Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Ezekiel 38

Eze 38:2 Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him,

Gog [See also Eze 38:3, 14, 16, 18.]

That the primary reference is to the northern (European) powers, headed up by Russia, all agree. The whole passage should be read in connection with Zec 12:1-4; 14:1-9; Mat 24:14-30; Rev 14:14-20; 19:17-21. "Gog" is the prince, "Magog," his land. The reference to Meshech and Tubal (Moscow and Tobolsk) is a clear mark of identification. Russia and the northern powers have been the latest persecutors of dispersed Israel, and it is congruous both with divine justice and with the covenants (e.g. Scofield Genesis 15:18, note; Deuteronomy 30:3, note) that destruction should fall at the climax of the last mad attempt to exterminate the remnant of Israel in Jerusalem. The whole prophecy belongs to the yet future "day of Jehovah" (Isa 2:10-22; Rev 19:11-21), and to the battle of Armageddon (Rev 16:14; Scofield Revelation 19:19, note), but includes also the final revolt of the nations at the close of the kingdom-age (Rev 20:7-9).

Eze 38:16 And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes.

heathen

i.e. nations.

Eze 38:19 For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel;

there shall be a great shaking

Hag 2:6, 7; Rev 16:18.

Eze 38:20 So that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground.

the mountains shall be thrown down

Jer 4:24; Nah 1:5, 6.

Eze 38:21 And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord GOD: every man's sword shall be against his brother.

I will call for a sword

Armageddon (battle of). Eze 38:1-23; and Eze 39:1-16; Joe 2:1-11. (Rev 16:14; 19:21.)

every man's sword shall be against his brother

Jdg 7:22; 1Sa 14:20.

Eze 38:23 Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD.

I will be known in the eyes of many nations

Eze 38:16; Eze 37:28; 39:7; Psa 9:16.