Is Russia the King of the North?

By COGwriter

Some writers on biblical prophecy (like Ewiak Ryszard and Hal Lindsey) have claimed that the King of the North in the 11th chapter of the Book of Daniel will be Russia in the end times.  I, and others, however, contend that the King of the North must be related to some type of Greco-Roman empire that will emerge in Europe.

Those who claim the King of the North is Russia tend to rely on certain passages in the 38th and 39th chapter of the Book of Ezekiel for much of their proof (as well as the "time of the Gentiles, see also When Will the Great Tribulation Begin?).  However, the reality is that it is only in the 11th chapter of the Book of Daniel that the term “King of the North” is actually used in scripture and that should be a major focus to understand who the final King of the North will be.

All biblically-respectful writers that I am aware of all believe that there were certain individuals who fulfilled many of the prophecies related to the King of the North in Daniel 11.  Most also believe that there will also be a final King of the North who will fulfill the latter verses of that chapter (precisely starting when is a matter of debate). (Note: those who would like to watch a video on this can watch Is Russia the King of the North?)

Ukraine has been in the news and since some there seem prophesied to be involved with Russia in the end, some may possibly be interested in reading Russia and Ukraine: Their Origins and Prophesied Future and/or watching the video Ukraine in Prophecy?

Essay by Ewiak Ryszard

Since there is a somewhat popular essay at ReligiousTolerance.org by Ewiak Ryszard that claims that Russia is the King of the North, I would like to quote and comment on parts of that article in order to provide an alternative viewpoint which I believe has greater biblical support.

First of all, I wish to say that I do agree with Ewiak Ryszard’s references that biblical Magog is now represented by Russia and its close allies.  However, the term Magog is not mentioned in Daniel 11 and I wish to mainly focus on what Ewiak Ryszard wrote about that chapter.

Second of all, I agree with Ewiak Ryszard when he claims that various Greco-Roman emperors fulfilled certain verses of Daniel 11 (though necessarily the same leaders), and hence several individually fulfilled the role of the “King of the North”. 

Furthermore, I agree with him that there is an end time fulfillment of verse 27 of Daniel 11.

However, starting with his analysis of verse 27, he goes off on what I consider to be an inaccurate tangent. Here is some of what he wrote: 

Daniel 11:27
"And both these kings, their hearts (will be) to do mischief, and at one table (they) will speak a lie. But it will not succeed, for yet (the) finish to (the) appointed time." (11:27, literal translation)

It certainly suggests that the verse does not concern to the ancient times. It describes the end of times right before the appointed time. (Compare Daniel 11:29a)

Russia and England (from second half of the XIX Century)...In 1907, an Anglo-Russian agreement divided Persia into English and Russian spheres of influence, a large Russian sphere in the north, covering the most valuable part of the country, a neutral sphere in the centre, and a smaller British sphere in the southeast.

His suggestion that a deal between Russia and England involving Egypt in 1907 fulfills the Daniel 11:27 prophecy involving a deal between the King of the North and the King of the South is in error.  And while it is true that England had certain control of Egypt back then, I do not agree that England (which is far to the north of Jerusalem) could have been the biblical King of the South.  Ewiak Ryszard’s assertion that England was the King of the South in 1907 is held by very few.  (And while Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that England was the King of the South in the early 20th century, they use 1914; the Jehovah’s Witnesses also teach that Germany, not Russia, was the King of the North then.)   

Since England is not a southern power, it is not logical that it was the King of South then or ever.  Therefore since England was not the King of the South, there has not yet been the final deal between the end time kings of the North and South as Ewiak Ryszard’s essay claims. Furthermore, I do not agree that the appointed time of the end began over a century ago (especially since Jesus taught that one generation would see many of the end time events per Matthew 24:34). While we are getting close, it has not yet began.

For the next verse, Ewiak Ryszard wrote the following:

Daniel 11:28
"And (he) ["the king of the north"] will go back (to) his land with great wealth; and his heart (will be) against the holy covenant; and will act effectively; and turned back to his own land." (literal translation)

History of Russia after World War II…

Daniel foretells here that "the king of the north" [Russia] will not only be successful in WW II, but also that he returns to his land with a great amount of goods...

The break-up of the Soviet Union and return to the country of Russian garrisons (the liquidation of Russian military bases).

I disagree with Ewiak Ryszard that this verse starts to tell the post-WWII history of Russia.  Also, there is no evidence that Russia turned against the “holy covenant”—nor was any explanation of how that presumably was fulfilled was in his essay.  It also did not return with great amounts of wealth at this time. Thus, there is no way that Russia fulfilled Daniel 11:28 or the certain other prophecies that Ewiak Ryszard contends.

And related to Daniel 11:29-30, Ewiak Ryszard makes the following claim:

Matthew 24:7 = Daniel 11:29,30 = WW III

And while this will lead to what could possibly be called WWIII, this is not. A naval conflict happens, but that is not WWIII (that seems to be Daniel 11:39).

Now, let's skip down to Daniel 11:40, which states:

40 At the time of the end the king of the South shall attack him; and the king of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, and pass through.

Notice this is a battle essentially between the King of the North and the King of the South.  This is a battle between a European power and a North African/Middle Eastern power (Daniel 11:40-43).

Ewiak Ryszard wrote the following further in his essay:

Daniel 11:44,45
Russia again will attack Israel.

Now, this is a serious biblical problem.

Why?

Because Daniel 11:44 teaches the following about the King of the North:

44 But news from the east and the north shall trouble him; therefore he shall go out with great fury to destroy and annihilate many (Daniel 11:44, NKJV).

Notice that the King of the North is troubled by news from the east and the north.  Thus, it would appear that Russia cannot be the King of the North as there are no nations that are north of Russia.  But as Russia is north of Europe, Europe geographically better fits Daniel 11:44.

Furthermore, as Israel is also not east nor north of Russia (it is south and slightly west), Ewiak Ryszard’s assertions about it and Daniel 11:44-45 are in error.

Here is another passage from Ewiak Ryszard’s essay:

Ezekiel wrote that after "Gog's" last attack he will fall and then be buried by the people. (Ez.39:4,11)

But that does not square with scripture for the King of the North. Notice that the Bible shows that the last time Gog attempts to attack is after the 1000 year millennium (which happens after there is no King of the North):

7 Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and 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. 9 They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them (Revelation 20:7-9).

In another place, Ewiak Ryszard’s essay correctly shows the millennium coming after the King of the North’s attacks and after Armageddon.

Thus asserting that Ezekiel 38 refers to the King of the North is in error. The tie to Revelation 20, after the 1000 year millennium, makes much more sense.

In Ewiak Ryszard’s essay he also claims:

Ezekiel Chapter 38 and 39 = Daniel 11:45 …

But Daniel 11:45 states this about the King of the North:

45 And he shall plant the tents of his palace between the seas and the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and no one will help him (Daniel 11:45).

The description in Daniel 11:45 is not the same as what is in Ezekiel 38 and 39.  In Ezekiel 38 and 39 Gog/Magog is helped by “many” (Ezekiel 38:6,15) “peoples” (Ezekiel 39:4), which is not the case of the King of the North in Daniel 11:45.

The Final King of the North Will Be a European Power

There are others, of course, who claim that Russia is the King of the North. Notice:

Russia is not going to let the Ukraine out of its grip, even though it has now obtained the Crimea, the home of its Black Sea fleet, the “many ships” spoken of by Daniel the prophet:

“And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over.” (Daniel 11:40)

When the Northern invader comes it is “like a whirlwind” and with “many ships”. Both of these require Russian control of the Black Sea and the Crimea, home of Russia’s Black Sea fleet. It cannot come “like a whirlwind” with “many ships” all the way from the Baltic. It needs a port close by. ...

As Andrew Kuchins, director of the CSIS Russia and Eurasia program, stated in an interview with Bloomberg:

“There is no way Putin is going to win Crimea and lose Ukraine.”

Consequently, Russia is applying economic pressure. ...

We watch with great anticipation as Russia continues to make its grand move for the building up of its image empire, as predicted by the prophets and written about extensively by Author John Thomas in Elpis Israel, and Anatolia (Jonathan Bowan. RUSSIA is fulfilling Bible Prophecy TODAY! http://www.truebibleteaching.com/bible-prophecy/336-russia-is-fulfilling-bible-prophecy-today.html accessed 10/17/15)

But despite trying to force Russia to be this power, other scriptures show that this is a reference to a European leader, not Vladimir Putin. Those who believe otherwise overlook the FACT that Vladimir Putin has NOT fufilled the following about the individual who will be the last biblical King of the North:

31 And forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation. 32 Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits. 33 And those of the people who understand shall instruct many; yet for many days they shall fall by sword and flame, by captivity and plundering. 34 Now when they fall, they shall be aided with a little help; but many shall join with them by intrigue. 35 And some of those of understanding shall fall, to refine them, purify them, and make them white, until the time of the end; because it is still for the appointed time.

36 "Then the king shall do according to his own will: he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god, shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished; for what has been determined shall be done. 37 He shall regard neither the God of his fathers nor the desire of women, nor regard any god; for he shall exalt himself above them all. 38 But in their place he shall honor a god of fortresses; and a god which his fathers did not know he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and pleasant things. (Daniel 11:31-38)

Russia and its top leader are not the biblical King of the North.

Although it is in the north, the Bible (when more specific) appears to refer to those in Russia as part of the “far north” (Ezekiel 38:3,6, 14-15).  Russia is currently the most massive military power of the “far north.” 

However, as Ewiak Ryszard and others have admitted, historically it has been Greek (and perhaps also Roman) emperors which have fulfilled past prophecies of the King of the North.

It would seem logical then, that the final King of the North would also be the ruler of some type of final Greco-Roman empire.  And the seat of power for those empires was in Europe.

Daniel 9:26-27 describes the rise of a prince who came from the people who destroyed Jerusalem, the European Romans.

Matthew Henrys Commentary states the following concerning Daniel 9:

It is here foretold that the people of the prince that shall come shall be the instruments of this destruction, that is, the Roman armies, belonging to a monarchy yet to come…the sacrifice and oblation shall be made to cease...And when it is made desolate, it should seem, there is something more determined that is to be poured upon the desolate (v. 27).

These passages, according to many Bible writers, ties into the actions of the King of the North when his forces “shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation” (Daniel 11:31).  Roman armies would be more closely tied to Europe than they would Russia. The Great Tribulation will also not start before there is an actual King of the South and an actual King of the North--and while the "prince" will apparently help make a deal with Israel, Daniel 11:27 requires two kings, which suggests that the "prince" will gain more and more importance after the deal in Daniel 9:27. Daniel 9:26-27 shows that this prince comes from the people of the old Roman Empire. This prince rules the final Beast power of Revelation 13:1, the beast of the sea. Russia is not the 'beast of the sea' (but it is trying to form a Eurasian Union, check out also The Eurasian Union, the Kings of the East, and Bible Prophecy).

The Bible is clear that the “Great Sea,” where the Beasts of Daniel 7 come from, is the Mediterranean Sea (e.g. Joshua 9:1, 23:4; Ezekiel 47:15). The Beast power is not a nation like Russia, which does not border the Mediterranean Sea, but Europe which does (there is also a YouTube video on this you can watch titled Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European?).

Furthermore, the fact that Daniel 11:44 tells that the final King of the North will be troubled by news from the east and the north most certainly does allow for the final King of the North to be European.  Russia, specifically, is both east and north of much of Europe.

Additionally, there are a couple of passages in the Book of Jeremiah that support my assertions on this:

50:41 "Behold, a people shall come from the north,
And a great nation and many kings
Shall be raised up from the ends of the earth.
42 They shall hold the bow and the lance;
They are cruel and shall not show mercy.
Their voice shall roar like the sea;
They shall ride on horses,
Set in array, like a man for the battle,
Against you, O daughter of Babylon.
43 "The king of Babylon has heard the report about them,
And his hands grow feeble;
Anguish has taken hold of him,
Pangs as of a woman in childbirth..."(Jeremiah 50:41-43).

Thus, the European empire (the "daughter of Babylon") is to be destroyed by a northern (apparently Russian led) force. This force from “the ends of the earth” will apparently be those from the far north and the far east.  This is consistent with Daniel 11:44. And the “many kings” is consistent with the “kings of the sunrise” of Revelation 16:12 (literal translation).

Notice that the “king of Babylon” the “daughter of Babylon” heard reports about them.  This is totally consistent with the King of the North being troubled by “news from the east and the north” (Daniel 11:44).

And who is the end time “King of Babylon”?

Various end time writers (including some who claim Russia is the King of the North) believe that the final “King of Babylon” (the end time Babylon in the Book of Revelation) is going to be a European power.

Yet, this is the same European power that is the King of the North in Daniel 11:27-45 and is the same one that is troubled by the news from the east and the north in Daniel 11:44.

Notice how the following prophecy ties Assyria in with the end time Babylon:

13 And He will stretch out His hand against the north,
Destroy Assyria,
And make Nineveh a desolation,
As dry as the wilderness.
14 The herds shall lie down in her midst,
Every beast of the nation.
Both the pelican and the bittern
Shall lodge on the capitals of her pillars;
Their voice shall sing in the windows;
Desolation shall be at the threshold;
For He will lay bare the cedar work.
15 This is the rejoicing city
That dwelt securely,
That said in her heart,
"I am it, and there is none besides me."
How has she become a desolation,
A place for beasts to lie down!
Everyone who passes by her
Shall hiss and shake his fist. (Zephaniah 2:13-15)

Notice particularly that God, who will punish Assyria (as also confirmed in Isaiah 10:12) is stretching His hand against a power of the north. That this northern power is Assyria. The King of the North will rule over end-time Assyria and regions of the old "Holy Roman Empire" (for more on this, please see Who is the King of the North?). We know that Zephaniah 2:15 is referring to end time Babylon as similar statements are made in Revelation 18:1-8,19. Zephaniah 2:13-15 ties in a power in the north (the final King of the North of Daniel 11:45) to the end time harlot city (Revelation 17 & 18). See also Germany in Biblical and Catholic Prophecy.

Consider also the following:

5 O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation.

6 I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.

7 Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few.

8 For he saith, Are not my princes altogether kings?

9 Is not Calno as Carchemish? is not Hamath as Arpad? is not Samaria as Damascus?

10 As my hand hath found the kingdoms of the idols, and whose graven images did excel them of Jerusalem and of Samaria;

11 Shall I not, as I have done unto Samaria and her idols, so do to Jerusalem and her idols?

12 Wherefore it shall come to pass, that when the Lord hath performed his whole work upon mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks. (Isaiah 10:5-12, KJV)

Notice the God punishes "an hypocritical nation" (meaning the USA and its Anglo-Saxon allies) and then punishes the "king of Assyria" for doing that. The King of Assyria is European (see also Germany's Assyrian Roots Throughout History). The King of Assyria is the same one that is referred to as the King of the North in Daniel 11 (see also Germany in Biblical Prophecy). Russia is not the king of Assyria nor the king of the north.

While the final time of the Gentiles is coming (per the Bible, see also When Will the Great Tribulation Begin?), the final King of the North cannot be Russia.  Only a European power meets the criteria listed in Daniel 11.  And that is consistent with other prophecies in the Bible, such as Jeremiah 50:41-43.

For a more detailed explanation of Daniel 11 and the roles and expected actions of the final King of the North, please check out the article Who is the King of the North? For details on Russia in prophecy, including explanations of the timing of Russia's roles in Ezekiel 38, please see the article Russia: Its Origins and Prophesied Future.and Those who would like to watch a video can watch Is Russia the King of the North? and Ukraine in Prophecy? To learn details of some other prophetic developments check out The Eurasian Union, the Kings of the East, and Bible Prophecy.

Thiel Bob. Is Russia the King of the North? http://www.cogwriter.com/is-russia-the-king-of-the-north.htm COGwriter (C) 2009/2012/2013/2014/ 2015/ 2017 0720

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