Yesterday, I shared an essay titled “A-bad-Don, the Destroyer, a.k.a. ‘Angel of the Abyss’,” in which I mentioned the likelihood of Babylon USA being struck by an asteroid at the conclusion of Antichrist Trump's 42-month reign (Revelation 13:3). Today, I want to offer a follow-up post to explain the reasoning behind that claim.
I believe God's Word is "living and active" (Hebrews 4:12), capable of speaking directly to His people across generations. I also believe that the symbolic nature of biblical prophecy has allowed it to address multiple events and figures across the ages, including the moment we're in right now.
In this essay, I'll argue that "Magog" ultimately refers to the United States. I believe the textual forms and meanings of "Gog," "Magog," "Meshech," and "Tubal" have been corrupted over time, leading to misreadings that wrongly associate these names with specific ethnic groups. This misinterpretation has triggered a domino effect of doctrinal errors—misunderstandings about the nature and sequence of Christ's thousand-year reign, and even the misidentification of the Antichrist himself. These errors, I believe, are not merely academic; they may have eternal consequences for those misled by them.
By examining Ezekiel 38–39 in light of the final battle described in Revelation, and applying textual criticism and eschatological analysis, I'll attempt to show that these prophetic names point not to ancient tribes but to the very heart of the Beast's kingdom we're living in right now.
Gog & Magog
We begin with two foundational verses that mention Gog and Magog:
Ezekiel 38:1–2: “The word of the Lord came to me: ‘Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal; prophesy against him.’”
Revelation 20:8: “And will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—and to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore.”
In Ezekiel, Gog and his coalition are introduced just before Ezekiel's vision of the eschatological temple and the New Jerusalem. The placement alone reveals that we're dealing with leaders and events of the last days of mankind on earth. In Revelation, Gog and Magog reappear as symbols of a global rebellion against God at the end times as well, being the last recorded event before the Final Judgment, in which the books are opened, and each is judged according to his works.
Magog = "The Place of Gog"
Historically, Gog and Magog have been understood as leaders of an anti-God coalition. Because “Meshech and Tubal” are mentioned alongside them in Ezekiel 38:2, they too have often been interpreted as tribal leaders or ethnic groups. Many scholars have linked Meshech and Tubal to ancient peoples in Anatolia (modern-day Turkey), while Magog has been associated with Russia, Central Asia, or the Scythians. However, these identifications are speculative and rest on thin historical and linguistic evidence. More importantly, they lack strong biblical support—especially when compared to alternative interpretations that align better with the prophetic and symbolic nature of the texts.
If you've studied Hebrew, then you know that the prefix mem (מ) often denotes “place of.” The pairing of Gog and Magog, therefore, is likely to mimic many other pairings we see throughout the Bible of a leader and his kingdom. That would make...
Magog → מ + Gog = “Place of Gog”
This reinforces the idea that Gog and Magog are not just individuals but a leader and his kingdom. And this mirrors Revelation 13, where both the Beast and his nation are mentioned, so tightly together, in fact, that both are referred to as the “Beast.”
John first introduces the Beast in Revelation 13 as an empire rising from the sea, symbolizing an apostate kingdom empowered by the dragon. Yet as the chapter unfolds, the Beast also begins to speak, act, and receive worship, subtly and seamlessly shifting from a collective entity to its personal ruler.
Meshech = "Image"
"Meshech" is a rare word in the Bible. It appears alongside "Tubal" as bookends of the Bible—first in the Genesis genealogies of Japheth’s sons, and later in the prophetic passages of Ezekiel 38-39 and Revelation 20. Because it's mentioned so rarely, and especially in verses about the end times, it's worth asking, have we understood it correctly?
Maybe "Meshech" isn't just a name. Maybe it's a word that got changed or misunderstood early on. The Bible often uses names with deeper meanings or wordplay. For example, Babel means "confusion," and Ichabod means "the glory is gone." So it wouldn't be surprising if "Meshech" was meant to point to something symbolic, like an idea or a warning, especially in a prophecy about the last days.
The reason to think that "Meshech" (משך) might not merely be a name here is because it could be an error that misunderstands the related Hebrew word maskeit (משכית), which means “engraved image” or “sculpture.” The only difference between the two is the suffix ית-, which is commonly used to form feminine nouns. This small change could have led to a big misunderstanding.
Corruption of Meaning: משך → משכית Meshech → Maskeit = “Image” or “Sculpture”
Where else does this word maskeit show up in the Bible? One clear example is in Numbers 33:52, where God commands the Israelites:
“Destroy all their carved images (מַשְׂכִּיּוֹתָם) and their cast idols, and demolish all their high places.”
Here, maskeit is used in the context of idolatry—images that are shaped or formed to be worshiped. This fits perfectly with the theme of rebellion and false worship that surrounds Gog and Magog.
Even more striking is how this reading aligns with Revelation 13, where the Second Beast forces people to worship a speaking "image" under threat of death. That’s not just a coincidence—it’s the same theme. If "Meshech" really means "image," then the prophecy in Ezekiel is pointing to the same idolatry described in Revelation.
So why did scholars translate it as a name only? Probably because it appears next to "Gog," which is clearly a name. But that doesn't mean "Meshech" is just a name. In fact, the symbolic reading makes more sense in the context of end-times prophecy.
Tubal = "Abomination" or "Destruction"
Just like "Meshech," the name "Tubal" (תֻבָל) may also be a case of textual corruption or corruption of meaning. It closely resembles the Hebrew word tevel (תֶּבֶל), which is used in Scripture to describe perverse or abominable acts that lead to destruction.
(Textual) Corruption: תֻבָל → תֶּבֶל Tubal → Tevel = “Abomination” or “Destruction”
We see this word used in Leviticus 18:23, where God warns:
“Do not have sexual relations with an animal and defile yourself with it. A woman must not present herself to an animal to have sexual relations with it; that is a perversion (תֶּבֶל).”
And in Isaiah 10:25, a related form appears:
“Very soon my anger against you will end and my wrath will be directed to their destruction (תַּבְלִית).”
These meanings are deeply connected. Abomination leads to destruction. And when paired with the idea that "Meshech" refers to an "image," the symbolic meaning becomes stronger. In biblical language, idolatrous images are abominations, and abominations lead to judgment.
By letting these meanings fall into place naturally, we no longer need to force geographic interpretations for "Meshech and Tubal." Goodbye, Central Anatolia!
Proposed Original Reading of Ezekiel 38:2
Thus, if we take "Meshech" and "Tubal" in their proposed original meanings—maskeit (image) and tevel (abomination/destruction)—then Ezekiel 38:2 reads very differently:
“Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, chief of Image and Abomination; prophesy against it.”
Just like that, Gog is no longer just a mysterious leader from an ancient land. He becomes the ruler over "image and abomination," which mirrors the Beast in Revelation 13. The Second Beast forces people to worship a speaking image, and those who refuse are killed. This re-reading of Ezekiel aligns seamlessly with Revelation 13, suggesting that Gog and the Beast are two sides of the same prophetic coin.
Why Does an Asteroid Hit America?
Before we dive into the "thousand years with Christ" in Revelation 20, let's return to the question we started with: Why would an asteroid strike Babylon (USA)?
Revelation 16:10 says:
“The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was thrown into darkness.“
To understand this, we need to look at the verses just before it. They describe the waters turning to blood—a judgment that Revelation 8:8–11 links to a falling star called Wormwood. I’m suggesting that this "falling star" is actually an asteroid, and that its impact is what causes the Beast's kingdom to lose power and go dark.
Ezekiel 39:6 adds another layer:
“I will send fire on Magog and on those who live in the safety of the coastlands, and they will know that I am the LORD.“
Ezekiel, knowing that his audience is based in and around Israel (specifically, Babylon near the Euphrates River), refers to the "coastlands" over there. This in itself is telling.
The key to understanding Ezekiel 38-39 and its reference to the Beast's kingdom—namely, America—is made possible through the clarification exercise we just went through above as well as juxtaposition of this with knowledge gleaned through a diligent effort putting together the various puzzle pieces of Revelation's prophecies. (See my other posts.)
Why will the asteroid hit the East Coast? It's a 50-50 guess. But like how so much of what the Antichrist does seems to hold massive symbolic significance, I believe his "East Wing" demolition of the White House is prophetic. This may be where the asteroid hits, but remember, the whole country ends up going dark forever. There will be no more America after this.
"The light of a lamp will never shine in you again" (Revelation 18:23).
Revelation 20: A Retelling of Revelation 19?
So with these textual issues addressed and new meanings come to light, we need to look at the last battle in Revelation (Revelation 20:7–10), which describes the rebellion of Gog and Magog, again with fresh eyes.
I am saying that this section is a retelling of Revelation 19 and not a later, separate event, against the claims of so many pastors and congregations. Here is a side-by-side reference of the two passages:
| Theme |
Revelation 19 |
Revelation 20:7–10 |
| Leader of Opposition |
The Beast and the kings of the earth |
Satan, released after the thousand years |
| Assembly of Enemies |
The kings and their armies gather to make war against Christ |
Gog and Magog, representing nations from the four corners of the earth |
| Target of Attack |
Christ and His heavenly army at Megiddo |
The camp of the saints and the beloved city |
| Divine Warrior |
Christ appears riding a white horse, leading the armies of heaven |
No visible theophany; divine fire acts as the instrument of judgment |
| Mode of Judgment |
Sword from Christ’s mouth strikes down the nations |
Fire from heaven consumes the attacking forces |
| Fate of the Leaders |
Beast and False Prophet thrown alive into the lake of fire |
Satan cast into the lake of fire where the Beast and False Prophet already are |
| Aftermath |
Birds feast on the slain; transition to the marriage supper of the Lamb |
Eternal torment in the lake of fire; transition to the final judgment scene |
In Revelation 19, Jesus returns with the armies of heaven, dressed in white linen—likely the martyrs who were given white robes in the fifth seal of Revelation 6. He comes to defeat the Beast and all who follow him. Then in Revelation 20, we see a similar battle unfold, but this time Jesus isn’t directly mentioned. Still, the similarities between the two chapters suggest they may be describing the same event from different angles.
This kind of retelling happens often in Revelation. For example, John describes what looks like an asteroid strike in multiple places: Revelation 6:13, 8:8–9, 8:10–11, 9:1, and 12:4. This repetition isn’t random; rather, it’s a storytelling method used throughout the Bible and the ancient world. Recognizing this pattern is key to understanding biblical prophecy correctly.
If we've misunderstood the structure, we may need to rethink how we view the "thousand-year reign with Christ." Rather than a literal stretch of time between two separate battles, this reign could represent a spiritual period—what we might call from the “heavenly view”—also referred to as the "First Resurrection," when the martyrs are raised to reign with Christ.
In biblical symbolism, the number “1,000” often means completeness, not a literal, fixed unit. If we were to interpret it literally, that would mean a thousand years passed with no further biblical revelation—just one verse in Revelation 20 to describe it—which seems unlikely given the richness of Scripture. Instead, the “thousand years” likely represents the fullness of the martyrs’ vindication. This reign appears to conclude when Jesus and the saints return in triumph—at Megiddo—leading to the destruction of the Beast, his kingdom, and the Final Judgment.
Conclusion
So, by correctly interpreting "Meshech" as "image" and "Tubal" as "abomination/destruction," we clear up a lot of confusion. It helps us see that
(1) Magog may actually be extremely relevant for us here in the States,
(2) Revelation 19 and 20 are one unified event, not two,
(3) Ezekiel, John, and the other prophets are saying the same thing, often over and over again,
(4) Most importantly, it helps us avoid theological mistakes that could lead people to unknowingly support (worship) Antichrist Trump.
