Prophecy about Russia and the end times

 BY Argie Simonis

Recent events and developments with the Russian invasion of Ukraine are very alerting and causing worry to the whole world. Here we will try to put some light on this matter through the Word of God, in order to avoid misinterpretations and misunderstandings regarding prophecies about Russia and the end times. 

Let's see what Ezekiel describes:

"And say, Thus said the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal:

And I will turn you back, and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you forth, and all your 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:" Ezekiel 38:3-4

Magog, Meshech, and Tuval were all sons of Japheth (Genesis 10: 2)

Although there is no total agreement among scholars, most believe that Gog (Magog), Meshech and Tubal are the ancestors of the Russians and other groups living in the former Soviet Union.

"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 your hand on the desolate places that are now inhabited, and on the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the middle of the land." Ezekiel 38:11-12

He will have plans to attack a peaceful and unsuspecting people, that is, Israel (verses 11, 14 and 18). But regardless of Gog's plans, the Lord God is against him and will defeat him (Ezekiel 38: 4, 19-23; 39: 3-5).

The Meshech region is often identified as the northern Black Sea (southern Russia and Ukraine and possibly the Republic of Georgia) and Tubal as the region in central Turkey.

"Woe is me, that I sojourn in Mesech, that I dwell in the tents of Kedar!

My soul has long dwelled with him that hates peace." Psalm 120:5-6

Ezekiel repeats the words of God's judgment against the descendants of Japheth's two sons when he prophesies that God will defeat them in a war against Israel (Ezekiel 39: 1-5).

Many Bible scholars identify the land of Gog in Ezekiel's prophecies with Russia, which will attack Israel "from the far north" (Ezekiel 38:15). Meshech and Tubal could be two of the "many nations" united with Russia in its invasion of Israel.

"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 you." Ezekiel 38:5-6

This is a strange alliance that seemed impossible to Ezekiel and anyone in his day. But today, Russia, Persia (now Iraq and Iran), Ethiopia and Libya all share the same political beliefs. It is not unlikely to see them in alliance.

In Ezekiel's prophecy, Gog will be the leader of a large army that attacks the land of Israel. Gog is described as "from the land of Magog, prince of Ross, Meshech, and Thuval" (Ezekiel 38: 2-3). The battle of Ezekiel of Gog and Magog takes place in the period of tribulation, more specifically in the first 3 1/2 years. The strongest evidence for this view is that the attack will come when Israel is at peace (Ezekiel 38: 8, 11).

Ezekiel describes a nation that has security and has lowered its defenses. Israel is certainly not at peace now, and it is inconceivable for the nation to abandon its defenses unless something very important happens. When Israel's covenant with the beast (antichrist) is in effect at the beginning of Daniel's 70th week (also known as the 7-year tribulation, Daniel 9: 27a), Israel will be at peace. The battle will probably take place shortly before the middle of seven years.

"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." Rev. 20:7-8

There is an explanation why the devil is loosed for a while. To separate wheat from tares:

"Another parable put he forth to them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened to a man which sowed good seed in his field:

But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.

But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.

So the servants of the householder came and said to him, Sir, did not you sow good seed in your field? from where then has it tares?

He said to them, An enemy has done this. The servants said to him, Will you then that we go and gather them up?

But he said, No; lest while you gather up the tares, you root up also the wheat with them.

Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather you together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn." Mat. 13:24-30

Satan will deceive again all those who have not received love for the truth:

"And with all delusion 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." 2Thes. 2:10-12

and they will rebel in this perfect kingdom of Christ and be lost in the battle described in Revelation 20: 8-9.

According to Ezekiel, Gog will be defeated by God himself in the mountains of Israel. The slaughter will be so great that it will take seven months for all the dead to be buried (Ezekiel 39: 11-12).

So, yes, the Bible mentions Russia, though not by name, in reference to the end times. Ezekiel 38-39 refers to a nation coming from North Asia to attack Israel. After the Cold War, Russia lost ground as a superpower, making the fulfillment of Ezekiel's prophecy seem unlikely to some.

However, recent events have shown that Russia is growing stronger and many believe that the invasion of Ukraine is just a first step in Russia's plan to restore its sovereignty in this hemisphere. It is also interesting to note that, in Soviet times, Moscow was firmly aligned with many muslim countries as opposed to Israel. Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Russia has continued to reach out to the muslim world.

It is important to recognize that Gog and Magog of Ezekiel 38-39 are quite different from those in Revelation 20: 7-8. Below are some of the most obvious reasons why they refer to different people and battles.

1. In the battle of Ezekiel 38-39, the armies come mainly from the north and involve only a few nations of the earth (Ezekiel 38: 6, 15; 39: 2). The battle in Revelation 20: 7-9 will involve all nations, so armies will come from all directions, not just from the north.

2. Satan is not mentioned in the description of Ezekiel 38-39. Revelation 20: 7 clearly places the battle at the end of the millennium with Satan as the protagonist. The millennium is a kingdom without the devil deceiving people and I am sure it will be the best years this world has ever seen.

3. Ezekiel 39: 11-12 states that the dead will be buried for seven months. There would be no need to bury the dead if the battle at Ezekiel 38-39 is as described in Revelation 20: 8-9, because immediately after Revelation 20: 8-9 is the judgment of the Great White Throne (20: 11-15) and then the present heaven and earth are destroyed, replaced by a new heaven and earth (Revelation 21: 1).

The dead will obviously have to be buried if the battle takes place in the first part of the tribulation, because the land of Israel will be occupied for another 1,000 years, as long as the millennial reign lasts (Revelation 20: 4-6).

4. The battle in Ezekiel 38-39 is used by God to bring Israel back to Him (Ezekiel 39: 21-29). In Revelation 20, Israel has been faithful to God for 1,000 years (the millennial kingdom). Those who rebel against God in Revelation 20: 7-10 are destroyed without any other opportunity for repentance.

There is much we do not know for sure about Ezekiel's prophecy, including the timing of these events. However, it is clear that Russia will be involved and in fact will lead an alliance of nations to occupy Israel. The prophet Ezekiel comforts Israel in much the same way as Moses did centuries ago:

"For the LORD your God is he that goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you." Deut. 20:4

Amen!