Isn't it clear that Gog is Russia?


Email Received:

It seems very clear that Gog is Russia. You are confusing a person with a nation.


Ted's Response:

The Orthodox Jewish/English Bible records how God said, "I am against you, O Gog, the nasi rosh Meshech and Tuval" (Ezekiel 38:3). The Hebrew nasi means "prince" and rosh means "chief" or "head" (as in Rosh HaShanah, the "chief" day or "head" of the year, that is the Jewish New Year). Thus, God was talking to Gog, the chief (rosh) prince (nasi) of Meshech and Tuval.

Daniel used the term "prince" to refer to either a demonic or angelic being. For instance the "princes" of Persia and Greece were the evil supernatural spirits having great influence over Persia and Greece (Daniel 10:20).

On the other hand, Michael was the good angel and protector of Daniel's people, Israel (10:21, 12:1). In fact, Michael is one of the chief princes (10:13), just as Gog is a chief prince (Ezekiel 38:2,3, 39:1). Thus, in referring to Gog, rosh means "chief" and has nothing to do with Russia, which is a common error.

Another common error is that Meshech and Tuval (or Tubal) refer to two Russian cities, Moscow and Tubalsk. More likely, these names refer to Mushki and Tabal, cities in Anatolia or Asia Minor, most of which is present-day Turkey; and much of Turkey was part of ancient Assyria.  This is one reason why why “the Assyrian” in Isaiah 10:5,6 and in Micah 5:5,6 most likely is Gog, not (as many believe) the Antichrist—see Is "the Assyrian," mentioned by Isaiah and Micah, the Antichrist?


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