Revelation 20:8
Revelation 20, Page 14

Bible, KJV Translation
20:8  And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog, and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.

Re-evaluation Translation
20:8  And will go out to deceive the people from every nation on earth who oppose and reject Yehuveh [especially Javan—China and Mongolia], to gather them to battle against restored Israel: the number of them is uncountable.

Significant Words and Comments:
Commentary on Revelation 20:8 (13 July 2008):  “Shall go out to deceive” clearly states the driving purpose of the adversaries. Because they oppose Yehuveh, these adversaries seek to turn every other person from responding to His appeal for change and return to His ways. Go out is from the same Greek word translated come out in Revelation 18:4. See discussion of deceive, causing someone to believe a lie or accept a false value, in notes on Revelation 13:14.
       
“The nations which are in the four quarters of the earth,” means exactly the same thing as “all nations” of the world in Revelation 18:23. Yehuveh’s opponents seek to deceive everyone in every nation on earth. All nations are mentioned six times in Revelation [7:9; 12:5; 14:8; 15:4; 18:3, 23], always from pas [G3956, all] and ethnos [G1484, nations, discussed by Revelation 10:11]. Four quarters, idiom for all parts of, is identical to four corners in Revelation 7:1, where it is discussed in detail.
       
“Gog, and Magog,” descendents of Javen now occupying China and Mongolia, as discussed in In Search of . . . the Origin of Nations, are symbol of blatant, open hatred for and opposition to Yehuveh. Both “Gog, and Magog” are only used here in Revelation. Gog [G1136, “mountain”] is from the Hebrew word Gowg [H1463], referring to China and much of the culture populating it. This Gog is only mentioned seven times by Ezekiel [38:2, 3, 14, 16, 18; 39:1, 11] and here in Revelation 20:8. [One of Reuben’s descendents was also named Gog, but is quite unrelated to this Gog. 1 Chronicles 5:4.] Magog [G3098] is from the Hebrew word Magowg [H4031], a son of Japheth and the region they settled, now Mongolia. Magog is only mentioned in Genesis 10:2; 1 Chronicles 1:5; Ezekiel 38:2; 39:6, and here in Revelation 20:8.
       
“To gather them together to battle.” The references in Revelation 20:7-10 to Gog, Magog, and a huge army gathered for a battle against restored Israel, is discussed in great detail in Ezekiel 38:1-39:29 and in Daniel 11:40-45. Yehuveh has stated His express purpose in this development: “Thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, . . . a great company, and a mighty army: And thou shalt come up against My people of Israel; . . . it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against My land, that the heathen may know Me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes.” Just as foretold, this invasion will occur! Ezekiel 38:15-16.
       
“The number of whom is as the sand of the sea,” utterly uncountable! This phrase is used frequently in Torah to represent a count beyond numbering: Genesis 22:17; Joshua 11:4; Judges 7:12; 1 Samuel 13:5; 1 Kings 4:20; [2 Chronicles 1:9]; Isaiah 10:22; 48:19; Jeremiah 15:8; 33:22; Hosea 1:10.
        This provocation brings a swift, sure, and foretold response from Yehuveh:
“At the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith Yehuveh Elohim, that My fury shall come up in My face.” Ezekiel 38:18.


Gael Bataman
Originally Written:               13 July 2008
Latest Update:                     13 July 2008


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