What are Gog and Magog?

Answer

Historically, Magog was a grandson of Noah. “The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras.” (Genesis 10:2). The descendants of Magog settled in the far north of Israel, likely in Europe and northern Asia. “Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him.” (Ezekiel 38:2). Magog seems to be used to refer to “northern barbarians” in general, but likely also has a connection to Magog the person. The people of Magog are described as skilled warriors (Ezekiel 38:15;Ezekiel 39:3-9).

Gog and Magog appear in Ezekiel 38–39 and in Revelation 20:7–8. While these two passages use the same names, a close study of Scripture clearly demonstrates they do not refer to the same people and events. The events are separated by at least 1,000 years. In Ezekiel’s prophecy, Gog will be the leader of a great army that attacks the land of Israel, which is “peaceful and unsuspecting” at the time “and thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates.” (Ezekiel 38:11). Gog is described as “of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal” (<a href="https://www.bibliatodo.com/en/searc(Ezekiel 38:2-3). When will the battle of Gog and Magog described by Ezekiel take place? There are a couple of theories:

• Before the tribulation commences. This perspective highlights that, following the battle, the people of Israel will spend seven years burning the enemy’s weapons and more than seven months burying the deceased (Ezekiel 39:9-10, 12-16). Such a duration likely indicates that the battle will occur before the tribulation, perhaps even before the church’s rapture.

• During the initial phase of the seven-year tribulation period. This viewpoint is based on the premise that Israel is in a state of peace when the invasion occurs «After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them. », (Ezekiel 38:8,11) «and thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates, », (Ezekiel 38:8,11). The security enjoyed by Israel is believed to stem from the covenant made with the Antichrist at the start of the tribulation, known as Daniel’s 70th Week «And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.», (Daniel 9:27a).