After the tragic fall of Jerusalem in 587/586 B.C., the exilic prophet Ezekiel presents in his book a unique prophecy concerning Gog from the land of Magog (Ezek 38–39) that has stirred a bewildering number of different interpretations. His enigmatic prediction is certainly one of the most challenging texts of Scripture. Alexander in his article aptly writes: “The plethora of interpretations for this passage caution the student concerning dogmatism in his conclusion.” The New Scofield Bible as well as Hal Lindsey, for example, claim that Gog refers to Russia. In this article, I do not discuss in depth the different popular or scholarly propositions about the identity of Gog or their opinions on the fulfillment/application of this prophecy, but explore primarily a biblical historical-eschatological interpretation: namely, how Ezek 38–39 is deciphered in its immediate context and by later biblical writers, especially in the book of Revelation. This study does not seek to be the last word on the topic, but rather to enhance discussion on its christological-ecclesiological-apocalyptic fulfillment.
