Pastor John's Thoughts On the Current Conflict and End Time Prophecy
The book of Ezekiel is one of the most important prophetic books in the Bible; it provides a potential reference to Russia and the future Battle of Armageddon. In chapters 38 and 39 of this Old Testament book, we are given the identities of those forces which will attack Israel in the end times. One of those adversaries is the people of Magog. In ancient times, these people were located in the regions of modern Russia and Ukraine.
Russia in Bible Prophecy
When contextualized with current events, this coalition makeup is nations who have recently been in the headlines. According to the Bible, there will come a time when Russia, in alliance with several other countries, will amass a huge army against Israel to plunder the Jews' land. The nations aligned with Russia for this military endeavor include:
- Magog: Modern-day Russia and Ukraine
- Persia: Modern-day Iran
- Put: Modern-day Libya
- Cush: Modern-day Sudan
- Gomer: Part of modern-day Turkey
- Beth Togarmah: Armenia
Some of these nations are currently militant Islamic states with an express hatred of Israel. These forces will be completely defeated by Christ at His second coming. The people called Magog (geographically modern-day Russia) will lead the armies of the North against our Lord.
The Tribulation and the Return of Christ
The book of Revelation describes a terrible time immediately preceding the second coming of Christ known as the Tribulation. Not all Christians agree on exactly how the return of Christ will unfold, but all should agree that no one knows the precise time of the second coming of Christ (Matthew 24:36). Believers are not united concerning whether or not the Church will go through the Tribulation.
My conviction is that the Church will not experience this time of the unbridled wrath of God revealed in the book of Revelation but will be raptured (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18) before these terrible events begin. At the end of this seven-year time of Tribulation, Christ will return (Revelation 19:11-16) with the Church by His side to defeat His enemies at the Battle of Armageddon.
Distinguishing Prophetic Events
There is an additional reference to Magog in Bible prophecy which should not be confused with the events predicted in Ezekiel. It is found in Revelation 20:7-9, "When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle. Their number is like the sand of the sea."
As noted by biblical scholars, Magog was the grandson of Noah (Gen. 10:2) and founder of a kingdom located North of the Black and Caspian Seas (Modern Russia). Gog is apparently the leader of a rebel army known collectively as Magog. The battle depicted in Revelation 20:8,9 is like the one in Ezek. 38, 39 but they are NOT the same.
Contextualizing the Conflict in Ukraine
The question then is raised, "Are the events unfolding in Ukraine the prelude to the events described in Ezekiel 38 and 39?" The simple answer is, I do not know. Jesus told us there would be rumors of war (Matthew 24:6), but not to be deceived into thinking that this is conclusive evidence of His imminent return. So, we must exercise much Spirit-led caution in any discussion of the tragic events in Ukraine and the return of our Lord. It is a good thing, however, to long for our Lord's return and be encouraged by the hope it brings. Until our Lord returns, we should live faithfully for His glory and look for ways to spread the gospel.