This invasion by Gog and Magog of Israel will probably take place at the end of the tribulation as part of the Battle of Armageddon as there are some key similiarities to passages about the Battle of Armageddon in the Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24 and the account of Armageddon in Revelation 19 although there could be a concurrence of world events and alliances at the end of the present Church age before the rapture and tribulation that will look like the invasion of Gog and Magog will happen then. For instance the current close ties with Iran (Persia) and Russia (Gog and Magog). However it is likely that any events seeming to lead to the invasion of Gog and Magog will be thwarted or defused by the Antichrist or Beast out of the Sea which will further increase his popularity at the beginning of the tribulation or 70th week of Daniel with the world in general and with Israel or the Jews in particular. There could well be a trial run of the Battle of Gog and Magog before the tribulation which will be led by Russia and Iran (Persia) perhaps with Iran's fellow Shiite allies Hezbollah in Lebanon that will be defused by the Antichrist as part of his false Middle East Peace that will include permitting Israel to rebuild their temple on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. This trial run would just be a foreshadowing but not the full fulfillment of this prophecy of the Battle of Gog and Magog that I think will occur in its fullness at the end of the tribulation as part of the Battle of Armageddon. Russia is now developing increasingly close ties economically, militarily, politically and religiously with Iran and other Muslim countries. Gog as a leader's name could be preserved in the former Soviet republic that is now the independent country of Georgia in the Caucasus region to the south of current Russia between Turkey and the Caspian Sea. Magog is the name of the territory of Gog. This will probably be a sizable part of Russia or the former Soviet Union. Gog is further identified as the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. Meshech is an early name of Moscow and some hills around Moscow are still called the Meshechian Hills. Tubal is probably preserved in the name of the major Russian Siberian industrial city of Tobolsk. God says he will put hooks in the jaws of Gog and Magog meaning God will draw them to where he wants them to invade or attack in this case to the land of Israel. I don't know how literally to interpret the horses and horsemen in this passage. It could mean at least some use of horses in the invading armies but it could also refer to armies using tanks, jeeps, personnel carriers or other land vehicles that soldiers ride as well as horses. Some of the allies of Gog and Magog that includes Meshech and Tubal are Persia which is modern day Iran but could include the Shiite part of neighbouring Iraq especially led by the Shiite militia currently by Moqtada al-Sadr and Lebanon which has a significant Shiite population and is increasingly under control of the militant Shiite group Hezbollah which is currently led by Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah and which already has a history of hostility with Israel, Ethiopia (in some versions called Cush) which could include Sudan and Somalia and Libya which could include other parts of North Africa such as current Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco. Gomer another ally is the Germanic people while Togarmah is current day Turkey and perhaps other Turkey people of central Asia such as Turkestan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. It is mentioned Togarmah is from the north quarters relative to Israel which would also fit this being the Turkic people of Turkey and central Asia. Finally it is also mentioned many other people or nations or ethnic groups will participate in this invasion. The scripture reference in Ezekiel 38 of the participants in the invasion of Israel by Gog and Magog and their allies is as follows:
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 saith 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 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 and shields, all of them handling swords: Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet: Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee. Ezekiel 38:1-6
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