A few weeks ago, the United Nations voted (with the first ever abstention by the U.S.) to condemn Israel for their housing settlements in their disputed territories. Also, a few weeks ago Russia, Iran and Turkey signed a mutual military agreement to fight ISIS in Syria (which sits on the northern border of Israel). A couple of days ago Russia renewed a 50 year lease for a Russian naval port in Syria on the Mediterranean and for an air force base, also in Syria. So what does this have to do with Biblical prophecy?
In chapters 38 and 39 of the Old Testament Book of Ezekiel there is a very clear prophecy of a coming major war between 6 countries and Israel in the LAST DAYS. Remember that Ezekiel wrote this book 2,600 years ago (circa 586 B.C.). Before I get into the specific events foretold to occur, I believe it is important to first set the stage based upon chapters 36 and 37 in Ezekiel. Remember this was written at a time when the Jews were still living in the land of Israel.
“For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land.”
Ezekiel 36:24
Of course this occurred officially on May 14, 1948 when the Jews declared their independence and the nation of Israel was founded.
“Therefore prophesy and say to them: “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: O my people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. Then you, my people, will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and bring you up from them.”
Ezekiel 37:12-13
“…and say to them, “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will take the Israelites out of the nations where they have gone. I will gather them from all around and bring them back into their own land. I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel…”
Ezekiel 37:21-22.
In other words, while the Jews still occupied the land of Israel, God instructed Ezekiel to prophesy to them that He would bring them BACK from the nations of the world (where they were later dispersed in 70A.D. by the Roman Titus) and would reinstate the Promised land. Here we have clear evidence that it was God’s intent to see the Jews dispersed because of their sins but in fulfillment of His Abrahamic promises to them, he would bring them back to THEIR land that would amaze a world that believed this was never, ever going to happen.
“This is what the Sovereign Lord says: On the day I cleanse you from your sins, I will resettle your towns, and the ruins will be rebuilt. The desolate land will be cultivated instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass through it. They will say “This land that was laid waste has become like the garden of Eden; the cities that were lying in ruins , desolate and destroyed, are now fortified and inhabited.”
Ezekiel 36:33-35
I stress these prophecies because of the fact that God said he would bring the Jews back in the LAST DAYS and rebuild the nation and land of Israel. Check out pictures of Israel from the 1930’s and 40’s when the land was not in control of the Jews but of the Palestinians. The change is incredible! Israel was an absolute mess with ruined cities, no clean water or electricity, etc. Since the Jews had to return to the land BEFORE the prophesied War of Gog and Magog, which they now have, there is now nothing standing in the way of this battle.
As I have said previously, some have viewed this war of Gog and Magog as being the same as Armageddon, there are substantial differences. In the war of Gog and Magog, the invading counties are actually named (Magog, Persia, Cush, Put, Gomer and Beth Togarmah – see Ezekiel 38:1-6) where in the battle of Armageddon ALL the nations of the world will invade Israel (“They are spirits of demons performing miraculous signs, and they go out to the kings of the WHOLE (capitals mine) world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty.” Revelation 16:14, and, “Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.” Revelation 16:16). I believe the Bible is clear. These are two distinctly different wars. If you look at the timing of these two wars, you will notice in the war of Gog and Magog God’s wrath destroys the invaders (Ezekiel 39:19-22) where at Armageddon Christ returns and “Out of His comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations.” Revelation 19:15.
Also, at the destruction of the invaders at the war of Gog and Magog, the Bible says it will take 7 months to bury the dead and 7 years to burn the implements of war (Ezekiel 39:12 and 39:9). At Armageddon, the dead are eaten “The rest of them were killed by the sword that came out of the mouth of the rider on the horse (Christ), and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.” Revelation 19:21. So at the first battle, it takes 7 months to bury the dead but at Armageddon the dead are eaten by the birds with NO burial. Finally, at the war of Gog and Magog, only one sixth of the invaders will not perish (Ezekiel 39:2) while at Armageddon ALL the invaders will be destroyed (Revelation 19:21).
Since this post is about the coming war of Gog and Magog (and one that could soon happen with the recent alignments of the all key players), you may be wondering who is Gog of Magog? Where is Persia, Gomer, Cush, Put and Beth Togarmah. According to Biblical scholars (and I will use Tim LaHaye’s Prophecy Study Bible – KJV for clearer definition), these are the ancient names of the lands occupied by the future enemies of the rebuilt land of Israel. Most of us recognize Persia as modern day Iran. The rest of them are known today as the following:
- Magog – Gog is the leader of the this 6 country coalition. Magog in ancient times is identified with the vast land north of Israel beyond the Caucasus, around and above the Black Sea. Most view this today as the country known as Russia. Furthermore when the Bible refers to Gog as the chief prince of Meshech (Moscow?) and Tubal and says he will come from the uttermost north of Israel, any global map would ascertain Russia as being Magog with the distinct leader of Russia and this coalition being called Gog. Interestingly, in Hebrew “chief” is called Rosh which when the Bible is translated refers to Gog as the prince of Rosh (Russia?), Meshech (Moscow?) and Tubal (todays Georgia recently invaded by Russia).
- Persia – Iran
- Cush – Ethiopia, Sudan
- Put – Libya
- Gomer – eastern Turkey and the Ukraine, possibly the Cimmerians who migrated from Western Asia to eastern and Central Europe.
- Beth Togarmah – eastern Turkey and the Ukraine
Except for most of Russia, all of these countries are Islamic and have very anti-Israeli views. Today, not one of these countries “touch” Israel’s borders. Imagine a scenario today where a possible “solution” is offered by a current or future Russian leader to finally solve the problems with Israel and form a coalition of these countries to once and for all eliminate the Jews from Israel. They would band together and invade but would be defeated by a furious God so that it would take 7 months to bury the dead and 7 years to burn the implements of war! With the recent treaties of Russia with Syria, Iran, Turkey, et.al. does anyone not believe this is a distinct possibility of something that could occur very soon?
You might ask, “Where is the U.S. in all this? They would never let this happen to Israel, their ally”! Actually, the Bible does inform us as to how the rest of the world will react (another example of why this is NOT the battle of Armageddon). The rest of the world is watching and asking the invaders:
“Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish and all her villages will say to you, “Have you come to plunder? Have you gathered your hordes to loot, to carry off silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods and to seize much plunder?”
Ezekiel 38:13
In other words, NO other country will come to Israel’s aid when the 6 nations mentioned above gather together and invade. Many scholars believe the merchants of Tarshish refers to the United Kingdom and her commonwealth of countries, like the United States. Instead, they will ask questions like Why are you doing this? Do you want the riches that Israel has been given? I have long believed that with the United States history of protecting Israel this could not happen as long as the U.S. was a global power. I have altered my assumptions based on the current news and fact that I could see a scenario where either the U.S. draws back their support (like what happened under the Obama administration) or a significant event like the Rapture would not only take the Believers in Christ out of the world but could at the same time embolden Russia and her allies to once and for all solve their perception of the Jewish “problem”. Not to be self righteous but how many believing Christians are there in power in the U.S. versus Russia and her allies? But, God has spoken and when these people do in fact invade:
“Behold, it is come, and it is done, saith the Lord God: this is the day whereof I have spoken.”
Ezekiel 39:8
Please, do not be afraid of this event when it occurs. If you are a Believer and we have not yet been Raptured, we should take this as yet another fulfillment of God’s prophecies to us as proof of His Being and His promised fulfillments. If the Rapture has occurred and you are reading this (which means you WERE NOT previously Raptured with the Believers) and recognize this was prophesied previously, you CAN STILL accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. For all of us, whether we witness this war or not God’s Word is eternal and should take solace in His statement to us:
“Therefore, comfort one another with these words.”
1 Thessalonians 4:18
This is truly amazing information and is so encouraging. We know that Satan has deceived so many but Scripture, although thousands of years since given, is being confirmed each and every day. I am more encouraged today with all that is happening as I have ever been. God Reigns, and is Faithfull to His Promises, and we are Blessed to see so much prophesy being fulfilled. Thank you for sharing this!
For certain, we are in the last days, and it’s exciting! There is much talk about…last days, and what will happen. With new information, which will shock the World! The ”TORAH”…first five books of the
bible Genesis 15:13-14…& Deuteronomy 28:15-68, where it tells of
”Hebrew-Israelites”…going into, ”SLAVERY”…but the Jews in Israel, are very ”Adamant”…saying, ‘Jews…have never been anyone’s….. …’SLAVES’. Ex-President Trump signed the Official Documents for
Israelites freedom…(400 yrs), HR Bill 1242. Israelites, were in slavery in, ‘Assyria, *aka* Syria, Cush, Egypt, Elam…Hamath, Pathros, and Shinar NOTICE…the word, ‘Israelis’…is not in the bible. Bible scholars knew/knows, Trump making Jerusalem the ‘Capital’…of Israel…is/was…
Wrong…the bible’s Timing, is different!
‘TRUTH’…will be known by All…Revelation 2:9…Revelation 3:9…
Ethiopians are Black…Amos 9:7…says…”Are you not as children of the Ethiopians unto me, O children of ‘ISRAEL?” saith the Lord? Have not I brought up ‘Israel’…out of the land of Egypt? and the Philistines from Caphtor, and the ‘Syrians’…from Kir?
Israelites…are of the, ”TORAH”…
Catholics…changed the 10th. Commandments…and..Covid19 was
…man made in ‘Wuhan, China…newly constructed for the, ‘SOLE’
purpose of…”DEPOPULATION”…of the World, 1991…George H. W. Bush…made the announcement…and Covid-19…is supposed to finish the job…it didn’t. Patent 2018…announced in 2019…Break
out in the, ‘Seaport’…Market, 20 miles from Wuhan, China. Recent-
ly, the news is saying…9000 people die, on average per day, in China. It’s still all about, ”JESUS!”…
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You believe the war of Gog and Magog will happen before Jesus comes back to the earth. So what does Revelation 20:8-9 mean? 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.”
It clearly refers to Gog and Magog.
Just wondering. 😊
Excellent question Linda! Hopefully the article below will answer your question. Basically, the two wars of Ezekiel 38&39 and Revelation 20 are TWO different wars. One is prior to the 7-year Tribulation, and one is at the end of the 1,000-year reign of Jesus during the Millennium. I hope this helps answer your question. God Bless you. Mike
The Scythians Victory and Defeats – Ezekiel Chapters 38 & 39, Revelation 20:8
By Watchman1948 on 07/10/2025
In this message we will consider three ancient names from the Bible and their relevance to Bible prophecy.
The first is “Magog,” and for this study we will look at the prophecies found in Ezekiel Chapters 38 & 39 along with Revelation 20:8 which speak of this land. The second area is referred to as “Ashkenaz” and for this particular study we will be looking at Jeremiah Chapters 50 & 51. Then lastly is the name of a people mentioned in Colossians 3:11 known as the “Scythians.”
Bible scholars have discovered that all three of these names are connected to the same people. According to Unger’s Bible Dictionary, historical records such as those left by Josephus and Jerome reveal that the region where these “Scythians” could be found was located in the nation now known as Russia.
We begin our look at Russia’s prophesied destiny by first being granted a glimpse of a future victory over modern day Iraq by these ancient Scythians. No one should be misled by Russia’s ongoing verbal defense of Iraq. Russia is in severe financial straits and has very practical economic reasons for wanting Iraq back on its feet contributing to the Russian economy. When Russia is presented with the opportunity to acquire Iraqi wealth by intrigue and force there will be no hesitation.
The strategic importance of the Middle East to Russia should never be underestimated.
When reading verse 27 of Jeremiah Ch. 51 we find the names Ararat, Minni and Ashkenaz participating in an upcoming Middle East war which will complete the overthrow of Iraq and desolate much of the country.
These three areas can be traced by ancient maps to overlap the modern regions of Russia, Germany, Turkey and Iran. It is our belief by Psalm 83 and Jer. 49 that this war with Iraq will be a major development towards an even greater Middle East conflict which will involve the countries of Israel, Syria, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Lebanon, Jordan and the Palestinians.
Russia will benefit significantly from the victory over Iraq (Chaldea) due to its participation as a United Nations ally and will share in the time of dividing up the spoils of this war as is described in Jer. 50:10.
This verse is pivotal for understanding the prophesied future of Russia. We quote, “All who plunder her shall be satisfied, says the Lord.” This means that Russia will enjoy victory in this war and it is this minute prophecy which distinguishes this war from the two future battles where the Scythians are to suffer humiliating defeat.
After this devastating war, which will include the use of weapons of mass destruction according to such prophetic passages as Jeremiah 51:26 & 51:62, we believe disarmament will take place throughout the immediate region surrounding Israel.
With the prospect of peace and safety being heralded in the land of Israel, cautious Jews will return from all of the countries where they had remained firmly entrenched. Since many of Israel’s ancient enemies will have been crushed, they will have reason to believe that remaining antagonists who have witnessed the consequences of pursuing war will then acquiesce to a new world order of peace. As one of the seven heads of the United Nations Security Council, Russia will possibly be viewed as a new globalist ally by Israel.
It will be after this war that the Anti-Christ will confirm the 7-year covenant with Israel prophesied of in Dan. 9:27. A brief period of peace and safety will then ensue. It is during this time gap of temporary peace and safety brought about by the man known as “Anti-Christ” and “the prince who is to come” (I Jn. 4:3 & Dan. 9:26), that we believe the sudden destruction prophesied of in I Thess. 5:3 comes.
During the first 3 ½ years of this covenant the Russian/Scythians will lead an invasion against Israel as is prophesied in Ezek. Chaps. 38 & 39. According to Ezek. 38:10-11 Russia will strike at Israel during this time of peace and safety. This dovetails with the Scriptures found in Revelation 5:3 & 4 when the red horse is sent forth to take peace from the earth. Russia will betray the confidence of all who looked up to her might as a new force for peace.
One only needs to read Chaps. 38 & 39 of Ezekiel in their entirety to realize that Russia’s defeat will be catastrophic (Ezek. 9:10). Pray for the people of Russia. Her land will not escape the sword.
By examining the Scriptures, we have been lead to conclude that there is no other possible time that this invasion can take place then during the first 3 ½ years of the Tribulation Period.
Israel has no peace and safety at present and as of the midway point of the 7-year agreement; the Anti-Christ will dismantle the peace covenant and will relentlessly persecute Israel according to Dan. 9:27 & Rev. 13:5-8. The time of temporary peace and safety prophesied to be in effect when Russia invades appropriately fits during the first 3 ½ years of the Anti-Christ’s 7-year covenant with Israel. There simply is no other window of such a time of peace and safety presented in the scriptures for these last days.
It is of special interest to note that we are told in Ezek. 38:12 that Russia and its confederates will invade Israel “To take plunder and to take booty.” The mineral wealth of the Dead Sea alone is staggering, but the wealth being revealed in Israel does not end there.
According to a Jerusalem Post article reprinted in the Jan. ’99 Colorado Christian News which headlined, “Oil found in Israel,” “Givot Olam Oil Exploration has struck oil at a site near Rosh Ha’ayin…Givot Olam confirmed that the fluid gushing through the pipe at the Meged-2 bore is high quality oil from the Paleozoic basin…That location, known as Meged-3 is thought to contain 1 billion barrels and four trillion cubic feet of natural gas. “If this proves to be the case, there will be enough oil for Israel to last your lifetime and mine,” said Tovia Luskin, the company’s senior scientist and director. Work started on Meged-2 Tuesday afternoon, and the well began producing hydrocarbon gas at a rate of 400 barrels a day…The Paleozoic basin, which is the source of oil throughout Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries is one of the largest oil-producing basins in the world.”
Then from a Feb. 29, ’00 Middle East Newsline report which headlined, “Israel excited by prospect of natural gas” we read, “Israel is excited over the prospect of a huge reserve of natural gas off the Mediterranean coast…Druckman said the reservoir found at the Mary-1 drilling site is four times larger than the last report of a large offshore deposit in June. She said the deposit could be worth up to $4 billion and that within 18 months Israelis could receive the natural gas…Industry and Trade Minister Ran Cohen said the discovery of large offshore gas deposits near Ashkelon, Gaza and Sinai will have a positive effect on industry.”
A closer look at the Scriptures, for what is found to happen after Russia is defeated in the war of Ezek. Chaps. 38 & 39, is paramount for understanding that this is not the same war with Magog described at the close of the Millennial Reign of Christ in Rev. 20:7-9.
Our comparison begins with Ezek. 39:29. The specific time period recorded for us is just after the end of the Magog war against Israel. God declares that at that time, “I will not hide my face from them (that is Israel) any more; for I shall have poured out my Spirit on the house of Israel.”
This could not be the same war as the one that concludes the Millennial Reign of Jesus because according to the revelation of Jn. 19:31-37, Zech. 12:10 and Rev. 20:4 the Israelites will have already been looking upon the face of God in the visage of Christ for 1,000 years before this final conflagration (Isa. 9:6).
Also, Rev. 20:11 reveals to us that immediately after the regathering and defeat of Magog at the close of the Millennial Reign, the great White Throne judgment of God takes place in Heaven. Revelation 20:11 reveals that the present earth will flee away to oblivion before the face of God at this time.
In summation, we anticipate the following for the modern-day Scythians of Russia. They will at first join in a coalition war and will share in the plundering of Iraq (Jer. 51:27 & 50:10).
A historic 7 year covenant which will most likely include disarmament for the region immediately surrounding Israel will be put into place (Dan. 9:27).
Russia and its confederates will shortly thereafter defy the treaty and will attack the peaceful unfortified nation of Israel in an attempt to conquer the Middle East (Ezek. 38:9-12).
In contrast to the previous victory against Iraq, this time the Scythians will be defeated and themselves become the plundered (Ezek. 39:10).
There is no specific mention of the Scythians being involved in the War of Armageddon described in Rev. 19:17-21 & Zech. Ch. 12. This renown conflict will take place at the conclusion of the 7-year Tribulation Period. At this juncture in time Russia will no longer be in a position to be a major participant.
After 1,000 years of restoration and forgetfulness the Scythians (Magogites) will make war one last time. The barbarians of that future time will assail the gate of the Holy City of God and their fate will quickly be forever sealed with fire (Rev. 20:1-10).
A critical question needs to be asked and answered. That is, how did any of the Scythians receive God’s grace to enter the millennium to repopulate after having attacked Israel just a short time earlier during the Tribulation Period?
They will have made it the same way that all must receive God’s grace as has been happening throughout Russia in these last days. That is by repentance (having godly sorrow) and having faith in the only Savior Jesus Christ whose atoning blood sacrifice delivers all who believe from the eternal penalty of sin; “Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all” (Col. 3:11).
Former Muslim, J. B. Mokhriby
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