Almost from the time when I first got saved about 50 years ago, I have heard that the end-times-invasion of Israel prophesied in Ezekiel 38 and 39 would come from Russia. I don’t know how this lie started or why such an obscure topic became such a popular topic of conversation, but it was. I heard it enough to conclude that it must be a well-established biblical truth. But with the heightened attention focused on both Russia and Israel at this present moment in time, I decided to subject this belief to my own personal scrutiny. And it has failed miserably. Proving once again that it is a mistake to assume that popular beliefs are correct.
An uphill battle
So entrenched is the belief that the invasion will come from Russia that it will be a difficult task for me to dissuade most people from it. But I will do my best to present the biblical and historical facts in an objective manner and pray for enlightenment. Hear me out, ok?
I will not be covering any other aspects of this invasion, such as armor or tactics, just the issue of “Who?”. All those other aspects have already been thoroughly covered.
So, we begin
Of course, we will begin by taking a look at Ezekiel 38:1-6 which is one of the two principal passages from which this belief emanates, the other one being 38:14-17 which we will cover later. 38:1-6 reads as follows (emphasis added):
“Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying,“Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, [a]the prince of Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him, and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the prince of Meshech, and Tubal.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.Persia, [b]Ethiopia, and [c]Libya are with them, all of them with shield and helmet;Gomer and all its troops; the house of Togarmah from the far north and all its troops—many people are with you.” Ezekiel 38:1-6 NASV
A few versions of the Old Testament include “Rosh” together with Meshech and Tubal, however the vast majority of biblical versions, including KJV, omit Rosh.
Footnotes provided by Spirit Filled Life Bible
- Ezekiel 38:2 Tg., Vg., Aquila the chief prince of Meshech, also v. 3
- Ezekiel 38:5 Heb. Cush
- Ezekiel 38:5 Heb. Put
“Of the land of Magog”
Noah had three sons. One of them was Japheth. Japheth had seven sons: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. All these people lived many generations before Ezekiel. The word of the Lord to Ezekiel directs the Lord’s wrath against “Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Meshech, and Tubal”. He identifies Gog in two ways. Gog is “of the land of Magog” and then gives Gog the title of “the prince of Meshech, and Tubal”. So, we have the land of his origin, “of the land of Magog”, and the two nations over which he ruled at that time, “the prince of Meshech, and Tubal”. God will put a hook in his mouth and drag him out to invade Israel.
It is necessary to distinguish between the land of Gog’s origin and the region over which he ruled at the time. Ezekiel identifies Gog as “Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Meshech, and Tubal”. Gog is from the land of Magog and he is currently the prince of Meshech and Tubal.
Ezekiel prophesied this during the Babylonian Exile and Magog lived many centuries before that time, so, Ezekiel was definitely referring to “the land of Magog”, as he states, rather than the person Magog.
I am an American, but I have lived in both France and Latvia for extended periods of time. On almost every occasion when I met someone, they asked me, “Where are you from?”. Of course, my reply was always, “I am American.” I am confident that everyone who has done any traveling at all can attest to this common question and the reason for it. Likewise, when identifying Gog, it is only natural to state that he is from, “the land of Magog”. This does not mean that he was in the land of Magog at the time of the prophesy. These are two different locations. An enormous deal is customarily made of Magog, but knowing where Gog was born does not tell us from where he will invade. We are dealing with the land of Magog, not the man Magog.[1]
Rosh.
This word “Rosh” is the only possible connection to Russia in the text, and then only because of the similarity of their names. Is it realistic to believe that the use of the word “Rosh” in the 6th Century BC could possibly refer to the word “Rus”, a word which did not come into existence for another 15 centuries, in the 9th Century AD? Add to that the fact that the word “rosh” does not appear in the original Hebrew text. The word “rosh”is not included in the vast majority of all translations of the Hebrew Bible, and when it is included, it is not included as a reference to a person, but rather to a “foreign nation”.
I did a Hebrew lexicon search on biblehub.com of Ezek. 38:2 and an interesting thing popped up. There was a Hebrew word for each of the names Magog, Meshech and Tubal, but no Hebrew word was given for Rosh. Try it. It just said “a foreign nation”, but no Hebrew name or word is given. Curious, huh? In line with this is the King James Version which omits Rosh altogether. The KJV reads: “Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him.” Ezek. 38:2
The website “biblegateway” posts 57 different versions of the Old Testament, and 57 different English translations of Ezekiel 38:2. Out of 57 translations, 47 do not include Rosh. They translate only “Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Meshech, and Tubal”. Only 10 out of 57 include Rosh. In 47 versions of the Old Testament, there is no mention of the word “rosh” in the verse.
The only other mention of Rosh in the Bible is in Genesis 46:21 where Rosh is included as one of the sons of Benjamin, one of Israel’s 12 sons. It is not possible that Gog could have been his prince.
I have noticed that all Russophobes fail to mention:
- Rosh is not in the original Hebrew of Ezekiel 38.
- Ezekiel wrote his prophecy 15 centuries before the first historical reference to Russia, therefore it is impossible for rosh to have referred to Russia
- Rosh is not included in Noah’s genealogy with Meshech and Tubal as recorded in Genesis.
Magog, Tubal and Meshech, are grandsons of Noah as recorded in Genesis 10:1-2, Rosh is not. (Genesis 10:1-6 in footnote[2])
“Now this is the genealogy of the sons of Noah: Shem, Ham and Japheth. And sons were born to them after the flood. The sons of Japheth were Gomer, Magog, Madal, Javan, Tubal, Meshech and Tiras.” Gen. 10:1-2 (emphasis added)
A story with 3 dates
This prophecy involves three different time periods.
- Ezekiel’s prophecy refers to the people who inhabited certain lands shortly after Noah’s flood, which flood occurred about 2348 BC
- Ezekiel prophesied sometime between 593 and 571 BC.
- The prophecy describes events that will occurduring the last days.
“Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Meshech and Tubal”
The key to understanding this invasion depends upon understanding the passage, “Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Meshech and Tubal”.
“Gog” is the instigator.
He is from the “land of Magog”.
His title is “prince of Meshech and Tubal”.
The initial mistake that most make is that they make Magog a player in the drama. He is not. It says that Gog was “of the land of Magog”, much the same as saying that I am “Lewis, from America”. It does not mean that Gog was in Magog then. Nor does it mean that Magog is a player in this prophecy.
Although Gog’s home nation is not material to determining the origin of the invasion, it may be of interest to know that Magog was the son of Japheth, the son of Noah. According to the Jewish historian Josephus, the land of Magog was the ancient land of the Schythians, a nomadic people who originated in Iran and migrated to Central Asia-Minor. The Encyclopedia Britanica attempts to identify the land of Magog by providing so many possibilities that one is led to conclude that its location could be anywhere in or near the Caucuses.
Much more relevant, and perhaps the single-most relevant, thing in our quest is that The mystery-man Gog is identified as “the prince of Meshech and Tubal”. (Gog was not a grandson of Noah as were Magog, Meshech and Tubal). If Gog is the prince of these two nations, then that is where he lives and rules. Both Meshech and Tubal were sons of Japheth, the son of Noah. The lands of both Meshech and Tubal are within modern-day eastern Turkey. No other single piece of information is more definitive in our search for the origins of the invasion. And when we examine Gomer and Togarmah, we find more evidence for modern-day Turkey.
“Persia, Cush, and Libya are with them…Gomer and all its troops; the house of Togarmah from the far north and all its troops—many people are with you.”
These are the nations that are “with Gog”.
Persia is Iran.
Cush was the son of Ham, the son of Noah. The land of Cush is mentioned 54 times in the Hebrew Bible as the nation just south of Egypt which is modern-day Sudan. There is no current single nation that corresponds to the ancient land of Cuch. It is now partly within Egypt and partly within Sudan. It is not Ethiopia as some footnotes say. It is modern-day Sudan which is militant Muslim.
Put was the third son of Ham, the son of Noah. The land of Put is modern-day Libya. (Nahum 3:9)
Gomer was the son of Japheth, the son of Noah. The land of Gomer is within western modern-day Turkey
Togarmah was the son of Gomer, the son of Japheth, the son of Noah. The land of Togarmah is in central modern-day Turkey.
In summary, Gog is the prince of Meshech and Tubal, which are both in eastern Turkey, which is militant Muslim. Gomer and Togarmah are both in western Turkey. And although western Turkey is less militant, both are Muslim and both are bringing all their troops, a matter of some significance. Iran and Sudan are militant Muslim. Libya is Muslim.
The dynamics of this drama
The invasion will be led by Gog with an army that is entirely Muslim. Gog is “prince of Meshech and Tubal”, both Muslim regions in Turkey. “With them” are Gomer and Togarmah, both of which are Muslim regions within Turkey. Also “with them” are Iran, Sudan and Libya, all Muslim countries. As previously mentioned, it is significant that Gomer and Togarmah supply all their troops to this invading army. In any confederacy of nations that make up an invasion, the principal players are the ones who supply the most troops and the battle prowess of Turkish troops is renown.
Ezekiel had previously given a detailed account of the lands of Meshech and Tubal in chapter 32 and some in 27:13. Of all the historical information available about ancient commercial activities during this time and place, none compares to the biblical information given in Ezekiel 32. It is by far the single-most comprehensive and informative available. All scholars of ancient commerce consult it and rely on it. The account describes how the people who lived in the lands of Meshech and Tubal lived on the Black Sea coast of Turkey (probably in Cappadocia and Pontus) and did trade with Tyre, a Phoenician port. It also describes the brutal and barbaric nature of their culture and trade practices. To describe Gog as the prince of Meshech and Tubal would have sent chills down the spine of Israelis. And then to add to that all the armies of Gomer and Togarmah were going to join them would have been equally chilling. Turkey is fully committed to this invasion and that would have been perceived as truly terrifying at that time, and should now too. But it should not come as a surprise that Israel’s worst enemies have such brutal and barbaric roots. It is reassuring to know that God Himself destroys them.
Turkey today
Turkey has the 8th most powerful military in the world, behind USA, Russia, China, India, South Korea, UK and Japan. Its military prowess is undeniable.
Turkey has been a member of NATO since 1952, has the second largest army in NATO, is host to the Allied Land Command headquarters and has two important NATO airbases.
For many years, Turkey has been actively seeking membership in the EU.
Israel is not a member of NATO or the EU, so neither NATO or the EU would influence Turkey’s decision about invading Israel.
Iran
Persia (Iran) is included in the invasion by name. Today’s Iran is one of the strongest military nations in the Middle-East today. Iran is a large country with a large and well-equipped army. Iranians are not Arabs, they are Persians, very different. Far more capable than Arabs. Iran has close ties with Turkey and the two would have no qualms about joining forces against Israel.
Why not Arabs?
When we think about a large-scale invasion of Israel, we naturally assume that it would be the Arab nations that did it. They have been such a constant thorn in Israel’s side over the years. (Egypt, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan) But this invasion consists almost entirely of Turks, with some Persians and Sudanese thrown in. None of these are Arabs. Of the eight, only the Libyans are Arabs.
The Turks
Tugal and Meshech are in eastern modern-day Turkey. I have met many Turks and all have been quick to tell me that they are from western Turkey. This is because the distinction between eastern and western Turkey is very significant to Turks, and to our discussion. Western Turkey, principally Istanbul, is somewhat western in culture, whereas eastern Turkey is principally Muslim in culture. Both Tugal and Meshech are in modern-day eastern (Muslim) Turkey. Togarmah is in central and Gomer is in western Turkey.
Syrian Civil War
As if on cue to make this discussion even more relevant today, on November 27, 2024, an army of radical Kurdish Jihadists invaded Syria from Turkey and a fierce civil war broke out. On one side was Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s army, and on the other side were the Jihadist rebels led by Jolani, who was formerly a leader in Al-Qaeda and ISIS. Turkey maintains a “Jihad-on-call” militant group in eastern Turkey who were prominent in the rebel army’s attack. The entire world’s attention was focused on this war. Several of the main actors in our drama were also prominent in this civil war. Russia and Iran were backing Assad’s government, and on the other side was a large group of nations led by Israel, US and Turkey who were backing the rebels. Israel took advantage of the opportunity and struck and destroyed many, if not all, of Syria’s military assets in western Syria. The warlike nature of the radical, militant, vicious Muslim Jihadist army that came out of eastern Turkey were on full display for all the world to see as they rapidly took over the entire country and by December 8 forced President al-Assad to flee the country. All the geo-political aspects of this war are far above my head, so I will refer you to the brilliant analysis of Pepe Escobar for more information on this war.[3] Nevertheless, I feel safe in saying that this civil war in Syria and the rebels’ rapid and total success in just 12 days against such odds will be long remembered as a force to be reckoned with.
God does it
World History is largely a history of wars, starting with the military empires of Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome, and about 1,000 European wars that followed. In fact, there are usually about 20 wars going on at any given time. But the unique thing about the war described in Ezekiel is that God does it from beginning to end. It starts when God makes Gog think that Isreal is a sitting duck waiting to be plundered. Then God puts a hook in Gog’s mouth and drags him down to Israel for the invasion. And it is God who annihilates the entire invading army with fire and brimstone. This scenario is quite unique in modern times.
It is a mystery to me that those who believe that the invasion of Israel comes from Russia rather than from the eight countries so clearly set forth in the prophecy must also believe that God would rather annihilate Christian Russians than Muslim terrorists. Are there no limits to irrational Russophobia?
The story goes on. More about Gog in Ezekiel 38:14-17
“Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say to Gog, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “On that day when My people Israel dwell safely, will you not know it? Then you will come from your place out of the far north, you and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great company and a mighty army. You will come up against My people Israel like a cloud, to cover the land. It will be in the latter days that I will bring you against My land, so that the nations may know Me, when I am hallowed in you, O Gog, before their eyes.” Thus says the Lord God: “Are you he of whom I have spoken in former days by My servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied for years in those days that I would bring you against them?”
Ezek. 38:14-17
All those who believes that the invasion will come from Russia use this passage to support their beliefs. It is this passage, and “from your place out of the far north” in particular, that is routinely touted to be a reference to Russia. And there are many Bible reference books that place Magog in Russia. But there are two verses that contradict this idea and make it unlikely, if not impossible, that Russia is involved.
- Do you consider all of chapter 38 to be discussing the same topic, namely the one and same invasion of Israel? I do. I cannot imagine anyone reading all of chapter 38 and not considering it as a unified prophecy. So, if 38:6 states that Togarmah is “from the far north”, and 38:15 states that the invasion “will come from your place out of the far north”, shouldn’t we assume that verse 15 is also referring to Togarmah, especially since verse 6 is also a reference to the invasion. The invasion that will come out of the “far north” will come out of Togarmah which is in eastern modern-day Turkey.
- Next is verse 17, which reads,
“Thus says the Lord God: “Are you he of whom I have spoken in former days by My servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied for years in those days that I would bring you against them?”
Ezekiel 38:17
In this verse, Gog is identified as “he of whom I have spoken in former days by My servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied for years in those days that I would bring you against them”. So, the prophets of Israel prophesied for years that God would bring Gog against Israel. And the date of these prophecies was obviously sometime before Ezekiel. Therefore, “Gog, of the land of Magog” could not possibility be Russia.
A little Russian history
Modern day Russia is first mentioned in historical writings in an account of the Scandinavian Viking Oleg who was crowned king of “Rus” in the 9th Century. There is no mention of “Rus” anywhere in history before then. And what is now the southernmost part of Russia did not become a part of the Russian empire until Catherine the Great in the 18th Century. Therefore, it is unlikely, if not impossible, that a Bible verse written in the 6th Century BC could refer to a nation that would not even exist for another 15 centuries.
Look at the map
A look at a map of the Middle East reveals that a line drawn from Israel going due north will pass through Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Armenia and Georgia before getting to Russia and the majority of that line passes through Turkey.
A worse-case scenario
To all those with a severe case of Russophobia, I challenge you to confront several incontrovertible facts:
- The word “Rosh” is not in the original Hebrew text of Ezekiel 38:2.
- Gog’s title is “the prince of Meshech, and Tubal”, both of which are in modern-day Turkey.
- Gog is “of the land of Magog”. It is his birthplace. Noah’s grandson, Magog, is not a participant.
- The invasion will come “from the far north” and verse 6 describes Togarmah as the nation “from the far north” and Togarmah is in modern-day Turkey.
Conclusion
Anyone who wants to locate “Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Meshech and Tubal” in any place other than Turkey has a very long, steep and slippery slope to climb. We cannot escape the singular point that Gog’s title was “prince of Meshech and Tubal” and both are within modern-day Turkey.
[1] This prophecy in Ezekiel which centers upon “Gog, of the land of Magog” is probably different from the mention of “Gog and Magog” in Revelation 20:8, which states: “and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea.”. The scope of the battle described in Revelation and its repercussions greatly exceed those of Ezekiel’s.
[2] Genesis 10:1-6
“Now these are the records of the generations of the sons of Noah: Shem, Ham, and Japheth; and sons were born to them after the flood. 2 The sons of Japheth were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. 3 The sons of Gomer were Ashkenaz, [a]Riphath, and Togarmah. 4 The sons of Javan were Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and [b]Dodanim. 5 From these the people of the coastlands of the nations [c]were separated into their lands, every one according to his language, according to their families, into their nations. 6 The sons of Ham were Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan.”
Footnotes annotations:
- Genesis 10:3 In 1 Chr 1:6, Diphath
- Genesis 10:4 In 1 Chr 1:7, Rodanim
- Genesis 10:5 Or separated themselves