One of the defining features of the beginning of the Great Tribulation is the loosing of Satan from the bottomless pit (Rev 20:3,7). At this time, Satan’s direct mission is to deceive the nations (Gog and Magog). Gog and Magog then encompass the camp of the saints, which symbolically points to a siege (persecution) of God’s people. In Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39, the Bible teaches us much more about Gog, the chief prince of the land of Magog. Gog is a symbol of the Antichrist. In Rev 20:8 and Eze 38-39, Gog’s actions include persecution of God’s people, deception and idolatry. Gog is the chief prince of those who are not saved during the Great Tribulation. Gog’s great army are those who are set to battle against Christ at the Battle of Armageddon.

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Gog (Chief Prince) and the Great Tribulation

Gog’s enormous Army – Nations

Gog of the North

Persecution of God’s People

Deception

Pollution of other gods and idols

Outline of Ezekiel 38-39

Background of Gog and Magog

And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. (Rev 20:7-9)

Gog and Magog are only discussed in a few passages of the Bible. Very notably though, Gog and Magog are discussed in Revelation 20 and are related to the loosing of Satan for that ‘little season’ of the Great Tribulation just before the return of Jesus Christ. They key points about Gog and Magog in the above passage in Revelation 20 is that they are the nations from the four quarters of the earth and they are gathered to a final battle. They compass the camp of the saints and the beloved city, which results in the final Judgment Day (a.k.a., Armageddon).

But, there is a much larger passage of Scripture in Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39 that explains this final gathering and battle which involves Gog, of the land of Magog. Below is the outline for Eze 38-39:

Great Tribulation
- Eze 38:8b-17 – A storm on Israel, who dwell safely
- Eze 39:23-24,28a – Captivity due to Iniquity
Final Judgment Day
- Eze 38:1-8a – Final Judgment on Gog
- Eze 38:18-23 – God’s Fury upon Gog
- Eze 39:1-5 – Gog’s army given to the ravenous birds
- Eze 39:6-10 – Fire on the Land of Magog
- Eze 39:11-16 – Burial of Gog and his multitude
- Eze 39:17-22 – The Sacrificial Dinner
Eze 39:25-29 – Salvation in Eternity – Mercy on God’s people

The above outline is parallel to what is found in Rev 20 (i.e., Great Tribulation followed by Judgment Day). Rev 20:7-9 is in effect, a shortened version of Eze 38-39. Therefore, it is important to assess both Eze 38-39 and Rev 20 to fully understand the character and actions of the Antichrist (Gog).

Because we know from Rev 20:7-9 that Gog and Magog appear after the loosing of Satan, then it follows that this event is during the Great Tribulation. In Rev 20:7-9, the Bible also teaches that Gog and Magog are from the four quarters of the land and they are in multitude as the sand of the sea. This indicates a worldwide extent of God and Magog. Satan’s deception during the Great Tribulation will be throughout the world. The four corners points to the outermost parts of the world (Rev 7:1, Acts 10:11, Acts 11:5, Is 11:12, Eze 7:2).

There is more information concerning Gog and Magog in Eze 38-39. First, it is important to understand that Gog is a chief prince from the land of Magog:

Son of man, set thy face against Gog, [of] the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him … (Eze 38:2)

Therefore, thou son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: (Eze 39:1)

The Bible teaches is that Gog a chief prince of a worldwide confederation of peoples (unsaved) that come to battle against Christ and His people. Therefore, it can be concluded that Gog is a symbol for the Antichrist, who leads the battle at the Last Day against Christ. The leader of an end-time confederation is found in other titles, symbols and types of the Antichrist (such as the Leopard Beast of Rev 13, the little horns of Daniel 7 and Daniel 8, Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, King of the North of Dan 11, 7^th head of the Scarlet Beast of Rev 17, etc.).

It is also important to notice that Magog is one of the sons of Japheth, who is one of the 3 sons of Noah:

Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth: and unto them were sons born after the flood. The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras … By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations. (Gen 10:1-2,5)

Based on the above passage, it is important to recognize that Japheth (one of the 3 sons of Noah) represents the Gentiles who are in the furthest reaches of the world. Shem represents the relatives of Israel (e.g., Abraham, Israel, Lot, Ammon, Moab, Edom, etc.) who were under the hearing of the Word of God. Ham were the adversaries of Israel who lived amongst or near to Israel (Egypt, Babylon – Nimrod, Assyria and original inhabitants of the promised land).

The land of Magog (one of the sons of Japheth) is symbolic of the place where the furthest nations (Gentiles) dwell. The Gentiles represent those who are neither of the Jews (those who had the Word of God in the Old Testament) nor of the church of God (God’s true people):

Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God (1Co 10:32)

Therefore, we can conclude that Gog is the chief prince of those who are not God’s people. They are gathered together against God’s people during the Great Tribulation. Gog is the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal (offspring of Japheth). The Hebrew word for ‘chief’ is the Hebrew word rosh, which literally mean ‘head’. So Gog is the head prince of the Gentiles, which relates to the Antichrist during the Great Tribulation.

Gog’s Large Army – Nations

One of the characteristics of Gog, of the land of Magog is that Gog is the chief prince of a very large army.

And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords: (Eze 38:4)
Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet: (Eze 38:5)
Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee. (Eze 38:6)
Be thou prepared, and prepare for thyself, thou, and all thy company that are assembled unto thee, and be thou a guard unto them. (Eze 38:7)
And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army: (Eze 38:15)
… Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. (Rev 20:7-9)
- Sand – points to an innumerable amount of people (Gen 22:17, Gen 32:12, Gen 41:49, Josh 11:4, 1 Sam 13:5, etc.)
- Sea – points to a place of damnation (Ps 18:16-17, Ps 69:1-3, Ps 69:13-15, Ps 124:1-5, Ps 78:53, Ps 106:10-11, Jonah 1 with Mat 12:39-41)

It is notable that the large army of Gog is as the sand of the sea. Sand points to an innumerable number and the sea is a place of damnation. This large army is a symbolic representation of the nations (unsaved) that will receive damnation at the Battle of Armageddon.

Gog from the North

In Ezekiel, Gog is of the ‘north’:

Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee. (Eze 38:6)
And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army: (Eze 38:15)
And I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee, and will cause thee to come up from the north parts, and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel: (Eze 39:2)

In prophecy, there are many other Scriptures that the Antichrist comes from the North:

King of the North – Dan 11
- And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over. (Dan 11:40)
- But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many. (Dan 11:44)
Babylon is also a King of the North
- Babylon is referred to as from the North
- And the word of the LORD came unto me the second time, saying, What seest thou? And I said, I see a seething pot; and the face thereof is toward the north. Then the LORD said unto me, Out of the north an evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land. For, lo, I will call all the families of the kingdoms of the north, saith the LORD; and they shall come, and they shall set every one his throne at the entering of the gates of Jerusalem, and against all the walls thereof round about, and against all the cities of Judah. (Jer 1:13-15)
- Set up the standard toward Zion: retire, stay not: for I will bring evil from the north, and a great destruction. (Jer 4:6)
- O ye children of Benjamin, gather yourselves to flee out of the midst of Jerusalem, and blow the trumpet in Tekoa, and set up a sign of fire in Bethhaccerem: for evil appeareth out of the north, and great destruction. (Jer 6:1)
- Thus saith the LORD, Behold, a people cometh from the north country, and a great nation shall be raised from the sides of the earth. (Jer 6:22)
- Behold, the noise of the bruit is come, and a great commotion out of the north country, to make the cities of Judah desolate, and a den of dragons. (Jer 10:22)
- Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the LORD, and Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations round about, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and an hissing, and perpetual desolations. (Jer 25:9)
- And all the kings of the north, far and near, one with another, and all the kingdoms of the world, which are upon the face of the earth: and the king of Sheshach shall drink after them. (Jer 25:26)
- For this is the day of the Lord GOD of hosts, a day of vengeance, that he may avenge him of his adversaries: and the sword shall devour, and it shall be satiate and made drunk with their blood: for the Lord GOD of hosts hath a sacrifice in the north country by the river Euphrates. (Jer 46:10)
- Thus saith the LORD; Behold, waters rise up out of the north, and shall be an overflowing flood, and shall overflow the land, and all that is therein; the city, and them that dwell therein: then the men shall cry, and all the inhabitants of the land shall howl. (Jer 47:2)
- For out of the north there cometh up a nation against her, which shall make her land desolate, and none shall dwell therein: they shall remove, they shall depart, both man and beast. (Jer 50:3)
- For, lo, I will raise and cause to come up against Babylon an assembly of great nations from the north country: and they shall set themselves in array against her; from thence she shall be taken: their arrows shall be as of a mighty expert man; none shall return in vain. (Jer 50:9)
- Behold, a people shall come from the north, and a great nation, and many kings shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth. (Jer 50:41)
- Then the heaven and the earth, and all that is therein, shall sing for Babylon: for the spoilers shall come unto her from the north, saith the LORD. (Jer 51:48)

Persecution of God’s People

The most prominent feature of Gog, of the Land of Magog is the encompassing of the camp of the saints and the beloved city:

And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. (Rev 20:9)

This is more fully developed in Eze 38-39:

… in the latter years you shall come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them. You shall ascend and come like a storm, you shall be like a cloud to cover the land, you, and all thy bands, and many people with you. (Eze 38:8-9)

Church overrun with unsaved (Babylon)
- … It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into your mind, and you shall think an evil thought: And you shall say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates, To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land. (Eze 38:10-12)

Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil? Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say unto Gog, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In that day when my people of Israel dwelleth safely, shalt thou not know it? And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army: And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes. Thus saith the Lord GOD; Art thou he of whom I have spoken in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, which prophesied in those days many years that I would bring thee against them? And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, that my fury shall come up in my face. (Eze 38:13-18)
And I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee, and will cause thee to come up from the north parts, and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel: (Eze 39:2)

Significance of the encompassing of the camp of the saints and the beloved city

The significance of this passage cannot be understated. The encompassing of the camp of the saints and the beloved city (symbols that represent God’s people) points to persecution. This occurs just before the great day of God’s wrath and this ‘little season’ is called the Great Tribulation. The Great Tribulation is also highlighted by the church becoming as Babylon, which includes rampant spiritual fornication and deception. Finally, the Babylonian Captivity of Judah in the Old Testament is a significant theme in the Old Testament prophets (notably Daniel, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, etc.). The Babylonian Captivity is a type of the Great Tribulation. Part of the Babylonian Captivity is the siege of Jerusalem (corresponds to the beloved city of Rev 20:9). This siege is a type of the Great Tribulation and corresponds to the encompassing of the camp of the saints by Gog, of the Land of Magog discussed in Rev 20:9. This gathering together also relates to the impending final Battle of Armageddon:

Gather them to battle of that Great Day of God Almighty
- Battle – Final Day of Judgment – Rev 16:12-14, 1 Ki 22:21-23, Zech 14:2-3, Zech 14:12-14, Ps 55:18, Eze 13:5, Pr 21:31, Is 13:4, Joel 2:1-11, Rev 20:8, Rev 16:14, Rev 19:11-21 (especially Rev 19:19), Zech 10:3-5, Zech 12:2-11, Is 34:1-8, Rev 17:12-14, Eze 38-Eze 39, Zeph 3:8, Zeph 2:4-15, Dan 12:1 (war based on context of Dan 11:45), Dan 8:25, Dan 7:26-27, Dan 2:22-36, Dan 2:44, Micah 5:9-15, Is 31:7-9, Is 2:1-5, Joel 3:1-2, Joel 3:9-12
  - War in the Valley of Jehoshaphat – Joel 3:1-2, Joel 3:9-10
  - Plowshares into swords, pruning hooks into spears – Joel 3:10, Is 2:4
- Gather – Joel 3:11-12, Is 13:4, Eze 38:9, Eze 38:15-16 w/ Rev 20:9, Eze 39:2, Zech 12:3, Zech 14:2, Zeph 3:8, Hos 8:10, Eze 22:19-21, John 15:6, Ps 2:2, Eze 38:18, Zeph 3:8, Dan 11:44

Also, in the prophetic Olivet Discourse in the New Testament, we also find that Jerusalem is encompassed during the Great Tribulation:

And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh … for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. (Luk 21:20,23-24)
- Parallel Passage – Rev 11:2 (Jerusalem trodden down)
- Great distress, Jerusalem trodden down – Great Tribulation
- Jerusalem being encompassed during the Great Tribulation period described in Lk 21:20, Mat 24:15 and Mk 13:14, Lk 19:43
- Compassed – see Rev 11:2-4 for parallel, Hab 1:6 (believers are trapped, appears to be no hope in the world), see also 2 Ki 6:15, Mic 2:13, Mat 16:16-18, Lk 19:43
- Babylonian captivity – Jer 32:2, Jer 37:5, Dan 1:1, 2 Ki 24:11, Jer 21;4, Jer 21:9, Eze 4:3 – see Babylonian Captivity study
- Throughout the Bible, there are many references to encompassing cities which usually point to a period of Great Tribulation (e.g., Dan 9:27, Rev 5:11, 7:11, Ps 118:10-12 and many other verses in Jeremiah and Ezekiel referring to the siege of Jerusalem).

Finally, the Bible teaches that the siege (encompassing) of people is referred to as ‘fear on every side’. This points to the nature of the Great Tribulation being a time of persecution on God’s people:

Fear on Every Side

Therefore snares are round about thee, and sudden fear troubleth thee (Job 22:10)
For I have heard the slander of many: fear was on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life. (Psa 31:13)
The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. (Psa 34:7)
Go not forth into the field, nor walk by the way; for the sword of the enemy and fear is on every side. (Jer 6:25)
For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side. Report, say they, and we will report it. All my familiars watched for my halting, saying, Peradventure he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him. (Jer 20:10)
Wherefore have I seen them dismayed and turned away back? and their mighty ones are beaten down, and are fled apace, and look not back: for fear was round about, saith the LORD. (Jer 46:5)
Behold, I will bring a fear upon thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts, from all those that be about thee; and ye shall be driven out every man right forth; and none shall gather up him that wandereth. (Jer 49:5)
Their tents and their flocks shall they take away: they shall take to themselves their curtains, and all their vessels, and their camels; and they shall cry unto them, Fear is on every side. (Jer 49:29)

Deception

A notable characteristic of Gog is that of deception. This chief prince (Antichrist) is a worldly leader who is instrumental is the gathering of people against the true God. When Satan is loosed from the bottomless pit (Rev 20:8), he goes … ‘out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.’ Notably, we find that this worldly Antichrist is also deceived by Satan. All the unsaved nations of the world will be deceived.

The Bible teaches that deception is a very significant element of the Great Tribulation:

Who is a liar but he that denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denies the Father and the Son. (1Jn 2:22)

Power, signs and wonders
- Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, (2Th 2:9)

- For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. (Mat 24:5)
- And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. (Mat 24:11)
- For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. (Mat 24:24)
- For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. (Mar 13:22)

And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. (Rev 13:13-14)

Deception (lies) of unrighteousness (worldly pleasures)
- And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2Th 2:10-12)

- And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. (Rev 13:12-14)

(Deception / sin) – With all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish (Thess 2:10)
Destroyer (literal meaning of Abaddon / Apollyon) – Rev 9:11 – 5 months – torment unsaved in church by false teaching / prophets / gospels – Rev 9:5
Rev 9:7-10 – deception (stings in tails, lions’ teeth, women, gold crowns) – Rev 9:7-10 – Uses false teaching in the church
Cause sacrifice and oblation to cease (normal Christian activities of Bible study and prayer removed) – Dan 9:26
Mouth speaking great words against the Most High – Dan 7:8, 11, 20, 25
Think to change times and laws – Dan 7:25
Daily taken away – Dan 8:11
Host given to him against the daily – Dan 8:12
By transgression, cast truth to the ground – Dan 8:12
Daily and transgression of desolation, sanctuary and host trodden to the ground 2300 days – Dan 8:13-14, 26
Though his policy, cause crafty (deceit) to prosper – Dan 8:25
By peace, destroy many – Dan 8:25
…his heart shall be against the holy covenant; and he shall do exploits … he shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant: so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant. (Dan 11:28-30)
And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate. (Dan 11:31)
And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries…but many shall cleave to them with flatteries. (Dan 11:32, 34)

Pollution of other gods and idols

A notable passage regarding Gog promoting the ‘pollution’ of idolatry (worshiping other gods and idols) is as follows:

So will I make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel; and I will not let them pollute my holy name any more: and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel. (Eze 39:7)
- Heathen – nations (Gentiles)
- Pollute – tied to idolatry (Eze 20:9, Eze 20:14, Eze 20:39, Eze 36:20-21, Eze 36:36; Exo 20:7; Lev 18:21)

Worldliness (worshiping other gods and idols / spiritual fornication) is an important characteristic of the Great Tribulation. Please refer to the Babylon page on this website for more information.

Outline of Ezekiel 38-39

Eze 38:1-8a – The Judgment on Gog, the chief prince of Meschech and Tubal
- And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him, And say, Thus says the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armor, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords: Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet: Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee. Be thou prepared, and prepare for thyself, thou, and all thy company that are assembled unto thee, and be thou a guard unto them. After many days thou shalt be visited … (Eze 38:1-8a)
Eze 38:8b-17 – Great Tribulation – Evil thought to come like a storm on Israel, who dwell safely
- After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them. Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee. Thus says the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought: And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates, To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land. Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil? Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say unto Gog, Thus says the Lord GOD; In that day when my people of Israel dwells safely, shalt thou not know it? And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army: And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes. Thus says the Lord GOD; Art thou he of whom I have spoken in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, which prophesied in those days many years that I would bring thee against them? (Eze 38:8-17)
Eze 38:18-23 – Judgment day – God’s Fury upon Gog
- And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, says the Lord GOD, that my fury shall come up in my face. For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel; So that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground. And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, says the Lord GOD: every man’s sword shall be against his brother. And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD. (Eze 38:18-23)
Eze 39:1-5 – Judgment Day – Gog’s army given to the ravenous birds
- Therefore, thou son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, Thus says the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: And I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee, and will cause thee to come up from the north parts, and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel: And I will smite thy bow out of thy left hand, and will cause thine arrows to fall out of thy right hand. Thou shalt fall upon the mountains of Israel, thou, and all thy bands, and the people that is with thee: I will give thee unto the ravenous birds of every sort, and to the beasts of the field to be devoured. Thou shalt fall upon the open field: for I have spoken it, says the Lord GOD. (Eze 39:1-5)
Eze 39:6-10 – Judgment Day – Fire on the Land of Magog
- And I will send a fire on Magog, and among them that dwell carelessly in the isles: and they shall know that I am the LORD. So will I make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel; and I will not let them pollute my holy name any more: and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel. Behold, it is come, and it is done, says the Lord GOD; this is the day whereof I have spoken. And they that dwell in the cities of Israel shall go forth, and shall set on fire and burn the weapons, both the shields and the bucklers, the bows and the arrows, and the handstaves, and the spears, and they shall burn them with fire seven years: So that they shall take no wood out of the field, neither cut down any out of the forests; for they shall burn the weapons with fire: and they shall spoil those that spoiled them, and rob those that robbed them, says the Lord GOD. (Eze 39:6-10)
Eze 39:11-16 – Judgment Day – Burial of Gog and his multitude
- And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will give unto Gog a place there of graves in Israel, the valley of the passengers on the east of the sea: and it shall stop the noses of the passengers: and there shall they bury Gog and all his multitude: and they shall call it The valley of Hamongog. And seven months shall the house of Israel be burying of them, that they may cleanse the land. Yea, all the people of the land shall bury them; and it shall be to them a renown the day that I shall be glorified, says the Lord GOD. And they shall sever out men of continual employment, passing through the land to bury with the passengers those that remain upon the face of the earth, to cleanse it: after the end of seven months shall they search. And the passengers that pass through the land, when any sees a man’s bone, then shall he set up a sign by it, till the buriers have buried it in the valley of Hamongog. And also the name of the city shall be Hamonah. Thus shall they cleanse the land. (Eze 39:11-16)
Eze 39:17-22 – Judgment Day – The Sacrificial Dinner (Last Day Supper – see Rev 19:17-21)
- And, thou son of man, thus says the Lord GOD; Speak unto every feathered fowl, and to every beast of the field, Assemble yourselves, and come; gather yourselves on every side to my sacrifice that I do sacrifice for you, even a great sacrifice upon the mountains of Israel, that ye may eat flesh, and drink blood. Ye shall eat the flesh of the mighty, and drink the blood of the princes of the earth, of rams, of lambs, and of goats, of bullocks, all of them fatlings of Bashan. And ye shall eat fat till ye be full, and drink blood till ye be drunken, of my sacrifice which I have sacrificed for you. Thus ye shall be filled at my table with horses and chariots, with mighty men, and with all men of war, saith the Lord GOD. And I will set my glory among the heathen, and all the heathen shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid upon them. So the house of Israel shall know that I am the LORD their God from that day and forward. (Eze 39:17-22)
Eze 39:23-24,28a – Great Tribulation – Captivity due to Iniquity of the House of Israel
- And the heathen shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity: because they trespassed against me, therefore hid I my face from them, and gave them into the hand of their enemies: so fell they all by the sword. According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions have I done unto them, and hid my face from them … Then shall they know that I am the LORD their God, which caused them to be led into captivity among the heathen … (Eze 39:23-28a)
Eze 39:25-29 – Salvation in Eternity – Mercy on God’ people brought out of captivity
- Therefore thus says the Lord GOD; Now will I bring again the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel, and will be jealous for my holy name; After that they have borne their shame, and all their trespasses whereby they have trespassed against me, when they dwelt safely in their land, and none made them afraid. When I have brought them again from the people, and gathered them out of their enemies’ lands, and am sanctified in them in the sight of many nations; Then shall they know that I am the LORD their God, which caused them to be led into captivity among the heathen: but I have gathered them unto their own land, and have left none of them anymore there. Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, says the Lord GOD. (Eze 39:25-29)

Study Notes on Rev 20 – Gog and Magog

4 quarters of the earth (land)
The four quarters (Gr: gonia (G1137) – literally, corners) of the earth refers to the fact that Satan’s deception will be worldwide. The nature of the Great Tribulation is that it extends throughout the world in deception. Deception comes in many forms and can affect all people throughout the world.
4 corners ‑ the outermost areas ‑ Rev 7:1, Acts 10:11, Acts 11:5, Is 11:12, Eze 7:2
See notes on Rev 4:5-9
Four Points of the Compass (east, west, north and south)
- 28:14; Num. 35:5; 1Ki. 7:25; 1Ch. 9:24; 2Ch. 4:4; Psa. 107:3; Eze. 48:10,16,17; Zec. 14:4; Luke 13:29; Rev. 21:13.
Gog and Magog (land of Magog)
- Gog (H1463)
  - 1Ch 5:4, Eze 38:2, Eze 38:3, Eze 38:14, Eze 38:16, Eze 38:18, Eze 39:1, Eze 39:11
  - Points to the Antichrist leading the battle of the Last Day (Armageddon)
  - Gog – chief prince of Meshech and Tubal – Eze 38:2-3, Eze 39:1
  - Antichrist as a King:
    - Satan gives His power to the Beast – Rev 13:2
      - And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. (Rev 13:2)
    - 7^th Head of the Scarlet beast of Rev 17 – Rev 17:10-14
    - Nebuchadnezzer / King of Babylon – Is 14:4-17, Dan 2:37-38
    - Prince of Tyre – Eze 28:1-10
    - Little Horn of Dan 7
      - … it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it … (Dan 7:7)
      - Subdues 3 kings (plucked up) – Dan 7:8, 24
      - … and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces (Dan 7:23b)
      - Mouth speaking great words against the Most High – Dan 7:8, 11, 20, 25
      - Wear out the saints (given into his hand for 3 ½ times) – Dan 7:21, 25
      - Think to change times and laws – Dan 7:25
    - Little Horn of Dan 8
      - Little horn (came out of 1 of the 4 horns of the he-goat, Greece) – Dan 8:9
      - King of fierce countenance – Dan 8:23
      - Became very great toward the south, the east and toward the pleasant (glorious) land – Dan 8:9
      - Became great to the host of heaven , cast down host and stars to the ground and stamped on them – Dan 8:10
      - Became great to the host of heaven , cast down host and stars to the ground and stamped on them – Dan 8:10
      - Magnified himself even to the prince of the host (Christ) – Dan 8:11
      - Power is mighty, but not by his own power – Dan 8:24
      - Magnify in his heart – Dan 8:25
      - By peace, destroy many – Dan 8:25
      - Will stand up against the Prince of princes – Dan 8:25
    - King of the North – Dan 11:32-45, Dan 12:1-2
  - Magog (H4031) – from H1463 – 4 occurrences – 1 Chr 1:5, Gen 10:2 (one of the sons of Japheth), Eze 38:2, Eze 39:6
    - Sons of Japheth – By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations. (Gen 10:5)
    - Land of Magog – Eze 38:2, Eze 39:6 – Gog chief prince of the land of Magog (i.e., isles of the Gentiles)
      - Gentiles – points to heathen (unsaved) – 1 Cor 10:32
    - Primary prophetic passage concerning Gog of the Land of Magog – Eze 38-39
    - Eze 39:11, Eze 39:15 – Hamongog (H1996) – (literally, disquieted multitude of Gog) – The peoples of Gog and Magog refer to those who are opposed to God’s people.
    - Eze 39:16 – Hamonah (H1997 – feminine of H1995 (Hamnon – literally, a noisy, disquieted multitude) – points to multitude as ‘women’ – likely spiritual meaning (those who are opposite of the bride of Christ, i.e., Babylon)
      - King of the North’s multitude – Dan 11:13
      - Often tied to Egypt’s multitude – Eze 29:19, Eze 30:4, Eze 30:10, Eze 30:15, Eze 31:2, Eze 31:18, Eze 32:12 (2), Eze 32:16, Eze 32:18, Eze 32:24-26 (3), Eze 32:31-32
    - They come as an army against God’s people (Eze 38:8-12, 14-17, 39:2).
    - Judgment of God on Gog and Magog – Eze 38:19-23, Eze 39:2-6
    - Ezekiel 38 and 39 closely harmonizes with Rev 20:7-10 in that there will be large army that descends upon the people of God and God rises up in judgment.
    - See below on final battle
  - Sand of the sea
    - Rev 20:8 – The army gathered against the Lord
    - Rev 13:1 – Where the beast is seen rising from the sea
    - Gen 22:17 – The promised descendants of Abraham
    - Gen 32:12 – The promised descendants of Jacob
    - Gen 41:49 – Joseph gather corn as the sand of the sea
    - Josh 11:4 – The Canaanites to battle against Israel – Josh 11:4
    - Jud 7:12 – camels without number of Midianites and Amalekites
    - 1 Sam 13:5 – Philistines against Israel
    - 2 Sam 17:11 – Israel under Absalom to fight against David – 2 Sam 17:11
    - 1 Ki 4:20 – Judah and Israel, eating, drinking and making merry (under Solomon)
    - Solomon – largeness of heart – 1 Ki 4:29
    - Job 6:3 – Job’s grief
    - Ps 78:27 – God rained flesh upon Israel (birds)
    - Is 10:22 – Israel like sand of the sea, yet a remnant shall return – Is 10:22
    - Jer 5:22 – Sand is the bound of the sea – perpetual decree – cannot be crossed by the sea
    - Jer 15:8 – widows of Judah – judgment
    - Jer 33:22 – Lord will multiply the seed of David
    - Hos 1:10 – Spiritual Israel, God’s people
    - Ro 9:27 – Children of Israel as sand of the sea, a remnant will be saved
    - Heb 11:12 – Abraham’s offspring
  - Sand – New Testament (G285, amnos) – 5 occurrences
    - See above on Ro 9:27, Heb 11:12, Rev 20:8, Rev 13:1
    - Sand – That which does not have a good foundation – Mat 7:26
  - Sand – Old Testament (H2344, chol) – 23 occurrences
    - See above on ‘sand of the sea’
    - Moses slew Egyptian and hided him in sand – Ex 2:12
    - Deut 33:19 – Zebulum / Issachar – offer sacrifices of righteousness – suck up treasures of the sand
    - Job to multiply days as the sand – Job 29:18
    - Ps 139:17-18 – The sum of God’s thoughts are precious
    - Pr 27:3 – sand is weighty, but fool’s wrath is heavier
    - Is 48:19 – if Israel listened, seed could have been as sand of the sea
    - Hab 1:9 – captivity of Judah as the sand
  - Sea – portrait of hell – see notes on Rev 10:2 notes, Rev 4:5 notes
    - Rise up out of the sea: loosing of Satan – Rev 20:1-3, 2 Thess 2:8
    - 4 Great beasts rise from the sea – Dan 7:2
    - Wicked are as a troubled sea – Is 57:20
    - Sea as hell – Ps 18:16-17, Ps 69:1-3, Ps 69:13-15, Ps 124:1-5, Ps 78:53, Ps 106:10-11, Jonah 1 with Mat 12:39-41
    - Sea – Gr: Thalassa (92 occurrences):
      - (Sea) Galilee of the Gentiles – Mat 4:15, Mat 4:18,Mat 15:29, Mk 1:16, Mk 7:31
      - Sea of Galilee is the Sea of Tiberias – John 6:1(see also John 21:1)
      - Jesus stills the tempest in the sea – Mat 8:24-27, Mat 14:24-26, Mk 4:39-41, Mk 6:47-49, John 6:16-19
      - Jesus sat by sea and taught – Mat 13:1, Mk 2:13, Mk 3:7, Mk 4:1
      - Kingdom of heaven like a net cast into the sea – Mat 13:47
      - Coin in mouth of fish from the sea – Mat 17:27
      - Millstone – drowned in the sea – Mat 18:6, Mk 9:42, Lk 17:2, Rev 18:21
      - Move mountain into the sea – Mat 21:21, Mk 11:23
      - Move sycamine tree into sea – Lk 17:6
      - Hypocrites compass sea and land to make a proselyte – Mat 23:15
      - Other side of sea – country of Gadarenes – swine rush into sea – mat 8:32, Mk 5:1
      - Pass by ship to other side of sea – Mk 5:21
      - Judgment day – sea and waves roaring – Lk 21:25
      - Other side of the sea – John 6:22, John 6:25
      - Appeared to disciples at the Sea of Tiberias – John 21:1
      - Peter cast himself into sea naked – John 21:7
      - Lord made the heaven, earth and sea – Acts 4:24, Acts 14:15
      - Simon a tanner – house by the sea – Acts 10:6, Acts 10:32
      - Paul travels by the sea – Acts 17:14
      - Paul’s shipwreck at sea – Acts 27:30, Acts 27:38, Acts 27:40, Acts 28:4
      - Paul in perils at sea – 2 Cor 11:26
      - Israel numbered as the sand of the sea – Ro 9:27, Heb 11:12
      - Fathers passed through the sea, baptized in the sea (Red Sea) – 1 Cor 10:1-2, Acts 7:36, Heb 11:29
      - He who doubts is like a wave of the sea – James 1:6
      - False teachers, raging waves of the sea – Jude 13
      - Sea of glass – Rev 4:6, Rev 15:2 (victorious people stand on the sea of glass)
      - All creatures including those in the sea praise God – Rev 5:13
      - Holding back 4 winds to not blow on the earth, sea or on any tree – Rev 7:1-3
      - 2^nd trumpet – great mountain burning with fire thrown into the sea – 1/3 part became as blood, 1/3 part in the sea died, 1/3 ship destroyed – Rev 8:8-9
      - Little book (7 thunders) – angel with right foot on sea, left foot on land – Rev 10:2, Rev 10:5-6, Rev 10:8
      - Woe to inhabitants of earth and sea – devil has great wrath – short time – Rev 12:12
      - Beast rises out of the sea (Antichrist) – Rev 13:1
      - Worship Him that made heaven, earth, sea and fountains of waters – Rev 14:7
      - 2^nd bowl of wrath – sea – blood of dead man, all souls died – Rev 16:3
      - Those who trade by sea (merchants) mourn for Babylon – Rev 18:17, Rev 18:19
      - Millstone cast into sea – fallen Babylon – Rev 18:21
      - Those who battle as the sand of the sea – Rev 20:8 (Judgment day)
      - Sea gave up the dead who were in them – Rev 20:13
      - No more sea in the New Heavens and New Earth – Rev 21:1
    - ‘Sea’ before the Holy Place in Solomon’s Temple – 1 Ki 7:30, 1 Ki 7:23-44, 2 Ki 16:17, 2 Ki 25:13, 2 Chr 4:1-6, 2 Chr 4:14-15, 2 Chr 6:13
      - The Bronze Laver before the Holy Place – Ex 30:17-21, Ex 30:26-28, Ex 31:9, Ex 35:16, Ex 38:8, Ex 39:39, Ex 40:11, Ex 40:30, Lev 8:11
      - Wash feet and hands – Ex 30:19-21
      - Laver anointed – Ex 30:26-28, Ex 40:11, Lev 8:11
      - Contributions for the laver – Ex 35:16
      - Washings – Exo 19:10; Exo 29:4; Exo 29:17; Exo 30:18; Exo 30:19; Exo 30:20; Exo 30:21; Exo 40:12; Exo 40:30; Lev 1:9; Lev 1:13; Lev 6:27; Lev 9:14; Lev 16:4; Lev 16:24; Lev 16:26; Lev 16:28; Num 19:7; Num 19:8; Num 19:10; Num 19:19; Num 19:21; 2Ch 4:6; Psa 26:6; Psa 51:2; Psa 51:7; Psa 58:10; Luk 7:38; Joh 9:7; Joh 9:11; Joh 13:5; Joh 13:6; Joh 13:8; Joh 13:10; Joh 13:14; Act 22:16, Heb 6:2, Heb 9:10
    - Sea often points to damnation – Ps 78:53, Ps 106:10-11, Rev 15:2, Ex 38:8, 1 Ki 7:23, Ps 124:3-5
    - Hell involves the sea (Jonah 2:1-5 w/ Mat 12:39-41, Lk 11:29-32, Gen 6-9 w/ Mat 24:37-39, Lk 17:27, Ps 18:16-17, Ps 136:15, Ps 32:6, Ps 93:3-4, Ps 46:1-3, Ps 69:1-3, Ps 69:13-15, Ps 124:1-5, Ps 144:7-8, Job 22:11, Hos 5:10, Rev 13:1)
    - Pharaoh’s Army destroyed in the Sea – Ex 14:23-31, Exo 15:10; Deu 11:4; Neh 9:11; Psa 78:53; Hab 3:8-10, Hab 3:13; Heb 11:29
    - Raging waves – Jude 13, wicked no peace – Is 57:20-21, James 1:6, Ps 107:25, Job 9:8
  - Gather them to battle of that Great Day of God Almighty
    - Battle – Final Day of Judgment – Rev 16:12-14, 1 Ki 22:21-23, Zech 14:2-3, Zech 14:12-14, Ps 55:18, Eze 13:5, Pr 21:31, Is 13:4, Joel 2:1-11, Rev 20:8, Rev 16:14, Rev 19:11-21 (especially Rev 19:19), Zech 10:3-5, Zech 12:2-11, Is 34:1-8, Rev 17:12-14, Eze 38-Eze 39, Zeph 3:8, Zeph 2:4-15, Dan 12:1 (war based on context of Dan 11:45), Dan 8:25, Dan 7:26-27, Dan 2:22-36, Dan 2:44, Micah 5:9-15, Is 31:7-9, Is 2:1-5, Joel 3:1-2, Joel 3:9-12
      - War in the Valley of Jehoshaphat – Joel 3:1-2, Joel 3:9-10
      - Plowshares into swords, pruning hooks into spears – Joel 3:10, Is 2:4
    - Gather – Joel 3:11-12, Is 13:4, Eze 38:9, Eze 38:15-16 w/ Rev 20:9, Eze 39:2, Zech 12:3, Zech 14:2, Zeph 3:8, Hos 8:10, Eze 22:19-21, John 15:6, Ps 2:2, Eze 38:18, Zeph 3:8, Dan 11:44

Battle (literally, war)

Battle – Final Day of Judgment – Rev 16:12-14, 1 Ki 22:21-23, Zech 14:2-3, Zech 14:12-14, Ps 55:18, Eze 13:5, Pr 21:31, Is 13:4, Joel 2:1-11, Rev 20:8, Rev 16:14, Rev 19:11-21 (especially Rev 19:19), Zech 10:3-5, Zech 12:2-11, Is 34:1-8, Rev 17:12-14, Eze 38-Eze 39, Zeph 3:8, Zeph 2:4-15, Dan 12:1 (war based on context of Dan 11:45), Dan 8:25, Dan 7:26-27, Dan 2:22-36, Dan 2:44, Micah 5:9-15, Is 31:7-9, Is 2:1-5, Joel 3:1-2, Joel 3:9-12
- War in the Vally of Jehoshaphat – Joel 3:1-2, Joel 3:9-10
- Plowhares into swords, pruning hooks into spears – Joel 3:10, Is 2:4
Battle – Gr: 4171 (polemos) – also G4172 (polemeo) – literally, war
- G4170 – Jas 4:2, Rev 2:16, Rev 12:7, Rev 13:4, Rev 17:14, Rev 19:11
- G4171 – Mat 24:6, Mar 13:7, Luk 14:31, Luk 21:9, 1Co 14:8, Heb 11:34, Jas 4:1, Rev 9:7, Rev 9:9, Rev 11:7, Rev 12:7, Rev 12:17, Rev 13:7, Rev 16:14, Rev 19:19, Rev 20:8

And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. (Rev 20:9)

Breadth of the earth – Unsaved and unsaved all througout the world – Parable of the Wheat and the Tares – Rev 13:24-30, 36-43
- Camp of the saints / beloved city – symbol of God’s people
- Compassed – points to Great Tribulation
- God’s people are scattered throughout the world
- Parable of the Wheat and the Tares – Rev 13:24-30, 36-43

Saints – literally, holy ones
Saints will judge the world – 1 Cor 6:2, Psa 149:5-9, Dan 7:18, Dan 7:22, Zec 14:5, Luk 22:30, 1Th 3:13, Jud 1:14-15, Rev 2:26-27, Rev 3:21, Rev 20:4
Ps 149:4-9 – God’s saints (His people that have been beautified with salvation) come with a sword for vengeance
The Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all – Jude 14
Saints were given the kingdom – Dan 7:10, Dan 7:22, Dan 7:25, Dan 7:27 (God’s people – see context of Dan 7:18-21)
You shall flee when God comes with His saints – Zech 14:5
Deut 33:2 – Lord came with 10,000 saints with a fiery law
God will come – gather my saints unto me – Ps 50:3-5
The Lord Jesus comes with all His saints – 1 Thess 3:13
Christ comes to be glorified in His saints an all that believe in Him – 2 Thess 1:10
Give reward to the saints – Rev 11:18
Lord God Almighty is the King of Saints – Rev 15:3
Camp of the saints surrounded on Judgment day – Rev 20:9
Christians gathered together – See Rev 16:14-16 notes for gathered
Meet Christ in the air – 1 Thess 4:13-18
Angels gather the elect – Mat 16:27, Mat 24:31, Mat 13:41, Mk 8:38, 2 Thess 1:7, Mk 13:27
God will come – gather my saints unto me – Ps 50:3-5

Compassed the camp of the saints and the beloved city – Rev 20:9

Compassed (sieged)
- Jerusalem being encompassed during the Great Tribulation period described in Lk 21:20, Mat 24:15 and Mk 13:14, Lk 19:43
- Compassed – see Rev 11:2-4 for parallel, Hab 1:6 (believers are trapped, appears to be no hope in the world), see also 2 Ki 6:15, Mic 2:13, Mat 16:16-18, Lk 19:43
- Babylonian captivity – Jer 32:2, Jer 37:5, Dan 1:1, 2 Ki 24:11, Jer 21;4, Jer 21:9, Eze 4:3 – see Babylonian Captivity study
- Throughout the Bible, there are many references to encompassing cities which usually point to a period of Great Tribulation (e.g., Dan 9:27, Rev 5:11, 7:11, Ps 118:10-12 and many other verses in Jeremiah and Ezekiel referring to the siege of Jerusalem).

- Fear on Every Side

Therefore snares are round about thee, and sudden fear troubleth thee (Job 22:10)
For I have heard the slander of many: fear was on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life. (Psa 31:13)
The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. (Psa 34:7)
Go not forth into the field, nor walk by the way; for the sword of the enemy and fear is on every side. (Jer 6:25)
For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side. Report, say they, and we will report it. All my familiars watched for my halting, saying, Peradventure he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him. (Jer 20:10)
Wherefore have I seen them dismayed and turned away back? and their mighty ones are beaten down, and are fled apace, and look not back: for fear was round about, saith the LORD. (Jer 46:5)
Behold, I will bring a fear upon thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts, from all those that be about thee; and ye shall be driven out every man right forth; and none shall gather up him that wandereth. (Jer 49:5)
Their tents and their flocks shall they take away: they shall take to themselves their curtains, and all their vessels, and their camels; and they shall cry unto them, Fear is on every side. (Jer 49:29)
Wicked Surround the Righteous, but God Delivers Them
I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about. (Psa 3:6)
The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted. (Psa 12:8)
And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD. (Psa 27:6)
For I have heard the slander of many: fear was on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life. (Psa 31:13)
The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. (Psa 34:7)
Thou makest us a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and a derision to them that are round about us. (Psa 44:13)
We are become a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and derision to them that are round about us. (Psa 79:4)
God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him. (Psa 89:7)
LORD God of hosts, who is a strong LORD like unto thee? or to thy faithfulness round about thee? (Psa 89:8)
Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne. (Psa 97:2)
As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about his people from henceforth even for ever. (Psa 125:2)
See Babylonian Captivity – siege study
- Camp of the saints – Rev 20:9
  - True believers – see Deut 23:14, refers to Israel in the wilderness (type of the church)
  - Camp – (G3925 – parembole) – an army array – Act 21:34, Act 21:37, Act 22:24, Act 23:10, Act 23:16, Act 23:32, Heb 13:11, Heb 13:13, Rev 20:9, Heb 11:34
  - See also – Ps 48:1-3, Ps 74:2-4, Ps 125:1-2, Heb 13:13
  - Saints ‑ set apart, sanctified ones ‑ all believers are saints – Ro 1:7, Ro 8:27, Ro 12:13, 1 Pet 1:2,15, 2:24, Gal 6:15, 2 Thess 2:13, Jude 1, Heb 3:1, Col 2:11‑13, 2 Cor 3:1‑11, Ps 4:3, 5:4, Col 3:12, 1 Cor 1:2,12,30,6:11,5:7, Acts 20:32, 2 Cor 5:17, Jer 1:5, Rev 1:5, etc.
- Beloved city -Rev 20:9
  - God loves Jerusalem – Rev 20:9, Ps 87:2, Ps 122:6, Isa 66:10, Ps 26:8, Ps 84:1-4, Ps 137:6
  - Heavenly Jerusalem – Rev 21:2, Rev 3:12, Ps 48:1-3, Ps 87:3, Isa 1:21, Jer 31:23, Heb 11:10, Heb 12:22, Heb 13:14, Rev 21:9-27, etc.
  - God loves the elect (His people), but hates the wicked – Ps 5:5, Ro 9:13, Mal 1:2, Ps 105:6, etc.
  - Not Physical Jerusalem – see Rev Rev 11:2-4
- Fire came down from God and devoured them – Rev 20:9
  - Eze 38:22, 39:6, see 13:13 notes
  - Fire – picture of judgment – see notes on Rev 1:14-15
  - See – Rev 11:5, Rev 13:13, Gen 19:24, Exo 9:23-24, Lev 10:2-3, Num 11:1, Num 16:35, 2Ki 1:10-15, Psa 97:3, Psa 106:18, Isa 30:33, Isa 37:36, Eze 38:22, Eze 39:6, Luk 9:54, Luk 17:29, 2Th 1:8
  - Came down from God – God is the judge
  - Devoured them – see Heb 10:27
  - Devour – related to the word of God – see notes on Rev 11:5, 12:4, 9:17-19

Summary of Gog’s Character and Actions

Power

Gog has a Large army
- And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords: (Eze 38:4)
- Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet: (Eze 38:5)
- Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee. (Eze 38:6)
- Be thou prepared, and prepare for thyself, thou, and all thy company that are assembled unto thee, and be thou a guard unto them. (Eze 38:7)
- And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army: (Eze 38:15)

Position

Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him, And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: (Eze 38:2-3)
Therefore, thou son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: (Eze 39:1)

Place

Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee. (Eze 38:6)
And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army: (Eze 38:15)
And I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee, and will cause thee to come up from the north parts, and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel: (Eze 39:2)

Plan

Gog’s persecution of those living in safety (God’s people)
- And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. (Rev 20:8)
- And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. (Rev 20:9)
- After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them. (Eze 38:8)
- Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee. (Eze 38:9)
- Thus saith the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought: (Eze 38:10)
- And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates, (Eze 38:11)
- To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land. (Eze 38:12)
- Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil? (Eze 38:13)
- Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say unto Gog, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In that day when my people of Israel dwelleth safely, shalt thou not know it? (Eze 38:14)
- And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army: (Eze 38:15)
- And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes. (Eze 38:16)
- Thus saith the Lord GOD; Art thou he of whom I have spoken in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, which prophesied in those days many years that I would bring thee against them? (Eze 38:17)
- And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, that my fury shall come up in my face. (Eze 38:18)
- And I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee, and will cause thee to come up from the north parts, and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel: (Eze 39:2)

Deception

And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. (Rev 20:8)

Worship of other gods and idols:

So will I make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel; and I will not let them pollute my holy name any more: and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel. (Eze 39:7)
- Pollute – tied to idolatry (Eze 20:9, Eze 20:14, Eze 20:39, Eze 36:20-21, Eze 36:36; Exo 20:7; Lev 18:21)