Gog and Magog: The Two Wars of Ezekiel 38 and Revelation 20, and Why Iran Matters
The short answer: The Bible describes two wars of Gog and Magog. The first, in Ezekiel 38–39, is an invasion of a regathered Israel by a coalition from the north that includes Persia, modern Iran, and God Himself defeats it. The second, in Revelation 20:7–9, comes after the thousand-year reign, when Satan is released and fire falls from heaven. Pastor Chris teaches that the first war comes before the great tribulation, and that today's alignment of nations against Israel shows the stage being set.
Headlines and an ancient prophecy
Pastor Chris and Josh recorded this episode in June 2025, while Israel and Iran were exchanging direct strikes and the United States was weighing its response. For years, students of Scripture have read Ezekiel 38. Now, they say, the headlines are beginning to match the text.
"Son of man, set your face toward Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal... Persia, Cush, and Put with them... Gomer, and all his hordes; the house of Togarmah in the uttermost parts of the north" (Ezekiel 38:2–6).
Who the nations are today
Gog is a person, a ruler. Magog is his land. Here is how these names are commonly identified:
Magog: the first-century historian Josephus identifies Magog's descendants with the Scythians (Antiquities 1.6.1), who lived north of the Black and Caspian Seas, in lands that are today southern Russia and Central Asia.
Rosh: some read it as a place name and connect it to Russia; others translate it "chief prince." Scholars are divided.
Meshech and Tubal: peoples of ancient Asia Minor, in modern Turkey.
Persia: Iran. The country was officially called Persia until 1935.
Cush: the upper Nile region, modern Sudan and parts of Ethiopia.
Put: west of Egypt, modern Libya.
Gomer and Beth Togarmah: Gomer is usually linked to the Cimmerians, who moved through Anatolia and into Europe; Togarmah to the region of eastern Turkey and Armenia.
Pastor Chris points out that many of these nations are already moving in this direction: Russia's military ties with Iran, Iran's network of proxies around Israel, Turkey's shifting alliances, and instability in Libya and Sudan. He also expects other powers to join the coalition. The Bible is not being stretched to fit the news. The nations named are real places with modern heirs.
A war God Himself fights
Ezekiel describes the target as "a people who are gathered out of the nations" living in "the land that is brought back from the sword" (38:8, 12). That fits modern Israel, reborn in 1948 after nearly two thousand years of exile, with Hebrew revived as a spoken language. The invasion comes "from the uttermost parts of the north" (38:15) against a land of "unwalled villages" whose people "dwell securely" (38:11).
No army saves Israel. God sends a great earthquake, "great hailstones, fire, and sulfur" (38:19–22), and the house of Israel spends seven months burying the dead (39:12). The purpose is clear: "I will make My holy name known among My people Israel... and the nations will know that I am Adonai" (39:7).
This isn't just a war of rockets. It's a war of altars.
Two wars, not one
Many readers merge Ezekiel 38 and Revelation 20 because both use the names Gog and Magog. Pastor Chris separates them:
The first war (Ezekiel 38–39): a northern coalition invades Israel before Messiah's return. Pastor Chris believes it opens the way for the antichrist to rise and precedes the great tribulation.
The second war (Revelation 20:7–9): after the thousand years, Satan is released to deceive "the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog." They surround "the beloved city," and "fire came down out of heaven from God and devoured them."
Two wars, two divine interventions, and one lesson: man cannot rule himself, whether before Messiah comes or after He has reigned. Revelation borrows Ezekiel's names to show that the final rebellion follows the same pattern.
How to respond
This is a watchman's warning, not a reason for panic. "When these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is near" (Luke 21:28). Don't wait for a war to wake you up. Repent, stay close to the Lord, and gather with other believers. "If you confess with your mouth that Yeshua is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved" (Romans 10:9). The God who defends Israel in Ezekiel is the God who raised Yeshua from the dead, and He will finish what He started.
For more on the Middle East in prophecy, see our teaching on Isaac and Ishmael and the conflict between Abraham's sons.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Gog in Ezekiel 38?
A ruler, the leader of the coalition, from the land of Magog in the far north.
Is Iran in Bible prophecy?
Yes. Persia, the name Iran officially used until 1935, is listed in Ezekiel 38:5 as part of the coalition against Israel.
Is the war of Gog and Magog the same as Armageddon?
Pastor Chris teaches it is not. Ezekiel's war comes earlier, and Revelation 20 describes a separate Gog and Magog rebellion after the thousand years.
How does the war end?
God intervenes with earthquake, hail, fire and sulfur, and Israel spends seven months burying the dead (Ezekiel 38:19–22; 39:12).
Take the next step
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