GOG and THE LAND OF MAGOG
GOG, THE LAND OF MAGOG
(Ezekiel 38 and 39)
Exhortation by: Carolyn Sissom
May 15, 2008
This past week in our study of Ezekiel 38 and 39, the Lord opened my eyes to the identity of Gog representing every evil force that is marshaled against the" Whole House of Israel"(39:25). Chapters 38 and 39 are one prophecy and tell of a coming northern confederacy of nations around the Black and Caspian seas with Persia. and North Africa. These nations are ruled in the realm of the spirit by the spirit of communism and the spirit of Islam.
(I am familiar who Gog is presumed to be historically and the future ruler of Russia).
These nations include Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria, Russia, Georgia, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, North West India and Russia; plus Persia (Iran) and North Africa (Ethiopia and Libya). If this passage is apocalyptic, as this writer believes it is, then Gog will manifest as satan personified as the chief prince in this league of nations. I did some research on the internet using the "string", "Northern confederacy of nations around the Black and Caspian Seas". I discovered these nations have economic and environmental confederacies in place. As we have studied apocalyptic literature in the Holy Bible, we clearly identify the Prince of Persia and the Prince of Grecia as demonic chief princes over the Middle eastern and Mediterranean nations. According to the prophecy in Ezekiel 38 and 39, These powers and principalities will come together under one demonic Prince, (Gog). Russia and the northern powers have long been persecutors of dispersed Israel along with the Islamic nations. The entire prophecy belongs to the yet future Day of the Lord. (Joel 1:15).
Last night at prayer, we had a couple visit us who are native to the Philippines. He began to share with us the spiritual condition of the Philippines as a Christian nation in that part of the world. We had the map of the world spread out on the table. He took his hand swept across Northern Europe (Russia) and Asia all the way into the islands. He said, "This whole area is now predominantly Muslim or Communist". This would be the prophetic timing of the coming together of these two powers to form the power of Gog.
( The Philippines are sending missionaries into those nations and are effective. Also, there are many Christians throughout all of those nations. We stream to Pakistan, India, Romania, Bulgairia, Russia and Turkey.)
As we are now experiencing the threats of Iran against Israel, (39:1-2) "I am against you, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal and I will turn you back, and leave but the sixth part of you, and will cause you to come up from the north parts, and will bring you upon the mountains of Israel." (38:20b) "All the men upon the face of the earth, shall shake at My Presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground." I believe all of Christendom believes these threats of Iran against Israel and the U.S.A are the birth pains of the fulfillment of the prophecy of Ezekiel 38 and 39. Also, we see the storms and earthquakes shaking the nations of the earth.
Metaphorically or literally the mountains of Israel refer to God's end-time people and the Kingdom of God as well as the Nation of Israel (The Whole House of Israel – Ez. 39:25). Each one of these demons are spirits that will be loosed on the earth in the latter days (You shall be visited in the latter days" 38:8) upon the sons of God so that these powers of darkness can be defeated. (Rom 16:20) "And the God of peace shall bruise satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen." I do not see that the literal interpretation and the spiritual interpretation are in opposition with each other.
Now in the 21st Century we see the spirit of anti-christ moving across the earth through Islam. All of these nations have embraced this spirit. Even Russia with the spirit of communism i.e. the spirit of Meshech and Tubal is a government of destruction, cruelty, suspicion, oppressive and sets one against another. In all of these nations, terrorism, fear and deception are the powers and principalities. God is going to put a hook in the jaw of all these spirits and destroy them (Ez. 38:4). God is going to bring these spirits to the Mountains of Israel (Nation of Israel and Sons of God i.e. The Whole House of Israel 39:25) and destroy them literally and spiritually. “And all the nations of the earth shall know that He is the Lord Our God.
Carolyn Sissom, Pastor
Eastgate Ministries, Inc.
Bibliography: Scripture from K.J.V.; Principles of Present Truth Ezekiel by: Kelly Varner. Comments and conclusions are my own.