Ezekiel 38–39: The Gog and Magog Invasion Revealing the Antichrist

At this point in our studies, we are going to turn our attention to a prophecy in Ezekiel 38–39. This prophecy speaks of someone known as Gog of Magog, who will one day invade Israel.

Most modern prophecy teachers say that the events in Ezekiel 38 describe an end-time invasion of Israel before the tribulation, in which Russia is supernaturally defeated by God. They claim this leads to a period when Israel will be at peace and will burn weapons for seven years—often taught to occur during the tribulation.

However, the idea of an invasion before the tribulation is actually a modern concept. In Jewish history, Gog was always seen as the last enemy of Israel, and the early church identified him as the Antichrist. It wasn’t until the 17th–19th centuries that the Gog–Magog war began to be interpreted differently.

Hippolytus of Rome (3rd century), Origen (3rd century), and Jerome (4th–5th century) all interpreted Gog and Magog as the Antichrist or as general forces of evil, with no association with Russia. Therefore, the “Russia as Gog” interpretation is not found in Jewish texts or in early church writings.

The reason it has been taught as a Russian invasion in modern times is that Russia was emerging as a major northern power threatening Eastern Europe. It seemed to fit Ezekiel’s description of a northern land bringing many nations against Israel. As is often the case, people tried to make end-time prophecy fit their own era.

Humans crave immediate satisfaction, and the sensationalism of casting Russia as a biblical end-time enemy often mattered more than historical accuracy.

The war of Gog and Magog fits into our studies about the Antichrist just before the middle of the tribulation. As you will soon learn, Gog is actually the Antichrist.

Who Is Gog of Magog

God never asks a question that He does not already know the answer to. He asks questions to make us think. Here, He is asking if Gog is the one whom the prophets spoke of repeatedly, the one who would come against Israel. The name “Gog” appears only in two other unrelated passages outside of Ezekiel. So why does God ask if he is the one multiple prophets mentioned?

According to this verse, there should be more than just a couple of chapters in Ezekiel that mention him. Clearly, this man is not found only here—he is referenced throughout the Old Testament:

Micah 5:5–6 (the Assyrian)

Isaiah 10 (Assyrian oppressor)

Jeremiah 1:14 (evil from the north)

Joel 2 (northern army)

Zechariah 14 (Jerusalem invasion)

Daniel 11 (king of the north)

The Bible sometimes names a king in prophecy while actually referring to someone else. These names serve almost as placeholders—they represent the person the prophecy truly speaks of.

These passages describe a human king, yet the language suddenly shifts, speaking of him as an angel who was in Eden, the anointed cherub upon the holy mountain of God. The king of Tyrus is another example of a normal man representing someone else.

Similarly, Gog is not the literal name of the Antichrist; it is a name representing him. Just as Magog, Meshech, and Tubal are not the modern-day names of the lands they represent, they were symbolic representations of the future.

We do not need to get hung up on the exact names. What matters is what they represent. We can determine who Gog represents by examining the Scriptures and identifying who matches his description, since God says He spoke of him often.

Descriptions of Gog

• Invades Israel with many nations (Ezekiel 38:5–9)
• Comes from the north (Ezekiel 38:15)
• The invasion happens “in the latter days” (Ezekiel 38:16)
• A great shaking occurs in Israel at the end (Ezekiel 38:19)
• Mountains are thrown down (Ezekiel 38:20)
• God is made known as Lord to all nations (Ezekiel 38:23)
• God calls the birds to feast on his fallen armies (Ezekiel 39:17–20)
• Israel will no longer pollute God’s holy name afterward (Ezekiel 39:7–8)
• God strikes him through pestilence, blood, hailstones, fire, and brimstone (Ezekiel 38:22)
• This is the day of the Lord (Ezekiel 39:8)
• He is destroyed on the mountains of Israel (Ezekiel 39:4)
• God causes his armies to turn on each other (Ezekiel 38:21)

Compare with the Antichrist:

• Invades Israel with many nations (Daniel 11:40–41)
• Comes from the north (Daniel 11:40)
• The invasion happens “in the latter days” (Daniel 8:23; 11:40)
• A great shaking occurs in Israel at the end (Revelation 16:18)
• Mountains are thrown down (Revelation 16:20)
• God is made known as Lord to all nations (Revelation 1:7)
• God calls the birds to feast on the fallen armies (Revelation 19:17–18)
• Israel will no longer pollute God’s holy name (Zechariah 12:10)
• God strikes him through pestilence, blood, hailstones, fire, and brimstone (Revelation 16)
• This is the day of the Lord (Revelation 16:14)
• He is destroyed on the mountains of Israel (Zechariah 14:2–4; Revelation 19:19)
• God causes his armies to turn on each other (Zechariah 14:13)

Not only are Gog and the Antichrist an exact match, but certain events—such as the day of the Lord with a great earthquake, mountains thrown down, and Christ’s return splitting the Mount of Olives—can only apply if they are the same person.

There is no doubt: Ezekiel 38–39 describes the invasion of the Antichrist into Israel, not a pre-tribulation invasion by Russia.

Who Invades Israel With Gog and Magog

The lands of Magog, Meshech, and Tubal represent the future nations that will join the Antichrist in his invasion. These names have a history going all the way back to Noah.

Japheth’s descendants are generally seen as the peoples of modern-day Europe, northern Asia, and Anatolia (Genesis 10:2–5).

Ham’s descendants primarily populated Africa and parts of the Near East (Genesis 10:6–20).

Shem’s descendants populated much of the Near East, including Mesopotamia, Syria, and Iran (Genesis 10:21–31).

Magog, Meshech, and Tubal were sons of Japheth who settled in lands north of Israel, particularly in Anatolia and regions north of the Black Sea (modern-day Russia). Archaeology and Assyrian records identify Meshech with the Mushki and Tubal with Tabal, tribes located in eastern and central Anatolia.

These regions bordered the northern territories of the Assyrian Empire and occasionally shared areas in northern Syria as borders shifted. This means the Antichrist, as established in previous studies, could be both Syrian and from the land of Magog.

It is Magog, Meshech, and Tubal that invade Israel from the north. These would include areas such as Syria, Turkey, and Russia, forming the main invasion force. This passage notes that they “handle swords,” indicating they will carry out the fighting. Other nations are said to have shields and helmets, which could mean they provide support or also play an active role.

Those nations include: Persia (modern-day Iran), Ethiopia (modern-day Sudan), and Libya. Gomer is often linked to modern-day Turkey but could also include areas such as Ukraine. Togarmah corresponds to modern-day Turkey, Armenia, Georgia, or even parts of Azerbaijan. These nations may all form part of the main invasion force, but the phrase “and many people with thee” suggests additional nations may also participate.

When Does Gog Invade Israel

If you have been following along in this unit, you know that the Antichrist had no intention of breaking his covenant or invading Israel during the first half of the tribulation period. But by the middle of the tribulation, his heart begins to turn against them.

Even the Antichrist himself may not initially realize that he is the one God has spoken of. But God will “put a hook in his jaw” and draw him into Israel. It is at this point that an evil thought enters his heart: he will seize the land and the spoils of Israel for himself. This occurs in the middle of the seven-year tribulation.

This invasion of Israel by Gog—the Antichrist—occurs in the middle of the tribulation. It gives him access to the land and the temple, where he establishes his command in Jerusalem. This marks the beginning of the Great Tribulation, the last three and a half years.

We can read further in Ezekiel to see what ultimately happens to Gog. He will be killed on the mountains of Israel when Jesus returns. However, there is a potential point of confusion that must be addressed.

You might ask: How can the Antichrist be killed and buried when the beast is said to be cast alive into the lake of fire?

Prophecy is sometimes unclear, and I do not claim to have a certain answer. However, there are two ways to understand this without contradiction—one theological, one more literal.

First, and most likely in my opinion, the beast is not the Antichrist. Throughout Scripture, the beast represents world empires. Changing its meaning suddenly to represent the Antichrist himself is inconsistent. It makes more sense to view it as the final destruction of human governments. Since the beast has never been a physical being but a representation of government, this could be understood as the concept being eliminated.

Second, if we still interpret the beast as the Antichrist, it does not create a problem. If there is an opening in the earth leading to the lake of fire, he could be cast alive into it, which would immediately kill him and serve as a grave, while his armies receive a normal burial. Considering the Mount of Olives will be split and the earth will shake, this scenario is plausible.

Another point of contention is the fact that Israel is said to be burning the weapons of war afterwards for seven years. But that isn’t a problem when you consider the millennial reign of Jesus doesn’t begin with a renewed and perfect earth. It begins with the earth as it is at that time. So the first seven years are spent burning weapons.

Whatever the case, the fact remains: Scripture reveals Gog as the Antichrist. He invades Israel in the middle of the tribulation and occupies the land for three and a half years.

In the next study, we will examine the fall of Satan, the abomination of desolation, and the false prophet.

Continue To Unit 7:22 – The Dragon Falls, the Beast Rises: Revelation 12 and the Beginning of the Great Tribulation OR

Return To Christianity 101 Unit 7 – The Latter Days – A Detailed Look