Gog
Summary
A prophetic figure representing the leader of hostile northern nations who will invade Israel in the last days, ultimately destroyed by divine intervention.
☩The Reubenite
A descendant of Reuben named Gog is mentioned in the genealogies, the son of Shemaiah and father of Shimei. This Gog should be distinguished from the prophetic figure in Ezekiel.
☩Ezekiel's Prophecy
In Ezekiel's vision, Gog is the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, who leads a vast army from the uttermost north against the restored Israel. His coalition includes Persia, Cush, Put, Gomer, and Togarmah—peoples from every direction united in assault. God declares that He has brought Gog forth for this purpose: that through Gog's destruction all nations will know the Lord.
☩The Divine Judgment
When Gog invades, God responds with earthquake, pestilence, torrential rain, hailstones, fire, and brimstone. The slaughter is so great that Israel spends seven months burying the dead in the Valley of Hamon-gog, and seven years burning the weapons for fuel. The birds and beasts feast on the fallen warriors in what Ezekiel calls 'the sacrifice upon the mountains of Israel.'
☩In Revelation
In John's Apocalypse, Gog and Magog represent the nations from the four corners of the earth whom Satan gathers for the final assault after the millennium. Their number is as the sand of the sea, but fire from heaven devours them, and Satan is cast into the lake of fire. Here Gog and Magog symbolize the ultimate rebellion of unregenerate humanity against God.
Related Verses11 mentions
References
- 1.George Morrish, "Gog," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Gog," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. II (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 3.John McClintock and James Strong, "Gog," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. III (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 4.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Gog," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).
- 5.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Gog," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).