Have you heard or read about Gog in the Bible? (It’s usually pronounced with a long ‘o’, like ‘boat’.) The prophecy about Gog was written about 2,600 years ago by Ezekiel the prophet. It has continued to fascinate Bible students because other than Ezekiel 38 and 39, there is no other place in the Bible where we read of Gog.
Bible students through all ages have wondered who Gog would be. Where will he come from, and could there be a living candidate today that will fulfil his role?
Gog’s Mission
God says to Gog:
Be ready and keep ready, you and all your hosts that are assembled about you, and be a guard for them. 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. 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 (Ezekiel 38:7–9).
A general overview of the prophecy tells us that in the last days, that is after the Jews are restored back to their land and Israel re-established as an independent nation, a certain character by the name of Gog, together with his allies, will invade Israel and seek to destroy the nation. But they will eventually be defeated by plagues and supernatural punishment from God (v. 22).
The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, set your face toward Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him and say, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. 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 armor, a great host, all of them with buckler and shield, wielding swords. Persia, Cush, and Put are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; Gomer and all his hordes; Beth-togarmah from the uttermost parts of the north with all his hordes—many peoples are with you (vs. 1–6).
About 11 nations or groups of people are mentioned in Ezekiel 38. Eight of them are clearly presented as Gog’s allies, but the other four appear to be indifferent:
Thus says the Lord God: On that day, thoughts will come into your mind, and you will devise an evil scheme and say, ‘I will go up against the land of unwalled villages. I will fall upon the quiet people who dwell securely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having no bars or gates,’ to seize spoil and carry off plunder, to turn your hand against the waste places that are now inhabited, and the people who were gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and goods, who dwell at the center of the earth. Sheba and Dedan and the merchants 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?’ (vs. 10–13).
Interestingly, all these nations can be identified from the list of nations that were descended from Noah in Genesis 10:2–7, with the exception of Persia. They are all descended from Noah’s two sons Ham and Japheth. Israel (and certain other Middle Eastern peoples) are descended from Noah’s third son Shem.
Gog and His Allies
Gog is identified as someone from the far north of Israel: ‘You will come from your place out of the uttermost parts of the north, you and many peoples with you’ (v. 15).
As for the nations that are Gog’s allies, some of the names are familiar to us, the identity of others requires more research. It is clear that they are located around Asia Minor and northern Africa.
Whichever way we look at it, we must make sure that we are not too focused on determining the modern equivalence of the kingdoms mentioned and miss the all-important message of this prophecy, which is that God will surely destroy every opposition to His plans.
Fulfilment of the Prophecy
Part of the prophecy has already been fulfilled. Israel was restored to its land in 1948 (v. 8). What is left is for Gog to muster its forces for an invasion of the land. The problem with Gog’s evil ambition is that in the plan of God, Israel will exist as a nation before Jesus comes to establish God’s Kingdom:
Then I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply (Jeremiah 23:3).
Gog and his allies think otherwise, they would rather destroy the nation of Israel!
Today, the spirit of Gog is thriving in the world as more and more people wish to put an end to the Jewish people and their nation. But God’s plan is that Israel will remain in the land. Not because they deserve it, or because of any merit of theirs. But God has promised that His Son Jesus Christ will return to bring them to repentance (Zechariah 12:10) and take his throne in Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:1–4). The war-torn land of Israel will then be the focus of His Kingdom, which will bring blessing to all nations (Genesis 22:18).
Peter Ojike