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The prophecy of Ezekiel 38 and 39, often referred to as the Battle of Gog and Magog (http://www.wnd.com/20
is hands-down,
one of the most influential end-time prophecies in all of Scripture. But it is also arguably one of the
most misinterpreted prophecies. In previous articles, I’ve explained that while manymagog-
prophecy
teachers claim that Ezekiel is speaking of a Russia-led invasion of Israel, the historical record and
and-the-
modern scholarship show that it is in fact a Turkish-led invasion. As previously discussed, the
popular but faulty line of reasoning many follow to conclude a Russian-led invasion is as follows:
scythians/print/) Print
The problem with this line of reasoning is that history tells us that the Scythians were a nomadic
scythians/print/)
migratory people who rarely stayed in one place for very long. The question is not if the Scythians
ever lived in the region that has become modern-day Russia, but rather, where did the
Magog/Scythian people live specifically in Ezekiel’s day? We are not concerned with where the
Scythians lived several hundred or even thousands of years after Ezekiel. Our only concern is to
discover where they lived during Ezekiel’s day. Lets review a small sampling of historical sources to
see where they placed the Magog/Scythian people during Ezekiel’s day.
Herodotus, the Greek historian, lived roughly 150 years after Ezekiel. In his day, he placed the
homeland of the Scythians in the region extending from eastern Europe to Moldova and Ukraine.
According to Dr. Michael Kulikowski, department head of History at Pennsylvania State University,
“Herodotus’ Scythians were to be found in a bit of modern Bulgaria and Romania, and across the
grasslands of Moldova and Ukraine” but not Russia. Another essential point is that while Herodotus
also discusses Meshech and Tubal, two of the regions that Magog is ruler over, and placed them
squarely in Anatolia (modern-day Turkey).
Pliny the Elder, a first-century Roman military commander, author, naturalist and philosopher,
referred to the Turkish city of Hieropolis as the heartland of Magog. Hierapolis was an ancient Greco-
Roman city in Phyrgia near Laodicea. Hieropolis was also known as Scythopolis, (City of Scythes)
which the peoples of that day referred to as Magog. One would think that this would be crucial
information to consider and mention, yet in the numerous popular books and treatments of Gog and
Magog I’ve reviewed in my studies, I have never once seen this important historical reference cited.
Roughly a hundred years after Pliny, Hippolytus, one of the most important Christian theologians of
the early third century, spoke of Magog. In his work known as “The Chronicon,” Hippolytus also
connected Magog to Asia Minor – modern-day Turkey. One would also think this to be a crucial
reference to cite. Hippolytus is one of the most prolific early Christian writers concerning the last
days. Yet again, in the many popular works arguing for a Russian Magog correlation, I have never
once seen it mentioned.
Maimonides (d.1205)
Maimonides, also known as Rambam, the revered Jewish sage, in “Hichot Terumot,” also identified
Magog as being in the modern nation of Turkey.
In fact, this connection between modern-day Turkey and Magog was well-known among Christian
theologians for centuries. In his “Explanatory Notes” on Ezekiel 38 and 39, John Wesley says the
following:
Magog is, at least, part of Scythia, and comprehends Syria, in which was Hierapolis
taken by the Scythians, and called of them Scythopolis. It is that country, which now is
in subjection to the Turks, and may be extended thro’ Asia minor, the countries of
Sarmatia, and many others, under more than one in succession of time. And in the last
time under some one active and daring prince, all their power will be stirred up against
Christians.
Modern scholarship
It is because of this fact, ignored by virtually all modern-day popular prophecy teachers, that the
homeland of the Scythians during Ezekiel’s day was in western Asia Minor, that so many modern
scholar place Magog in Asia Minor or specifically in the ancient Kingdom of Lydia (Western Turkey).
In a previous article, (/2012/06/the-truth-about-gog-and-magog/) I re-created maps from several of
the best modern-day Bible atlases, showing how they each placed Magog in the region of modern-
day Turkey.
Below is another map showing the migration pattern of the ancient Scythians and where they lived
during Ezekiel’s days:
3. 7th century B.C. (in Ezekiel’s day), Scythians founded Scythopolis near Laodicea.
4. Late 6th century B.C.: Scythians driven into Europe by the Persians.
5. 4th-3rd centuries B.C.: Scythians spread north to European and Russian Steppes.
Through consulting a wide range of ancient sources, including Assyrian records, scholars today
acknowledge that before Ezekiel’s day, the Scythians had pushed down out of the Caucasus and
invaded Asia Minor, or modern-day Turkey. There they dominated and settled the city of Hierapolis,
also known as Scythopolis, in the western Anatolian Kingdom of Lydia, which was for many years
known as Magog. Sometime after Ezekiel’s day, a Persian invasion pushed the Scythians out of Asia
Minor, west and north into Europe around the Black Sea. Eventually they would reach Russia. But
this was hundreds of years after Ezekiel’s day.
In conclusion, Ezekiel spoke of a Turkish-led invasion of Israel. Genuine students of the Scriptures
who make it their goal to always seek truth, even when it is in conflict with their own traditions, will
recognize the flaws with this view. It is imperative that students of the Bible take the time to study
Ezekiel’s prophecy. In my newest book, “Mideast Beast: The Scriptural Case for an Islamic
Antichrist,” (http://superstore.wnd.com/books/Mideast-Beast-The-Scriptural-Case-for-an-Islamic-
Antichrist-Hardcover) not only do we examine many essential, but often-ignored historical,
geographical and exegetical elements of the passage, but even more importantly, its application and
relevance for the Church and the world today.
As the days the prophets warned us of draw ever closer, it is imperative that every Christian believer
pay careful attention to the roadmap and many prophetic warnings so clearly laid out before us. The
Lord has given us this roadmap; it is our duty as his students of the Scriptures not only to make
ourselves aware of it, but most importantly, to follow it.
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The prophecy was made against a leader and a land (ie, Gog & Magog)...
The prophecy was made against a leader and a land (ie, Gog & Magog)...
not against a particular group of people such as the Scythians.
Also, it should be noted that Ezekiel was not in Israel at the time
this prophecy was made, but was in Mesopotamia during
Israel's captivity... so when God instructed Ezekiel to set his face
against Gog & Magog... the only direction that would be correct
or applicable would be "to the far north"... otherwise... the prophesy
would have been set against a middle eastern country
and not a "northern" one.
Also...
it was likely that Ezekiel was in the city of Babylon or near to it
when the prophecy of Gog took place.... and when one
traces a straight line from Babylon directly north...
the line goes straight through the area of Mt.Ararat
(where the Ark of Noah settled after the flood)
see more
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Richardson publishes a book about the Muslim "anti-Christ" (but the Revelations in
the Quran insist that Jesus IS the messiah). Then WND publishes numerous
'commentaries' on the Prophecies of Ezekiel and Isaiah...
Why?
Because they CANNOT explain the *fractal* Prophecies of Chapter 11 of the Book of
Daniel; they CANNOT explain the identity of Michael; and, even to BEGIN a
discussion of how that Michael 'arrives'--not even knowing WHO he is (is he Elijah
'raised from the dead' in the same way that John the Baptist was?)--threatens to draw
attention to Christian theology's INVERSION of the Doctrine of "resurrection" and the
'reasonableness' of people 'riding out of the sky on white horses'.
So they are merely throwing SAND into people's eyes; thereby, however,
INCREASING the bloodshed and suffering of the Prophesied "time of trouble".
Michael
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In other words, *prior* to the fulfillment of the Prophecies in Chapters 38 & 39 of the
Book of Ezekiel, the Prophecies of Chapters 11 &12 of the Book of Daniel must be
fulfilled.
So, maybe before trying to explain the Prophecies of the Book of Ezekiel (the 'second
chapter of a book on physics'), Mr. Richardson should try to explain the fractal
Prophecies of Chapter 11 of the Book of Daniel, as well as who is the Michael
mentioned in Chapter 12:1 of the Book of Daniel (the 'first chapter of a book on
physics'); and how, precisely, that Michael 'arrives' (the Hebrew root word for "stand
up" being precisely the same Hebrew root word used in Chapter 26:19 of the Book of
Isaiah in describing the "resurrection"--that is, the revelation of the memories of
previous lives; which establish the basis of the Doctrine of "resurrection" as a
Doctrine of 'Rebirth').
As I understand it, there are only two options: 1) 'riding a white horse out of the sky';
or, 2) being 'raised from the dead' from a previous life.
Michael
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Some of the pre-requisites for the fulfillment of this prophecy, which can be found in
verses 38:8, 11, 12, are the restoration from the sword, the return of the people to the
Land (mountains of Israel) which had been a continual waste, the gathering out from
many nations, the dwelling safely in unwalled villages and the initial restoration of
basic economic life (cattle and goods).
When Ezekiel prophesied Ezek 38 and 39, most of Jews were in captivity in Babylon,
scattered within the nations (Babylon, and also the Northern Kingdom was already
scattered when Assyria took them captives) and smitten by Nebuchadnezzar’s sword.
After 70 years, the Jews were aloud to go back to their Land and restore the nation
and rebuild what was wasted.
This prophecy would only become possible for fulfillment after the return to the Land,
70 years latter from the first deportation to Babylon The Jews in captivity knew that
see more
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Regarding the Scythians, the name was given by the Greeks to the nomads of the
Eurasian steppes. They were not all of the same ethnic background. Rawlinson says
that many of the Scythian tribes were related to the Parthians who he described as an
"Iranian" people, but the Parthians are reported to be Aramaic-speakers. According to
Cernenko (1983), the Scythians made their appearance in the region near 700 BC,
and were called Saka. A contingent of Scythians passed through Canaan on their
way to invade Egypt in the mid 7th century and stayed in the area around Beth
Shean, which was renamed Scythopolis for some 20 years. This overlapped with the
reign of King Josiah of Judah. There is no mention of a Scythian invasion but there is
a statement that some of the sons of Israel who were present celebrated the
Passover with Josiah. The northern Israelites had been exiled by the Assyrians some
80 years previously. Therefore, there is a hint that some of the Scythians were in
reality exiled northern Israelites. Josiah died fighting the Egyptians at Megiddo near
Beth Shean. So to connect the dots, Josiah was fighting with the Israelite Scythians
against Egypt.
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Jeremiah 51:11, 27, 28 tells us what kings from the remote part of the earth:
Kingdoms of Media, Ararat, Minni and Ashkenaz. Where was the geografic
location of these kingdoms? These were all in modern day northwestern Iran,
northern Iraq and eastern Turkey.
This is the biblical definition of the "remote parts of the north" or "far north" or
"uttermost north". Any attempt to make this diferrent is not biblical.
△ ▽ • Reply • Share ›
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