The invasion of Israel by Russia and its armies in Ezekiel 38 and Ezekiel 39 is very different to the invasion of Israel by Rome and its armies in Revelation 17. Both armies are ultimately destroyed at Armageddon and are fed to the fowls of the air (Ezekiel 39: 17 – 19 & Revelation 19: 17 – 21), but the strategic planning behind the two invasions varies greatly.
Jewish fortunes having been enormously increased by the victory of the Israel Defence Force in the Arab-Israeli War that precedes the Tribulation will lure Russia into coming after the great booty that Israel possesses at that time, thus the intent behind the Russian invasion of Israel is to take control of the nation’s expanded resources and mineral wealth (Ezekiel 38: 11 – 12). The Beast’s invasion of Israel however is to exterminate the Jewish people (Zechariah 13: 8) and enthrone the Man of Sin in Israel’s rebuilt temple (2 Thessalonians 2: 3 – 4).
The destruction of Gog and his armies in the land of Israel is brought about by supernatural causes engineered by God in the form of anarchy, disease, torrential rain and great hailstones (Ezekiel 38: 18 – 22), whereas the destruction of the Beast and his armies is brought about by the spoken Word from Christ’s mouth (Revelation 17: 12 – 14; Revelation 19: 19 – 21). When the dead bodies of the armies of Gog and the armies of the Beast lay strewn throughout the land of Israel, then they collectively will be fed upon by the fowls of the air in the Supper of the Great God (Zephaniah 1: 7; Revelation 19: 17 – 18).