Gog and Magog is a reference to Russia, who will come down at the end of the indignation (1335 days from the middle of Daniel's 70th week) to attack the land of Israel. We know this is a reference to Russia from Ezekiel 38:1-6; "Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, prince of Rosh [Russia], Meshech [Moscow], and Tubal [Tobolsk]." Many Christians down through the centuries did not understand how this would be possible, because Russia did not exist as a nation until about 800 years ago. 

 

The second attack of the Assyrian. This attack is foreshadowed in the Old Testament by the attack of Sennacherib king of Assyria who unsuccessfully tried to take the Southern Kingdom of Judah in the days of Hezekiah. In this way, the prophets adapt the title "the Assyrian" to Gog and Magog as well as the King of the North. Gog and Magog will come down after the Lord has dealt with the Beast and the King of the North, and has restored the regathered nation of Israel; "In that day when my people Israel dwelleth in safety, shalt thou not know it?" (Ezek. 38:14). It will be an enticing opportunity, and the Lord will dangle it in front of Gog like bait before a fish; "And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, etc.” (Ezek. 38:4).

 

The Russian Confederacy. Great masses of infantry will come down with Russia, very well armed; "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" (Ezek. 28:4). Russia will not be alone, for they will "come from thy place out of the uttermost north, thou and many peoples with thee". Ezek. 38:5-6 gives a list of some of the nations that will be in that confederacy; parts of Persia (Iran), parts of northern Africa, Gomer (Germany), Togarmah (Armenia), and "many" other confederate atheistic nations (Micah 4:11-12, Joel 3:2). The rebels of the ten tribes (Ezek. 20:35-38) will be swept up in this attack. 

 

His end. The Russian Confederacy will be destroyed in the Winepress Judgment. The nations will come up in vast hordes, Russia in the lead, coming up “like a cloud to cover the land.” To deal with the army, the Lord causes a great earthquake in the land. The armies will be thrown into confusion, and will kill one another. Then the Lord will rain hail, fire, and brimstone upon them (Ezek. 38). The land of Edom will become the Lord’s “threshing floor” (Micah 4:11-12). The Lord will "roar out of Zion” (Joel 3:16) and destroy Russia. This begins the Winepress, which will continue approximately 200 miles. The Lord's enemies will be caught up in the vortex of judgment, and He will personally stamp upon them in fury (Isa. 63:1-6), until the blood rises “to the horses bits”. Afterward, the Lord will “send a fire on Magog” (Ezek. 39:6) and “a great whirlwind” (Jer. 25:32). It will take Israel seven months just to bury the dead (Ezek. 39:12). So ends Gog and Magog.

 

Note. Gog and Magog are frequently confused with "Gog and Magog" in Rev. 20:7-8, which attack Jerusalem in the final rebellion at the end of the Millennium. In Rev. 20 it does not say “Gog, the land of Magog” as in Ezekiel, rather it is a term used to describe the rebel hosts. They have the same godless, atheistic character as Russia and the Germanic peoples that come down at 1335 days. Russia comes down at the beginning of the 1000 years, this rebellion is at the end of the 1000 years. Also, this rebellion will have the same countless hordes of infantry as Russia. Possibly, the bulk of the rebellion will originate from Russia, but this in uncertain.