It seems likely that Putin would fulfill the role of Gog if the rapture happens tomorrow. He’s already had personal meetings with Iran and Turkey. However, since we don’t know when the rapture will happen we can’t say for certain. If Putin died tomorrow and someone took his place as dictator, that person would become the next best candidate to fulfill the prophecy of Ezekiel.
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In Ezekiel 38:1–6, 10 proper names identify the invading forces. Nine of them describe geographical locations. The word Gog is the lone exception. It occurs 12 times in chapters 38—39 and is a name or title for the leader of the invasion.
He is identified as “Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal” (38:2). We know Gog is an individual because he (1) is addressed directly by God (v. 14; 39:1), (2) is called a prince (38:2; 39:1), and (3) is referred to repeatedly by the use of personal pronouns. Also, he is “of the land of Magog,” indicating he is a person. The word Gog is not the leader’s name but, rather, a title, like pharaoh, president, or czar.
In the Old Testament, the word Gog appears only once outside Ezekiel 38—39 (cf. 1 Chr. 5:4) and clearly references a different person. Gog may mean “high, supreme,” or “a height,” possibly emphasizing this leader’s elevated position and pride. It may come from a Sumerian word (gug) meaning “darkness.” Bible scholar Dr. Thomas Constable said Ezekiel may have “referred to this unnamed future enemy of Israel as a dark figure (unknown and evil) calling him ‘Dark’ much as we might refer to such a person as a new Hitler.”
In light of the actions of current Russian President Vladimir Putin, many have wondered if he could be the Russian leader known as Gog. While it is possible, we must always avoid irresponsible attempts to identify a world leader today with an end-times figure.
Author and journalist Joel Rosenberg gave his assessment about any connection between Putin and Gog:
Over the years, people have asked me if Putin might be the Russian dictator referred to as “Gog” in the Biblical prophecies of “Gog and Magog” in Ezekiel 38—39. . . . Here’s my quick answer: It’s too soon to draw such a conclusion. There’s much more that would have to happen to indicate that Putin was the “Gog” of Bible prophecy. But there’s no question in my mind that Putin is Gog-esque. He is dangerous, and both Israel and the West should keep a close and wary eye on him, especially given all that Putin has done to build a strategic alliance between Russia and Iran and the other countries mentioned in the “Gog and Magog” prophecies.
Time will tell. What we can say is that Putin cannot definitively be identified as Gog nor conclusively ruled out. He may be setting the stage for another leader who is waiting in the wings. But Putin is at least a faint foreshadow of what’s coming.
Who are the Kings of the East? Just speculating given current events. Shalom
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