God will destroy the Russian homeland by fire, while the invading army is destroyed on the mountains of Israel.
Ezekiel 39:6 says God will send a fire on Magog and among those who dwell carelessly in the isles. Les Feldick identifies Magog with Russia, so he teaches that the Russian homeland will be annihilated. The invading army itself, according to Ezekiel 39:1–5 and Les's teaching, is destroyed on the mountains of Israel.
Ezekiel 39:6 — This is the direct statement that God will send fire on Magog, the homeland of the invading force.
Ezekiel 39:4 — This verse describes the invading army falling on the mountains of Israel, which contrasts with the homeland's destruction.
Ezekiel 38–39 describes God bringing Gog of the land of Magog against the mountains of Israel. In Ezekiel 39:1–5, God says He will turn Gog back, leave only a sixth part of him, and bring him upon the mountains of Israel, where he and all his bands will fall and be given to ravenous birds and beasts of the field. The text then states in Ezekiel 39:6, "And I will send a fire on Magog, and among them that dwell carelessly in the isles: and they shall know that I am the LORD." Earlier, in Ezekiel 38:22, God says, "And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone." Scripture does not name Russia in these verses; it speaks of Gog, Magog, Meshech, and Tubal.
Les identifies the Ezekiel 38–39 invasion as the great Russian invasion of Israel, which he connects to the red horse of Revelation 6. He places it within the first half of the seven-year Tribulation timeframe. Les teaches that the Russian army will be defeated on the hills and mountains of Israel partly by its own internal confusion and partly by God's direct judgment of pestilence, hail, fire, and brimstone. On the homeland, Les points to Ezekiel 39:6, where God says He will send fire on Magog — which Les equates with Russia — as well as on the homelands of the accompanying nations. He notes that this language differs from the destruction of the army in Israel. Les then offers a clearly labeled personal speculation: God may use an outside force to destroy the Russian homeland, perhaps a Russian attack on North America followed by retaliatory submarine fire, but Les insists this is only speculation and cannot be proven from Scripture.
Les directly says this is not Armageddon. He teaches that the Ezekiel 38–39 invasion is a separate war and a separate battle within the seven-year Tribulation timeframe, even though some people think it is Armageddon.
Scripture says God will plead against Gog with pestilence and blood, raining overflowing rain, great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. Les adds that every man's sword will be against his brother, so the army annihilates itself, and that God's power will utterly destroy the northern army on the hills and mountains of Israel. He also notes that God will turn them back and leave only a sixth part.
God says in Ezekiel 39:6, "And I will send a fire on Magog, and among them that dwell carelessly in the isles." Les teaches that this refers to the homeland of Russia as well as the homelands of all the accompanying nations that have conspired against Israel. He contrasts this with the army's destruction in Israel, which uses pestilence, hail, and brimstone.
The Bible only says that God will send the fire on Magog. Les teaches that God may use an outside force to destroy the Russian homeland, but he explicitly says this is his own speculation and that he cannot prove it from Scripture. He offers the logical possibility that Russia could attack North America and then be destroyed by retaliatory submarines, but he does not present this as a biblical certainty.
Russian Invasion in the First Half of the Tribulation
Les places the great Russian invasion of Ezekiel 38–39 in the first half of the seven-year treaty and connects it to the red horse of Revelation 6.
God's Judgment on the Invading Army
The Russian army is defeated by its own internal confusion as well as God's direct judgment of pestilence, hail, fire, and brimstone, and is utterly destroyed on the hills and mountains of Israel.
Fire on Magog — the Russian Homeland
God will send fire on Magog, which Les identifies as the homeland of Russia and the accompanying nations, and this is a separate battle from Armageddon.
Gog of Magog and the Red Horse
Les identifies the red horse rider of Revelation 6 as the Russian invasion of Israel described in Ezekiel 38–39.
God's Fury Against Godless Russia
Les says Russia's long anti-God history and Communist atrocities are reasons God's fury is coming, and the invasion will cause a great shaking in the land of Israel.
Ezekiel's Language in Modern Terms
Les translates Ezekiel's weapons language into modern artillery, tanks, and armored personnel carriers, showing the passage applies to a contemporary invasion.
God's Direct Judgment on the Invading Force
God is against Gog, will turn him back, leave only a sixth part, smite his weapons, and bring him to the mountains of Israel for destruction.
Outside Force Against the Russian Homeland — Speculation
Les speculates that God may use an outside force, such as a Russian attack on North America and retaliatory submarine fire, to destroy the Russian homeland — but he says this is only speculation, not provable from Scripture.
Ezekiel 39:6: And I will send a fire on Magog, and among them that dwell carelessly in the isles: and they shall know that I am the LORD.
This is the direct verse about the destruction of the Russian homeland by fire.
Ezekiel 39:4: Thou shalt fall upon the mountains of Israel, thou, and all thy bands, and the people that is with thee: I will give thee unto the ravenous birds of every sort, and to the beasts of the field to be devoured.
This verse describes the destruction of the invading army on Israel's mountains.
Ezekiel 38:22: And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone.
This verse shows the direct judgment God brings upon the invading forces.
Ezekiel 39:1: Therefore, thou son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal:
This identifies the leader of the invading force against whom God declares His opposition.
Revelation 6:4: And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.
Les connects this red horse of Revelation 6 to the Russian invasion of Ezekiel 38–39.
According to Les Feldick, God sends fire on Magog, which is the homeland of Russia, and it is destroyed. The invading Russian army is also destroyed on the mountains of Israel.
Les places it in the first half of the seven-year Tribulation, after Israel signs the seven-year treaty, and he connects it to the red horse of Revelation 6.
No. Les teaches that the Ezekiel 38–39 invasion is a separate war and a separate battle within the seven-year timeframe, not the final battle of Armageddon.
Watch the Teaching: When Will the Tribulation Begin? The 70th Week of Daniel