Bible Study Guide (War of Gog and Magog)
Did the October 2023 attack on Israel set the stage for the soon to come war of Gog and Magog?
Since October 7, 2023, God has performed astonishing and undeniable miracles through His nation Israel. The people of Israel suffered terribly from the events of that day. Yet the enemy’s attack did not go unseen, nor did it go unanswered, by the God of Israel. What followed has been nothing short of remarkable and prophetic.
Since that day, God has brought a level of peace to His nation that Israel has never witnessed in its modern history. He put down all of Israel’s immediate border enemies and laid waste to some and crippled many others. He left these nations shaken, fearful, and uncertain of what Israel might do next with its overwhelming military capabilities.
With Israel defeating its close enemies and with many surrounding nations signing the Abraham Peace Accords, God is clearly setting the stage for the ultimate prophetic confrontation—the war of gog and magog. This unprecedented peace is not accidental. It is essential for the fulfillment of Ezekiel’s prophecy.
This unique season of peace must take place for the ezekiel 38 war to occur exactly as God declared. Scripture tells us plainly that Israel will be dwelling securely when this invasion comes. That is precisely the stage God is setting at this very moment.
God Places the Plan In Gog’s Mind: War of Gog and Magog Begins (Ezekiel 38:10–11)
(Verses 10–11) God speaks directly to Ezekiel and reveals His absolute sovereignty over the affairs of mankind. God Himself will place thoughts into the mind of Gog, whom we understand to be the leader of this massive military invasion against Israel. This leader will arise from the land we know today as Russia.
God will turn Gog’s attention toward Israel and cause him to observe something very specific: a nation enjoying peace, prosperity, and security. This is not conjecture—it is happening before our eyes as we examine the ezekiel war explained in real time.
Israel, through the mighty hand of God resting upon His nation, has defeated Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihadists, Iran-backed forces, Houthi rebels, and all who have risen against her. This divinely granted security is the very condition Scripture says will precede the war of gog and magog.
Economic Envy and Plunder Fuel the War of Gog and Magog (Ezekiel 38:12)
(Verse 12) Ezekiel through God reveals a powerful motivation behind this invasion. Israel’s military strength and economic influence have grown exponentially in recent years. As Gog watches Israel prosper and dominate its enemies, his heart will be stirred toward plunder.
God reveals that Gog will desire to loot and seize Israel’s wealth. This covetous desire becomes the driving force behind the war of gog and magog.
On one side stands Israel—economically thriving, technologically advanced, and blessed. On the other stands Russia, experiencing severe economic pressure from sanctions that have weakened its influence on the global stage.
Looking further, we see that the coalition nations joining Russia—Turkey and Iran—are facing similar economic turmoil. Crushing sanctions, inflation, and failed policies have devastated their economies. Meanwhile, Israel is experiencing an unprecedented investment boom.
Israel also sits atop one of the largest natural gas fields in the world. Soon, Israel will supply Europe with energy, replacing Russia as a primary supplier. This shift will severely damage Russia’s economy while increasing Israel’s wealth. Gog will take notice. This economic disparity God will use to fuel the ezekiel 38 war.
Is the United States Mentioned In the War of Gog And Magog? (Ezekiel 38:13)
(Verse 13) Is the United States mentioned in the Bible? The short answer is no—the United States is not mentioned by name. This surprises many, but the reason is straightforward.
The Bible names only those nations that come directly against Israel. God has undoubtedly used the United States for His purposes, but here Scripture focuses on Israel’s attackers in the last days.
That said, some believe the United States may be indirectly referenced here in verse 13. Let us examine it closely.
Sheba and Dedan refer to the ancient Arabian Peninsula—modern-day Saudi Arabia. These nations will voice opposition to the invasion but will not intervene militarily. This aligns with Saudi Arabia’s improving relations with Israel and interest in the Abraham Peace Accords.
Then we encounter Tarshish and her “young lions.” Tarshish was an actual city in Spain where Jonah attempted to escape to when asked by God to go and preach to the evil people of the city of Nineveh (Jonah 1).
Herodotus, the 6th century historian wrote that Tarshish was located beyond the Pillars of Hercules—modern-day Strait of Gibraltar—pointing beyond this gateway to the Mediterranean and out to the Atlantic Ocean. Many scholars identify Tarshish with the United Kingdom.
The “young lions” may symbolically refer to former British colonies, possibly including the United States. The lion is a central symbol of Britain, and her colonies were once under her rule. The United States colonies being a much younger version of the United Kingdom.
The Critical Point Is This
None of these nations come to Israel’s defense. They only protest verbally. Scripture is clear—no nation will rescue Israel in the war of gog and magog. Only the God of Israel will intervene, for this war exists to glorify Him.
Verse 13 also confirms the invasion’s motive:
“Have you gathered your army to take booty, to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods, to take great plunder?” (Ezekiel 38:13)
Peace Before Destruction In the War of Gog and Magog (Ezekiel 38:14–16)
(Verses 14–16) These verses reveal three critical truths about the war of gog and magog.
First, the invasion occurs when Israel is living in peace and safety—something Israel has never experienced to this degree until now. The destruction of the Iranian-led axis of evil and the strategic alliance with the United States have brought this about by God’s hand.
Second, this will be a massive ground invasion involving vast armies from multiple nations. Perhaps these nations learned from the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack how vulnerable Israel might appear to a coordinated ground assault.
Third, God reveals His ultimate purpose: He alone will defend Israel. No nation will receive the credit. God will utterly destroy the invading forces so the entire world will know He is Lord. This event is widely believed to usher the world into the seven-year Tribulation, as outlined in the ezekiel war explained through prophecy.
God’s Fury Ignites During the War of Gog and Magog (Ezekiel 38:17–20)
(Verses 17-20) When Gog advances against Israel, God declares that His fury will rise. There will be no stopping His wrath. This invasion is divinely permitted so that God’s holiness and faithfulness to Israel may be revealed.
A massive earthquake accompanies this judgment. This shaking foreshadows the even greater earthquake that will occur at the end of the Tribulation at Christ’s Second Coming:
“And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth.” (Revelation 16:18)
Today, we already see the earth trembling—earthquakes and volcanic activity increasing worldwide. These signs align with the warnings Scripture gives us leading into the days of God’s wrath and the fulfillment of the ezekiel 38 war.
These are all events that are being underreported. They will continue to lack secular media support as they fear it may give relevance and credibility to God’s Word and the events that are occurring and about to occur. After all, we live in a world that denies the existence of the God of Creation.
Supernatural Destruction Concludes the War of Gog and Magog (Ezekiel 38:21–23)
(Verses 21-23) God reveals that Gog’s forces may not advance far into Israel before divine judgment falls. It appears that it will be in the mountains of Israel where God will stand and defeat His enemies.
God employs a familiar method from an ancient template—turning the enemy against itself:
“Every man’s sword will be against his brother.” (Ezekiel 38:21)
This mirrors God’s victory through Gideon against the Midianites (Judges 7–8) and Saul’s defeat of the Philistines (1 Samuel 14:15-52). Confusion, panic, and supernatural judgment will destroy the invading armies.
Plague, bloodshed, torrential rain, hailstones, fire, and sulfur will rain down upon them. These judgments foreshadow the greater judgments of the seven-year Tribulation.
Finally, we arrive at God’s stated purpose:
“And so I will show my greatness and my holiness, and I will make myself known in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the Lord.” (Ezekiel 38:23)
This is the ultimate reason for the war of gog and magog—that the world will know there is a living God who defends Israel and keeps every promise of His Word.
A Closing Reflection: Watching Prophecy Converge Before Our Eyes
As we watch alliances rapidly strengthen between Russia, Iran, Turkey, Ethiopia, and Libya, we are witnessing prophecy move from the pages of Scripture into real-time history. These nations are not merely cooperating politically or militarily—they are aligning exactly as Ezekiel foretold, bound together by shared hostility toward Israel and by deepening economic distress.
Their economies are faltering under sanctions, inflation, internal unrest, and failed leadership. Resources are dwindling, currencies are weakening, and pressure is mounting. At the same time, Israel stands increasingly prosperous, secure, and rich in natural resources—particularly energy reserves that will soon reshape global supply lines. The contrast could not be more striking, and it is precisely this imbalance that Scripture tells us will ignite the coming invasion.
As these nations look south toward Israel, the conditions Ezekiel described are falling into place with stunning accuracy. This convergence should awaken every believer to the nearness of the rapture. Before God turns His full attention back to judging the nations, He will first remove His Church. What we are witnessing today is not coincidence—it is preparation.
The beauty and perfection of God’s Word stand on full display. Every alliance forming, every economic collapse, every shift in global power affirms that Scripture is true, complete, and sufficient. We need no other source of truth. God has already told us what is coming—and we are now watching it unfold.
Closing Prayer
Sovereign Lord,
You who place thoughts in the hearts of kings and direct the course of nations, we acknowledge Your power and Your perfect plan. As You declared in Ezekiel 38, You alone will defend Israel, reveal Your holiness, and make Your name known among the nations.
In a world moving toward conflict, keep our hearts anchored in truth and our eyes fixed on You. Prepare us for what lies ahead, strengthen our faith, and remind us that no army, alliance, or weapon can stand against Your will.
We trust in Your Word, Your timing, and Your glory—knowing that You will be exalted before all the earth.
It’s in Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
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