Page 276 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

GOING FORTH - GOLAN

‘Rosh’ was a designation for the tribes then north of the and westward to the extremities of Europe” (Young).
Taurus mountains, dwelling in the neighborhood of the Thus, “Gomer and all his bands” probably refers to
Volga, and he held that in this name and tribe we have Russia’s former East European satellites, particularly
the first trace in history of the ‘Russ,’ or Russian nation. East Germany, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Romania, and
Gesenius also identified ‘Meshech’ as Moscow, the Poland. Togarmah refers to the former southern
capital of modern Russia in Europe. ‘Tubal’ he identified republics of the Soviet Union and to Turkey.
as Tobolsk, the earliest province of Asiatic Russia to be 6. The equipment points to Russia (Eze. 38:7). The
colonized, and, also, the name of the city wherein Peter northern enemy of Israel appears as a great provider of
the Great built the old fortress after the pattern of the war materiel. Who has been equipping Israel’s many
Kremlin at Moscow. Moscow bespeaks Russia in Europe, enemy nations for decades? It is Russia. Libya, for
and Tobolsk bespeaks Russia in Asia” (Bauman, Russian example, has an awesome stockpile of Soviet-supplied
Events, p. 24). Richard Watson, writing in his 1831 weapons.
Biblical and Theological Dictionary, said, “Magog 7. This power’s hatred of Israel points to Russia. Of the
signifies the country or people, and Gog the king of that great world powers today, none have expressed as much
country; the general name of the northern nations of hatred toward God and Israel as Russia. One of the chief
Europe and Asia, or the districts north of the Caucasus, propaganda cries of Russian communism was “Zionism
or Mount Taurus” (p. 417). Russia is divided into is Racism.” In 1984, the U.S. ambassador dealing with
eastern and western parts by the Ural mountains. This human rights under the Helsinki Accords said, “Berlin
mountain range runs 1,300 miles from the Arctic ocean was once the world capital of anti-Semitism; I am afraid
to Kazakhstan, a southernmost republic of the former that today it is in Moscow.”
Soviet Union, and is the traditional boundary between
Europe and Asia (Funk & Wagnalls). It is interesting to When Shall Gog and Magog Attack Israel? (1) It will
note that Moscow lies in the European side of Russia, occur in the latter days (Eze. 38:8). (2) It will occur
while Tobolsk lies in the Asian side. By selecting these when Israel is regathered (Eze. 39:8). This points to the
two cities of the “land of Magog,” God has covered the times in which we are now living. Since 1948 Israel has
entire region which has made up the U.S.S.R. again dwelt in the land. (3) It will occur in conjunction
with Israel’s conversion. In Eze. 39 we see that God’s
3. The location points to Russia. Ezekiel tells us judgment upon Gog will result in Israel realizing that He
exactly where this enemy of Israel lives—to the north of is their God. (Eze. 39:7). We know from other
Israel (Eze. 38:6, 15; 39:2). And Ezekiel doesn’t merely prophecies that this conversion of Israel will occur
say “north.” He says Gog’s place is in “the north parts.” during the Great Tribulation (See Ze. 12-13). (4) It will
John Darby translated this “the uttermost north.” A occur at the time when Israel feels secure from danger
quick reference to a modern map reveals only one great (Eze. 38:11). Obviously Israel does not feel secure
power to the extreme north of Israel, and that is Russia. today. The tiny nation is armed to the teeth; and, while
4. The size of the army points to Russia. “even a great doing an admirable job of defending itself, there
company mighty army” (Eze. 38:4, 9, 15). Israel has certainly is no letting down of the guard for Israel today.
many enemies other than Russia—especially the When will this time of safety be? It will probably be
neighboring Arab nations, but no Arab enemy can field when Antichrist makes the peace pact with Israel
an army as mighty as the one Ezekiel sees descending described in Da. 9:27 and 8:25. Israel will be deceived
from the north. into thinking the pledge of Antichrist will guarantee
5. The alliance points to Russia (Eze. 38:4-6). Gog is them safety. It is then that Russia and her cohorts will
the leader of and “a guard unto” a massive military move. Since Da. 9:27 says the Antichrist will break his
alliance. Those who are said to be associated with Gog covenant with Israel in the middle of the seven years,
point to Russia and its former satellites. It is significant we can be reasonably certain that the battle of Gog will
that six of the former Soviet republics are Israel-hating occur in the first half of the Tribulation. [See Antichrist,
Islamic nations today (Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Daniel, Great Tribulation, Last Days, Prophecy, Second
Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan). Coming, Revelation.]
Persia is modern Iran (the name was changed in 1935), GOING FORTH. (1) An outlet (Nu. 34:4; Eze. 44:5).
which is a friend of Russia and an enemy of Israel. (2) Moving; traveling (1 Sa. 17:20; Ps. 19:6). (3) First
Ethiopia in northern Africa also has close ties with proclamation of (Da. 9:25).
Russia. The same is true for Libya. Wikipedia says, GOINGS. Movements (Nu. 33:2).
“Russia regards Libya as its strongest ally in the Arab
world, both politically and historically.” Gomer refers to GOLAN (circle). A Levitical city of Manasseh in
Germany and neighboring people. Gomer “settled in the Bashan east of the Sea of Galilee beyond Jordan, and
north of the Black Sea (Ge. 10:2) and spread southward

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