A Study in Revelation 19 and 20

& Ezekiel 37 – 39

Revelation 20:7-9

“And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his
prison,

And 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; and the number of
whom is as the sand of the sea.

And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the
saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven,
and devoured them.” KJV.
 BOOK FIVE
TIMING OF THE GOG/MAGOG WAR
CONTENTS Page No.

INTRODUCTION
Interpreting Prophecy 3
“Connecting” the Prophecies 4

CHAPTER ONE
Gog is not the 2 Beasts of Rev. 13 5
There are two deceptions by Satan 6
First Deception 6
The Millennial Kingdom intervenes 7
Second Deception 7

CHAPTER TWO
Clues to the timing of Gog and Magog 8
The Latter Years 9
The Land brought back from the Sword 10
Gathered out of many people 12
Unwalled villages - dwelling safely – at rest 13
Ultimate outpouring of the Holy Spirit 13
To take a spoil and prey – cattle and goods 14
Peace for 1,000 years – then War again 14
Population Explosion 15

CHAPTER THREE
Judgements against the enemies of Israel 15
Who are the people groups to the North 15

CONCLUSION
Summary 18
The Timeline 19

APPENDIX A - The Beheaded 21

APPENDIX B - Gog is not a Russian Leader 22

Books in this series –

Book One - The Beast and the False Prophet –
The revival of Radical Islam.
Book Two - The Little Horn of Daniel’s 4th Empire and
The Kingdom of the Jews.
Book Three - Mystery, Babylon the Great
Book Four - The White Horse and the Red Horse
Book Five - The Timing of the Gog and Magog War
Book Six - Daniel’s Prophecy of 70 Weeks and the Covenant

2
INTRODUCTION

Interpreting Prophecy -
The intention of Prophecy is to predict future events under the influence of divine guidance. It was
therefore expected that at some future time in history the prophecy would be confirmed, ratified and
validated by the fulfilment of the particular event. Unfortunately, few biblical prophecies had a time
or date attached to them, some were obscure and cryptic, and others were recorded out of sequence.
Most of the prophets commissioned by God to speak of the future on His behalf, were given a little
piece of information (sometimes about a range of subjects) and these were recorded as God spoke to
them, and through them, and eventually these prophecies became part of our Bible as we have it today
As we now understand prophecy, none of them were given the “complete” picture, but just a “part” of
the whole. Thus the Apostle Paul said 1 Cor. 13:12 “For now we see through a glass darkly; but then
face to face; now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.”
In the last three centuries, since the invention of the printed page, and the publication of the Bible and
multiple copies of books, various people have tried to make prophecy fit according to the historical
scenario in which they found themselves, and their ideas haven’t come to pass. Those living during the
period of the “Cold War”, designated Russia as Gog and Magog, and Meshech and Tubal, as the cities
of Moscow and Tobolsk in their prophetic interpretations.
Those who followed the genealogical traces of ancient people groups found the land of Magog and Meshech and
Tubal in North Eastern Turkey and associated areas. But no one can look at a Map today and point with
certainty to the “land of Magog”. However, one can easily identify their associates; as described in Ezekiel 38:5
as being Persia - (modern Iran), Ethiopia and Libya; although “Gomer” and “Togarmah of the North quarters”
(Ezekiel 38:6) are not so easy to place.
If we were living 600 years ago, prior to 1492 and Columbus, and we came across a prophecy that
talked about a peaceful land of stars and stripes, inhabited by a race of mixed ethnic stock called
Americans, that went to war in metal machines that flew like birds, it would all seem rather strange to
us; unbelievable in fact, because no one had ever heard of America, and the very thought of men flying
like birds was limited to men of vision like Leonardo da Vinci. So likewise, no one has heard of Gog
and the land of Magog, except as named in Biblical prophecy in Ezekiel 38 and 39 and Revelation 20:8;
or as recorded in British folklore; being the survivors of a race of giants destroyed by Brutus, the
legendary founder of Britain!
The New Bible Dictionary (NBD) states about Gog and Magog –
“That the linkage with peoples at the extremities of the then known world suggests that we are to regard
them as eschatological figures rather than as a historically identifiable king etc. This is the interpretation in
Rev. 20:8 and rabbinic literature.”
Could it be therefore, that this people group Meshech and Tubal and their “chief prince” Gog, are
difficult to identify, because they are not a Nation yet; and will not be such until the millennial reign of
Christ is nearing its conclusion, as portrayed in Rev. 20:8?
After all, there was no such place as Thailand, until 1939 when it changed its name from Siam; or what
about Myanmar? Old Enclopedias have no entry under that name, but they do under Burma! The fact
is that Nations change their names over time, and perhaps Gog and Magog will appear in the future.

3
“Connecting” Prophecies

Discerning where prophecies “connect” is like the several blind men trying to describe an elephant by
“touch” when they have never seen one. They could describe the parts, - some bits were like rope, a
snake, a tree trunk, the side of a house - but they couldn’t see the whole elephant or understand how
the pieces fitted together. However, just as the elephant’s “trunk” is connected to the head (where it is
supported), and not to the tail (where it would fall on the ground!), so I believe there are scriptures that
show us where end-time events connect in the right place.
One of the scripture passages that we could describe as “connective”, of some of the pieces of prophecy,
comes right at the end of the Bible in Revelation 19:20 to 20:11, but particularly -
Rev. 20:7-8 “And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison.
And 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 Gog-Magog War is one of those separate parts or “pictures”, that go to make up the whole, but
where and when to place it in the future timeline is a controversial subject for prophecy commentators.
Some prophecy commentators insist that the Gog-Magog war is the next War on the horizon and that it
occurs prior to the Millennial Kingdom. Although Rev. 20:3 states quite clearly that it comes
afterwards, their arguments persist that to comply with their beliefs and Revelation 20:3, there must be
TWO INVASIONS by Gog-Magog. It would appear that this argument rests on their interpretation of
a particular scripture, namely the controversial Daniel 9:24-27; and their need to have a “future prince”
who will make a “7 year peace agreement” with Israel which is broken after 3 ½ years, leading to the
Great Tribulation War of an additional 3 ½ years.
However, my understanding of Daniel 9:27 is that after 69 weeks Jesus Christ came for 3 ½ years to
establish the “Covenant in his blood” as a “confirmation” of Jeremiah’s 31:31-34 “New Covenant”. He
was subsequently ‘cut off’ (died) in the middle of the 70th week, causing the sacrifice and oblation to
eventually cease, as it did in 70 A.D. Since Jesus’ death and the ripping of the great curtain in the
Temple, the Temple Mount has remained desolate from God’s point of view, and will remain so until
the consummation - i.e. the tribulation for 42 months (3 ½ years) after which the Millennial Kingdom
will be established, centred on Israel.
(For a complete understanding of this view of Daniel’s Prophecy of 70 Weeks – See BOOK SIX
of this series.)
The remainder of this booklet will examine the “timing for Gog and Magog” as stated in the Revelation
verses, which place them after the millennial Kingdom rule; and compare them with other scriptures to
see if they agree.

4
CHAPTER ONE

Gog “the chief prince” is not either of the two Beasts of Rev. 13
To help us ascertain the identity of Gog the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, we could begin by
finding out from the scriptures who he is not!
If you follow the colour codes below, you will see that the Beast and False Prophet and Satan meet a
totally different fate to that of Gog and Magog. (Emphasis and underlining is mine.)
Rev. 19:20 “And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles
before him, with which he DECEIVED them that had received the mark of the beast, and
them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with
brimstone.”
Rev. 13:2 “And the beast which I saw was like.....and the dragon gave him his power, and his
seat, and great authority.”
Rev. 20:1-3 “And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit
and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the
Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years. And cast him into the bottomless pit,
and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should DECEIVE the nations no more, till
the thousand years should be fulfilled; and after that he must be loosed a little season.”
NOTE: The bottomless pit where SATAN is “sealed” and held for a thousand years is not the
same place as that occupied by the Beast and False Prophet.
Rev. 20:7-10 “And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his
prison, and 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. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints
about, and the beloved city; and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
(I.e. Gog and Magog) And the devil that DECEIVED them was cast into the lake of fire and
brimstone, WHERE THE BEAST AND THE FALSE PROPHET ARE, and shall be tormented
day and night for ever and ever.”
It is plain from these scriptures that the beast, and the false prophet are cast into the lake of fire and
brimstone, 1,000 years before Satan eventually ends up in the lake of fire burning with brimstone
too, whereas Gog and Magog and the associated rebellious bands and armies are destroyed by
earthquake (Ezek 38:19-20) and fire from heaven shortly after their invasion, when ALL the bands,
and the people, (Ezek.39:4) ALL the multitude (Ezek.39:11) and ALL the mighty men of war
(Ezek.39:20) will be destroyed.
Studying these verses, confirms that the attack by The Beast and the False Prophet, as outlined in
Revelation 13 and 17-18, must come prior to the thousand year “Millennial reign”, and certainly prior
to the appearance of Gog and Magog after the 1000 year period.

5
There are two major deceptions by Satan
It is also clear that there are two major “end-time” “Deceptions” outlined in scripture, which are
orchestrated by Satan. The verses shown above lay out the sequence of events which occur within
these two quite separate periods of satanically inspired deception.

The First Deception

Jesus warned in Matt.24:4b-5 (also Mark 13:5-6) in the Olivet discourse that in the last days deceivers
would come, claiming to be the Messiah. “…Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall
come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.”
The Apostle John in 2 John 1:7 also states that one of the traits of the person commonly called the “anti-
Christ” is deception. “For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that
Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.”
The work of deception has been carried out by Satan since the temptation of Adam and Eve, and it
appears that in the last days, there are to be two final periods of deception to see if mankind will accept
and obey God’s rule through his Son Jesus Christ. The first deception is portrayed in Revelation 13.
Rev. 13:12-14 “And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the
earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was
healed. And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the
earth in the sight of men. And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those
miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on
the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword,
and did live.”
This first “end-time” deception by Satan is carried out through a composite Kingdom entity called “the
beast” and/or its leader, together with a man called the “false prophet” who seems to be the main
perpetrator of the deception, (Rev. 13). (Compare Rev. 13:14 “And deceiveth them that dwell on
the earth…” and Rev. 19:20 “…with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the
beast, and them that worshipped his image…”) The end of the deceivers is to be “…cast alive
into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.”
That first period of deception and persecution, which lasts for 42 months, Rev. 13:5-7 ends with the
battle of Armageddon, Rev. 16:16; after which there is to be a time (1,000 years) when Satan is bound,
and his influence ceases.
Rev. 20:1-3 “And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit
and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the
Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, and cast him into the bottomless pit, and
shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the
thousand years should be fulfilled; and after that he must be loosed a little season…”
Notice here, that it is the Devil/Satan/old Serpent/Dragon that is cast and bound for a thousand years
into the bottomless pit, that he should not deceive the nations during that period of time. The
implication is that prior to this binding of Satan he had deceived the Nations… We know from the
scriptures mentioned above, that this first deception period is conducted by courtesy of the “beast” and
the “false prophet” who come to their destined end at the conclusion of what we call the tribulation.

6
The Millennial Kingdom intervenes

In between these two scripture passages which describe Satan’s two deceptions, is a passage referring
to the First Resurrection, which tells us about the ones beheaded for their witness of Jesus, (Rev. 20:4);
who are destined to live and reign with Christ during the 1,000 years that Satan is bound. Therefore,
we have AN INTERVAL OF 1,000 YEARS, during which time those who have been beheaded for their
witness to Christ, reign with Him on earth.
Rev. 20:4 - 6 “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them;
and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of
God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his
mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a
thousand years… v.5b This is the first resurrection. v.6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part
in the first resurrection… v.6b but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign
with him a thousand years.”
There are many scriptural references to the earthly Kingdom which is to be ruled by the “son of David”
or the Jewish Messiah. E.g., see Micah chapter 4:1-8, and Isaiah 11 and 12. The coming of the kingdom
of God when his rule will be established in Jerusalem is the great perspective of the future – it would be
prepared by the coming of the Messiah which paves the way for the kingdom of God. Jesus’ message
during his earthly ministry was to announce that the “Kingdom was at hand”. Indeed with his
presence on earth, it had already come, but the greater fulfilment is yet to be.

The Second Deception

Rev. 20:7-10 “…and when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his
prison, and 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, And they went upon the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints
about, and the beloved city; and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the
beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.”
The verses above clearly state that there is a 2nd deception carried out by Satan – this time by the
courtesy of his accomplices Gog and his people Magog.
It is surprising that the scripture portrays a final deception and rebellion, following the “golden” 1,000
year millennial reign of Christ; but there are clear statements in Revelation that during the 1000 years
Jesus Christ will need to rule with a “rod of iron”
Rev. 2:27 “And he shall rule them with a rod of iron…”
Rev. 12:5 “…who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron…”
Rev. 19:15 “…and he shall rule them with a rod of iron…”
It is therefore implied that there must still be a residual malignant potential for rebellion in the World
during this time. Compare Zechariah 14:16-19 regarding the judgements on the surviving Nations for
not keeping the Feast of Tabernacles during the millennial period. However, it appears that whatever
rebellion still exists, it must be subtle and muted until Satan is released from the bottomless pit. It is

7
only then that his last effort at deceiving the World through Gog and Magog and associated people
groups takes place.
Satan therefore uses two different entities to deceive the Nations – His first “vehicles” are the Beast and
the False Prophet, who are destroyed at Armageddon with the 2nd Coming of Jesus Christ; and after a
1000 year Millennial Kingdom period his second “vehicles” are Gog and Magog, who are destroyed by
fire from heaven.
Since the Beast and False Prophet are cast into the lake of fire and brimstone before the 1,000 year
Millennial Kingdom prophecies are fulfilled, and they are still there when Satan joins them a thousand
years later after Gog and Magog are destroyed by fire, we can safely conclude they ARE NOT ONE
AND THE SAME.
We have concluded from the above that there are two “people groups” who are used by Satan, i.e. The
Beast and False Prophet and Gog and Magog. These groups arise from different geographical areas,
at different times, and meet their end in totally different places in Israel’s precincts. They are therefore
totally different entities.

CHAPTER TWO
Clues to the Timing of Gog and Magog
The only other scriptural reference to Gog and Magog in relation to a battle against Israel is found in
Ezekiel 38 and 39. And although a full description of the army is given and there appears to be great
preparation for the invasion; I see no evidence that the battle actually occurs because God appears to
pre-empt it with their destruction by earthquake and fire from heaven.
Within chapters 38 and 39 of Ezekiel there are several key phrases which have been underlined (below)
that will help to pinpoint the historical timing of the appearance of Gog and Magog as the last of the
end-time entities.
The setting and description of the Gog and Magog invasion is found in Ezekiel 38:8-12 as follows –
“After many days thou shalt be visited; in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought
back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have
been always waste; but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them.
Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy
bands, and many people with thee. Thus saith the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, that at the
same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought: And thou shalt say, I
will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of
them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates.” To take a spoil, and to take a prey;
to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are
gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land.”

8
 • After many days... in the latter years...
In Ezekiel 38:8, 11, 12, and 14, the Nation of Israel is depicted as being in a condition of prior
repentance, regeneration, and political revival. This happens long before Gog and Magog come on the
scene.
The prophet had already stated in 36:8-11 that their restoration was at hand – “But ye, O mountains of
Israel, ye shall shoot forth your branches, and yield your fruit to my people of Israel... and I will settle
you after your old estates, and will do better unto you than at your beginnings; and ye shall know that
I am the LORD.”
He then gives a review of their history in exile and promises that they will be restored Ezekiel 36:24-28>
“For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you
into your own land. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean; from all your
filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new
spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you
an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye
shall keep my judgments and do them. And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and
he shall be my people, and I will be your God.”
This is followed by a description in Ezekiel 37:1-14 of how the Nation will come together again and be
filled with the Spirit of God. The subsequent blessings they experience in their restoration are
described in Ezekiel 37:15-28.
He opens the next section of his prophecy by saying that Gog and his troops will be mustered after
“many days”.... in the “latter years”.
The timing of the Gog and Magog battle cannot be placed in history without looking at the context in
which it appears in scripture. Unfortunately, many people ignore the preceding chapter, Ezekiel 37,
which places it in a context that agrees with the Revelation passage; showing that the invasion by Gog
and Magog takes place after many years of “peaceful Kingdom rule”.

Chapter 37 of Ezekiel confirms the Revelation 20 scenario, for in that chapter

• Israel is dwelling safely after having been gathered from all the Nations (via the vision of the
dry bones), v.1-9.
• They have become a great army, in their own land, v.10-14.
• Israel is joined into one Nation (Judah and Ephraim/Joseph), v. 15-22
• They have been re-gathered and cleansed, and re-united with God, v. 23
• Israel is ruled over by king David, the servant of God, v.24
• The Sanctuary (Millennial Temple) has since been built and will remain in their midst for ever
more, v.26-28.
Israel has been a Sovereign Nation for very few of the years of its existence as a “people group” (Jews).
For 25 Centuries since the destruction of Solomon’s Temple by the Babylonians in 586 B.C. the Jews
have largely been dispersed throughout the World. Even today only 41% of the World’s Jews live
within Israel’s borders.

9
It has only been since 1948, when they were gathered back into their own land as a sovereign “State of
Israel” that the Jews have had a National home to call their own. For almost 60 years they have
suffered intense and repetitive attacks by their Islamic Arab neighbours. As long as Israel has existed
she has never been at peace from the enemies who surround her. Peace for Israel will only occur
during the 1,000 years millennial Kingdom, when Israel is finally ruled by the Son of David, while Satan
has been restrained from his deceptive and destructive purposes.
Prophetic commentators frequently take Ezekiel 38 and 39 completely out of the scriptural context of
the preceding chapter 37, which shows Israel enjoying the tranquillity and prosperity of the Millennial
Kingdom. The only covenant of peace made with Israel is made by God himself.
Ezekiel 37:26-28 “Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; and it shall be an everlasting
covenant with them; and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst
of them for evermore. My tabernacle also shall be with them; yea, I will be their God, and they shall be
my people. And the heathen shall know that I the LORD do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall
be in the midst of them for evermore.”
This everlasting covenant of peace between Israel and God is the true historical context after which the
assorted Army of Gog and Magog appears on the international scene, with their evil attempt at
invasion and destruction.

• The Land brought back from the Sword...

At the time of Gog’s invasion the land (of Israel) has been “brought back from the sword”. Therefore
the timing of this invasion is during the “latter years” after Israel’s experience with “the sword”.
We can therefore ask the question - WHEN did the land of Israel experience the “sword”? The book
of Revelation indicates that there are two swords mentioned.
1. The first is that which proceeds out of the mouth of the “one like the Son of man” (Rev. 1:16,
Rev. 2:12, & 2:16, Rev. 19:15, and Rev. 19:21). This sword is wielded by Jesus Christ, the King of
Kings, against the Beast and the False Prophet and those who follow them.
2. The second is that sword which was given to the Rider on the Red Horse (Rev. 6:4, 6:8). “And
there went out another horse that was red; and power was given to him that sat thereon to take
peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another; and there was given unto him a
great sword.” “…power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with
sword…”
This second reference points to the “sword experience” from which Israel will recover during the
millennium, and I believe it is associated with the first deception carried out by the Beast and the False
Prophet just prior to the 1,000 year rule by Christ. My understanding of this “sword experience” is
that of a near future battle between the “Crusader” type Rider on the WHITE horse, and the Radical
ISLAMIC descendants of Ishmael and Esau (Edom = Red), the Rider on the RED Horse who “takes
peace from the earth”. The modus operandi of the Rider on the Red horse is a “great sword” (Rev.
6:4).
(To understand more fully who the riders are on the White Horse and the Red Horse, see - “The White
Horse and the Red Horse” - Book number FOUR in this series.)

10
The question could also be asked - WHAT is the Sword experience from which Israel recovers?
In Revelation 6:9 we find that there is a group of souls under the altar in heaven who had been slain for
the word of God, and for the testimony which they held; “And when he had opened the fifth seal, I
saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which
they held.”
(Note: Strongs word No. 4969 for “slain” “sphazo” is also associated with 4967 “sphage” meaning
“slaughter” and 4968 “sphagion” meaning “offering for slaughter”.)
These are obviously martyred Jewish saints – probably from the Old Testament era, (i.e. there is no
mention here of their witness to Jesus Christ), who were given white robes and asked to be patient for a
little while longer until others that should be killed like them were added to their number. They had
been slain for the “word of God” and for their testimony.
This group are designated to rule and reign with Christ during the Millennial Kingdom and they are
seen again in Rev. 20:4 “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given
unto them; and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for
the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had
received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with
Christ a thousand years... v.6b...but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall
reign with him a thousand years.”
Obviously this is the expanded and completed group, because those who have been added to their
number have been beheaded for their “witness to Jesus” and “for the word of God” and because they
“had not worshipped the beast” etc. This additional group are composed of the faithful ones who have
died during the Tribulation, and whose reward is to rule and reign in the Millennial Kingdom.
Rev. 20:4-6 (above) is an interesting passage because we can link it to a conversation that Jesus had with
his disciples over who would rule with him from his Throne during the Kingdom period. The
conversation arose after the Mother of Zebedee’s children, (James and John), asked if they could sit one
on his right hand and other on the left in His Kingdom.
Matt 20:22-23 “Jesus answered and said, ‘Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that
I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?’ They say unto him, ’We
are able'. And he saith unto them, ‘Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism
that I am baptized with; but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be
given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.’”
It can therefore be understood that only those who drink of the cup of death for their faith, being
baptized into death like Christ, are the ones who will participate in the “first resurrection” and rule and
reign with Him during the millennial Kingdom. History tells us that many of Jesus’ disciples did
indeed drink of that same cup of death.
This is further reinforced by the Apostle Paul’s attitude in Phil. 3:11 “That I may know him, and the
power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made confirmable unto his death;
If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.” From there he continues to talk
about the “prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Paul was obviously thinking of the “1st
resurrection” for those who would rule and reign with Christ in the Kingdom.
Another verse that strengthens this view is found in Heb. 11:35 “...and others were tortured, not
accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection.” And also Romans 6:5 “For if we

11
have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his
resurrection...” In 1 Cor. 6:2 Paul reminds them that the “saints shall judge the world...” and in
chapter 12:13 Daniel is promised that “thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.”
It appears therefore that the “sword experience” of the Tribulation period is suffered by those who
desire a “better resurrection” that they might rule and reign with Christ in the Millennial Kingdom.
We might also ask then – WHO kills them? Was it the Rider on the Red horse who wielded the “great
sword” and took peace from the earth? Or was it the Beast and the False Prophet referred to above?
3. There is a third reference regarding the two different swords in Rev. 13:9-10 - “If any man
have an ear, let him hear. He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity; he
that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and
the faith of the saints.”
This passage appears right in the middle of Rev. 13 which in the first half reveals the Beast out
of the Sea and in the second half reveals the Beast out of the Earth the False Prophet. I
therefore associate the “sword experience” with both the rider on the red-horse who is given
a “great sword” AND with the Beast and False Prophet during the first period of end-time
deception carried out by Satan called the Great Tribulation. They are one and the same and
the colour RED is associated with them both – Rev. 6:4 and Rev. 17:3.
The Great Tribulation is seen as the period of time in which the number of martyrs who are killed for
their witness is completed.
The result of these “sword experiences” is given in Rev. 19:21 “And the remnant (of the people of the
Beast and False Prophet) were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, (i.e. the KING OF
KINGS AND LORD OR LORDS) which sword proceeded out of his mouth; and all the fowls were filled
with their flesh.” Here is the result of “the patience and the faith of the saints”, who pleaded in Rev.
6:10 “...that their blood would be avenged on them that dwell on the earth?”
My conclusion regarding the “sword experience” is that those who were killing the saints with the
sword associated with the Rider on the Red Horse (Rev. 6:4), and/or the Beast from the Sea and the
False Prophet (Rev. 13:9-10): were themselves killed by the sword which the King of Kings wielded, i.e.
the sword which proceeded out of his mouth - the Word of God – (which both creates and destroys). In
this manner the martyrs were avenged by God. Just as “the truth” is able to defeat lies and deception,
so the “revelation” of the King of Kings is able to defeat all false Gods and Prophets.
This first deception period when the Sword is wielded by the Rider of the Red Horse in association with
the Beast and False Prophet is the period which I believe explains the “sword experience” of Israel from
which they recover during the 1,000 year millennial reign. The scriptures plainly state that Gog and
Magog arise after this “sword experience”. (Ezekiel 38:8)

• Gathered out of many people...brought forth out of the Nations...

The last 60 years have seen the greatest restoration of a people group to their homeland after a forced
absence of more than 18 Centuries that the World has ever witnessed. The re-gathering continues
apace with Jews from the Nations of the World making “Aliyah” (Immigration to Israel). The Hebrew
language has been reinstated, and Israel is established as a Sovereign Nation, recognised by most of the
World. This is history – we have seen it happen.

12
Undoubtedly there will be a future even greater re-gathering of God’s people into Israel following their
“spiritual” renewal and restoration as God’s people, when the prophecies of Ezekiel 37:24-28 are
fulfilled during the Millennial Kingdom period, when “David God’s servant” becomes King over them.

• Unwalled villages...them that are at rest...that dwell safely...dwelling without

walls...neither bars nor gates...
This description does not portray Israel’s rest as only being a brief period of peace, or in fact a “forced
peace” as some believe is soon to take place. If there is a forced peace, Israel will never be at rest!
It takes time to construct walls, bars and gates, (as we know from Israel’s current efforts) and it also
takes time to remove them and reassure people that they are living in safety and peaceful rest.
Israel has had no period of rest since she became a Nation in 1948, and in view of the antagonistic
nature of her neighbours, any idea that Israel should “rest” or “dwell safely” in the near future, is
absolutely unlikely. Israel will never rest or dwell safely until the Beast and False Prophet are
destroyed and Satan is chained and cast into the bottomless pit – THEN Israel can dwell safely during
The Messiah’s millennial reign.
There is an emphasis here on the “reality” of their safety – and not about any “vocal desire” for safety.
Compare 1 Thess.5:3 “For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction
cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape”. This
verse relates to the vocalised desire for peace and safety before the Tribulation period and therefore
prior to Christ’s Second Coming; before the Day of the Lord. It is interesting that this “sudden
destruction” experience is described as “travail” or “labour pains”, just as we have been told by the
American Secretary of State that the Israel/Hezbollah/Lebanon conflicts (2006) were the “labour pains”
of a new Middle East! Israel is not at peace yet!

• The Ultimate Out-pouring of the Holy Spirit.

According to Joel’s time-line, the final end-time attempt to invade Israel which takes place in the valley
of Jehoshaphat, (Joel 3:12) occurs after the ultimate “out-pouring” of the Holy Spirit, both on the
Israelites who have been re-gathered, and on all the people of God”. (Joel 2:28:32). It is therefore likely
that the un-named armies that appear in (Joel 3:9-10) and beat their ploughshares into swords and their
pruning hooks into spears are Gog/Magog.
This coincides with Ezekiel’s timeline and vision of the valley of the re-gathered dry bones, (referring to
the Nation of Israel) after the spirit is breathed into them, (Ezekiel 37:1-14) and after the two sticks of
Judah and Ephraim are joined together, (Ezekiel 37:15-22) to make one Kingdom ruled by one King,
(Ezekiel 37:23-28 and Isaiah 11) – i.e. the 1,000 year Millennial Kingdom.
It is only after the pouring out of the Holy Spirit that the events described in Ezekiel 38 and 39 take
place. Ezekiel 39:21-28 gives a long term historical review of Israel’s history and then reinforces this by
stating that the pouring out of the Holy Spirit upon Israel had already occurred. “And I will not hide
My face from them anymore, for I shall have poured out My Spirit on the house of Israel, says the Lord
GOD.”

13
 • To take a spoil and prey – cattle and goods – silver and gold – great plunder.
The motivation for the invasion by the Gog and Magog armies and troops appears to be firstly - the
perceived wealth of the Nation of Israel. Ezekiel 38:12-13 lists their desired booty and plunder as
livestock and goods, silver and gold. Secondly - the other motivation appears to be the destruction of
the infrastructure that had been restored to the previously “waste places” of Israel by its present
occupants; as well as to destroy i.e. “stretch out your hand against” a “people” gathered from the
Nations” of the World. Additional notice could be taken of the phrase regarding the people “who
dwell in the midst of the land”, as if implying that there could be a wider area of land around Israel,
indwelt by other friendly people, e.g. the other branch of people from Abraham via Ishmael, i.e. the
territory of the original covenant made with Abraham, between the Euphrates and the Nile.

• Peace for 1000 Years -Then War again

After the Tribulation, and during the Millennial Kingdom reign, “swords are beaten into
plowshares” (Isaiah 2:1-4 and Micah 4:1-3) “And he shall judge among the nations, and shall
rebuke many people; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into
pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war
any more.” Compare (Micah 4) as peace takes hold on the earth.
However, the reverse is also stated in Joel 3:10 – relating to the last confrontation between good and
evil - “Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears; let the weak
say I am strong….v.12 Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of
Jehoshaphat, for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about.”
These verses are more of the “connecting verses” for prophecy in the Old Testament. They depict an
invasion and slaughter on the mountains of Israel, Ezek. 39:2 and 39:4, and in the open field 39:5 near
the cities of Israel. The context of this battle as prophesied by Joel appears to be the same battle as that
expedited by Gog and Magog, as God draws them into the Valley of Jehoshaphat. Joel is therefore
talking about the same invasion.
This beating of ploughshares into swords and pruning-hooks into spears would reinforce the idea that
this final Gog and Magog invasion which takes place in the valley of Jehoshaphat – (Joel 3:10 above and
Ezekiel 38:22 – 39:6) will take place after the 1,000 years of peace. Although this final battle is for
supremacy, we find that the “fortunes of Judah are restored” by God, and finally all the enemies of
God and Satan are destroyed. These events are described in both Ezekiel 38 & 39 and Joel chapter 3.
Revelation 20:7-9 puts the invasion of Gog and Magog right there after the 1,000 years of peace, and
since there is no description in the book of Revelation of what “happens” during this invasion; it is
obvious that the “happenings” are recorded elsewhere in scripture (i.e. Ezekiel 38 & 39) and many
prophecy scholars have placed them in the wrong “time” setting.
It is not until after Satan has been “bound for 1,000 years” (Rev. 20:2) during which time the “beheaded
witnesses” rule and reign with Christ, that the battle of Gog and Magog takes place (Rev. 20:7-10).
Gog, and Magog and numberless people are destroyed by fire from heaven, and the Devil is finally cast
into the lake of fire and brimstone (where the “Beast and False Prophet” are still in existence), that the
earth is finally cleansed of its evil scourge.

14
At the end of these events, chapter 21 of Revelation indicates the new heaven and new earth are
established while the Holy City, New Jerusalem assumes ultimate authority because the “throne of God
and of the Lamb shall be in it.” Rev. 21:1, 21:10, and 22:3.

• Population Explosion – Come like a storm... Like a cloud to cover the land... all
thy bands and many people with thee... the number of whom is as the sand of
the sea.
We are told throughout the book of Revelation that the casualties from the persecutions, war and
destruction portrayed therein are immense in number. Rev. 6:8 indicates that a “fourth part of the
earth” is affected. Rev. 8 indicates that a ”third part of trees was burnt up... and all green grass was
burnt up... a third part of the creatures in the sea died... and a third part of the ships were destroyed.”
We are also told in Rev. 7:9-17 that a great multitude which could not be counted had come out of the
suffering of the great tribulation on earth. With such destruction on a World wide scale, it would be
expected that the population numbers would suffer an intense decrease of unprecedented proportions
following the Day of the Lord when the enemies of God are destroyed.
It would be natural therefore to expect that during the Tribulation the World wide population would
have been decimated, but on the contrary, we find that Rev. 20:8 in referring to Gog and Magog seems
to imply that there has been a general “population explosion” – i.e., “…the number of whom is as the
sand of the sea.” This agrees with the sense of the verses below (Ezekiel 38:8-11) “…thou shalt be like
a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee”. This population
explosion can only have occurred during the 1,000 years of peace.
The context of Ezekiel 38:8-11 therefore is – “After many days thou shalt be visited; in the latter years
thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people,
against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste; but it is brought forth out of the
nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them. Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be
like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee. Thus said the Lord
GOD; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt
think an evil thought: And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to
them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor
gates.”

CHAPTER THREE

Judgements against the enemies of Israel

Ezekiel 38:17-18 seems to regard this final assault by Gog and Magog as having been prophesied earlier.
“Thus saith the Lord GOD; Art thou he of whom I have spoken in old time by my servants the
prophets of Israel, which prophesied in those days many years that I would bring thee against them?
And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the

15
Lord GOD, that my fury shall come up in my face. For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have
I spoken…” 39:8 “Surely it is coming, and it shall be done,” says the Lord GOD. This is the day of
which I have spoken.”
I can find no trace of a particular judgement or earlier prophecy against the entities called “Gog and
Magog”, and it may be that these ”old time” prophecies are no longer in existence; but they obviously
were in Ezekiel’s day. However, there are plenty of general judgements against the enemies of Israel.
The last prophecy made by Moses shortly before his death is recorded in Deuteronomy 32:41b-43 – “…I
will render vengeance to mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me. I will make mine arrows
drunk with blood, and my sword shall devour flesh; and that with the blood of the slain and of the
captives, from the beginning of revenges upon the enemy. Rejoice, O ye nations, with his people; for he
will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will be merciful
unto his land, and to his people.”
Deuteronomy 32:35 “To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time; for
the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.”
The writer of Romans 12:19 has this verse in mind when he writes “’Vengeance is mind, I will repay,’
says the Lord.”

Who are the People groups to the North of Israel?

The Old Testament prophets always associate the “North” with Israel’s Biblical northern neighbours –
compare
Ezekiel 26:7 “For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will bring upon Tyrus Nebuchadrezzar
king of Babylon, a king of kings, from the north….” This refers to Babylon.
Ezekiel 32:30 “There be the princes of the north, all of them, and all the Zidonians…” Sidon
(modern Saida) was a city twenty-two miles north of Tyre in Lebanon, part of the old Seleucid Empire.
Jeremiah 50:3 “For out of the north there cometh up a nation against her which shall make her
land desolate…” v.9 “For, lo, I will raise and cause to come up against Babylon an
assembly of great nations from the north country…” This refers to the Median/Persian Empire
conquering Babylon.
Jeremiah 46:6 “Let not the swift flee away, nor the mighty man escape; they shall stumble, and
fall toward the north by the river Euphrates.” This is referring to Babylon and its conquest of
Egypt. v.20 “Egypt is like a very fair heifer, but destruction cometh; it cometh out of the
north.”
Daniel 11 Refers to the King of the North, personalised in Antiochus Epiphanes, the Seleucid ruler
who came from one of the four divisions of the Grecian/Hellenic Empire, which equates to parts of
Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon today.
We see therefore that “the North” includes many different nations – Babylon - the Seleucid Empire –
and Media Persia etc.
The “far North” (RKJV) and “north quarters” (KJV) used in Ezekiel 38:6 in relation to Gomer (eldest Son
of Japheth) and Gomer’s third son Togarmah (Genesis 10:3 and 1 Chron.1:6) would therefore indicate a

16
people group further to the North than the other Nations designated to be in this direction. Also see
Ezekiel 38:15 and 39:2.
However, from Ezekiel’s perspective they come from the far North, which does not necessarily mean
outside of these territories. There is a similar reference in an ex canonical book “Psalms of Solomon
8:16” where Rome was regarded as the “uttermost part of the earth”.
NOTE: NBD p.1285 – “In the 14th BC Tegarama (Togarmah) is described as lying between Carchemish and
Harran – on a main trade route through SW Armenia”. (Turkey). NBD p.481 – “In Ezekiel’s prophecy (38) the
people of Gomer closely associated with the house of Togarmah in the army of Gog, are probably to be
identified with the ancient Cimmerians, an Aryan group who conquered Armenia... some time before the 8th
Century B.C. when they appear as enemies of Assyria.”
N.B.Comm. p.663 states that “Gomer (linked with Magog) were called Gimirrai by the Assyrians and
Cimmerians by the Greeks. Originating north of the Black Sea, by Ezekiel’s time they had settled in Asia
Minor.” (Turkey)
The Biblical “whole World” so often referred to in scriptures, encompasses those territories covered by
the six great Empires on which the Bible places most of its focus – Egypt, Assyria, Babylon,
Media/Persia, Macedon/Greece, and Rome, and the “four quarters” of these Empires are bounded by
the Nations so named in Ezekiel 38:5-6 i.e. Gomer/Togarmah to the North; Persia to the East, Ethiopia to
the South, and Libya to the West. These Nations also represent the final rebellion of the godless of
humanity at the end of the millennium, before the new creation.
The end-time enemies of Israel, when The Beast and False Prophet are in ascendancy prior to
Armageddon, are also depicted in Revelation 13 as coming from three of these old Northern Empires of
Babylon, Media/Persia, and Grecian/Seleucid areas, in the form of the composite Leopard/Bear/Lion
Beast Empire. (Compare Daniel 7:2-8 and Rev. 13:2). We could note that the Roman Peninsular in
Europe was never a part of any of them.
See my booklet – “The Beast and the False Prophet – The Rise of Radical Islam” which
explains that these end time entities arise out of the Islamic Nations that now occupy the same
areas previously inhabited by the three old Northern Empires. Today, these same areas
contain all of Israel’s near neighbours i.e. Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Gaza and Egypt.
As a contrast, the enemies of Israel during the Gog and Magog invasion are depicted as coming from
North Eastern Turkey, Persia (Iran), Ethiopia, and Libya together with many peoples. These Nations
are not near neighbours of Israel. Why in this particular invasion is there no mention of Israel’s near
neighbours? Is it because the near neighbouring countries were defeated at the Battle of Armageddon,
and have therefore come under the rule of Israel and the Davidic Kingdom during the millennial period
when the Kingdom extends from just North of Tyre across to Damascus in the North, over to the Jordan
and the Dead Sea on the East, and to the bottom of the Dead Sea and across to the Mediterranean Sea on
the South. See Ezekiel 47:13 to 48:35, and compare those territories with the original borders that
stretched from the Euphrates to the Nile, as given in Genesis 15:18 and Exodus 23:31.
There are some references that might support this view – Ezekiel refers in several places to “the midst of
the land” – Of the 364 uses of this word in both Testaments - Ezekiel uses 93 of them. It appears to be
his favourite word – describing the location of both the sanctuary, the City, and the people of God - e.g.
37:26, 28, 48:8, 10b. - will “set my sanctuary in the midst of them.”
38:12 referring to the people “that dwell in the midst of the land”

17
Like John in Revelation, Ezekiel concentrates our attention on the fact that God will dwell in the midst of
his people. In Rev. 21:16 John describes the city itself as being foursquare – a perfect cube – making the
city a tremendous “holy of Holies – a place where the Lord dwells.
This could be the reason that the remains of the armies of Gog and Magog are taken out of the central
sacred territory, and buried on the East of the Dead Sea in the valley of Hamon Gog (meaning “the
multitude of Gog”), outside of the millennial borders, so that the land is cleansed.

CONCLUSION
Summary
Since it is my belief that it was Jesus who fulfilled the prophecy of Daniel’s 70 weeks (Daniel 9:24-27) I
see no requirement for a rebuilt temple, nor a Roman ruler to strengthen a “covenant” prior to the
Tribulation period of 3 ½ years. Instead, I see a continuing deterioration in Israel’s relationships with
her surrounding Islamic neighbours, which will lead to the Battle of Armageddon, when the
“Zionist/Crusader” forces of Judah and Ephraim, (read Israel and supporting Western Nations) will be
forced to fight against a coalition of Radical Islamic elements led by the Beast and False Prophet. These
composite Beastly Islamic forces which rise up from the old Babylonian, Persian and Grecian Empires;
desire to take possession of Jerusalem, and the Holy Land, and reinstitute Sharia/Islamic law
throughout the Middle East and Europe, just as it did during the Ottoman Empire period, and
eventually to encompass the whole World.
At the end of this first period of deception by the Beast and False Prophet, God has promised to institute
a Messianic Kingdom period of 1,000 years peace, when His rule will be established in the earth, based
in Jerusalem. Israel will be revived spiritually and politically, and will be unified as one Nation in the
land. During the 1,000 year period Israel will be transformed into a prosperous community, dwelling in
peace. It is at the end of the “millennial” rule that Satan attempts his second and final deception
through Gog and Magog, and the invasion described in Ezekiel 38 and 39 takes place
In my book “The Beast and the False Prophet – The Revival of Radical Islam” the premise is that the
OTTOMAN EMPIRE was the 7th empire head of the Revelation 17 Beast, which received the mortal
wound to the head. This ISLAMIC Ottoman Empire has not existed for the last 82 years. However, I
believe it is yet to be revived as the 8th composite radical Islamic end-time entity called the Beast and
False Prophet described in Revelation 13. This entity rises to make war with the saints for 42 months,
and non-Christians will worship him. Rev. 17:11 “And the Beast that was, and is not, even he is the
eighth, and OF the seven and goeth into perdition.”
Following the destruction of the Beast and False Prophet, and after the 1,000 year millennial period
when God’s rule is established throughout the earth, Satan is released and will again attempt to deceive
the World through GOG and MAGOG. These people groups assemble out of North Eastern TURKEY
and together with Persia/Iran, Ethiopia, and Libya will lead the last end-time ALLIANCE against
ISRAEL.
Ezekiel 38:1-6 “And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, set thy face against
Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him, and say,
Thus said the Lord GOD, behold, I am against thee O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal;
And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army,
horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers

18
and shields, all of them handling swords; Persia, Ethiopia and Libya with them; all of them with
shield and helmet: Gomer, (Georgia/Azerbajan areas) and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the
north quarters, (North/Eastern TURKEY) and all his bands, and many people with thee...”
The description of this army “horses and horsemen” - “all sorts of armour” - “bucklers and shields” -
“swords” - “shields and helmet” - “all their bands” - “and many people with thee” would indicate
that these are diverse people groups, who assemble themselves in an area to the North of Israel. They
are composed of troops gathered out of the Nations from a wider geographical area situated to the
North, South, East and West of Israel; but they are united in one cause - to plunder and destroy
prosperous Israel.
Another obvious fact in support of the contention that North Eastern Turkey is the land where the
troops of Gog and Magog assemble is found on a World map, where Turkey is the land directly to the
far North of Israel.
Joel 3:2 and 12 states that the armies of the heathen Nations are destroyed in the valley of Jehoshaphat.
Jewish, Christian and Muslim “traditions” identify this place of Jehoshaphat (Yahweh has judged) as
being in the Kidron valley between Jerusalem and the Mt. of Olives (Wadi al-Rabahi). This is where the
troops of Gog and Magog will surround the beloved city. The valley of Jehoshaphat is a totally
different place from the Northern theatre of war in the Battle of Armageddon.
The consequence of this final invasion and confrontation between the forces of God and the evil forces
of Gog and Magog, is described as a battle in which ALL men of war are destroyed, (Ezekiel 39:20). It
is therefore the LAST invasion suffered by Israel in the Holy Land. It is the “last chapter” in an age-old
battle between YAHWEH the Creator God, and Satan, the Prince of Darkness who tries to thwart the
establishment and presence of God’s Kingdom on earth.
The result is that Satan is finally cast into the Lake burning with fire and brimstone where he is tormented
forever.

The Timeline
Therefore the “Timeline” to be fitted into Rev. 19:20 – 20:10, as enlarged upon in Ezekiel 37 – 40> is as
follows –
• Church Age from Pentecost which began historically with intense persecution under ROME
and the commencement of the slaying of the first group of martyrs, waiting under the altar –
Rev. 6:11.
• The Church age ends with another period of intense persecution and martyrdom, initiated by
Satan’s deception and perpetrated by the rider on the Red Horse (Rev. 6:4) i.e., the
Beast/Empire and False Prophet of Rev. 13 (ISLAM), when Israel suffers the “Sword
Experience”.
• In this scenario, Satan deceives the Nations using the Beast and False Prophet, who arise from
the old Babylonian/Persian/Grecian Empires – (See Daniel 7:4-6 and compare Rev. 13:2 re: the
Leopard/Bear/Lion composite Beast). This composite Beast and his 10 horns attacks “Babylon
the Great” (Rome) Rev. 17-18.
Rev. 13:14 “And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he
had power to do in the sight of the beast...” This deception was to come to an end after the
Battle of Armageddon (Rev. 16:16), the site of which battle is believed to be located near the

19
 coastal plain and the Plain of Esdraelon or Megiddo, somewhere on the Great Road linking
Gaza and Damascus. At the end of the Battle of Armageddon the Beast and the False Prophet
“were both cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone” where they stay forever. (Rev.
19:20) That is the end of the Beast and the False Prophet.
• Satan is then bound for 1,000 years in the bottomless pit so that he is unable to deceive
anyone, thus bringing to an end his first period of deception. (Rev. 20:2-3)
Rev. 20:3 “…that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be
fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.”
• While Satan is bound – the souls who were beheaded for their witness to the word of God and
to Jesus are resurrected to live and reign for 1,000 years. (Rev. 20:4)
• 1,000 Millennial rule of Christ and martyrs, during which time Israel recovers from “the Sword
experience”, is finally at peace, is prosperous, and there is a World-wide population explosion
on the earth.
• After the 1,000 years, Satan is loosed once more for a “little season” to “deceive the Nations
which are in the four quarters of the earth” which are so populous as to be numbered like the
sand of the sea, and they are gathered to a battle where Gog and Magog are involved. (Rev.
20:7-8).
• The Nations associated with Gog and Magog are listed as coming from the four quarters of the
earth in Rev. 20:8, while Ezekiel 38:5-6 enlarges on that by explaining that the nations are –
1) Persia (Iran) which lies to the East of Israel,
2) Ethiopia which lies to the South,
3) Libya which lies to the West,
4) Gomer and Togarmah from the north quarters.
These are the four directions of the compass in relation to Israel or “the four quarters of the
earth”. However, they are not “near neighbours” of Israel.
• They surround the “beloved City” Jerusalem, and the “Camp of the Saints”, (This is a new end-
time “entity” and I presume this is the camp of the resurrected, martyred saints/people who
have been ruling and reigning with Jesus from Jerusalem for 1,000 years.) Rev. 20:9
• Gog and Magog and the gathered people groups from the Nations are destroyed by God in
Israel - on the “mountains of Israel” and in the “open field”, with an earthquake, internal strife,
pestilence, torrential rain, and hailstones, as well as fire and brimstone from heaven. (Rev. 20:9
and Ezekiel 38:22 – 39:6)
However, Ezekiel describes their burial place as the valley of the passengers on the east of the
sea, called the Valley of Hamon-gog, which is a prophetic name for a place east of the Dead
Sea. (Ezekiel 39:11) The burial takes 7 months.
• Afterwards, Israel burns their weapons with fire for seven years (Ezekiel 39:9, 12)
• All the mighty men of war are destroyed. (Ezekiel 39:20)
• Satan is finally cast into the lake of fire and brimstone (Rev. 20:10) where the Beast and False
Prophet had been cast some 1,000 years previously (Rev. 19:20). They are still there 1,000 years
later when Satan joins them (Rev. 20:10).
• Then comes the great White Throne Judgment (Rev. 20:11) followed by the New Creation. (Rev.
21)

20
APPENDIX A –
The Beheaded – TWO Groups of saints?
There are few scriptures that mention the word “beheaded” – so we can ask – who are these ones who
are beheaded for their witness of Jesus?
There appear to be two main groups, which come from specific persecutions.

1st Group
Four of the five New Testament references to “beheading” are about John the Baptist. He was the first
“believer” to be beheaded during Jesus tenure on earth. (Matt. 14:10, Mark 6:16, 6:27, and Luke 9:9)
However, John the Baptist was the last of the Prophets of the Law, so we would include him with other
Old Testament saints who were killed for their testimony to God and the Word.
It is also clear that James the brother of John was beheaded by Herod “with the sword” (Acts 12:2).
This was the beginning of the persecution of the Church following the Day of Pentecost.
Since then others have been added to the group that dwells “under the altar” who were “slain” for their
testimony. History tells us that not all were beheaded. At the time of the opening of the 5th Seal in
Revelation chapter 6 there is already a large group under the altar … waiting!
One of the least well known persecutions of Christians was the Armenian massacre in Turkey in 1915,
when more than 1.5 million Christians died at the hands of Turkish authorities. Public comment about
this massacre is still being repressed by the Turkish Government.
Rev. 6:9, 11 “And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them
that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held…..and it was
said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow-servants also
and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.”
It would appear that the group of martyrs are disturbed at the time of the 5th seal for some reason.
They are crying out for justice.
Rev. 6:10 “And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost
thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?”.
We may conclude from the scripture above (Rev. 6:9-11) that there is another group of martyrs who will
rise out of a still future period of intense persecution, who will join them after a “little season” and who
will also be slain in the same manner to complete a pre-ordained number.

2nd Group
The final N.T. reference to beheading is found in Rev. 20:4 “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon
them, and judgment was given unto them; and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded
for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast,
neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and
they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years….. This is the first resurrection.
Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection…. but they shall be priests of
God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.”

21
This group’s martyrdom is associated with the two “beasts” of Rev. 13, when Israel suffers the “sword
experience” which is also mentioned in Ezekiel 38:8-11. Logic tells me that this is the final group of
martyrs who die during the Tribulation. These are the ones who will make up the completed number
under the altar.
The two groups will be united, will be resurrected after the tribulation, and will reign with Christ for a
thousand years.
This resurrection therefore is for the martyrs who will rule and reign with Christ during the Millennial
Kingdom period. These are the martyrs, both Jews and Christians who paid the ultimate price of
remaining true to the Word of God, and who have died for their testimony to God and Christ up to
the end of the “tribulation period”.

APPENDIX B -
Gog is NOT a Russian Leader
In Ezekiel 38:3 Gog is described as the “chief prince” of Meshech and Tubal. There is great debate
over what these words mean. Some say the Hebrew word (Strongs No. 7218,) “ros or rosh” which is
used in this verse means Russia, but it simply means “head, leader, or chief”.
My New Bible Dictionary and Bible Atlas show quite clearly on the “Table of Nations” that the tribe of -
Meshech is positioned in the current REPUBLIC OF TURKEY.
Tubal is positioned partly in EASTERN TURKEY and NORTHERN IRAN.
Prophetic writers of the “Cold War” era believed that Rosh stood for Russia; Meshech stood for
Moscow, and Tubal stood for Tobol’sk. These suggestions have been reproved by many other scholars.
The New Bible Commentary published by Inter-Varsity Fellowship brings sound and careful
scholarship from some of the best evangelical scholars of the 20th Century.
The main contributor on apocalyptic literature Dr. G.R. Beasley-Murray has contributed the
commentaries of Ezekiel and Revelation. On Ezekiel 38:1 – 39:29 he states –
“Meshech and Tubal were probably east of Asia Minor and are usually identified with Phrygia and
Cappadocia: their equation with Moscow and Tobolsk and Rosh with Russia is unsupportable.”
The two people-groups/nations named as Meshech and Tubal were descendants of Noah’s son
Japheth. Historically they were located in the area to the South East of the Black Sea, (see where that is
on a map) and were associated with Phrygia, the kingdom which succeeded the Hittites in Asia Minor,
now (TURKEY).
The New Macmillan Encyclopaedia: PHRYGIA – The central and Western areas of Asia Minor
(TURKEY) inhabited after the Hittite empire collapsed (12th BC)
New Bible Dictionary: MESHECH - “….Meshech refers to a people perhaps speaking an Indo-
European language that entered the Near East from the northern steppe, and imposed
themselves as rulers upon the indigenous population of an area in eastern Anatolia (Asia
Minor) now TURKEY.

22
New Bible Dictionary: GOG AND MAGOG - “…LXX, probably correctly, understood Magog as a
people, not a country. The only reasonable identification of Gog is with Gyges, king of Lydia
(c. 660 B.C.) - (Assyrian – GUGU). The linkage with peoples at the extremities of the then
known world …suggests that we are to regard them as eschatological figures rather than as a
historically identifiable king…” Lydia which was sited in the centre of the western slope of
Asia Minor, became part of the Persian Empire under Cyrus.
The New Macmillan Encyclopaedia: “Asia Minor or Anatolia – The Westernmost part of Asia between
the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea approximating to present-day TURKEY. For much
of the second millennium B.C., Asia Minor was the centre of the Hittite empire. After the
Hittites’ collapse in the 12th Century BC, central and W. Asia Minor were dominated by
Phrygia. Phrygia fell to Lydia in the 6th Century, but in 546 Cyrus the Great established….
Control over Asia Minor. In 333 it was conquered by Alexander the Great, and after his death,
during the Hellenistic age, it was contested by the Seleucids and the Ptolemies. Asia Minor
came under Roman control in the 2nd and 1st Centuries BC forming part of the Roman Empire
and then the Eastern Roman (subsequently Byzantine) Empire.
Conquered by the Seljuk Turks in the 11th Century AD and overrun by the Mongols in the 13th,
Asia Minor was incorporated in the Ottoman Empire during the 14th and 15th centuries.”
TURKEY therefore was an integral part of Alexander the Great’s Empire – it was part of the Seleucid
Empire, part of the Roman and Byzantine Empire and part of the Ottoman Empire which fell at the end
of the 1st World War. Today, Turkey lays immediately North of Israel.

23