Bible Study Guide (Ezekiel 38:1-9)
Today, the world stands suspended between Ezekiel 37 and the ultimate fulfillment of the Ezekiel 38 war, a prophetic moment that marks the transition from Israel’s restoration to the rise of the final end-time conflict. The signs are everywhere—Ezekiel war alliance is forming exactly as Scripture foretold, nations aligning in ways that perfectly mirror the coalition predicted in the Ezekiel 38 passage.
This ezekiel 38 war is not the same event as the battle of Armageddon. These are distinct prophetic markers—one opening the seven-year Tribulation, the other closing it with the triumphant return of Jesus Christ. Scholars debate whether the ezekiel war begins just before the Tribulation or just after it starts, but Scripture is clear: the ezekiel 38 war will ignite a chain of global conflicts lasting seven years, culminating in Armageddon itself.
Jesus spoke of this escalating chaos when He warned that the final generation would see “wars and rumors of wars.” He said:
“Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.” (Matthew 24:4–6)
The fiery red horse of Revelation symbolizes this same era:
“Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make people kill each other.” (Revelation 6:4)
When the restraining influence of the Holy Spirit is removed at the Rapture, peace will vanish and many human hearts will turn to evil. War will fill the vacuum—from family conflicts to global battles. And at the center of the storm stands the prophetic confrontation known as the ezekiel 38 war, a conflict the Lord Himself will orchestrate to demonstrate His power.
Gog and the Northern Alliance: First Movements Toward the Ezekiel 38 War (Ezekiel 38:1-3)
(Verses 1-3) Now that God has restored Israel just as He promised, the ezekiel 38 war prophecy narrows its focus to a specific leader—Gog, the ruler of a northern confederation. God commands Ezekiel:
“Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him, and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal.’” (Ezekiel 38:2–3)
Gog is not a nation but a person—the future leader of Russia. Ancient historians Josephus, Pliny, and Herodotus identify Magog with the Scythian peoples north of the Black and Caspian Seas—today, the territory of Russia. Meshech aligns with modern Moscow, and Tubal with Tobolsk, the Siberian oil capital. In other words, this passage in Ezekiel 38 gives us the ancient names of what we now clearly recognize as Russia.
Hooks in the Jaw: God Turns the Leader of the North (Ezekiel 38:4)
(Verse 4) God continues:
“I will turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and lead you out, with all your army, horses, and horsemen…” (Ezekiel 38:4)
This is one of the most striking details when the ezekiel war explained becomes clear: Gog may not initially plan to attack Israel. His intentions may appear peaceful, even cooperative. But God Himself will turn him toward Israel. This shift of direction—triggered by the “hooks” placed in his jaws—marks the beginning of the ezekiel 38 war.
The Rising Coalition: Nations Joining Russia in the Ezekiel War (Ezekiel 38:5-6)
(Verses 5-6) The prophecy expands:
“Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya are with them… Gomer and all its troops; the house of Togarmah from the far north… many people are with you.” (Ezekiel 38:5–6)
Here Scripture lays out the full coalition of the ezekiel 38 war:
- Persia — modern Iran
- Cush — Ethiopia and parts of northern Sudan (based on ancient maps)
- Put — modern Libya
- Gomer — Eastern Europe, especially regions around Germany and Poland
- Togarmah — the territory of modern Turkey
In 2025, Russia announced a formal partnership treaty with Iran. Turkey, Iran, and Russia have already held strategic meetings. Russia is expanding its influence in Libya with a suspected naval base. In other words, the exact ezekiel war alliance Ezekiel described 2,600 years ago is forming today before our eyes.
We are that generation that Jesus said would see the events of the last days.
This is a central reason the ezekiel 38 war is rapidly becoming a dominant topic among prophecy scholars—and why understanding the ezekiel war explained is essential for believers today.
A Leader Called to Battle: God Commands Gog (Ezekiel 38:7)
(Verse 7) God speaks again directly to Gog:
“Get ready; be prepared, you and all the hordes gathered about you, and take command of them.”
(Ezekiel 38:7)
It’s clear the Russian leader will take command of this coalition.
God Himself will call this coalition into motion. The ezekiel 38 war is not triggered by economics, oil, politics, or territorial conflict—though those may appear on the surface. The true source is God’s prophetic purpose.
Israel Living in Safety: The Calm Before the Ezekiel 38 War (Ezekiel 38:8)
(Verse 8) Ezekiel continues:
“After many days you will be called to arms. In future years you will invade a land that has recovered from war… They had been brought out from the nations, and now all of them live in safety.” (Ezekiel 38:8)
Two recent realities explain this temporary calm:
- The Abraham Accords, forming peaceful relations between Israel and several Arab nations.
- Israel’s defeat of Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, and the Houthis, creating the most secure regional environment in Israel’s modern history.
This temporary and fragile calm sets the perfect stage for the ezekiel 38 war, fulfilling the prophetic conditions necessary for the invasion.
A Storm on the Land: What the Invasion Looks Like (Ezekiel 38:9)
(Verse 9) God ends this section with a vivid warning:
“You will advance against my people Israel like a cloud that covers the land.”
(Ezekiel 38:9)
The coming attack will be a massive ground invasion—“like a storm”—rather than an airstrike-first strategy common in modern warfare. After witnessing the devastating success Hamas achieved through land invasion on October 7, 2023, Russia and its allies may view a ground assault as their best strategy for overwhelming Israel.
And this—this coordinated, multinational ground assault—will ignite the ezekiel 38 war, fulfilling one of the most dramatic prophecies in all of Scripture.
What does God reveal about this Ezekiel 38 war in the next verses? Is it possible it reveals the future condition of the United States and how it’ll react to this invasion?
Closing Reflection
Friends, as we stand on the edge of fulfilled prophecy (Ezekiel 37), the unfolding of the Ezekiel 38 war feels no longer distant or theoretical—it feels imminent. The alliances have formed. The stage is set. The exact nations Ezekiel described 2,600 years ago are now openly cooperating in military, political, and strategic agreements. We are watching the world shift into the precise configuration Scripture said it would before this invasion takes place. And all of it is happening at the same moment we see the global conditions Jesus said would mark the final generation.
What a sobering thought: the Ezekiel 38 invasion is not just another prophetic event—it is one of the major markers God placed on the timeline of the last days, and it is a marker that sits extraordinarily close to the rapture of the church. Whether the ezekiel war erupts just before the Tribulation or just after it begins, we know one thing for certain: the rapture must occur before this world enters that seven-year period. That means we are living on the threshold. The trumpet is nearer than ever. Our departure is not theoretical—it is truly imminent.
This realization should do something deep within us. It should shake us awake, but it should also fill us with hope. Because while the world prepares for war, the believer prepares for home. While nations position themselves for the coming conflict, the church positions itself for the coming Christ. The same God who wrote every detail of the ezekiel war explained is the God who promised: “I will come again and receive you unto Myself” (John 14:3). And the glory of that promise stands untouched by world events.
His Word Is Truth
In all of this, we are reminded of something beautiful—something comforting, stabilizing, and deeply personal: God’s Word is perfect. Flawless. Exact. And as we watch prophecy leap off the pages of Scripture and into the headlines of our day, we are once again confronted with the stunning reality that everything God said would happen is happening. There is no guesswork in the Word of God. No error, exaggeration, or uncertainty. His Word is truth—real truth—unchanging truth. And in a world drowning in deception, distortion, and noise, there is nothing else we need.
When God says a thing, it comes to pass. When He declares the end from the beginning, nothing can alter His plan. The ezekiel 38 war, the rapture, the rise of the Tribulation—all of it is unfolding exactly as He said. And if His prophecies about the nations are perfect, so are His promises to you. You can trust every word. He has never once failed His people, and He will not start now.
So as you consider the nearness of these events, let it not bring fear, but fuel your faith. Let it draw you closer to the One who holds the future in His hands. Let it remind you that your redemption is drawing near. Christ is coming. The signs are shouting. The pages of Scripture are alive. And soon—very soon—we will see with our own eyes the One who wrote the story before the foundation of the world.
Church, lift up your heads.
The King is at the door.
Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus,
In a world rushing toward the fulfillment of Your prophetic Word, we pause in awe of Your sovereignty. Thank You for opening our eyes to the nearness of these events and for reminding us that Your promises are sure, Your timing is perfect, and Your truth never fails.
As the nations align for the Ezekiel invasion and the signs of Your return intensify, anchor our hearts in faith, not fear. Fill us with urgency to live boldly, with purity, passion, and expectant hope. Prepare us for Your imminent call—when the trumpet sounds and we rise to meet You in the air.
Keep our hearts watching.
Keep our spirits ready.
And keep us standing firm in the beauty and perfection of Your Word.
Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus. Amen.
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