Identifying Gog and Magog

Gog and Magog is not only mentioned in the Bible several times, but occurs in Genesis as well as Revelation. These are the group of people who will come against Israel in the last days. Hence, identifying them is crucial.

Ezek 38:1-3 Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying, Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him, and say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal.

Ezek 39:1 “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; and I will turn you around and lead you on, bringing you up from the far north, and bring you against the mountains of Israel.

The key identification comes from the book of Ezekiel where Gog was from north of Israel. There are several nations in the north and we need to have some approximate location to pinpoint the country of Gog and Magog today. Gog is the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal. Identifying any one of these places will give an approximate location of the country today in the north of Israel.

Rosh

Most scholars see Rosh as a mistranslation of נְשִׂ֕יא רֹ֖אשׁ, nesi ro’š (“chief prince”), – i.e, “nesi -ros” rather than a price of rosh. The only other reference for Rosh is one of the sons of Benjamin (Gen 46:21), which is clearly not a reference here since descendants of Benjamin are part of Israel. Hence, Rosh is merely a mistranslated of chief prince.

Meshech

Flavius Josephus identifies Meshech with the Cappadocian “Mosocheni” (Mushki, also associated with Phrygians or Bryges) and their capital Mazaca which in Ezekiel’s time is as an area in modern Turkey (Kayseri).

Tubal

Modern scholarship has identified the biblical Tubal with Tabal, an Anatolian state and region mentioned in Assyrian sources. Flavius Josephus, identify Tubal in Ezekiel’s time as an area that is now in Turkey.

Identifying Turkey’s allies

Ezek 38:5-6 “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 modern day Iran. Ancient Ethiopia (or Cush) is modern day Sudan. Libya is the same region as modern day Libya.

Josephus placed Gomer and the “Gomerites” in Anatolian Galatia: “For Gomer founded those whom the Greeks now call Galatians, but were then called Gomerites.”

Most scholars identify Togarmah with the capital city called Tegarama (a city in Anatolia) by the Hittites and Til-Garimmu by the Assyrians. The exact location of the city in Anatolia is disputed but one thing is certain: The ancient city is in modern day Turkey.

This drills down to a few list of modern countries that will fight against Israel in the last days (which we are currently in).

• Turkey
• Iran
• Sudan
• Libya

Neither the 1947 war, nor the 1967 (6 day) war fits the description of the prophecy since, Turkey (Gog and Magog) wasn’t involved. Hence the prophecy points to a future war against Israel where Turkey, along with Iran, Sudan and Libya will fight against Israel.

The time is very near for this war and this is the reason: Did you notice the two neighbouring countries of Egypt (Libya and Sudan) are coming against Israel, yet Egypt did not? Egypt–Israel Peace Treaty in 26 March 1979 where Israel agreed to give the entire Sinai Peninsula to Egypt which it conquered². Addressing Israeli concerns on July 31, 2014, Egyptian president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi pledged to continue the peace with Israel. Hence, Egypt not involved in the coming war from Turkey and it’s allies against Israel was prophesied thousands of years ago.

Ezek 38:13 “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?’ ” ’

Sheba and Dedan are a reference to modern day Saudi Arabia. It is interesting to see that Saudi Arabia were worried about this alliance and their great army that were gathered to invade Israel. Just like Egypt not involved in the war against Israel, Saudi Arabia too will not be invovled. We can see many growing signs of Israel getting friendly with Saudi Arabia to counter Iran¹.

Satan’s throne and his dwelling place is in Turkey

Rev 2:13 “I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.

Pergamos, the throne of Satan and his dwelling is located in Turkey.

Rev 20:7-8 Now when the thousand years 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.

When Satan was released from his prison, he goes out to deceive the nations, which is used synonymous or identical to Gog and Magog gathering nations to battle against God’s people.

Conclusion

The Gog and Magog who will come against Israel as prophesied by Ezekiel is Turkey.  Satan’s throne and his dwelling place is in Turkey. Turkey, along with Iran, Libya and Sudan will come against Israel for a great battle in near future but God will bring judgement on the troops of Turkey and it’s allies by flooding rain, great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. Since Israel is dwelling safely in their land, let us therefore keep watch for the signs of this prophecy.

¹ “What is behind the covert Israeli-Saudi relations?.” Aljazeera.com, http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/11/covert-israeli-saudi-arabia-relations-171120142229835.html. Accessed 16 Jan. 2018.

² Wikipedia Contributors. “Egypt–Israel Peace Treaty.” Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egypt%E2%80%93Israel_Peace_Treaty. Accessed 16 Jan. 2018.