Naked Bible Podcast 152, 153 — The Gog Magog Invasion | Ezekiel 38–39
Channel: Houseform Apologetics
Date: 2018-05-12

Ezekiel 38–39, Part 1: Who or What is Gog?
Ezekiel 38–39, Part 2: Interpretation of the Gog-Magog Invasion (Revelation 20:7–10)

As was the case with Ezekiel 37, these chapters are among the most familiar in the entire book of Ezekiel. This first of two episodes on these chapters focuses on the terminology: Gog, Magog, Meshech, Tubal, and Togarmah. It also addresses the fallacies of translating Hebrew nesiʾ roʾsh as “prince of Rosh” and interpreting the phrase as modern-day Russia, and the difficulties ancient translators had with the term. An alternative understanding of Gog is offered, one that is consistent with the supernaturalistic worldview of the “foe from the north” motif in Old Testament thought.

This follow-up to Part 1 on these popular and controversial chapters focuses on the interpretation of the Gog-Magog invasion as a whole. Special attention is paid to how Rev 20:7–10 re-purposes Ezekiel 38–39 and how that re-purposing is consistent with a sound interpretation of those two chapters in their own context. They key to this consistency is recognizing the cosmic-supernatural outlook of elements in Ezekiel 38–39, particularly the description of participants and the burial of Gog and his hordes in the “Valley of the Travelers (Hebrew: ‘oberim)” in Ezek 39:11.

Resources:

• Greece Anatolia Russia Map: http://www.nakedbiblepodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Greece-Anatolia-Russia-map.pdf
• Paul Tanner, “Daniel’s ‘King of the North’: Do We Owe Russia an 
   Apology?” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 35:3 [Sept 
   1992]: 315–328 (see esp. 322–326 for the evangelical 
   dispensational predilection for an identification with Russia). 
   Tanner’s article will also be some useful backgrounding for Part 2 
   of Ezekiel 38–39 http://paultanner.org/English%20HTML/Publ%20Articles/Dan%2011%20-%20P%20Tanner.pdf
• “Day of the Lord” (Anchor Bible Dictionary): http://www.nakedbiblepodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/DAY-OF-THE-LORD-ABD.pdf
• Meredith Kline, “Har Magedon: The End of the Millennium,” 
   Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 39:2 (June 1996): 
   207-222 http://www.etsjets.org/files/JETS-PDFs/39/39-2/39-2-pp207-222_JETS.pdf
• Dr. Michael S. Heiser, “Who Are Gog and Magog, and What’s So Evil 
   about the North?”: https://blog.logos.com/2017/11/gog-magog-whats-evil-north/?utm_source=faithlife&utm_medium=social&utm_content=whoaregogmagog-unseenrealm-otc&utm_campaign=promo-lexhampress2017q4

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