“Gog of the land of Magog.” Such is the descriptive name given by the inspired prophet to the leader of the great Northern host which will invade Palestine in the latter days.1
There are two outstanding and differing views as to which modern nation is indicated by this prophecy; some students claiming that Gog and Magog are German, whilst others claim that they are Russian. Is it possible to arrive, once for all, at a definite conclusion as to which idea is correct?
Advocates of each of these views quote the writings of Dr. [John] Thomas in support of their contentions, and as a matter of fact both views are found combined in that writer’s exposition of this prophecy. He takes for granted that ROSH, MESHECH and TUBAL are names significative of the Russian Empire, whilst on the other hand, he claims that by MAGOG we are to understand Germany. It is very important to note that this latter conclusion is reached by endeavouring to trace the migrations of the descendants of Magog (that is, the Scythians), from about the time of the Greek historian Herodotus (5th century B.C.) to the commencement of the Christian era, with the result that round about that latter date they are found occupying the territory stretching from the Rhine in the West, along the southern shores of the Baltic, that is, northern Germany. Hence, it is argued, the Magog of the prophecy is the Germany of our times.
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Author: Philip Wale
Keywords: Gogian, Gogian host, Gogian invader, Gogue Magog, Gog, Gogue, Magog, Magogue, Gog and Magog, Meshech and Tubal, Meshech, Tubal, Russia, Soviet Union, Rosh
Bible reference(s): Genesis 10:2, 1 Chronicles 5:4, Eze 38, Eze 39, Revelation 20:8
Source: “Gog of the Land of Magog,” The Testimony, Vol. 7, No. 82, October 1937, pp. 357-60.
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