CONTINUED FROM PART I and PART II
Where is this land of Magog that Gog comes from? There are a number of opinions as to the true whereabouts of Magog, and many of these potential locations are not found in Iran. It is possible that once Iran has established its caliphate, there will be a leader amongst its allies who will rise to prominence within the newly established Iranian controlled Middle East.
Rashi comments that this Persian led army will be so large, it will fill the entire country of Babylonia. Its interesting to note that in an interview on Saudi Arabian television, someone once commented that if a willing Muslim leader were to put together an army of tens of millions of people, they could easily just march into Israel and overwhelm it.
Gog, it seems, will very likely decide to use a similar plan. It is also telling how the bible lists the nations who will send soldiers to join this massive army,
“Persia, Cush, and Put are with them; all of them with buckler and helmet. Gomer and all its wings, the house of Togarmah, the utmost parts of the north and all its wings, many peoples with you.” (Ezekiel 38:5-6)
Notice that Persia is mentioned by name and is the very first nation listed joining in Gog’s army.
Having conquered most, if not all of the globe, and with an enormous army composed of people from around the world, Gog’s forces then march on Israel,
“So said the Lord God: It will come to pass on that day that words will enter your heart and you will think a thought of evil.
And you will say, “I shall ascend upon a land of open cities [Israel]; I shall come upon the tranquil, who dwell securely; all of them living without a wall, and they have no bars or doors.
To take spoil and to plunder loot, to return your hand upon the resettled ruins and to a people gathered from nations, acquiring livestock and possessions, dwelling on the navel of the earth.
Sheba and Dedan and merchants of Tarshish and all its magnates will say to you, “Are you coming to take spoil? Have you assembled your assembly to plunder loot, to carry off silver and gold, to take livestock and possessions, to take much spoil?”
Therefore, prophesy, O son of man, and say to Gog, So said the Lord God: Surely on that day, when My people dwells securely, you will know.
And you will come from your place, from the utmost north, you and many peoples with you, all of them riding horses; a great assembly and a mighty army.
And you will ascend upon My people Israel like a cloud to cover the earth; at the end of days it will be, and I shall bring you upon My land in order that the nations recognize Me when I am sanctified through you before their eyes, O Gog.
So said the Lord God: Are you he about whom I spoke in ancient days through My servants, the prophets of Israel who prophesied in those days many years ago, to bring you upon them.” (Ezekiel 38:10-17)
Gog will attack Israel and eventually break through Israel’s defenses and invade the country, destroying city by city. The Talmud discusses this invasion:
“When he (Rabbi Jose son of Kisma) lay dying he said to his disciples, ‘place my coffin deep [in the earth], for there is not one palm-tree in Babylon to which a Persian horse will not be tethered, nor one coffin in Israel out of which a Median horse will not eat straw.” (Sanhedrin 98a)
Rabbi Jose son of Kisma is describing the total destruction of the cities of Israel, to the point that even cemeteries will be dug up and used for the needs of Gog’s army.
After having conquered much if not all of Israel, this army will turn its attention to Jerusalem. The bible explains:
“Yea, even Judah will fight against Jerusalem! And the wealth of all the nations round about-gold and silver and apparel-will be gathered in very great abundance.” (Zechariah 14:14)
By saying that “Judah will fight against Jerusalem” the implication could be that even some Jews will be fighting against the city of Jerusalem. It is not clear at what point these Jews would be inducted to Gog’s army. Perhaps they are Jews who never knew they were Jewish, or perhaps they will be forced to fight after being captured.
The bible reveals the horrors that unfold,
“And I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem to wage war; and the city shall be captured, and the houses shall be plundered, and the women shall be ravished, and half the city shall go forth into exile-and the rest of the people shall not be cut off from the city.” (Zechariah 14:2)
Somehow during the fighting, half the city of Jerusalem will be able to hold out, at least for a certain amount of time.
Jewish Prophecies 