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GogAid to Bible Understanding
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relating to the time of the Messianic kingdom. As an example, The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge (Vol. V, p. 14) comments: “Gog appears as the leader of the last hostile attack of the world-powers upon the kingdom of God.” No fulfillment on natural Israel is known. The fulfillment in “the final part of the days” logically is with regard to spiritual Israel, the Christian congregation (Rom. 2:28, 29; Gal. 6:16), described by the apostle Paul as children of, and directed by, the “Jerusalem above,” “heavenly Jerusalem.” (Gal. 4:26; Heb. 12:22) These points aid in arriving at the identification of Gog.
Further aid is found in the book of Revelation. Prophetic visions there foretold a great increase of persecution against the Christian congregation on the part of the symbolic dragon, Satan the Devil. This was to follow his being cast down, with his demons, from the heavens to the region of the earth, an act accomplished by the kingdom of God through Christ at the time of Jesus’ beginning to exercise kingly authority. (Rev. 12:5-10, 13-17) The massing of earthly nations against God, his Son and his faithful servants on earth figures prominently in these visions, as does also the total defeat and desolation of such enemy forces. (Rev. 16:13-16; 17:12-14; 19:11-21) The feasting by birds on the corpses of such enemies of Christ’s kingdom rule likewise finds a correspondence here.—Compare Ezekiel 39:4, 17-20 with Revelation 19:21.
The central figure or leader of the earth-wide assault against the Messianic kingdom and its subjects, according to Revelation, is Satan the Devil. He is the only person in the Biblical record who can be said to fulfill adequately the description and role assigned to ‘Gog of Magog’ in the prophecy given to Ezekiel. The prophecy in Ezekiel concerning Gog therefore points to a vicious, earth-wide assault on God’s people, an assault engineered and led by the abased Satan the Devil. The prophecy also reveals that this attack is what triggers the complete wiping out of such Satanic forces by means of God’s awesome power.—Ezek. 38:18-22.
BURIAL OF GOG’S CROWD
The burial of “Gog and all his crowd” is in the “valley of those passing through on the east of the sea.” (Ezek. 39:11) An American Translation here reads, “the valley of Abarim, east of the Dead Sea.” The name Abarim is used at Numbers 33:47, 48 with reference to the mountains E of the Dead Sea. (See ABARIM.) There are two deep valleys or gorges in this region, the Arnon and the Zered. The Arnon is some two miles (3.2 kilometers) wide at the top and is nearly 1,700 feet (518 meters) deep. The Zered is an even more formidable canyon, its steep cliffs dropping some 3,900 feet (1,189 meters). Either of these valleys may be used to represent this prophetic burial place, the Arnon being more due E of the sea, while the Zered was the more traveled of the two. Or, since the picture presented is symbolic, no specific valley may be intended. This burial in a deep place by the Dead Sea likewise finds some parallel in Revelation’s description of the disposal of the Kingdom opposers by casting them into the symbolic lake of fire, and the abyssing of Satan.—Rev. 19:20; 20:1-3.
3. Revelation 20:8 also speaks of “Gog and Magog.” Here, however, the reference is not to an individual commander or ruler. Both names are shown to apply to “those nations in the four corners of the earth” who allow themselves to be misled by Satan after he is released from the symbolic “abyss.” Since other texts show that the millennial rule of Christ brings an end to national rule and divisions (Dan. 2:44; 7:13, 14), it would appear that such “nations” are the product of rebellion against his earth-wide dominion. They advance “over the breadth of the earth” to encircle “the camp of the holy ones and the beloved city.” This comes after the millennial rule over earth by Christ Jesus has reached its completion.—Rev. 20:2, 3, 7-9.
The use of the names “Gog and Magog” evidently serves to emphasize certain similarities in this postmillennial situation with that of the earlier assault (prior to Satan’s being abyssed). Among these similarities is that, both in Ezekiel and Revelation, the opposers are numerous (those in Revelation being of an indefinite number, “as the sand of the sea”), the attack is the result of a widespread conspiracy, and is directed against God’s servants in a state of great prosperity. So, the use of “Gog and Magog” to describe those led into a postmillennial rebellion is very fitting. Their end is absolute destruction.—Rev. 20:9, 10, 14.
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GoiimAid to Bible Understanding
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GOIIM
(Goiʹim) [nations].
1. The realm of King Tidal, an ally of the Elamite king Chedorlaomer. (Gen. 14:1-9) No identification of Goiim is known, though places such as Gutium in Kurdistan have been suggested. In view of the meaning of the term and its translation in other texts (Judg. 4:2; Isa. 9:1) as a common noun (“nations”) rather than a proper name, some suggest that Goiim was a collection of tribes with varied national backgrounds.—See TIDAL.
2. The domain of a Canaanite king defeated by Joshua. He is spoken of as “the king of Goiim in Gilgal.” (Josh. 12:7, 23) Nothing is known of this Goiim except that Gilgal, possibly its seat or center, is not the well-known Israelite campsite of the same name near the Jordan, but perhaps the modern-day village of Jiljulieh, some twelve miles (19 kilometers) NE of Tel Aviv.—See GILGAL No. 3.
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GolanAid to Bible Understanding
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GOLAN
(Goʹlan).
A city of Bashan in the territory of Manasseh, selected as a city of refuge. (Deut. 4:41-43; Josh. 20:2, 8) The Gershonite Levites were given the city for their dwelling. (Josh. 21:27; 1 Chron. 6:71) Most geographers consider its probable modern location to be Jaulan, a little more than seventeen miles (27 kilometers) E of the Sea of Galilee. A district of the same name is somewhat closer to the Sea of Galilee.
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GoldAid to Bible Understanding
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GOLD
The first and most frequently mentioned metal in the Bible. (Gen. 2:11) From the beginning it has been a noble metal highly valued for its weight, rarity, durable nontarnishing luster, shimmering beauty, ductility and malleability. When found in its native purity in gravel deposits and riverbeds, it can easily be separated and recovered, due to its great weight. The book of Job mentions mining and refining operations. (Job 28:1, 2, 6) Gold’s rarity gives it a stable, comparatively unchanging monetary value that makes it useful as a commercial medium of exchange and a measure of wealth and prominence. (Gen. 13:2; 1 Chron. 21:25; Esther 8:15) Gold coinage was a late invention, however. The color and luster of gold and its resistance to oxidation or tarnishing make it especially valuable for jewelry and ornamentation of all kinds.—Gen. 24:22; 41:42; Judg. 8:24-26; Ps. 45:9, 13.
USED IN TABERNACLE AND TEMPLE
Gold’s malleability permits it to be hammered into countless shapes. In the construction of the tabernacle, gold was beaten into plates for overlay work and into thin sheets cut into thread that was woven into certain of the high priest’s garments. (Ex. 25:31; 30:1-3; 37:1, 2; 39:2, 3) It was similarly used in the temple built by Solomon. (1 Ki. 6:21-35; 10:18; 2 Chron. 3:5-9) Alloying gold with other metal to increase its hardness extends its utility. This process was employed in ancient Israel.—1 Ki. 10:16; see ELECTRUM.
Great quantities of gold were used in the tabernacle, the current value of this gold being estimated at more than $1,130,500. (Ex. 25:10-40; 38:24) However, in comparison with the amount of gold used, that wilderness tabernacle was only a miniature of Solomon’s glorious temple. David had set aside no
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