Replies

Hal Lindsey has a long history of making false predictions regarding biblical prophecy

Hal has been accurate on a lot of things. I linked to his report as a reference in helping to understanding which countries today make up the lands described in the prophecies. I didn't mean to push his analysis of coming events as I differ with him myself on much. He has done the research on the countries and I haven't found anything that contradicts his analysis in any significant way.

If you have something to the contrary, please present it so that those interested may learn more about these countries.

Thanks,

I researched the identification of Gog, Magog, Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, etc. for a book I wrote (I have a Ph.D. in theology and have lived and taught in Israel). I did conclude that the typical identification of Rosh = Rushia; Meshech = Moscow, and Tubal = Tubolsk, etc. is wholly unwarranted, and based upon the superficial similarity of the names. This was (and still is for all I know) commonly assumed by Evangelicals and others on the basis of Lindsey and others.

This notion seemed to "fit" especially in the old days of the Soviet Union, when it was feared that the communists had designs on the Middle East. Indeed, the Soviets did supply arms and advisors to their client states, especially Egypt and Syria.

In short, the historical evidence indicates that these ancient peoples inhabited the area of the world currently occupied by Turkey and the Central Asia republics. The supposed connection with Russia became a mute point when the Soviet Union dissolved, and the Central Asia republics became independent.

Unfortunately many prophecy teachers remain wedded to the old Rosh = Russia theory. Apparently it's not easy to admit that a theory which occupied such a central part of your teaching was in the end wrong.

The interesting thing is that Turkey is fast assuming a hostile - even warlike - stance against Israel, destroying the the process a couple of decades of cooperation between the two countries. And NATO-armed Turkey is one power in the region capable of confronting Israel militarily. The Central Asia republics are weak militarily at this point, but that could change in time. Interesting times lie ahead!