The prophet Ezekiel saw an attack against Israel coming in the last days from the land of Magog. It’s often called the Ezekiel 38 war, and some believe it will be fulfilled in World War 3.
Bible scholars have sought to identify which modern day nation is Magog and many have concluded it must be Russia because Ezekiel 38:15 says they will come from the remote parts of the north. Russia is due north of Israel, but so is Turkey. Pastor Steve Cioccolanti, founder of Discover Ministries, believes Magog is more likely Turkey. He points out historical patterns often reveal future events as history repeats itself (Ecclesiastes 1:9). In this case, history shows past attacks against modern Israel have always come from Muslim nations, and never once from Russia. 82% of Turkey’s population is Muslim and only 2% Christian. (Source: Wikipedia)
In the 9-minute video shown below, Pastor Steve supports his case with eight additional points.
Modern rabbis are telling Jews that the only prophecy left to fulfill before the Messiah is Ezekiel 38-39, the Gog-Magog War, or what we would call World War III. Who will be the players?
The popular view that Russia is the “bad guy” will be challenged. Russia is not the focus of Ezekiel 38-39. Those who believe the American-centric view that Russia is the enemy will have to re-examine their understanding of Ezekiel 38-39.
Locating the land of Magog is just part of the challenge with interpreting this prophecy. Timing is another challenge. Ezekiel saw it happening “in the last days” (Ezekiel 38:16), which could refer to the generation living when the Lord returns, but after He returns, He rules from Jerusalem for one thousand years, so I think those years are also part of the last days.
During the thousand year Day of the Lord, God’s people will be living on earth in glorified immortal bodies, ruling over the nations with a rod of iron, exercising authority given to us by the Lord (Revelation 2:26-28). Although Satan will be bound during most of that time and sin will not be tolerated, he will be released from his prison at the end of the thousand years and will come out to deceive the nations, specifically Gog and Magog. By that time, God’s people will have already been living in their glorified, immortal bodies for one thousand years, so Satan will not be able to deceive us, which means unsaved mortals must still be living on earth during the thousand years. They will fall for his deception and he will gather them together for war, surrounding the city of Jerusalem. Then God will send fire from heaven to destroy them. (Revelation 20:7-9)
Since Revelation 20:7-9 clearly show the fulfillment of Ezekiel’s Gog and Magog prophecy happens after the thousand year reign of the Lord, the only way it could be fulfilled in our generation is if it happens twice, but so far I have not found any scriptures supporting that idea. If it only happens once, then all the teachings connecting it to people and nations today are in error and causing confusion.
Author: James Bailey
James Bailey is a blogger, business owner, husband and father of two grown children. In 1982, he surrendered his life to the Lord Jesus Christ. In 2012, he founded Z3news.com to broadcast the message of salvation by reporting end time news before it happens.
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Iran, Turkey and Russia meeting in Sochi, Russia TODAY!!!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skhuxkZ8D7o
Funny how Russia is attending this meeting isn’t it, when this topic is about how russia will not be involved or be the leader of the War of Gog and Magog, Hmmm! Makes you wonder huh?
(In regards to the link you shared where people are talking about how ISIS and Oil are the reasons for the war in Syria, my response to them was;…
The War in Syria has always been about setting up the Global World Banking System in Syria, same as it was in Iraq, Afghanistan & Libya, which currently Syria, North Korea and Iran are still not a part of, and this is a huge set back for the coming New World Global Order and their One World Global Currency banking System.
Next stop after Syria, “and you can bet your bottom dollar”, war with North Korea and then Iran and “You can take that to the bank.” lol 😉
Warrior4Jesus,
Agree with your analysis. That is precisely why BRICS with a combined firepower of around 7400 nuclear war heads is trying to crash the Dollar and take away US capacity to wage war for the New World Order. It is race against time and i believe[ prophecies here back that up] BRICS will achieve their objective.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_states_with_nuclear_weapons
The plunder of America began in 1913 when then the illegal and criminal Federal Reserve came into existence. What is astonishing is the idea that an elected government by the people is good enough to manage all the affairs of the state but not the most important one,ie of creating money. Next these criminals sold this idea to rest of the world. BIS,SWIFT,World Bank,IMF etc which are the visible faces of International Finance are all propped up by the Fed. The crimes committed by the deep state and the shadow government is possible by the Dollars created out of thin air by the Fed. So is the wars and the agenda of NWO.
Only way to get rid of this giant squid with its tentacles spread around the world is by dollar crash and subsequent issue of new Dollars by the Treasury. Have read prophetic and market analysts stating the imminent fall of the Dollar and Fed here.
Sure there will be huge problems in the US and around the world initially but that is the price to pay for slaying this Goliath and giving power back to the people. I also realize that it wont solve all the problems and it is mere wishful thinking that everything is going to be rosy from then on or new Goliath wont rise. But the head of this giant has to be cut off.
I view the Day of the Lord as that relatively short window of time when He visits His wrath upon the wicked of the Earth. In my mind, ‘the Last Days’ refers to the 70th week of Daniel, which does not include The Millennium.
2 Peter 3:8-10 reveals the Day of the Lord lasts 1,000 years because in that day the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat and the earth and its works will be burned up. Revelation 21:1 reveals those events happen at the end of the thousand year reign of the Lord. So it begins with the return of the Lord during the great tribulation and continues for 1,000 years. After 6,000 years of man’s dominion, the Day of the Lord is the seventh day, the day of rest.
Why the thumbs down? Is it a Sabbath conflict again?
Some people get offended when they hear the Bible contradicts what they’ve been taught. Jesus said they invalidate the word of God by holding onto man-made teachings (traditions). (Mark 7:13)
James, sorry this is a late post. I totally agree with you. I had to adjust my own understanding of the day of the Lord as I drove into scripture. Those same scriptures you shared helped me understand that the thousand years is the final day in God’s plan. The 7 day model is a pattern of all time prior to the new heaven and new earth. Various OT scriptures support this, including Hos 6:1-2 where Israel is prophetically portrayed as restored after 2 days (consider this as 2000 years since Jesus’ crucifixion and Jerusalem’s destruction).
Hosea 6: 1. “Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds. 2. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence. – Bible Offline
That’s a great scripture. Thanks for sharing Jerome.
John Paul Jackson said he attack will come from Turkey, and its ruler will be the head of the Islam, I believe Joel Richardson also spoke of this.
Yes, I believe Joel Richardson says Turkey will be Gog/Magog.
Interesting to note all 7 churches receiving letters in Revelation chapters 2-3 are in Turkey, are located close to each other, even though there were many churches in many other locations — even in Greece and in Rome. Makes sense to me then that this is a signpost from God, an arrow indicating “I’m focusing in on this area” for the rest of Revelation, as well, when not discussing Israel.
They might be right about that, but I think it’s important to understand the timing of the attack since Revelation 20:7-9 says it happens at the end of the thousand year reign of the Lord. I have yet to find any scriptures supporting two fulfillments of Ezekiel’s prophecy, but if it’s in there somewhere, I would like to find it.
James, you maybe right, did you see any major event in scripture at least have two-three scriptures from other books support that particular event, right? I believe all of us agree that Rev20: 7-9 will occur after 1000 years, but do you feel quite odd that just ONE SCRIPTURE IN BIBLE MENTION ABOUT THAT EVENT ONLY??? It is very very week indeed.
Revelation 20:7-9 is the only mention of Gog and Magog after Ezekiel 38-39, so if there is a second fulfillment, it is not supported by any scriptures.
The following verse does not pick a side for whether or not Ezekiel 38-39 is fulfilled after the 1000 years, it is just an OT passage that may be the same event of when Satan deceives the nations to attack after the Millennial kingdom.
“Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised
In the city of our God,
In His holy mountain.
2 Beautiful in elevation,
The joy of the whole earth,
Is Mount Zion on the sides of the north,
The city of the great King.
3 God is in her palaces;
He is known as her refuge.
4 For behold, the kings assembled,
They passed by together.
5 They saw it, and so they marveled;
They were troubled, they hastened away.
6 Fear took hold of them there,
And pain, as of a woman in birth pangs,
7 As when You break the ships of Tarshish
With an east wind.
8 As we have heard,
So we have seen
In the city of the Lord of hosts,
In the city of our God:
God will establish it forever. Selah”
Psalm 48:1-8 NKJV
Thanks Marcio.
I see psalm 83 next. We shall watch and see.
I agree, the Psalm 83 war appears to be coming soon.
James from a careful study of the words of Duduman , Youngbrandt & Sarah Menet , I am convinced Psalm 83 war is the start of world war 3 and continues thru the Ezekiel 38 war and ends with the Battle of Armageddon & the return of JESUS . I believe once the Psalm 83 battle of WW3 starts it is unending war for the world till JESUS comes back . It is always the crisis of war that brings the most changes to a society in history . Blessings
All prophecies must be judged by the Scriptures. In this case, Psalm 83 supports what they are saying, but Revelation 20:7-9 says Ezekiel 38 will be fulfilled after the thousand year reign of the Lord. I have yet to find any scripture supporting the idea of two fulfillments for Ezekiel’s prophecy.
Isaiah 17 is about the destruction of Damascus, which has not yet been fulfilled. With all the rumblings of war in Syria and Iran amassing military bases in Syria, I agree this war might be the next thing coming. However, I don’t see any connection to the Gog and Magog invasion of Israel from Ezekiel 38-39 since they are not mentioned in Isaiah 17 and it is about Damascus, not Jerusalem.
I agree. Does anyone really believe it will take God putting hooks in the jaws of Erdogan to get him to attack Israel if he’s leading a coalition and can establish himself as the next leader of the caliphate?
For any of this to be true, there would have to be two wars of Magog attacking Israel because Revelation 20:7-9 clearly identifies it happens at the end of the thousand year reign of the Lord. The description seems to be identical to what is described in Ezekiel 38, so I am wondering what scripture reveals this same prophecy is fulfilled twice?
Many times scripture is fulfilled twice James – Passover being the most glaring example; the blood of a lamb saving the first born in Egypt, and THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB OF GOD SAVING THE WORLD ON THE CROSS!
Nimrod attempted the first WORLD ORDER, Obama the new WORLD ORDER!.
I agree it’s possible, but the examples you listed are not fulfillments of the same prophecies. Passover was a sign pointing to the fulfillment of the blood of the Lamb of God being shed, just as many other signs pointed to that, but there was only one fulfillment because only one was worthy to pay that price. The same with Nimrod. He was a type of the antichrist and operated in that spirit, just as many others have done, including King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. However, they did not fulfill the prophecies of the antichrist because there will only be one who does.
If Ezekiel’s prophecy is fulfilled twice, there should be scriptures to support that idea, but so far I have not found any.
James, I would like to know your opinion, is Matt24 that mention Jerusalem will be surround by the enemy and there shall be great tribulation, is that verse already fulfilled during 70AC (the destruction of Jerusalem) or will be fulfilled in the near future? Many scholars seem confuse about these matter and some simply say there will be double fulfillment.
The answer to your question lies in the question disciples asked the Lord in Mathew 24:3
And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
But in Verse 2 Lord was prophesying the destruction of the Temple by Romans in AD70.
2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
I agree with Steve’s answer.
Several books by the late great author Grant Jeffrey, explain in detail, the two Wars of Gog and Magog, and compare them to Holy Biblical Scriptures that show that they are two separate events separated by a thousand year period. “ARMAGEDDON:
APPOINTMENT WITH DESTINY”, “MESSIAH:
WAR IN THE MIDDLE EAST”, “The Next World War: What Prophecy Reveals About Extreme Islam and the West”, “Countdown to the Apocalypse: Learn to read the signs that the last days have begun.”,
http://www.grantjeffrey.com/article/rusisrl.htm
http://www.grantjeffrey.com/article/article4.htm
https://americanvision.org/1727/russias-presence-syria-fulfillment-gog-magog-war/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wk0FMXvJzRU
(Grant Jeffery had almost 70 years of studying Holy Bible Scriptures regarding this topic under his belt before he recently passed away.)
If there are two fulfillments, please find it in the scriptures, which should be the foundation for our faith, not the teachings of any man. Building our faith on any other foundation is a formula for disaster. Gog and Magog are only mentioned one time after Ezekiel 38-39 and that is in Revelation 20:7-9. I marvel at how people put their confidence in the teachings of men over the word of God, but it explains why Satan is able to penetrate the minds of believers so easily. God has given us the road map, but we have to be willing to follow it.
Daniel’s 1,260 days from Obama’s Covenant of Peace (Nobel Prize) 10/9/2009 – 3/22/2013 Abomination of Desolation in Jerusalem; which I believe will be fulfilled again too. The third temple was re-created at the DNC in Denver, CO in 2008 for Obama; yes, a REAL third temple will be built in JERUSALEM this time.
The abomination of desolation did not happen in 2013 because Jesus clearly warned us what would happen immediately afterwards.
When we see it happening, He warned,
16 “then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains.
17 Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get the things out that are in his house.
18 Whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak.
19 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!
20 But pray that your flight will not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath.
21 For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will.
22 Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.
For major events like the abomination of desolation, the shedding of the blood of the Lamb of God and the rule of the antichrist, the fulfillment is often preceded by types and signs pointing to it, but there is only one actual fulfillment. However, other prophetic words have multiple fulfillments, such as the prophetic words of encouragement and promise shared by Lana Vawser. Many people are seeing the fulfillment of those promises because many have been going through the long season of trials, just as she has been shown, and that season is now coming to an end as we enter a new season of harvest.
There has been so much speculation over the millennia over what the “abomination of desolation” could be. As with many prophecies, it seems only those alive at the time of fulfillment will understand.
With that in mind…when we, in America at least, think of the word “abomination”…who comes to mind? And that happened before it was revealed to so many that Obama is the AC.
Now, if you look at a definition of “desolation” as being “barrenness”…perhaps the “abomination of desolation” is staring us in the face. When the AC sets his “barren” rump on the throne, won’t he have fulfilled this passage? The temple was established at the place God wanted His people to bring offerings of the FRUIT of their land. Someone who has chosen to NOT follow God’s purpose for men and women, AND who promotes others to join in his rebellion……couldn’t such a person be considered an abomination of desolation?
The scriptures tell us the events surrounding the abomination of desolation so we can know it when it happens. It is a monumental event that will not go unnoticed. Based on the context revealed in Matthew 24, we can be sure it has not yet happened because if it had, the wrath of God would have already been poured out on the unrighteous. Jesus described it as “a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will.“ (Matthew 24:21). At that time, the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light and the stars will fall from the sky and the powers of heaven will be shaken. These events happen right before the Lord returns. (Matthew 24:29-31) These are the same events that happen when the sixth seal is broken, confirming these are the same events. (Revelation 6:12-17)
Yes, I know. It’s just the depths of scripture, and the types and shadows the Lord uses that keep us always reading and pondering…
The “third temple” (of ISRAEL) was not (re)created at the DNC in 2008. Beyond the point that something cannot be re-created that has never been……what was created for Obummer was the ancient Greek Pergamom Altar, the Throne of Satan, where the Lord’s martyr, Antipas, was murdered.
There is only one mention of Gog and Magog in the scriptures after Ezekiel 38-39 and it is found in Revelation 20:7-9, so that is the only scriptural fulfillment of Ezekiel’s prophecy. If there is another fulfillment prior to that, it is not supported by scriptures. The reasons you listed as scriptural evidence are all based on applying the prophecy to current events, which is making an assumption that it must be fulfilled before the Lord returns. It is a mistake to start with the conclusion, forcing it to fit our own interpretation.
Many things will have changed by the end of the thousand years, which we have no way of knowing unless God reveals it.
The evil thoughts that come into the mind of Gog in that day (Ezekiel 38:10) fit perfectly with Revelation 20:7-8, which says,
7 When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison,
8 and will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war; (Revelation 20:7-8)
The Bible also says that satan’s throne is Pergamos/Pergamon in present day Turkey, although the throne has been moved to Berlin. Germany is also home to many 1st and 2nd generation Turks which draws the connection between islam and nazism, both sharing anti-semitic views.
Rev. 2:12-13: “And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write,‘These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword: “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.”
The Pergamom throne was moved to Berlin to further the Lord’s prophecy given to Sadhu Sundar Selvaraj, that Berlin will be the AC’s spiritual throne.
Look up the new Islamic Coalition… HUGE army of 4 million soldiers!
Ezekial 38:16 “And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes.”
– If we are in the millennium, would there be heathens?
vs. 23 “Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the Lord.”
– Again, if we in the millennium, wouldn’t God be known in the eyes of all the nations?
The prophet Neville Johnson, and the prophet Sadhu Sundar Selvaraj, have both received words from the Lord that, yes, there will indeed be “heathen”, or “gentiles” in the millennium. Everyone NOT raptured are not necessarily damned. Those who reject the Lord WILL go into the pit……..but those who don’t reject Him will not automatically become the Body of Christ, or His Bride. They will be “saved” from the pit, but unschooled in the relationship the Lord seeks from His own. These are those some of His saints will rule and reign over.
Yes, there will be heathens in the millenium as was explained in this post.
If a brief mention of Gog and Magog in Rev 20:8 means that Ezek 38 – 39 won’t be fulfilled until after the 1000 year reign, then by the same reasoning, Babylon wasn’t really destroyed in the 5th century BC in accordance with the Old Testament prophets, because all of Rev 18 talks about it!
I think a better interpretation is that there can be physical and spiritual manifestations of the same thing. Obviously, physical Bablylon was destroyed long ago, but the spirit behind it still lives, and will be manifest in the events of Rev 18.
And the same principle could apply to Gog and Magog.
Isaiah gave two prophecies regarding the destruction of Babylon, one for ancient Babylon, which was fulfilled when the Medes conquered and later destroyed Babylon (Isaiah 13, Daniel 5:31), and another for the destruction of Babylon in the Day of the Lord, which has not yet been fulfilled because it specifically identified events that have not happened yet, such as the stars not giving their light, the sun darkened, the moon not giving its’ light, the earth shaken from its’ place, and mortal man being made scarcer than pure gold. (Isaiah 13:10-13). Those are not spiritual events, but actual physical events that have not happened yet. Each prophecy will be fulfilled only once, in different places at different times. The prophecies listed in Revelation 18 happen in the Day of the Lord, confirming Isaiah’s unfulfilled prophecy of modern Babylon.
Regarding the attack against Israel from Gog and Magog, it is only mentioned one time in the scriptures after Ezekiel 38-39, which is Revelation 20:7-9, which specifically identifies it happening at the end of the thousand year reign of the Lord, so that is the only scriptural fulfillment of Ezekiel’s prophecy. Although many people claim Ezekiel’s prophecy will be fulfilled before the Lord returns, there are no scriptures supporting that idea. I think it’s a great example of how man-made traditions are widely embraced even when they have no scriptural foundations.
There is a possibility that I have only seen mentioned or discussed one other time by one other person. My personal opinion is that Ezekiel 38 and 39 are not the same war, but describe two different wars. Ezekiel 38 describes and correlates with the Rev. 20 war and Ezekiel 39 describes the war at the end of Daniel’s 70th week, which most people call Armageddon. If you look at the end result of Ezekiel 39, they are cleansing the land for months which makes sense if you are staying on the earth and moving into the Millenial kingdom. The war described in Ezekiel 38/Rev 20 sees the next events as the White Throne judgment and new heaven and new earth. Something to consider.