Ezekiel Chapter 38- Vs. 4

Ezekiel 38:4 "And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts [of armour, even] a great company [with] bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords:"

Two invasions of Israel by Gog:

1. The first will be in the middle of the tribulation of Daniel's 70^th week, and only 10 kingdoms of the Revised Roman Empire will be with him (Dan. 11:35-45; Rev. 11:1-2). Between this war and the fulfillment of Ez. 38-39 the combined nations of the north and east of the 10 kingdoms will make war on Gog and these kingdoms. He will leave Israel and his capital (Jerusalem at this time), to go forth against these new enemies until they are defeated in the last 3 ½ years of Daniel's 70^th week (Dan. 11:44).
2. The second invasion of Israel by Gog will be at the end of the last 3 ½ years of Daniel's 70^th week, after he has conquered the countries north and east of his 10 kingdoms inside the old Roman Empire boundary lines. By then he will have conquered Russia, and the many countries with her, becoming their ruler as well as being the ruler of the 10 kingdoms and the countries of the north and east. Gog will then lead all these to battle, and many other nations whom he has not yet conquered, but who will cooperate with him through the ministry of the 3 unclean spirits of Rev. 16:13-16. These vast armies being mobilized will converge on Israel in an effort to destroy Israel completely (Zech. 14:1-15) and stop Christ from setting up His kingdom on earth (Rev. 19:11-21). At this time all of Ez. 38-39 will be fulfilled. Then after this battle of Armageddon Christ will set up His kingdom on earth as predicted.

The only time Russia will invade Israel in fulfillment of Scripture will be as one of many conquered nations under Gog or Antichrist, when he and his armies will fight against Israel and Christ at Armageddon—at the time of the second coming. Russia will not be under Antichrist at the time of his first invasion of Israel when he takes over Jerusalem and the Jewish temple as his capital; but she will be with him in the second conquest. The second will be necessary because of the Jews gaining control of Jerusalem again while Antichrist is away fighting against Russia and her allies in the north and east of the 10 kingdoms. Thus, after conquering these nations Gog will come back down into Israel, surround the city, take half of it, and then be suddenly defeated in one day’s battle (Armageddon) by Christ and the heavenly armies (Zec. 14:1-15).

turn thee back,... This very first statement of God dealing with Gog proves that when these chapters (Ezekiel 38-39) are fulfilled he will be turned back from taking Jerusalem and be destroyed. In this first invasion of Israel some three and a half years before this he will take the whole city of Jerusalem and make it his capital city and the temple his capital building, placing the abomination of desolation in the temple to remain for about three and a half years (Dan. 9:27; 11:40-45; 2Th. 2:3-4; Rev. 11:1-2). At the second and last invasion of Israel, after he has conquered Russia and her allies north and east of his ten kingdoms, he will surround Jerusalem to take it again but will not succeed; he will be turned back, being able to take only half of the city before Christ suddenly comes with the armies of heaven to stop him from taking the rest of it (Zec. 14:1-15; Rev. 19:11-21).

thine army, horses... Here the army of Gog or Antichrist is predicted as consisting of a great company of horses and horsemen with all sorts of weapons and armor. Ancient weapons are mentioned as they were the only kind known and understood at that time. It is to be expected that the future Antichrist will equip his men with all kinds of modern weapons—all sorts as stated here.

great company with... Sixteen statements—Gog’s army:

1. Rosh (Septuagint in Eze. 38:2; 39:1)

2. Meshech (Sons of Japheth.)

3. Tubal (Sons of Japheth.)

4. Persia (Eze. 38:5; 27:10; 2Ch. 36:20-23; Ezr. 1:1-8; Est. 1:3, 1:14, 1:18; 10:2; Dan. 11:43)

5. Ethiopia (Eze. 38:5; 29:10; 30:4-5)

6. Libya (Eze. 38:5; 30:5; Dan. 11:43)

7. Gomer (Sons of Japheth.)

8. Togarmah (Sons of Japheth.)

9. Many people (Eze. 38:6, 38:9)

10. Ten kingdoms of the Revised Roman Empire (Dan. 7:23-24; Rev. 17:12-17)

11. Many countries (Dan. 11:41)

12. Countries east and north of the 10 kingdoms (Dan. 11:44)

13. All the heathen ... Multitudes, multitudes (Joel 3:11-14)

14. All nations (Zec. 14:1-5)

15. The kings of the earth and their armies (Rev. 16:13-16; 19:19-21)

16. The whole world (Rev. 16:13-16)

Just as God used Assyria and Babylon as human invaders for His 

judgments, He aims to use this army. In this case, 

He brings the invader to Israel so that He may visit judgment on 

the invader itself. He thus uses the language of hooks in the jaws, 

as in judging Egypt. From the aggressor’s perspective, they think 

that it is their plan only to seize the spoil which draws them to 

Israel.

The invasion by Gog (Eze. 38:1-16)

On the identification of the proper names in these verses see the preceding paragraphs under “6. The Attack by Gog Repulsed (chaps. 38-39).” Gog’s attack on Israel will actually be orchestrated by God. The Lord said, I will turn you around, put hooks in your jaws, and bring you out with your whole army — your horses… horsemen… a great horde with… shields and swords.