The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 4) — Page 204
CH. 21 AL-ANBIYA' 20:8). Fifthly, the very root meaning of the words 'Gog' and 'Magog,' as shown under "Important Words," points to western Christian nations as the nations referred to in the above Biblical prophecies. The name Gog first occurs in 1 Chr. 5:4, where he is mentioned as a descendant of Joel. But Ezek. 38:3, and 39:1, speak of Gog as 'prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal', evidently Rosh standing for Russia, Meshech for Moscow and Tubal for To bolsk. Gog is also spoken of as 'of the land of Magog' (Ezek. 38:2) and Magog, in this verse of the Bible, according to the commentators of the Bible represents the regions which of old went by the name of Scythia (including Russia and Tartary), from which in the past issued many hordes of barbarians. As Russia was included in the land of Magog, Rosh, Meshech and Tubal must be taken as standing for Russia, Moscow and Tobolsk. Magog was the second of Japheth's sons (Gen. 10:2) and his descendants seem to have given their name to the land referred to in Ezek. 38:2. But Magog has also been spoken of as the name of a people in Ezek. 39:6 and in Rev. 20:8. In the former, Magog has been mentioned along with those 'that dwell carelessly in the isles. ' These passages also show that Gog and Magog represent some of the great Powers of Europe, including Russia. Gog and Magog have also been mentioned elsewhere in the Quran (18:95). There they have been spoken of as making raids into territories on the northern border of Iran, which PT. 17 means that they were the tribes generally known as Scythians. It is a known historical fact that in olden times the Scythians continued to move in large bodies from Asia into Europe, their route lying north of the Caucasus. (Enc. Brit. vol. 12, p. 263. 14th edit. ). As one horde settled down in Europe new hordes came forth the east, from pushing their predecessors further and further West. Thus the nations of Europe have been legitimately called Gog and Magog in the Biblical prophecy. It is curious that the memory of two heroes named Gog and Magog is preserved to this day in Guild Hall (London) in the form of two statues. The original effigies which were destroyed in the Great Fire in the sixteenth century are known to have existed in the time of Henry V. These heroes seem to have been connected with Britain from very ancient times. 2118 Again, from "Ezekiel" and "Revelation" it appears that Gog and Magog will make their appearance in the Latter Days i. e. in the time just before the second coming of the Messiah: "After many years thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword" (Ezek. 38:8). "It shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land" (Ezek. 38:16). See also Rev. 20:7-10. These verses show that the prophecy refers to a people who were to have appeared in the distant future. That distant future is the time through which we are now passing and the mighty people of whom the prophecy speaks are the great Christian powers