The Quran alluded to Gog and Magog in Surah Al-Kahf[18]; "They said: "O Dhu al Qarnayn! The Gog and Magog people do great mischief on earth: Shall we then render thee tribute in order that thou mightest erect a barrier between them?...Bring me blocks of iron at length, when he had filled up the space between the two steep mountainsides, He said, `Blow with your bellows', then when he had made it red as fire, he said: `Bring me, that I may pour over it, molten lead.' thus were they made powerless to scale it or to dig through it. he said this: `this is a mercy from my Lord: but when the promise of my Lord comes to pass, he will make it into dust; and the promise of my Lord is true. On that day we shall leave them to surge like waves on one another; the trumpet will be blown, and we shall collect them together. And we shall present hell that day for unbelievers to see, all spread out.'" (Al-Kahf[18]:94-100).

Heated controversies as to precise dates, peoples, and personalities seem to be evident when trying to research the Islamic writings concerning these passages. Most Muslim scholars and commentators agree on the difficulty of interpreting these verses. A great deal of literature has been piled up among Muslim writers, the most common interpretation of the person of "Dhu al-Qarnayn" has been Alexander the Great, since the name "Dhu al-Qarnayn" in Arabic means "The two horned". Evidence from historical and archaeological accounts depict Alexander the Great with ram's horns on his head. Although the name Alexander is not mentioned here, Muslim interpreters generally agree that these verses are speaking of him. The problem with accepting Alexander the Great as the personality in these verses is that Alexander the Great is known in history as a pagan; he considered himself "The Son of Jupiter".

While the Quran addresses him as "The man of Faith", if Alexander is the person of this story, verse 88 addresses him saying; "but who believes, and works righteousness, he shall have goodly reward", and in verse 98 Alexander is saying; "This is a mercy from my Lord...and the promise of my Lord is true." The question is, who could Alexander's Lord be? And which God is he addressing when he says "a mercy from my Lord"? If Muslims choose this interpretation, then Alexander the Great becomes the channel of inspiration to reveal this prophecy to the people referred to in verse 93. Some interpreters conclude this as an historic event, and not a prophecy, concluding that Gog might rise again in the future, a claim not written in the Quran. While this represents a dilemma to most Muslim scholars, the general point of view in the Islamic world unanimously accept Alexander the Great as "Dhu al-Qarnayn". A definite "double horned" problem found in the major commentaries of the Quran. And to avoid Alexander as the figure of the story will create a problem of identifying "Dhu al-Qarnayn", since this name is a historical identification to Alexander the Great.

Another dilemma that faces the Muslims in accepting Alexander as "Dhu al-Qarnayn", is that Omar Ibn-Alkhattab, the second Khalifa of Islam, and a close friend of the prophet, in defending the Prophet, calls Dhu al-Qarnayn as "an angel".

This dilemma directed Muslim scholars to many other mixed, and different conclusions, all making a saint out of him, neglecting the historical fact of Alexander burning a Phoenician city when the people rejected him offering sacrifices to his pagan deities. He died an alcoholic and a pagan. It is practically agreed among Muslim scholars that Gog and Magog were wild tribes of Central Asia known as "Scythians", but the detail of the events of this prophecy are vaguely known.

Numerous assumptions have been made concerning the blocks of iron and the mountainsides; a Muslim can read some of these in any commentary on the Quran, like Abdullah Yusuf Ali's commentary. Mr. Ali gets himself into a trap, when he concludes a fulfillment of this took place at the time of Alexander the Great. He gets into a debate with the different interpretations on several iron gates, assuming that the "blocks of iron" are gates he says; "The Abbasi Khalifa Wathiq (842-846 A.D) sent a mission to Central Asia to report on this Iron Gate... Nothing could correspond more exactly with the description in Surah 18:95-96)".

The trap Mr. Ali sets himself into is that when reviewing verses 98-100 above, one cannot escape the fact that the event will take place on Judgment day, since a trumpet will sound and Hell is presented. The conclusion that these verses are prophetic is beyond question. The reason Muslim scholars try to conclude this as fulfilled is obvious since Alexander the Great died long ago. Either "Dhu al-Qarnayn" (Double horned) is Alexander, Good Angel, or the Devil presents a problem that no serious scholar can deny.

The Bible on the other hand concerning the prophecy of Gog and Magog, gives the missing elements not mentioned in the Quran. The additional detail is quite astonishing; "And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal and prophecy against him, and say, This saith the lord God: I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: and I will turn thee back and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armor, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords: Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet: Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee...And you will come from your place out of the remote parts of the north...a mighty army." (Ezekiel 38:1-6). The majority of the scholars on Bible prophecy identify Russia with these names before Russia became a super power.

In 1909, under the rule of the Czars, before Russia had any significance in world power, C. I. Scofield commented; "That the primary reference is to the northern (European) powers, headed up by Russia, all agree....The reference to Meshech and Tubal (Moscow and Tobolsk) is a clear mark of identification. Russia and the northern powers have been the latest persecutors of dispersed Israel.". In Genesis 10 these names are given to sons and descendants of Noah. Josephus, one of history's great historians notes that Magog is called the Scythians by the Greeks. Gesenius' Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon, a major authority on the precise meaning of Hebrew and Chaldee words regard Magog as a real country to the extreme north of the Holy Land.

Professor G. Rawlinson also identifies them with modern Russia. Secular history also traces the Scythians, who lived in the northern regions above the Caucasus Mountains, as forerunners of modern Russia. The Bible confirms this conclusion by giving the location three times calling it "the uttermost north" (Ezekiel 38:6, 15, 39:2 KJV). Drawing a straight line north of Jerusalem on the map almost hits Moscow.

The Hebrew Lexicon of Brown, Driver, and Briggs indicates that Rosh here is the proper name of a people, and a country "Russia" "Russians". Arabic writers confirm that the Great Wall of China is called the wall of Magog (Hait Al-Ma'ajooj), to protect China from the invading Russians. Certain Muslims might disagree that Magog refers to Russia, but China. This disagrees with many Arabic historians. The following will give the nations ancient names and the modern nation that now occupies that territory.

We ask: How come there is a difference in clarity in the Biblical prophetic verses concerning Gog and Magog, when compared to the vague and somewhat distorted verses of "Dhu al-Qarnayn"?

Why is God telling us this information?

What religion comes to mind, that permits (halal) and encourages booty (Al-ghana'em) and plunder (ghazuat), which would be permissible (halal)?

What is the religion of Russia's allies referred to in these passages, which have the names Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya?

How could the Bible know that these nations would be Russia's best allies if Russia desired to attack Israel? How did the Bible predict by name "Libya", since Libya at the time of the prophecy was an insignificant place?

Today Russia maintains a major buildup of Libya's fourteen air bases with more than five-hundred and fifty Russian combat aircraft. Russia also has positioned a staggering sixteen thousand tanks and armored cars in Libya. The tank force Libya has is greater than the tank forces of France, Britain, and Germany combined, Why? It is interesting that Ezekiel referenced these nations which are today the most antagonistic nations to Israel.

The most important thing I would like to warn my Muslim friends is that the nations allied to Russia in this prophecy are Muslim nations seeking the Islamic form of Government. Islamic fundamentalism is the greatest enemy to the Jews. The evidence on this issue is overwhelming. What I fear the most is that the Bible concludes the destruction of these nations, God in the Bible warns; "I am against you", and he includes these nations.

An interesting article in the Insight magazine reports; "Fundamentalist Islam, looking to Iran for inspiration and support, is spreading across the Middle East and North Africa...Shimon Peres recently stated: "Since the collapse of communism in the Soviet Union, we consider Khomeinism the greatest danger the Middle East is facing...It has many of the characters of communism. It is fanatic, it is ideological, it is religious and claims, like communism, that the end justifies the means. Most of all, it has the same inclination to export its ideas. It does not respect national borders. The Iranian example already has spread to Sudan ...Algeria...Tunisia...Palestine. The overall aim of these efforts apparently is to create an Islamic belt stretching from Iran through the Middle East to North Africa. Ironically, many Arabs attribute their defeats in wars with Israel to religion: While Israel was built upon religion." (Insight magazine, 9, 6, 1993).

In addition to the nations Ezekiel mentions are the "coastlands"... Could this be referring to Algeria, Tunisia, Al-Maghrib, and other cities on the cost of the Mediterranean? I repeat; many of my friends advised not to mention these prophecies concerning Israel, but I must warn my people, whom I always pray for. It is beyond me to sit down and watch my people perish for lack of knowledge. The Biblical knowledge is God's, and I must share it as he commanded, trusting God to soften the hearts and minds of men.

The Bible has been the most accurate source of Middle Eastern History, Archaeology, and the Study of the Future Developments of Israel and the World. It is the compass to know the future, and has been 100% accurate. I challenge my reader to test it, and I plead to you for your eternal destiny. The Islamic understanding of Gog and Magog has been misinterpreted, I have explained the evidence on their main arguments. The following evidence should be ample to prove to Muslims the fact I am pointing out here. Take for example in verses 12 of the same chapter; "to take plunder and to take booty, to stretch out your hand against the waste places that are inhabited, and against a people gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and goods, who dwell in the midst of the land." And we ask... How did a corrupted Bible know that Israel would be re-gathered from the nations of the world?

The conclusion of the battle is described clearly in the Bible. The Bible, in the Book of Ezekiel concludes the destruction of the enemies of Israel; "Surely in that day there will be a great earthquake in the land of Israel" (Ezekiel 38:19). "Every man's sword will be against his brother." (Ezekiel 38:21b). "And I will bring him to judgment with pestilence and bloodshed..." (Ezekiel 39:22a). "You shall fall upon the mountains of Israel, you and all your troops..." (Ezekiel 39:4a) "And I will send fire on Magog and on those who live in security in the coastlands. Then they shall know that I am the Lord". (Ezekiel 39:6). "So I will make My holy name known in the midst of My people Israel, and I will not let them profane My holy name anymore. Then the nations shall know that I am the Lord the Holy One in Israel." (Ezekiel 39:7).

In the 1993 peace accord, the West Bank (Mountains of Israel) were given to Yasser Arafat, making it possible for such an army to set bases in the West Bank, which are the 'Mountains of Israel'. Also notice that Israel would not profane God's name anymore. It is no wonder that the majority of Israel today has no concern for their God. And we ask... Could it be that Islam is not from God? If Islam is not from God... Who is it from? If Islam is from God... Why their destruction here? In Ezekiel 39:23-24, the God of the Bible sums up the story of Israel; "The Gentiles shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity; because they were unfaithful to Me, therefore I hid My face from them. I gave them into the hand of their enemies, and they all fell by the sword. According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions I have dealt with them, and hidden My face from them."

Now, can it be clearer? There needs to be little or no interpretation for these verses, they speak for themselves. Israel was unfaithful to God, for that they have been paying for 2000 years, they got what they deserved. Israel was their land, which God made a covenant with, and a deal is a deal, especially with God. It does not get annulled no matter how long ago it was made. They came back, and God is going to redeem and clean their hearts. This has to be the truth, or why would a people accused of corrupting the Bible leave verses saying that Israel were unfaithful, transgressors and unclean...? The truth is that they kept their Bible uncorrupted and included all of the embarrassments.

Read Isaiah 13:19, Isaiah 13:19-22, Jeremiah 50 & 51, and John 19:3.

Books can be written in detail on each of these prophecies.

The chances of some of the fulfilled prophecies happening by simple guess is one in so many trillions that you can never count, or explain, that even the law of probability could not handle, and which thousands of Galaxies could not even hold. I do NOT suggest you even entertain the thought of counting such a number, using your computer, or even imagining it.

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