"The Uttermost Parts Of The North..."

I had trouble sleeping, tonight, and (for some reason... Gee!  I can't guess why...) I started thinking about some troubling aspects of the prophecy of the "Gog/Magog" invasion of the Middle-East, written about in the prophecies of Ezekiel: 38, and 39.  I know many of my readers must be tired of my myopic view of Last Days prophecy, since I seem to be most concerned with this one.  But, the current-events evidence seems to be pointing to this as the next fulfilled prophecy, of the magnitude of God's parting of the Red Sea for the crossing of the Chosen People of Israel!

Recently. I was watching the 700 CLUB television show, which I try to do regularly,  since I have a great deal of respect for the wisdom (both Biblically, and secularly) of the founder, and host, Pat Robertson.   He was talking about this prophecy in the context of Turkey's anti-Israeli posture of late, since Turkish President Erdogan has turned the formerly secular state (and N.A.T.O. ally) into an ultra-radical Muslim state.  He mentioned that some Bible scholars consider that the "Gog/Magog" prophecies, of Ezekiel: 38, and 39,  refer to this area of Turkey since the ancient tribe of "Magog" was known to have settled there.

Some basic research, on my part, has revealed that this was true, but that the descendants of this tribe are reputed to have later migrated north, and re-settled in an area of today's southern Russia, just north of present-day Iran.  Also, the leader of this invasion, referred to as "Gog", was identified somewhat as the "chief prince of Meschech, and Tubal".  These could easily refer to the present-day Russian cities of Moscow, and Tobolsk (the Asian "capital" of Russia).

But the most convincing point, as I see it, is the Ezekiel: 38 reference to this invasion as coming out of the "north parts", also translated as the "far north", from Israel's perspective.  The NEW AMERICAN STANDARD Bible even goes so far as to translate this term as, "the uttermost parts of the north", again, of Israel.  A look at the earth's globe will show that the country that is located farthest (or, "uttermost") north of Israel, is Russia (unless one skips the Artic Ocean and continues to Canada, America, and all the way to the southern tip of Argentina, which I don't think God was intending for us to consider).

Turkey will still likely become involved, as the prophecy also lists the tribes of Gomer, and Togarmah;  ancient tribes that also settled in present-day central Turkey. But I believe the ultimate leader of this invasion will be whomever "Gog" is (and Putin seems to be working real hard to convince us all that it's him), and that "Magog" is Russia.


So, all this leads me to believe that my original view of "Magog" as being a reference to Russia is probably correct.  And the fact that Russia's Putin (is he "Gog"???) is massing troops and armaments in Syria today, along with Russia's ally, Iran (a hated enemy of Israel), suggests to me that the Ezekiel prophecy is soon to be fulfilled!!!

With all due respect to Pat Robertson (who caused me to repeat the "sinner's prayer", with him, for my salvation in the Lord), I humbly disagree.  His point of Magog residing in present-day Turkey, is correct, but he apparently didn't consider that their descendants moved northward  to re-settle in present-day Russia.

(Please refer to the "Archives" list, to the right of this column, for more about the Ezekiel prophecy.)