Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-23
DOWNFALL OF RUSSIA
Many Think It is Foretold by
Prophet Ezekiel.
COG, MAGOG AND ROSH
DESTRUCTION OF THESE MUCH
LIKE WAR IN THE EAST.
Rabbi Simon Sees Jehovah's Instru
ment of Vengeance for Persecu-
ton Of Israelites.

| ton Of Israelites.
Rabbi Simon of Washington Hebrew Con-
gregation declared In recent address to
his people that the Bible foretells positive
ly and explicitly the downfall Of Russia.
This is the Interpretation placed by him
and other Hebrew scholars upon the thir-
ty-eighth and thirty-ninth chapters of the
Book of Ezekiel. and he believes the proph-
ecy may be fulfilled in the war now going
on in the far east.
Son of man. set thy face against God,
| the land of Magog. the chief prince of
Rosh, of Mesheck and Tubal, and prophesy
against him.
This is the introduction to the two chap
ters mentioned, as translated by Rabbi
Simon, which differs somewhat from that
of the English Bible. though it agrees with
the revised version In accordance with
the view that Ezekiel saw in a vision the
doom of the Sclav. Cog is the czar;
"Mesheck," the Musoovite, and Tubaf
the subject tribes about the Caspian Sea
and in Siberia.
Punishment of Cog.
Following out this idea God. through his
prophet, announces that he is against Cog
and his land, and that terrible punishment
shall be visited upon Magog by the Most
High because Of the oppression of Israel.
Rabbi Simon in his address said this pun
ishment was surely in store for Russia as
the result of long persecution of the Jews
and the massacre of innocent people IN
outbreaks of race and religious hatred.
The rabbi admonished his flock that the
end of Israers captivity was approaching,
and that they should look upon the Japa-
nese nation as the possible Instrument of
vengeance in the hand of Jehovah
The Prophet Ezekiel describes in these
two chapters fierce and destructive war.
in which the hosts Of God go out to battle
for the purpose of taking and defending
putting 1t in the mind of the nation OF
Magog> to marshal its armies and seize
upon defenseiess land of ''unwalled vii
lagos" The armies OF Cog overspread
land the people of which ''have gotten
cattle and goods" The robber nation is
depicted with ruthless intent reaching out
to take possession of this rich country and
to appropriate its commerce.
Time of the War.
The prophet says this war will take place
Sin the latter years upon the mountains OF
Israel" The military forces are like
cloud to cover the land. They come.
great company of various races, "out OF
the north parts" In this war Jehovah IS
represented as taking the sword In his own
Cog, first to avenge the wrongs of his
people. and then to sanctify his name
among the nations OF the earth Inc
progress of the war is thus described:
And 1 will plead against him with pesu-
lence and with blood; and will rain upon
him and upon his bands. and upon the
many people with him, an overlooking rain
and great hailstones, and fire and br1m-
stone.
So Results of the Conflict.
Of fnrefO1d in
no less forcible terms. Cog is turned back
with hook in his jaws. and is left but
a sixth part of his dominons. The bow
is smitten out of his left hand and the ar
rows from his right. Defeat follows the
campaign in manner to astonish the
world. the vast military forces Of the ma
ton that thinks itself invincible being
turned to flight and the dead piled in
masses upon the mountains and through
the valleys. The slain became the prey or
beasts and venomous birds.
In the language OF the prophecy, the in
habitants of the country burn the aban-
doned weapons as firewood for seven years.
The stencil from the dead is so great as to
cause passengers" to avoid the locality,
holding their noses. Inhabitants of the
land are engaged in the burial Of the dead.
and men ''of regular employment" are sin
gled out for the task, which lasts seven
months. The long stretch Of burial
trenches Is called the valley of Hamon-
Cog. The rout of the chief prince of Rosh
IS pictured complete. and the most high
gloats in triumph over the enemies Of his
people, who afterward will flourish in the
land brought back from the sword"
The two chapters of Ezekiel in which, 1t
is said, the doom of Russia Is announced.
are an Interpolation. having little or no
connection with the rest Of the prophecy,
which predicts the doom of Tyre, Egypt
and several nations of antiquity, and the
final triumph of Israel
Mystery to Commentators.
These chapters have been a stumbling
block always in the way of the commenta-
tors Nothing like the rout of Cog ever
happened in the history of Israel. Indeed,
not until recent years was the idea adj
vanced that these chapters-possibly the
fragment of a larger book-related to Rus
STA as the oppressor of the Hebrews. But
the Israeltes prosecutions in Russia,
ering long period and eliminating in the
horrible atrocity at Kishenef, have thrown
new light upon the subject, so that many
biblical scholars have come to believe that
the Prince of Rosh and the mysterious
land of MagOg may mean Russia.
Whether the destruction of the hosts of
Magog actually to take place, as de-
scribed, ''in the mountains of Israer'-that
is, In the holy land-may be doubted. There
are no inhabitants in that country now no
industries or commerce to excite the Gu
pidfty of Russia or to meet the dimensions
of the spoil" which Jehovah put It into the
event shall take place far in the future,
1t will not find it's fulfllment literally In the
mountains of Israel.
Not in Palestine
But the punishment Of Cog even in the
terms Of the prophecy. could be administer
ed elsewhere. Indeed. a close reading of
the two chapters will show that the scene
Of the war is not in Palestine. Some see
almost complete fulfillment of Ezekiers
vision In the war between Russia and
Japan. The prophet declares that after the
evil thought of seeking a spoil has taken
possession Of Cog, he will form the purpose
Of going against peaceful land ito them
that are at rest and have no bars to their
gates"
The Russian invasion of Manchuria, a
neutral state, by advancing it's railroad
with the intention Of seizing the commerce
Of the east by intrigue at Picking satisfies
the prophecy. stealth and crooked diplo-
macy backed by Cossack and infantry,
while making protestations Of peace, are
so many indications of the "evil purpose
Inspired in the mind of the chief prince of
Rosh. In the description Of the succeeding
events Ezekiel. speaking for Jehovah. says:
ar will send a fire on Magog and among