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Home , Canaan, Canaan (son of Ham)

War of Gog of Ezekiel 38 & 39

Anji Gregg November 2015

GOG OF MAGOG 1 In Context Ezekiel 36 & 37 It seems that the prophecies in Chapters 36/37 have mostly been fulfilled or being fulfilled: • The nations did possess the land and because was scattered the nations also possessed the people. (36: 1-7)

• Israel has become fruitful, both the people and the land (recently they found a huge supply of gas and now oil) (36: 8-16) And they export more produce than ever before. Israel works to be “self-sustaining” *

• Israel disobeyed and they were scattered to the nations (36: 16-21)

• There are now more Messianic Believers than ever before and God has brought His people back to the land from all the nations. This is being fulfilled and there is a greater fulfilment to come…(36:21- Chapter 37)

* Israel & Oil Deut 33:13 And of he said,“Blessed by the be his land, with the choicest gifts of heaven above, and of the deep that crouches beneath,…

Deut 33:19 They shall call peoples to their mountain; there they offer right sacrifices; for they draw from the abundance of the seas and the hidden treasures of the sand.”

Deut 33:24 And of he said, “Most blessed of sons be Asher; let him be the favourite of his brothers, and let him dip his foot in oil.

Isaiah 45:3 I will give you the treasures of darkness and the hoards in secret places, Oil Companies: https://www.zionoil.com http://afekoil.co.il/en/

* Israel & Gas In recent years Gas fields have been found off the coast of (http:// nobleenergy.co.il)

GOG OF MAGOG 2 Who is Gog? The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, set your face toward Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of and , and prophesy against him Ezekiel 38:1-2 • Gog = A Title (like “Prince” “Czar” etc) • Magog = A Place

“Magog” first mentioned in Genesis…a son of The sons of Japheth: , Magog, , , Tubal, Meshech, and . 3 The sons of Gomer: , , and . 4 The sons of Javan: Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and . 5 From these the coastland peoples spread in their lands, each with his own language, by their clans, in their nations. Genesis 10:2

Josephus, a first century historian, wrote: “After Babel they were dispersed abroad on account of their languages and they went out by colonies everywhere each colony took possession of that land which they had alighted upon and onto which God led them. Magog found those that were from him called Magogites but who are called by the ”

Russia Scythian heritage can be seen in the Moscow & Crimean museums.

Found in Translation? “And you, son of man, prophesy against Gog and say, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. Ezekiel 39:1 ESV or “And you, son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal; Ezekiel 39:1 NKJ

In some versions Gog is the prince of Rosh, Meshech & Tubal and in other versions he is the chief prince of Meshech & Tubal. The hebrew for chief or head is “Rosh” and most translators agree that because of the way hebrew works it makes more sense to translate it “Chief ” rather than make “Rosh” a name of a place.

GOG OF MAGOG 3 Where is Magog? Uttermost parts of the North You will come from your place out of the uttermost parts of the north, you and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great host, a mighty army. Ezekiel 38:15

And I will turn you about and drive you forward, and bring you up from the uttermost parts of the north, and lead you against the mountains of Israel. Ezekiel 39:2

Uttermost North = Russia Where are Meshech and Tubal? Some would say Moscow & Tobolsk but there is little evidence for this.

However evidence suggests… Meshech and Tubal are in what is now known as :

“The close association with the name Tubal renders likely their identification with the people often named together as Tabâl and Mušku in Assyrian inscriptions and Tibarenoi and Moschoi by (a Greek historian)” New Dictionary

Other places mentioned as coming against Israel Persia, , and are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; 6 Gomer and all his hordes; Beth-togarmah from the uttermost parts of the north with all his hordes—many peoples are with you. Ezekiel 38:5-6 Where are Cush & Put? First mentioned in Genesis 10:6 “The sons of : Cush, , Put, and .”

• Put = what is now known as Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco and Mauritania

• Cush = , Sudan, Eritrea

GOG OF MAGOG 4 Where are Persia, Gomer, Beth-Togamah?

The sons of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. 3 The sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah. Genesis 10:2 • Gomer = Turkey and possibly Germany, Spain, France

• Beth-Togamah = Turkey and Armenia but also those whose languages have their origins in the Turkic language so includes…Kyrgyzstan, Kazakstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and possibly Afghanistan & Georgia (referred as coming from the uttermost parts of the north too.

• Persia =

GOG OF MAGOG 5 Observers?

Sheba and Dedan and the of Tarshish and all its leaders will say to you, ‘Have you come to seize spoil? Have you assembled your hosts to carry off plunder, to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods, to seize great spoil?’ Ezekiel 38:13

Although we know the nations come against Israel it seems that , Dedan and Tarshish are bystanders.

Where are Sheba, Dedan & Tarshish? Ham’s Offspring The sons of Ham: Cush, Egypt, Put, and Canaan. 7 The sons of Cush: Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabteca. The sons of Raamah: Sheba and Dedan. Genesis 10:6

• Sheba and Dedan = () including Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Yeman, UAE and Merchants of Tarshish (possibly encompasses S Spain) Some give good arguments for Tarshish as The West

What about Gog? 1. He will devise an evil scheme “Thus says the Lord God: On that day, thoughts will come into your mind, and you will devise an evil scheme 38:10

2. God will oppose him “But on that day, the day that Gog shall come against the , declares the Lord God, my wrath will be roused in my anger. 19 For in my jealousy and in my blazing wrath I declare, On that day there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel. 38:18ff

GOG OF MAGOG 6 What about Gog? cont… 3. He will have an enormous army (a coalition) And I will turn you about and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed in full armour, a great host, all of them with buckler and shield, wielding swords. 38:4 You will advance, coming on like a storm. You will be like a cloud covering the land, you and all your hordes, and many peoples with you. 38:9

4. He will march upon the mountains of Israel (the Golan mainly located on the borders with , & )

After many days you will be mustered. In the latter years you will go against the land that is restored from war, the land whose people were gathered from many peoples upon the mountains of Israel, which had been a continual waste. Its people were brought out from the peoples and now dwell securely, all of them. 9 You will advance, coming on like a storm. You will be like a cloud covering the land, you and all your hordes, and many peoples with you. 38:8

And I will turn you about and drive you forward, and bring you up from the uttermost parts of the north, and lead you against the mountains of Israel. 39:2

Watchmen, Watch! Watch Russia & Putin

Vladimir Putin • 16 years as a KGB officer • PM of Russia 1990-2000 & 2008-12 • President 2000 - 2008 • President 2012 to present • Slowly centralised power under the guise of combating terrorism carrying out huge military and police reforms

GOG OF MAGOG 7 Watchmen, Watch! Watch Russia & Putin…

• Wants to become THE super power • Renewed nationalism • Renovated nuclear forces • Aligning itself with Israel’s enemies - Supplies Iran to develop nuclear weapons (Nuclear Assistance Pact 2005) • Stepped in over Syria ( + China) • He believes: “the greatest political catastrophe of the century is the disintegration of Russia and its regeneration is a matter of historical destiny” Putin

Is Putin Gog? • Can’t rule him out • Can’t say he definitely is (more needs to happen) • Is he setting the stage for someone else to arise? Elections in Russia will be 2018 - interesting what will happen in the next 3 years. BUT

• He talks of restoring “Mother Russia” • He operates in a climate that increasingly desires a leader like Stalin • He’s building politically military and economic ties with the very countries Ezekiel describes • From 1990s Iran and Russia have been “friends” • Nearly all of Russia’s allies are islamic nations

GOG OF MAGOG 8 Russia & the Islamic Nations

“The Russians want an empire and to get it they need to establish “special relationships” with Arab and Islamic regimes in the whom they can use as their agents of influence.” (former Israeli ambassador to UN)

In 2006 the Group of Strategic Vision was set up by Putin. This group now meets every year.

“All delegates supported the idea of adding the potential of Islamic countries and societies with Russia’s, since it remains a multi-religious and multi-national power, to confront present day challenges.” (part of their founding principles)

“The connections between the Islamic world and Russia are still strong, since they have seen more than a thousand years of history. Participants of the meeting adopted a communiqué that is urging different countries and influential forces to unite against the threats of terrorism, and, in order to pursue this goal , promote a diverse cooperation between Russia and the countries of Islam.” Member of the Shura Council of Saudi Arabia, Nasser Al-Daud

GOG OF MAGOG 9 Not the Magog War but “Shadows”

1948 - Egypt, Trans Jordan Lebanon, , Saudia Arabia and attacked from North, South & East (neither Russia nor Iran participated. Moscow formally recognised Israel as a state in the early years)

1967 Six Day War: Russia and Iran not directly involved but Egypt and Iraq were major players

1973 Yom Kippur Egypt, Syria, Jordan and Iraq surrounded Israel with Saudi Arabia. Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Sudan, Pakistan, Cuba, Kuwait, Libya, Uganda providing finance, military equipment, ground forces and pilots.

Russia sponsored the armies but sent no forces. Because of Yom Kippur war a peace treaty was signed known as the Camp Accords by Egypt and Israel

Magog War -what does it look like?

• No mention of a nation standing with Israel • Armies will gather on the Golan (mountains of Israel) • The Lord’s wrath against Gog • A great earthquake • The armies will fight each other - confusion • Fire will fall on Magog • Pestilence • Hailstones, fire, sulphur will pour down

The Lord will supernaturally intervene. He will display His glory so Israel and the nations will know that He is God. Many suggest that Islam will collapse because of this.

GOG OF MAGOG 10 The Aftermath - from Nuclear war?

• 7 years of fuel supply from the weapons “Then those who dwell in the cities of Israel will go out and make fires of the weapons and burn them, shields and bucklers, bow and arrows, clubs and spears; and they will make fires of them for seven years, 10 so that they will not need to take wood out of the field or cut down any out of the forests, for they will make their fires of the weapons.

• 7 months to bury the dead For seven months the house of Israel will be burying them, in order to cleanse the land 39:12

• Buried in a designated place - Valley of Hammon-gog

• Designated people to “clean up” through the land They will set apart men to travel through the land regularly and bury those travellers remaining on the face of the land, so as to cleanse it. 39:14

• A sign set up by the dead until buried And when these travel through the land and anyone sees a human bone, then he shall set up a sign by it, till the buriers have buried it in the Valley of Hamon-gog. ..Thus shall they cleanse the land. 39:15 All of the above point to a type of nuclear war clean up

The Aftermath for Israel

• Israel will turn to the Lord 39:22 • Nations will see God’s glory and He will vindicate His holiness 39:21, 27 • ALL of Israel will return to the land 39:28 • God will pour out His Spirit on Israel 39:28

GOG OF MAGOG 11 When will the Gog/Magog War Begin? Ezekiel says… • In the latter years 38:8 • When “Israel dwells securely” 38:11 • When Israel is prosperous so these nations want the spoils 38:12

• This battle is not Armageddon therefore doesn’t happen immediately before returns. Armageddon begins on the plain of Jezreel/Meggido. Magog war begins on the “mountains of Israel” (i.e. Golan)

• Probably not the Magog mentioned in Rev 20:7ff - that occurs at the end of the Millennial Reign. After this gets thrown into the lake of fire and after the judgement of the dead there is a new heaven and earth. Ezekiel says Israel takes 7 months to clean up and will have 7 years of fuel. Israel won’t need this if there is a new heaven and earth. However there could still be an argument here for these wars to be the same.

• Israel “dwells safely” - Is this the Peace Treaty instigated by the Anti-Christ? I don’t think so because after the Magog War it takes 7 years to burn the weapons for fuel. The tribulation is only 7 years and after 3½ of those years the Anti Christ breaks the agreement and sets up the “abomination” in the temple and Israel will not dwell securely.

• Before the peace agreement? Does the peace agreement come about because of a “precursor” war? If so then this war takes place immediately before the Tribulation?

What could the “Precursor be?….How is Israel going to dwell securely?

GOG OF MAGOG 12 The “Precursor” War?

What About…Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Syria, Iraq? Ezekiel makes no mention, they are not included in the Gog hordes.

Psalm 83 lists a number of nations “For they conspire with one accord; against you they make a 6 the tents of and the Ishmaelites, and the Hagrites, 7 Gebal and and , with the inhabitants of Tyre; 8 Asshur also has joined them; they are the strong arm of the children of ”

There is a huge amount of debate about where these nations are today. Most agree that it includes Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and the . Possibly includes, as well, northern Iraq, southeastern Turkey and the northern border of Syria. Egypt is definitely missing by name here…maybe the Camp David Agreement will still stand?

Psalm 83:4 says Israel’s enemies are those who say…”let us wipe them out as a nation, let the name of Israel be remembered no more” At this time this is most if not all of the surrounding nations (and more)

Other passages to look at… 14-17, Ezekiel 28, 49,

If Israel has to go to war and defeats it’s immediate neighbours then it is possible they will expand their borders and “dwell safely” However there could be other ways in which Israel becomes secure. Keep an open mind!!

Let’s be like the Bereans! …they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Acts 17:11

GOG OF MAGOG 13 Possible order of events?

1. Israel regathered to the Land: Ez 37:12 Is 11:11-12 Deut 30:3-5

2. Ancient cities rebuilt: Ez 36:1-5

3. Meet Muslim/Arab resistance: Zeph 2:8, Ez 25:12 36:2 Oba v10

4. Israel establishes an army for defence: Ez 36:6-7, 38:8

5. Adjacent Muslim nations coalition: Ps 83:1-8

6. Adjacent nations committed to Israel’s destruction: Ps 83:1- 5, 12

7. War starts with Israel and adjacent nations: Jer 49: 2, 18,19

8. Israel defeats these nations : Oba 1:9, Ez 25:13-14, Isa 11:12-14,

9. Israel expands it’s borders: Oba 1:19, Jer 49:2

10. Israel dwells securely

11. Gog of Magog war

Conclusion?

Is the Gog/Magog war imminent? Not necessarily but at this time nations are shifting and new alliances are being formed (Russia, China and Iran) (USA & Iran) This war may not happen for a 100 years or more or may happen very soon. We need to keep watch and look for the signs of the times.

If anyone has further insight please share it with the rest of us!

GOG OF MAGOG 14