This is not the Gog Magog war from Ezekiel 38
With the war against Iran continuing in the Middle East, I’d like to take a moment to point out something obvious. This is not the Gog Magog war from Ezekiel 38. It’s not! I know that Israel and Iran are both supposed to be participants, but none of the other requirements are present for this to be the fulfillment of the Ezekiel 38 prophecy.
Let’s take a look at the prophecy. For those of you who want to look up the original source, I applaud you, and you can find it here.
Notice that the coalition of nations, led by the nation of Magog, attacks and invades Israel. In our current war, the United States and Israel are attacking Iran.
In future years you will invade a land that has recovered from war, whose people were gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate. They had been brought out from the nations, and now all of them live in safety. 9 You and all your troops and the many nations with you will go up, advancing like a storm; you will be like a cloud covering the land. Ezek 38:8-9
In addition, the reason the Ezekiel 38 coalition invades Israel is to plunder Israel’s riches.
to take plunder and to take booty, to stretch out your hand against the waste places that are again inhabited, and against a people gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and goods, who dwell in the midst of the land. Ezek 38:11-12
Third, there is a coalition of several nations that attack Israel. The list of nations involved in the Ezekiel 38 prophecy include:
- Russia
- Iran
- Turkey
- Sudan
- Libya
‘Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal. 4 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. 5 Persia, [a]Ethiopia, and [b]Libya are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; 6 Gomer and all its troops; the house of Togarmah from the far north and all its troops—many people are with you. Ezek 38:3-6
The nation of Iran is not a coalition of nations all by itself.
Finally, the Ezekiel 38 war occurs at a time when Israel is dwelling safely in the land God has given them.
You will say, ‘I will go up against a land of unwalled villages; I will go to a peaceful people, who dwell [a]safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates’ Ezek 38:11-12
In the Middle East of Today, Israel is not safe. Israel is the most unsafe nation in the region, expecting to have to fight for their very existence at any moment. They are shelled, have terrorist attacks, and are threatened with annihilation constantly. The surrounding Arab nations hate Israel, and the rest of the world hates Israel almost as much. Israel is not safe!
As a final word, Iran should be grateful this is not the Gog Magog war prophesied in Ezekiel 38. In that war, the ending is devastating to all the nations that come against Israel, Including Iran. The forces coming against Israel will look so vast that Israel will surly lose any confrontation. Israel will appear week before their enemies just to give God a chance to show his power. And God shows up!
“And 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. 19 For in My jealousy and in the fire of My wrath I have spoken: ‘Surely in that day there shall be a great [e]earthquake in the land of Israel, 20 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.’ 21 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. 22 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. 23 Thus I will magnify Myself and sanctify Myself, and I will be known in the eyes of many nations. Then they shall know that I am the Lord.” ’ Ezek 38:18-23
Whatever is happening, and will happen in the future on account of this war, this is not Ezekiel 38.
