Ezekiel 38:17

“Thus says the Lord Yahweh, Are you he of whom I spoke in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in those days for years that I would bring you against them?”

This question brings home that we are dealing here with something very unusual. God does not usually so speak to His instruments. And of all that the prophets had said, this is what is highlighted. The belligerent attack of Gog was something greater and beyond the usual judgments on God's people. It was so important that the prophets had spoken about it ‘for years'. Compare Isaiah 29:1; Jeremiah 4:6; Joel 1:2 to Joel 2:14; Joel 3:9; Amos 5:18; Zephaniah 1:7; Zechariah 14:2. In the end, whatever its connection with the kings of Persia, this is the last enemy.