ly does not refer to the African Ethiopia, for there was also an ancient Ethiopia, called in Scripture, “ Cush,” and was located in the region of Babylon adjoining the land of Persia. This is most likely, in the light of recent events, the Ethiopia of Ezekiel 38. The same is true of Libya, the third nation mentioned as being allied with Gog. The old name for Libya was “ Phut,” another ancient Bible land in the same geo graphical location as Persia, and Ethiopia, to the south of Russia. The next nation, Gomer, offers no difficulty, as prac tically all expositors agree that it has reference to Eastern Germany. And then the last nation mentioned is Togar- mah, identified as the nations of central Asia, traditional enemies of Israel and closely allied to Russia throughout their history. A few years ago this prophecy of Ezekiel seemed re mote. Yet today, we have seen these countries silently infiltrated and taken over by Russia, and brought under the hammer and the sickle together with the other Slavic people to the north of Palestine. This, then, said Ezekiel 2,500 years ago, would comprise the great northern federa tion of Gog and Magog, and we are today living in the very day of the fulfillment of these prophecies. The name, Gog means Russia, the location identifies Russia, its allies are the nations today already under the sway, or almost so, of Russia, and the evidence is most complete. Russia's Policy The fourth thing in these chapters which identifies Gog and Magog is the description given by Ezekiel of the policies and the program of Russia today. Ezekiel tells us about this in chapter 38:10-12: “ 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:” And then the next verse goes on to tell what this evil thought of Russia would be. Here it is, astounding and arresting in the light of Russia’s program in the past few years: “ And thou shalt say, I w ill go up to the land of unwalled villages; I w ill go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates.” Ezekiel 38:11 How easy it is to see Russia’s policy in these words! Her program has been, and is one o f aggression against weak and defenseless nations. They are described as lands of unprotected villages, without walls and defenses. By subtle propaganda and infiltration she will seek to over run and overpower her weaker neighbors; by fifth column activities, false promises, propaganda, and by intimidation. This prophecy is utterly amazing in the light of recent years. We have but to mention Russia’s taking over Poland, Czechoslovakia, Romania, Yugoslavia, and a host of other smaller nations, and now more recent ly China, Korea, Indo-china, and still Russia marches on. God has clearly foretold that Russia will meet her doom, only in Palestine, when she meets up with the Western Alliance of nations under the leadership of a Super-man upon the mountains of Israel. That is the place where God says the defeat of Russia will take place. Watch Palestine and the Middle East, for God has spoken, and when God speaks, He carries out His pro gram. We are, and dare to be, dogmatic about this fact, for we have the clear teaching of the Word of God in
this matter. Russia’s program of aggression, bit by bit, is running true to form according to prophecy. What a wonderful book—the Book— the Bible. Oh, that men would turn to this Book for their information and guid ance in dealing with the present Russian crisis. Thank God, we need not as Christians, with an open Bible before us, be in darkness concerning the outcome of the pres ent crisis. So far, then, we have been able to definitely identify Gog as Russia, first by the name which is given to it, second its geographic location, third its allies, and fourth its policies and program. The Time of Russia's Rise We call your attention to just one other positive iden tification, given in the Word of God, namely the time when this rise of Russia shall occur. First w ill you notice the position of Ezekiel 38 and 39 in the Scriptures. The preceding chapter, (Ezekiel 37) contains the prophecy of the valley of dry bones. It tells of Israel’s restoration first back into the land of Palestine, Then Chapter 40, the chapter which follows 38 and 39, describes Israel’s Kingdom rest and blessing after the second coming of Christ. Read those chapters and see in Chapter 37 Israel returning to Palestine, and then in Chapter 40 Israel at rest in Palestine, and then amazingly enough between these two chapters, we have Russia’s final attack upon Israel and her utter defeat. But in addition to this, the time is definitely stated by Ezekiel. In Ezekiel 38:8 we read: “A fter 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 gath ered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste.” And again, in verse 16, we read this: “ 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 l w ill bring thee against my land.” In perfect harmony with this, notice verse 14: “ 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.” These quotations identify the time when Russia shall make her attack upon Israel with absolute certainty. It will be after Israel is back in the land of Palestine. Now Israel is already in the land, and it is following Israel’s restoration that these things shall come to pass, accord ing to the Word of God.
But this final battle described in these chapters will not occur until after the Rapture of the Church, and during the tribulation period. We, therefore, have to look for the imminent return of our Lord as the next event in the program of God with the nations. The stage is all set, Israel is in the land, Russia is on the march, the United Nations described in Ezekiel 38 are seeking to organize, waiting only for one man, the Super-man of the last days to unite them against the King of the North. But before this Super-man, the Son of Perdition can appear, the Son of God will first come to take the Church of Jesus Christ to Himself before the final battle. Who knows how near that day may be? EVEN SO COME LORD JESUS. g o g a n d m a g o g i n t h e e n d t i m e s OCTOBER, 1961 9
Made with FlippingBook Online document