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The discussion of Genesis 10:1-5 delves into the prophetic significance of the descendants of Japheth from Genesis 10, focusing on their names and their potential roles in end-times events. Key names like Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Mishkan, and Tirzah are analyzed, with interpretations of their meanings and historical contexts.
The conversation between Mr. Agee and the congregation highlights the geographical locations of Japeth’s descendants and their potential alliances, particularly with Turkey and other Muslim nations. The speakers emphasize the importance of understanding these names and their prophetic implications, suggesting a future conflict involving these descendants and Israel.
Exploring the Names of Japheth’s Descendants
Richard Agee introduces the topic, emphasizing the importance of understanding the names of Noah’s descendants in Genesis 10 and their prophetic significance.
The chapter is divided into three sections, each focusing on the descendants of one of Noah’s sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. This discussion focuses on Japeth.
“Now these are the records of the generations of Shem, Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah; and sons were born to them after the flood. The sons of Japheth were Gomer and Magog and Madai and Javan and Tubal and Meshech and Tiras. The sons of Gomer were Ashkenaz and Riphath and Togarmah. The sons of Javan were Elishah and Tarshish, Kittim and Dodanim. From these the coastlands of the nations were separated into their lands, every one according to his language, according to their families, into their nations.” (Genesis 10:1-5 NAS95)
Turkey’s Rising Role: Ezekiel’s Prophecy and the Modern Threat
“And the word of the LORD came to me saying, “Son of man, set your face toward Gog of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him and say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal. “I will turn you about and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them splendidly attired, a great company with buckler and shield, all of them wielding swords; Persia, Ethiopia and Put with them, all of them with shield and helmet; Gomer with all its troops; Beth-togarmah from the remote parts of the north with all its troops — many peoples with you.” (Ezekiel 38:1-6 NAS95)
Ezekiel 38:1-6 is a detailed prophecy against the descendants of Gog, Magog, Rosh, Meshach, and Tubal. Most of the men who are listed here are descendants of Japheth.
Gog’s name means “mountain,” symbolizing power and strength.
For God, the center of the world is Jerusalem so when he describes these nations as settling to the north, they are to the north and east of Jerusalem. The far north location of the nations of Gog and Magog, suggests a connection to the modern nation of Turkey and the regions they ruled for over 500 years under the Ottoman Empire.
Walid Shoebat makes it quite clear that Turkey will be at the forefront of the nations that will gather to attack Israel in the Last Days. Right now, as we speak, what is the relationship between Israel and Turkey? They’re no longer friends or allies. They no longer do military maneuvers together. The current government of Turkey is slowly attempting to restore the diplomatic, if not the literal footprint of the former Ottoman Empire and Israel’s existence is an affront to that goal.
The Turks, by the way, when they were allied with the USA during the Korean War, the Americans and the South Koreans were just stunned by how brutal and deadly the Turks were.
The Turkish forces were one of the most brutal group of killers on the battlefield. They would cut their enemies heads off, skin them, shrink them and bring them home for souvenirs. That’s gross, but pretty powerful. You know, Turks are not known for their hospitality on the battlefield.
“And you, son of man, prophesy against Gog and say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal; and I will turn you around, drive you on, take you up from the remotest parts of the north and bring you against the mountains of Israel. “I will strike your bow from your left hand and dash down your arrows from your right hand. “You will fall on the mountains of Israel, you and all your troops and the peoples who are with you; I will give you as food to every kind of predatory bird and beast of the field. “You will fall on the open field; for it is I who have spoken,” declares the Lord GOD. “And I will send fire upon Magog and those who inhabit the coastlands in safety; and they will know that I am the LORD.” (Ezekiel 39:1-6 NAS95)
Ezekiel 39 goes on to described Gog’s defeat and the burial of his multitude in the land of Israel in an area that will be called the Valley of Hamon Gog in great detail.
““My holy name I will make known in the midst of My people Israel; and I will not let My holy name be profaned anymore. And the nations will know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel. “Behold, it is coming and it shall be done,” declares the Lord GOD. “That is the day of which I have spoken. “Then those who inhabit the cities of Israel will go out and make fires with the weapons and burn them, both shields and bucklers, bows and arrows, war clubs and spears, and for seven years they will make fires of them. “They will not take wood from the field or gather firewood from the forests, for they will make fires with the weapons; and they will take the spoil of those who despoiled them and seize the plunder of those who plundered them,” declares the Lord GOD. “On that day I will give Gog a burial ground there in Israel, the valley of those who pass by east of the sea, and it will block off those who would pass by. So they will bury Gog there with all his horde, and they will call it the valley of Hamon-gog. “For seven months the house of Israel will be burying them in order to cleanse the land. “Even all the people of the land will bury them; and it will be to their renown on the day that I glorify Myself,” declares the Lord GOD.” (Ezekiel 39:7-13 NAS95)
The Role of Gog and Magog in End-Time Prophecies
“When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison, and will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war; the number of them is like the sand of the seashore.” (Revelation 20:7-8 NAS95)
In Revelation, Yeshua warns His people that the nations of Gog and Magog will participate in the end-time battle against the saints.
“And they came up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, and fire came down from heaven and devoured them. And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” (Revelation 20:9-10 NAS95)
So when we think of fire, we think of the physical fire that you actually feel and burns your hand but when God brings forth a fire this is not a physical fire, like a forest fire. It’s much more powerful than a forest fire or even a nuclear explosion. The fire from God can either cleanse you, purge, you, and make you as pure gold, or it can kill you. That’s the power of the fire that’s coming out from heaven from God’s throne. The Father Himself devoured God and Magog and all those allied with them. He stopped them and they couldn’t fight anymore.
He did not cremate the armies of Gog and Magog, otherwise God would not have shown Ezekiel how long it will take to bury the conquered armies or how much land their mass grave would occupy.
The Descendants of Madai and Their Significance
The next son of Japeth for us to look at is Madai’s name, whose name means “middle land.” This means that the descendants of Madai will live in the middle of his brothers, they are not a nation in and of themselves, yet they do exert profound influence on the nations that rule over them.
Josephus, in his book, Antiquities of the Jews, relates the Medes to the biblical character, Madai, son of Japheth.
“Now as to Javan and Madai, the sons of Japhet; from Madai came the Madeans, who are called Medes, by the Greeks.” (Antiquities of the Jews, 1:6)
Their territory included the area that we now call Kurdistan and the Kurdish people, among others such as the Azeris, claim some descent from the ancient Medes. The area of ancient Media also encompasses all of northwestern Iran and the entire area of ancient Medea is under the influence of Islam.
Javan’s role in prophesy
Javan’s name means “high spirited,”and his descendants are historically connected to the people of the Greek islands, Cyprus and the Anatolian peninsula (known in antiquity as Ionia), which is where the modern nation of Turkey is located.
The Greek people have been referred to by cognate names across various regions, including the Eastern Mediterranean and the Near East. For instance, in Sanskrit, they are called “Yona” (यवन or yavana), a term likely derived from earlier Indo-Iranian or proto-Aryan languages from which Sanskrit itself evolved.
The Hebrew name “Javan” has intriguing roots tied to symbolic meanings. One possible root is the noun יין (yayin), meaning “wine” or fermented grape juice, often associated with celebration, influence, or intoxication. Another root is יונה (yona), meaning “dove,” a creature that symbolizes both vulnerability and abundance in biblical narratives. The dove also represents the Holy Spirit in Christian theology. The concept of being “high-spirited” could relate to the heights doves can soar, suggesting freedom or transcendence, or it might evoke the euphoric effects of wine, metaphorically lifting one’s spirit. This duality underscores rich symbolic connections in Hebrew thought.
“And wine which makes man’s heart glad, So that he may make his face glisten with oil, And food which sustains man’s heart.” (Psalm 104:15 NAS95)
The Middlemen of Injustice: Tubal and Meshech’s Legacy
“Javan, Tubal and Meshech, they were your traders; with the lives of men and vessels of bronze they paid for your merchandise.” (Ezekiel 27:13 NAS95)
In Hebrew, Tubal’s name means “confusion” while Meshech’s name means “to draw out.”
Both of them were known as merchants or middleman, engaged in the act of buying and selling. But what were they buying and selling? They were slave traders, buying and selling and merchandizing their fellow human beings for profit.
They are also mentioned later in Ezekiel 39 along with their elder brother Gog and not in a good way, but rather in a way that tells us that Meshech and Tubal were in an alliance with Gog.
“And you, son of man, prophesy against Gog and say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal; and I will turn you around, drive you on, take you up from the remotest parts of the north and bring you against the mountains of Israel.” (Ezekiel 39:1-2 NAS95)
God declares that He will “draw Gog out,” as described in a prophetic scenario. This refers to God orchestrating events to lure Gog into a situation where he believes victory is within reach. The notion is akin to setting a trap: God allows Gog to think he can conquer, only to demonstrate His power by ultimately defeating him.
In this prophecy, it is implied that Turkey will also be deceived, believing it can destroy Israel. However, this deception serves God’s purpose to showcase His sovereignty and protection over His people. The “bait and hook” imagery underscores the idea of divine control over the ambitions and actions of nations, steering them toward God’s predetermined outcome. Their names are an act of prophesy against them.
From Thrace to Kievan Rus: The Expansive Legacy of Tiras
The name “Tiras” is interpreted to mean “to expand, grow, or open up,” which might symbolically refer to the growth and spread of his descendants. As for where Tiras’ descendants eventually settled, there are numerous theories ranging from associations with the Thracians of southeastern Europe to other ancient peoples. It’s challenging to determine with certainty which theory is correct, and it’s possible that multiple theories reflect partial truths about the migrations and settlements of Tiras’ lineage.
Some of the ancient people groups or territories connected to Tiras include:
- Thrace (Modern day Greek, Bulgaria and Romania. Josephus supports this connection)
- Etruscans
- Persia (supported by the Talmudic tractate Yoma)
- Kievan Rus (supported by the Jewish writing called the Yosippon)
- American Indians (supported by author Daniel G. Binton (1837-1899)
The Legacy of Gomer: From Completion to Conflict
“The sons of Gomer were Ashkenaz and Riphath and Togarmah.” (Genesis 10:3 NAS95)
Gomer’s name means “to be completed or to come to an end,” and has a profound connection to the Black Sea area.
Gomer’s oldest son was Ashkenaz, whose name means “sprinkled.” What does that mean? These people were spread out, sprinkled all over, they went outward in small pockets across the world. One of the areas they were sprinkled towards was the area we now call Germany. Hence that is how the Jews from Eastern Europe got the name Ashkenazi.
Jeremiah gives us some more historical and prophetic information about the people of Ashkenaz.
“Lift up a signal in the land, Blow a trumpet among the nations! Consecrate the nations against her, Summon against her the kingdoms of Ararat, Minni and Ashkenaz; Appoint a marshal against her, Bring up the horses like bristly locusts. Consecrate the nations against her, The kings of the Medes, Their governors and all their prefects, And every land of their dominion. So the land quakes and writhes, For the purposes of the LORD against Babylon stand, To make the land of Babylon A desolation without inhabitants.” (Jeremiah 51:27-29 NAS95)
Now, keep a pin here as we go to Ezekiel 38, which also refers to Gomer’s house stating,
“and also Gomer and all belonging to him, and the house of Togarmah from the far north and all belonging to him, and many nations with you.” (Ezekiel 38:6 SAAS)
Where is this “far north” that Ezekiel is discussing here? What ethnic groups or nations are north of Turkey? Armenia is one but also Georgia and Azerbaijan. Ezekiel is warning us that Gog is going to have control over Turkey and the regions immediately north of Turkey.
The next descendant is Riphath whose name, according to my research means “spoken,” may mean that his sons are spokespeople for Gog.
Coastlands of Nations: Javan’s Line and the Spread of Civilization
“The sons of Javan were Elishah and Tarshish, Kittim and Dodanim.” (Genesis 10:4 NAS95)
Agee explains the meaning of Elishah’s name, which means “God of the coming,” or “God of the coming one.” The one who is coming to do God’s will and who would come to earth to do God’s will perfectly? The Messiah, of course.
Just on a side note, Elishah’s name is spelled differently in Hebrew to the prophet Elisha, ending in a hei (ה) instead of an ayin (ע). Scholars connect Elishah’s territories to Cyprus, the “boot of Italy” and to Sicily.
The name of Tarshish, which means “yellow jasper” is found quite often in the Bible, mainly mentioned in the books of Jonah and Isaiah.
In the book of Isaiah, he speaks often of the ships of Tarshish that will come against the land of Israel. Yes, the people of Tarshish are known as traders and merchants, but they are also known for their navy.
The next son of Javan mentioned in Genesis 10:5 is Kittim. His name means “bruiser” or “one that brings forth the damage” or “is going to be bruised.” According to traditional sources, the people of Kittim also settled in Cyprus and the area we now call Macedonia. In 1 Maccabees 1:1, Alexander the Great is called the King of Kittim.
The last son of Javan mentioned in Genesis 10:5 is Dodanim or Rodanim. The name is plural and means “leaders” or “to move or lead slowly.” Another meaning is “islanders.”
“From these the coastlands of the nations were separated into their lands, every one according to his language, according to their families, into their nations.” (Genesis 10:5 NAS95)
These coastlands can either refer to islands or coastal areas, where there are ports with access to navigable waters. Lebanon, for example, to the north of Israel, has several ancient ports and when the area was called Phoenicia, was renown for their navy. Israel did not have many natural ports and were never had a navy of any significance.
We need to continue studying and understanding the prophetic significance of the names of Noah’s descendants recorded in Genesis 10. They are fascinating and deserve further exploration.
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