The problem is not a new one. In Ezekiel 38 there is a prophecy about a group of nations under the leadership of a power named Gog, invading Israel from the north. This is obviously a latter-day prophecy, and many are convinced that the time for its fulfilment has come. Indeed, several things seem to point to this conclusion. After hundreds of years of exile, the nation of Israel is established in the land again. To the north, poised for action, is a great power. This great power is known to have designs on Israel, and it commands a number of satellite nations, just like Gog of Ezekiel 38.
There are just two difficulties:
If Gog of Ezekiel 38 represents Russia now, how are we to understand the statement that Gog invades for the purpose of taking a spoil of silver, gold, cattle and goods. Even if these desirable things are regarded as a figure of the wealth of Israel, the problem is still there. Strategically, Palestine is important, but in its present condition the wealth of Israel would not be a great target. Although, with God’s help, Israel has kept her Arab foes at bay, and even increased her territory, she cannot be described as dwelling safely. Yet this is Ezekiel’s description of Israel immediately before the Gogian invasion. The first difficulty has escaped almost unnoticed, but strenuous attempts have been made to resolve the second. Some have been careful to point out that the word “safely” means “confidently”. This does not help. The general picture is one of Israel, prosperous, relaxed and unafraid. She is not concerned about strengthening her defences, for she fears no invader. Thus Gog is represented as saying: “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, to take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land” (vv. 11 and 12).
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Author: Peter Watkins
Keywords: Gog, Gogue, Magog, Russians, Russia, USSR, Soviet Union
Bible reference(s): Ezekiel 38:11-12, Zechariah 14:1-2
Source: Some Difficult Passages, Book 4 (CIL).
Page indexed by: inWORD Bible Software.