Before we examine specifics about the event recorded in Ezekiel 38–39, we need to establish the timing of this event and why it is likely a tribulation event, or at least part of it.
“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. 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.” —EZEKIEL 38:18-22
Some argue that the war described here by Ezekiel is the famed Battle of Armageddon. Others say Ezekiel 38 and 39 record two different events. Some say Revelation 20 and Ezekiel 38 and 39 are talking about the same battle. We will deal with those varying interpretations shortly, but whatever one’s interpretive position may be, there is evidence as to when the battle will end, and we’ll examine that in a moment. First, let’s consider who is involved.
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.”’”
We can find references to most of the names here in Genesis 10, where the immediate descendants of Noah are mentioned. Absent from the list in Genesis 10 are Gog, Libya, Persia, Ethiopia, and Rosh. Magog, Meshech, Tubal, Gomer, and Togarmah are all named as descendants of Noah through his sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth. As I mentioned in the introduction, the goal of this book is not to present all the different interpretations of the events discussed in each chapter. The subject of this chapter would require its own chapter to cover all the various ways the names in Ezekiel 38–39 are interpreted. If you would like to further investigate the various interpretations of the Ezekiel war, I would suggest an excellent book on the subject by Dr. Mark Hitchcock, titled Russia Rising.2
My own research has led me to believe that the modern nations represented by these ancient names are as follows: Togarmah, Gomer, Meshech, and Tubal represent modern-day Turkey. Libya is, of course, modern Libya. Persia is Iran, and Ethiopia represents North Sudan (in Ezekiel’s time Ethiopia was the area of North Africa directly south of Egypt). That leaves Magog and Rosh.
Excerpt from The Time of the Signs by Barry Stagner. Order Now.
Want the full chronology of earth’s final events, from the rebirth of Israel to the return of Christ? Read The Time of the Signs by Barry Stagner.
Want the full chronology of earth’s final events, from the rebirth of Israel to the return of Christ? Read The Time of the Signs by Barry Stagner.
Order the Book