Many people falsely believe that the empire's leader (Antichrist) will come from Russia.  Their arguments go as follows:

1)  A powerful Empire:

     The theory that Russia will spawn the Antichrist came when the Soviet Union (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) was a powerful, evil and godless Empire.  They falsely assumed that the Soviet Union is the same evil Empire described in the prophecies.  However, since then the Soviet Union has dissolved, and Russia is now a democracy and a Christian country.  Many Russians consider their country to be a beacon of Christianity to the world.  That former evil and godless Empire is gone.

2)  The location of Magog:

     Some people falsely assume that since the name Magog sounds a little bit like "Moscow" that it must be Moscow.  This is silly and ridiculous reasoning.  The fact is that Ezekiel 38:2 says that Magog is the same place as Gog.  According to Harper's Bible Dictionary, Gog is also known as Lydia, which is where Thyatira, Sardis, and Philadelphia were located.  These places inside Lydia are famous places that Paul ministered, and are all in Turkey, not Russia.

3)  The location of Meshech:

     Meshech also sounds a little bit like "Moscow," and so, some people falsely assume that it must be Moscow in Russia.  According to Harper's Bible Dictionary (p.629, 1985), Meshech and Tubal were people, but they are also names for an allied location.  The people were nomadic and moved to Sinai.  But according to the maps in Harper's Bible Dictionary (1985), the location is in Turkey, not Russia.

4)  Prince of Rosh in Ezekiel 38:

     Most Bible translations do not have the word "Rosh" within Ezekiel chapter 38.  However there are some Bible translations that do include the word "Rosh" in Ezekiel 38, for example the New King James version of Ezekiel chapter 38 verse 2:
  

However, other Bible translations have the word "Rosh" in only one place in the entire Bible, in Genesis chapter 46 verse 21:
  

This disagreement between Bible translations comes from scholars not agreeing if "Rosh" is an adjective or a proper noun.  If Rosh is an adjective, then if means head, top, summit, or chief; such as "Prince of Meshech."  But if Rosh is a proper noun then it describes a specific location, such as "prince of Rosh, Meshech."  Bible scholars are not able to agree if "Rosh" is an adjective or a noun.
     Those who believe that it is a noun have noticed that the word "Rosh" sounds a little bit similar to another word, "Rus."  Rus is an ancient name for the people who lived in northern Europe, and the Russian people are descendent from the ancient Rus.  Since Rosh sounds similar to Rus, even though they are different words, some people assume that Rosh is in Russia.  So, those who believe that the word "Rosh" is a noun assume that Rosh is the same as Russia.  However, Ezekiel 38 makes it clear that this prince is in both Magog and Meshech, and I have already shown that both Magog and Meshech are located in Turkey.

5)  A land from the north:

     The Antichrist comes from a land north of Israel, and since Russia is north of Israel, people falsely assume that the Antichrist must be Russian.  However, there are many countries that are north of Israel.  The Antichrist may come from any of them.

Why it cannot be Russia:

     It is impossible for the Antichrist to come from Russia, since he is frightened by a country north of him (Daniel 11:44).  There are no countries that are north of Russia.  Therefore, the Antichrist must come from a country that is south of Russia.
     Also, Russia has a different role in prophecy.  The truth is that Russia will be good, not evil.  In a later section of this work about an army from Asia, I will explain Russia's good role in detail.