GOG
(gog) (gogh; Goug):
(1) A son of Joel, and descendant of the tribe of Reuben <1 Chr 5:4>.
(2) The prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal (<Ezek 38:2> f; <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 Asshurbanipal, 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 fulfilment 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) In <Rev 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 Rev they are gathered by Satan. In both cases the number is vast, the destruction is by supernatural means, and is complete and final. See MAGOG.
J. J. REEVE
(from International Standard Bible Encylopaedia, Electronic Database Copyright (C) 1996 by Biblesoft)
GOG
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GOG (gog).
1. Son of Shemaiah and father of Shimei, and one of the descendants of Reuben <1 Chr. 5:4>.
2. The prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal ("the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal," KJV), who, Ezekiel said, would invade the restored land of Israel from the far distant northern land by the appointment of God in the last times, with a powerful army of numerous nations <Ezek. 38:1-9> and with the intention of plundering Israel, now dwelling in security (vv. 10-16). When Gog shall fall upon Israel, he is to be destroyed by a wrathful judgment from the Lord, that the nations may know that God is the Lord (vv. 17-23). On the mountains of Israel Gog, with all his hosts and nations, will succumb to the judgment of God <39:1-8>.
<Ezekiel 38-39>, which deal with Gog, the prince, and Magog, his land, describe the actual invasion of Palestine by a great northern confederacy, ostensibly headed by Russia. The scene depicts a gigantic outburst of anti-Semitism and a colossal attempt to overrun Palestine and annihilate the Jews. Russia and the northern powers have been persecutors of dispersed Israel, and it is consonant with the covenants and promises of Israel, which are yet to be fulfilled (cf. <Gen. 15:18-21; Deut. 33>), that divine destruction should be precipitated at the climax of the last attempt to destroy the remnant of Israel in Jerusalem and Palestine. The entire prophecy belongs to the "Day of the Lord" (cf. <Isa. 2:10-22; Rev. 19:11-21>) and evidently precedes the actual battle of Armageddon by a number of years. The prophetic perspective concerning Gog, however, includes the final revolt of the nations at the close of the mediatorial messianic kingdom <20:6-9>. (m.f.u.)
(from New Unger's Bible Dictionary)
(originally published by Moody Press of Chicago, Illinois. Copyright (C) 1988.)