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no, not andromeda. What is the biblical reference to the magog? My friend inteprets it as russia attacking israel at the end of time. So what is your interpretation of it? I never read the bible before so I am just a humble and ignorant student asking for clarity on this.
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Sid, there are two Magogs in the Bible - one the grandson of Noah and the other described as the land that "Gog of Magog" comes from, who attacks God's people.
Regarding the second (who I'm sure is the one you're asking about), one reference states this regarding Magog:
A name that occurs in Ezekiel’s prophecy concerning the stormlike attack by "Gog of the land of Magog" against Jehovah’s regathered people. It appears to be used by the prophet to indicate a land or region in "the remotest parts of the north," out of which Gog’s host comes forth, his plundering forces described as "riding on horses, a great congregation, even a numerous military force" employing sword and bow.—Eze 38:2-4, 8, 9, 13-16; 39:1-3, 6.
From the time of the Jewish historian Josephus, it has been suggested that "the land of Magog" related to the Scythian tribes found in NE Europe and Central Asia. (Jewish Antiquities, I, 123 [vi, 1]) Classical writers of Greek and Roman times described the Scythians as northern barbarians, rapacious and warlike, equipped with large cavalry forces, well armored, and skilled with the bow. While the name Scythian may originally have been derived from "Ashkenaz," another descendant of Japheth (Ge 10:2, 3), the 1959 edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica (Vol. 20, p. 235) states that "throughout classical literature Scythia generally meant all regions to the north and northeast of the Black sea, and a Scythian (Skuthes) any barbarian coming from those parts." Other reference works likewise show that the term "Scythian" was used rather flexibly to embrace generally the nomadic tribes N of the Caucasus (the region between the Black and Caspian Seas), similar to the modern use of the term "Tartar." Hence The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge comments: "The name 'Scythians' was among the ancients an elastic appellation, and so was the Hebrew 'Magog.'"—Edited by S. Jackson, 1956, Vol. V, p. 14.
Symbolic Use: The fact that the definite location of "the land of Magog" is left uncertain and indeterminate to us in the Bible (as well as in secular history), along with the prophet’s reference to "the final part of the years" (Eze 38:8), and the fact that the described invasion is not known to have taken place literally upon Israel, provide the basis for viewing the prophecy concerning Magog as relating to a future time in the Biblical 'time of the end.' Because of this, many commentators see in it a forecast of the final attack of the world powers upon the Kingdom of God, and they see the land of Magog as representing "the world as hostile to God’s people and kingdom."—Funk and Wagnalls New Standard Bible Dictionary, 1936, p. 307.
Thus, the land of Magog clearly has a symbolic significance. The fact that the term "Scythian," with which Magog is usually associated, came to be used as a synonym for that which is brutal and degraded would logically seem to point to a fallen state or position of debasement, analogous to the position assigned to Satan and his angels following the war in heaven and from which debased position he wrathfully wages "war with the remaining ones of [the woman’s] seed," as described at Revelation 12:7-17.-Insight on the Scriptures, v.2 pg.294.
edit: I know, that was really lazy of me. But if anything appears confusing or vague, please ask. I'll try to be less lazy and explain my take on specifics.
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I think most scriptural truths have a spritual meaning and a literal meaning. But I am leary of literal interpretations that specify information about the "last days". Mainly because they tend to turn a blind eye to Asia.
Posts: 2010 | Registered: Apr 2003
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We just went over Gog of Magog in my ancient history class tonight. Funny timing.
Edit to include:
quote:Mainly because they tend to turn a blind eye to Asia.
Ironic considering Zoroastrianism and the Persians were responsible for a lot of the early apocalyptic prophesies about the world ending, and Persia is arguably a part of Asia, certainly Asia Minor is.
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