Israel's Future, Pt. 3

July 9th, 2025
by Lance Waldie

Ezekiel 38:1-6 The word of Yahweh came to me saying, 2 “Son of man, set your face toward Gog of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him 3 and say, ‘Thus says Lord Yahweh, “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. 4 I will turn you about and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and all your military force, horses and horsemen, all of them magnificently dressed, a great assembly with large shield and shield, all of them wielding swords; 5 Persia, Ethiopia, and Put with them, all of them with shield and helmet; 6 Gomer with all its troops; Beth-togarmah from the remote parts of the north with all its troops—many peoples with you’ ” (LSB).

What Ezekiel 38-39 reveals is that before God restores the nation of Israel, as He has promised in Ezekiel 36-37, there will be a specific invasion of their land by a specific man named “Gog of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal” (38:2). Though Gog’s identity is yet unrevealed, it is certain he is not a historical leader but a future one. For God says of Gog, “You will come up against My people Israel like a cloud to cover the land. It will be in the last days that I will bring you against My land so that the nations may know Me when I prove Myself holy through you before their eyes, O Gog” (38:16, italics mine).

Identifying the locations Ezekiel gives is vital in the interpretation of the passage. Dogmatic assertions aside, Russia does appear to be the nation of “Gog, of the land of Magog.” First, some of the named nations are located in modern Russia. Second, the armies Ezekiel mentions come “from the remote parts of the north” (38:6, 15; 39:2) to include the land bridge between the Black and Caspian Seas. Third, Ezekiel specifies a coalition of nations, all of which are Muslim, enemies of Israel and/or aligned with or under the influence of Russia. Ezekiel mentions “Persia” (Iran), “Ethiopia” (aka, Cush), “Put” (Libya or Somalia), “Gomer” and “Beth-togarmah” (Turkey). All these nations will come together in the future (38:2-3, 5-6), led by Gog of Magog (Russia) in a united attack on the nation of Israel living peacefully in her land. Since no past historical events match Ezekiel’s prophecy, it must await a future fulfillment. Likely, this sneak invasion by Gog will occur just prior to the future seven-year Tribulation, the 70th week of Daniel 9:24-27 (cf. Rev. 6-18) that will ultimately bring Israel to salvation (cf. Rom. 11:26).

Notably, the attack of Gog of Magog on Israel will be orchestrated by God Himself. God will use Gog, along with all his allies, as pawns in His grand scheme to unite and restore Israel. Notwithstanding, it will be Gog’s idea to attack Israel, for Gog will act of his own freewill to achieve his own “evil plan” (38:10), an evil plan that will be concocted through observing Israel’s prosperity following her restoration to her land. Notably, today Israel has been “gathered from many” nations and is currently “living securely” (38:8). Although there have been many battles in and near Israel against the Jews, they continue to thrive and live securely. In the future, however, Gog of Magog will advance with his allies “like a cloud to cover the land” (38:16).

Gog’s purpose in invading the peaceful people of Israel, which is said to be living at that time “in unwalled villages” (38:11), will be to “seize plunder, to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to capture great spoil” (38:13). In other words, Gog will take note of Israel’s geographical importance and economic viability, and he will pounce on her unsuspected, perhaps in an effort to control commerce between Asia and Africa and beyond.

While Gog attacks Israel from the far north, his allies will attack from the east (Persia/Iran) and from the south (Ethiopia: Cush, Sudan, southern Egypt) and from the west (Put: Libya, Somalia). Covering the land “like a cloud” (v. 16), they will appear to overwhelm unsuspecting Israel. God closes by saying to Gog, “It will be in the last days that I will bring you against My land so that the nations may know Me when I prove Myself holy through you before their eyes, O Gog.” It is clear from this statement that what God does and will do will reveal that He and He alone is holy. This future invasion by the evil Gog will not only be orchestrated by Almighty God, God Himself will be seen as holy by His rebellious people Israel.

Food For Thought
Is Gog Vladimir Putin? Perhaps. Or, maybe Gog is a future Russian leader. Whoever Gog is or will be, he will be another tool in Yahweh’s hand chastising the nation of Israel and bringing them closer to their ultimate restoration in Christ. God has used pagan nations and rulers in the past to chastise His people Israel—from Assyria to Babylon to Cyrus the Great to Adolph Hitler. If only Israel would receive her Messiah! If she would, there would be nothing left for God to discipline, only to bless. But Israel’s persistence in rejecting God—from the OT days to her rejection of Jesus Christ in the first century to the modern continuation of her rejection of Jesus Christ—is the reason for her current state of hatred around the world and her imminent future danger of invasion from her enemies. But she will indeed one day repent and receive Jesus as her promised, prophesied Messiah. God promises that Israel will do just that! Let us therefore pray for that which God has promised to fulfill. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Ps. 122:6).