The prophecy of the Millenium mentions the nations of "Gog and Magog". Gog and Magog are also mentioned in more detail in a prophecy in Ezekiel 38 and 39 (given in the 6th century B.C.) - and here the identity of Gog and Magog is specified in detail.
This was a long term prophecy that would be fulfilled many years later:
After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them. Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee. (Eze. 38:8-9)
In several false interpretations, especially during the Cold War era, many misinterpreted this prophecy as predicting an assault on the new state of Israel by Russia and the surrounding nations. However in the spiritual sense, Israel represents the Christian Church, gathered together out of many nations. The Judaic nation was but a symbolic representation of the spiritual Church. And Russia is not even mentioned in the prophecy - instead it focuses on the coming of the Turks, and the eventual rise of the Ottoman Empire.
Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him (Eze. 38:2)
Gog has been identified as the king Gyges (Gu-gu in Assyrian tablets) who reigned over the kingdom of Lydia from 687 - 652 B.C. Magog means the "land of Gog" so it may refer to this kingdom in Anatolia, modern Turkey. Josephus identified Magog with the Scythians, who dwelled north of the Black Sea. Here is a map of Lydia under Croesus in its final period in the 6th century B.C.:
Meschech is identified by Josephus with the Cappadocian Mochoi and their capital Mazaca, which is the city Kayseri in modern Turkey.
The Cappadocian Mochoi are the ancient tribe of the Mushki, identified in ancient Assyrian sources. Some connect them to the Georgian tribe of the Meskhi, and others to the Moschoi of Greek sources. The Moschoi have been identified with Georgians and Armenians. According to the Wikipedia:
"Two different groups are called Muski in the Assyrian sources (Diakonoff 1984:115), one from the 12th to 9th centuries, located near the confluence of the Arsanias and the Euphrates ("Eastern Mushki"), and the other in the 8th to 7th centuries, located in Cilicia ("Western Mushki"). Assyrian sources identify the Western Mushki with the Phrygians, while Greek sources clearly distinguish between Phrygians and Moschoi."
As for Tubal, Josephus identified him as the ancestor to the Iberians. Subsequent authors took this to mean Tubal was the ancestor to the Iberians who settled in Italy and Spain. This is probably incorrect, and Josephus probably meant the Caucasian Iberians, which is in the region of modern Georgia:
There was a Luwian tribe known as Tabali who inhabited Anatolia from the 3rd to 1st millenium B.C., which is sometimes identified with Tubal. In the eighth century B.C. Tabal entered into an alliance with the Mushki against Assyria. So again, Tubal refers to an ancient tribe that dwelled in the modern region of Turkey.
Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee. (Eze. 38:6)
Gomer refers to the Cimmerians, who first appear in history when they invaded the kingdom of Urartu in 714 B.C. They ultimately settled in the modern region of Turkey. Togarmah is either identified as the ancestor of Armenians, Cappadocians, Phyrgians or even the Turks themselves.
All of the regions mentioned above became subject to the Seljuk Turks and subsequently the Ottoman Empire. The "chief prince of Meschech and Tubal" is thus the Ottoman Empire. In addition, the prophecy specifies other nations will be allied with Gog and Magog: Persia (modern Iran), Ethiopia (Egypt) and Libya.
Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet (Eze. 38:5)
The following shows a map of the Seljuk Empire, which included the region of Persia:
As for Egypt and Libya, the Ottoman Empire invaded this area in the 16th century. The empire eventually covered a portion of Persia. The following map shows the gradual expansion of the Ottoman Empire, until it included both Egypt and Persia:
The Arab Empire of Islam
In the prophecy of the invasion of Gog and Magog, the Arabs are mentioned, in which they are surprised at the coming invasion:
Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions ther, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil? (Eze. 38:13)
Sheba and Dedan refer to the Arabs - which makes this prophecy even more specific, as it just so happens that a large Arab Empire was in control of the Middle East before the coming of the Seljuk Empire. Christians coexisted peacefully with these Muslims - but with the coming of the Seljuk Turks, Christian worship in the Holy Land began to be prohibited. What makes this prophecy interesting is that one identification for Tarshish places it in southern Spain, and the Arab Empire spanned all the way to the Straits of Gibralter, and at one point even included southern Spain:
Ultimately, the Arabs would become allies with the British to help bring about the downfall of the Ottoman Empire.
The Spiritual Meaning of the Millenium
The millenium is a 1000 year period described in the book of Revelation, in which Satan is bound after which a final judgement takes place.
And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. (Rev. 20:1-3)
In the spiritual world, there are periodic last judgements that take place in an area between heaven and hell, which Swedenborg called the "world of spirits". Before a judgement can take place, the evil spirits (signified by "devil" and "Satan") must be bound in an area so that they can not communicate with these spirits to be judged in order to deceive them. The angel here is the Divine Operation itself, as Jesus is described as having the keys to hell and death (Rev. 1:18). Thus this describes the spiritual judgement that was executed after Jesus was crucified (see my previous blog, "Jesus the Shaman - Descent into the Underworld").
And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. (Rev. 20:4-6)
Upon death, we will encounter a Light, and our own conscience will judge every act we have committed. However, there are certain souls that are not ready for death, and are not thus not ready to be judged. They enter into a period of sleep, before a choice is made between heaven or hell. In the spiritual world periodic last judgements are made upon these souls that are in a sleep - they are awakened, and all are judged collectively.
A "throne" is not a literal throne - it is a symbol for when the Divine Truth is opened and allowed to judge the actions of these spirits. Some religions falsely assume certain people will be put on thrones to judge others, but only God has that authority. To be "beheaded" does not mean to have one's head cut off, instead it means to be rejected by others, who use the falsities of their own intelligence. It is the people who are rejected by those who follow false religion - "the beast and the false prophet". To reign with Christ represents that they will ascend to live with God in his heavenly kingdom. It does not mean that there will be a thousand year political kingdom here on earth.
And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
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.
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.
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. (Rev. 20:7-10)
In the second phase of judgement, the evil spirits are loosed, who then go forth to gather others who remained in the world of spirits who knew nothing of spirituality or religion - this is represented by "Gog and Magog". Those who have no knowledge can be easily deceived, and incited to do evil. And here they are incited to spurn and reject everything related to God and his worship - this is described as an assault on the holy city. Due to this, their spiritual state changes, and they cast themselves downward into hell - this is fire from God out of heaven. Apparently when heavenly light is allowed to enter into the middle region between heaven and hell, there is a corresponding reaction afterwards as hell then ascends upward with its darkness into this same region. Thus last judgements can only happen periodically.
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.
And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Rev. 20:11-15)
According to Swedenborg, in this phase the spirits of the lower heavens are judged - those who simulated civil moral good in appearance, but in their heart desired evil. The reason why such spirits are allowed in the lower heavens for a period of time is that those who are in simple good follow them, and have such an influence that they can help these other spirits reach heaven. They were judged so that a new Church could be formed - one that worshipped one God, and lived according to his commandments - this is described as a new heaven and earth, and a New Jerusalem which descends out of heaven.
In Swedenborg's vision, this particular Last Judgement began to take place in the year 1757, with particular focus on those who were Christian in appearance only. No physical sign was given that this took place - except for the fact that towards the end of the 18th century the political power of the Catholic Church was destroyed by the nations of Europe.
The Time Period of the Millenium
Swedenborg did not interpret the Millenium as a literal 1000 year period. However, what the prophecy of Ezekiel shows is that the prophecy of Gog and Magog was fulfilled with the rise of the Seljuk Empire (1037 - 1194 A.D.), followed by the Ottoman Empire (1299 - 1918 A.D.). The Seljuk Empire brought an end to the last Christian kingdom in the Middle East (the Byzantine Empire) in 1071 A.D. in the Battle of Manzikert, after which they took most of the area of modern Turkey. Many historian consider this critical battle to be the actual end of the empire, rather than the fall of Constantinople four centuries later. The period of the Millenium thus represents the age of the rise of Christianity: from 71 A.D. to 1071 A.D. It begins with the final fall of Judaism, with the destruction of the Jewish Temple by the Romans in 70-71 A.D., forty years after the crucifixion of Jesus (the true temple).
The reason why the Millenium began in 71 A.D. with the total destruction of the Temple, rather than 31 A.D. (the crucifixion of Jesus), is that in prophecy there was a 40 year judgement period of the Jews from 31 to 71 A.D. This 40 year period is mentioned in several texts and prophecies - including perhaps the Dead Sea scrolls. Probably several will be surprised that the Millenium ended in the past many centuries ago. Thus certain details of the prophecy of Gog and Magog need to be explained in more detail.
The Final Judgement on Gog and Magog
In the preceding chapter to the prophecy of Gog and Magog, Ezekiel 37 describes a union between the tribes of Israel and Judah. According to Swedenborg, the spiritual sense of this chapter represents the establishment of the Christian Church by the Lord. Many think it represents the Jewish state of Israel, which is false, and thus place the prophecy some time in the future. Gog and Magog, in the spiritual sense, signifies people who only have an external form of worship, but no internal spiritual worship: they go through the rituals, but that's it as far as the understanding goes. The assault of the Turkish peoples on those of the Christian West lasted for several centuries following the Battle of Manzikert in 1071 A.D., ending with the collapse of the Ottoman Empire at the end of World War I. Towards the end, the prophecy states that the weapons of Gog and Magog will be burned for a period of seven years:
And they that dwell in the cities of Israel shall go forth, and shall set on fire and burn the weapons, both the shields and the bucklers, the bows and the arrows, and the handstaves, and the spears, and they shall burn them with fire seven years (Eze. 39:9)
The burning of weapons for seven years is symbolic: the weapons signify falsities that are used to attack the truths of the Church, a seven year period signifies a complete period from beginning to end, and for the weapons to be burned by fire signifies that their own falsity will lead them to self destruction. Those who interpret this literally have trouble explaining the burning of wood for seven years. However in a literal sense, it signifies that the Ottoman Empire will fall after a seven year war: such a period came about from 1911 to 1918 A.D. World War I lasted from 1914-1918 A.D., but the Ottoman Empire was involed in three wars before that: the Italo-Turkish War (1911-12 A.D.), the First Balkan War (1912-13 A.D.), and the Second Balkan War (1913 A.D.) And since then, the Ottoman Empire was transformed into the modern democratic state of Turkey. Despite the constant wars of the past, the Turks are well known for being one of the friendliest nations on earth today. Whenever narrow minded religious people try to turn Turkey back to an Islamic state, the military intervenes and kicks out the radical religious people. This was foretold by Ezekiel. Turkey is unique among the nations of the Middle East.
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: and there shall they bury Gog and all his multitude: and they shall call it The valley of Hamongog. And seven months shall the house of Israel be burying of them, that they may cleanse the land. (Eze. 39:11-12)
The cleansing of the land, in a spiritual sense, means the restoration of the Church. During the period of World War I, the Pentecostal movement began - the reason why I consider it as part of a restoration is that they restore the doctrine of the Church that God is One, One in person - quite similar to what was revealed to Swedenborg. "Hamongog" simply means the multitude of Gog. During World War I there were massive amounts of deaths, and it took a long time to bury the dead. In the spiritual sense, this means the death of one age and the beginning of another.
Many speak of the battle of Armageddon - which in a spiritual sense is the final battle between light and darkness when the Church is restored. However there was a historical event which may represent this spiritual battle: the Battle of Megiddo between the British and the Ottoman Empire in 1918 A.D. The name of Armageddon comes from the hill of Megiddo. This battle, along with the literal restoration of the state of Israel, are physical signs given to indicate that the final judgement and Second Coming is no longer in the future - it has already happened. This has happened in the spiritual world, as seen in the visions of Swedenborg. The first coming was a revelation of the Divine Truth in human form. The second coming is a revelation of the hidden Divine Truth in the Biblical Word itself - the spiritual sense behind the literal form, revealed in visions to Swedenborg. Some of this can be seen in my former blogs, hopefully I will have time to show more...