Topical Encyclopedia
Introduction:Gog is a figure mentioned in the Bible, primarily known from the prophetic books of Ezekiel and Revelation. The identity and role of Gog have been subjects of theological discussion and interpretation throughout Christian history. Gog is often associated with eschatological events and is considered a symbol of opposition against God's people.
Biblical References:1.
Ezekiel 38-39: The most detailed account of Gog is found in the Book of Ezekiel, chapters 38 and 39. Gog is described as the leader of a coalition of nations from the far north, identified as "Gog of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal" (
Ezekiel 38:2). This coalition is prophesied to invade the land of Israel in the latter days. The passage describes a massive battle where God intervenes to protect Israel, resulting in the defeat of Gog and his allies. The purpose of this divine intervention is to demonstrate God's holiness and sovereignty to the nations: "I will magnify Myself and sanctify Myself, and will make Myself known in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the LORD" (
Ezekiel 38:23).
2.
Revelation 20:7-10: Gog is also mentioned in the New Testament, in the Book of Revelation. Here, Gog and Magog are depicted as forces that Satan will gather for a final battle against the saints and the beloved city after the thousand-year reign of Christ. The text states: "When the thousand years are complete, Satan will be released from his prison, and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—to assemble them for battle. Their number is like the sand of the seashore" (
Revelation 20:7-8). This battle ends with the ultimate defeat of Satan and his forces, as fire comes down from heaven and consumes them.
Interpretations and Theological Significance:·
Historical and Geographical Context: The identity of Gog and the land of Magog has been debated among scholars. Some interpretations suggest that these names refer to historical peoples or regions known to the ancient Near East, while others view them as symbolic representations of future adversaries of God's people.
·
Eschatological Symbolism: In Christian eschatology, Gog is often seen as a symbol of the ultimate rebellion against God, representing the forces of evil that will be defeated in the end times. The battle involving Gog is viewed as a precursor to the final establishment of God's kingdom.
·
Divine Sovereignty and Protection: The accounts of Gog emphasize God's sovereignty and His commitment to protect His people. The defeat of Gog serves as a demonstration of God's power and a reassurance of His ultimate victory over evil.
·
Typological and Prophetic Fulfillment: Some conservative theologians see the events involving Gog as having both a historical and a future fulfillment. The historical context in Ezekiel may have had an immediate application, while also pointing forward to a greater eschatological fulfillment as described in Revelation.
Conclusion:The figure of Gog, as presented in the Bible, serves as a powerful symbol of opposition to God and His people. Through the prophetic visions of Ezekiel and the apocalyptic imagery of Revelation, Gog represents the forces that will ultimately be defeated by God's intervention, underscoring the themes of divine justice, protection, and the ultimate triumph of God's kingdom.
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
Gogroof; covering
Smith's Bible Dictionary
Gog(mountain).
- A Reubenite, (1 Chronicles 5:4) son of Shemaiah.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
(1.) A Reubenite (1 Chronicles 5:4), the father of Shimei.
(2.) The name of the leader of the hostile party described inEzek. 38,39, as coming from the "north country" and assailing the people of Israel to their own destruction. This prophecy has been regarded as fulfilled in the conflicts of the Maccabees with Antiochus, the invasion and overthrow of the Chaldeans, and the temporary successes and destined overthrow of the Turks. But "all these interpretations are unsatisfactory and inadequate. The vision respecting Gog and Magog in the Apocalypse (Revelation 20:8) is in substance a reannouncement of this prophecy of Ezekiel. But while Ezekiel contemplates the great conflict in a more general light as what was certainly to be connected with the times of the Messiah, and should come then to its last decisive issues, John, on the other hand, writing from the commencement of the Messiah's times, describes there the last struggles and victories of the cause of Christ. In both cases alike the vision describes the final workings of the world's evil and its results in connection with the kingdom of God, only the starting-point is placed further in advance in the one case than in the other."
It has been supposed to be the name of a district in the wild north-east steppes of Central Asia, north of the Hindu-Kush, now a part of Turkestan, a region about 2,000 miles north-east of Nineveh.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
n.) Haste; ardent desire to go.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
GOGgog (gogh; Goug):
(1) A son of Joel, and descendant of the tribe of Reuben (1 Chronicles 5:4).
(2) The prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal (Ezekiel 38:2;Ezekiel 39:1-16). His territory was known as the land of Magog, and he was the chief of those northern hordes who were to make a final onslaught upon Israel while enjoying the blessings of the Messianic age. He has been identified with Gagi, ruler of Sakhi, mentioned by Ashurbanipal, but Professor Sayce thinks the Hebrew name corresponds more closely to Gyges, the Lydian king, the Gugu of the cuneiform inscriptions. According to Ezekiel's account Gog's army included in its numbers Persia, Cush, Put, Gomer or the Cimmerians, and Togarmah, from the extreme North. They are represented as a vast mixed horde from the far-off parts of the North, the limits of the horizon, completely armed and equipped for war. They were to come upon the mountains of Israel and cover the land like a cloud. Their purpose is plunder, for the people of Israel are rich and dwell in towns and villages without walls. His coming, which had been prophesied by the seers of Israel, shall be accompanied by a theophany and great convulsions in Nature. A panic shall seize the hosts of Gog, rain, hailstones, pestilence, fire and brimstone shall consume them. Their bodies shall be food for the birds, their weapons shall serve as firewood for seven years and their bones shall be buried East of the Jordan in Hamon-gog and thus not defile the holy land. The fulfillment of this strange prophecy can never be literal. In general it seems to refer to the last and desperate attempts of a dying heathenism to overturn the true religion of Yahweh, or make capital out of it, profiting by its great advantages.
(3) InRevelation 20:7 Satan is let loose and goes to the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to muster his hosts for the final struggle against God. In Ezekiel the invasion of Gog occurs during the Messianic age, while in Revelation it occurs just at the close of the millennium. In Ezekiel, Gog and Magog are gathered by Yahweh for their destruction; in Re they are gathered by Satan. In both cases the number is vast, the destruction is by supernatural means, and is complete and final.
SeeMAGOG.
J. J. Reeve
Greek
1136.Gog --Gog, associated with Magog... 1135, 1136.
Gog. 1137 .
Gog, associated with Magog. Part of Speech: Proper
Noun, Indeclinable Transliteration:
Gog Phonetic Spelling
...Strong's Hebrew
1996. HamonGog -- a valley in whichGog will be buriedHamon
Gog. 1995, 1996. Hamon
Gog. 1997 . a valley in which
Gog will be
buried. Transliteration: Hamon
Gog Phonetic Spelling: (ham
...1463.Gog -- the name of an Israelite, also leader of a northern...
... 1462, 1463.Gog. 1464 . the name of an Israelite, also leader of a northern
nation. Transliteration:Gog Phonetic Spelling: (gohg) Short Definition:Gog....
4031. Magog -- perhaps "land ofGog," a son of Japheth, also his...
... perhaps "land ofGog," a son of Japheth, also his desc.... Word Origin from the same
asGog Definition perhaps "land ofGog," a son of Japheth, also his desc....
1997. Hamonah -- a city whereGog will be defeated
... 1996, 1997. Hamonah. 1998 . a city whereGog will be defeated. Transliteration:
Hamonah Phonetic Spelling: (ham-o-naw') Short Definition: Hamonah....
Library
OfGog and Magog, who are to be Roused by the Devil to Persecute...
... Book XX. Chapter 11."OfGog and Magog, Who are to Be Roused by the Devil to
Persecute the Church, When He is Loosed in the End of the World....
St. Ambrose Assures Gratian of victory, Declaring that it Has Been...
... those far-off days, already prophesied the minishing of our people, and the Gothic
wars, saying: "Prophesy, therefore, Son of Man, and say: OGog, thus saith...
The Wicked Raised, and Satan Loosed
... the thousand years are completed, Satan will be loosed out of his prison, and will
go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth,Gog and Magog...
The Second Coming of Christ.
... God is gathering together the scattered fold of Israel, Satan "shall go out to deceive
the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth,Gog and Magog...
Appendix viii. Rabbinic Traditions About Elijah, the Forerunner of...
... The allusion here is to the part which Elijah was expected to take in the furture
wars ofGog and Magog' (Seder Olam R. c. xvii.) Indeed, this parallelism is...
The Evening of the Third Day in Passion-Week - on the Mount of...
... Zechariah, [5366] concerning the mourning for Him Whom they had pierced, referred
to Messiah the Son of Joseph, Who would be killed in the war ofGog and Magog...
The People of the New Earth
... The question is, do the terms "Gog and Magog" (xx.8) include every nation
(apart from Israel) at the end of the Millennium? The...
The Life and Death of Mr. Badman,
... must be buried, after he hath stunk out his time before his beholders, I doubt not
but some such that we read are appointed to be at the burial ofGog, will do...
Index.
... Gnosticism, [155]267, [156]269, [157]273. Gods, heathen, [158]289 f., [159]292.
Gog and Magog, [160]295, [161]301. Grace before meat, [162]303....
The Final Conflict.
... inflicted. It is the same cry which is made in Ezekiel, 39:17, when the
armies ofGog are slain on the mountains of Israel. The...
Thesaurus
Gog (12 Occurrences)... The vision respecting
Gog and Magog in the Apocalypse (Revelation 20:8) is in
substance a reannouncement of this prophecy of Ezekiel.
...GOG.
...Hamon-gog (2 Occurrences)
Hamon-gog. Hamongog, Hamon-gog. Hamor .... Multitude ofGog, the name of the valley
in which the slaughtered forces ofGog are to be buried (Ezek....
Hamongog (2 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Multitude ofGog, the name of the valley in which the
slaughtered forces ofGog are to be buried (Ezek.... HAMON-GOG....
Rosh (5 Occurrences)
... Q margin) kephales; Vulgate (Jerome's Latin Bible, 390-405 AD) capiris): 1. Rosh
and Its Renderings: This name occurs in the prophecies againstGog in Ezekiel...
Magog (5 Occurrences)
... Region ofGog, the second of the "sons" of Japheth (Genesis 10:2; 1 Chronicles
1:5). In Ezekiel (38:2; 39:6) it is the name of a nation, probably some Scythian...
Tubal (9 Occurrences)
... mentioned by Isaiah (66:19), along with Javan, and by Ezekiel (27:13), along with
Meshech, among the traders with Tyre, also among the confederates ofGog (Ezek...
Meshech (11 Occurrences)
... of the word in Scripture. It is seldom named without some one of the
others-Tubal, Javan,Gog and Magog. It is this which forms...
Passers-by (9 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 39:11 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will give untoGog a
place there for burial in Israel, the valley of the passers-by to the east of...
Hamon (3 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 39:11 It shall happen in that day, that I will give toGog a place for burial
in Israel, the valley of those who pass through on the east of the sea...
Travelers (6 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 39:11 It shall happen in that day, that I will give toGog a place for burial
in Israel, the valley of those who pass through on the east of the sea...
Resources
What are Gog and Magog? | GotQuestions.orgDoes the Bible say anything about Russia in relation to the end times? | GotQuestions.orgWhat role does Iran play in the end times? | GotQuestions.orgGog: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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