Is the war with Gog and Magog different from Armageddon?

Is the war with Gog and Magog different from Armageddon?

When do they occur in relation to the Millennial reign of Christ?

Revelation 16:15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. 16 And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.

From the context Armageddon occurs at the time of Christ’s return.

This battle is for Jerusalem and the land of Israel as described in Ezekiel 38 and 39 and Zechariah 12 to 14.

In Ezekiel 38 and 39 Gog is the name of a man from the land of Magog.

Ezekiel 38:2 Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal…

Magog describes the country initially settled by Magog and his descendents, as recorded in Genesis 10.

Genesis 10:2 The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras… 32 These are the families of the sons of Noah, after their generations, in their nations: and by these were the nations divided in the earth after the flood.

Following this conflict Israel will be restored and Christ will rule the world from Jerusalem for 1000 years.

The battle in Revelation involving ‘Gog and Magog’ occurs at the end of the millennial reign of Christ when there will be a final rebellion against God.

Gog and Magog are not to be understood as literal place names but are used symbolically to denote ‘the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth’. The names are used possibly as a reminder of the folly of ‘Gog of the land of Magog’s’ fight against Christ which happened 1000 years previously.

Revelation 20:7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 8  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. 8 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. 9 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.

‘Satan’ is not a literal supernatural entity; it is symbolic language to describe the sinful machinations of men allowed to rise to power again among the nations for a final rebellion against the righteous rule of Christ.

When this rebellion is put down a second resurrection and a final judgment will take place.

Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

Those accepted will receive eternal life and those rejected will be consigned to the ‘second death’ (i.e. they will die again).

After this, all who live on will be immortal and God will dwell among them.

Revelation 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. 6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

There is no literal ‘lake which burneth with fire and brimstone’ – it signifies utter destruction. Hell (hades – the grave) and death are cast therein signifying the end of death and no further need for graves.

Paul describes in plain language what is going to happen:

1 Corinthians 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. 24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. 28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

Those ‘in Christ’ are those that have believed the gospel, been baptised into him and who try to live by his precepts. Their reward is eternal life in the kingdom of God on earth.

I hope you have found this helpful.

God bless you,

Glenn

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Preceding

Looking forward for what is to come

Memorizing wonderfully 73: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 Sleepers with hope

What is the Kingdom of God?

Today’s thought “The one who conquers will …” (July 1)

Is Hell-fire something to fear

Prepare for Russian invasion of Ukraine, US warns European allies

Russia choose to start a war

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Additional reading

  1. A Book of life recording the names of true believers in God
  2. GogSigns of the Last Days
  3. Looking for a primary cause and a goal that can not offer philosophers existing beliefs
  4. Matthew 10:24-31 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Do Not Fear – Preach!
  5. Matthew 25:31-46 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Judgment on the Realm of Heaven #4 Matthew 25:41-46
  6. Only once and with consequences
  7. Jesus’ footstep followers, irrespective of sectarian lines
  8. Here am I; Send me
  9. A Ransom for all 3 Seeing Him as He is
  10. Understanding God’s Wrath
  11. Writing the Law on the Heart
  12. What is life?
  13. The Dead — Where Are They? 5 Sheol, Hades, Hell, Gehenna
  14. The Dead — Where Are They? 24 Stories, first death and heavens
  15. The Dead — Where Are They? 25 The Second Death
  16. Mortal Soul and Mortal Psyche #5 Mortality of man and mortality of the spirit
  17. Weekly World Watch Year 2009
  18. Gog – Russia turned back – 2009
  19. Andy Walton’s Weekly World Watch of October 17 – 23, 2021
  20. Risk of accidental war with Russia highest in decades, general warns
  21. Russia, Belarus, Ukraine and Russian troop movements
  22. Britain warns Russia over Ukraine
  23. PM warns Vladimir Putin against ‘tragic mistake’ as tensions rise with Ukraine
  24. Britain in talks to sell missiles in first arms deal with Ukraine
  25. Russia sends in tanks to quell Kazakhstan protests
  26. Countries around the world urging their citizens to leave Ukraine immediately
  27. Russia invades Ukraine: A dark day for Europe
  28. 19° Century London Christadelphians

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Related

  1. Who is Gog?
  2. Eschatology – Ezk 38-39: Gog and Magog
  3. Eschatology-Gog and Magog pt 2
  4. How to read Revelation and apocalyptic literature – Ezekiel 38 & 39, Part 2
  5. The Magog War: Part One
  6. The Magog War: Part Two
  7. The Magog War Part Three
  8. Fighting Against Prophecy
  9. Pop Up Prophecy: The War of Gog, Magog
  11. Keeping An Eye On Turkey
  12. Gog, Russia & the Restrainer
  13. The Russia Angle to Ezekiel 38… Czekmate
  14. Russia Military Build and Ezekiel 39, Prophetic Considerations… Czekmate & Paul Lehr
  15. The Next Russian Invasion
  16. Ukraine war in Bible-prophecy

11 thoughts on “Is the war with Gog and Magog different from Armageddon?”

  1. Gog/Magog – Most modern eschatologists teach that Ezekiel 38-39 takes place before the seven-year tribulation. Old times, like Hal Lindsey and commentators from the past, believe that this is Armageddon and takes place at the end of the tribulation. A careful reading of these two chapters seems to indicate that this isn’t a single battle but two, maybe three – which would place them during the tribulation.
    The battle in Ezekiel and Revelation are different and occur under completely different context.
    Russia’s presence along the Goland Heights, along with Serian, Turkish, and Iranian forces, make it appear that an invasion (maybe Gog) is imminent.
    Man was created in the image of God but not created immortal. The new testament makes it clear that eternal life is a gift – 1Co 15:53-54; 1Ti 6:16; 2Ti 1:10 – Romans 2:7 (KJV) To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life. John (the baptizer) says, Matthew 3:12 (KJV) Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. – The fire is everlasting, as is the punishment from which there is no return, but those who are cast into the fire are burned up, consumed as chaff.
    Thanks for the opportunity to reply.

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    1. Thank you for your reaction.

      Concerning one or more battles, we too believe it is several battles, nations fighting against nations in a time where there shall be also more natural disasters (or other sorts of battles to conquer).
      As you correctly say “Man was created in the image of God but not created immortal.” and that is one of the reason we prefer to use the term “allowed to live for ever” and do not say “eternal”, because man has a birth and shall die, except a few ones who shall be still alive at the end of times and then shall be judged rightful to enter the kingdom. We speak more of a “non ending life” which is as you say “a gift from God” having coming over mankind by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God.

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  2. One more, if I may. Concerning the Lake of Fire and eternal life – Did God create man with an immortal soul?
    Romans 6:23 (KJV) For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
    Mt 19:16; Mr 10:17,30; Lu 10:25; Lu 18:18; Joh 3:15; Joh 5:39; Joh 6:54,68; Joh 10:28; Joh 17:2; Ac 13:48; Ro 2:7; Ro 5:21; Ro 6:23; 1Ti 6:12,19; Tit 1:2; Tit 3:7; 1Jo 1:2; 1Jo 2:25; 1Jo 3:15; 1Jo 5:11,13,20; Jude 21.

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    1. As I said, in place of having that translation “eternal life” we better use “non ending life”, because eternality includes having no birth and no death. Each human being has a beginning by birth and is able to die, getting an end to his life. It is by the Grace of God that we can receive a ‘non ending ‘ life or going into a world to which no end shall come.

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