What is Ezekiel’s War? (aka the First War of Gog and Magog)

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In the Holy Bible, the Book of Ezekiel holds many unfulfilled prophesies about future events relating to war, the building of the third temple in Jerusalem, and lengthy details of Christ’s millennial kingdom rule.

One of the prophesies yet to be fulfilled in Ezekiel is of a great war involving Gog (a leader) and Magog (a country).  Because this war is prophesied in chapters 38 and 39 in the Book of Ezekiel, it also often called Ezekiel’s War.

To make things a little more complicated, this war often gets confused with two other wars: Armageddon and/or a second Gog and Magog war mentioned in another part of the Bible.

Because discussing future bible wars can be confusing, the following chart helps illustrate what Ezekiel’s War is and is not.

What Ezekiel’s War is

What Ezekiel’s War is Not
Ezekiel’s War is:

  • The first of three major, prophetic wars yet to take place.
  • Also referred to as the (first) war of Gog and Magog.
  • Will likely be referred to as World War III by the secular world.
  • While many nations are specifically mentioned in the attack against Israel, not one single nation is mentioned that will defend her. This is so that God will be glorified when He defends Israel.
  • Chapters 38 and 39, indicate that God will use this battle to reveal His power and sovereignty to the nations. Ezekiel 38:23 (NKJV): “Thus I will magnify Myself and sanctify Myself, and I will be known in the eyes of many nations. Then they shall know that I am the Lord.”
  • Both Young’s and Strong’s Concordances  support the KJV translation which states that God while destroy 5/6th of Israel’s attackers. (Ezekiel 39:2-6)
 Ezekiel’s War is not:

  • Ancient History – Although it is written in the Old Testament of the Bible, it is still a prophecy that has yet to be fulfilled.
  • The end of the world doesn’t happen yet. Although it will be a horrific global war, Ezekiel’s War is not the end of times…there is still a lot more yet to come.
  • Armageddon – This is the separate apocalyptic battle described in Revelation 16:16 that occurs at the end of the seven year tribulation period.  Armageddon culminates with the return of the Lord Jesus and His Saints who defeat Satan and his armies, but it is still not the end of the world.
  • The second war of Gog and Magog – In Revelation 20:7-10, this war of Gog and Magog occurs after the millennial reign of Christ. Satan is released from his prison and deceives the nations, gathering them for battle against God’s people.

The Sequence of Events

Ezekiel’s prophecy lays out a dramatic series of events:

  • Preparation for the War: Gog (a leader), along with a coalition of nations, prepares to attack Israel (Ezekiel 38:7-9).
  • Divine Intervention: God declares that He will intervene directly in the battle, showing His power and sovereignty. Catastrophic natural disasters, such as fire, floods, massive global earthquakes and plagues, are described (Ezekiel 38:19-23).
  • Defeat of Gog and His Army: The invading forces are decisively defeated by divine action, Israel plunders Magog, it takes seven years for Israel to burn all the weapons and and seven months to bury/dispose of all the bodies. (Ezekiel 39:3-12). Additionally, God annihilates 5/6th of the invaders: “And I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee, and will cause thee to come up from the north parts, and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel:” (Ezekiel 39:2-6)
  • God’s Glory Revealed: Through this event, God’s name is sanctified, and the nations recognize His power and authority (Ezekiel 39:21-22).

Where is the United States in all this?

No one knows because there is no specific mention of the United States anywhere in the Bible. No nation comes to help Israel when she is attacked by this coalition so either the United States turns the other way, or is unable to help. However, it is safe to say that on June 21, 2025 when the United States bombed Iran, it set a stage for greater conflict to begin.

The majority of Bible scholars that do believe that if there is mention of the United State at all, it is likely in verse 39:6 in a mention in which God possibly sends fire to North America (believed to be that who is  mentioned in the “coastlands” or “in the aisles”).

The following are different Bible versions for Ezekiel 39:6 that might reference North America:

“I will send fire on Magog and on those who live in safety in the coastlands, and they will know that I am the LORD.” NIV
“And I will send a fire on Magog, and among them that dwell carelessly in the isles: and they shall know that I am the LORD.” KJV
“And I will rain down fire on Magog and on all your allies who live safely on the coasts. Then they will know that I am the LORD.” NLT

Keep Watching

Russia and Iran now share an alliance so it is not such a far stretch to imagine Russia being drawn into war to help Iran, but for the prophecy of Ezekiel to take place, a Russian-led coalition of nation must  form and rise against Israel. The Bible mentions Russia, Iran, Sudan, Turkey as some other nations to invade Israel for her wealth.

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