According to the Biblical narrative, after the Great Flood, the sons of Noah began to multiply upon the earth, after their generations, in their nations: and by these were the nations divided in the earth after the Flood (Genesis 10:32). Now it must be pointed out that Noah had only three sons, and from these three men, along with each one of their wives, would the entire planet be repopulated once more. For in the “Table of Nations” provided for us in Genesis chapter 10, do we witness how seventy-two different people are recorded as being the direct offspring of Shem, Ham, and Japheth, the three sons of Noah. Of the seventy-two individuals listed, thirty-one are from Ham, twenty-seven are of Shem, and fourteen descend from Japheth. The sons of Japheth are mentioned first in this list of nations, among whom is Magog, that particular son of Japheth who will be of prime interest in this comprehensive study into the somewhat difficult task of identifying a people known in the scriptures as Gog and Magog. Apart from the book of Genesis Magog is indeed mentioned again in the Old Testament, specifically in the book of Ezekiel where Gog is also named as what would appear to be a close relative of Magog, possibly even a brother. We also come across Gog and Magog in the New Testament. For in the book of Revelation it is written how after Satan is loosed out of his prison, he shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea (Revelation 20:7-8). The purpose of this study will be to concisely trace the origins of Gog and Magog, and relate the role they play in prophecy according to the Bible, as well as what the Church Fathers have written regarding who or what Gog and Magog may truly represent.
When combing through the Bible, in the quest to identify Gog and Magog, do we arrive at Genesis 10:2, where the name Magog first appears. Although Magog is recorded as the second son of Japheth, in Genesis’ “Table of Nations,” Gog is not found listed among any of the descendants of Japheth, nor is Gog included within the given genealogies of Shem and Ham: the two brothers of Japheth. However, in I Chronicles 5:4 do we discover a person named Gog, who is mentioned as a descendant of Reuben the firstborn of Israel. Now from this singular and isolated verse, it may seem probable that Gog is a legitimate member of the family of Shem. Yet in the book of the prophet Ezekiel, it is clearly revealed that Gog is indeed the related progeny of Japheth. For the Lord commanded Ezekiel to set his face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him (Ezekiel 38:2). This passage keenly illustrates how Gog is not only related genetically to Magog, but Scripture also ties these two together geographically speaking, since it is written how Gog and Magog both hailed from the same physical location. Ezekiel goes on to tell us that Gog was the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, whose names are also listed (along with their older brother Magog) in Genesis 10:2, further linking Gog as an ethnic descendant of Japheth. Now since these particular people groups, referred to in Ezekiel 38, are named after the sons of Japheth, as recorded in Genesis 10, then I believe that we can with all certainty establish that the nations of Gog and Magog are a race of people whose ancestral lineage can be traced back directly to the Japhetic bloodline.
Now that we have identified Gog and Magog, as the ethnic descendants of Japheth, let us also determine the specific geographical locations where these particular people groups migrated unto after the Lord confused the languages, and scattered abroad all the nations of the earth, at the incident known in the Bible as the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:9). Although the Bible doesn’t mention the specific lands which the descendants of Japheth acquired, there is (on the other hand) an extra-Biblical source that does indeed claim to know all the various territories which the Japhetic races went on to inherit. For in the writings of the first-century Jewish historian Flavius Josephus, do we find that, “Japhet, the son of Noah, had seven sons: they inhabited so, that, beginning at the mountain Taurus and Amanus, they proceeded along Asia, as far as the river Tanais, and along Europe to Cadiz…” (Josephus: The Antiquities of the Jews 1.6.1). To further illustrate where Japheth’s children settled, let us identify the various locations provided by Josephus by their given names. First of all, the Taurus and Amanus mountains are found in the country of Turkey. Secondly, the Tanais River, also known as the Don River, is a major river that flows through Russia. Third, Cadiz is a port city located in southwestern Spain. So from the information provided by Josephus it is revealed how the sons of Japheth went on to possess the lands of Europe and Russia, broadly speaking. Thus we can certify that Japheth is the father of the “white” races, tying Gog and Magog as the racial ancestors of the various European nations, as well as the Slavic peoples of the Balkans and Russia.
Continuing with Josephus, the ancient Jewish historian presents us with even more details related to Magog. For Josephus tells us that, “Magog founded those that from him were named Magogites, but who are by the Greeks called Scythians” (Josephus Ant. 1.6.1). Now the Scythians were a group of ancient nomadic peoples who lived in the regions known today as southern Russia, Ukraine, and also parts of Central Asia. Some sources identify the Scythians as a barbaric race of ethnic Persians. Yet if true, this would disqualify them as the rightful heirs of Japheth, since the Persians are not traditionally associated with the peoples of Europe or Russia. Other sources, however, are more in favor of a Russian origin for the Scythians. For it has been cited that the Scythians originally came from western Siberia, and then later migrated to southern Russia around 2000 BC. It is further held that the Scythians founded a strong and prosperous empire centered in the areas north of the Caucasus, between the Black and Caspian Seas, beginning in the 8th century BC. This given geographical location of where the ancient Scythian empire was once found, coincides with what we find written in the Bible and in the writings of Josephus. The fact that Josephus associates Magog with the Scythians, and how it is traditionally believed that Magog represents Russia, and also given that the historical record concerning where the Scythians built their civilization matches with what we find in both Josephus’ account and in the Biblical narrative, provides us with all the aggravating factors necessary in making a strong case for identifying Russia as Magog.
Moving past Genesis and Josephus do we come to the book of Ezekiel, where Gog and Magog are mentioned together for the first and last time in all of the Old Testament. However, Gog and Magog do show up again in the New Testament book of Revelation, where the final battle in earth’s history is prophesied. And this New Testament prophecy concerning Gog and Magog could quite possibly be paralleled with the Old Testament prophecy found in Ezekiel, which is also centered around a cataclysmic war involving Gog and Magog. Now some schools of theological thought have assumed that these two epic end time catastrophes, the one predicted in Ezekiel and the other in Revelation, are both referring to major conflicts waged against the state of Israel by the two distinct nations of Gog and Magog: the number of whom, the Bible says, is as the sand of the sea (Revelation 20:8). But the Greek Orthodox Church maintains a differing viewpoint when it comes to identifying who Gog and Magog really are, as recorded in this eschatological drama. For the Church Fathers teach us, that the true spiritual significance behind the nations, identified in the Scriptures as Gog and Magog, symbolically refers to all of the various Gentile nations in the world combined together as a whole, and doesn’t necessarily single out Russia, Europe, or any other nation as the sole players in the battle of Armageddon. This would explain why the Bible says that their size (measured in numbers of persons) are as the sand of the sea, signifying the colossal scale by which the armies of Gog and Magog are numerically comprised of. Thus, this war fought (as prophesied in Revelation) between the saints in Jerusalem against the forces of Gog and Magog, must be understood as a metaphor concerning the powers of good who perpetually struggle against the entities of evil. This prophecy also showcases the ultimate victory of God, and His people, over all the nations of the world who display hatred and hostility towards the Lord Jesus Christ, and towards all those who faithfully follow Him.
Although there are similarities between the wars involving Gog and Magog, as prophesied in Ezekiel and Revelation, yet some of their contexts and details do indeed differ. This in turn has led some scholars to conclude that these epic conflicts will transpire separately, while others perceive them as simply being two different perspectives related to the same occurrence. One such similar event which we find in both Ezekiel and Revelation, is how the birds of heaven are divinely summoned to eat the flesh of the “mighty men” who perish in these Biblical battles (Rev. 19:17-18; Ezek. 39:17-18). But the most striking contrast between these two accounts, concerns what we find written particularly in Ezekiel, but which is omitted from Revelation. For when speaking of Gog’s fate, the Lord says, “And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will give unto Gog a place there of graves in Israel, the valley of the passengers on the east of the sea: and it shall stop the noses of the passengers: and there shall they bury Gog and all his multitude: and they shall call it The valley of Hamon-gog. And seven months shall the house of Israel be burying of them, that they may cleanse the land” (Ezekiel 39:11-12). This imagery of the devastating aftermath, which follows the destruction of Gog, is only found in Ezekiel. And since Ezekiel says that it will take seven months to bury the dead, this gives us the cue that the war of Gog and Magog in the Old Testament may in fact be altogether separate from the battle of Gog and Magog mentioned in the New Testament. This key element further supports the teachings of the Church Fathers, who hold that the reference to Gog and Magog in Revelation is in fact symbolic of all the world’s Anti-Christian nations, and is not to be taken literally as defining only two specific nations.
Apart from the Biblical narrative there has come down to us extra-Biblical writings, and certain legends, pertaining to Gog and Magog. For according to an early Christian document, attributed to St. Methodius Bishop of Patara, Gog and Magog were indeed declared to be the descendants of Japheth, and lived towards the confines of the east. They are described as having a hideous physical appearance, and were the most wicked and unclean of all the peoples who lived upon the earth. They were as ignorant as animals, lacked human reason, and were completely Godless. This inspired Alexander the Great to build a barrier, or a gate of brass, at the entrance between two mountains in order to shut in these perverse individuals. And this mountain pass is traditionally located in the Caucasus mountains, which separates Russia to the north from the country of Georgia to the south. Today this area is known as the Darial Gorge, but in ancient times it was called the Caucasian Gates. In addition to the nations of Gog and Magog, who were imprisoned behind this northern gate, other nations were also shut in by this legendary barrier. For in his 13th century work, “The Book of The Bee,” Solomon, Bishop of Basra, within the Diocese of the Church of the East, lists Ashkenaz (another descendant of Japheth) as among the nations who were also blocked off from civilization, along with Gog and Magog. What is critical to understand here, is that these legends also place the nations of Gog and Magog in the same geographical setting as the ancient Scythians, who are historically identified as Gog and Magog. Going further, these lands north of the Caucasus, between the modern day nations of Russia and Ukraine, were not only the ancient dwellings of Gog and Magog, but would later be settled by a Turkic people called the Khazars, who established their empire around the 7th century AD. Though originally pagan, the Khazars eventually converted to Judaism. After the fall of the Khazarian Empire in the mid-10th century AD, many of the Khazar Jews migrated into eastern Europe and would go on to identify themselves as Ashkenazi Jews.
From what has been covered in this concise quest to identify Gog and Magog, I feel that strong arguments have been made which would support the belief that Gog and Magog, as mentioned in the Bible, do indeed refer to real people who lived in the territories between Russia and Ukraine at one point in history. Though historical records have been sited which reveal who Gog and Magog once were in the ancient past, identifying who they represent in modern times, however, is a bit of a challenge. As the Church Fathers say the nations of Gog and Magog, at least in a spiritual sense or figuratively speaking, represent any group of people who are hostile to the almighty authority of the Lord Jesus Christ. In legend they are remembered as the most vile of creatures, and this may be why they are so negatively spoken of in the Bible, culminating with God Himself coming down to destroy these wicked people towards the end of time. Traditionally associated with Russians and Europeans, Gog and Magog may also have a connection to the Khazar Jews, who once lived within the borders linked to Gog and Magog. The fact that Ashkenaz was once included with the nations of Gog and Magog may further support the theory which concludes that the Ashkenazi Jews are the modern day equivalent to Gog and Magog. But in all fairness, this detail may be rooted more in fantasy than in actual historical fact. In the final analysis Gog and Magog may truly refer to actual people who once lived between the Black and Caspian seas in the ages past, and may also broadly represent all people living today who fit the profile of degeneracy.
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