There’s no doubt that many prophetic things are happening in the Middle East right now but is it biblically accurate to suggest Ezekiel 38-39 is a pre-Armageddon invasion of Israel?
Let’s take a quick look by examining three verses in these two chapters:
and you (Gog) will say, ‘I will go up against the land of unwalled villages. I will go against those who are at rest, that live securely, all of them living without walls and having no bars or gates, [Ezekiel 38:11 NASB] (parentheses added by me)
This verse says Gog will go up against Israel which is described as a “land of unwalled villages” and a people who “live securely”. This can hardly be said of Israel today. This takes place during the “peace” of the 7-year tribulation [Daniel 9:27].
Even moreso, consider what verse 17 says about Gog:
‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Are you (Gog) the one of whom I spoke in former days through My servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in those days for many years that I would bring you against them? [Ezekiel 38:17 NASB] (parentheses added by me)
You’d be hard-pressed to find this “other” individual in the pages of the prophetic books.
Furthermore, if Ezekiel 38-39 is a pre-Armageddon invasion of Israel led by Russia, how can Israel, afterward, “live securely on their own land with no one to make them afraid.” Is there no Battle of Armageddon coming? Is there no Antichrist coming? Do you see the disconnect?
Ezekiel 39:25-29 NASB Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, “Now I will restore the fortunes of Jacob and have mercy on the whole house of Israel; and I will be jealous for My holy name. [26] “They will forget their disgrace and all their treachery which they perpetrated against Me, when they live securely on their own land with no one to make them afraid. [27] “When I bring them back from the peoples and gather them from the lands of their enemies, then I shall be sanctified through them in the sight of the many nations. [28] “Then they will know that I am the LORD their God because I made them go into exile among the nations, and then gathered them again to their own land; and I will leave none of them there any longer. [29] “I will not hide My face from them any longer, for I will have poured out My Spirit on the house of Israel,” declares the Lord GOD.
Ezekiel 38-39 is just another retelling of Armageddon from Ezekiel’s perspective and Gog is none other than the Antichrist of whom the prophets spoke. So, the answer is, no, we are not facing an Ezekiel 38-39 scenario in Syria.
What this does not mean is that Russia won’t be involved in a war in the Middle East. What this does mean is that Ezekiel 38-39/the Bible does not prophesy it will.
…
Visit the following links and be informed. They include 6 minute video teachings plus several well-respected Bible maps which place Magog in Turkey as well as a list of the nations Christ does battle with upon His return from Scripture, which is curiously devoid of any nation outside of the Middle East.
P2ALM 
2 responses to “Does Ezekiel 38-39 teach a pre-Armageddon invasion of Israel?”
I think Gog may be Satan, or at least the Antichrist possessed by Satan. He is called the chief PRINCE. “Prince” in Daniel refers to angels, Michael, prince of Greece, prince of Persia. Satan is the prince of the power of the air. He also appears again at the end of the Millennium when he is set free for a time. The Antichrist is still in the Lake of Fire at this time. Also, Satan has his throne in Pergamum, which is in Turkey. There is really no one else that God spoke of through his prophets except Satan and Antichrist. It can’t be a separate battle from Armageddon.
here’s one of the things i’ve been trying to grasp about the Antichrist. as you said, he’s currently in the Abyss and he won’t be released until the 5th trumpet [Revelation 9:1-12]. so, it’s another being who is now in the Abyss, which Job tells us is under the sea, by the way [Job 26:5-6] (this also has to do with ancient cosmological ideas which show up in prophecy as well).
this other being is not Satan, so i’m not sure it can be said that Satan will possess the Antichrist which begs the question, how would Satan suffer another being beside himself to be worshiped when that’s what he so desires?
Also, i’m thinking that if the Antichrist won’t be released upon the earth until the 5th trumpet, this has to be midpoint of the tribulation since it is generally agreed that the rider from the 1st seal is the Antichrist making the 1st seal the beginning of the seven year tribulation. if this is correct, it would suggest it’s actually this being who comes up out of the pit who possesses the man known as the Antichrist. just my thoughts.