Much speculation has occurred about who or what is the Gog and Magog of Revelation 20:8. No place anyone knows has those names. A generation ago many modern wannabe prophets confidently claimed this referred to the Soviet Union, but like many other false prophecies about end times, these have faded or passed away completely. The best place to go to understand and identify “Gog and Magog” is the Word of God itself, which is its own best interpreter and commentator. For this we must go to the apocalyptic prophecy given to Ezekiel, recorded in his 38th and 39th chapters, which refer to the same persons and events as does Revelation chapter 20. In Ezekiel we read:
“The LORD told me: ‘Son of Man, set your face against Gog and the land of Magog . . . The LORD says this, I am against you, Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal.'”
Gog is Satan
I take Gog to be Satan himself, and Magog, Meshech and Tubal are all forces under his control, both demonic and human, individuals and institutions. The LORD says to Gog (and I summarize): “After a long time you will be summoned. I will turn you around and put hooks in your jaws (obviously figurative language). I will lead you out with all your hordes, horses and riders, shields and swords, a mighty army. (Again Scripture uses symbolic language in terms people could then understand, for no modern armies use horses and swords; we employ bombs, guns, tanks and airplanes, etc. And beyond that, the Bible often uses images of war to symbolize weapons of spiritual warfare, such as the “full armor of God” pictured in Ephesians 6.)
Revelation 20
Back to Revelation 20, Satan, who was bound with a heavy chain (more symbolic language), is released for a short time . . . let loose from his prison” (not one with literal bars). Satan believes he himself is orchestrating this worldwide assault on God’s people, the Church, but it is only by God’s sovereignty and permissive will. God says to Satan in Ezekiel’s parallel passage: “You will march against My people Israel.” (38:16) The New Testament repeatedly and emphatically defines Israel not as a geographical nation or ethnic people, but all those worldwide who believe in and follow the Messiah, God’s Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. For example, Galatians 3:26 states:
“You are all God’s children through faith in Christ Jesus . . . There is no Jew or Greek . . . If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants and heirs of the blessing God promised.”
This is not our Promised Land
Hebrews 11 makes clear, your Promised Land is not an earthly one (prefigured by ancient Israel) but a heavenly one–one that all God’s heroes listed in Hebrews 11 were looking forward to: “They were longing for a better country–I mean heaven. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, because He has prepared a city for them,” (Hebrews 11:16) namely the New Jerusalem, which is much greater and more vast than the little city in today’s Middle East, whose glory days are long past, however the current conflicts in that region of the world turn out.
