Is Gog and the Antichrist the same person? No

Most people have been taught that the Antichrist and Gog of Magog are the same person – but a closer look at Scripture indicates that they are 2 different leaders who will experience very different punishments. 

“Gog of Magog” is killed & buried

¹¹ And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will give unto Gog a place there of graves in Israel, the valley of the passengers on the east of the sea: and it shall stop the noses of the passengers [travelers]: and there shall they bury Gog and all his multitude: and they shall call it The valley of Hamon-gog. (Ezekiel 39: 11)

The Antichrist is not killed

²⁰ And the beast [Antichrist] was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. (Revelation 19: 20)

Summary

Gog of Magog is killed and buried along with his hordes in the valley of Hamon-gog (Ezekiel 39: 11). But the Antichrist is not killed: he is cast alive into the lake of fire for eternal torment (Revelation 19: 20).

Why the Confusion?

There seems to be a lot of confusion because most people don’t realize:

• There is more than one battle that takes place at Armageddon
• The 2 battles take place a thousand years apart
• Someone called “Gog” is mentioned in both battles

2 Different Battles

1. Battle of Armageddon (at the end of the Great Tribulation) (aka the Day of the Lord)
2. A final battle against Jesus Christ (a thousand years after the battle of Armageddon)

2 Different “Gogs”

The Battle of Armageddon includes “Gog of Magog.” He is a chief prince (primary leader) of a geographical area called Meshech and Tubal:

Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him… (Ezekiel 38: 2)

But the final battle against Jesus Christ includes armies gathered from the 4 quarters of the earth – and includes Gog AND Magog: 

⁷ And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 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. (Revelation 20: 7-8)

At the battle of Armageddon (after the Great Tribulation), Gog and his hordes are killed, birds and animals feast on their flesh, and the bodies are buried over a period of 7 months (Ezekiel 39: 12-20) (Revelation 19: 17-21).

At the final battle (a thousand years later), Gog and his armies are devoured by fire from heaven (Revelation 20: 8-9). Animals do not feast on their flesh and they do not need to be buried.

The Holy Bible appears to be referring to 2 different people as “Gog” (a specific chief prince / leader who hates God).

When is the Battle of Armageddon?

²⁹ Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:³⁰ And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man [Jesus Christ] coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. ³¹ And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. (Matthew 24: 29-31)

The battle of Armageddon is fought shortly after the world witnesses Jesus Christ’s return with the armies of heaven (Revelation 19: 11-16).

This battle takes place after the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24: 29-31), during the 7 bowls of God’s wrath (Revelation 16: 12-16), and just after Babylon is destroyed (Revelation 14: 7-8) (Revelation 18).

What happens at the Battle of Armageddon?

Jesus will destroy the Antichrist and the world’s armies by the sword of His mouth (e.g. spoken words) (Revelation 19: 15).

Birds and animals will feast on the remains of those slain (Revelation 19: 17-18).

The Antichrist and False Prophet will not be killed, they will be cast into the lake of fire while they are still alive (Revelation 19: 20).

Gog of Magog and his hordes will be killed and gradually buried in the valley of Hamon-gog (Ezekiel 39: 11) (Revelation 19: 19-21).

The Israelites will be burying the dead (Gog of Magog and his hordes) for 7 months (Ezekiel 39: 12-16).

Although the Antichrist and Gog of Magog are 2 different people, they both participate in the battle of Armageddon.

This battle takes place in the valley of Armageddon (aka valley of Jezreel, aka valley of Hamon-gog).

Then Satan is bound for a thousand years (Revelation 20: 1-3).

The Thousand Years

The first thousand-years after the battle of Armageddon includes the earthly reign of Immanuel (God with us) (aka Jesus Christ) (Isaiah 7: 14) (Zechariah 14: 9).

Those who were raptured will live and reign with Christ during this thousand years (Revelation 20: 4-6).

Humans will still be born and die but they will live a very long time (Isaiah 65: 17-25).

Then there will be one final battle against Almighty God. 

A 2^nd Battle that involves someone called “Gog”

⁷ And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 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. (Revelation 20: 7-8)

⁹ And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. (Revelation 20: 9)

¹⁰ And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. (Revelation 20: 10)

¹¹ And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. (Revelation 20: 11)

The battle of Gog AND Magog takes place after the thousand-year reign. Satan is bound for the first thousand years of Jesus Christ’s reign. Then Satan is released for a short time and he gathers the nations of the world against Jesus for one final battle. 

Summary

During the battle of Armageddon (which takes place after the time of Great Tribulation), the Antichrist will be cast alive into the lake of fire. Gog OF Magog will be killed along with his armies and they will be buried in the valley of Hamon-gog (aka the valley of Jezreel / Meggido / Armageddon).

People will live in genuine peace during the thousand-year reign of Immanuel (God with us) (Jesus Christ). The Jewish people will love Him because they will finally be able to recognize their Messiah (Zechariah 12: 9-11) and they will be blessed during His earthly reign (Ezekiel 39: 25-29) (Isaiah 65: 19-25). 

Not everyone will appreciate the earthly reign of Jesus Christ. The nations will be required to accept Christ’s reign or the Lord will withhold rain from their land (Zechariah 14: 17-18). The nations/people who resented the rule of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords will eventually join Satan in that final battle against God.

A thousand years after the battle of Armageddon, there will be another battle in that same area. It will also include someone called “Gog.” It will be the final war against Almighty God.

Because Gog OF Magog was killed and buried along with his hordes in the battle of Armageddon (after the Great Tribulation), the “Gog” that fights in a final battle a thousand years later is clearly a different “Gog.” He is a leader of vast armies, but he is not the Antichrist and he is not the Gog that was killed at the previous battle of Armageddon (unless perhaps he is an abominable resurrected Gog).

What happens after the Final Battle involving Gog?

This final battle results in Gog and his armies being completely destroyed by fire (Revelation 20: 9). In addition, Satan will be cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20: 10). 

After the final battle, Final Judgement takes place at the Great White Throne (Revelation 20: 11). Everyone is judged according to what they have said / done and anyone whose name is not found in the book of life will be cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20: 11-16) (Revelation 21: 8).

Those who participated in the first resurrection (the rapture) will not be subject to final judgment (Revelation 20: 4-6). 

After the final judgment, God will make all things new. There will be a new heaven, a new earth, and a new Jerusalem (Isaiah 65: 17) (Isaiah 66: 22) (2 Peter 3: 12-13) (Revelation 21 & 22). 

⁴ And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. ⁵ And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. (Revelation 21: 4-5)