"The only other reference in the Bible to Gog and Magog is found in the thirty-eighth and thirty-ninth chapters of Ezekiel. This use of the term by John is rooted in the Old Testament passage. One will have to admit that this is a rather strange battle which Ezekiel described in his vision. Israel is pictured at peace and dwelling in security in her land, with no attempt made to defend herself against the enemy which suddenly and powerfully sweeps down upon her. Without a struggle, as soon as the enemy marches into the land, he is smitten with a catastrophic judgment directly from God. The rest of the vision tells of a glorious celebration of victory on the part of the people of Israel. We must keep in mind that in both passages the language is highly figurative and symbolic, and it can only be interpreted in that light. The fact is, history records no battle in the history of Israel that answers to the one described in Ezekiel’s vision. Nor can we conceive of it as taking place in a literal way in our day or at some future time, for, you see, all the invading army comes riding upon horses, a great company having bucklers and shields, bows and arrows, and all of them handling swords. In addition to this all their weapons are made of wood, and there are so many of them that no man of Israel needs to cut any fire wood for seven years while they use these weapons for fire wood! It certainly doesn’t sound like modern warfare, does it?"
"If John’s vision is symbolic, then so also is Ezekiel’s. The only difference is that John’s version is a little more complete and is given to us in the fuller light of New Testament revelation. In both instances most of our struggles of the Lord’s people are already over, and they are dwelling in a sense of peace and security. There is no struggle at all. In John’s vision this is due to the fact that they have already overcome the beast, the false prophet, Mystery Babylon, and now Satan himself has been bound in the abyss. Ah, there is peace and security! But suddenly the old devil is brought out of his pit where he has been placed. He is turned loose in their midst and there is unleashed upon them an awful attack of the adversary! He gathers all his forces and rants and raves against the redeemed of God. But before he is able to harm a hair on the head of one saint, at once the fiery judgment of God falls upon all the enemies and the devil who leads them. This, my beloved, is no literal warfare fought with conventional weapons — this is the final battle of our spiritual warfare; this is the climax of the most magnificent celebration of victory!"
Much more in the link:
"Their number is “as the sand of the sea.” Notice! They are identified with both the “sea” and the “earth,” that is, with the body realm and the soul realm. It bespeaks mankind — the flesh. They gather for battle. Oh, yes, the natural man, with the passions and lusts of the body, and the carnal mind of the soul, always gather to battle against the spirit! “The flesh wareth against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh.” What an imposing array they present! “They went up on the breadth of the earth.” They “marched up” and covered the whole expanse of the earth to the horizon in all directions from “the camp of the saints.” The spiritual life is portrayed as completely surrounded and outnumbered! “The beloved city,” the elect of the Lord, is left without a single apparent avenue of retreat or escape."
"It also speaks to the soulical realm, the inherent religious nature of man. This points to deceptive teachings of apostasy everywhere “surrounding the saints” which is “the beloved city.” It does not mean soldiers, armies, tanks, and missiles arrayed to inflict physical harm or destruction on the Lord’s people. Though that has happened, and is still happening to believers today in various part of the world, the vision would not be given in signs and symbols if it were fulfilled in such a literal way. It is the Father’s fiery word of truth (Jer. 23:29) that devours and burns up all the adversaries of deception and false doctrines in the heart of every saint. Oh, how the whole church world is full of false doctrines and deceptions which surround all the elect of the Lord! We can hardly buy a book from a Christian bookstore because they are all so laced with the errors and falsities of Babylon!"