Week 28 Ezekiel
Ezekiel 25-32 is that long section of prophecies about Israel’s international opponents. I thought that content was behind me but today I come to 38 & 39 – a 52-verse prophetic forecast about a man named Gog who is the prince of Magog.
Gog of Magog is only mentioned ten times in the bible – nine of them in Ezekiel 38-39 (once in Revelation).
I checked an encyclopedia: Gog is a leader, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal who will attack Israel and be defeated in the last days. Magog is his country – the encyclopedia confirms what I pretty much knew just reading the bible.
In chapters 25-32 Ammon Moab Edom Philistia Tyre Egypt Assyria Babylon were mentioned – names I remembered, places I could spot on a map. But Magog is an unknown country. Ezekiel’s only location-hint is that Magog is in the remote north.
I looked at a map. Not because I figured Magog would be on it but to see what’s north of Israel. Straight north is modern-day Turkey. Is that remote enough? Farther yet is the Black Sea…a couple of independent states of the old soviet empire…Russia…the Arctic Ocean.
Ezekiel’s timeline on Gog’s annihilation is set for the distant future: after many days…in the latter years…the last days. So maybe we’re still waiting. In which case Gog could be a modern guy. The main player in a 2500 year-old forecast waiting quietly to happen.
Note: quotes from Columbia Encyclopedia 5th ed. (Columbia University: NY, 1993) and Ezekiel 38:8 & 15 (NASB)