David Jeremiah’s Erroneous Eschatology: Why Gog is not Russia

Dispensational eschatology is the prevailing end times view in the United States. But it is more novel theology in Christian history. What many people may not realize is that their eschatology has more underlying impact in how people view missions and public theology (politics). When writing the reader requested verdict on David Jeremiah, his errant teachings on the end times stuck out to me the most. It’s worth noting that not all dispensationalist believe that Gog is Russia. Many believe that it is Turkey. However, the reading of current events into Scripture to interpret prophesy is a horrendous hermeneutic.

1 And the word of the Lord came to me saying, 2 “Son of man, set your face toward Gog of the land of Magog, the [a]prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him 3 and say, ‘Thus says the Lord [b]God, “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, [c]prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal. 4 I will turn you about and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them splendidly attired, a great company with buckler and shield, all of them wielding swords; 5 Persia, [e]Ethiopia and Put with them, all of them with shield and helmet; 6 Gomer with all its troops; Beth-togarmah from the remote parts of the north with all its troops—many peoples with you.

Ezekiel 38:1-6 NASB1995

David Jeremiah uses a phonetic similarity argument to assert that the “prince of Rosh” refers to Russia, ignoring the fact that Gog is the ruler over Rosh, Meshech and Tubal. Additionally, David Jeremiah interprets Magog as the allies of Russia, the “stan” nations.

Moreover, the interpretation that Ezekiel 38 refers to the end times is errant. Regardless of how many inconsistent methods David Jeremiah and others like him use to interpret this passage, they are reading end times prophesy where it does not exist. Consider Revelation 20, where Gog and Magog are mentioned again.

7 When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison, 8 and will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war; the number of them is like the sand of the [c]seashore. 9 And they came up on the [d]broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the [e]saints and the beloved city, and fire came down from heaven and devoured them. 10 And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and [f]brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Revelation 20:7-10 NASB1995

Gog and Magog are from the four corners of the earth. But ultimately, here in Revelation, Gog and Magog is Old Testament imagery being used to depict Satan and his followers. John consistently uses Old Testament imagery in Revelation to depict what he is seeing to an audience that would understand. But what’s clear is that Ezekiel 38 depicts an earthly kingdom and Revelation is speaking far more spiritually.

Gog in Ezekiel 38 is likely already fulfilled prophesy concerning the history of the Jews. David Jeremiah says that the Jews must return to their homeland in order to set of the end times timeline, meaning the creation of Israel in 1947 was a critical eschatological event. However, in the Maccabee Revolt, the Jews successfully established a kingdom after the return from the exile. I would posit that the events depicted in Ezekiel 38 were fulfilled sometime at or around 164-160 BC.

This would place the Seleucid Empire as the kingdom of the north which ruled over a significant portion of the Anatolian peninsula and could have auxiliary forces from Persia, Ethiopia, Put, Gomer, and Beth-togarmah. Additionally, the Seleucid Empire was notoriously hostile towards Jews which would instigate the Maccabee Revolt.

This makes a lot more sense than a coalition spanning from eastern Germany to countries on China’s western border attacking Israel. It also makes the Bible more reliable.