From Ezekiel 36 and 37 we know that the LORD God gathered His nation Israel back into the land after 1900+ years of separation and breathed a renewed life into them. But He but did not breathe His Spirit into them—although He promises to do this during the last days—as we know from Ezekiel 36, verses 26 and 27.
So why is God waiting to breathe His Spirit into Israel? Two reasons:
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- God is going to prove Himself to Israel and all the nations of earth with a miraculous event.
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- And currrently, the LORD God is gathering His church, therefore God’s focus is on His church. After the church is gathered, God will turn His complete focus on Israel, for His nation plays a positive and wonderful separate role from His church.
Before we jump into the game-changer event in Ezekiel 38, I want to present the following list for those who desire more detailed information regarding this chapter:
Item 1. The players involved in Ezekiel 38 can be found in the Table of Nations from Genesis 10. Briefly, the table reveals that two of Noah’s three sons have descendants involved in Ezekiel 38.
Item 2. The original Hebrew Tanakh (the 39 books of the Old Testament) was translated by 70 Jewish scholars into Greek in 270 BC because most people at that time spoke Greek. This book is called the Septuagint, or LXX—which is Latin for 70. The Septuagint helps define the ancient Hebrew quite clearly, and clarifies some confusing verbiage in Ezekiel 38.
Item 3. Understand that Ezekiel 38 was written in 586 BC by a priest, turned prophet, who had zero knowledge about tanks, smart weapons, artillery, armored vehicles, bombs, or Nuclear, Biological, or Chemical warfare. But God knew, and He is careful to present similar scripture references throughout the Old and New Testaments, particularly His description regarding the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah—which references “fire and brimstone.”
Item 4. Quite obviously, Ezekiel uses country identifiers and people groups that he is familiar with. To ferret out who’s who currently, the thorough and exhaustive research on this topic was conducted by Dr. Chuck Missler’s Ezekiel 38 and 39 works—namely his audio, video, and book entitled The Magog Invasion, 1995, Western Front, Ltd. Palos Verdes, CA. Most prominent commentators and theologians rely upon Dr. Missler for this vital information.
Now for Ezekiel, chapter 38, verses 1 and 2:
“Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying, Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him,
Well, immediately we have questions. Who is this man Gog of the land of Magog?
Interestingly, there is no scriptural foundation, introduction, or lineage for this man. Normally in the Bible, people do not just suddenly appear as Gog does.
So, we know from the text that Gog is from the land of Magog. The ancient tribes Meshech and Tubal lived near the Black Sea in the country now known as Russia. We are also told later in the chapter that Magog is to the far north of Israel. Therefore, Gog represents a leader of Russia—except it isn’t that simple.
In modern scriptural translations, the name Gog is first mentioned in 1 Chronicles when someone named their son Gog, but without the Magog association. Next, Gog of Magog is mentioned in Ezekiel, where he plays a pivotal role, but without introduction. And then lastly, Gog of Magog is briefly mentioned in Revelation 20:8.
But if we go to the Septuagint, in the book of the prophet Amos, chapter 7, verse 1 reads—“Thus the Lord showed me, and behold a swarm of locusts were coming, and behold, one of the young devastating locusts was Gog, the king.”
Well, in Proverbs 30:27 we learn that locusts don’t have a king, they’re just a plain old bug.
But scholars ponder whether the locusts in Amos 7:1 in the Septuagint could be referencing the demonic spiritual principalities behind the nation Assyria which at that time was attempting to attack Israel. This would make sense when one reads Revelation, chapter 9, verses 3 through 11, because that scripture talks about a demon locust hoard who DO HAVE A KING. The book of Amos continues with Amos asking the LORD God not to send these locusts upon Israel, and the God agrees. Which means the locust hoard was supposed to have descended upon Israel during the time of Amos, but God stopped them.
Now get this, in Revelation, chapter 20, verses 7 and 8, Satan is released from captivity and he goes out to deceive all the nations of earth, and among those nations is Gog of Magog. Satan gathers all the nations of earth together into battle against King Jesus at the end of the Millennial Kingdom.
So here’s the deal…The similarities are too many to ignore regarding the name Gog of Magog, that suddenly appears out of nowhere. One could spend months researching this topic over who is Gog of Magog. But understand this, there are three different scriptural events where Gog of Magog is stopped from attacking Israel. The first in Amos. The second in Ezekiel 38. And the third in Revelation 20:7 and 8. Interestingly, Gog of Magog and Satan are stopped once and for all in Revelation 20:10.
All right. So, where is the land of Magog on a present day map? Historians place this ancient people group in Russia, through the ancient tribes of the Scythians and the Rus. But if we look at Ezekiel, chapter 38, verse 15, God tells the reader that Magog is “the remote parts of the north.” On a map, trace along the landmass from Israel north through Turkey, and Russia is right there—and continues on up into the remote north.
Ezekiel then, continues with verses 3 and 4:
“and say, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal. I will turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and lead you out, with all your army, horses, and horsemen, all spendidly clothed, a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords:
We clearly understand that the LORD God is against this chief prince named Gog—whoever he turns out to be. But we also witness that the LORD God is maneuvering a large army around. Look closely at the words “I will turn you around.”
We are all aware that the Russian army is currently fighting in Ukraine. When will Russia head for home? We don’t know yet. But understand this, if the Russian army were already home, they wouldn’t be turned around, right? They must be in some other location prior, in order to be turned around.
If the Russian army heads home, and then suddenly changes direction and heads for Israel, then the world will be in the midst of the prophesy of Ezekiel 38.
Also realize, to Ezekiel, the Russian army appears like massive cavalry, a great company with armor and artillery, and many weapons. And many other nations will join them according to verses 5 and 6:
“Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; Gomer and all its troops, the house of Togarmah from the far north and all its troops—many people are with you.”
Persia is Iran. Ethiopia and Libya includes all of Islamic Northern Africa, with the exception of Egypt. Saudi Arabia also is not involved. Gomer and Togarmah are more confusing, since the commentators and scholars attempt to keep track of people groups and not necessarily where they reside. Most commentators and scholars say Gomer involves Poland, Czechoslovakia, and eastern Germany, and some include France. Togarmah most likely is Turkey, Syria, and possibly Georgia and Jordan. The thing to bear in mind here are the words “and all its troops.” This involves many nations, but not EVERY nation.
Verse 7 continues:
“Prepare yourself and be ready, you and all your companies that are gathered about you; and be a guard for them.”
One must ask, who is guarding—and/or providing arms—to Iran, Northern Islamic Africa, Gomer, and Togarmah today? That would be Russia.
Verse 8:
“After many days you will be visited. In the latter years you will come into the land of those brought back from the sword and gathered from many people on the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate; they were brought out of the nations, and now all of them dwell safely.”
This describes Israel from Ezekiel 36 and 37, where God gathered His nation. Also, the Hebrew word used for ‘safely’ here is betach which implies false confidence in safety.
Verse 9 explains how Magog and all the troops with them will descend like a hoard upon Israel:
“You will descend, coming like a storm, covering the land like a cloud, you and all your troops and many peoples with you.”
In verses 10 through 12 we read that these armies will have evil thoughts regarding their perception of Israel, and what they hope to plunder after war.
“Thus says the LORD God: “On that day it shall come to pass that thoughts will arise in your mind, and you will make an evil plan: “You will say, ‘I will go up against a land of unwalled villages; I will go to a peaceful people, who dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates’—to take plunder and to take booty, to stretch out your hand against the waste places that are again inhabited, and against a people gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and goods, and who dwell in the midst of the land.”
Verse 13 sheds light on the nations that are not going to be involved:
“Sheba, Dedan, the merchants of Tarshish, and all their young lions will say to you, ‘Have you come to take plunder? Have you gathered your army to take booty, to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods, to take great plunder?’
Apparently, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and a third country (possibly Great Britain), refuse to get involved, while their young men question if the aggressor’s involvement is based strictly upon the spoils of war.
Verse 14 brings up an interesting point, it says:
“Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say to Gog, ‘Thus says the LORD God: “On that day when My people Israel dwell safely, will you not know it?”
Many scholars remark that when God uses “My people Israel,” the phrase denotes that God’s full attention is on His Nation. It’s like chess, when a player punches the clock, attention shifts to the other player. In God’s workings, there are two players—“My people Israel” and “My church.” In the latter days, when God focuses His full attention on My people Israel, it is quite possible that the church is no longer on earth. Therefore, with the church removed, the LORD God shifts His focus to concentrate solely upon His purpose for His Nation Israel. And that is, through Israel the LORD God will show the world that He alone is God, and He will protect what belongs to Him in such a way that the entire world will know and understand who He is. This is a massive event.
Now for verses 15 through 17:
“Then you will come from your place out of the far north, you and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great company and a mighty army. You will come up against My people Israel like a cloud, to cover the land. It will be in the latter days that I will bring you against My land, so that the heathen may know Me, when I am declared holy in you, O Gog, before their eyes.” Thus says the LORD God: “Are you he of whom I have spoken in former days by My servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied for years in those days that I would bring you against them?”
Here we see reference to the latter days, those days just prior to the wrath of God’s Day of the Lord. One can research the Day of the Lord in Zephaniah 1:14, Malachi 4:1, and 1 Thessalonians 5, verses 1 through 3. The LORD God repeats yet again, that He is bringing these armies toward His land so that the entire world will know Him. Then God speaks of His many Old Testament warnings to His prophets, that He will bring armies against His land. Could this be a reference to the Amos 7:1 prophesy in the Septuagint—where God agreed NOT TO SEND hoards of armies against Israel? Maybe, but He’s certainly sending hoards this time!
Verse 18 describes something important regarding the timing of this event:
“And it will come to pass at the same time, when Gog comes against the land of Israel,” says the LORD God, “that My fury will show in My face.”
God’s fury and wrath will show on His face during this event, but in 1 Thessalonians 5:9 God promises that His church will not experience His wrath.
Verses 19 through 22 describe what happens next:
“For in My jealousy and in the fire of My wrath I have spoken: Surely in that day there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel, so that the fish of the sea, the birds of the heavens, the beasts of the field, all creeping things that creep on the earth, and all men who are on the face of the earth shall shake at My presence. The mountains shall be thrown down, the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground. I will call for a sword against Gog throughout all My mountains”, says the LORD God. “Every man’s sword will be against his brother. And I will bring him to judgement with pestilence and bloodshed; I will rain down on him, on his troops, and on the many peoples who are with him, flooding rain, great hailstones, fire, and brimstone.”
The LORD God brings these specifically named armies against Isreal, and He will gather them together with all of their military might—with their arsenal of bombs, missiles, biological, chemical, and nuclear weapons intended for use against Israel.
Before they have the opportunity, God will make His presence known to every living thing upon the earth by causing an earthquake of such magnitude that it will be felt throughout the world. This earthquake will cause mountains and buildings to collapse. Then God will turn the army hoards against Gog of Magog. They will use their full arsenal of weapons against this man and his country. They will rain fire and brimstone down upon Russia, their troops, and on the troops of all who accompany Gog of Magog.
The first time the term “rain down fire and brimstone” is in Genesis 19, when the LORD God destroyed the two cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. Archeologists describe the ruins of Sodom and Gomorrah as being similar to a nuclear blast. But the term is used several more times:
In Psalm 11:6 where it says: “Upon the wicked He will rain coals, fire and brimstone and a burning wind shall be the portion of their cup.”
In Revelation 14:10, where it states: “he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.”
Again in Revelation 20:10, where it says: “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.”
And lastly in Revelation 21:8, where it states: “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
The LORD God ends Ezekiel 38 with verse 23:
“Thus I will magnify Myself and sanctify Myself, and I will be known in the eyes of many nations. Then they shall know that I am the LORD.”
Amen and Amen.