Gog And Magog
Morrish Bible Dictionary [1]
GOG is a symbolical name for the powerful and proud chief of the vast hordes of Scythia and Tartary. MAGOG, the son of Japheth ( Genesis 10:2 ), whose descendants spread over the vast steppes in the north, after whom the land is here called. Ezekiel 38:2 should read "Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal." Gog is the prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal answering to Russia, Moscow or Muscovy, and Tobolsk: all now in the Russian empire. These, 'coming out of the north,' as a cloud to cover the land,' will attack Israel in the land of Palestine, but will be smitten by God. Ezekiel 38:2,18; Ezekiel 39:1,6,11 . The valley where they will be buried will be called Hamon-Gog the 'multitude of Gog,' Ezekiel 39:11,15 . The destruction of these hordes will cause the heathen to know the Lord, that is, the nations extern to the Anti-christian Empire of the West.
In Revelation 20:8 we also read of Gog and Magog attacking "the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city," Jerusalem; but this must not be confounded with the prophecy in Ezekiel, for here they come out of 'the four corners of the earth;' and the battles do not coincide as to time. In Ezekiel the attack is before Israel is finally settled in the land, as may be seen by the context; whereas in the Revelation it is after the thousand years of the millennium, and is followed by the final overthrow of God's enemies who are led on by Satan. There is doubtless an allusion to the names in Ezekiel; 'Gog and Magog,' being symbolical names, are employed to describe all the proud and powerful hordes of post-millennium times, whose number is 'as the sand of the sea,' and whom Satan will collect together from all quarters to attack the kingdom of the Lord Jesus as established on earth, only to be devoured by fire from heaven: for Satan, when loosed, will not be able to raise up an empire against the Lord.
American Tract Society Bible Dictionary [2]
Are usually spoken of together in Scripture. In Genesis 10:2 , Magog, which seems to denote a country with its people, is reckoned among the descendants of Japheth. In Ezekiel 38:1-23; 39:1-29 , Magog apparently signifies a country with its people, and Gog the king of that people; but critics are much divided as to the people and country intended under these names. The Scythians, the Goths, the Persians, and several other nations, have been specified by interpreters as the Magog of the Scriptures; but most probably it is a name given generally to the northern nations of Europe and Asia, or the districts north of the Caucasus. The names reappear in the later predictions of John as enemies of the people of God, who are to be signally overthrown in Armageddon, Revelation 16:14-16; 20:7-9 .
Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary [3]
Moses speaks of Magog, son of Japheth, but says nothing of Gog, Genesis 10:2 . According to Ezekiel, Gog was prince of Magog, Ezekiel 38:2-3 , &c; Ezekiel 39:1-2 , &c. Magog signifies the country or people, and Gog the king of that country; the general name of the northern nations of Europe and Asia, or the districts north of the Caucasus, or Mount Taurus. The prophecy of Ezekiel, Ezekiel 39:1-22 , seems to be revived in the Apocalypse, where the hosts of Gog and Magog are represented as coming to invade "the beloved city," and perishing with immense slaughter likewise in Armageddon, "the mount of Mageddo," or Megiddo, Revelation 16:14-16; Revelation 20:7-10 .
Holman Bible Dictionary [4]
Ezekiel 38-39 Revelation 20:8
Ezekiel's prophecy is apparently built on Jeremiah's sermons against a foe from the north ( Jeremiah 4-6 ). Ezekiel's historical reference may have been Gyges, king of Lydia, who asked Ashurbanipal, king of Assyria, for help in 676 B.C. but then joined an Egyptian-led rebellion against Assyria about 665 B.C. His name became a symbol for the powerful, feared king of the north. Magog is apparently a Hebrew construction meaning, “place of Gog.” 2. A descendant of the tribe of Reuben ( 1 Chronicles 5:6 ).
The Nuttall Encyclopedia [5]
Names that occur in the Bible of foes of Israel, and designative in the Apocalypse of enemies of the kingdom of God, as also of a Scythian tribe N. of the Caucasus. The names are applied likewise to two giants, survivors of a race found in Britain by Brute of Troy, effigies of whom stood at the Guildhall Gate, symbolic defenders of the city.
