Gog & Magog
towards8Ezekiel 38-39
Ezekiel 38-39 speaks of a king named Gog from the land of Magog who, with an alliance of nations from the four corners of the earth, will attack the land of Israel, but will be destroyed by God along with his army. King Gog refers to a Lydian king (presumably Gyges), and Magog refers to the Lydian Kingdom. This fits Ezekiel's lifetime, as he lived roughly between the 7th and 6th centuries BCE. At that time, the Lydian Kingdom ruled what is now Anatolia. This fits the geographical description of Magog as being north of Israel, since Anatolia is north of Israel. Furthermore, the fact that King Gog is referred to as the ruler of Meshech and Tubal is also fitting, since Meshech and Tubal were located in present-day Anatolia (Meshech-Tubal - BibleAtlas). With this information, Ezekiel 38-39 must have been fulfilled between the 7th and 6th centuries BCE.
Revelation 20
Revelation 20 speaks of nations (symbolically called Gog and Magog) that (1000 years after Jesus' return) will come from the four corners of the earth to wage war against the saints (the Church). However, they will lose this war because God will destroy them with fire. Shortly afterward, the Last Judgment will take place, the world will be destroyed, and a new, eternal world will be created. It is clear that Gog and Magog from Ezekiel was a foreshadowing of what will happen in the future. Ezekiel was about physical Israel, whereas Revelation is about spiritual Israel, the Church.