Ezekiel 38 – Prophecy about Gog and it’s allies

The book of Ezekiel is one of the major prophets in the Old Testament. It was authored by Ezekiel who was set as a watchman to the house of Israel.

Ezek 3:17 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me:

The thirty-eighth chapter of Ezekiel is about the prophecy of Gog and it’s war against Israel.

Identifying Gog and their allies

Ezek 38:1-7 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. I will turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and lead you out, with all your army, horses, and horsemen, all splendidly clothed, a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords. 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. Prepare yourself and be ready, you and all your companies that are gathered about you; and be a guard for them.

Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal are all places in Turkey. Gog and Magog had been identified as Turkey. You can read the detailed analysis in this post, Identifying Gog and Magog. It’s allies include modern day Iran, Sudan and Libya. Here, God is prophesying against Turkey and it’s allies.

Identifying the Prophetic Time

Ezek 38:8 “After many days you will be visited. In the latter years you will come into the land of those brought back from the sword and gathered from many people on the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate; they were brought out of the nations, and now all of them dwell safely.

The prophecy undoubtedly speaks about an invasion in latter days after Israel dwell safely in their own land. This period is right now. Israel was not only formed in 1948 but also dwell safely in their own land.

Ezek 38:9-13 “You will ascend, coming like a storm, covering the land like a cloud, you and all your troops and many peoples with you.” 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 unwalled villages; I will go to a peaceful people, who dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates’– to take plunder and to take booty, to stretch out your hand against the waste places that are again inhabited, and against a people gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and goods, who dwell in the midst of the land. 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?’

It is very interesting to note that the invasion by Turkey and it’s allies will happen on mainland Israel which has settlements with no walls. It is also interesting to note that modern day Saudi Arabia will not be involved in the war but worries about the invasion.

God vs Jihadists

Ezek 38:14-18 Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say to Gog, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “On that day when My people Israel dwell safely, will you not know it? Then you will come from your place out of the far north, you and many peoples 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 that I will bring you against My land, so that the nations may know Me, when I am hallowed in you, O Gog, before their eyes.” Thus says the Lord GOD: “Are you he of whom I have spoken in former days by My servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied for years in those days that I would bring you against them? And it will come to pass at the same time, when Gog comes against the land of Israel,” says the Lord GOD, “that My fury will show in My face.

God Himself will bring Turkey and it’s allies against Israel, but not to destroy Israel but to defeat Turkey and it’s allies so that the nations may know Him.

Ezek 38:19-23 For in My jealousy and in the fire of My wrath I have spoken: ‘Surely in that day there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel, so that the fish of the sea, the birds of the heavens, the beasts of the field, all creeping things that creep on the earth, and all men who are on the face of the earth shall shake at My presence. The mountains shall be thrown down, the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground.’ I will call for a sword against Gog throughout all My mountains,” says the Lord GOD. “Every man’s sword will be against his brother. And I will bring him to judgment with pestilence and bloodshed; I will rain down on him, on his troops, and on the many peoples who are with him, flooding rain, great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. Thus I will magnify Myself and sanctify Myself, and I will be known in the eyes of many nations. Then they shall know that I am the LORD.”

When Israel being surrounded by Turkey and it’s allies, all evidences point to a Jihad. God prophesied what will happen to the Jihadists who will come against Israel.

1. Civil war – Jihadists will fight against each other.
2. Flooding rain, great hailstones, fire and brimstone – all refer to a massive retaliation.
3. Because God will magnify Himself, this will not be a simple war where Israel can defeat but rather, it will be a war that all nations will know that that is a God in Israel and He defended His inheritance.