The “Kings of the East” are first mentioned in connection with the “beast” or the “King of the North”—a charismatic political and military leader of German or Austrian descent who will still manifest himself in Europe. The “beast” will lead ten European nations or groups of nations. He will carry out a terrible martyrdom of true Christians (Revelation 6:9-11), which might last for 3 ½ years (during the time of the Great Tribulation).
When that religious persecution of God’s servants is taking place, the beast will invade the Middle East, including Egypt, Libya and Ethiopia. He will enter the Glorious Land and conquer Jerusalem, and his forces will, at the same time, successfully attack the modern nations and peoples of Judah (the Jews) and of the House of Israel (the English-speaking nations of the USA, the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and others). The beast will apparently use nuclear weapons against the modern House of Israel, especially the USA and the UK, as all their major cities will be destroyed or laid waste in this war (compare Ezekiel 6:6; 35:4). Those of the House of Israel who survive these terrible events will become captives of the beast, mainly in Europe. The Bible does not say that the beast will use nuclear weapons against the Jewish people in Israel.
The beast will be supported by Turkey (biblical Edom). While Turkey does not appear to be part of the ten European core nations, it will, with unspeakable cruelty and hatred, murder many Jews, after having made an agreement with the beast to wipe out the name of “Israel.” God’s punishment of Turkey will be extremely severe.
After the European war against the modern Houses of Israel and Judah has begun, the King of the North or the beast will hear troublesome news “from the east and the north” and “he shall go out with great fury to destroy and annihilate many” (Daniel 11:44).
Please note that the news from the east and the north shall trouble him. In the Bible, there is no single word for north-east. The reference here can refer to both the east and the north. This troublesome news will stem from and involve the “Kings of the East”—a confederation of many Far Eastern nations.
The European forces, under the leadership of the beast, will attack the Kings of the East, as those rumors might indicate that these Far Eastern nations are planning an attack on Europe and the Middle East. At first, the European nations will use weapons that will not kill, but only torment their enemy for five months (Revelation 9:5). At that time, the beast will be, for whatever reason, unwilling to start a full-fledged nuclear war against the Kings of the East—perhaps also because its war with the USA and the UK is still ongoing.
Nevertheless, the beast’s attack on the Kings of the East will be gruesome. The five-month torment of the beast’s war machines “was like the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a man” (Revelation 9:5). The pain will be so severe that“men will seek death and will not find it; they will desire to die, and death will flee from them” (verse 6).
Even though the European weapons will, at first, “only” harm people without killing them, this will quickly change as we read in Daniel 11:44 that ultimately, as the war drags on, the King of the North will “destroy and annihilate many” of the Far Eastern people.
The Kings of the East will retaliate with brutal force. They had been restrained by four angels but were now released to cross the Euphrates [it does not say that the river had dried up at that point] to kill many Europeans. They will use sophisticated nuclear weapons of mass destruction and kill one-third of mankind (Revelation 9:18), showing that the effect of their actions will not be limited to just European nations. As will be discussed, other passages tell us that ultimately, Europe will be destroyed by these Far Eastern nations, and the beginning of this destruction will undoubtedly commence with this counterattack, but additional attacks will follow. This also shows that the Kings of the East were not altogether unprepared for such military action by the beast, and that the beast’s concern about a Far Eastern attack will not have been unjustified.
In Revelation 9:16, John states that he heard that the number of “the army of the horsemen” of the attacking Kings of the East was 200 million. The Life Application Study Bible (1996) writes that “In John’s day, this number of mounted troops in an army was inconceivable, but today there are countries and alliances that could easily amass this many soldiers.”
Some would dispute this. But there are other explanations for this huge number. We should note that Revelation 9:16 literally says that John heard “the number of armies of the cavalry two myriads of myriads…” The word for “cavalry” is hippicon, which is derived from hippos, meaning “horse.”
Some claim the reference to the huge number of horses is strictly symbolic; others state that the army describes a force of 200 million demons. But since the emphasis is on the “horses” or tanks and other deadly weaponry, the thought should be considered that the tanks are not directed by human beings, but by robots. Especially Far Eastern nations are already heavily engaged in creating and cloning dangerous artificial intelligence (AI) machines. The terrible influence of AI must by no means be underestimated, and especially true Christians must be very careful not to engage themselves too closely with AI manipulations which could indeed be of demonic origin.
The initial attack of the beast on the Kings of the East and their retaliation on Europe begin at the time described in the Bible as the “Day of the Lord” (Revelation 6:17)—which commences about one year prior to Christ’s return. But that war will continue.
We read in Revelation 16 that the Kings of the East are now preparing to strike a final blow in an effort to win the war. This will take place just prior to Christ’s return… maybe just a few days or weeks before Christ’s Second Coming. The Kings of the East will be crossing the now dried-up river Euphrates to move their armies and equipment to a place called “Armageddon,” to assemble there with the apparent desire to advance toward Jerusalem to defeat the beast (who will by that time be in Jerusalem, having planted “his tent of his palace” there; Daniel 11:45). It is Satan and his demons who will assemble the Kings of the East, the beast and the false prophet [a religious leader working with the beast] as well as all the armies of the world to this place, called Armageddon (Revelation 16:12-16). Please note that it does not say that a battle will take place at Armageddon; only that all the armies of the world will assemble there.
Armageddon (in Hebrew Har Megiddo, the “Mount of Megiddo”) sits at the western edge of the Jezreel Valley. Megiddo is located roughly 18 miles southeast of Haifa and 25 miles southwest of the Sea of Galilee, as well as 75 to 90 miles (120 to 125 km) north of Jerusalem.
But even prior to or during their move towards Armageddon, the Kings of the East will continue their war through Europe. They will defeat Europe under the leadership of the modern Medes, who will be part of the Kings of the East. Isaiah 13:17-19 describes the destruction of modern “Babylon” (Europe) through the hand of the modern “Medes.” Verses 6, 9 and 13 designate the timing as occurring during the “day of the LORD.”
In ancient times, the Medes lived in present-day Iran. Originally under Assyrian rule, they revolted against and expelled the Assyrians and imposed their rule over the Persians. They then attacked Nineveh and overthrew the Assyrian Empire. Under Cyrus the Great, the Medes and the Persians were considered one people. The Encyclopedia Britannica (ed.1959) points out that at least some of the Medes were not Iranians or Indo-Europeans, but perhaps connected with the numerous tribes of the Caucasus. The modern Medes, then, are to be found in modern Russia and surrounding areas, including Ukraine.
The historian Herodotus wrote in Terpsichore, 9, that the Medes began to settle throughout South Russia and present-day Ukraine. He stated: “They say that they are a colony of Medes.” Pliny wrote in Natural History, book VI, section xi, that the people who colonized the lands along the river Don claim to be “descended from the Medes.” The Church of God has long held and taught that the modern Medes can be found today among the Russian and Ukrainian peoples who will be instrumental in leading the Far Eastern nations to destroy Europe.
So, Russia and Ukraine will be fighting together, as part of the Kings of the East, against Europe. Today, both nations are fighting each other. But this war will end, and they will combine their forces against the West, especially Germany and continental Europe. We don’t know whether Russia will overtake Ukraine, or whether the two nations will reach an amicable agreement. What we DO know is that finally, they will work hand-in-hand to defeat and destroy Europe.
As mentioned, it appears that before or while moving toward the place called Armageddon in the Middle East, at least parts of the armies of the Kings of the East will sweep through Europe, creating devastating havoc there. Jeremiah 51:27-28 refers to horses as coming up against Babylon like bristling locusts, indicating that they will use some of their tanks and their air force to destroy modern Babylon. They will be led primarily by the modern “Medes”—the Ukrainians and the Russians.
They will apparently destroy and burn the city of Rome—the religious capital of the revived Roman Empire—the city built on seven hills (Revelation 17:9,18).
But we also find that the ten end-time European kings or kingdoms will turn against the religious power and its seven-hill city and “make her desolate” (verse 16), apparently confiscating her property. This depicts the coming strong European alliance between church and state, which is prophesied to crumble. Ultimately, modern Babylon—the religious and economic European system, as well as the city of Rome—will be destroyed in one day (Revelation 18:8) and in one hour (verse 17).
The Bible does not give us all the specifics as to how, exactly, the destruction of the religious system and the city of Rome will occur; that is, whether or not the Medes or the Kings of the East and the ten nations or its leaders will independently turn on the “fallen woman” (the religious power), or whether there will be some limited collaboration between those powers.
In addition, as the ancient Medes destroyed ancient Nineveh—the capital of the Assyrian Empire—, so the modern Medes will also destroy modern Nineveh, capital of modern Assyria or Germany, which would be Berlin today. (Some have suggested that this capital may be Vienna, the capital of Austria).
Much has been written about the fear of a nuclear war between Russia and Germany. This war will indeed take place, and in the process, the modern Medes will totally destroy the modern city of Nineveh, but only AFTER the modern European-Babylonian Empire will have attacked and conquered the USA, the United Kingdom and the State of Israel.
Iran will participate in Europe’s destruction. In Isaiah 21:2, we find a description of the destruction of modern Babylon through the modern Medes and the modern Persians (Iranians). It says: “Go up, O Elam (Iran)! Besiege, O Media!” A future alliance between Russia, Ukraine and Iran (which is already developing today) is not surprising, given the fact that these powers were allied in the past as the “Medo-Persian Empire.” It appears that after their mutual attack on Jerusalem, modern Babylon will turn against Iran and enslave the Iranian people; and that Russia and Ukraine will intervene and free the Iranians; and that Russia and Ukraine, together with Iran, will attack modern Babylon.
While assembling at Armageddon, the Kings of the East and all the other armies moving there will suddenly feel threatened by another “enemy,” and being influenced by Satan and his demonic powers, they will combine their forces with the kings of the whole world (including the beast power) to attempt to defeat that common foe. That “foe” is none other than the returning Jesus Christ, His saints, and His angelic armies. In light of the end-time mania and demonic belief in UFOs, USOs and other demonic apparitions, the worldly and godless armies might perhaps think that Christ and His angels will be an army of hostile aliens with spaceships who are coming to destroy the world. The Bible shows us that Christ will thoroughly defeat and destroy all these worldly armies at the great battle at Jerusalem, when His feet stand on the Mount of Olives.
But this is not the end of the story of the Kings of the East.
After Jesus Christ has set up His rule on earth and the Millennium has begun, the Kings of the East—those who were not part of the army destroyed by Christ at Jerusalem—will again try to conquer the Promised Land. This attempt will occur after the Houses of Israel and Judah have been freed from slavery by Christ and settled peacefully in the Promised Land (Ezekiel 38:8, 11-12). It will be at that time that they will know that God is “the LORD their God from that day forward” (Ezekiel 39:22).
Ezekiel 38 identifies the identity of the hostile nations and armies. This gives us a clue as to who the nations of the Kings of the East will be that will attack Europe and that will invade the Middle East prior to Christ’s Return.
Ezekiel 38:2–3, 5, 6 speaks of “Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal,” as well as “Persia, Ethiopia (Hebrew: Cush) and Libya (Hebrew: Put),” “Gomer and… the house of Togarmah.” “Gog” means “mountain” or “high” and seems to be a reference to a commander (compare also verse 7: “be as guard [or commander] for them”).
Magog has been understood as a reference to the Mongols—or more generally, China
As Gog is identified as being “of the land of Magog,” and also as “the prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal,” it appears that at that time, Gog, the leader of the future Kings of the East and the nations under his command, will be Chinese. At the time prior to Christ’s Return, when the Medes were leading the Kings of the East, their commander seems to have been from Russia or Ukraine.
Some translations, such as the NIV, render Ezekiel 38:2-3 in this way: “… set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal… I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal…” But in the footnote to verse 3, the NIV states: “Or the prince of Rosh.” However, omitting the reference to “Rosh” as a people and replace it simply with “chief ruler” makes little sense, as Meshech and Tubal are correctly described as peoples as well.
The New Luther Bible 2009 renders these two verses as follows: “Turn against Gog, who is in the land of Magog and the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal… I will come to you , Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal…”
“Rosh,” meaning “blond,” is a reference to the White Russians or Ukrainians. “Meshech” is another designation for the city of Moscow, and “Tubal” for the city of Tobolsk. Meshech and Tubal, being sons of Japheth—the father of the Eurasian peoples—and brothers of Gomer and Magog (compare Genesis 10:2), seem to refer here to the Great Russians. Included in this entire description are the vast regions in northern Eurasia extending from the Baltic to the Pacific.
Persia (Elam in Hebrew) designates modern Iran; and Ethiopia (Cush in Hebrew) includes the people of Ethiopia, but also peoples in Central and Southern India and parts of Sri Lanka. Cush’s sons, Seba and Raamah (Genesis 10:7), and Raamah’s son Sheba (same verse), were later worshipped by Hindus as the gods Shiva and Ramah.
Libya (Put in Hebrew) includes the people of the state of Libya, as well as people from Northern and Central India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. As we read earlier that Ethiopia and Libya will be conquered by the beast prior to Christ’s Return, they will not be part of the Kings of the East at the time just prior to Christ’s Return, but they might become part of that collaboration after Christ’s Return, unless in Ezekiel 38, Cush and Put don’t refer to the nations of Ethiopia and Libya, but exclusively to the peoples of Southern India, Sri Lanka, Northern and Central India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Perhaps all these countries are included in this collaboration of the Kings of the East after Christ’s Return.
Gomer seems to designate the peoples from the Asian steppes and deserts, including people from the region of Mongolia. Finally, the reference to “Togarmah from the far north” (Ezekiel 38:6) has been understood as a reference to the people living in Siberia.
We note that certain other Far Eastern countries are not mentioned in Ezekiel 38, such as Japan, Korea and the Philippines, but it is highly likely or at least conceivable that they will be part of the Kings of the East prior to Christ’s Return.
We read in the 38th and 39th chapters of the book of Ezekiel that God will supernaturally intervene and destroy those warring nations.
But even that war at the beginning of the Millennium might not end the story of the Kings of the East. A similar attack on Jerusalem will occur when the Millennium is ending and Satan is “released from his prison” for a short while. He will “go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea” (Revelation 20:7–8).
We know that this is not the same incident as the one described in Ezekiel 38 and 39, as major differences are listed. For instance, Revelation 20:8 speaks of the hostile nations which are in “the four corners of the earth,” while Ezekiel 38:15 and Ezekiel 39:2 say that they come from “the far north.”
Also, the nations referred to in Revelation 20 might not have to be identical with those mentioned in Ezekiel 38 and 39, but they could just be mentioned symbolically in the book of Revelation to signify those who are opposing God and following Satan. Still, this passage might very well describe the final attempt of the Kings of the East and of all those from all over the world who follow them under Satan’s lead, to rebel against God and His people.
They will try to conquer Jerusalem, but God will supernaturally destroy them (Revelation 20:9), as He had done to the Kings of the East about 1,000 years earlier.
This will end the story of the Kings of the East, as revealed in Scripture. Never will they fight in war anymore, and never will they again oppose God and His people.
Lead Writer: Norbert Link