Magog was one of the sons of Japheth, the descendants of whom populated the European continent: “The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal,and Meshech, and Tiras” (Gen. 10:2). According to Josephus, Magog can be identified with the Scythians: “Magog founded those that from him were named Magogites, but who are by the Greeks called Scythians” (Antiquities of the Jews, Book I, VI, 1).
The Scythians were located primarily along the northern shores of the Black Sea. This area corresponds roughly with southern Russia and Ukraine….
Magog is the land from where Gog, the leader of the invasion against Israel, comes: “Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal,and prophesy against him” (Ezek. 38:2). The Scythians had invaded Israel during the reign of Josiah, and Gog will be a latter-day Scythian, moving south against Israel just as the Scythians did of old.
Magog will be defeated by Christ and the saints: “And I will send a fire on Magog, and among them that dwell carelessly in the isles: and they shall know that I am the LORD” (39:6). However, Magog will not be completely destroyed. At the end of the millennial reign the nations will rebel against Christ and the saints. This will be a secular, military rebellion reflecting the dragon power of the Eastern Roman Empire of old.
Succeeding by stealth
President Putin has shown himself adept at using ‘diplomacy’ and cunning to obtain his ends, for example the carrot and the stick shown above. The prophecy of Daniel also speaks of the Russian ruler describing him as ‘the little horn of the goat’ who will overcome by devious means. “And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many” (Daniel 8 v. 25)
We can thus expect Russia, the future invader of the Holy Land, to use not only military might but also more subtle methods to get his way; so its not surprising that Mr Putin is keeping his real motives for backing Syria and Iran and bullying the Ukraine, close to his chest.
The Czar of all the Russias
It seems clear that President Putin wishes to make a name for himself as a great Leader and to do that he must elevate Russia to stand among the great power blocs of the world
President Putin, or a similar figure in control of Russia, at the head of the mighty army described in Ezekiel 38:14-16, will come against the Lord Jesus Christ at Jerusalem and be utterly destroyed. The prophecy of Daniel describes his type accurately, ch 8: 24-25 tells us of the ‘stern faced King and master of intrigue’ which shall arise ‘at the latter end’
23 "In the latter part of their reign, when rebels have become completely wicked, a stern-faced king, a master of intrigue, will arise.
24 He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause astounding devastation and will succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy the mighty men and the holy people.
25 He will cause deceit to prosper, and he will consider himself superior. When they feel secure, he will destroy many and take his stand against the Prince of princes. Yet he will be destroyed, but not by human power.(NIV)
This prince of Princes is the Lord Jesus Christ and the prophecy of Daniel in an earlier chapter tells us that he is to come and set up a world-wide Kingdom which shall never end
(Dan 2:44) And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.
The breaking in pieces of these kingdoms will bring about a tremendous upheaval for the whole world, in fact Daniel is told of this in Ch12:1 1 ¶ there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
A time of trouble coming soon!
Today we have a choice- do we wish to be delivered from the trouble to come, do we want to be in this Kingdom or not? If we do we must take heed of the Signs of the Times; read the Word of God and take heed to the Gospel of the Kingdom of God taught by His Son the Lord Jesus Christ. For if we listen to his words and obey them, then we too have the great hope of reigning with him in the Kingdom to come.
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