GOG AND MAGOG The prophecies against “Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Mashech, and Tubal,” included in chapters 38 and 39 of the book of Ezekiel, have occupied the minds of the scholars of the New Testament since the early days; especially that “Gog and Magog” came in the book of Rev (20:8), to represent a fierce war against the kingdom of God at the end of ages on the level of the whole world, that will ultimately end in the victory of the Truth after great affliction. That is why two groups of interpreters appeared: One group believe that the ‘Gog’ is a real person who carried that name, and who has been a prince on the land of ‘Magog’ that made war against Israel on its return from captivity. They interpret what came in the two chapters in a literal way. The other group believe that what came here, is nothing but a symbol that represents the animosity against God, and the resistance to His kingdom in every era, and particularly at the end of ages. GOG The origin of this word in the Acadian language is the word ‘Gagu,’ meaning a precious jewelry of gold. ‘Gog, of the land of Magog,’ the prince of Mashech and Tubal, was a symbol of idolatry, with all its energies, adversary to the kingdom of God. The name was probably taken from ‘Guges,’ a prince of a Lydian royal family called ‘Mermnadae,’ whom the Assyrian king Assur-Bani-pal called ‘Gugu.’ Guges was an officer in the royal guards, close to the king; and in the year 685 B.C. he murdered his master from a competitive family of the Herculean dynasty, and took over the Lydian throne. He was a very rich man, gave great presents to the temple of Apollo in Delphi; but rebelled against the Greek cities in Asia Minor1. In his old age, he was defeated by the Cimmerians or Gimirra, but managed to overcome them through the help of the Assyrians. Then, having aided Egypt to rebel against Assyria, he aroused the anger of the king of Assyria, who provoked the Cimmerians to invade the Lydian kingdom anew in 645 B.C.; and to kill the king, who was succeeded by his son Ardys. Certain scholars believe that the name ‘Gog’ was connected to and distorted from ‘Gaga,’ a long forgotten desolate province in Armenia and Cappadocia, that was mentioned in the Amarna tablets. That is why the name Gog has for a long time carried a barbarian sense. Other scholars believe that Gog referred to an Assyrian god by the name of Gaga; or to a ruler of the city of Sabi called ‘Gagi.’ And Assur-Bani-pal, the king of Assyria referred to this city. MAGOG The name refers to ‘Magog,’ the second son of ‘Japheth’ (Gen 10:12; 1 Chro 1:5); or the name of the land they have inhabited; most probably in the far north. As ‘Gog’ is mentioned here as the prince of Mashech and Tubal, who made a fierce war against Israel on their return from captivity; joining forces with Gomer and Beth-Togarmah from the far north; it is believed that Magog are a people (or a land) in north Palestine, not far from Mashech and Tubal, their home land north-east of Cilicia, as it came in the Assyrian documents2. 1 Herod. 1:7-15 2 J. Hastings: Dictionary of the Bible, p. 612. 5 The Syrians called the land of Tatar by the name Magog; so did the Arabs to the land between the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea. Yet the majority adopted what came in Josephus, that Magog were the tribes of Scythians1, referred to by Herodotus, as inhabitants of the lands north of Crimea2; and known for their fierce wars in Asia and other parts. In the seventh century, they invaded Sardis the capital of Lydia; defeated the king of Media; and when they reached Egypt, its king gave them a large ransom to stay away from his land. The prophet Ezekiel described them as mighty horsemen, all handling swords; conforming to what came in the Greek history. But, if we consider that Gog the prince of Magog, most probably refers to Guges the king of Lydia, all that would not apply to those tribes; unless the word ‘Magog’ here, carries a symbolic meaning, that refers to Gog, who was fond of attacking others, and known for his ferocity in battle. THE SYMBOLIC INTERPRETATION As the names Gog and Magog came in the book of Revelation (20:8-10), representing a war made by armies from the four corners of the earth, under satanic leadership, to mislead humanity, and to make war against the saints, at the end of ages; some scholars interpreted what came in chapters 38 and 39 of the book of the prophet Ezekiel, that the names Gog and Magog should not be understood according to literal historical sense, but according to the symbolic sense. a- Some believe that Gog refers to the Assyrians, to the Scythians, or even to Cambyses king of Persia, to Alexander the Great, to Antioch the Great, or to Antiochus Epiphanes etc. b- Others believe that Gog the prince of Magog, refers to a military pact against the people of God. c- Others believe that what came concerning Gog, does not refer to certain historical events; but symbolizes the spiritual war between Satan, who has dominion over many kingdoms, and God who reigns over the saints. And that in spite of the might and ferocity of Satan, yet the truth will prevail. d- Some interpret Gog and Magog as symbols of Russia, basing their opinion on the word ‘Rush,’ an old name for Russia; the word Mashech, as a symbol of Moscow the capital of Russia; and the word Tubal as a symbol of Tubalt also in Russia. They believe that Persia refers to Iran; Cush to Ethiopia; and Put to Libya (Ez 38:5)... It is as though this prophecy refers to the afflictions that the Church will suffer at the end of ages on the hands of several nations under the leadership of Russia. As to Togarmah, they interpret as East Germany. That military aggression would be on the level of kings and peoples from all directions; but it would mostly come from the north; saying: “Then you will come from your place out of the far north, you and many people’s 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…” (Ez 38:15). But those peoples would include kingdoms like Ethiopia, Libya, Sheba, Dedans, and Tarshish! As to the word ‘Israel,’ although some scholars believe that it is a war directed toward Jerusalem; yet the majority believe that the word ‘Israel’ here, means the people believing in God. The war is directed against the Church as a whole, and not in a particular region; as it came in the book of Revelation: “Now when the thousand years 1 Josephus: Antiq. 1:6. 2 Herodotus: 4:17-20, 47-58. 6 have expired, Satan will be released from his prison, 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. 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” (Rev 20:7-9). THE SITUATION OF THE CHURCH “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 enwalled villages; I will go to peaceful people, who dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates’” (Ez 38:10, 11). It is as though the overall war in the end of days against the Church, would not be a reaction to a provocation by the Church against the enemy. But the enemy, when he sees the Church, calm and peaceful, he will assume that she is with no walls to protect her, and that she has neither bars nor gates; open and easy to plunder; He does not know that God Himself is the wall to the believer; embraces and protects him; and shuts him in by heavenly gates; that Satan and his hosts cannot force open. Yet, there is fear that the situation at the end of days, would be like that: as though the believers are in an open country, with no walls, bars, or gates; as the Lord says: “Then many prophets will rise up and deceive many; and because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold” (Mat 24:11, 12); “For false christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders, so as to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand” (Mat 24:24, 25). 7 AN INSPIRATION FROM THE BOOK OF E ZEKIEL 38 A DANGEROUS ENEMY! A dangerous enemy does his best to destroy Your Kingdom! But You, O God, is greater than any enemy! I am not a party in that battle; I hide in You; To prevail and conquer by You! The war of the enemy started since the creation of man; And its heat increases until the antichrist comes! It will grow, more and more fierce; Until, if possible, the elect are deceived! But You have promised: “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” The enemy may be dangerous, but You are the Grantor of victory! You did not deceive us; but You confirmed to us the ferocity of war; And provided us with the secret of conquest and victory!
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