The idea that Gog and Magog are Russia is something that’s been thrown around mostly in modern times, but honestly, it doesn’t really hold up if you look into it. Here’s why:
In the Bible, Gog and Magog are mentioned in Ezekiel 38-39 and Revelation 20:7-8, but it never actually says they’re Russia. People just started guessing that because in Ezekiel, it says Gog comes from “the far north.” Some folks looked at a map and figured, “Hey, Russia is north of Israel, so it must be talking about them.” But that’s just a guess—it doesn’t actually say "Russia" anywhere.
Back in the day, nobody really thought Gog and Magog were Russia. Early Christians and Jews had all kinds of ideas about who they were, but they never said Russia. Some thought they were just enemies from some unknown land, or maybe they symbolized future bad guys who’d show up to fight God’s people. Nothing about Russia though.
Fast forward to more recent times, especially during the Cold War, when Russia (or the Soviet Union) was seen as this big enemy of the West. Evangelicals started saying Russia might be Gog and Magog because they were involved in conflicts in the Middle East and seemed like a threat to Israel. So they put two and two together and said, “Aha, that’s what Ezekiel was talking about.” But really, it was just influenced by politics and what was going on at the time.
The truth is, the Bible doesn’t tell us who Gog and Magog really are, and people just guessed it was Russia because of where it’s located and because of tensions during the Cold War. There’s no solid proof that the Bible was talking about Russia. It’s mostly modern people trying to fit the prophecy to what’s happening in the world today.
So, while it’s a cool theory for some, it’s really just a modern idea without much real backing.
Thanks! Yeah, you’re totally right—Hal Lindsey’s The Late Great Planet Earth* really pushed this whole idea that Gog and Magog are Russia. In the book, he claimed that Ezekiel 38-39 was predicting a future attack on Israel, led by Russia and a bunch of other nations.
Lindsey thought “the far north” in Ezekiel meant Russia because, well, Russia is north of Israel. He connected Magog to the Soviet Union (since it was during the Cold War) and said Russia would be a big player in the end times. He also tied other countries, like Persia (which is now Iran) and Libya, into the mix, saying they’d team up with Russia to go against Israel.
The book came out when everyone was worried about the Cold War, so people really latched onto the idea. It made this interpretation of Russia being part of Gog and Magog super popular, even though it’s mostly based on modern stuff!
Correct! I was a new Christian at the time. It was the 1st book on prophecy that I read (unfortunately for me). It set me back about 20 years......I started questioning dispensationalism about 20 years ago. In a way it's my fault for not doing my own research.
Some say that all Biblical prophecy was fulfilled in ~70AD. Others say that only parts of Biblical prophecy were fulfilled then. Some say we are already under the New Covenant, that Christ Jesus of Nazareth already returned some time in the past, that the Tribulations already happened and that we are essentially in post-prophetic, uncharted waters, that the Lord might even have taken a less active role since the fulfilment of prophecy.
I believe we are in Ez 38 right now. And i believe we will all die before we see the end of the year. I believe the entire world, the actual entire globe will be awash with nuclear hellfire sometime between Oct 7th and Nov 11th. Then there's also Azovmena to consider. And the Samson Option/Masada Plan.
We are either dealing with evil, crazed religious fanatics who are using scripture as a literal playbook, like a self-fulfilling prophecy. Or it really is out of our control and we are actually in prophecy.
Eitherway, i only see death on the horizon. And not the good death within the embrace of Jesus Christ but the humiliating soul-scorching last laugh kind of death brought about by Samson/Masada Isnotreal.
The idea that Gog and Magog are Russia is something that’s been thrown around mostly in modern times, but honestly, it doesn’t really hold up if you look into it. Here’s why:
In the Bible, Gog and Magog are mentioned in Ezekiel 38-39 and Revelation 20:7-8, but it never actually says they’re Russia. People just started guessing that because in Ezekiel, it says Gog comes from “the far north.” Some folks looked at a map and figured, “Hey, Russia is north of Israel, so it must be talking about them.” But that’s just a guess—it doesn’t actually say "Russia" anywhere.
Back in the day, nobody really thought Gog and Magog were Russia. Early Christians and Jews had all kinds of ideas about who they were, but they never said Russia. Some thought they were just enemies from some unknown land, or maybe they symbolized future bad guys who’d show up to fight God’s people. Nothing about Russia though.
Fast forward to more recent times, especially during the Cold War, when Russia (or the Soviet Union) was seen as this big enemy of the West. Evangelicals started saying Russia might be Gog and Magog because they were involved in conflicts in the Middle East and seemed like a threat to Israel. So they put two and two together and said, “Aha, that’s what Ezekiel was talking about.” But really, it was just influenced by politics and what was going on at the time.
The truth is, the Bible doesn’t tell us who Gog and Magog really are, and people just guessed it was Russia because of where it’s located and because of tensions during the Cold War. There’s no solid proof that the Bible was talking about Russia. It’s mostly modern people trying to fit the prophecy to what’s happening in the world today.
So, while it’s a cool theory for some, it’s really just a modern idea without much real backing.
Good summary - thanks! Also made popular by Hal Lindsey's "Late Great Planet Earth".
Thanks! Yeah, you’re totally right—Hal Lindsey’s The Late Great Planet Earth* really pushed this whole idea that Gog and Magog are Russia. In the book, he claimed that Ezekiel 38-39 was predicting a future attack on Israel, led by Russia and a bunch of other nations.
Lindsey thought “the far north” in Ezekiel meant Russia because, well, Russia is north of Israel. He connected Magog to the Soviet Union (since it was during the Cold War) and said Russia would be a big player in the end times. He also tied other countries, like Persia (which is now Iran) and Libya, into the mix, saying they’d team up with Russia to go against Israel.
The book came out when everyone was worried about the Cold War, so people really latched onto the idea. It made this interpretation of Russia being part of Gog and Magog super popular, even though it’s mostly based on modern stuff!
Correct! I was a new Christian at the time. It was the 1st book on prophecy that I read (unfortunately for me). It set me back about 20 years......I started questioning dispensationalism about 20 years ago. In a way it's my fault for not doing my own research.
How did it set you back?
Some say that all Biblical prophecy was fulfilled in ~70AD. Others say that only parts of Biblical prophecy were fulfilled then. Some say we are already under the New Covenant, that Christ Jesus of Nazareth already returned some time in the past, that the Tribulations already happened and that we are essentially in post-prophetic, uncharted waters, that the Lord might even have taken a less active role since the fulfilment of prophecy.
I believe we are in Ez 38 right now. And i believe we will all die before we see the end of the year. I believe the entire world, the actual entire globe will be awash with nuclear hellfire sometime between Oct 7th and Nov 11th. Then there's also Azovmena to consider. And the Samson Option/Masada Plan.
We are either dealing with evil, crazed religious fanatics who are using scripture as a literal playbook, like a self-fulfilling prophecy. Or it really is out of our control and we are actually in prophecy.
Eitherway, i only see death on the horizon. And not the good death within the embrace of Jesus Christ but the humiliating soul-scorching last laugh kind of death brought about by Samson/Masada Isnotreal.
John 8:44
Christos Anesti. Ameen ☦
Thank you. I learn so much here 😀
Do not take my word as gospel. I'm just a lost soul scared of WW3.
John 8:44
Christos Anesti. Ameen ☦