The Beginning of the War

The following is part of Kol HaTor chapter 2, part 1, number 131:

And it is a major principle that all suffering and all pain that Israel suffers from the nations of the world, in general and in particular, and all the more so in the work of Kibbutz Galuyot, these (sufferings and pain) decrease the suffering of the War of Gug uMagog (whose opening was in the year "Efraim my firstborn" [which refers to the year 5569], as is known)

It seems to be saying here that the War of Gog uMagog started 199 years ago.

If the sod of 60 is taken to the Left, but this time really until 60 instead of 59, see the resultant second and third opening of the War. HaMevin Yavin.

The 3 Wars of Gog uMagog

As I quoted from the Ramchal, there are 3 times that Gog rises against Yerushalayim. These wars should not be seen as singular events, but rather they are processes like the entire Geulah.

I word put forth that the general identity of Gog is as follows:

• 1st War - Amalek
• 2nd War - Edom
• 3rd War - Yishmael

Furthermore, I would put forth that this is hinted at in a well-known verse in Vayikra:

ויקרא כו:מב - וזכרתי את בריתי יעקוב, ואף את בריתי יצחק ואף את בריתי אברהם אזכור, והארץ אזכור

Vayikra 26:42 - And I will remember my covenant with Yaakov, and even my covenant with Yitzchak, and even my covenant with Avraham I will remember, and I will remember the land.

There are 3 progressive levels that Am Yisrael must develop, Yaakov, Yitzchak, and Avraham. Against each comes a different aspect of Gog. Their fall brings us to the completion of that level.

This implies the idea of the verse in Yirmiyahu:

ירמיהו ל:ז - הוי כי גדול היום ההוא, מאין כמהו, ועת צרה היא ליעקב וממנה יושע

Yirmiyahu 30:7 - Oy, for that day is great, there is none like it, and it is a time of trouble for Yaakov, and from it, he will be saved.

Kol HaTor interprets this in chapter 1 that specifically from within the trouble comes the salvation.

When the time of trouble for each of the Klipot comes upon us, we are saved in the zechut of the forefather that opposes that Klipah.

It is a picture with many details, but you can piece this together from other places, namely here and here.

Tikkunim Chadashim - Tikkun 60

And for all the mighty hand - At the time that Gog will come to the gates of Yerushalayim: for it is by way of accusation that he is aroused to come, because of the sin of Kayin.

And in the 1st time that he will come, a strong fire will be seen between the heavens and the earth for 3 days, and Gog will stand on the outside, opposite the gate, and the king Moshiach will be inside, and this fire will separate them, and they won't do anything to each other. Once he (Gog) will see that he can't attack, he will return to his place.

Afterwards, he will come a 2nd time, and then a strong darkness will be seen and much anger will be in the world, and great mountains will be broken, as it is said about them: "For the mountains will move, and the hills will collapse (Yeshayahu 54:10), and then: "And my kindness will not move from with you, etc (Isaiah 54:10). Then, Gog will go back.

But come and see, this wicked person, when time passes and he will consider being strengthened, like Par'oh the wicked did, as it is said about him "And Par'oh saw that he had an opportunity and he hardened his heart (Shemot 8:11), for he thought that the fear had left, and he could be strengthened, and if not now then after a bit of time.

Come and see, this wicked Gog will come a 3rd time certainly. But before he comes, HaKadosh Baruch Hu will rise up to take away the sin of Kayin from the world. And that is the secret of the verse "And he shall sit as a refiner" (Malachi 3:3). And because this wicked one (Gog) will come, the sin will already be gone. And that is the secret of the verse: "Why are the nations in an uproar, and the nations utter in vain" (Tehillim 2:1). Vain, for sure, that they thought they could become strengthened in that same sin (of Kayin), but behold that sin is already not to be found, and opposing this, the side of Kedushah needs to be strengthened for sure.

And all the strong hand - In the 2 (first) times that still the sin was not taken away.

And all the great terror - The refinement that (He will) refine, before the 3rd time he comes, that when he does come, it will be said about him: "The righteous are delivered from trouble, and the wicked come in his place" (Mishlei 11:8), really. And also, and all the hand, etc, is this.

Gog

There has been much talk in the Jewish blogs lately regarding the identity of Gog. It would seem that exerting of efforts to identify Gog are not productive. I might touch on those reasons later. What I wanted to mention was the ideas behind the Wars of Gog uMagog.

The Wars of Gog uMagog are mentioned 3 times:

• Zecharyah 12
• Zecharyah 14
• Yehezkel 38

This is a scriptual support for the tradition that there are 3 Wars of Gog uMagog. It has been fairly well circulated in the name of the Chofetz Chayim that WW1 and WW2 were stages 1 and 2.

The Ramchal made this tradition regarding the 3 stages fairly explicit in his Tikkunim Chadashim, Tikkun # 60.

It would seem from the Ramchal (and other sources which I will not discuss now) that the 1st stage was WWII, not WWI: He states there that Gog will come up to Yerushalayim but won't be able to enter. All we need to do is take Yerushalayim to mean the entirety of Eretz Yisrael. The Nazis under Rommell were stopped in Egypt. This threat was one of the reasons for the founding of the Palmach. See also here.

Obviously with the above, there is no connection between the name Gog and the names of the characters involved, either for WWI or WWII.