then.
Here God will execute the final verdict for the unsaved which has been written in the Word of God, and have been taught for them throughout the Millenium, thus finally the purpose of God will get fulfilled when, "...fire [will come] down from God out of heaven and devoured them. 10 The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever."
What can we learn from the above truth we have seen? No matter what happens inbetween, God will have the last great laugh as He is the one who had the first smile in His purposes in the beginning at the time of creation. Satan cannot win, because God has written his definite end beforehand. Though Satan in his never ending rebellion, acts as a usurper in his hatred towards God and his childrens, he knows that his end is very very near. So when Satan dares to remind you of how wretched your past is and how insignificant your present is and how bleak your future is going to be, reject and rebuke his lies and make sure you remind him of his horrible future that God has already decided as a retribution for all his insidious activities done against God and his children.
So the bottomline is, Ezekiel 38 War of Gog-Magog are the particular nations of the enemies of the present nation of Israel and its God coming against it in the soon coming last battle before the Millenial reign of Jesus Christ and the Church, and Rev 20 War of Gog-Magog are the worldwide unsaved people of all nations who are the enemies of Jesus Christ and his Church coming against the last and final battle before the end of this present earth and heaven which will be completely destroyed by God through fire and dissolved in to gaseous state of non-existence in the post-millenial time. As for the Church once Rapture happens after the abomination of desolation written by Daniel, it will colonize the New Heaven and the New Earth to live in it happily forever because the suspended Zion of the New Jerusalem will become one with it as like a "bride adorned for her husband" (Rev 21:2). God will be with humans forever and ever (Rev 21:3-4)! Thereafter every saint of God from the New Heaven and New Earth will be able to freely enter the New Jerusalem any time they want for the Glory of God. Amen.
Hallelujah! Glory! Praise the Lord! Amen. Maranatha. O Lord Come!
Much Blessings...
Post-Millenial Gog-Magog War is what is mentioned in Revelation 20:7-10.
Here is what is mentioned about Gog-Magog in the New Testament Scripture, " 7 Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. 9 They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. 10 The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever."
The context starts with "Now when the thousand years have expired", which cleary shows to us that God's intention in releasing Satan from his prison in which he has been bound for a Millenium, is to make people understand that no matter how much of a perfect life God provides on earth in righteousness, humans need transformation in their heart to follow God. Other wise no matter how much goodness they have received from God through peace and saftey, their unsaved heart will make them follow the deceptive dictates of their own evil heart which Satan is able to use anytime to make them go against the will of God. So humans need to get saved from sin through believing Jesus Christ, before it becomes too late in life to alter their destiny.
When ever Satan is released, his character never changes a bit, he as usual will work to deceive the nations. Gog-Magog no more stays a physical nation at this point of time unlike the pre-millenial war against the nation of Israel which was physically present on earth with physical enemies. Now as it has been the time of the Church which has ruled the world for a thousand years from the New Heaven and New Earth (2 Peter 3:13), the unsaved people from all nations from the four corners of the earth come against the physical Jerusalem at this point of post-millenial time to surround the camp of the saints and the beloved city (Matt 5:35), not knowing that all the saints are in their supernatural bodies operating from Zion of Heavenly Jerusalem and that they cannot be killed even as the living saved Millennial-Saints at that time will have the final and the last resurrection before the destruction of the present heaven and earth through fire forever (2 Peter 3:10-11; Rev 20:6).
Satan deceives people by making them believe that all is physical and nothing is spiritual, but according to God though physical things are involved first in this life, but yet all things are controlled by spiritual things of the other world that rules over it (1 Cor 15:46; Job 38:33).
When people trust Satan and the dictates of their own evil heart of unbelief over God and His Word, they become blind towards God and His eternal purposes. That is why Satan is able to raise a physical unsaved army of people like the "sand of the sea", even though they have lived and multiplied and enjoyed the goodness of God for a thousand years time.
When we see John the apostle speaking of Gog and Magog in the Book of Revelation, it clearly means that he is speaking about all "the nations which are in the four corners of the earth" which in other words are all the unsaved people of all the nations of the world living at that point of time. The unsaved rebellious human heart can always be deceived and tuned by Satan to do his will and go against God and his purposes (John 8:44), thus we see the unsaved wicked were directly influenced by Satan "to gather them together to battle [against God and his saints]". Because these same people though unsaved yet God in his goodness had given them the "Peace and Security" they needed to multiply and be blessed (Matt 5:45, 48) for a Millenium, their physical rebellious army under the leadership of Satan "whose number is as the sand of the sea" was able to be formed from all of the whole world to come against the good God who had kept them alive and well until then.
Here God will execute the final verdict for the unsaved which has been written in the Word of God, and have been taught for them throughout the Millenium, thus finally the purpose of God will get fulfilled when, "...fire [will come] down from God out of heaven and devoured them. 10 The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever."
What can we learn from the above truth we have seen? No matter what happens inbetween, God will have the last great laugh as He is the one who had the first smile in His purposes in the beginning at the time of creation. Satan cannot win, because God has written his definite end beforehand. Though Satan in his never ending rebellion, acts as a usurper in his hatred towards God and his childrens, he knows that his end is very very near. So when Satan dares to remind you of how wretched your past is and how insignificant your present is and how bleak your future is going to be, reject and rebuke his lies and make sure you remind him of his horrible future that God has already decided as a retribution for all his insidious activities done against God and his children.
So the bottomline is, Ezekiel 38 War of Gog-Magog are the particular nations of the enemies of the present nation of Israel and its God coming against it in the soon coming last battle before the Millenial reign of Jesus Christ and the Church, and Rev 20 War of Gog-Magog are the worldwide unsaved people of all nations who are the enemies of Jesus Christ and his Church coming against the last and final battle before the end of this present earth and heaven which will be completely destroyed by God through fire and dissolved in to gaseous state of non-existence in the post-millenial time. As for the Church once Rapture happens after the abomination of desolation written by Daniel, it will colonize the New Heaven and the New Earth to live in it happily forever because the suspended Zion of the New Jerusalem will become one with it as like a "bride adorned for her husband" (Rev 21:2). God will be with humans forever and ever (Rev 21:3-4)! Thereafter every saint of God from the New Heaven and New Earth will be able to freely enter the New Jerusalem any time they want for the Glory of God. Amen.
Hallelujah! Glory! Praise the Lord! Amen. Maranatha. O Lord Come!
Much Blessings...
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