Whenever the claim that Antichrist and Gog are the same individual is made, a common objection frequently brought up goes something like this: “The Antichrist cannot be Gog, because the Antichrist is cast alive into the lake of fire (Revelation 19:20) whereas Gog is buried according to (Ezekiel 39:11).” When we consult the fuller mosaic of Scriptural references that speak to this issue however, we find that the Antichrist is most definitely killed by Jesus and his body is buried in a mass grave. Let’s look at the evidence.
First, let us note that Daniel informs us that the Beast/Antichrist will be killed:
“Then I kept looking because of the sound of the boastful words which the horn was speaking; I kept looking until the beast was slain, and its body was destroyed and given to the burning fire. Daniel 7:11
Later, Paul also informs us that the Antichrist will be slain by Jesus when He returns:
Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming. 2 Thessalonians 2:8
Elsewhere, Isaiah informs us that the Antichrist, though he considers himself a King, will not be buried in a proper royal sepulcher, but will instead be buried with the bodies of others in a pit:
“How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, You who have weakened the nations! “But you said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, and I will sit on the mount of assembly, in the recesses of the north. ‘I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’ “Nevertheless you will be thrust down to Sheol, to the recesses of the pit. “Those who see you will gaze at you, they will ponder over you, saying, ‘Is this the man who made the earth tremble, who shook kingdoms, who made the world like a wilderness and overthrew its cities, who did not allow his prisoners to go home?’ All the kings of the nations lie in glory, each in his own tomb. But you have been cast out of your tomb like a rejected branch, clothed with the slain who are pierced with a sword, who go down to the stones of the pit like a trampled corpse. Isaiah 14
In light of the full range of Scriptural evidence, we see that the Antichrist will both be killed and his body buried in a mass grave, covered with the bodies of others who were slain. We must therefore conclude that the reference in Revelation 19:20 to the beast being cast alive into hell is a reference to his being cast alive into hell after the resurrection of the wicked (Daniel 12:1-2) to consciously experience the torments of hell. The claim that the Antichrist cannot be the same as Gog because one is buried and the other thrown alive into hell is seen to be a fallacy that is not in accordance with Scripture.
See also the article: The Shameful Burial of the Antichrist
33 Responses
Joel,
Greetings.I too believe that Gog and the Antichrist are one and the same. Everything you wrote in your book is too much evidence not to link the two. And the two descriptions of Ezek 38-39,and Rev 19, tie both battles together. So, when most of the evidence points one way, we must think on how we can reconcile the one or two Scriptures that seem to speak another way. I think Robert Van Kampen answered this in the notes in back part of his, “The Sign” book. If I remember right,he believed the only way to answer this was to see the Antichrist slain and burried on the battle field;as Isa 14, and 2nd Thess teach. Then at the beginning of the millennial kingdom, they (beast/false prophet) are resurrected and are the first to be thrown in the lake of fire. (Hades or hell being the holding place for the souls of the unbelievers now, and some of the fallen angels; the lake of fire only {after} they recieve their new bodies to live in the lake forever. Just like we need new bodies to live in the heavenly city. Rev 20:5,10-15,1Cor 15:50. The lake of fire is in view when we read 1067-geenna,gehenna, in the NT. Also, I believe Jesus will ignite it when He returns, and of course, hades will then thrown into the lake of fire 1000 years later. Isa 30:33, Dan 7:9-12, Matt 25:31-46.)Just like Isa writes, John does not always write in chronological order,and does not give every last detail. That is what study is all about! We got to put it all together with the least, seemingly contradictions. Chapter breaks can block our understanding sometimes too. Peace, in the Lord! 🙂
“Rev 20:7 When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—and to gather them for battle.”
This is said to occur after the “beast” is thrown into the lake of fire. If the “beast” is Antichrist, then Antichrist is dead before the 1,000 year reign beings. But in Rev 20:7, we see Gog listed as being present after the 1,000 years.
I suggest that the phrase “beast” is referring specifically to the empire that Antichrist controls. I think that the Dragon is a symbol of Satan, and also represents Satan inhabiting the Antichrist. I think that when Messiah arrives, he disposes of the Antichrist Kingdom and False prophet, but locks away for 1,000 years the Dragon (Satan within the Antichrist) thus preserving the Man of Sin for the final rebellion 1,000 years after Messiah’s reign has begun, as described in Revelation 20: “But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. 10 And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. ”
So Antichrist is killed by the sword, his army incinerated, and Satan is thrown into the lake of fire (where the Antichrist’s kingdom and it’s False Prophet were placed at the beginning of messiah’s 1,000 year reign.
I understand this to be a more consistent approach. The only other alternative I can think of would be that “Gog” is not the Antichrist.
Hey Joel,
Exactly what and where is this “Lake of Fire?”
Well, the Bible does not specifically say. We know it is not Hades or Hell the current holding place of tormented unbelievers which I believe would be the earth’s core for the spiritual souls of all unbelievers who have passed from this earthly life. So then where is this “Lake of Fire” at? Theories abound and here is one that might be a possible candidate. It is the surface of our sun. It is certainly liquid fire, is it not? Just something I heard as a passing theory.
Blessings!
Dirk,
Hey, suggest you click on the article, “When does the Gog of Magog invasion take place”. (I think that is it?) And read the back and forth below. Peace, in the Lord! Steve 🙂
The Lake of Fire is essentially Gehenna, in the valley next to the Temple.
Yes! That was what Jesus was using as a teaching illustration in places like Mark 9. The valley of the son of Hinnom is where some of Israel burned their sons and daughters as an offering to Molech and other gods. 2Kings 23:10. In places like Jerm 7:30-34,19,it is tied to when Babylon invaded. And in Isa 30:27-33; in an end-time context. Isaiah even says in Isa 30:33, “The breath of the Lord, like a torrent of brimstone, sets it afire.” In Isa 66:24, during the millennium, people will be able to look upon all those the Lord has slaughtered. It seems this could where Jesus points us to for a lesson, because He uses the same expression, “For their worm will not die,and their fire will not be quenched.” This most likely be in Edom, Isa 34:8-17. But this is also talking of Ezek 39:11-16, it seems. Notice: “Its streams will be turned into pitch, and its loose earth into brimstone, and its land will become a burning pitch. It will not be quenched night or day;its smoke will go up forever”. This will be a “picture” if you will , of the lake of fire, just as Gehenna was in Jesus’ day. In Isa 65:19-25, in a millennium context, God says,”They shall not hurt nor destroy in all Mt holy mountian.” This mountian,(Isa2)is the earthly Mt Zion, so you can see how I do not think during the millennium it will be directly ourside the city’s walls? In Rev 20:11-14,22:15,I think we can understand the judgment taking place somewhere in the spiritual realm, like another dimension, much like where heaven is now:So far away, yet so close that people can see what is going on; in and on the earth, and the angels can move quickly between realms.(Like in Revelation where John and people can see what is going on. And like in Acts, Stephen saw up into heaven). Although the lake of fire could be somehow “transposed” over Edom, it seems more likely be comparable to what we know about black holes; a place so dense and dark, no light can enter into it. Also, it would not need to be very big either. Just my 2 cents worth! 🙂
Woe!
Hey Joel,
I have a bit of a head spin here. Forgive my ignorance on this matter and what may be a really silly question…”The Lake of Fire” …that’s a physical place ON earth? This is where the beast, false prophet, Satan and the unsaved are thrown into to be tormented for eternity?
Joel,
I thought the verse in Isaiah 14 was about the fall of Satan?
Giles,
True. But interestingly, it is both concerning the fall of Satan and the AC as it essentially blends the two. It concludes with, “is this not the man?” So it is obviously yeah more than just the angelic spirit.
As long as where the soul goes is different than where the body goes after the soul leaves it; what is all the fuss about?
Zosimas posted this on his blog http://facingislam.blogspot.ca/2014/01/the-islamization-of-germany-in-2013.html and frankly I say the countries that go along with Islam will be sorry when the King of Kings and Lord of Lords returns.
David,
Speak of all His wonders! I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, as much as in all riches. I will meditate on Your precepts and regard Your ways. From Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way. Psalms 🙂
http://freepatriot.org/2013/10/04/putin-recommends-alliance-western-nations-east-asia-crush-muslims/
Interesting, eh?
David,
Never thought I’d see the day when Russia and even India are more righteous than the USA! Both see the gays as what they are “unatural”, and Putin sees the Muslim radicals are the problem, not Jews. I’d tell Kerry and the USA to take a flying leap if I was Israel! 🙂
Dear Joel.
I really enjoy your Mideast Beast book. It offers so many new insights and have cause myself thinking that maybe we have barked on the wrong tree all this time.
I would like to ask, why you didn’t discus or even mention the topic regarding the mark of the beast in you Mideast Beast book? Wouldn’t that be a solid proof that Islam is the religion of the Antichrist if we can somehow connect that number to Islam? After all, the book of revelation said that one way we can recognize this beast is from its number. I’m sure you’re aware that many scholars considers the mark of the beast refers to Nero caesar but I believe it won’t be the case if the Fourth Beast is really The Islamic caliphate. What do you think?
Samuel,
One has to limit a book somewhere. I discuss the Mark of the Beast in my DVD set The Return is Near.
Hi Joel,
What are your thoughts on abu bakr al-baghdadi and his credentials to be Caliph. I was surprised to see that he ticks the decent of prophet mohammed book, but ISIS obviously very much tick the convert or die state scenario described in your books and already control swathes of the ME today.
http://www.jihadica.com/al-qaida-advises-the-arab-spring-the-case-for-al-baghdadi/
Al-Baghdadi’s descent of the Prophet Muhammad, his scholarly credentials and his actions as a mujahid who clearly builds his activities on the consensus of scholars and tries to work with others are the reasons why al-Athari believes he is such a great leader. He refutes all arguments that one may have against al-Baghdadi’s leadership and calls on Muslims in both Iraq and Syria to follow his lead and unite. In fact, al-Athari states that “we ask God that the time will come in which we will see our shaykh sitting on the thrown of the caliph”.
Hi Joel,
Thank you for your reply. I will look forward to it. By the way, after reading your book and looking at situation in Turkey, I Immediately remembers Jesus’ Parable of the Tares. Just curious, are you planning to write more books? 🙂
Neither of the two verses you first quoted said the AC will be buried. Can’t you read? And it is very telling that you did not put the exact verses from Isaiah 14 you quoted in your little article. Why did you leave out Isaiah 14:20? That right there says the AC is not buried. So you’ve got Revelation and Isaiah 14:20 both saying he is not buried, but oh no, Joel can’t listen to God. He’s too busy promoting his bankrupt Islamic AC nonsense. I just noticed your Alexa ranking, it is way up at 3.7 million. That means NO ONE is listening to you anymore. LOL Give it up, admit you were wrong, and join the rest of the sound Bible teachers and quit trying to make money on bankrupt theories. LOL
Hello Chris Schang (host of Rapture Forums),
If you read Isaiah 14 carefully, you will see that the King of Babylon / Antichrist is indeed both killed and buried. He is not rejected from any form of burial, only rejected from his royal tomb / sepulcher. In contrast to other kings of the earth, he will have no royal funeral, no royal sepulcher or tomb. Instead, we are told that he will be “covered with the slain” and “worms [will] cover you”. Instead of a proper royal burial, in a tomb, he will be buried beneath the rotting corpses of those who are slain in a mass grave in a deeply undignified manner.
First, according to verse 11, he is “covered” in maggots and worms:
Of course, this is impossible if one never dies and if their body is simply thrown “alive” into hell, as you claim. Obviously being covered by maggots and worms is what happens to a rotting natural body.
Though the Antichrist says in his heart that he will be like the Most High, he will be buried like the most low. In a deeply undignified manner, he will be covered with the bodies of those who are slain. He will have no funeral, no royal burial, just cast aside like dung into a trash pit. It’s all quite clear.
Matthew Henry explains it like this:
Needless to say, the Scriptures utterly dispel the false idea that the Antichrist will not be killed or buried.
Blessings
Hi Samuel,
I’m presently working on a new book. Hopefully it will be done and out by year’s end.
Blessings!
Why is it not possible for the man who is the antichrist to be buried, once killed, AND the demonic spirit of AntiChrist to be thrown into the lake of fire? Didn’t Judas, who betrayed Christ, kill himself by hanging? Did Satan, who entered him, perish with Judas’ body? Or is there a later judgement for Satan?
The answer to that question is obvious in scripture. Why then, is this fact overlooked? Am I missing it here?
If Gog is a king, and a man, he is subject to the wages of sin….death. The spirit of Antichrist has been around before, and will manifest again, and be ultimately destroyed by Christ in Gehenna.
Great read,
Trust Chris Schang to approach things in an unchristian like manner.
I dont think there is anything more nonsense in believing Satan has the power to bring a dead person back to life. And this is the problem which faces those opposed to the Islamic theory put forward among’st many.
I would advice to stay way from teachings like Chris Schang and rather gather all the facts and view them objectively.
Raptureforums.com will delete your posts and lock threads regarding anything that challenges their believe concerning this matter one can clearly see Chris Schang has an agenda and will protect it at all costs even at the expense of ridiculing fellow teachers.
Joel I support in what your doing going against popular opinions and trying to find the truth instead and I trust all Christians to do the same.
Shalom Joel,
I think I’ve asked you to address this very question before, and then, and now, I’m still not able to ‘run with it’, even though I am still hoping to.
From all that I read and understand so far, it does seem to me that Gog must be the Antichrist, given what YHVH Himself says about Gog in Ezek 38:17. Also, it seems to me that the Gog war is the same as Armageddon, but described from a different angle.
Yet, I am still not confident enough in your explanation of reconciling the what is the primary objection of those who would disagree. (I also sent your post to another, older brother in the Lord, who also promotes your site, to see if he thought that the answer was clear enough, and he also thought it didn’t quite hit the mark.)
Obviously, whether Gog and the Antichrist are the same person or not will also determine whether the Gog war and Armageddon are the same wars or not. Are you able to sharpen your explanation more, so that the likes of us will have more confidence in answering the objectors?
Sorry is I am a bit ‘dull’ on this one, and thank-you for any further help here.
Blessings, and I pray that the prophecy conference in August will help bring greater clarity to a number of critical issues.
Howard
http://www.streamsinthenegev.com
Howard,
I take three full chapters in my book Mideast Beast to detail this. Have you read that book? I think you will find everything you need there.
No, so I will order it!
Thanks, Joel. I know it’s not easy being an ‘answer man’. Blessings.
Hey Chris of Rapture Forums,
I am appalled at your un-Christlike behavior here and toward Joel. Just because you disagree doesn’t give you the right to be ugly and harsh in your demeanor. And if I am appalled, I’m sure our Lord is too. Shame on you for being a bad testimony to Christian love and forbearance. “They shall know Me by your love to one another.”
Btw, you will NEVER see me on your website ever again. Although I admit, it has pained me to go there the few times I have gone. It is so restrictive and one-sided there, void of any real honest discussion that doesn’t meet your approval. Who are you or better yet, you do you think you are? (Obviously you think to highly of yourself. May I suggest you meditate on the word humility.)
Your disappointed brother,
TM
TM,
Wrestling through the Scriptures really is fun. Glad to have been part of it with you. : )
Blessings, Joel
We may not be able to always see it but I think that the scriptures harmonically agree. It is truly hard to reconcile one passage that says that he is buried and another that says that he is cast alive. Here is what I think the answer is. When Daniel is awed by this little horn he helps us to understand the situation. Looking at vs.11 he says I beheld till the beast was slain, and then it says “and HIS BODY was given to the burning flame”. The context of vs. 10 has the “son of man” come near unto the Ancient of Days. Who has opened the books in preparation for judgement. Rev. Says that the saints are given into his hand “whose names are not written in the book of life”. At this point we do not see the son of man “coming” in the clouds but is now on standby alert of the Fathers wishes…the rapture is now (at that time) imminent. One thing that we overlook about the rapture is that it takes place in the twinkling of an eye. At some point the Son, along with the angels, have to make themselves ready for what only the Father knows when he will say “GO GET MY CHILDREN”. in verse 12 we see even more context of time when the other 3 beasts have their dominion taken away for a “time and a season”. We know and firmly believe that the little horn rises to become the 8th king of Rev. 17 in the middle of the last 7 years. Rev. 13 paints a clear picture of the time that these first 3 beasts of Dan.7 lose their dominion. The picture portrayed there is all the dominions (of the leopard,bear,and lion) are contained within the confines of this beast in Rev. 13. So we establish the timing as mid-week. Now I take the scriptures that speak of the beast that had the wound by a sword and did live as the resurrection and incarnation of Satan into the dead body of Gog. This would fulfill the part where “his body was slain and given to the burning flame”, only later when the son of man does come “to be cast alive into the lake of fire”. The death by Gog from the sword is alluded to in Eze. 38 where “every mans sword shall be against his brother” and in Isa. 10 where it says that a scourge awaits the Assyrian like at the time of the prince of Oreb when Gideon tricked the Midianites into slaying one another. This also agrees with the opening of the 2nd seal where it says that they should kill one another with the sword. Thus harmonizing the scriptures.
Blessings to all who keepeth the sayings and the prophecy of HIS BOOK!
Phil
Phil,
Ezekiel 39:17 to the end of the passage makes it clear that the death of Gog and his hordes produces the salvation of Israel. We cannot place this at the mid-point of the final week. It takes place at the every end.
Joel,
I agree with you because I see 2 invasions by Gog. One in chapter 38 at the start of the G.T. and again at the end of the 7 years at Armageddon. In 39 it speaks of God putting hooks in his jaws and turning him (gog) back. And 39 gives the details of Armageddon when israel has been saved and returns home. Both battles take place in Israel.
Joel,
I want to add that one verse is not much to stand on as far as seeing 2 attacks by Gog in Eze. 38 & 39. So let me give you some supporting scriptures for what I believe. Eze. 5 has some important information contained in it. One of the foremost things is found in v. 9 where it says “I (the Lord) will do in thee that which I have not done, and whereunto I will not do any more the like.” showing its application is to the great tribulation. V.5 goes on to show the geographic relevance is to Jerusalem. The overall results will be
1. A third of israel will die (pay close attention here because I am going to show you that this was not accomplished by the Babylonian destruction) by the famine and pestilence in the midst of thee (Jerusalem),
2. A third shall die by the sword round about thee (again Jerusalem), and
3. A third shall escape (the whole remnant of thee v. 10) shall be scattered into all the winds. This remnant third is the same third as in Zec. 13:8,9.
One final thing to note is that there are 4 elements of judgment here found in v.17. Famine, pestilence, EVIL BEASTS, and the sword. Scriptural references to the Babylonian destruction only contain 3, leaving out the evil or noisome beasts. Eze. 14:12-23 bears out these 4 sore judgments upon JERUSALEM. Let’s now compare Eze. 5 with 6. Ch 6 vs.12 is the key. Pestilence takes place upon those who are “far off” and the sword comes upon those “that are near”. The famine element is the same “he that remaineth (in the city)”. Think that it is a grammatical mistake? Proceed now to the very next chapter (7). Look at vs. 15. The sword comes upon (2 distinct references) those who are “without” and those “in the field”. And we have the same structure about the pestilence and famine. It says “within” and those “that is in the city”. Verse 19 in ch. 7 confirms it by saying that is “the day of the wrath of the LORD “.Chapters 5 and 7 are about the endtimes great tribulation, whereas ch. 6 is about the Babylonians. Dan. 12:1 is also about the G.T. what I see about Eze. 38 is paralleled by Dan. 11 when the king of the north is allowed to “camp” in the pleasant land when tidings out of the east trouble him and he goes there (his intentions anyways) to deal with it. While there it is then that the evil thought comes into his mind. Eze. 38:10. Thus making his attack on Israel totally a surprise. The day of the LORD shall come like a thief in the night. I will stop now and wait for your comments.
Thanks
Only objection as to Gog being the beast of the sea/antichrist is in Rev 20. Satan does his thing after being loosed, gog and magog. Satan is then thrown into the lake of fire where the beast and false prophet is. If Satan gathers a huge army with Gog although the beast is in the lake of fire, they cannot be the same person? I believe Gog is demonic because he has been around longer than human lives last. But the lake of fire is where souls are. My 2 cents! Love your new book!!
Have enjoyed perusing your may thought provoking articles. In this particular case, however, you have lost me: The passage in Revelation 19 reads:
20 Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21 And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh.
It just doesn’t seem like there is any room here for the beast to have been killed and resurrected when it specified he was personally “captured” and then “cast alive” into the lake of fire..,If it was a post resurrection casting, he would not need to have been “captured”. They are captured in the battle, cast into the fire and the rest are killed all in the same battle scene. Perhaps I am missing something?
I do wonder if the solution, assuming your correct about identifying Gog as Antichrist, is in the double identity of the beast as a person and his horde. That is what seems to be implied in Revelation. The person is captured, the horde is killed. That has difficulties with the Ezekiel passage as well however….
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Blessings. . ,