Original Douay–Rheims AnnotationsEzekiel 38

Against Gog, and the Land of Magog.

^[1] Gog and Magog, according to the most common opinion, were the King, and people of Scithia, in the North part of the world, a barbarous, savage, and cruel nation, the offspring of Magog son of Japheth: ^[2] whereto the Prophet alluding describeth here, as S. Jerome in this place, S. Augustine. li. 20. c. 11. de civit. and other Fathers expound it, ^[3] all persecuters of the Church; most especially Antichrist, and his complices. Of whom likewise, by the same mystical names, S. John prophesieth Apoc. 20. v. 7. that Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, and shall go forth, and seduce the nations, that are upon the four corners of the earth, Gog, and Magog, and shall gather them into battle, ^[4] whose number is as the sand of the sea. For the Church being spread on all the earth (as S. Augustine noteth in the same place) her enemies also spread every-where, shall most vehemently persecute her. But the holy Prophets, namely Ezechiel here, v. 21. &c. and S. John, v. 11. foresheweth, that Christ our Lord will destroy them all. ^[5]

• 1 Gog and Magog, the King and Kingdom of Scythia:
• 2 Gen. 10.
• 3 Signifying all persecuters of the Church, especially Antichrist.
• 4 Psal. 2. Isa. 11. Dan. 12.
• 5 Who shall be destroyed.