Edom as a Symbol of Imperial Oppression
Edom, particularly in Obadiah, is condemned for its betrayal of Israel. It is not just a nation but a recurring symbol of those who oppose God’s covenant people.
Edom, particularly in Obadiah, is condemned for its betrayal of Israel. It is not just a nation but a recurring symbol of those who oppose God’s covenant people.
Rabbinic tradition and later Christian thought extended the meaning of Edom to Rome and, by extension, Christendom, which wielded imperial power in ways that oppressed the Jewish people and distorted the faith.
Edom thus represents covenantal betrayal, as Esau/Edom rejected his birthright and sided with oppressors rather than his brother Jacob/Israel.
Gog as the Final Eschatological Enemy
Gog and Magog, introduced in Ezekiel 38-39 and later referenced in Revelation 20:8, represent the ultimate rebellious nations that rise against God’s kingdom.
Unlike Edom, which has a historical and genealogical identity (descendants of Esau), Gog is a more amorphous figure, representing apocalyptic opposition to God’s order.
Some Jewish midrashim and Christian interpretations link Gog to Rome, Byzantium, or even later European empires, seeing it as the culmination of anti-covenantal forces.
The Connection: Eschatological Enemies & Imperial Powers
Edom foreshadows Gog: Edom, in rabbinic and Christian thought, embodies imperial oppression and betrayal of Israel. Gog, on the other hand, is the final empire or coalition that seeks to destroy God’s people at the end of time.
Christendom as Edom, but Gog as its final form: If Christendom is Edom—betraying the covenant while claiming divine right—then Gog is its apocalyptic evolution, where imperialism no longer masks itself with theology but seeks raw dominion.
Both meet the same end: In Obadiah, Edom is “cut off forever” (Obadiah 1:10), and in Ezekiel and Revelation, Gog is annihilated in divine judgment. They share a destiny of total destruction for their defiance of God’s order.
Modern Implications: The State of Israel as Edom and Gog
Some scholars and many Rabbis argue that the modern State of Israel, in acting like Edom, has placed itself on the trajectory of Gog—a geopolitical entity that relies on military force, nationalism, and political alliances rather than covenantal faithfulness.
This aligns with the prophetic warnings in Obadiah and Ezekiel—that nations that trust in their own power will be humbled.
The Zionist movement’s reliance on Western imperial backing (first Britain, then the U.S.) mirrors Edom’s alliances and betrayals. But its expansionist tendencies and regional conflicts also place it in the role of Gog, provoking a final eschatological war.
Where Does This Lead?
If Edom is Rome/Christendom and Gog is its eschatological manifestation, then both lead to a final confrontation where God reasserts divine rule. Edom represents betrayal; Gog represents full rebellion—both are judged accordingly. This also ties into the apocalyptic expectations of the messianic age, where these forces must be dismantled before true divine rule can be established.
