GOG & MAGOG: What the Bible Really Says (and What It Doesn’t)

Let me say this upfront—there’s an entire industry out there that makes a living by connecting every global headline to Bible prophecy. It thrives on two things: a lack of understanding of grammar and an ignorance of world history. Watching people rip verses out of their ancient context and slap them onto today’s newsfeed like it’s some divine decoding exercise is painful. Social media is full of people turning Old Testament texts into modern-day “prophetic puzzles” as if CNN were going to help us solve them. Honestly, it’s as cringeworthy as fingernails on a chalkboard. (And if you’re under 40, ask your parents what that sounds like. Trust me—it’s irritating.)

Now here we go again. Russia, Iran, and Israel are in the headlines, and wouldn’t you know it? The prophecy experts are crawling out of the woodwork with charts, codes, and podcasts telling us that Russia is “Gog” and Iran is “Magog.”

I get messages from people asking, “What’s all this about Gog and Magog?” I don’t have time to reply to everyone individually, so I’m putting it down here in writing. Please share this with others who might be genuinely curious—and maybe help rescue them from confusion.

Let’s clear this up.

The “Gog and Magog” prophecy is found in Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39. And it has absolutely nothing to do with modern-day Russia. Here’s why:

1. Historical Context Matters
   Ezekiel was a priest and prophet who lived during the Babylonian exile. His ministry spanned from 593 to 571 BC, and he wrote from within Babylon. Alongside Ezra and Nehemiah, Ezekiel’s message was for that generation—not ours.

2. Ezekiel’s Message Was Specific
   Over 22 years, Ezekiel received six visions. His prophecies were about the judgment of ancient Israel and the promise of a second Temple. That Temple has long since been destroyed.

3. Ancient Weapons = Ancient Battle
   Read Ezekiel 38–39 closely. The weapons listed include swords, shields, bows, arrows, spears, and chariots—tools of ancient warfare, not modern militaries. There are no nukes, fighter jets, or drones in sight.
   This was a war of horseback, not high-tech.

4. Who Were Gog and Magog?
   Ezekiel 38:2 says:

“Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him,” (KJV).

Let’s break that down:

• Gog was a ruler or land in the ancient Persian Empire.

• Rosh doesn’t mean “Russia.” It means “head” or “chief” in Hebrew.

• Meshech and Tubal were sons of Japheth, descendants of Noah. These are tribal names, not modern nation-states.

5. This Battle Already Happened
   The best historical match? The Book of Esther.
   Esther 3:1 (KJV) says:

“After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite...”

“Agagite” is another way of saying “Gog-ite.” Haman was part of this ancient hostility against the Jews—during the Babylonian exile, under Persian rule. This wasn't future prophecy—it was fulfilled history.

6. Unwalled Villages
   Ezekiel 38:11 talks about attacking “unwalled villages.” Esther 9:19 confirms that the Jews during that time lived in “unwalled towns.” It’s another sign that the events Ezekiel foresaw played out in that period—not in ours.

“...the Jews of the villages, that dwelt in the unwalled towns, made the fourteenth day of the month Adar a day of gladness and feasting...” (Esther 9:19 KJV)

Conclusion: Let’s Stop the Panic
It’s dangerous to insist that fulfilled prophecies are still future. This confusion doesn’t strengthen the Church—it weakens it. It breeds fear, not faith. It spreads anxiety, not assurance.

We must stop teaching that every global conflict is just another step toward “the end.” The truth is, not every ancient prophecy is about the 21st century. Some were fulfilled long ago—precisely as God intended.

If more believers took time to study the biblical timeline and grasp the historical setting of Scripture, we’d be a lot less gullible to modern-day “prophecy panic.”

Let me leave you with this sobering thought:

There’s a psychological strategy called Critical Mass—the point when a large enough group believes something that it sets a chain reaction in motion.

Are today’s “prophecy teachers” (perhaps unknowingly) driving us toward critical mass with their own misinformation? Are they being manipulated—and in turn, manipulating others—into a mindset that embraces war, chaos, and destruction as inevitable?

Jesus warned us plainly:

“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10 KJV)

Let’s follow the path of life—not fear. Let’s be educated, not indoctrinated.

—
Doc Burkhart
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