Appendix A — The Indignation

From: Outline Of Prophetic Events: Chronologically Arranged From The Rapture To The Eternal State By: Stanley Bruce Anstey

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A Summary of the Battles During the Indignation

As mentioned earlier, the Indignation is a term used by the prophets to describe a short period of time of about 75 days (2 1/2 months) at the end of the seven-year Tribulation (Rom. 9:28²⁸For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth. (Romans 9:28); Dan. 12:5-13,⁵Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of the river. ⁶And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders? ⁷And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. ⁸And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? ⁹And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. ¹⁰Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand. ¹¹And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. ¹²Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days. ¹³But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days. (Daniel 12:5‑13)–the 1260 days to 1335 days). During this time, the Lord will vent His “indignation” against Israel on account of His controversy with them for their sin of idolatry and their departure from Him (Isaiah 10:5, 25; 26:20⁵O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation. (Isaiah 10:5)
²⁵For yet a very little while, and the indignation shall cease, and mine anger in their destruction. (Isaiah 10:25)
²⁰Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. (Isaiah 26:20); Dan. 8:19; 11:36,¹⁹And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation: for at the time appointed the end shall be. (Daniel 8:19)
³⁶And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done. (Daniel 11:36) etc.). To accomplish His “indignation” against Israel, He will employ the instrument of the Assyrian and the surrounding Gentile nations who have a deep hatred for them (Psa. 83:4-5⁴They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance. ⁵For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee: (Psalm 83:4‑5)). After the nations have been used by the Lord to accomplish His work of humbling Israel, He will have “indignation” on those nations in judgment (Isa. 30:27-33; 34:2; 66:14²⁷Behold, the name of the Lord cometh from far, burning with his anger, and the burden thereof is heavy: his lips are full of indignation, and his tongue as a devouring fire: ²⁸And his breath, as an overflowing stream, shall reach to the midst of the neck, to sift the nations with the sieve of vanity: and there shall be a bridle in the jaws of the people, causing them to err. ²⁹Ye shall have a song, as in the night when a holy solemnity is kept; and gladness of heart, as when one goeth with a pipe to come into the mountain of the Lord, to the mighty One of Israel. ³⁰And the Lord shall cause his glorious voice to be heard, and shall show the lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of his anger, and with the flame of a devouring fire, with scattering, and tempest, and hailstones. ³¹For through the voice of the Lord shall the Assyrian be beaten down, which smote with a rod. ³²And in every place where the grounded staff shall pass, which the Lord shall lay upon him, it shall be with tabrets and harps: and in battles of shaking will he fight with it. ³³For Tophet is ordained of old; yea, for the king it is prepared; he hath made it deep and large: the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the breath of the Lord, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it. (Isaiah 30:27‑33)
²For the indignation of the Lord is upon all nations, and his fury upon all their armies: he hath utterly destroyed them, he hath delivered them to the slaughter. (Isaiah 34:2)
¹⁴And when ye see this, your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like an herb: and the hand of the Lord shall be known toward his servants, and his indignation toward his enemies. (Isaiah 66:14); Jer. 10:10¹⁰But the Lord is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation. (Jeremiah 10:10); Nah. 1:6⁶Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him. (Nahum 1:6); Hab. 3:12¹²Thou didst march through the land in indignation, thou didst thresh the heathen in anger. (Habakkuk 3:12); Zeph. 3:8⁸Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the Lord, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy. (Zephaniah 3:8)).

How Do We Know This Will Be the Order of Events?

The question may well be asked, “How do we know the battles during the Indignation will happen in the order given in the outline in the first part of this book?” This is where we believe it is so important to have an outline of the Old Testament Prophets, both major and minor. Many students of prophecy focus mainly on the books of Revelation and Daniel in their studies, and consequently, they miss much. No one book gives the whole prophetic future. It is, therefore, necessary to have all the Prophets before us when studying prophecy, in order to get the complete picture. Certain prophets focus on certain aspects of prophecy. It is not the intention of every prophet to cover the whole scheme of things, but whether they cover a large part of the prophetic picture or a small part, the order in the outline is maintained throughout all the Prophets.

In the following seven point summary, we present a few of these outlines from various places in Scripture that confirm the order of prophetic events during the Indignation. Space does not allow us to look at every outline in Scripture, but we trust that the ones we have given will conclusively prove that the order is consistent with the whole of Scripture.

A Seven Point Summary of the Battles During the Indignation

Point #1

The armies of the King of the South (Egypt and their allies) will invade the land of Israel from the south (Dan. 11:40⁴⁰And 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)).

Point #2

The armies of the King of the North, with his Arab confederacy, will sweep through the land of Israel from the north and desolate it. Other countries situated around the land of Israel will also be affected by this “overflowing scourge,” as these armies make their way into Egypt, overthrowing them as well (Dan. 11:40-43⁴⁰And 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. ⁴¹He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. ⁴²He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape. ⁴³But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps. (Daniel 11:40‑43)).

Point #3

The armies of the Beast (the Western confederacy), hearing of the invasion of the King of the North, will come in from the west to defend the land of Israel (Num. 24:24²⁴And ships shall come from the coast of Chittim, and shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, and he also shall perish for ever. (Numbers 24:24); Rev. 16:13-14; 19:19¹³And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. ¹⁴For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. (Revelation 16:13‑14)
¹⁹And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. (Revelation 19:19)).

Point #4

As the Beast and his armies enter the land of Israel, the Lord will appear with the armies of heaven (the glorified heavenly saints) to destroy the Western confederacy—at which time the Beast and the Antichrist will be cast into the lake of fire (Rev. 16:15-21; 19:11-21¹⁵Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. ¹⁶And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. ¹⁷And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. ¹⁸And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. ¹⁹And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. ²⁰And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. ²¹And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great. (Revelation 16:15‑21)
¹¹And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. ¹²His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. ¹³And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. ¹⁴And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. ¹⁵And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. ¹⁶And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. ¹⁷And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; ¹⁸That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. ¹⁹And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. ²⁰And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. ²¹And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh. (Revelation 19:11‑21)).

Point #5

The armies of the King of the North will return from Egypt into the land of Israel and will be destroyed by the Lord (Dan. 11:44-45⁴⁴But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many. ⁴⁵And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him. (Daniel 11:44‑45); Joel 2:20²⁰But I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savor shall come up, because he hath done great things. (Joel 2:20)).

The Restoration of Israel

After the King of the North has been destroyed, but before Russia (Gog) comes down from the far north, the restoration of Israel to the Lord will take place. It will take place in two phases (Ezek. 37).

1. The Lord will show Himself at the Mount of Olives to the remnant of the Jews (the two tribes) and they will mourn in repentance and be restored to Him (Zech. 12:9-14; 14:4-5⁹And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. ¹⁰And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. ¹¹In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon. ¹²And the land shall mourn, every family apart; the family of the house of David apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart; ¹³The family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart; the family of Shimei apart, and their wives apart; ¹⁴All the families that remain, every family apart, and their wives apart. (Zechariah 12:9‑14)
⁴And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. ⁵And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with thee. (Zechariah 14:4‑5)).

2. The Lord will re-gather the ten lost tribes of Israel from the ends of the earth, and they will also be restored to Him (Matt. 24:30-31³⁰And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. ³¹And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. (Matthew 24:30‑31)).

(*We have not called the restoration of Israel a point # in the summary because it is not a battle.)

Point #6

When all twelve tribes of Israel are dwelling safely in their land in fellowship with the Lord, the armies of Gog (Russia), and many other nations with them, will come down from the uttermost parts of the north in an attempt to destroy Israel. The Lord will roar out of Zion and destroy the Russian confederacy and the armies that follow them (Ezek. 38-39).

Point #7

Having destroyed the Russian armies, the Lord will lead out the armies of restored Israel in a victorious conquest to take their full inheritance as promised by God to Abraham (Isa. 11:14¹⁴But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the west; they shall spoil them of the east together: they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab; and the children of Ammon shall obey them. (Isaiah 11:14); Mic. 4:13¹³Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion: for I will make thine horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass: and thou shalt beat in pieces many people: and I will consecrate their gain unto the Lord, and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth. (Micah 4:13); Jer. 51:20-23²⁰Thou art my battle axe and weapons of war: for with thee will I break in pieces the nations, and with thee will I destroy kingdoms; ²¹And with thee will I break in pieces the horse and his rider; and with thee will I break in pieces the chariot and his rider; ²²With thee also will I break in pieces man and woman; and with thee will I break in pieces old and young; and with thee will I break in pieces the young man and the maid; ²³I will also break in pieces with thee the shepherd and his flock; and with thee will I break in pieces the husbandman and his yoke of oxen; and with thee will I break in pieces captains and rulers. (Jeremiah 51:20‑23)).

“The indignation” is properly over when the Lord destroys the armies led by Russia—the Assyrian in its final form1 (Isa.10:25).

Scriptural Outlines That Confirm This Order of Events.

1) Daniel 11-12

Daniel 11, gives a detailed account of the wars between two kings—the King of the North (Syria) and the King of the South (Egypt). Historically, they were the two dominant parts of the Grecian Empire. Verses 1-35, were fulfilled in history before the time of Christ by various kings of the north and south. But from verse 36 to the end of the book of Daniel, we are given what is yet to be fulfilled in a future day. The Church period of approximately 2000 years comes between the 35th and 36th verses of chapter 11. The Church is not mentioned because it is not reckoned in prophecy. The Church is a mystery hid in the heart of God in past ages (Eph. 3:2-7²If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: ³How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, ⁴Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) ⁵Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; ⁶That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: ⁷Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. (Ephesians 3:2‑7); Col. 1:26-27²⁶Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: ²⁷To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: (Colossians 1:26‑27); Rom. 16:25²⁵Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, (Romans 16:25)).

Verses 36-39, give a brief description of the doings of the willful king, the Jews’ false Messiah (the Antichrist), during the Great Tribulation. He will promote wickedness and idolatry, and will lead many into apostasy. He will continue his course of wickedness until “the indignation” (vs. 36). As the Indignation begins (vs. 40) the King of the South (Egypt and her allies—vs. 43) will invade the land of Israel from the south. This is point #1 in the summary.

The King of the North (we learn elsewhere that there will be a confederacy of Arab nations with him—Psa. 83, etc.), will then sweep down upon Israel from the north, desolating it (vss. 40-41) and many other surrounding nations at the same time. He will continue his conquest southward into Egypt after defeating their armies which have come up into the land of Israel (vs. 42). This is point #2 in the summary.

The King of the North will not be in Egypt to see the Pyramids and other tourist attractions; he will enter that land to plunder its wealth (vs. 43). While in Egypt, the King of the North will hear tidings out of the north (vs. 44). This is a veiled reference to the Beast and his armies (the Western confederacy) entering the land of Israel (which is geographically north of Egypt) in an attempt to defend it. This is point #3 in the summary.

At the same time, the King of the North will also hear tidings out of the east (vs. 44a), which probably refers to the Appearing of Christ with the armies of heaven. (The coming of Christ will be out of the east—Matthew 24:27²⁷For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. (Matthew 24:27).) The first thing Christ does at His Appearing is destroy the Western confederacy (Rev. 19:11-21¹¹And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. ¹²His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. ¹³And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. ¹⁴And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. ¹⁵And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. ¹⁶And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. ¹⁷And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; ¹⁸That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. ¹⁹And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. ²⁰And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. ²¹And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh. (Revelation 19:11‑21); 2 Thess. 2:8⁸And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: (2 Thessalonians 2:8)). This is point #4 in the summary.

After hearing these tidings, the King of the North will return from Egypt into the land of Israel and will be destroyed by the Lord (vss. 44b-45). This is point #5 in the summary.

The prophecy continues into the 12Th chapter of Daniel. After the Lord has dealt with the Western confederacy and the King of the North, Daniel’s people (his people were Jews—hence the Jewish remnant) will be delivered and restored to the Lord (chap. 12:1). At this time, the Lord will effect a national resurrection (not a literal resurrection) of Israel, and the 10 tribes who have been scattered throughout the earth will return (chap. 12:2-3). There will be two classes among them; the real (those with faith) and the false (those without faith). The rebels (the false ones who do not have faith) will be purged out from among the others at the borders of the land (Ezek. 20:34-38³⁴And I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out. ³⁵And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face. ³⁶Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord God. ³⁷And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant: ³⁸And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am the Lord. (Ezekiel 20:34‑38)). The real ones will go into the land and join the remnant of Jews (the two tribes), and together, they will enjoy the blessings of Christ’s kingdom on earth—the Millennium—that is about to begin. This answers to the interval in the summary between points #5 and #6.

Points #6 and #7 of the summary are not included in this outline in the book of Daniel because the subject of Daniel is the course of “the times of the Gentiles,” which will close with the Lord’s appearing (Luke 21:24-28²⁴And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. ²⁵And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; ²⁶Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. ²⁷And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. ²⁸And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. (Luke 21:24‑28)). Gog will come down from the north after the Lord has returned and has established His kingdom in Israel, as the other outlines will show.

2) Revelation 16:12-21¹²And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared. ¹³And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. ¹⁴For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. ¹⁵Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. ¹⁶And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. ¹⁷And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. ¹⁸And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. ¹⁹And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. ²⁰And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. ²¹And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great. (Revelation 16:12‑21)

These verses show that when the sixth vial will be poured out, a confederacy of kings from the east will begin their advances towards the land of Israel (vs. 12). This answers to the movements of the armies given in point #2 of the summary. (This is the same confederacy mentioned in Daniel 11:40-45,⁴⁰And 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. ⁴¹He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. ⁴²He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape. ⁴³But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps. ⁴⁴But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many. ⁴⁵And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him. (Daniel 11:40‑45) under the leading of the King of the North. When these armies are mentioned in Scripture in opposition to the King of the South they are spoken of as the armies of the King of the North, but when they are mentioned in opposition to the Western powers (the Beast), they are spoken of as “the kings from the east.” The book of Revelation develops prophecy mainly from the Western standpoint, so it is fitting that they are called “the kings from the east” here. In Isaiah and Micah, etc., they are called the Assyrian, because those prophets develop prophecy at a time when the Assyrian was Israel’s great northeastern enemy.2)

As these confederate kings from the east (and north) of Israel come in, the Western armies under the leadership of the Beast will rally, gathering their forces to enter the land (vss. 13-14). This is point #3 in the summary.

When the Western armies come into the land of Israel, the Lord will come out of heaven as “a thief” (vs. 15). He will judge the Western confederacy under the figure of (political) Babylon (7th vial–vs. 17-21).3 This is point #4 in the summary.

This outline only covers points #2 Through #4, but notice, the order is maintained even though not all the battles of the summary are given. The book of Revelation, being in the New Testament, develops prophecy primarily from the Western standpoint; hence, it stops in the sequence of battles with the Western powers being destroyed. Although Revelation 16:14¹⁴For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. (Revelation 16:14) intimates that more battles will be fought (stating that armies from “the whole world” will be drawn into the land of Israel), they are not described here because they are not the subject of Revelation.

3) Numbers 24:20-25²⁰And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations; but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever. ²¹And he looked on the Kenites, and took up his parable, and said, Strong is thy dwellingplace, and thou puttest thy nest in a rock. ²²Nevertheless the Kenite shall be wasted, until Asshur shall carry thee away captive. ²³And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this! ²⁴And ships shall come from the coast of Chittim, and shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, and he also shall perish for ever. ²⁵And Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place: and Balak also went his way. (Numbers 24:20‑25)

In this parable of Baalam, we learn what is going to take place in Israel’s latter days (vs. 14). “Asshur” (Assyria, which is the same as the King of the North) will invade the whole land and lay it in waste. Israel will be desolated at this time by this northern destroyer, but the effects of the inroads of this invader are not mentioned in this prophecy. This is because Baalam’s parables do not view Israel in their sin (Num. 23:21²¹He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: the Lord his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them. (Numbers 23:21)), and therefore, not under Jehovah’s chastening, of which the Assyrian was particularly used in that connection as Jehovah’s rod (Isa. 10:5-6⁵O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation. ⁶I 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. (Isaiah 10:5‑6)).

“Amalek” (vs. 20) will also be affected by Asshur when they pass through the land. Amalek’s ancestry can be traced back to Genesis 14:7⁷And they returned, and came to En-mishpat, which is Kadesh, and smote all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, that dwelt in Hazezon-tamar. (Genesis 14:7). His descendants later merged with the descendants of Esau (Gen. 36:12-16¹²And Timna was concubine to Eliphaz Esau's son; and she bare to Eliphaz Amalek: these were the sons of Adah Esau's wife. ¹³And these are the sons of Reuel; Nahath, and Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah: these were the sons of Bashemath Esau's wife. ¹⁴And these were the sons of Aholibamah, the daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibeon, Esau's wife: and she bare to Esau Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah. ¹⁵These were dukes of the sons of Esau: the sons of Eliphaz the firstborn son of Esau; duke Teman, duke Omar, duke Zepho, duke Kenaz, ¹⁶Duke Korah, duke Gatam, and duke Amalek: these are the dukes that came of Eliphaz in the land of Edom; these were the sons of Adah. (Genesis 36:12‑16)), who in turn had merged with Ishmael (Gen. 28:9⁹Then went Esau unto Ishmael, and took unto the wives which he had Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael Abraham's son, the sister of Nebajoth, to be his wife. (Genesis 28:9)). They are the progenitors of the modern Arab nations today. This prophecy indicates that their judgment will begin at the time of the consumption of the whole land by the King of the North (Asshur).

After judging Amalek, Asshur will consume the “Kenites.” The Kenites were a branch of the Midianites that settled in the extreme south of the land of Judah and in the wilderness, but apparently, their origin is from Egypt.4 If this is to be understood as Egypt, as some scholars believe, we learn that the destroying armies of Asshur will continue until they have made their way into Egypt wasting it. This clearly answers to point #2 in the summary.

When Asshur will have swept through the land of Canaan from north to south, “the ships of Chittim” will come in from the west to afflict Asshur. Chittim refers not only to the island of Cyprus, but to all of the western Mediterranean maritime powers, and particularly that of Rome (Jer. 2:10¹⁰For pass over the isles of Chittim, and see; and send unto Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there be such a thing. (Jeremiah 2:10); Ezek. 27:6⁶Of the oaks of Bashan have they made thine oars; the company of the Ashurites have made thy benches of ivory, brought out of the isles of Chittim. (Ezekiel 27:6); Dan. 11:30³⁰For the ships of Chittim shall come against him: therefore he shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant: so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant. (Daniel 11:30)). This prophecy answers to the armies of the revived Roman Empire—the Western confederacy—attempting to stop the King of the North in his conquest, by coming in from the west. This is point #3 in the summary.

“He shall perish forever” (vs. 24), refers to the Beast, the great leader of the west5 coming to his end. We know that this will occur at the Appearing of Christ, although it is not mentioned here (Rev. 19:11-20¹¹And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. ¹²His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. ¹³And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. ¹⁴And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. ¹⁵And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. ¹⁶And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. ¹⁷And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; ¹⁸That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. ¹⁹And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. ²⁰And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. (Revelation 19:11‑20)). It is not referring to Asshur, as some have thought, because it is never said of Assyria that they will perish forever—being forever removed from the earth as a nation like the Philistines (Zeph. 2:5⁵Woe unto the inhabitants of the sea coast, the nation of the Cherethites! the word of the Lord is against you; O Canaan, the land of the Philistines, I will even destroy thee, that there shall be no inhabitant. (Zephaniah 2:5)), Edomites (Ob. 10, 18), Amalekites (Num. 24:20²⁰And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations; but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever. (Numbers 24:20)), and Babylon (Isa. 13:20²⁰It shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation: neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither shall the shepherds make their fold there. (Isaiah 13:20); Jer. 50:3; 51:29, 43, 62³For out of the north there cometh up a nation against her, which shall make her land desolate, and none shall dwell therein: they shall remove, they shall depart, both man and beast. (Jeremiah 50:3)
²⁹And the land shall tremble and sorrow: for every purpose of the Lord shall be performed against Babylon, to make the land of Babylon a desolation without an inhabitant. (Jeremiah 51:29)
⁴³Her cities are a desolation, a dry land, and a wilderness, a land wherein no man dwelleth, neither doth any son of man pass thereby. (Jeremiah 51:43)
⁶²Then shalt thou say, O Lord, thou hast spoken against this place, to cut it off, that none shall remain in it, neither man nor beast, but that it shall be desolate for ever. (Jeremiah 51:62)). Assyria, in fact, will be restored after its judgment and will be given a place of prominence in the Millennium (Isa. 19:24²⁴In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land: (Isaiah 19:24)). This then, answers to point #4 in the summary.

Although only a few of the points of the summary (#2 Through #4) are seen in this prophecy, Baalam’s parable is valuable because it shows that the Western powers will come into the conflict just after the King of the North has gone through the land into Egypt.

4) The Inroads of Nebuchadnezzar and the Chaldeans In the Times of Zedekiah

The condition of things among the Jews just prior to the fall of Jerusalem in the time of Israel’s kings, is analogous with the conditions that will prevail among the Jews who will be gathered back into their land at the beginning of the Tribulation. It is a foreshadow of future events (Matt. 12:43-45⁴³When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. ⁴⁴Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. ⁴⁵Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation. (Matthew 12:43‑45)).

The Jews under their wicked king, Zedekiah (Ezek. 21:25²⁵And thou, profane wicked prince of Israel, whose day is come, when iniquity shall have an end, (Ezekiel 21:25)), had forsaken the Lord and had refused the warnings of Jeremiah the prophet (Jer. 37:2²But neither he, nor his servants, nor the people of the land, did hearken unto the words of the Lord, which he spake by the prophet Jeremiah. (Jeremiah 37:2)). The land was filled with wickedness, violence (Ezek. 22), and idolatry (Ezek. 8). It was also a time when famine and pestilence prevailed (Jer. 14:1-22¹The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah concerning the dearth. ²Judah mourneth, and the gates thereof languish; they are black unto the ground; and the cry of Jerusalem is gone up. ³And their nobles have sent their little ones to the waters: they came to the pits, and found no water; they returned with their vessels empty; they were ashamed and confounded, and covered their heads. ⁴Because the ground is chapt, for there was no rain in the earth, the plowmen were ashamed, they covered their heads. ⁵Yea, the hind also calved in the field, and forsook it, because there was no grass. ⁶And the wild asses did stand in the high places, they snuffed up the wind like dragons; their eyes did fail, because there was no grass. ⁷O Lord, though our iniquities testify against us, do thou it for thy name's sake: for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against thee. ⁸O the hope of Israel, the saviour thereof in time of trouble, why shouldest thou be as a stranger in the land, and as a wayfaring man that turneth aside to tarry for a night? ⁹Why shouldest thou be as a man astonied, as a mighty man that cannot save? yet thou, O Lord, art in the midst of us, and we are called by thy name; leave us not. ¹⁰Thus saith the Lord unto this people, Thus have they loved to wander, they have not refrained their feet, therefore the Lord doth not accept them; he will now remember their iniquity, and visit their sins. ¹¹Then said the Lord unto me, Pray not for this people for their good. ¹²When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and an oblation, I will not accept them: but I will consume them by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence. ¹³Then said I, Ah, Lord God! behold, the prophets say unto them, Ye shall not see the sword, neither shall ye have famine; but I will give you assured peace in this place. ¹⁴Then the Lord said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart. ¹⁵Therefore thus saith the Lord concerning the prophets that prophesy in my name, and I sent them not, yet they say, Sword and famine shall not be in this land; By sword and famine shall those prophets be consumed. ¹⁶And the people to whom they prophesy shall be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and the sword; and they shall have none to bury them, them, their wives, nor their sons, nor their daughters: for I will pour their wickedness upon them. ¹⁷Therefore thou shalt say this word unto them; Let mine eyes run down with tears night and day, and let them not cease: for the virgin daughter of my people is broken with a great breach, with a very grievous blow. ¹⁸If I go forth into the field, then behold the slain with the sword! and if I enter into the city, then behold them that are sick with famine! yea, both the prophet and the priest go about into a land that they know not. ¹⁹Hast thou utterly rejected Judah? hath thy soul lothed Zion? why hast thou smitten us, and there is no healing for us? we looked for peace, and there is no good; and for the time of healing, and behold trouble! ²⁰We acknowledge, O Lord, our wickedness, and the iniquity of our fathers: for we have sinned against thee. ²¹Do not abhor us, for thy name's sake, do not disgrace the throne of thy glory: remember, break not thy covenant with us. ²²Are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cause rain? or can the heavens give showers? art not thou he, O Lord our God? therefore we will wait upon thee: for thou hast made all these things. (Jeremiah 14:1‑22)). The Jews will once again find themselves in similar conditions during the Great Tribulation. The apostate mass of the Jews gathered back into their land will also have a wicked king over them (Antichrist) like Zedekiah, and they will be given over to all kinds of wickedness, violence (Psa. 10-11), and idolatry (Rev. 13:14-15¹⁴And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. ¹⁵And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. (Revelation 13:14‑15)). There will also be a godly remnant of Jews who will be persecuted for the preaching of the Word of God (Rev. 14:1¹And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads. (Revelation 14:1))—of whom Jeremiah and Baruch are a type.

Nebuchadnezzar then continued his conquest southward into Egypt, defeating their armies (Jer. 46:13-26¹³The word that the Lord spake to Jeremiah the prophet, how Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon should come and smite the land of Egypt. ¹⁴Declare ye in Egypt, and publish in Migdol, and publish in Noph and in Tahpanhes: say ye, Stand fast, and prepare thee; for the sword shall devour round about thee. ¹⁵Why are thy valiant men swept away? they stood not, because the Lord did drive them. ¹⁶He made many to fall, yea, one fell upon another: and they said, Arise, and let us go again to our own people, and to the land of our nativity, from the oppressing sword. ¹⁷They did cry there, Pharaoh king of Egypt is but a noise; he hath passed the time appointed. ¹⁸As I live, saith the King, whose name is the Lord of hosts, Surely as Tabor is among the mountains, and as Carmel by the sea, so shall he come. ¹⁹O thou daughter dwelling in Egypt, furnish thyself to go into captivity: for Noph shall be waste and desolate without an inhabitant. ²⁰Egypt is like a very fair heifer, but destruction cometh; it cometh out of the north. ²¹Also her hired men are in the midst of her like fatted bullocks; for they also are turned back, and are fled away together: they did not stand, because the day of their calamity was come upon them, and the time of their visitation. ²²The voice thereof shall go like a serpent; for they shall march with an army, and come against her with axes, as hewers of wood. ²³They shall cut down her forest, saith the Lord, though it cannot be searched; because they are more than the grasshoppers, and are innumerable. ²⁴The daughter of Egypt shall be confounded; she shall be delivered into the hand of the people of the north. ²⁵The Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, saith; Behold, I will punish the multitude of No, and Pharaoh, and Egypt, with their gods, and their kings; even Pharaoh, and all them that trust in him: ²⁶And I will deliver them into the hand of those that seek their lives, and into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of his servants: and afterward it shall be inhabited, as in the days of old, saith the Lord. (Jeremiah 46:13‑26)). All of this is a striking foreshadow of the prophetic future when the King of the North will sweep down through the land of Israel into Egypt (Dan. 11:40-45⁴⁰And 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. ⁴¹He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. ⁴²He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape. ⁴³But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps. ⁴⁴But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many. ⁴⁵And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him. (Daniel 11:40‑45)). This answers to point #2 in the summary.

Historically, after Nebuchadnezzar had completed his conquests through the land of Israel into Egypt, God judged Babylon. (This was approximately 32 years after the fall of Egypt). The judgment of Babylon, typically, speaks of the judgment of the Western powers—the revived Roman Empire under the leadership of the Beast. God raised up Cyrus, the King of Persia, to execute this judgment on Babylon (Isa. 45). He is called the Lord’s “anointed” and is an obvious type of Christ. This too is a foreshadow of coming events, for after the King of the North passes through the land of Israel into Egypt, the Western confederacy (political Babylon) will come in from the west and be judged by the Lord personally as He comes out of heaven (Rev. 16:17-21¹⁷And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. ¹⁸And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. ¹⁹And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. ²⁰And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. ²¹And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great. (Revelation 16:17‑21)). This answers to points #3 and #4 in the summary.

After Cyrus conquered Babylon (with the help of Darius the Mede–Dan. 5:30-31³⁰In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain. ³¹And Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old. (Daniel 5:30‑31)), he liberated the Jews and gave orders for the rebuilding of Jerusalem (Isa. 45:13¹³I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways: he shall build my city, and he shall let go my captives, not for price nor reward, saith the Lord of hosts. (Isaiah 45:13); Ezra 1:1-4¹Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, ²Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The Lord God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. ³Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem. ⁴And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, beside the freewill offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem. (Ezra 1:1‑4)). This is a type of the deliverance the Jewish remnant will receive at the Appearing of Christ. Babylon, historically, had the Jews in captivity, and will again have them in bondage when the Beast and Antichrist take control of the land of Israel in the last half of the week. At the fall of the revived Roman Empire (the Western powers) with its leaders, the Beast and Antichrist, the land and the Jews (the remnant) in it will be free.8

It is interesting to see that in Daniel 9, the seventy years of captivity (vss. 1-2) are connected with the seventy weeks of prophecy. Daniel prayed for the deliverance of the Jews after the seventy years had expired, but God revealed to him that the full and final deliverance of the Jews would not be until seventy weeks of years (490 years) had run their course. We learn from this, that the Jews’ deliverance from Babylon, long ago, is a little foreshadow of the coming deliverance the godly Jewish remnant will get from (political) Babylon of the book of Revelation, which will take place at the end of the seventy weeks of Daniel9 (Dan. 9:24-27²⁴Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. ²⁵Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. ²⁶And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. ²⁷And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. (Daniel 9:24‑27)). Jeremiah’s prophecy of the Jews’ historical deliverance from Babylon (Jer. 50:4-8⁴In those days, and in that time, saith the Lord, the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together, going and weeping: they shall go, and seek the Lord their God. ⁵They shall ask the way to Zion with their faces thitherward, saying, Come, and let us join ourselves to the Lord in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten. ⁶My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their restingplace. ⁷All that found them have devoured them: and their adversaries said, We offend not, because they have sinned against the Lord, the habitation of justice, even the Lord, the hope of their fathers. ⁸Remove out of the midst of Babylon, and go forth out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be as the he goats before the flocks. (Jeremiah 50:4‑8)), goes beyond that immediate application (as most of the Old Testament prophecies do) and sees the extended application which will be fulfilled in Israel’s latter days. He includes in his prophecy the return of the ten tribes, which did not occur in those days, but will in the future (Jer. 50:17-20¹⁷Israel is a scattered sheep; the lions have driven him away: first the king of Assyria hath devoured him; and last this Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath broken his bones. ¹⁸Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will punish the king of Babylon and his land, as I have punished the king of Assyria. ¹⁹And I will bring Israel again to his habitation, and he shall feed on Carmel and Bashan, and his soul shall be satisfied upon mount Ephraim and Gilead. ²⁰In those days, and in that time, saith the Lord, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found: for I will pardon them whom I reserve. (Jeremiah 50:17‑20)). This would answer to the interval in the summary between points #5 and #6.

Understanding the historical background of the times in which the prophets of the Babylonian period10 lived, not only gives us a foreshadow of future events, but it also gives us a key to understanding many of their prophecies, as the following outlines will show.

5) Jeremiah 26–33

In chapter 26, Jeremiah predicts the destruction of the temple and the city of Jerusalem by the confederate armies (Jer. 34:1¹The word which came unto Jeremiah from the Lord, when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and all his army, and all the kingdoms of the earth of his dominion, and all the people, fought against Jerusalem, and against all the cities thereof, saying, (Jeremiah 34:1); 2 Kings 24:2²And the Lord sent against him bands of the Chaldees, and bands of the Syrians, and bands of the Moabites, and bands of the children of Ammon, and sent them against Judah to destroy it, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake by his servants the prophets. (2 Kings 24:2)) under Nebuchadnezzar (vss. 1-9). As we have already seen, in prophecy, Nebuchadnezzar and his armies are a type of the King of the North and his Arab confederacy. Jeremiah (who is typical of the godly Jewish remnant) consequently suffers persecution from the people (who are a type of the apostate Jews in the future) on account of his unpopular prophecies. However, he was providentially preserved by God from their designs to kill him (vss. 8-16; Jer. 36:26²⁶But the king commanded Jerahmeel the son of Hammelech, and Seraiah the son of Azriel, and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel, to take Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet: but the Lord hid them. (Jeremiah 36:26)). In the same way, the spared portion of the Jewish remnant will suffer persecution, but will be miraculously preserved by God (Rev. 12:13-17¹³And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. ¹⁴And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. ¹⁵And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. ¹⁶And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. ¹⁷And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. (Revelation 12:13‑17)).

In chapter 27, Jeremiah sent messages to the nations surrounding Israel to warn them that the invading armies from the north, under Nebuchadnezzar, would not stop at Judah and Jerusalem, but would put their lands under his yoke also.

In chapter 28, Jeremiah met further opposition from the followers of the Jew’s wicked king, Zedekiah (who is a type of Antichrist, the Jew’s false Messiah). Chapters 26-28 then, have reference, typically, to the 2nd point in the summary.

In chapter 29, Jeremiah sent a message to the Jewish captives in Babylon. (The Babylonians had previously come up to Jerusalem and had taken some of them to Babylon as captives.) He announced that Babylon (typical of the Western powers under the Beast) would be judged and that they (the remnant) would be released. His word to them was to submit to the ways of God in allowing them to be captive, and to wait for the seventy years to be completed, at which time Babylon would be judged. The Jewish remnant in the Great Tribulation will receive similar encouragement, and will look daily for the destruction of the Beast and Antichrist. This will happen at the end of the seventieth week of Daniel (Daniel 9:24-27²⁴Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. ²⁵Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. ²⁶And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. ²⁷And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. (Daniel 9:24‑27); Revelation 16:17-21; 19:19-20¹⁷And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. ¹⁸And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. ¹⁹And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. ²⁰And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. ²¹And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great. (Revelation 16:17‑21)
¹⁹And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. ²⁰And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. (Revelation 19:19‑20)). As the captives long ago had to wait for the seventy years to be accomplished, the Jewish remnant must wait until Daniel’s seventieth week is completed. Chapter 29 then, would project us to the 3rd and 4th points in the summary; namely, the destruction of the Western powers under the Beast.

Chapters 30-33, contain the promises of Israel’s restoration. In chapter 30, the Lord promises to re-gather the scattered tribes of Israel and to rebuild the city of Jerusalem. In chapter 31, we are given the two means by which the Lord will restore Israel: “grace” (vs. 2) and “love” (vs. 3). Note that it is not the law, for the law will not restore anybody; but grace and love will. The effect of these two things working in the hearts of the scattered tribes is that they are seen returning to their land in repentance (vss. 4-21) and dwelling there under the conditions of the “new covenant” (vss. 22-40). In chapter 32, the exercise of buying up the opportunities to possess the land is acted out by Jeremiah with regard to his uncle’s field (vss. 1-35). This illustrates the Lord’s guarantee that the land of Israel will again be re-inhabited by its people, the returned tribes. They will “buy fields for money” and dwell in them (vss. 36-44). Then, in chapter 33, the city of Jerusalem is predicted as being rebuilt with the Lord taking His place among His people for blessing (vss. 1-16). Chapters 30-33, quite clearly, answer to the interval between points #5 and #6 in the summary.

This series of prophecies by Jeremiah concludes with chapter 33. Although, not all of the points of the summary are given here, we can see in the ones that are, that the order of events during the Indignation is marvelously consistent.

6) Jeremiah 46–51

Chapters 34–45, give us details concerning the fall of Jerusalem and the judgment of the Jews by Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians. As we have already seen, it is a foreshadow of the future destruction of Jerusalem by the confederate armies of the King of the North. But in chapters 46–51, God announced that if He was going to judge His people (the Jews), He would also judge the Gentile nations too. Chapters 46-51, list ten Gentile nations that would also be judged at that time: Egypt, Philistines, Moab, Ammon, Edom, Damascus (capital city of Syria), Kedar, Hazor, Elam, and Babylon.

Although these judgments were fulfilled in the days of Nebuchadnezzar, they have been recorded in Scripture as a foreshadow of what the King of the North will do in a coming day when prophecy will be fulfilled. The order of the judgments, as they fall in these chapters, are a foreshadow of the order of the judgments that will fall in the future. A careful look at these prophecies will show that when the Spirit of God wrote them, He really had the end times in view. Some of the things mentioned did not happen in past history, and still wait for fulfillment. This is true of most of the prophecies in the Old Testament, and helps us to realize that the Spirit had more in mind than just the immediate application to Nebuchadnezzar.11

Chapter 46 is a prophecy of the famous battle in history that gave Nebuchadnezzar the undisputed supremacy of the civilized world. This began the “times of the Gentiles” (Luke 21:24²⁴And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. (Luke 21:24)). Egypt and her confederates went up through the land of Israel to meet Nebuchadnezzar and his armies, who were coming down from the north. In verses 3-12, we have the muster of the Egyptian armies and the order of their march up through the land of Israel. This is a foreshadow of point #1 in the summary.

Nebuchadnezzar defeated the armies of Pharaoh and proceeded southward through the land of Israel into Egypt taking their land also (vss. 13-26). Then, in chapters 47–49, we have the various neighboring countries surrounding Israel that fell under judgment when Nebuchadnezzar’s army passed through. We see them scattered and fleeing in all directions to get out of the way of his armies as they came through plundering and spoiling. This is a foreshadow of point #2 in the summary.

Then in chapters 50-51, we have the judgment of the city of Babylon. This is not referring to Nebuchadnezzar and his Chaldean army conquering, but is a future reference to King Belshazzar back in the land of Babylon some 70 years later. It is far removed in time and circumstance from what Nebuchadnezzar did in the land of Israel. The judgment of Babylon (the city) as we have shown, is typical of the judgment of the Western powers under the leadership of the Beast and Antichrist. Cyrus, King of Persia, actually executed the judgment (Isa. 44:28²⁸That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid. (Isaiah 44:28)–47:15). Darius the Mede helped him (Dan. 5:30-31³⁰In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain. ³¹And Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old. (Daniel 5:30‑31)). Cyrus is a type of Christ, who will come with the armies of heaven at the end of the Great Tribulation, to destroy the Western armies as they come in from the west.

Chapter 51:1-2, describes “a destroying wind” and “fanners” winnowing the chaff away in Babylon, which is a picture of the discriminating judgment carried on by the angels at the Harvest of the prophetic earth, when “one shall be taken, and the other left” (Matt. 13:39-43; 24:40-41³⁹The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. ⁴⁰As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. ⁴¹The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; ⁴²And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. ⁴³Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. (Matthew 13:39‑43)
⁴⁰Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. ⁴¹Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. (Matthew 24:40‑41)). After this winnowing judgment is executed, the people in Babylon (the west) are seen as few in number. These chapters then, are a foreshadow of points #3 and #4 in the summary.

After Cyrus judged Babylon, he gave a release to the Jews who were captive there, and a remnant of them returned home to the land of Israel (Isa. 45:13¹³I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways: he shall build my city, and he shall let go my captives, not for price nor reward, saith the Lord of hosts. (Isaiah 45:13); Ezra 1:14). This is foretold in Jeremiah 50:4-20⁴In those days, and in that time, saith the Lord, the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together, going and weeping: they shall go, and seek the Lord their God. ⁵They shall ask the way to Zion with their faces thitherward, saying, Come, and let us join ourselves to the Lord in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten. ⁶My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their restingplace. ⁷All that found them have devoured them: and their adversaries said, We offend not, because they have sinned against the Lord, the habitation of justice, even the Lord, the hope of their fathers. ⁸Remove out of the midst of Babylon, and go forth out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be as the he goats before the flocks. ⁹For, lo, I will raise and cause to come up against Babylon an assembly of great nations from the north country: and they shall set themselves in array against her; from thence she shall be taken: their arrows shall be as of a mighty expert man; none shall return in vain. ¹⁰And Chaldea shall be a spoil: all that spoil her shall be satisfied, saith the Lord. ¹¹Because ye were glad, because ye rejoiced, O ye destroyers of mine heritage, because ye are grown fat as the heifer at grass, and bellow as bulls; ¹²Your mother shall be sore confounded; she that bare you shall be ashamed: behold, the hindermost of the nations shall be a wilderness, a dry land, and a desert. ¹³Because of the wrath of the Lord it shall not be inhabited, but it shall be wholly desolate: every one that goeth by Babylon shall be astonished, and hiss at all her plagues. ¹⁴Put yourselves in array against Babylon round about: all ye that bend the bow, shoot at her, spare no arrows: for she hath sinned against the Lord. ¹⁵Shout against her round about: she hath given her hand: her foundations are fallen, her walls are thrown down: for it is the vengeance of the Lord: take vengeance upon her; as she hath done, do unto her. ¹⁶Cut off the sower from Babylon, and him that handleth the sickle in the time of harvest: for fear of the oppressing sword they shall turn every one to his people, and they shall flee every one to his own land. ¹⁷Israel is a scattered sheep; the lions have driven him away: first the king of Assyria hath devoured him; and last this Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath broken his bones. ¹⁸Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will punish the king of Babylon and his land, as I have punished the king of Assyria. ¹⁹And I will bring Israel again to his habitation, and he shall feed on Carmel and Bashan, and his soul shall be satisfied upon mount Ephraim and Gilead. ²⁰In those days, and in that time, saith the Lord, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found: for I will pardon them whom I reserve. (Jeremiah 50:4‑20). The prophecy actually goes farther than the return of the Jews and also contemplates the return of the ten tribes. This would answer to the restoration of Israel stated in the interval of the summary before the coming in of Gog (Russia) in point #6.

Although Jeremiah’s prophecies do not go as far as Gog’s (Russia’s) judgment, they do cover the first four points of the summary and the restoration of Israel. We can see, again, that the order of these events is the same.

7) Ezekiel 24–48

Ezekiel gives, perhaps, one of the most complete prophetic outlines, in that he covers almost all of the points in the summary.

The first 23 chapters contain testimonies from God against the Jews, in general, for their sin and idolatry. Chapters 22-23 recap their sad condition before God as corrupt—prophets, priests, kings, princes and the people. As a consequence, in chapter 24, God would bring judgment upon Judah and Jerusalem by the armies of Nebuchadnezzar, who came down from the north and destroyed the city and burned the temple.

Chapters 25-28 give the account of how his armies spread into the countries surrounding Israel and plundered them. Ammon, Moab, Edom, Philistines, Tyre and Sidon, all shared in the same judgment as Nebuchadnezzar went through the land from north to south.

Then chapters 29-30 show that he proceeded into Egypt, destroying them and their allies too. Again, these battles were historically fulfilled in Nebuchadnezzar’s time, but have been recorded in Scripture because of their prophetic significance. Seeing the typical teaching behind these historic conquests of Nebuchadnezzar gives us prophetic truth yet to be fulfilled in a future day. Chapters 24-30 then, are another foreshadow of the inroads of the King of the North in point #2 of the summary.

Chapter 31 gives the judgment of the Assyrian, if not completely, at least after his first attack. This would answer to point #5 in the summary. The Assyrian, we know, is another type of the future northern invader in prophecy.

Chapter 32 is a lamentation for all who have fallen and will fall in battle. Judgment is God’s strange work (Isa. 28:17¹⁷Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place. (Isaiah 28:17)). He takes no pleasure in it, but rather, laments that it must be done.

Chapters 33 to 37 give the restoration of Israel and their re-establishment in the land. A remnant of the Jews in Israel will heed the warnings of God (chap. 33:1-20), and will be spared. This is illustrated by one escaping from Jerusalem when it was smitten (chap. 33:21-29). The shepherds of Israel (the false leaders in Antichrist’s evil government in the land) will be removed and replaced by the true Shepherd of Israel—Christ (chap. 34). In chapter 35, with Israel on the way to being restored, their old enemy, Edom, is warned of coming judgment. Chapter 36 contains the Lord’s promise to restore the land of Israel after its desolation (vss. 1-20), and to restore His people to it (vss. 21-38). The ten tribes are viewed next, in chapter 37, as being revived, returning to their own land, and united with the two tribes (the Jews) under the reign of Christ. Chapters 33-37 then, answer to the restoration of Israel during the interval between the destruction of the King of the North and that of Russia (Gog).

Chapters 38-39 give the attack of Gog (Russia) on the newly gathered tribes of Israel. This is point #6 in the summary.

Chapter 39:9-10 has reference to Israel plundering their enemies. This is point #7 in the summary.

Chapters 40-48 present Christ’s kingdom on earth (the Millennium) which begins with the building of the temple and the dividing of the land of Israel for the twelve tribes to dwell in. The judgment of Babylon (figurative of the judgment of the Western powers) is not mentioned in Ezekiel. It is conspicuous by its absence. This is because Ezekiel was captive in Babylon and it was not for him who was to submit to the captivity (Jer. 29), to speak against the governing powers of authority.

So Ezekiel was silent concerning Babylon’s judgment. Similarly Daniel, in Babylon, also did not speak of its judgment (except in a veiled way) until the very night it was judged (Dan. 5).

8) Obadiah

Obadiah’s prophecy focuses exclusively on the judgment of Edom. Most of the points in the summary are not seen in this book because they do not have anything to do with Edom’s judgment, of which Obadiah is occupied. The few points that are covered follow the prophetic order and show us how and when Edom will be judged. This little book indicates that it will take place in three stages12 ending with them being totally annihilated from the face of the earth.

Verses 1-14 were historically fulfilled in the time of Nebuchadnezzar. He gathered a large coalition of armies from many nations, of which Edom was involved (Jer. 34:1,¹The word which came unto Jeremiah from the Lord, when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and all his army, and all the kingdoms of the earth of his dominion, and all the people, fought against Jerusalem, and against all the cities thereof, saying, (Jeremiah 34:1) 2 Kings 24:2²And the Lord sent against him bands of the Chaldees, and bands of the Syrians, and bands of the Moabites, and bands of the children of Ammon, and sent them against Judah to destroy it, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake by his servants the prophets. (2 Kings 24:2)). After he passed through the land of Israel and took Jerusalem (vss. 11-12), he deceived Edom and some of his other confederates (vs. 7), entering into their countries and plundering them. The first nine verses give an account of this treachery.

Verse 1 is a call through the ranks of this enormous confederacy under Nebuchadnezzar to turn on the land of Edom, which is beside Israel. Verse 2 gives the result—Edom is left small in numbers. Verses 3-4 tell why—their pride. Verses 5-9, show who will execute the judgment—their own confederates. Then, in verses 10-14, Edom’s guilt is exposed. They had helped in the destruction of the Jews and Jerusalem when they should have been a help to Israel their “brother.”

Although this happened in the time of Nebuchadnezzar, it has significance prophetically, and points to the time when the King of the North will invade the land of Israel on his way into Egypt (Dan. 11:40-43⁴⁰And 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. ⁴¹He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. ⁴²He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape. ⁴³But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps. (Daniel 11:40‑43)). The Arab confederacy under the King of the North will practice the same kind of treachery in the future. Edom will receive its first blow at that time. This will all happen at the time of point #2 in the summary.

Obadiah’s prophecy then passes over the next few points in the summary because they are not related to Edom. Verses 15-16, speak of the time when Edom will receive its second blow. They refer to the time when the heathen nations that follow Russia will assemble themselves in Edom as they prepare to enter the land of Israel. As the Russian hordes begin to advance toward the land, the Lord will roar out of Zion (He will have returned and be in Zion at this time) treading the Winepress of His wrath (the Vintage) on them. He will go out as far as the land of Edom (Isa. 34:1-8; 63:1-6¹Come near, ye nations, to hear; and hearken, ye people: let the earth hear, and all that is therein; the world, and all things that come forth of it. ²For the indignation of the Lord is upon all nations, and his fury upon all their armies: he hath utterly destroyed them, he hath delivered them to the slaughter. ³Their slain also shall be cast out, and their stink shall come up out of their carcases, and the mountains shall be melted with their blood. ⁴And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree. ⁵For my sword shall be bathed in heaven: behold, it shall come down upon Idumea, and upon the people of my curse, to judgment. ⁶The sword of the Lord is filled with blood, it is made fat with fatness, and with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams: for the Lord hath a sacrifice in Bozrah, and a great slaughter in the land of Idumea. ⁷And the unicorns shall come down with them, and the bullocks with the bulls; and their land shall be soaked with blood, and their dust made fat with fatness. ⁸For it is the day of the Lord's vengeance, and the year of recompences for the controversy of Zion. (Isaiah 34:1‑8)
¹Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. ²Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat? ³I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. ⁴For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come. ⁵And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me. ⁶And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth. (Isaiah 63:1‑6)). The judgment of the Lord on the heathen nations gathered there will be so terrible that the land of Edom will be devastated. Many in Edom will fall at that time. This happens at point #6 of the summary.

After the Lord treads the Winepress in Edom, He will lead out the armies of newly gathered Israel in a mighty conquest (Isa. 11:14¹⁴But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the west; they shall spoil them of the east together: they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab; and the children of Ammon shall obey them. (Isaiah 11:14); Jer. 51:20-23²⁰Thou art my battle axe and weapons of war: for with thee will I break in pieces the nations, and with thee will I destroy kingdoms; ²¹And with thee will I break in pieces the horse and his rider; and with thee will I break in pieces the chariot and his rider; ²²With thee also will I break in pieces man and woman; and with thee will I break in pieces old and young; and with thee will I break in pieces the young man and the maid; ²³I will also break in pieces with thee the shepherd and his flock; and with thee will I break in pieces the husbandman and his yoke of oxen; and with thee will I break in pieces captains and rulers. (Jeremiah 51:20‑23); Mic. 4:13; 5:5-8¹³Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion: for I will make thine horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass: and thou shalt beat in pieces many people: and I will consecrate their gain unto the Lord, and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth. (Micah 4:13)
⁵And this man shall be the peace, when the Assyrian shall come into our land: and when he shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise against him seven shepherds, and eight principal men. ⁶And they shall waste the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod in the entrances thereof: thus shall he deliver us from the Assyrian, when he cometh into our land, and when he treadeth within our borders. ⁷And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people as a dew from the Lord, as the showers upon the grass, that tarrieth not for man, nor waiteth for the sons of men. ⁸And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles in the midst of many people as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep: who, if he go through, both treadeth down, and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver. (Micah 5:5‑8); Psa. 108:7⁷God hath spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth. (Psalm 108:7); Psa. 118:1-12¹O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever. ²Let Israel now say, that his mercy endureth for ever. ³Let the house of Aaron now say, that his mercy endureth for ever. ⁴Let them now that fear the Lord say, that his mercy endureth for ever. ⁵I called upon the Lord in distress: the Lord answered me, and set me in a large place. ⁶The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me? ⁷The Lord taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me. ⁸It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. ⁹It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes. ¹⁰All nations compassed me about: but in the name of the Lord will I destroy them. ¹¹They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about: but in the name of the Lord I will destroy them. ¹²They compassed me about like bees; they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the Lord I will destroy them. (Psalm 118:1‑12)). At that time, Israel will be given the opportunity to extinguish any remaining Edomites until every last one is cut off from the earth (vss. 17-21). This will be their third and final blow. This will happen when point #7 in the summary is fulfilled.

9) Zephaniah 1-3

In chapter one, Zephaniah announces the desolation of the land of Israel and of the people who have engaged themselves in idolatry (vss. 1-9). The instrument of destruction, again, is the armies of Nebuchadnezzar who will come down from the north. Zephaniah graphically foretells how the armies would gain entry into Jerusalem. First, they would crash through “the fish gate,” then they would come into “the second quarter” of the city (“Maktesh”). Finally, every corner of the city would be searched out (vss. 10-12). The goods of the city would be taken as prey and the “whole land” would be devoured (vss. 13-18).

In the second chapter, the people are called to repentance and are told to seek the Lord that they might be saved in that day (vss. 1-3). Zephaniah proceeds to tell of the destruction that would come on the various surrounding nations at that time through the same northern destroyer (vss. 4-11). Then he speaks of the Ethiopians (Egypt’s allies) being defeated as the northern armies proceed south into their lands (vs. 12).

Again, we feel it necessary to mention that although this happened in the days of Nebuchadnezzar, it is recorded in Scripture because of the typical significance it has, because it is what the King of the North will do in a coming day when prophecy is fulfilled. A careful look at these prophecies of Zephaniah show that when the Spirit of God wrote these things, He really had the end times in view. Some of the things mentioned did not happen in history, and still wait for fulfillment. This is true of most of the prophecies in the Old Testament, and gives us to realize that the Spirit had more in mind than just the immediate application to Nebuchadnezzar. Chapters 1 to 2:12 Then, answer to the 2nd point in the summary.

Zephaniah then passes over the destruction of the Western powers—Babylon (it not being the subject of his prophecy), and goes on to speak of the Assyrian’s judgment (Zeph. 2:13-15¹³And he will stretch out his hand against the north, and destroy Assyria; and will make Nineveh a desolation, and dry like a wilderness. ¹⁴And flocks shall lie down in the midst of her, all the beasts of the nations: both the cormorant and the bittern shall lodge in the upper lintels of it; their voice shall sing in the windows; desolation shall be in the thresholds: for he shall uncover the cedar work. ¹⁵This is the rejoicing city that dwelt carelessly, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none beside me: how is she become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down in! every one that passeth by her shall hiss, and wag his hand. (Zephaniah 2:13‑15)). Although we would not want to be dogmatic about it, this appears to be a reference to the King of the North (the Assyrian’s first attack in prophecy) coming under judgment by the hand of the Lord. (The Assyrian’s inroads through the land of Israel at a historically earlier date than Nebuchadnezzar’s, is also a prophetic picture of the King of the North.) If this is so, then it answers to point #5 in the summary.

In chapter 3, the city of Jerusalem is described as defiled and in need of cleansing (vss. 1-4). This the Lord will do as He is seen taking His rightful place in the city (vss. 5-7). This will happen at the time when He restores Israel. Before the blessings of Christ’s kingdom are described by the prophet in the latter part of the chapter, one final gathering of nations to battle is mentioned (vs. 8). This group of nations could only be those under Gog, for it is the only confederacy of nations that gather for battle, as mentioned in Scripture, after the Lord has restored Israel and is found dwelling in Jerusalem. This answers to point #6 in the summary.

After these nations are destroyed by the Lord, the millennial blessings of the kingdom are described. The Lord, the King of Israel, is seen in the midst of His earthly people Israel (vss. 9-17). Any remaining Israelites from the ten tribes still making their way back into the land of Israel will come in at this time (vss. 18-20).

10) 2 Chronicles 28-32

The history of the Assyrian inroads in the times of Ahaz and Hezekiah give us another typical picture of future events. Ahaz reigned as king in Jerusalem at a time in Israel’s history when they were in a very low state (2 Kings 16:1-4¹In the seventeenth year of Pekah the son of Remaliah Ahaz the son of Jotham king of Judah began to reign. ²Twenty years old was Ahaz when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem, and did not that which was right in the sight of the Lord his God, like David his father. ³But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yea, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the heathen, whom the Lord cast out from before the children of Israel. ⁴And he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree. (2 Kings 16:1‑4)). He is a type of Antichrist, the willful king (Dan. 11:36-39³⁶And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done. ³⁷Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all. ³⁸But in his estate shall he honor the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honor with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things. ³⁹Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain. (Daniel 11:36‑39)), who will reign over the apostate Jews in the Great Tribulation. Ahaz was guilty of taking away the altar of Jehovah and setting up a strange god in its place.13 (2 Kings 16:10-18¹⁰And king Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, and saw an altar that was at Damascus: and king Ahaz sent to Urijah the priest the fashion of the altar, and the pattern of it, according to all the workmanship thereof. ¹¹And Urijah the priest built an altar according to all that king Ahaz had sent from Damascus: so Urijah the priest made it against king Ahaz came from Damascus. ¹²And when the king was come from Damascus, the king saw the altar: and the king approached to the altar, and offered thereon. ¹³And he burnt his burnt offering and his meat offering, and poured his drink offering, and sprinkled the blood of his peace offerings, upon the altar. ¹⁴And he brought also the brazen altar, which was before the Lord, from the forefront of the house, from between the altar and the house of the Lord, and put it on the north side of the altar. ¹⁵And king Ahaz commanded Urijah the priest, saying, Upon the great altar burn the morning burnt offering, and the evening meat offering, and the king's burnt sacrifice, and his meat offering, with the burnt offering of all the people of the land, and their meat offering, and their drink offerings; and sprinkle upon it all the blood of the burnt offering, and all the blood of the sacrifice: and the brazen altar shall be for me to inquire by. ¹⁶Thus did Urijah the priest, according to all that king Ahaz commanded. ¹⁷And king Ahaz cut off the borders of the bases, and removed the laver from off them; and took down the sea from off the brazen oxen that were under it, and put it upon a pavement of stones. ¹⁸And the covert for the sabbath that they had built in the house, and the king's entry without, turned he from the house of the Lord for the king of Assyria. (2 Kings 16:10‑18)). His act of taking away the altar of Jehovah and its vessels (2 Chron. 28:24; 29:19²⁴And Ahaz gathered together the vessels of the house of God, and cut in pieces the vessels of the house of God, and shut up the doors of the house of the Lord, and he made him altars in every corner of Jerusalem. (2 Chronicles 28:24)
¹⁹Moreover all the vessels, which king Ahaz in his reign did cast away in his transgression, have we prepared and sanctified, and, behold, they are before the altar of the Lord. (2 Chronicles 29:19)) is typical of what the Beast and Antichrist will do in the middle of Daniel’s seventieth week by causing the Jewish sacrifices and worship to cease (Dan. 9:27; 12:11²⁷And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. (Daniel 9:27)
¹¹And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. (Daniel 12:11)). His setting up of a strange new altar in the temple is a type of the rearing up of “the abomination of desolation”—the idolatrous image of the Beast (Dan. 12:11¹¹And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. (Daniel 12:11); Matt. 24:15¹⁵When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) (Matthew 24:15); Rev. 13:14-15¹⁴And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. ¹⁵And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. (Revelation 13:14‑15)).

At about that time, the Assyrians began to make their inroads from the north into the land of Israel. Having already conquered the Syrian kingdom (2 Kings 16:9⁹And the king of Assyria hearkened unto him: for the king of Assyria went up against Damascus, and took it, and carried the people of it captive to Kir, and slew Rezin. (2 Kings 16:9)) and some of the northern towns of Israel (2 Kings 15:27-29²⁷In the two and fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah Pekah the son of Remaliah began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned twenty years. ²⁸And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin. ²⁹In the days of Pekah king of Israel came Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, and took Ijon, and Abel-beth-maachah, and Janoah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and carried them captive to Assyria. (2 Kings 15:27‑29)), the Assyrians were threatening to take the rest of the land of Israel. The king of Israel, instead of turning to the Lord for help, called to the king of Egypt who came up into the land with his armies (2 Kings 17:4⁴And the king of Assyria found conspiracy in Hoshea: for he had sent messengers to So king of Egypt, and brought no present to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year: therefore the king of Assyria shut him up, and bound him in prison. (2 Kings 17:4); Isa. 7:18-19¹⁸And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall hiss for the fly that is in the uttermost part of the rivers of Egypt, and for the bee that is in the land of Assyria. ¹⁹And they shall come, and shall rest all of them in the desolate valleys, and in the holes of the rocks, and upon all thorns, and upon all bushes. (Isaiah 7:18‑19)). Prophetically, this would answer to point #1 of the summary.

This kindled the wrath of the King of Assyria who came down from the north and conquered “all the land” (2 Kings 17:5-6⁵Then the king of Assyria came up throughout all the land, and went up to Samaria, and besieged it three years. ⁶In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away into Assyria, and placed them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes. (2 Kings 17:5‑6)). Israel was allowed of God to come under judgment at that time because of their sin of idolatry (2 Kings 17:7-23⁷For so it was, that the children of Israel had sinned against the Lord their God, which had brought them up out of the land of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and had feared other gods, ⁸And walked in the statutes of the heathen, whom the Lord cast out from before the children of Israel, and of the kings of Israel, which they had made. ⁹And the children of Israel did secretly those things that were not right against the Lord their God, and they built them high places in all their cities, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city. ¹⁰And they set them up images and groves in every high hill, and under every green tree: ¹¹And there they burnt incense in all the high places, as did the heathen whom the Lord carried away before them; and wrought wicked things to provoke the Lord to anger: ¹²For they served idols, whereof the Lord had said unto them, Ye shall not do this thing. ¹³Yet the Lord testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep my commandments and my statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets. ¹⁴Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like to the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the Lord their God. ¹⁵And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified against them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning whom the Lord had charged them, that they should not do like them. ¹⁶And they left all the commandments of the Lord their God, and made them molten images, even two calves, and made a grove, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served Baal. ¹⁷And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger. ¹⁸Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of his sight: there was none left but the tribe of Judah only. ¹⁹Also Judah kept not the commandments of the Lord their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made. ²⁰And the Lord rejected all the seed of Israel, and afflicted them, and delivered them into the hand of spoilers, until he had cast them out of his sight. ²¹For he rent Israel from the house of David; and they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king: and Jeroboam drave Israel from following the Lord, and made them sin a great sin. ²²For the children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which he did; they departed not from them; ²³Until the Lord removed Israel out of his sight, as he had said by all his servants the prophets. So was Israel carried away out of their own land to Assyria unto this day. (2 Kings 17:7‑23)). Having conquered the land of Israel, the Assyrians proceeded to take Ashdod, the capital city of the Philistines (Isa. 20:1¹In the year that Tartan came unto Ashdod, (when Sargon the king of Assyria sent him,) and fought against Ashdod, and took it; (Isaiah 20:1)), and then continued their conquest into Egypt, defeating the Egyptians and their confederates (Isa. 20:4-6⁴So shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptians prisoners, and the Ethiopians captives, young and old, naked and barefoot, even with their buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt. ⁵And they shall be afraid and ashamed of Ethiopia their expectation, and of Egypt their glory. ⁶And the inhabitant of this isle shall say in that day, Behold, such is our expectation, whither we flee for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria: and how shall we escape? (Isaiah 20:4‑6)). This would answer to point #2 in the summary.

Then, wicked king Ahaz (a type of Antichrist) died and was replaced on the throne in Jerusalem by good king Hezekiah. He is a type of Christ.14 (2 Chron. 29:1-2¹Hezekiah began to reign when he was five and twenty years old, and he reigned nine and twenty years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah. ²And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that David his father had done. (2 Chronicles 29:1‑2)). Hezekiah, coming in at this time, is a foreshadow of the coming of Christ (the Appearing), at which time we know the Antichrist will be removed in judgment (Rev. 19:11-20¹¹And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. ¹²His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. ¹³And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. ¹⁴And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. ¹⁵And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. ¹⁶And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. ¹⁷And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; ¹⁸That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. ¹⁹And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. ²⁰And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. (Revelation 19:11‑20); 2 Thess. 2:8⁸And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: (2 Thessalonians 2:8)). This will happen at point #4 in the summary.

When Hezekiah came to the throne in Jerusalem, he gathered Judah (the Jews) together to offer a sin offering (2 Chron. 29:21-24²¹And they brought seven bullocks, and seven rams, and seven lambs, and seven he goats, for a sin offering for the kingdom, and for the sanctuary, and for Judah. And he commanded the priests the sons of Aaron to offer them on the altar of the Lord. ²²So they killed the bullocks, and the priests received the blood, and sprinkled it on the altar: likewise, when they had killed the rams, they sprinkled the blood upon the altar: they killed also the lambs, and they sprinkled the blood upon the altar. ²³And they brought forth the he goats for the sin offering before the king and the congregation; and they laid their hands upon them: ²⁴And the priests killed them, and they made reconciliation with their blood upon the altar, to make an atonement for all Israel: for the king commanded that the burnt offering and the sin offering should be made for all Israel. (2 Chronicles 29:21‑24)), which was an acknowledgment that they had sinned. (Compare Zech. 12:10-14¹⁰And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. ¹¹In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon. ¹²And the land shall mourn, every family apart; the family of the house of David apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart; ¹³The family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart; the family of Shimei apart, and their wives apart; ¹⁴All the families that remain, every family apart, and their wives apart. (Zechariah 12:10‑14); Psa. 51) Afterward, they offered burnt offerings and sacrifices of thanksgivings (2 Chron. 29:27-36²⁷And Hezekiah commanded to offer the burnt offering upon the altar. And when the burnt offering began, the song of the Lord began also with the trumpets, and with the instruments ordained by David king of Israel. ²⁸And all the congregation worshipped, and the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded: and all this continued until the burnt offering was finished. ²⁹And when they had made an end of offering, the king and all that were present with him bowed themselves, and worshipped. ³⁰Moreover Hezekiah the king and the princes commanded the Levites to sing praise unto the Lord with the words of David, and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshipped. ³¹Then Hezekiah answered and said, Now ye have consecrated yourselves unto the Lord, come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings into the house of the Lord. And the congregation brought in sacrifices and thank offerings; and as many as were of a free heart burnt offerings. ³²And the number of the burnt offerings, which the congregation brought, was threescore and ten bullocks, an hundred rams, and two hundred lambs: all these were for a burnt offering to the Lord. ³³And the consecrated things were six hundred oxen and three thousand sheep. ³⁴But the priests were too few, so that they could not flay all the burnt offerings: wherefore their brethren the Levites did help them, till the work was ended, and until the other priests had sanctified themselves: for the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests. ³⁵And also the burnt offerings were in abundance, with the fat of the peace offerings, and the drink offerings for every burnt offering. So the service of the house of the Lord was set in order. ³⁶And Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people, that God had prepared the people: for the thing was done suddenly. (2 Chronicles 29:27‑36)). Then, Hezekiah sought to re-unite all Israel under Jehovah. He sent messengers to call all the tribes of Israel to come to him at Jerusalem to keep the Passover. Ones from the various tribes humbled themselves and came up to join the celebration (2 Chron. 30). In this, atonement was made for all Israel. Then they cleansed the land of idolatry and established true godly order under the commandment of Hezekiah (2 Chron. 31). This, typically, speaks of the interval between points #5 and #6 when the Jews (the two tribes) and the ten tribes of Israel will be restored to the Lord.

After godly order was established in the land under Hezekiah, the Assyrians came down again from the north to overthrow Hezekiah’s kingdom. This time, they were under the leadership of Sennacherib. As Sennacherib’s army came near to Jerusalem, the angel of the Lord went out and slaughtered them. (2 Chron. 32:21²¹And the Lord sent an angel, which cut off all the mighty men of valor, and the leaders and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he was come into the house of his god, they that came forth of his own bowels slew him there with the sword. (2 Chronicles 32:21); 2 Kings 19:35³⁵And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the Lord went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses. (2 Kings 19:35)). Sennacherib and the Assyrians are a well-known type15 of the final invasion, in prophecy, led by Gog (Russia), who will be defeated by the Lord. This is point #6 in the summary.

After Sennacherib’s armies were defeated, God magnified Hezekiah in the sight of all nations on earth, so that many brought gifts to him (2 Chron. 32:22-23²²Thus the Lord saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all other, and guided them on every side. ²³And many brought gifts unto the Lord to Jerusalem, and presents to Hezekiah king of Judah: so that he was magnified in the sight of all nations from thenceforth. (2 Chronicles 32:22‑23)). In the same way, after all wars will have ceased, the glory of Christ will spread throughout the whole world during the Millennium (Isa. 66:19¹⁹And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles. (Isaiah 66:19); Hab. 2:14¹⁴For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. (Habakkuk 2:14); Mal. 1:11¹¹For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the Lord of hosts. (Malachi 1:11); Psa. 68:29²⁹Because of thy temple at Jerusalem shall kings bring presents unto thee. (Psalm 68:29); Psa. 72:10, 19¹⁰The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts. (Psalm 72:10)
¹⁹And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen. (Psalm 72:19)).

11) Isaiah 7–9:7

This is just one of many outlines in the book of Isaiah that confirms the order of the battles given in the summary.

The circumstances during which Isaiah was called to prophesy were those of Israel’s low spiritual condition in the days of king Ahaz. As we have already shown, wicked king Ahaz is a type of Antichrist, the false Messiah and willful king of the Jews in the future. He had forsaken the Lord and had set up a strange god (an idolatrous altar) in the temple (2 Kings 16:10-18¹⁰And king Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, and saw an altar that was at Damascus: and king Ahaz sent to Urijah the priest the fashion of the altar, and the pattern of it, according to all the workmanship thereof. ¹¹And Urijah the priest built an altar according to all that king Ahaz had sent from Damascus: so Urijah the priest made it against king Ahaz came from Damascus. ¹²And when the king was come from Damascus, the king saw the altar: and the king approached to the altar, and offered thereon. ¹³And he burnt his burnt offering and his meat offering, and poured his drink offering, and sprinkled the blood of his peace offerings, upon the altar. ¹⁴And he brought also the brazen altar, which was before the Lord, from the forefront of the house, from between the altar and the house of the Lord, and put it on the north side of the altar. ¹⁵And king Ahaz commanded Urijah the priest, saying, Upon the great altar burn the morning burnt offering, and the evening meat offering, and the king's burnt sacrifice, and his meat offering, with the burnt offering of all the people of the land, and their meat offering, and their drink offerings; and sprinkle upon it all the blood of the burnt offering, and all the blood of the sacrifice: and the brazen altar shall be for me to inquire by. ¹⁶Thus did Urijah the priest, according to all that king Ahaz commanded. ¹⁷And king Ahaz cut off the borders of the bases, and removed the laver from off them; and took down the sea from off the brazen oxen that were under it, and put it upon a pavement of stones. ¹⁸And the covert for the sabbath that they had built in the house, and the king's entry without, turned he from the house of the Lord for the king of Assyria. (2 Kings 16:10‑18); 2 Chron. 29:19¹⁹Moreover all the vessels, which king Ahaz in his reign did cast away in his transgression, have we prepared and sanctified, and, behold, they are before the altar of the Lord. (2 Chronicles 29:19)). This is a foreshadow of Antichrist setting up an idolatrous image of the Beast in the temple (Dan. 9:27; 12:11²⁷And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. (Daniel 9:27)
¹¹And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. (Daniel 12:11); Matt. 24:15¹⁵When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) (Matthew 24:15); Rev. 13:14-15¹⁴And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. ¹⁵And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. (Revelation 13:14‑15)).

News had come to king Ahaz that two of his enemies, who had previously been acting independently, had now joined forces with a plan to overthrow the house of David—the royal kingship in Jerusalem (Isa. 7:1-2¹And it came to pass in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up toward Jerusalem to war against it, but could not prevail against it. ²And it was told the house of David, saying, Syria is confederate with Ephraim. And his heart was moved, and the heart of his people, as the trees of the wood are moved with the wind. (Isaiah 7:1‑2)). Although these enemies did great damage to Ahaz’s kingdom, they were not successful in overcoming king Ahaz at that time (2 Chron. 28:6⁶For Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah an hundred and twenty thousand in one day, which were all valiant men; because they had forsaken the Lord God of their fathers. (2 Chronicles 28:6); Isa. 7:1¹And it came to pass in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up toward Jerusalem to war against it, but could not prevail against it. (Isaiah 7:1)). Besides this, enemies from other nearby nations were pressing against Ahaz (2 Chron. 28:17-18¹⁷For again the Edomites had come and smitten Judah, and carried away captives. ¹⁸The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the low country, and of the south of Judah, and had taken Beth-shemesh, and Ajalon, and Gederoth, and Shocho with the villages thereof, and Timnah with the villages thereof, Gimzo also and the villages thereof: and they dwelt there. (2 Chronicles 28:17‑18)). God allowed this because He and the people had forsaken the Lord (2 Chron. 28:6⁶For Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah an hundred and twenty thousand in one day, which were all valiant men; because they had forsaken the Lord God of their fathers. (2 Chronicles 28:6)). These things are a picture of the pressures that will mount up against the Jews when they are once again found in the land of Israel during the Tribulation. There will be “wars and rumors of wars;” “nation shall rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom” (Matt. 24:6-7⁶And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. ⁷For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. (Matthew 24:6‑7); Compare also Psalm 83:1-4¹<<A Song or Psalm of Asaph.>> Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God. ²For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head. ³They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones. ⁴They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance. (Psalm 83:1‑4)).

Isaiah was sent with his son Shearjashub to Ahaz with a message from God. He is a type of the Jewish remnant that will testify to the apostate nation during the Tribulation. Isaiah’s message for the king was to avail himself of the protection of the Lord. He told him not to be afraid, but to turn to the Lord and rely on Him. He also said that the designs of their enemies (“smoking firebrands”) would not stand, neither would they come to pass; for the Lord would crush these enemies if he would only turn to the Lord and believe (Isa. 7:3-9³Then said the Lord unto Isaiah, Go forth now to meet Ahaz, thou, and Shear-jashub thy son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the fuller's field; ⁴And say unto him, Take heed, and be quiet; fear not, neither be fainthearted for the two tails of these smoking firebrands, for the fierce anger of Rezin with Syria, and of the son of Remaliah. ⁵Because Syria, Ephraim, and the son of Remaliah, have taken evil counsel against thee, saying, ⁶Let us go up against Judah, and vex it, and let us make a breach therein for us, and set a king in the midst of it, even the son of Tabeal: ⁷Thus saith the Lord God, It shall not stand, neither shall it come to pass. ⁸For the head of Syria is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin; and within threescore and five years shall Ephraim be broken, that it be not a people. ⁹And the head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is Remaliah's son. If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established. (Isaiah 7:3‑9)).

The Lord also encouraged Ahaz to ask Him for a sign, if he did not have the faith to trust His Word by the prophet Isaiah; thereby, the Lord would prove Himself to Ahaz. However, Ahaz piously refused to ask for a sign from the Lord, claiming that he would not want to tempt the Lord or weary Him (Isa. 7:10-13¹⁰Moreover the Lord spake again unto Ahaz, saying, ¹¹Ask thee a sign of the Lord thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above. ¹²But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the Lord. ¹³And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David; Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God also? (Isaiah 7:10‑13)). King Ahaz’s faithlessness is a picture of the godlessness and apostasy that Antichrist will be characterized by. He will not regard “the God of his fathers” (Dan. 11:37³⁷Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all. (Daniel 11:37); Psa. 10:4⁴The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts. (Psalm 10:4)). Because Ahaz would not trust the Lord, nor ask for a sign, the Lord Himself would give a sign anyway. Immanuel would be given to the people, born of a virgin (Isa. 7:14¹⁴Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14)). This was fulfilled at the birth of Christ (Matt. 1:21-23²¹And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. ²²Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, ²³Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. (Matthew 1:21‑23)).

Before Shearjashub (Isaiah’s son) had come to the age of accountable responsibility (knowing good and evil), the land of Israel was going to be desolated. The Lord was going to bring down upon the land the king of Assyria. How this actually happened is that after Ahaz refused to avail himself of the Lord’s help, he hired the Assyrian armies to help him (2 Kings 16:7-9⁷So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, saying, I am thy servant and thy son: come up, and save me out of the hand of the king of Syria, and out of the hand of the king of Israel, which rise up against me. ⁸And Ahaz took the silver and gold that was found in the house of the Lord, and in the treasures of the king's house, and sent it for a present to the king of Assyria. ⁹And the king of Assyria hearkened unto him: for the king of Assyria went up against Damascus, and took it, and carried the people of it captive to Kir, and slew Rezin. (2 Kings 16:7‑9)). But what he didn’t realize was that the Assyrians had designs on the land of Israel too. They were quite willing to come down and destroy Ahaz’s enemies, but they weren’t going to stop there. They were going to take Ahaz’s kingdom too! Thus, by Ahaz’s calling for the Assyrians, he was really bringing God’s governmental judgment upon himself and the people in the land (Isa. 7:15-16¹⁵Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good. ¹⁶For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings. (Isaiah 7:15‑16)).

The chapter goes on to show that the Lord would be behind the invasion. He was going to bring these invading armies into the land because His people had forsaken Him and needed to be humbled and brought to repentance. He would “hiss” (or whistle) for not only the Assyrians to come, but also for the Egyptians. The “fly in the uttermost part of the rivers of Egypt” is symbolic of the armies of the king of Egypt. The “bee that is in the land of Assyria” is symbolic of the Assyrian armies. But notice the order. The fly is whistled for first, then the bee! (Isa. 7:17-18¹⁷The Lord shall bring upon thee, and upon thy people, and upon thy father's house, days that have not come, from the day that Ephraim departed from Judah; even the king of Assyria. ¹⁸And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall hiss for the fly that is in the uttermost part of the rivers of Egypt, and for the bee that is in the land of Assyria. (Isaiah 7:17‑18)) This is precisely the order of points #1 and #2 in the summary. Although these things only happened in part historically, there are details mentioned in the latter part of the chapter that have not been fulfilled yet. It shows that there is still a future application to these prophecies that awaits fulfillment.

The damage of the Assyrian invasion is compared to a barber. They would “shave” the land of everything in it. The people and the vegetation would be cut down. After the devastation there would grow only “briers and thorns” (Isa.7:19-20, 23-25).

In the midst of these solemn warnings of coming judgment, Isaiah also spoke of the mercy that God would have toward a remnant of His people after the terrible invasion had produced the desired results in them. In His wrath He remembers mercy (Hab. 3:2²O Lord, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O Lord, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy. (Habakkuk 3:2)). There is a bright future that awaits a remnant of Israel. Isaiah’s prophecy looks on to the Millennial day when the land of Israel will be blessed of God, producing agriculture with amazing results (Isa. 7:21-22²¹And it shall come to pass in that day, that a man shall nourish a young cow, and two sheep; ²²And it shall come to pass, for the abundance of milk that they shall give he shall eat butter: for butter and honey shall every one eat that is left in the land. (Isaiah 7:21‑22)).

Chapter 8 reveals more details of the Assyrian’s invasion. To warn the people of the certainty and the nearness of the coming judgment, Isaiah was told to name his next son, Mahershalalhashbaz, which means, “rush on the prey.” This was to illustrate what the Assyrians were going to do shortly. Isaiah prophesies that before the child would learn to speak the simplest words, the Assyrians would have already taken the Syrian kingdom and the northern kingdom of Israel (Isa. 8:1-4¹Moreover the Lord said unto me, Take thee a great roll, and write in it with a man's pen concerning Maher-shalal-hash-baz. ²And I took unto me faithful witnesses to record, Uriah the priest, and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah. ³And I went unto the prophetess; and she conceived, and bare a son. Then said the Lord to me, Call his name Maher-shalal-hash-baz. ⁴For before the child shall have knowledge to cry, My father, and my mother, the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria shall be taken away before the king of Assyria. (Isaiah 8:1‑4)).

Isaiah “the waters of Shiloah” (peace), so He was going to give them the “waters of the river” Euphrates—a symbol of the armies of Assyria. This invasion was compared to a barber in the seventh chapter, but now it is likened to a mighty flood of water rising out of the Euphrates River and overflowing the land of Israel. Compare Isaiah 17:12-13; 28:15, 18¹²Woe to the multitude of many people, which make a noise like the noise of the seas; and to the rushing of nations, that make a rushing like the rushing of mighty waters! ¹³The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters: but God shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, and shall be chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like a rolling thing before the whirlwind. (Isaiah 17:12‑13)
¹⁵Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves: (Isaiah 28:15)
¹⁸And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it. (Isaiah 28:18); Dan. 11:40⁴⁰And 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). The “wings,” or bands of the huge Assyrian army, were going to fill the breadth of the land. This flood-like invasion would reach “even to the neck,” almost drowning the population. Only a remnant of the people would survive the devastation (Isa. 8:5-8⁵The Lord spake also unto me again, saying, ⁶Forasmuch as this people refuseth the waters of Shiloah that go softly, and rejoice in Rezin and Remaliah's son; ⁷Now therefore, behold, the Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the river, strong and many, even the king of Assyria, and all his glory: and he shall come up over all his channels, and go over all his banks: ⁸And he shall pass through Judah; he shall overflow and go over, he shall reach even to the neck; and the stretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel. (Isaiah 8:5‑8)).

Isaiah warns the nations who have associated themselves in the confederacy under the Assyrian that they will be “broken in pieces.” The faith of the godly Jewish remnant is here depicted. Their faith is such that even though the land will be devastated, they are convinced that God will judge this enemy. They do not speak of the details of when and how, only that judgment will fall on them. Their faith causes them to say unhesitatingly, “For God is with us.” This is what “Immanuel” means (Matt. 1:23). Even though Immanuel has not manifested Himself yet (Isa. 8:17¹⁷And I will wait upon the Lord, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him. (Isaiah 8:17)), their faith and hopes are firmly established in Him (Isa. 8:9-10⁹Associate yourselves, O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces; and give ear, all ye of far countries: gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces. ¹⁰Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us. (Isaiah 8:9‑10); Psa. 80:17¹⁷Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, upon the son of man whom thou madest strong for thyself. (Psalm 80:17)).

The godly remnant (pictured in the prophet Isaiah personally) are told by the Lord to have nothing to do with the conspiracy, but to sanctify “the Lord of Hosts” in their hearts and to lean upon Him alone (Isa. 8:11-14¹¹For the Lord spake thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying, ¹²Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. ¹³Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. ¹⁴And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. (Isaiah 8:11‑14); Psa. 20:7⁷Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God. (Psalm 20:7)). Many of the (apostate) Jews are going to stumble and be deceived by Antichrist, but the godly Jewish remnant are encouraged to strengthen the testimony among those that are faithful; and to wait for the Lord (Isa. 8:15-18¹⁵And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken. ¹⁶Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples. ¹⁷And I will wait upon the Lord, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him. ¹⁸Behold, I and the children whom the Lord hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the Lord of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion. (Isaiah 8:15‑18)).

They will also be counseled (probably through the voice of prophets among them—the Maschilim), that when Antichrist and his corrupt partisans put forth their idolatrous deceptions, to receive none of it; but to test all things by “the Law and the Testimony”—God’s Holy Word. (Isa. 8:19-20¹⁹And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead? ²⁰To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. (Isaiah 8:19‑20))

The last couple of verses of the chapter give us the dreadful end of those apostate Jews who have received and trusted in Antichrist. When the Assyrian (the King of the North) begins to desolate the land, Antichrist will up and leave them in distress! (Zech. 11:17¹⁷Woe to the idol shepherd that leaveth the flock! the sword shall be upon his arm, and upon his right eye: his arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall be utterly darkened. (Zechariah 11:17); Isa. 22:19¹⁹And I will drive thee from thy station, and from thy state shall he pull thee down. (Isaiah 22:19); John 10:13¹³The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. (John 10:13)) Those poor apostate Jews who had thought that their (false) Messiah and “king” would miraculously deliver them from all their troubles will discover that they have been deceived by a “worthless shepherd” (Zech. 11:17¹⁷Woe to the idol shepherd that leaveth the flock! the sword shall be upon his arm, and upon his right eye: his arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall be utterly darkened. (Zechariah 11:17)). In despair, they will curse him (“their king”) and God. In a fog of spiritual darkness, they will confusedly look to the heavens and to the earth, but will find no help. Two-thirds of the Jews in the land will be slaughtered at that time by the invading armies of the Assyrian. (Zech. 13:8⁸And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. (Zechariah 13:8)). What a sorrowful end! (Isa. 8:21-22²¹And they shall pass through it, hardly bestead and hungry: and it shall come to pass, that when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves, and curse their king and their God, and look upward. ²²And they shall look unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish; and they shall be driven to darkness. (Isaiah 8:21‑22)).

Chapters 7:17 to 8:22 give us details regarding the invasion outlined in point #2 of the summary. While the apostate Jews will come to their end enveloped in the spiritual darkness that Antichrist will have brought in (Isa. 8:22²²And they shall look unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish; and they shall be driven to darkness. (Isaiah 8:22)), the godly remnant of Jews will get deliverance. “The gloom is not to be to her that was in anguish” (Isa. 9:1¹Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations. (Isaiah 9:1)–W. Kelly Trans.). The godly remnant who will have been in “anguish” throughout the terrible persecution brought in by the Beast and Antichrist will receive deliverance. Just after “the overflowing scourge” (the 1St attack of the Assyrian–Isa. 7:17-25; 8:7-8¹⁷The Lord shall bring upon thee, and upon thy people, and upon thy father's house, days that have not come, from the day that Ephraim departed from Judah; even the king of Assyria. ¹⁸And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall hiss for the fly that is in the uttermost part of the rivers of Egypt, and for the bee that is in the land of Assyria. ¹⁹And they shall come, and shall rest all of them in the desolate valleys, and in the holes of the rocks, and upon all thorns, and upon all bushes. ²⁰In the same day shall the Lord shave with a razor that is hired, namely, by them beyond the river, by the king of Assyria, the head, and the hair of the feet: and it shall also consume the beard. ²¹And it shall come to pass in that day, that a man shall nourish a young cow, and two sheep; ²²And it shall come to pass, for the abundance of milk that they shall give he shall eat butter: for butter and honey shall every one eat that is left in the land. ²³And it shall come to pass in that day, that every place shall be, where there were a thousand vines at a thousand silverlings, it shall even be for briers and thorns. ²⁴With arrows and with bows shall men come thither; because all the land shall become briers and thorns. ²⁵And on all hills that shall be digged with the mattock, there shall not come thither the fear of briers and thorns: but it shall be for the sending forth of oxen, and for the treading of lesser cattle. (Isaiah 7:17‑25)
⁷Now therefore, behold, the Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the river, strong and many, even the king of Assyria, and all his glory: and he shall come up over all his channels, and go over all his banks: ⁸And he shall pass through Judah; he shall overflow and go over, he shall reach even to the neck; and the stretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel. (Isaiah 8:7‑8)) has swept through the land into Egypt, the remnant, who have had to walk through that time of spiritual darkness in the Great Tribulation, will see “a great light.” This is a reference to the brightness of the Appearing of Christ (2 Thess. 2:8⁸And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: (2 Thessalonians 2:8)). At that time, the Lord will suddenly appear, not in Jerusalem, but in the north end of the land of Israel. Just as in the days of our Lord’s earthly ministry, it will be Galilee—not Jerusalem—that will be given the honour of having His presence known first. “At first He degraded the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali; later He honoured the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the nations” (Isa. 9:1¹Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations. (Isaiah 9:1)–W. Kelly Trans.). The Lord will allow the northern part of the land (indeed all of the land) to be “degraded” by the Assyrian (first attack) who will invade and ravage the land (Isa. 7:17-25; 8:7-8¹⁷The Lord shall bring upon thee, and upon thy people, and upon thy father's house, days that have not come, from the day that Ephraim departed from Judah; even the king of Assyria. ¹⁸And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall hiss for the fly that is in the uttermost part of the rivers of Egypt, and for the bee that is in the land of Assyria. ¹⁹And they shall come, and shall rest all of them in the desolate valleys, and in the holes of the rocks, and upon all thorns, and upon all bushes. ²⁰In the same day shall the Lord shave with a razor that is hired, namely, by them beyond the river, by the king of Assyria, the head, and the hair of the feet: and it shall also consume the beard. ²¹And it shall come to pass in that day, that a man shall nourish a young cow, and two sheep; ²²And it shall come to pass, for the abundance of milk that they shall give he shall eat butter: for butter and honey shall every one eat that is left in the land. ²³And it shall come to pass in that day, that every place shall be, where there were a thousand vines at a thousand silverlings, it shall even be for briers and thorns. ²⁴With arrows and with bows shall men come thither; because all the land shall become briers and thorns. ²⁵And on all hills that shall be digged with the mattock, there shall not come thither the fear of briers and thorns: but it shall be for the sending forth of oxen, and for the treading of lesser cattle. (Isaiah 7:17‑25)
⁷Now therefore, behold, the Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the river, strong and many, even the king of Assyria, and all his glory: and he shall come up over all his channels, and go over all his banks: ⁸And he shall pass through Judah; he shall overflow and go over, he shall reach even to the neck; and the stretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel. (Isaiah 8:7‑8)). But afterward, the north end of the land will be honoured first by His glorious presence when He comes (His Appearing). This is the same area as Megiddo—Armageddon. Armageddon has special reference to the Lord’s judgment of the Western powers under the Beast (Rev. 16:15-21; 19:19-20¹⁵Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. ¹⁶And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. ¹⁷And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. ¹⁸And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. ¹⁹And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. ²⁰And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. ²¹And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great. (Revelation 16:15‑21)
¹⁹And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. ²⁰And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. (Revelation 19:19‑20); Isa. 9:1-2¹Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations. ²The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. (Isaiah 9:1‑2)). This “light” in the north end of the land of Israel alludes to this judgment, although it is not specifically mentioned here. This will happen at the time of point #4 in the summary.

Some of the results of the Lord’s return are given in the following couple of verses. He will not only deliver the remnant of Jews, but will also multiply the nation of Israel and increase its joy. “Thou hast multiplied the nation, Thou hast increased their joy” (Isa. 9:3³Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil. (Isaiah 9:3)). This is a reference to the Lord regathering and restoring Israel. It answers to the interval between points #5 and #6 in the summary.

Then the next couple of verses speak of warfare again! They also speak of the Lord breaking the “oppressor.” This appears to be a reference to the Assyrian in its final form under Gog. Not only will the Lord restore Israel (Isa. 9:2-3²The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. ³Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil. (Isaiah 9:2‑3)), but He will also remove “the yoke” and “burden” of their oppressor forever. The way that the Lord will do this will be “as in the day of Midian;” which is an often used expression that refers to His judgment on His enemies (Isa. 9:4-5; 10:26-27⁴For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian. ⁵For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire. (Isaiah 9:4‑5)
²⁶And the Lord of hosts shall stir up a scourge for him according to the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb: and as his rod was upon the sea, so shall he lift it up after the manner of Egypt. ²⁷And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing. (Isaiah 10:26‑27); Psa. 83:9⁹Do unto them as unto the Midianites; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison: (Psalm 83:9)). These things answer to point #6 in the summary.

Following this judgment, Christ is seen having His rightful place in the earth as King over all (Zech. 14:9⁹And the Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one. (Zechariah 14:9)). He will establish His Millennial kingdom and “the government shall be upon His shoulder.” He will bring peace and justice to the earth in that day (Isa. 9:6-7⁶For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. ⁷Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. (Isaiah 9:6‑7)).

12) Isaiah 9:8-12:6⁸The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Israel. ⁹And all the people shall know, even Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria, that say in the pride and stoutness of heart, ¹⁰The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones: the sycomores are cut down, but we will change them into cedars. ¹¹Therefore the Lord shall set up the adversaries of Rezin against him, and join his enemies together; ¹²The Syrians before, and the Philistines behind; and they shall devour Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. ¹³For the people turneth not unto him that smiteth them, neither do they seek the Lord of hosts. ¹⁴Therefore the Lord will cut off from Israel head and tail, branch and rush, in one day. ¹⁵The ancient and honorable, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail. ¹⁶For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed. ¹⁷Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows: for every one is an hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. ¹⁸For wickedness burneth as the fire: it shall devour the briers and thorns, and shall kindle in the thickets of the forest, and they shall mount up like the lifting up of smoke. ¹⁹Through the wrath of the Lord of hosts is the land darkened, and the people shall be as the fuel of the fire: no man shall spare his brother. ²⁰And he shall snatch on the right hand, and be hungry; and he shall eat on the left hand, and they shall not be satisfied: they shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm: ²¹Manasseh, Ephraim; and Ephraim, Manasseh: and they together shall be against Judah. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. ¹Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed; ²To turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless! ³And what will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which shall come from far? to whom will ye flee for help? and where will ye leave your glory? ⁴Without me they shall bow down under the prisoners, and they shall fall under the slain. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. ⁵O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation. ⁶I 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. ⁷Howbeit 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. ⁸For he saith, Are not my princes altogether kings? ⁹Is not Calno as Carchemish? is not Hamath as Arpad? is not Samaria as Damascus? ¹⁰As my hand hath found the kingdoms of the idols, and whose graven images did excel them of Jerusalem and of Samaria; ¹¹Shall I not, as I have done unto Samaria and her idols, so do to Jerusalem and her idols? ¹²Wherefore 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. ¹³For he saith, By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom; for I am prudent: and I have removed the bounds of the people, and have robbed their treasures, and I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man: ¹⁴And my hand hath found as a nest the riches of the people: and as one gathereth eggs that are left, have I gathered all the earth; and there was none that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or peeped. ¹⁵Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith? or shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it? as if the rod should shake itself against them that lift it up, or as if the staff should lift up itself, as if it were no wood. ¹⁶Therefore shall the Lord, the Lord of hosts, send among his fat ones leanness; and under his glory he shall kindle a burning like the burning of a fire. ¹⁷And the light of Israel shall be for a fire, and his Holy One for a flame: and it shall burn and devour his thorns and his briers in one day; ¹⁸And shall consume the glory of his forest, and of his fruitful field, both soul and body: and they shall be as when a standardbearer fainteth. ¹⁹And the rest of the trees of his forest shall be few, that a child may write them. ²⁰And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel, and such as are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more again stay upon him that smote them; but shall stay upon the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. ²¹The remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God. ²²For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of them shall return: the consumption decreed shall overflow with righteousness. ²³For the Lord God of hosts shall make a consumption, even determined, in the midst of all the land. ²⁴Therefore thus saith the Lord God of hosts, O my people that dwellest in Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrian: he shall smite thee with a rod, and shall lift up his staff against thee, after the manner of Egypt. ²⁵For yet a very little while, and the indignation shall cease, and mine anger in their destruction. ²⁶And the Lord of hosts shall stir up a scourge for him according to the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb: and as his rod was upon the sea, so shall he lift it up after the manner of Egypt. ²⁷And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing. ²⁸He is come to Aiath, he is passed to Migron; at Michmash he hath laid up his carriages: ²⁹They are gone over the passage: they have taken up their lodging at Geba; Ramah is afraid; Gibeah of Saul is fled. ³⁰Lift up thy voice, O daughter of Gallim: cause it to be heard unto Laish, O poor Anathoth. ³¹Madmenah is removed; the inhabitants of Gebim gather themselves to flee. ³²As yet shall he remain at Nob that day: he shall shake his hand against the mount of the daughter of Zion, the hill of Jerusalem. ³³Behold, the Lord, the Lord of hosts, shall lop the bough with terror: and the high ones of stature shall be hewn down, and the haughty shall be humbled. ³⁴And he shall cut down the thickets of the forest with iron, and Lebanon shall fall by a mighty one. ¹And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: ²And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord; ³And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: ⁴But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. ⁵And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins. ⁶The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. ⁷And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. ⁸And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den. ⁹They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. ¹⁰And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious. ¹¹And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. ¹²And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. ¹³The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim. ¹⁴But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the west; they shall spoil them of the east together: they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab; and the children of Ammon shall obey them. ¹⁵And the Lord shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with his mighty wind shall he shake his hand over the river, and shall smite it in the seven streams, and make men go over dryshod. ¹⁶And there shall be an highway for the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt. ¹And in that day thou shalt say, O Lord, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me. ²Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. ³Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. ⁴And in that day shall ye say, Praise the Lord, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted. ⁵Sing unto the Lord; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth. ⁶Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee. (Isaiah 9:8‑12:6)

We must keep in mind that the chapter and verse divisions in our Bibles are not divinely inspired as are the Scriptures. Men have put them in the text for easy referencing, and they are a help. But unfortunately, on this occasion, they have been placed wrongly. Chapter 9 would have been better to have started with verse 8, because the first seven verses belong to the subject in chapters 7 and 8.

This prophecy then begins in verse 8, with Isaiah announcing God’s displeasure in His erring people. Although Isaiah was preaching these things to the people of his day, it has its application to the moral condition of the Jews in the land of Israel in their latter day under Antichrist (the willful king–Dan. 11:36-37³⁶And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done. ³⁷Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all. (Daniel 11:36‑37)). The sad condition of the people and their unrighteousness causes Jehovah to bring His hand down upon them in various chastisements. Isaiah pleads with the people of his day, warning them that if they did not turn from their ways, the Lord would bring their enemies upon them as a more severe chastisement than ever. In a similar way, during the Great Tribulation, the Jewish remnant will preach and plead with their (apostate) brethren to turn from their wickedness. They will warn them of coming judgment. Describing the longsuffering mercy of the Lord, Isaiah says, the Lord’s hand “is outstretched still”—four times (Isa. 9:8-10:4⁸The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Israel. ⁹And all the people shall know, even Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria, that say in the pride and stoutness of heart, ¹⁰The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones: the sycomores are cut down, but we will change them into cedars. ¹¹Therefore the Lord shall set up the adversaries of Rezin against him, and join his enemies together; ¹²The Syrians before, and the Philistines behind; and they shall devour Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. ¹³For the people turneth not unto him that smiteth them, neither do they seek the Lord of hosts. ¹⁴Therefore the Lord will cut off from Israel head and tail, branch and rush, in one day. ¹⁵The ancient and honorable, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail. ¹⁶For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed. ¹⁷Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows: for every one is an hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. ¹⁸For wickedness burneth as the fire: it shall devour the briers and thorns, and shall kindle in the thickets of the forest, and they shall mount up like the lifting up of smoke. ¹⁹Through the wrath of the Lord of hosts is the land darkened, and the people shall be as the fuel of the fire: no man shall spare his brother. ²⁰And he shall snatch on the right hand, and be hungry; and he shall eat on the left hand, and they shall not be satisfied: they shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm: ²¹Manasseh, Ephraim; and Ephraim, Manasseh: and they together shall be against Judah. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. ¹Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed; ²To turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless! ³And what will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which shall come from far? to whom will ye flee for help? and where will ye leave your glory? ⁴Without me they shall bow down under the prisoners, and they shall fall under the slain. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. (Isaiah 9:8‑10:4)). Compare Job 33:14¹⁴For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not. (Job 33:14) and Proverbs 1:24-27²⁴Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; ²⁵But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: ²⁶I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; ²⁷When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. (Proverbs 1:24‑27).

Having disregarded the Lord’s hand in chastisement and the Lord’s voice through Isaiah’s prophecies, the prophet tells of the judgment that was going to come upon them since they had refused to repent. God would use the Assyrian as His “rod.” He would send the Assyrian army against them as His instrument of destruction because of their hypocrisy and wickedness. This army would mercilessly “tread them down like the mire of the streets” (Isa. 10:5-6⁵O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation. ⁶I 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. (Isaiah 10:5‑6)). Other nations surrounding Israel would also fall prey to the Assyrian inroads (Isa. 10:7⁷Howbeit 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. (Isaiah 10:7)). This terrible invasion happened in Israel’s history under Sennacherib, but it will be accomplished to a far greater degree in a future day when the Assyrian (the King of the North and his Arab confederacy) enter the land of Israel and desolate it.

The prophet next describes the proud musings of the heart of the Assyrian in a poetic way. The Assyrian conquests are reiterated in the order of their accomplishment. Carchemish, Hamath, Damascus, Samaria, and finally Jerusalem, are mentioned as the Assyrian’s itinerary. The Spirit of God intends for us to notice that the inroads of the Assyrian progress through the land is from north to south. All this accurately foreshadows the future invasion of the land of Israel by the King of the North and his Arab confederacy (Isa. 10:8-11⁸For he saith, Are not my princes altogether kings? ⁹Is not Calno as Carchemish? is not Hamath as Arpad? is not Samaria as Damascus? ¹⁰As my hand hath found the kingdoms of the idols, and whose graven images did excel them of Jerusalem and of Samaria; ¹¹Shall I not, as I have done unto Samaria and her idols, so do to Jerusalem and her idols? (Isaiah 10:8‑11)).

After the Lord has used the Assyrian to accomplish the work of judging His apostate people (the unbelieving Jews who will have returned to the land in the early part of the Tribulation period), He will then judge the Assyrian because of his pride. Arrogating to himself the victorious conquest through the land, the Assyrian armies will boast of the “treasures” that they have gathered in spoil from the Jews. These riches are what the Jews are now amassing to themselves through their commercial successes while in dispersion, and will have brought back to their homeland (Isa. 2:7; 17:14⁷Their land also is full of silver and gold, neither is there any end of their treasures; their land is also full of horses, neither is there any end of their chariots: (Isaiah 2:7)
¹⁴And behold at eveningtide trouble; and before the morning he is not. This is the portion of them that spoil us, and the lot of them that rob us. (Isaiah 17:14); Psa. 73:7-12⁷Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish. ⁸They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily. ⁹They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth. ¹⁰Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them. ¹¹And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High? ¹²Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches. (Psalm 73:7‑12)). The Assyrian brags of the ease with which he has gathered it all to himself and likens it to gathering eggs from the nests of scattered hens (Isa. 10:12-14¹²Wherefore 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. ¹³For he saith, By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom; for I am prudent: and I have removed the bounds of the people, and have robbed their treasures, and I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man: ¹⁴And my hand hath found as a nest the riches of the people: and as one gathereth eggs that are left, have I gathered all the earth; and there was none that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or peeped. (Isaiah 10:12‑14)).

Hence, Isaiah 10:5-14⁵O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation. ⁶I 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. ⁷Howbeit 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. ⁸For he saith, Are not my princes altogether kings? ⁹Is not Calno as Carchemish? is not Hamath as Arpad? is not Samaria as Damascus? ¹⁰As my hand hath found the kingdoms of the idols, and whose graven images did excel them of Jerusalem and of Samaria; ¹¹Shall I not, as I have done unto Samaria and her idols, so do to Jerusalem and her idols? ¹²Wherefore 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. ¹³For he saith, By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom; for I am prudent: and I have removed the bounds of the people, and have robbed their treasures, and I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man: ¹⁴And my hand hath found as a nest the riches of the people: and as one gathereth eggs that are left, have I gathered all the earth; and there was none that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or peeped. (Isaiah 10:5‑14) has reference to the 1St attack of the Assyrian in prophecy (the King of the North), even though much of it had an immediate historical fulfillment in the Assyrian. It prophetically answers to point #2 in the summary.

The Lord answers the Assyrian’s pride by asking the question of who is greater: The instrument that does the destroying or the One who uses the instrument. He speaks figuratively of the Assyrian as being like four kinds of instruments in His hand (an axe, a saw, a rod, and a staff). Each one of these have no power of their own and could not do anything unless someone moved them (Isa. 10:15¹⁵Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith? or shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it? as if the rod should shake itself against them that lift it up, or as if the staff should lift up itself, as if it were no wood. (Isaiah 10:15)).

The prophet goes on to tell how the Assyrian would be judged. The Lord Himself, “the Light of Israel,” would personally intervene upon the Assyrian’s designs as “a flame” of fire (a symbol of judgment) to consume them. The sudden destruction of the Assyrian army is compared to a massive forest fire that would spread rapidly and bring down thousands of trees. Trees, in Scripture, are often likened to men (Am. 2:9, Mark 8:24²⁴And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking. (Mark 8:24); Luke 3:9; 6:43-45⁹And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. (Luke 3:9)
⁴³For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. ⁴⁴For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. ⁴⁵A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. (Luke 6:43‑45); Psa. 1:3³And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. (Psalm 1:3); Psa. 92:12-14¹²The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. ¹³Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. ¹⁴They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing; (Psalm 92:12‑14); Isa. 2:11-14; 65:22¹¹The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day. ¹²For the day of the Lord of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low: ¹³And upon all the cedars of Lebanon, that are high and lifted up, and upon all the oaks of Bashan, ¹⁴And upon all the high mountains, and upon all the hills that are lifted up, (Isaiah 2:11‑14)
²²They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. (Isaiah 65:22); Dan. 4:20-22²⁰The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth; ²¹Whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation: ²²It is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth. (Daniel 4:20‑22)). Hence, a forest is figurative of a great multitude, or an army of men. The “fat ones” (large thick trees) are a reference to the Assyrian’s sturdiest warriors. They also would fall as when a “sick man faints” (Isa. 10:16-19¹⁶Therefore shall the Lord, the Lord of hosts, send among his fat ones leanness; and under his glory he shall kindle a burning like the burning of a fire. ¹⁷And the light of Israel shall be for a fire, and his Holy One for a flame: and it shall burn and devour his thorns and his briers in one day; ¹⁸And shall consume the glory of his forest, and of his fruitful field, both soul and body: and they shall be as when a standardbearer fainteth. ¹⁹And the rest of the trees of his forest shall be few, that a child may write them. (Isaiah 10:16‑19)).

Prophetically, this judgment of the Lord on the Assyrian will take place just after the Lord appears at His second coming. We learn elsewhere that the Lord will judge the Western powers first—the Beast. Isaiah does not tell of the destruction of the Western powers because it is not his subject here. The Assyrian (the King of the North) will have proceeded into Egypt continuing his conquest there. When in Egypt, he will hear tidings that the Lord has appeared in the land of Israel and will return to that land to be judged by the Lord personally (Dan. 8:25; 11:42-45²⁵And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand. (Daniel 8:25)
⁴²He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape. ⁴³But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps. ⁴⁴But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many. ⁴⁵And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him. (Daniel 11:42‑45)). However, the details concerning the Assyrian’s exploits into Egypt are also not developed here because the subject of this prophecy of Isaiah is that of the chastisement of the Lord’s own people (the Jews) who have departed from Him. The fact of the Assyrian’s judgment is simply stated without reference as to how it would happen; Isaiah merely indicates that it will be after the Assyrian has done the Lord’s work in desolating the land of Israel. This would be point #5 in the summary.

After the Lord has judged the Assyrian He will undertake to restore His people. The faithful remnant among the Jews, who will flee to the mountains for safety from the persecution caused by Antichrist (Matt. 24:15-22¹⁵When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) ¹⁶Then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains: ¹⁷Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: ¹⁸Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. ¹⁹And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! ²⁰But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: ²¹For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. ²²And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. (Matthew 24:15‑22)) will be delivered at that time. But more than this, the Lord will effect the restoration of “the remnant of Israel” (the ten tribes). He will cause them to return to their homeland at this time by sending His angels to gather His elect from the four winds (Matt. 24:31³¹And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. (Matthew 24:31)). We learn elsewhere that a mixed multitude will come up into the land with them, and those who are not real in their souls will be sifted out at the borders of the land (Ezek. 11:9-10; 20:35-38⁹And I will bring you out of the midst thereof, and deliver you into the hands of strangers, and will execute judgments among you. ¹⁰Ye shall fall by the sword; I will judge you in the border of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the Lord. (Ezekiel 11:9‑10)
³⁵And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face. ³⁶Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord God. ³⁷And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant: ³⁸And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am the Lord. (Ezekiel 20:35‑38); Am. 9:9-10; Zeph. 3:11-12¹¹In that day shalt thou not be ashamed for all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against me: for then I will take away out of the midst of thee them that rejoice in thy pride, and thou shalt no more be haughty because of my holy mountain. ¹²I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the Lord. (Zephaniah 3:11‑12)). Not only will they return to the land of Israel from all parts of the earth, but they will return to “the Mighty God.” This means that their restoration will not merely be an outward thing of returning to their land, but that there will also be an inward work of repentance in their hearts and consciences whereby they will be restored to the Lord. Thereafter, they will “stay [rely or trust] upon the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth” (Isa. 10:20-21²⁰And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel, and such as are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more again stay upon him that smote them; but shall stay upon the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. ²¹The remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God. (Isaiah 10:20‑21)). This is the interval between points #5 and #6 in the summary.

The Lord then comforts His people in view of all that will happen. He tells them that even though a “consumption” of the land has been determined as a righteous judgment of God, a remnant will survive it and will be restored to the Lord. The “Consumption,” is a technical term for the judgment executed by the Assyrian as he sweeps down through the land of Israel into Egypt (Isa. 28:22²²Now therefore be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong: for I have heard from the Lord God of hosts a consumption, even determined upon the whole earth. (Isaiah 28:22)–J. N. Darby Trans. footnote; Isa. 10:22-23²²For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of them shall return: the consumption decreed shall overflow with righteousness. ²³For the Lord God of hosts shall make a consumption, even determined, in the midst of all the land. (Isaiah 10:22‑23)).

After a remnant from all twelve tribes of Israel is restored to the Lord, and is dwelling in their land under His protection (Isa. 27:2-5; 32:17-18²In that day sing ye unto her, A vineyard of red wine. ³I the Lord do keep it; I will water it every moment: lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day. ⁴Fury is not in me: who would set the briers and thorns against me in battle? I would go through them, I would burn them together. ⁵Or let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me; and he shall make peace with me. (Isaiah 27:2‑5)
¹⁷And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. ¹⁸And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places; (Isaiah 32:17‑18); Ezek. 38:11¹¹And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates, (Ezekiel 38:11)), they will be affrighted at the news that a second wave of the Assyrian is coming. The confederation of nations that will compose the Assyrian in this final formation is made up of Gog and his allies (Ezek. 38:1-7, 17¹And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, ²Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him, ³And say, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: ⁴And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armor, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords: ⁵Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet: ⁶Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee. ⁷Be thou prepared, and prepare for thyself, thou, and all thy company that are assembled unto thee, and be thou a guard unto them. (Ezekiel 38:1‑7)
¹⁷Thus saith the Lord God; Art thou he of whom I have spoken in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, which prophesied in those days many years that I would bring thee against them? (Ezekiel 38:17)). The Lord comforts His restored people, promising them that although the Assyrian has smitten the nation with a “rod” (a reference to the 1St attack–Isa. 10:5-6⁵O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation. ⁶I 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. (Isaiah 10:5‑6)), and was now lifting up His “staff” against them again, that this time he would not succeed (Nah. 1:9-13⁹What do ye imagine against the Lord? he will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time. ¹⁰For while they be folden together as thorns, and while they are drunken as drunkards, they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry. ¹¹There is one come out of thee, that imagineth evil against the Lord, a wicked counsellor. ¹²Thus saith the Lord; Though they be quiet, and likewise many, yet thus shall they be cut down, when he shall pass through. Though I have afflicted thee, I will afflict thee no more. ¹³For now will I break his yoke from off thee, and will burst thy bonds in sunder. (Nahum 1:9‑13); Psa. 46:4-7⁴There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. ⁵God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early. ⁶The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted. ⁷The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. (Psalm 46:4‑7); Zech. 9:8⁸And I will encamp about mine house because of the army, because of him that passeth by, and because of him that returneth: and no oppressor shall pass through them any more: for now have I seen with mine eyes. (Zechariah 9:8)). The Lord pledges that “the indignation” would cease, by Him personally judging the Assyrian fully and finally. “He will make a full end” (Nah. 1:9⁹What do ye imagine against the Lord? he will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time. (Nahum 1:9)). He reminds His people of what He had done long ago in the slaughter of the Midianites and in the destruction of Pharaoh and his army (Judg. 7; Ex. 14). In each case the Lord dealt in judgment with their enemies, and they merely had to “stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD.” (Ex. 14:13¹³And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will show to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. (Exodus 14:13); Jud. 7:21) The Lord promises that this would be the case again. The “yoke” of the Assyrian would be broken from off their neck and destroyed because of “the anointing,” which is a reference to the Lord now reigning among His newly restored people (Isa. 10:24-27²⁴Therefore thus saith the Lord God of hosts, O my people that dwellest in Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrian: he shall smite thee with a rod, and shall lift up his staff against thee, after the manner of Egypt. ²⁵For yet a very little while, and the indignation shall cease, and mine anger in their destruction. ²⁶And the Lord of hosts shall stir up a scourge for him according to the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb: and as his rod was upon the sea, so shall he lift it up after the manner of Egypt. ²⁷And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing. (Isaiah 10:24‑27)).

The prophet then describes the advance of the Assyrian (the 2nd attack). This was fulfilled in Sennacherib’s time, but is given by the Spirit to foreshadow the final attack of the Assyrian under Gog. Isaiah vividly portrays the Assyrian armies approaching Jerusalem, passing from town to town, in language intended to build suspense. “Aiath” (Ai) is 10 miles north of Jerusalem, “Migron” is 9 1/2 miles north, “Michmash” is 9 miles north, “the passage” (the brook “Cherith”) is 7 miles north, “Geba” is 6 miles, “Ramah” is 5 miles, “Gibeah” is 3 1/2 miles, “Gallim” and “Anathoth” are 3 miles, “Madmenah” and “Gebim” are 2 miles, and “Nob” is 1 mile north of Jerusalem. When the Assyrian is about to lift up his hand against “the daughter of Zion, the hill of Jerusalem,” to take it, the Lord, who will be dwelling there at that time (Psa. 46:5⁵God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early. (Psalm 46:5); Zech. 9:8⁸And I will encamp about mine house because of the army, because of him that passeth by, and because of him that returneth: and no oppressor shall pass through them any more: for now have I seen with mine eyes. (Zechariah 9:8)), will roar out of the beloved city and destroy the Assyrian (Joel 3:16¹⁶The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the Lord will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel. (Joel 3:16)).

The final destruction of the Assyrian is given under the figure of a forest being cut down (Isa. 10:33-34³³Behold, the Lord, the Lord of hosts, shall lop the bough with terror: and the high ones of stature shall be hewn down, and the haughty shall be humbled. ³⁴And he shall cut down the thickets of the forest with iron, and Lebanon shall fall by a mighty one. (Isaiah 10:33‑34)). This will cause the “indignation” to cease. Whether the Assyrian in his final form will actually get that close to Jerusalem is not the point of Isaiah’s vivid description. He is simply indicating that there will be another more frightening attack by the Assyrian upon Israel after they have been restored to the Lord, which will not succeed (Ezek. 38:15-17¹⁵And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army: ¹⁶And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes. ¹⁷Thus saith the Lord God; Art thou he of whom I have spoken in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, which prophesied in those days many years that I would bring thee against them? (Ezekiel 38:15‑17)). This answers to point #6 in the summary.

After the Assyrian has been judged by the Lord, the Spirit of God shifts the focus of our attention, in the eleventh chapter, to the blessing that the Lord will bring to the earth after He has put down all adverse powers. Although the judgment spoken of in the previous chapter could be traced to its partial fulfillment in Hezekiah’s day (2 Kings 19:32-35³²Therefore thus saith the Lord concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shield, nor cast a bank against it. ³³By the way that he came, by the same shall he return, and shall not come into this city, saith the Lord. ³⁴For I will defend this city, to save it, for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake. ³⁵And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the Lord went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses. (2 Kings 19:32‑35)), there is no king that arose in Israel’s history after that judgment who approached the terms of prediction that the 11Th chapter gives us. This shows that the Spirit had more than Sennacherib in mind when speaking of the inroads of the Assyrian.

The eleventh chapter refers to none other than the reign of the Lord Jesus Christ, the true King of Israel (John 1:49⁴⁹Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel. (John 1:49)). The figure of a tree is used again, but here, it is Christ in clear contrast to the lofty trees of the Assyrian. He is the “Branch” (the Nazarene) that will grow out of the roots (family lineage) of Jesse Who will be fruitful and bring blessing to Israel and the earth. “He is David’s greater Son—the Lord Jesus Christ” (Rev. 5:5; 22:16⁵And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. (Revelation 5:5)
¹⁶I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. (Revelation 22:16)). Several qualities of the Lord Jesus are enumerated showing that He is fully competent to reign as God’s King (Isa. 11:1-5¹And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: ²And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord; ³And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: ⁴But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. ⁵And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins. (Isaiah 11:1‑5)). All earthly glory will be centered in Him, and He will judge the world in righteousness for 1000 years (Psa. 9:8⁸And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness. (Psalm 9:8); Psa. 96:13: Psa. 98:9⁹Before the Lord; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity. (Psalm 98:9); Acts 17:31³¹Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. (Acts 17:31)).

Not only will righteousness reign in Christ’s kingdom (Isa. 32:1¹Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment. (Isaiah 32:1)), but He will also bring a release from “the bondage of corruption” that the creation now groans and travails under, which has resulted from the entrance of sin (Rom. 5:12; 8:21-22¹²Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (Romans 5:12)
²¹Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. ²²For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. (Romans 8:21‑22)). The “wolf” dwelling with the “lamb” and the “leopard” lying down with the “kid” indicates that the savage and killer instincts in the animals will be changed (Isa. 65:25²⁵The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the Lord. (Isaiah 65:25)). The “lion” eating straw like an “ox” shows that the diet of the carnivorous animals will also be changed. Sickness and disease will also be taken away (Isa. 33:24²⁴And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity. (Isaiah 33:24); Psa. 103:3³Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; (Psalm 103:3)). The lame, the blind, the deaf and dumb will all be healed (Isa. 35:5-6⁵Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. ⁶Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. (Isaiah 35:5‑6); Psa. 146:8⁸The Lord openeth the eyes of the blind: the Lord raiseth them that are bowed down: the Lord loveth the righteous: (Psalm 146:8)). Furthermore, peace and security will fill the earth. In that day the whole earth will be filled with “the knowledge of the Lord” (Isa. 11:6-9⁶The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. ⁷And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. ⁸And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den. ⁹They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. (Isaiah 11:6‑9)).

The following verses show how the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord. In Christianity, God’s way of spreading the knowledge of Christ and His finished work on the cross is by His servants going out into all the world with the gospel (Mark 16:15¹⁵And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. (Mark 16:15); Luke 24:47⁴⁷And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. (Luke 24:47)). In the day of Christ’s millennial kingdom, the world will learn the knowledge of the Lord by coming up to Jerusalem (Isa. 2:2-3²And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. ³And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. (Isaiah 2:2‑3)), because His kingdom will not be exclusively for Israel; the Gentiles will also share in it (Isa. 56:7; 60:1-4⁷Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people. (Isaiah 56:7)
¹Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. ²For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. ³And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. ⁴Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side. (Isaiah 60:1‑4)). Israel, as “the priests of Jehovah,” will teach the earth of the ways of the Lord (Isa. 61:6⁶But ye shall be named the Priests of the Lord: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves. (Isaiah 61:6); Psa. 34:11-18¹¹Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord. ¹²What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good? ¹³Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. ¹⁴Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. ¹⁵The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. ¹⁶The face of the Lord is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. ¹⁷The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. ¹⁸The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. (Psalm 34:11‑18)). As the Kingdom of Christ is being established on earth, apparently, there will still be a few Israelites who will not have made it back to their land. For some reason, they did not return earlier when the Lord gathered the “remnant of Israel” (Isa. 10:20²⁰And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel, and such as are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more again stay upon him that smote them; but shall stay upon the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. (Isaiah 10:20)). The Lord will “set His hand again the second time to recover the remnant of His people” (Isa. 11:11¹¹And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. (Isaiah 11:11)). Any remaining ones will be gathered in at this time (Isa. 11:10-13; 27:12-13¹⁰And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious. ¹¹And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. ¹²And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. ¹³The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim. (Isaiah 11:10‑13)
¹²And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall beat off from the channel of the river unto the stream of Egypt, and ye shall be gathered one by one, O ye children of Israel. ¹³And it shall come to pass in that day, that the great trumpet shall be blown, and they shall come which were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt, and shall worship the Lord in the holy mount at Jerusalem. (Isaiah 27:12‑13)).

Chapter 12 gives a fitting conclusion to Israel’s deliverance from all their enemies. It portrays their praise to the Lord in the millennial day. They will freely justify His dealings with them when He afflicted them in His anger (a reference to the Lord’s chastisements that culminated in His use of the Assyrian as His “rod”–Isa. 9:8-10:5⁸The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Israel. ⁹And all the people shall know, even Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria, that say in the pride and stoutness of heart, ¹⁰The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones: the sycomores are cut down, but we will change them into cedars. ¹¹Therefore the Lord shall set up the adversaries of Rezin against him, and join his enemies together; ¹²The Syrians before, and the Philistines behind; and they shall devour Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. ¹³For the people turneth not unto him that smiteth them, neither do they seek the Lord of hosts. ¹⁴Therefore the Lord will cut off from Israel head and tail, branch and rush, in one day. ¹⁵The ancient and honorable, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail. ¹⁶For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed. ¹⁷Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows: for every one is an hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. ¹⁸For wickedness burneth as the fire: it shall devour the briers and thorns, and shall kindle in the thickets of the forest, and they shall mount up like the lifting up of smoke. ¹⁹Through the wrath of the Lord of hosts is the land darkened, and the people shall be as the fuel of the fire: no man shall spare his brother. ²⁰And he shall snatch on the right hand, and be hungry; and he shall eat on the left hand, and they shall not be satisfied: they shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm: ²¹Manasseh, Ephraim; and Ephraim, Manasseh: and they together shall be against Judah. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. ¹Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed; ²To turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless! ³And what will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which shall come from far? to whom will ye flee for help? and where will ye leave your glory? ⁴Without me they shall bow down under the prisoners, and they shall fall under the slain. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. ⁵O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation. (Isaiah 9:8‑10:5)). This is a sign of the reality of their repentance and restoration. In that day they will sing of the Lord as being their strength, their song and their salvation. All the while they pursued their idols and sins, it is not recorded that they had any happiness or joy, but now that they have been restored to the Lord, the prophet speaks of their joy. “With joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.” Israel’s joy in the Lord will overflow to the Gentile nations of the earth (“the peoples”–J. N. Darby Trans.). They will encourage “all the earth” to join with them in their song of praise to the Lord. This is another indication of the reality of Israel’s restoration to the Lord. They will no longer be prejudiced toward the nations (Compare John 4:9⁹Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. (John 4:9)). Having the “Holy One of Israel” in their midst, filling and satisfying their hearts, they will no longer envy the nations (Isa. 12:1-6¹And in that day thou shalt say, O Lord, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me. ²Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. ³Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. ⁴And in that day shall ye say, Praise the Lord, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted. ⁵Sing unto the Lord; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth. ⁶Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee. (Isaiah 12:1‑6)).

13) Isaiah 13–27

Chapter 13–14:27, is an introduction to this series of chapters. It shows, in a general way, that judgment will fall first on Babylon (the Western powers–the Beast) before it will fall on the Assyrian (the King of the North with his Arab confederacy and Gog–Russia later). This is the reverse of history, and again, it proves that these things have application to a future day.

It is of note to see that when Babylon is judged there are two persons particularly singled out as being especially guilty, and therefore, subject to God’s judgment. They are the responsible leaders of the Western powers: “the king of Babylon” (Isa. 14:4-11⁴That thou shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased! ⁵The Lord hath broken the staff of the wicked, and the sceptre of the rulers. ⁶He who smote the people in wrath with a continual stroke, he that ruled the nations in anger, is persecuted, and none hindereth. ⁷The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet: they break forth into singing. ⁸Yea, the fir trees rejoice at thee, and the cedars of Lebanon, saying, Since thou art laid down, no feller is come up against us. ⁹Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations. ¹⁰All they shall speak and say unto thee, Art thou also become weak as we? art thou become like unto us? ¹¹Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee. (Isaiah 14:4‑11)), who is a type of the political leader of the ten nation confederacy, and “Lucifer” (Isa. 14:12-20¹²How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! ¹³For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: ¹⁴I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. ¹⁵Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. ¹⁶They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; ¹⁷That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners? ¹⁸All the kings of the nations, even all of them, lie in glory, every one in his own house. ¹⁹But thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch, and as the raiment of those that are slain, thrust through with a sword, that go down to the stones of the pit; as a carcase trodden under feet. ²⁰Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial, because thou hast destroyed thy land, and slain thy people: the seed of evildoers shall never be renowned. (Isaiah 14:12‑20)), who is, apparently, a type of Antichrist.16 Compare Revelation 13:1-18; 19:20¹And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. ²And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. ³And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. ⁴And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? ⁵And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. ⁶And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. ⁷And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. ⁸And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. ⁹If any man have an ear, let him hear. ¹⁰He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints. ¹¹And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. ¹²And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. ¹³And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, ¹⁴And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. ¹⁵And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. ¹⁶And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: ¹⁷And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. ¹⁸Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six. (Revelation 13:1‑18)
²⁰And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. (Revelation 19:20).

Having given a brief introduction, Isaiah lists the various nations that would be taken when the Assyrians come down from the north. The outline in these chapters begins with Isaiah 14:28²⁸In the year that king Ahaz died was this burden. (Isaiah 14:28). These prophecies have had their partial fulfillment in the conquests of Tiglath-Pileser, Shalmaneser, and Sargon, the Assyrian kings, but look on to the last days when the future Assyrian (the King of the North–Dan. 11:40-43⁴⁰And 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. ⁴¹He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. ⁴²He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape. ⁴³But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps. (Daniel 11:40‑43)) will desolate the land. The historical side of these Scriptures serves as a backdrop to the coming events of prophecy. Philistia (Isa. 14:28-32²⁸In the year that king Ahaz died was this burden. ²⁹Rejoice not thou, whole Palestina, because the rod of him that smote thee is broken: for out of the serpent's root shall come forth a cockatrice, and his fruit shall be a fiery flying serpent. ³⁰And the firstborn of the poor shall feed, and the needy shall lie down in safety: and I will kill thy root with famine, and he shall slay thy remnant. ³¹Howl, O gate; cry, O city; thou, whole Palestina, art dissolved: for there shall come from the north a smoke, and none shall be alone in his appointed times. ³²What shall one then answer the messengers of the nation? That the Lord hath founded Zion, and the poor of his people shall trust in it. (Isaiah 14:28‑32)), Moab (Isa. 15-16), Damascus, the capital city of Syria (Isa. 17), and the land of Israel (Isa. 18), are all seen as coming under judgment through the Assyrian.

It is important to understand that these prophetic utterances (and most others) do not only give the main point in the sequence of events in discussion, but also cover other details connected with the subject, often looking on to the end when the Millennial kingdom of Christ will be established. The 18th chapter, for instance, not only gives the attack of the Assyrian on the land of Israel, which is the main point (vss. 4-6), but also shows how it came to be that the Jews were found back in their land (vss. 1-3).

After the land of Israel is desolated (Isa. 18:5-6⁵For afore the harvest, when the bud is perfect, and the sour grape is ripening in the flower, he shall both cut off the sprigs with pruning hooks, and take away and cut down the branches. ⁶They shall be left together unto the fowls of the mountains, and to the beasts of the earth: and the fowls shall summer upon them, and all the beasts of the earth shall winter upon them. (Isaiah 18:5‑6)), the conquest of the Assyrian will proceed into Egypt (Isa. 19) where the Egyptians and their helpers, the Ethiopians (Isa. 20), are also judged. These chapters, 14:28 to 20:6, then give us another striking forecast of point #2 in the summary.

Next, Babylon, referred to as “the desert by the sea,” is judged (Isa. 21). This is typical of the judgment of the Western powers led by the Beast. Cyrus (Isa. 45), the Persian king, was specially raised up of God to execute this judgment on Babylon. He is a type of Christ who will personally judge the armies of the Beast at His coming (Rev. 19:19-21¹⁹And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. ²⁰And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. ²¹And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh. (Revelation 19:19‑21)). These are points #3 and #4 in the summary.

Several other things will also happen when the Lord comes out of heaven at His appearing. The next few chapters develop these details by way of type and symbol. Firstly, Shebna, who held a position in the government of the house of David, is removed from his office and tossed like a ball into a large place (Isa. 22:15-19¹⁵Thus saith the Lord God of hosts, Go, get thee unto this treasurer, even unto Shebna, which is over the house, and say, ¹⁶What hast thou here? and whom hast thou here, that thou hast hewed thee out a sepulchre here, as he that heweth him out a sepulchre on high, and that graveth an habitation for himself in a rock? ¹⁷Behold, the Lord will carry thee away with a mighty captivity, and will surely cover thee. ¹⁸He will surely violently turn and toss thee like a ball into a large country: there shalt thou die, and there the chariots of thy glory shall be the shame of thy lord's house. ¹⁹And I will drive thee from thy station, and from thy state shall he pull thee down. (Isaiah 22:15‑19)). This typifies the removal of Antichrist, the Jew’s false Messiah, who will be cast into the lake of fire at the Lord’s Appearing (Rev. 19:20²⁰And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. (Revelation 19:20)). Then, Eliakim is brought in to replace Shebna and the government of the house of David is committed into his hand. This is a picture of Christ17 taking His rightful place on the throne of David as the true Messiah and King of Israel (Isa. 22:20-25²⁰And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah: ²¹And I will clothe him with thy robe, and strengthen him with thy girdle, and I will commit thy government into his hand: and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah. ²²And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open. ²³And I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place; and he shall be for a glorious throne to his father's house. ²⁴And they shall hang upon him all the glory of his father's house, the offspring and the issue, all vessels of small quantity, from the vessels of cups, even to all the vessels of flagons. ²⁵In that day, saith the Lord of hosts, shall the nail that is fastened in the sure place be removed, and be cut down, and fall; and the burden that was upon it shall be cut off: for the Lord hath spoken it. (Isaiah 22:20‑25)). Chapter 22 is another example of the prophecy running on beyond the main point in discussion. This chapter shows Antichrist being set aside and Christ being brought in, but it also recaps the sack of Jerusalem (Isa. 22:1-14¹The burden of the valley of vision. What aileth thee now, that thou art wholly gone up to the housetops? ²Thou that art full of stirs, a tumultuous city, a joyous city: thy slain men are not slain with the sword, nor dead in battle. ³All thy rulers are fled together, they are bound by the archers: all that are found in thee are bound together, which have fled from far. ⁴Therefore said I, Look away from me; I will weep bitterly, labor not to comfort me, because of the spoiling of the daughter of my people. ⁵For it is a day of trouble, and of treading down, and of perplexity by the Lord God of hosts in the valley of vision, breaking down the walls, and of crying to the mountains. ⁶And Elam bare the quiver with chariots of men and horsemen, and Kir uncovered the shield. ⁷And it shall come to pass, that thy choicest valleys shall be full of chariots, and the horsemen shall set themselves in array at the gate. ⁸And he discovered the covering of Judah, and thou didst look in that day to the armor of the house of the forest. ⁹Ye have seen also the breaches of the city of David, that they are many: and ye gathered together the waters of the lower pool. ¹⁰And ye have numbered the houses of Jerusalem, and the houses have ye broken down to fortify the wall. ¹¹Ye made also a ditch between the two walls for the water of the old pool: but ye have not looked unto the maker thereof, neither had respect unto him that fashioned it long ago. ¹²And in that day did the Lord God of hosts call to weeping, and to mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth: ¹³And behold joy and gladness, slaying oxen, and killing sheep, eating flesh, and drinking wine: let us eat and drink; for to morrow we shall die. ¹⁴And it was revealed in mine ears by the Lord of hosts, Surely this iniquity shall not be purged from you till ye die, saith the Lord God of hosts. (Isaiah 22:1‑14)) by which we are led to understand how and when it will happen. He will be driven out at the time of the attack of the King of the North (Zech. 11:17¹⁷Woe to the idol shepherd that leaveth the flock! the sword shall be upon his arm, and upon his right eye: his arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall be utterly darkened. (Zechariah 11:17)).

Then Tyre, representing the commercial world, is also judged. We understand this to mean that the corrupt commercial trade system will be brought under judgment (Isa. 23). The last couple of verses of chapter twenty-three look on to the Millennial Kingdom of Christ. They show that Tyre (commercial trade) will be in exercise again. The purpose of it then, will be solely for the support of the service of the Lord.

We also learn that the (prophetic) earth will be emptied of wicked persons at the time of the Lord’s coming (His Appearing) to judge the Western powers (Isa. 24). This work will be done by the angels (Matt. 13:39-42; 24:39-41³⁹The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. ⁴⁰As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. ⁴¹The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; ⁴²And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 13:39‑42)
³⁹And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. ⁴⁰Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. ⁴¹Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. (Matthew 24:39‑41)). This prophecy also runs on to the time of the judgment of the wicked angels. They will be put into “the pit” and will be shut up there for “many days”–that is, during the Millennium, after which they will be brought out to be cast into the lake of fire (Isa. 24:21-22²¹And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth. ²²And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited. (Isaiah 24:21‑22)). After God has cleared the whole scene, Christ will reign in Jerusalem (Isa. 24:23²³Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the Lord of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously. (Isaiah 24:23)). These things will all take place at the time of point #4 in the summary.

In Isaiah 25, the godly remnant of Jews who will be delivered at this time, and restored to the Lord, will lift up their hearts in praise to God for His intervention on their behalf. They had patiently waited for the Lord, and now, having come for their deliverance, they rejoice in His salvation. The remnant will celebrate their deliverance in a song of praise (Isa. 26). The ten tribes of Israel are also awakened out of the dust of the earth to join the national revival (Isa. 26:19¹⁹Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead. (Isaiah 26:19); Dan. 12:1-2¹And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. ²And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. (Daniel 12:1‑2); Ezek. 37). Isaiah 25-26, answers to the interval between points #5 and #6 in the summary. As “the indignation” continues, the Lord will encourage the newly revived nation of Israel (all twelve tribes), to take shelter for a little while until the remaining hostile nations of the earth have been dealt with (Isa. 26:20-21²⁰Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. ²¹For, behold, the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain. (Isaiah 26:20‑21)).

In Isaiah 27, after the Lord has restored Israel, He will judge “Leviathan,” the piercing crooked serpent. This frightful beast is symbolic of Satan’s power in the hand of the Assyrian–the 2nd attack under Gog (Russia). Israel, Jehovah’s vine, will however, be preserved by His divine care when the Assyrian comes into the land the second time (Isa. 27:1-5¹In that day the Lord with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea. ²In that day sing ye unto her, A vineyard of red wine. ³I the Lord do keep it; I will water it every moment: lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day. ⁴Fury is not in me: who would set the briers and thorns against me in battle? I would go through them, I would burn them together. ⁵Or let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me; and he shall make peace with me. (Isaiah 27:1‑5)). This is point #6 in the summary.

After this, Israel is seen in a place of prominence in the earth. As the Millennium is brought in, Israel will be a blessing to the whole earth (Isa. 27:6⁶He shall cause them that come of Jacob to take root: Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit. (Isaiah 27:6)–J. N. Darby Trans.).

14) Isaiah 28–35

Chapters 28 and 29 form an introduction to this series of prophetic utterances which contain six woes. These chapters briefly state the two attacks of the Assyrian. The chapters that follow the introduction give added details to the marvelous order of these prophetic events.

Chapter 28 shows the inroads of the Assyrian army (the first attack) sweeping through the land of Israel from north to south under the figure of a violent hail storm and a mighty flood. Ephraim (a name used in the Prophets for the northern kingdom of Israel, of which Samaria was the capital) was first to feel the effect of the Assyrians (Isa. 28:1-13¹Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty is a fading flower, which are on the head of the fat valleys of them that are overcome with wine! ²Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and strong one, which as a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, as a flood of mighty waters overflowing, shall cast down to the earth with the hand. ³The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, shall be trodden under feet: ⁴And the glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fat valley, shall be a fading flower, and as the hasty fruit before the summer; which when he that looketh upon it seeth, while it is yet in his hand he eateth it up. ⁵In that day shall the Lord of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people, ⁶And for a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment, and for strength to them that turn the battle to the gate. ⁷But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment. ⁸For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean. ⁹Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. ¹⁰For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: ¹¹For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. ¹²To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. ¹³But the word of the Lord was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken. (Isaiah 28:1‑13)). This had its immediate fulfillment in the days of Tiglath-Pileser (2 Kings 15:27-29²⁷In the two and fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah Pekah the son of Remaliah began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned twenty years. ²⁸And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin. ²⁹In the days of Pekah king of Israel came Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, and took Ijon, and Abel-beth-maachah, and Janoah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and carried them captive to Assyria. (2 Kings 15:27‑29)), Shalmaneser (2 Kings 17:3-6³Against him came up Shalmaneser king of Assyria; and Hoshea became his servant, and gave him presents. ⁴And the king of Assyria found conspiracy in Hoshea: for he had sent messengers to So king of Egypt, and brought no present to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year: therefore the king of Assyria shut him up, and bound him in prison. ⁵Then the king of Assyria came up throughout all the land, and went up to Samaria, and besieged it three years. ⁶In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away into Assyria, and placed them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes. (2 Kings 17:3‑6)), and Sargon (Isa. 20). It foreshadows the future inroads of the King of the North.

Isaiah goes on to warn the rulers in Jerusalem that the “overflowing scourge” (the Assyrian’s attack) would pass through Judah and Jerusalem too, and that there would be no place for them to hide themselves from it. In history, they did pass through Judah on their way into Egypt, but did not take Jerusalem. This again shows that Isaiah’s prophecy has more in it than a historical application. In the coming day, the Assyrian will take Jerusalem (Isa. 28:14-22¹⁴Wherefore hear the word of the Lord, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem. ¹⁵Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves: ¹⁶Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. ¹⁷Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place. ¹⁸And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it. ¹⁹From the time that it goeth forth it shall take you: for morning by morning shall it pass over, by day and by night: and it shall be a vexation only to understand the report. ²⁰For the bed is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it: and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it. ²¹For the Lord shall rise up as in mount Perazim, he shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon, that he may do his work, his strange work; and bring to pass his act, his strange act. ²²Now therefore be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong: for I have heard from the Lord God of hosts a consumption, even determined upon the whole earth. (Isaiah 28:14‑22)). This is point #2 in the summary.

Then, in the latter part of chapter 28, Isaiah takes up a parable to show that after the Assyrian has passed through the land the Lord will restore Israel. Israel is viewed as Jehovah’s plot of ground and that He tends upon them as a Husbandman. The “plowman” (the Assyrian) is employed to tear up the ground (Israel), breaking up its “clods” (the apostate Jews). This is followed by a sowing of new seeds in the land. The bringing in of new seeds and planting them in the land is a picture of the scattered tribes of Israel being brought back into their land and planted there (Am. 9:15; Jer. 24:6; 32:41⁶For I will set mine eyes upon them for good, and I will bring them again to this land: and I will build them, and not pull them down; and I will plant them, and not pluck them up. (Jeremiah 24:6)
⁴¹Yea, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in this land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul. (Jeremiah 32:41)). This will result in their bearing fruit to God (Isa. 28:23-29²³Give ye ear, and hear my voice; hearken, and hear my speech. ²⁴Doth the plowman plow all day to sow? doth he open and break the clods of his ground? ²⁵When he hath made plain the face thereof, doth he not cast abroad the fitches, and scatter the cummin, and cast in the principal wheat and the appointed barley and the rie in their place? ²⁶For his God doth instruct him to discretion, and doth teach him. ²⁷For the fitches are not threshed with a threshing instrument, neither is a cart wheel turned about upon the cummin; but the fitches are beaten out with a staff, and the cummin with a rod. ²⁸Bread corn is bruised; because he will not ever be threshing it, nor break it with the wheel of his cart, nor bruise it with his horsemen. ²⁹This also cometh forth from the Lord of hosts, which is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working. (Isaiah 28:23‑29).) This restoration of Israel to their land will take place between the two attacks of the Assyrian.

Then, after Israel (a remnant from all twelve tribes) has been restored to their land and the Lord, chapter 29 shows that there will be another attack by the Assyrian (the 2nd attack–Gog). On this occasion, the attack will not be successful. “Ariel” (Jerusalem) will be surrounded by enemies, but the Lord will judge them. In “an instant,” the “multitude of strangers” gathered against Jerusalem will be destroyed. Israel will be delivered from the attacking armies as quickly as a dream passes when one awakes from sleep (Isa. 29:1-8¹Woe to Ariel, to Ariel, the city where David dwelt! add ye year to year; let them kill sacrifices. ²Yet I will distress Ariel, and there shall be heaviness and sorrow: and it shall be unto me as Ariel. ³And I will camp against thee round about, and will lay siege against thee with a mount, and I will raise forts against thee. ⁴And thou shalt be brought down, and shalt speak out of the ground, and thy speech shall be low out of the dust, and thy voice shall be, as of one that hath a familiar spirit, out of the ground, and thy speech shall whisper out of the dust. ⁵Moreover the multitude of thy strangers shall be like small dust, and the multitude of the terrible ones shall be as chaff that passeth away: yea, it shall be at an instant suddenly. ⁶Thou shalt be visited of the Lord of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire. ⁷And the multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel, even all that fight against her and her munition, and that distress her, shall be as a dream of a night vision. ⁸It shall even be as when an hungry man dreameth, and, behold, he eateth; but he awaketh, and his soul is empty: or as when a thirsty man dreameth, and, behold, he drinketh; but he awaketh, and, behold, he is faint, and his soul hath appetite: so shall the multitude of all the nations be, that fight against mount Zion. (Isaiah 29:1‑8)). Although the immediate application of this prophecy is the judgment of the Assyrian’s armies under Sennacherib (2 Kings 19:31-35³¹For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and they that escape out of mount Zion: the zeal of the Lord of hosts shall do this. ³²Therefore thus saith the Lord concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shield, nor cast a bank against it. ³³By the way that he came, by the same shall he return, and shall not come into this city, saith the Lord. ³⁴For I will defend this city, to save it, for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake. ³⁵And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the Lord went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses. (2 Kings 19:31‑35)), it looks on to Israel’s future deliverance from the attacking armies of Gog. This is point #6 in the summary.

In the middle part of chapter 29, the prophet rehearses the moral condition of the people that has called for the inroads of the Assyrian (Isa. 29:9-16⁹Stay yourselves, and wonder; cry ye out, and cry: they are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink. ¹⁰For the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered. ¹¹And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed: ¹²And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned. ¹³Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: ¹⁴Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid. ¹⁵Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the Lord, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us? ¹⁶Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter's clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding? (Isaiah 29:9‑16)). Then in the latter part of the chapter, the Millennium is seen coming in with all being reversed in regard to Israel. The lofty Assyrian will be abased and they (Israel) who have been humbled will be exalted. The insensibility of Israel will give place to spiritual understanding and earnestness in the things of God (Isa. 29:17-24¹⁷Is it not yet a very little while, and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest? ¹⁸And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness. ¹⁹The meek also shall increase their joy in the Lord, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel. ²⁰For the terrible one is brought to nought, and the scorner is consumed, and all that watch for iniquity are cut off: ²¹That make a man an offender for a word, and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate, and turn aside the just for a thing of nought. ²²Therefore thus saith the Lord, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob, Jacob shall not now be ashamed, neither shall his face now wax pale. ²³But when he seeth his children, the work of mine hands, in the midst of him, they shall sanctify my name, and sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and shall fear the God of Israel. ²⁴They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall learn doctrine. (Isaiah 29:17‑24)).

Having briefly stated the two great movements of the Assyrian in an introduction (Isa. 28-29), the prophet goes back and gives numerous details surrounding those circumstances.

Chapter 30 states the unbelieving condition of the apostate Jews in the land, in Isaiah’s day, who were seeking protection from the Assyrian who was threatening to invade the land. In their unbelief and refusal to rely on the Lord for help, they turned to Egypt for help (2 Kings 18:21-24²¹Now, behold, thou trustest upon the staff of this bruised reed, even upon Egypt, on which if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt unto all that trust on him. ²²But if ye say unto me, We trust in the Lord our God: is not that he, whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah hath taken away, and hath said to Judah and Jerusalem, Ye shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem? ²³Now therefore, I pray thee, give pledges to my lord the king of Assyria, and I will deliver thee two thousand horses, if thou be able on thy part to set riders upon them. ²⁴How then wilt thou turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master's servants, and put thy trust on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen? (2 Kings 18:21‑24)). Isaiah warns them that Egypt’s help would be in vain (Isa. 30:7⁷For the Egyptians shall help in vain, and to no purpose: therefore have I cried concerning this, Their strength is to sit still. (Isaiah 30:7)). Leaning on man for help is regarded by the Lord as rebellion; and consequently, God was going to allow Egypt’s power to be broken like a “potter’s vessel” and their men to be scattered by the Assyrian. The Jews too, would be left like “a tree bereft of branches upon the top of a mountain” after the Assyrian passed through the land (Isa. 30:1-17¹Woe to the rebellious children, saith the Lord, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin: ²That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt! ³Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion. ⁴For his princes were at Zoan, and his ambassadors came to Hanes. ⁵They were all ashamed of a people that could not profit them, nor be an help nor profit, but a shame, and also a reproach. ⁶The burden of the beasts of the south: into the land of trouble and anguish, from whence come the young and old lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they will carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses, and their treasures upon the bunches of camels, to a people that shall not profit them. ⁷For the Egyptians shall help in vain, and to no purpose: therefore have I cried concerning this, Their strength is to sit still. ⁸Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever: ⁹That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the Lord: ¹⁰Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits: ¹¹Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us. ¹²Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon: ¹³Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant. ¹⁴And he shall break it as the breaking of the potters' vessel that is broken in pieces; he shall not spare: so that there shall not be found in the bursting of it a sherd to take fire from the hearth, or to take water withal out of the pit. ¹⁵For thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not. ¹⁶But ye said, No; for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye flee: and, We will ride upon the swift; therefore shall they that pursue you be swift. ¹⁷One thousand shall flee at the rebuke of one; at the rebuke of five shall ye flee: till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and as an ensign on an hill. (Isaiah 30:1‑17)). This is another foreshadowing of coming events. Egypt will come up into Israel’s land (but in a coming day, it will not be for Israel’s protection), and the King of the North (the 1St attack of Assyrian) will come down and destroy them and the land of Israel. This reflects points #1 and #2 in the summary.

Next, encouragement is given for those (the Jewish remnant) who wait on the Lord. The Lord promises that they will see deliverance, dwell in Zion peacefully, and enjoy the blessings of the Millennial Kingdom (Isa. 30:18-26¹⁸And therefore will the Lord wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the Lord is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him. ¹⁹For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep no more: he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear it, he will answer thee. ²⁰And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers: ²¹And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left. ²²Ye shall defile also the covering of thy graven images of silver, and the ornament of thy molten images of gold: thou shalt cast them away as a menstruous cloth; thou shalt say unto it, Get thee hence. ²³Then shall he give the rain of thy seed, that thou shalt sow the ground withal; and bread of the increase of the earth, and it shall be fat and plenteous: in that day shall thy cattle feed in large pastures. ²⁴The oxen likewise and the young asses that ear the ground shall eat clean provender, which hath been winnowed with the shovel and with the fan. ²⁵And there shall be upon every high mountain, and upon every high hill, rivers and streams of waters in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall. ²⁶Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that the Lord bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound. (Isaiah 30:18‑26)). He also promises that the Assyrian army that “smote with a rod” (Isa. 10:5-6; 30:31⁵O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation. ⁶I 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. (Isaiah 10:5‑6)
³¹For through the voice of the Lord shall the Assyrian be beaten down, which smote with a rod. (Isaiah 30:31)) will be beaten down by the voice of the Lord and that the King of the North, the personal leader of the Assyrian confederacy, will have his end in “Tophet”—the lake of fire (Isa. 30:27-33²⁷Behold, the name of the Lord cometh from far, burning with his anger, and the burden thereof is heavy: his lips are full of indignation, and his tongue as a devouring fire: ²⁸And his breath, as an overflowing stream, shall reach to the midst of the neck, to sift the nations with the sieve of vanity: and there shall be a bridle in the jaws of the people, causing them to err. ²⁹Ye shall have a song, as in the night when a holy solemnity is kept; and gladness of heart, as when one goeth with a pipe to come into the mountain of the Lord, to the mighty One of Israel. ³⁰And the Lord shall cause his glorious voice to be heard, and shall show the lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of his anger, and with the flame of a devouring fire, with scattering, and tempest, and hailstones. ³¹For through the voice of the Lord shall the Assyrian be beaten down, which smote with a rod. ³²And in every place where the grounded staff shall pass, which the Lord shall lay upon him, it shall be with tabrets and harps: and in battles of shaking will he fight with it. ³³For Tophet is ordained of old; yea, for the king it is prepared; he hath made it deep and large: the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the breath of the Lord, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it. (Isaiah 30:27‑33)). This will happen at point #5 in the summary. A passing reference is made to Israel’s “king” (Antichrist) being put into “Tophet” too. This will take place at point #4 in the summary even though the Lord’s coming (His Appearing) is not mentioned.

In chapter 31, Isaiah enlarges on the folly of trusting in the arm of the flesh (Egypt). He compares the strength of Egypt to the Lord’s divine power of protection over Zion. He prophesies that the Lord will defend the city from this time forward, as a lion roars over its prey and as a bird guards its nest (Isa. 31:1-5¹Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the Lord! ²Yet he also is wise, and will bring evil, and will not call back his words: but will arise against the house of the evildoers, and against the help of them that work iniquity. ³Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit. When the Lord shall stretch out his hand, both he that helpeth shall fall, and he that is holpen shall fall down, and they all shall fail together. ⁴For thus hath the Lord spoken unto me, Like as the lion and the young lion roaring on his prey, when a multitude of shepherds is called forth against him, he will not be afraid of their voice, nor abase himself for the noise of them: so shall the Lord of hosts come down to fight for mount Zion, and for the hill thereof. ⁵As birds flying, so will the Lord of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver it; and passing over he will preserve it. (Isaiah 31:1‑5)).

He pleads with the people to turn to the Lord in trueness of heart and to cast away their idols. He assures them that then, the Lord would deal with the Assyrian (a reference to any further attack) (Isa. 31:6-9⁶Turn ye unto him from whom the children of Israel have deeply revolted. ⁷For in that day every man shall cast away his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which your own hands have made unto you for a sin. ⁸Then shall the Assyrian fall with the sword, not of a mighty man; and the sword, not of a mean man, shall devour him: but he shall flee from the sword, and his young men shall be discomfited. ⁹And he shall pass over to his strong hold for fear, and his princes shall be afraid of the ensign, saith the Lord, whose fire is in Zion, and his furnace in Jerusalem. (Isaiah 31:6‑9)). The Jews who are left in the land will heed the exhortations and will turn to the Lord and be restored at this time. This will take place at the time of the interval between points #5 and #6 in the summary.

Consequent upon the Jews’ repentance and restoration, the Lord will take His place in Jerusalem as their King. “Behold a King shall reign in righteousness”(Isa. 32:1¹Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment. (Isaiah 32:1)). Israel will also take shelter under His great protection (Isa. 32:2²And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. (Isaiah 32:2)). They will have judged their wickedness, and as a result, will have their eyes opened and their hearts made ready to understand divine knowledge (Isa. 32:3-14³And the eyes of them that see shall not be dim, and the ears of them that hear shall hearken. ⁴The heart also of the rash shall understand knowledge, and the tongue of the stammerers shall be ready to speak plainly. ⁵The vile person shall be no more called liberal, nor the churl said to be bountiful. ⁶For the vile person will speak villany, and his heart will work iniquity, to practise hypocrisy, and to utter error against the Lord, to make empty the soul of the hungry, and he will cause the drink of the thirsty to fail. ⁷The instruments also of the churl are evil: he deviseth wicked devices to destroy the poor with lying words, even when the needy speaketh right. ⁸But the liberal deviseth liberal things; and by liberal things shall he stand. ⁹Rise up, ye women that are at ease; hear my voice, ye careless daughters; give ear unto my speech. ¹⁰Many days and years shall ye be troubled, ye careless women: for the vintage shall fail, the gathering shall not come. ¹¹Tremble, ye women that are at ease; be troubled, ye careless ones: strip you, and make you bare, and gird sackcloth upon your loins. ¹²They shall lament for the teats, for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine. ¹³Upon the land of my people shall come up thorns and briers; yea, upon all the houses of joy in the joyous city: ¹⁴Because the palaces shall be forsaken; the multitude of the city shall be left; the forts and towers shall be for dens for ever, a joy of wild asses, a pasture of flocks; (Isaiah 32:3‑14)). There will also be a tremendous change in Israel’s ways as they dwell in “the quiet resting places” of their promised land (Isa. 32:15-20¹⁵Until the spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest. ¹⁶Then judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field. ¹⁷And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. ¹⁸And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places; ¹⁹When it shall hail, coming down on the forest; and the city shall be low in a low place. ²⁰Blessed are ye that sow beside all waters, that send forth thither the feet of the ox and the ass. (Isaiah 32:15‑20); Ezek. 38:11¹¹And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates, (Ezekiel 38:11)). This chapter has reference to the interval between points #5 and #6 in the summary.

Then, in chapters 33-34, the Assyrian comes into view again; but this time in even more frightening proportions. This is Gog (Russia) who will assume the role of the Assyrian in its final form. These armies will come down from the north to invade the land of Israel after all twelve tribes are found dwelling there safely under Jehovah’s protection. This could be referred to as the 2nd attack of the Assyrian.

At this point prophetically, Russia, the great Assyrian, had previously “spoiled” the land of Israel by using the King of the North and His Arab confederacy (the 1St attack) who were their satellites (Dan. 8:24²⁴And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. (Daniel 8:24)). But they (Russia) were “not spoiled” when the Lord intervened on behalf of the Jewish remnant and judged the King of the North, because they did not come down into the land with the King of the North when he invaded it. Russia dealt “treacherously” with the King of the North, in that they did not come to their aid when the King of the North was in trouble (Dan. 11:45⁴⁵And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him. (Daniel 11:45)–“none shall help them”); even though the King of the North was faithful to their alliance with Russia and did not deal treacherously with them (Isa. 33:1¹Woe to thee that spoilest, and thou wast not spoiled; and dealest treacherously, and they dealt not treacherously with thee! when thou shalt cease to spoil, thou shalt be spoiled; and when thou shalt make an end to deal treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with thee. (Isaiah 33:1)).

As tidings of the approaching armies reach the newly restored tribes of Israel, they will be brought to their knees before the Lord. They will pray earnestly for deliverance (Isa. 33:2²O Lord, be gracious unto us; we have waited for thee: be thou their arm every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble. (Isaiah 33:2)). In answer to the prayer of His people, the Lord, true to His promise of defending Jerusalem (Isa. 30:4-5, 8⁴For his princes were at Zoan, and his ambassadors came to Hanes. ⁵They were all ashamed of a people that could not profit them, nor be an help nor profit, but a shame, and also a reproach. (Isaiah 30:4‑5)
⁸Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever: (Isaiah 30:8)), will suddenly put the enemy to flight (Isa. 33:3-9³At the noise of the tumult the people fled; at the lifting up of thyself the nations were scattered. ⁴And your spoil shall be gathered like the gathering of the caterpiller: as the running to and fro of locusts shall he run upon them. ⁵The Lord is exalted; for he dwelleth on high: he hath filled Zion with judgment and righteousness. ⁶And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the Lord is his treasure. ⁷Behold, their valiant ones shall cry without: the ambassadors of peace shall weep bitterly. ⁸The highways lie waste, the wayfaring man ceaseth: he hath broken the covenant, he hath despised the cities, he regardeth no man. ⁹The earth mourneth and languisheth: Lebanon is ashamed and hewn down: Sharon is like a wilderness; and Bashan and Carmel shake off their fruits. (Isaiah 33:3‑9)). He will consume them with “fire”–a symbol of judgment (Isa. 33:10-14¹⁰Now will I rise, saith the Lord; now will I be exalted; now will I lift up myself. ¹¹Ye shall conceive chaff, ye shall bring forth stubble: your breath, as fire, shall devour you. ¹²And the people shall be as the burnings of lime: as thorns cut up shall they be burned in the fire. ¹³Hear, ye that are far off, what I have done; and, ye that are near, acknowledge my might. ¹⁴The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? (Isaiah 33:10‑14)). With the armies of the Assyrian (Gog) destroyed, the latter part of the chapter looks on to the time when Israel will once again be found enjoying quiet rest in their land under the Lord, their “Judge,” “Lawgiver,” and “King” (Isa. 33:15-24¹⁵He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil; ¹⁶He shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure. ¹⁷Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off. ¹⁸Thine heart shall meditate terror. Where is the scribe? where is the receiver? where is he that counted the towers? ¹⁹Thou shalt not see a fierce people, a people of a deeper speech than thou canst perceive; of a stammering tongue, that thou canst not understand. ²⁰Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities: thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down; not one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed, neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken. ²¹But there the glorious Lord will be unto us a place of broad rivers and streams; wherein shall go no galley with oars, neither shall gallant ship pass thereby. ²²For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; he will save us. ²³Thy tacklings are loosed; they could not well strengthen their mast, they could not spread the sail: then is the prey of a great spoil divided; the lame take the prey. ²⁴And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity. (Isaiah 33:15‑24)).

Chapter 34 gives details of the destruction of the Assyrian’s (Gog) allies. After destroying Gog on the mountains of Israel (Ezek. 39:1-5¹Therefore, thou son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: ²And I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee, and will cause thee to come up from the north parts, and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel: ³And I will smite thy bow out of thy left hand, and will cause thine arrows to fall out of thy right hand. ⁴Thou shalt fall upon the mountains of Israel, thou, and all thy bands, and the people that is with thee: I will give thee unto the ravenous birds of every sort, and to the beasts of the field to be devoured. ⁵Thou shalt fall upon the open field: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord God. (Ezekiel 39:1‑5)), the Lord’s indignation will extend out to the land of Edom, where the armies of the nations under Gog will be assembling (Isa. 34:1-8; 63:1-6¹Come near, ye nations, to hear; and hearken, ye people: let the earth hear, and all that is therein; the world, and all things that come forth of it. ²For the indignation of the Lord is upon all nations, and his fury upon all their armies: he hath utterly destroyed them, he hath delivered them to the slaughter. ³Their slain also shall be cast out, and their stink shall come up out of their carcases, and the mountains shall be melted with their blood. ⁴And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree. ⁵For my sword shall be bathed in heaven: behold, it shall come down upon Idumea, and upon the people of my curse, to judgment. ⁶The sword of the Lord is filled with blood, it is made fat with fatness, and with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams: for the Lord hath a sacrifice in Bozrah, and a great slaughter in the land of Idumea. ⁷And the unicorns shall come down with them, and the bullocks with the bulls; and their land shall be soaked with blood, and their dust made fat with fatness. ⁸For it is the day of the Lord's vengeance, and the year of recompences for the controversy of Zion. (Isaiah 34:1‑8)
¹Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. ²Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat? ³I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. ⁴For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come. ⁵And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me. ⁶And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth. (Isaiah 63:1‑6)). So severe will the Lord’s judgment be upon those confederated armies that the land of Edom itself will remain a perpetual desert forever (Isa. 34:9-15⁹And the streams thereof shall be turned into pitch, and the dust thereof into brimstone, and the land thereof shall become burning pitch. ¹⁰It shall not be quenched night nor day; the smoke thereof shall go up for ever: from generation to generation it shall lie waste; none shall pass through it for ever and ever. ¹¹But the cormorant and the bittern shall possess it; the owl also and the raven shall dwell in it: and he shall stretch out upon it the line of confusion, and the stones of emptiness. ¹²They shall call the nobles thereof to the kingdom, but none shall be there, and all her princes shall be nothing. ¹³And thorns shall come up in her palaces, nettles and brambles in the fortresses thereof: and it shall be an habitation of dragons, and a court for owls. ¹⁴The wild beasts of the desert shall also meet with the wild beasts of the island, and the satyr shall cry to his fellow; the screech owl also shall rest there, and find for herself a place of rest. ¹⁵There shall the great owl make her nest, and lay, and hatch, and gather under her shadow: there shall the vultures also be gathered, every one with her mate. (Isaiah 34:9‑15)). Chapters 33-34, are #6 in the summary.

Chapter 35 closes this series of chapters with a picture of the Millennium which will follow these judgments. Creation is seen as released from the “bondage of corruption” (Rom. 8:22²²For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. (Romans 8:22)) and the redeemed of the Lord are seen going up to Zion with songs of everlasting praise (Isa. 33:1-10¹Woe to thee that spoilest, and thou wast not spoiled; and dealest treacherously, and they dealt not treacherously with thee! when thou shalt cease to spoil, thou shalt be spoiled; and when thou shalt make an end to deal treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with thee. ²O Lord, be gracious unto us; we have waited for thee: be thou their arm every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble. ³At the noise of the tumult the people fled; at the lifting up of thyself the nations were scattered. ⁴And your spoil shall be gathered like the gathering of the caterpiller: as the running to and fro of locusts shall he run upon them. ⁵The Lord is exalted; for he dwelleth on high: he hath filled Zion with judgment and righteousness. ⁶And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the Lord is his treasure. ⁷Behold, their valiant ones shall cry without: the ambassadors of peace shall weep bitterly. ⁸The highways lie waste, the wayfaring man ceaseth: he hath broken the covenant, he hath despised the cities, he regardeth no man. ⁹The earth mourneth and languisheth: Lebanon is ashamed and hewn down: Sharon is like a wilderness; and Bashan and Carmel shake off their fruits. ¹⁰Now will I rise, saith the Lord; now will I be exalted; now will I lift up myself. (Isaiah 33:1‑10)).

15) Joel 1–3

Chapter one is the account of a locust invasion that happened in Joel’s day and left widespread famine. He used the visitation of the huge swarm of locusts as an illustration of the terrible desolating judgment that the Lord would bring upon the land of Israel in a coming day by the armies of the Assyrian (the first attack–Dan. 11:40-43⁴⁰And 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. ⁴¹He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. ⁴²He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape. ⁴³But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps. (Daniel 11:40‑43)).

In chapter 2:1-11, Joel envisions those armies coming in from the north and ravaging the whole land. Two thirds of the people (the Jews) in the land will be destroyed at this time (Zech. 13:8⁸And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. (Zechariah 13:8)). This is point #2 in the summary.

The prophecy then passes over points #3 and #4 because the enemy, in Joel (as in most of the prophets of the Assyrian period), is not the Western powers (Babylon).

As a result of the terrible invasion from the north, the Jews still remaining in the land (approximately one third–Zech. 13:8-9⁸And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. ⁹And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God. (Zechariah 13:8‑9)) will be thoroughly humbled. They will desperately cry to the Lord for help (Joel 2:12-17¹²Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: ¹³And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. ¹⁴Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the Lord your God? ¹⁵Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: ¹⁶Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet. ¹⁷Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God? (Joel 2:12‑17)). In answer to the cry of the remnant, the Lord will come in on their behalf and remove the northern army (Joel 2:18-20¹⁸Then will the Lord be jealous for his land, and pity his people. ¹⁹Yea, the Lord will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen: ²⁰But I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savor shall come up, because he hath done great things. (Joel 2:18‑20)–compare Dan. 11:45⁴⁵And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him. (Daniel 11:45)). This is point #5 in the summary.

When the Lord has cleared the northern army off the land, He will comfort the Jewish remnant and restore Israel (Joel 2:21-26²¹Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the Lord will do great things. ²²Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength. ²³Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month. ²⁴And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil. ²⁵And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. ²⁶And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed. (Joel 2:21‑26)). He will also take His place among His people and bless them (Joel 2:27-32²⁷And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed. ²⁸And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: ²⁹And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. ³⁰And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. ³¹The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come. ³²And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call. (Joel 2:27‑32)). This answers to the interval in the summary between points #5 and #6.

In chapter 3, Joel shows that after Israel has been restored to the Lord, many other nations will gather together for war (vs. 2). This could only be referring to the final attack of the Assyrian under Gog, since that is the only attack that takes place, in prophecy, after the Lord has come back and restored Israel. These armies (“multitudes”) will come into the land of Israel and be judged by the Lord (Joel 3:1-17¹For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, ²I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land. ³And they have cast lots for my people; and have given a boy for an harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they might drink. ⁴Yea, and what have ye to do with me, O Tyre, and Zidon, and all the coasts of Palestine? will ye render me a recompence? and if ye recompense me, swiftly and speedily will I return your recompence upon your own head; ⁵Because ye have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried into your temples my goodly pleasant things: ⁶The children also of Judah and the children of Jerusalem have ye sold unto the Grecians, that ye might remove them far from their border. ⁷Behold, I will raise them out of the place whither ye have sold them, and will return your recompence upon your own head: ⁸And I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the children of Judah, and they shall sell them to the Sabeans, to a people far off: for the Lord hath spoken it. ⁹Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up: ¹⁰Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong. ¹¹Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O Lord. ¹²Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about. ¹³Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great. ¹⁴Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision. ¹⁵The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. ¹⁶The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the Lord will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel. ¹⁷So shall ye know that I am the Lord your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more. (Joel 3:1‑17)). The Lord will “roar out of Zion” (an expression used when the Lord has returned from heaven and is dwelling in Jerusalem–Joel 2:27²⁷And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed. (Joel 2:27)) and utterly destroy the nations that have assembled themselves in war (Joel 3:9-16⁹Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up: ¹⁰Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong. ¹¹Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O Lord. ¹²Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about. ¹³Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great. ¹⁴Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision. ¹⁵The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. ¹⁶The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the Lord will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel. (Joel 3:9‑16)). This will happen at point #6 of the summary.

The 3rd chapter closes with a picture of the Millennium. In that day, the blessing of the Lord will be upon the earth and His divine presence will be known in Jerusalem (Joel 3:18-21¹⁸And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth of the house of the Lord, and shall water the valley of Shittim. ¹⁹Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom shall be a desolate wilderness, for the violence against the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land. ²⁰But Judah shall dwell for ever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation. ²¹For I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed: for the Lord dwelleth in Zion. (Joel 3:18‑21)).

16) Micah 1–7

Micah begins his prophecy by announcing that the Lord (Adonai) was about to come in with judgment upon Israel. He would execute His judgment on them through the Assyrians who were willing instruments. The first chapter gives an animated account of the actual inroads of that great enemy the Lord would use. Micah speaks of the Lord as though He were the personal Leader of these invading armies (Mic. 1:3³For, behold, the Lord cometh forth out of his place, and will come down, and tread upon the high places of the earth. (Micah 1:3); Isa. 10:5-6⁵O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation. ⁶I 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. (Isaiah 10:5‑6); Joel 2:11¹¹And the Lord shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; and who can abide it? (Joel 2:11)–“His army”). Although these things were accomplished by the Assyrian, in history (first by Shalmaneser, then Sargon, and finally by Sennacherib), it is a foreshadowing of the future invasion of the land of Israel at the end of Daniel’s seventieth week.

Samaria, the capital of the northern kingdom of Israel, was to be desolated first, as the Assyrians came down from the north (Mic. 1:1-7¹The word of the Lord that came to Micah the Morasthite in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem. ²Hear, all ye people; hearken, O earth, and all that therein is: and let the Lord God be witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple. ³For, behold, the Lord cometh forth out of his place, and will come down, and tread upon the high places of the earth. ⁴And the mountains shall be molten under him, and the valleys shall be cleft, as wax before the fire, and as the waters that are poured down a steep place. ⁵For the transgression of Jacob is all this, and for the sins of the house of Israel. What is the transgression of Jacob? is it not Samaria? and what are the high places of Judah? are they not Jerusalem? ⁶Therefore I will make Samaria as an heap of the field, and as plantings of a vineyard: and I will pour down the stones thereof into the valley, and I will discover the foundations thereof. ⁷And all the graven images thereof shall be beaten to pieces, and all the hires thereof shall be burned with the fire, and all the idols thereof will I lay desolate: for she gathered it of the hire of an harlot, and they shall return to the hire of an harlot. (Micah 1:1‑7)). Then, the Assyrians would proceed south to Judah, and come to Jerusalem (Mic. 1:8-9⁸Therefore I will wail and howl, I will go stripped and naked: I will make a wailing like the dragons, and mourning as the owls. ⁹For her wound is incurable; for it is come unto Judah; he is come unto the gate of my people, even to Jerusalem. (Micah 1:8‑9)). Other cities along the way, in the land of Israel, would also be devastated by the invasion (Mic. 1:10-16¹⁰Declare ye it not at Gath, weep ye not at all: in the house of Aphrah roll thyself in the dust. ¹¹Pass ye away, thou inhabitant of Saphir, having thy shame naked: the inhabitant of Zaanan came not forth in the mourning of Beth-ezel; he shall receive of you his standing. ¹²For the inhabitant of Maroth waited carefully for good: but evil came down from the Lord unto the gate of Jerusalem. ¹³O thou inhabitant of Lachish, bind the chariot to the swift beast: she is the beginning of the sin to the daughter of Zion: for the transgressions of Israel were found in thee. ¹⁴Therefore shalt thou give presents to Moresheth-gath: the houses of Achzib shall be a lie to the kings of Israel. ¹⁵Yet will I bring an heir unto thee, O inhabitant of Mareshah: he shall come unto Adullam the glory of Israel. ¹⁶Make thee bald, and poll thee for thy delicate children; enlarge thy baldness as the eagle; for they are gone into captivity from thee. (Micah 1:10‑16)).

Chapters 2 and 3 disclose the moral causes of God’s judgment on His people through the Assyrian. The people were engaged in wicked practices (Mic. 2:1-6¹Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand. ²And they covet fields, and take them by violence; and houses, and take them away: so they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage. ³Therefore thus saith the Lord; Behold, against this family do I devise an evil, from which ye shall not remove your necks; neither shall ye go haughtily: for this time is evil. ⁴In that day shall one take up a parable against you, and lament with a doleful lamentation, and say, We be utterly spoiled: he hath changed the portion of my people: how hath he removed it from me! turning away he hath divided our fields. ⁵Therefore thou shalt have none that shall cast a cord by lot in the congregation of the Lord. ⁶Prophesy ye not, say they to them that prophesy: they shall not prophesy to them, that they shall not take shame. (Micah 2:1‑6)), and they had rejected the Word of God (Mic. 2:7-11⁷O thou that art named the house of Jacob, is the spirit of the Lord straitened? are these his doings? do not my words do good to him that walketh uprightly? ⁸Even of late my people is risen up as an enemy: ye pull off the robe with the garment from them that pass by securely as men averse from war. ⁹The women of my people have ye cast out from their pleasant houses; from their children have ye taken away my glory for ever. ¹⁰Arise ye, and depart; for this is not your rest: because it is polluted, it shall destroy you, even with a sore destruction. ¹¹If a man walking in the spirit and falsehood do lie, saying, I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink; he shall even be the prophet of this people. (Micah 2:7‑11)). In the latter part of chapter 2, Micah shows that even though the people had forsaken the Lord, His purpose to bless Israel was still going to be fulfilled, but it would only be accomplished in a remnant (Mic. 2:12¹²I will surely assemble, O Jacob, all of thee; I will surely gather the remnant of Israel; I will put them together as the sheep of Bozrah, as the flock in the midst of their fold: they shall make great noise by reason of the multitude of men. (Micah 2:12)). Before He could do this, the remnant of Jews would have to be in a right moral state, which He would produce in them by the Assyrian desolating and ravaging the land. As a result, the people would be thoroughly humbled and repentant (Mic. 2:13¹³The breaker is come up before them: they have broken up, and have passed through the gate, and are gone out by it: and their king shall pass before them, and the Lord on the head of them. (Micah 2:13)).

Chapter 3 exposes an even more serious evil. The leaders of the nation and the prophets were corrupt! (Mic. 3:1-7¹And I said, Hear, I pray you, O heads of Jacob, and ye princes of the house of Israel; Is it not for you to know judgment? ²Who hate the good, and love the evil; who pluck off their skin from off them, and their flesh from off their bones; ³Who also eat the flesh of my people, and flay their skin from off them; and they break their bones, and chop them in pieces, as for the pot, and as flesh within the caldron. ⁴Then shall they cry unto the Lord, but he will not hear them: he will even hide his face from them at that time, as they have behaved themselves ill in their doings. ⁵Thus saith the Lord concerning the prophets that make my people err, that bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace; and he that putteth not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him. ⁶Therefore night shall be unto you, that ye shall not have a vision; and it shall be dark unto you, that ye shall not divine; and the sun shall go down over the prophets, and the day shall be dark over them. ⁷Then shall the seers be ashamed, and the diviners confounded: yea, they shall all cover their lips; for there is no answer of God. (Micah 3:1‑7)) God would not stand for this any longer, and therefore, He would cause Zion (Jerusalem) to be “plowed like a field” and become a heap through the desolating Assyrian army. However, in history, the Assyrians never captured Jerusalem, nor did they plow it like a field. This shows that the Spirit of God really had the future day in mind when He moved Micah to write these things concerning the Assyrians. Chapters 1 to 3 then, have their prophetic application in what will happen in point #2 of the summary.

Then, in chapter 4, Micah sees Israel in their last days restored and blessed of God. This is another proof that the foregoing prophecies were intended to portray more than just those immediate circumstances of the past historical Assyrian inroads in history; for what we have in this chapter, was certainly not accomplished at any time after the Assyrian passed through the land in that day. It could only refer to a future time yet to be fulfilled.

Micah sees Jerusalem rebuilt and become the center of worship and of learning the knowledge of the Lord in the earth (Mic. 4:1-5¹But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it. ²And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. ³And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. ⁴But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the Lord of hosts hath spoken it. ⁵For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever. (Micah 4:1‑5)). He also speaks of the tribes of Israel that were scattered far off, being gathered back into their land (Mic. 4:6-10⁶In that day, saith the Lord, will I assemble her that halteth, and I will gather her that is driven out, and her that I have afflicted; ⁷And I will make her that halted a remnant, and her that was cast far off a strong nation: and the Lord shall reign over them in mount Zion from henceforth, even for ever. ⁸And thou, O tower of the flock, the strong hold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem. ⁹Now why dost thou cry out aloud? is there no king in thee? is thy counsellor perished? for pangs have taken thee as a woman in travail. ¹⁰Be in pain, and labor to bring forth, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in travail: for now shalt thou go forth out of the city, and thou shalt dwell in the field, and thou shalt go even to Babylon; there shalt thou be delivered; there the Lord shall redeem thee from the hand of thine enemies. (Micah 4:6‑10)). This answers to the interval between points #5 and #6 in the summary.

When Israel (a remnant of all twelve tribes) is found situated in their land under the blessing of the Lord, Micah tells us that there will be another confederacy of nations that will gather its forces against them. This can be referred to, prophetically, as the second attack of the Assyrian (Gog–Russia). Micah reveals that the Lord will cause them to come up at that time so that He may judge them, and thus, put an end to all wars in the earth (Mic. 4:11-12¹¹Now also many nations are gathered against thee, that say, Let her be defiled, and let our eye look upon Zion. ¹²But they know not the thoughts of the Lord, neither understand they his counsel: for he shall gather them as the sheaves into the floor. (Micah 4:11‑12)). This is point #6 in the summary.

Not only will the Lord destroy this huge confederacy of armies, but He will also encourage restored Israel to fight and subdue the nations that will follow in this confederacy (Mic. 4:13¹³Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion: for I will make thine horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass: and thou shalt beat in pieces many people: and I will consecrate their gain unto the Lord, and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth. (Micah 4:13)). This reflects point #7 in the summary.

Chapter 5 enlarges on the Assyrian siege spoken of in the fourth chapter. The first verse sees the troops of the Assyrians (Gog and His confederates) gathering themselves against Israel.

Verse 2 is a parenthesis showing Christ’s first coming and rejection by His people. This is brought in to show that the Lord Jesus—the same One Whom they rejected long ago—will be their Deliverer in that coming day.

Verse 3 gives the Jews’ consequent setting aside, in the ways of God, after their rejection of Christ (Rom. 11:16-27¹⁶For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. ¹⁷And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; ¹⁸Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. ¹⁹Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. ²⁰Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: ²¹For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. ²²Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. ²³And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again. ²⁴For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree? ²⁵For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. ²⁶And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: ²⁷For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. (Romans 11:16‑27)). The verse then passes over the present period of God’s work among the Gentiles during the last 2000 years (Acts 15:14¹⁴Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. (Acts 15:14)), and looks on to the Lord’s future dealings with Israel when He will take up with them again, restoring and blessing them and their land.

Verses 4 and 5 show that the Lord will stand with them as their great Protector when the Assyrian (2nd attack) comes into the land of Israel. The armies of Israel will also go out in a victorious campaign over their enemies after the Lord has destroyed the Assyrian. Their military power, at that time, will be as a lion devouring its prey (Mic. 5:5⁵And this man shall be the peace, when the Assyrian shall come into our land: and when he shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise against him seven shepherds, and eight principal men. (Micah 5:5)b–9). Again, these things answer to points #6 and #7 in the summary.

The latter part of the chapter shows that all idolatry and human confidence will be removed in Israel in that day, and that they will wholly rely on the Lord (Mic. 5:10-15¹⁰And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord, that I will cut off thy horses out of the midst of thee, and I will destroy thy chariots: ¹¹And I will cut off the cities of thy land, and throw down all thy strong holds: ¹²And I will cut off witchcrafts out of thine hand; and thou shalt have no more soothsayers: ¹³Thy graven images also will I cut off, and thy standing images out of the midst of thee; and thou shalt no more worship the work of thine hands. ¹⁴And I will pluck up thy groves out of the midst of thee: so will I destroy thy cities. ¹⁵And I will execute vengeance in anger and fury upon the heathen, such as they have not heard. (Micah 5:10‑15)).

Chapters 6 and 7 are an appendix describing the moral side of Israel’s restoration. This section contains the exercises that the remnant will go through on the road to their restoration. Chapter 6:1-16 shows that through all the troubles they will face in that day, they will hear the Lord’s voice speaking to them. Chapter 7:1-10, records the remnant’s penitential prayer. Chapter 7:11-20, gives the Lord’s gracious response to their humble confession. He promises restoration and blessing, forgiving their iniquities, and casting their sins into the depths of the sea.

17) Psalms 79–87

Psalm 79 gives the effects of the inroads of the armies of the King of the North in a coming day, expressed by the cry of the godly Jewish remnant. These armies will pass through the land of Israel destroying both the city of Jerusalem and the temple (Dan. 11:40-42⁴⁰And 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. ⁴¹He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. ⁴²He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape. (Daniel 11:40‑42)). The believing Jewish remnant will cry to God as they see the land of their inheritance desolated by the northern invaders. They will pray that God would speedily pour out His judgment on them. This refers to the time when point #2 of the summary will be fulfilled.

Psalm 80, shows that while the remnant are waiting for God’s intervention, they will utter a three-fold prayer for the restoration of the nation (vss. 3, 7, 19). They speak to the God of Israel under the well-known figure of a “vine,” reminding Him of His marvelous care for them in times past (vss. 1-11). Confused and troubled, they ask the Lord why He would allow His inheritance to be trampled by a wild “boar” (a reference to the unclean Gentile armies under the King of the North—the first attack of the Assyrian) and “burned with fire” (vss. 12-16). They will pray that God’s hand would be upon the Man of His right hand (the Messiah), knowing that their only hope of restoration is in Him (vss. 17-19).

In Psalm 81 the remnant are seen anticipating Israel’s national restoration. They yearn for the trumpet to be blown in the new moon (the feast of trumpets–Lev. 23:23-25²³And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, ²⁴Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation. ²⁵Ye shall do no servile work therein: but ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord. (Leviticus 23:23‑25)) symbolizing Israel’s national ingathering and restoration (vss. 1-5). The Lord, seeking to deepen His work in their hearts, will speak to them and remind them that when they cried to Him in the past and He delivered them, they afterward rebelled (vss. 6-16). They were not sincere, and their exercise of heart to return to Him was not deep enough. In this, He tests the reality of their desire for Him to come. The Lord then testifies that if they would prove their reality by hearing His Word and walking in His ways, He would surely rid them of all their enemies.

Psalm 82 indicates that God’s presence has become known in Israel. This is on account of the Lord having returned to earth (His Appearing) in answer to the cry of the remnant in the preceding Psalms. He is seen judging those who have been in the place of authority in the land of Israel (i.e. Antichrist and his governmental officials–Dan. 11:39³⁹Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain. (Daniel 11:39)). Since judgment must begin at the house of God (1 Peter 4:17¹⁷For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? (1 Peter 4:17)), those who are in responsible places in the land are seen as being judged first (vs. 7). Some of these leaders will, apparently, escape the armies of the King of the North when they invade the land. Antichrist (and perhaps some of the other officials under him) will flee at the time of the attack (Zech. 11:17¹⁷Woe to the idol shepherd that leaveth the flock! the sword shall be upon his arm, and upon his right eye: his arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall be utterly darkened. (Zechariah 11:17); Isa. 22:19¹⁹And I will drive thee from thy station, and from thy state shall he pull thee down. (Isaiah 22:19); John 10:13¹³The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. (John 10:13); Jer. 39:4⁴And it came to pass, that when Zedekiah the king of Judah saw them, and all the men of war, then they fled, and went forth out of the city by night, by the way of the king's garden, by the gate betwixt the two walls: and he went out the way of the plain. (Jeremiah 39:4)). However, they will not escape the Lord’s judgment at His Appearing.

The Lord, in His earthly ministry, applied this Psalm to His first coming (John 10:34³⁴Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? (John 10:34)), but did not speak of the judgment associated with it at that time, because He had come in grace. But when He comes the second time (His Appearing), the things in this Psalm will be fulfilled. Judgment will be executed upon the apostate Jews in Israel, beginning with the responsible leaders. This Psalm describes the judgment executed in the day when the Lord comes to deliver the godly Jewish remnant. This will happen at the time of point #4 in the summary.

It is to be noted that the Beast (the Western Confederacy) is not mentioned as being judged here in this Psalm, although they will also be judged at this same time. This is because the Western nations are not really the subject of the Psalms; Daniel and Revelation have more to say about the West. J. N. Darby said, “It seems to me that at least on the result, Antichrist is out of the way by the time Psalm 83 takes place. Psalm 83 is after the destruction of all the Beast powers.”18

After judgment is executed on the apostate mass of the Jews, the believing remnant will call for the Lord’s judgment on the Gentile nations (vs. 8).

With the Lord now viewed as having returned to the earth, Psalm 83 shows that in answer to the cry of the remnant, His judgment will not stop at the leaders in Israel, but will also extend to the Gentile nations under the Assyrian. The judgment He executes upon them is because of their deep hatred of God’s earthly people, the Jews (vss. 1-8). This judgment is correlated with two significant victories in Israel’s history (Barak and Gideon–Judg. 4-8) when God intervened for them in the plains of Megiddo (Armageddon). Those victories were a foreshadow of this judgment (vss. 9-17). This answers to point #5 in the summary.

As a result of the destruction of these nations under the Assyrian, the Lord’s Name, “JEHOVAH,” becomes known in the earth (vs. 18). This is His covenant-relationship name to Israel, and implies that He now has re-established His relationship with them—or at least with the Jewish remnant.

The heading in Psalm 84 confirms that the remnant has been delivered, in that it refers to the “sons of Korah.” (Korah and his company are a type of the apostate Jews, in that coming day, who are going to depart from the Lord. When God judged Korah, He graciously spared his “sons.” They are a picture of the remnant–Num. 16:1-35; 26:10-11¹Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men: ²And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown: ³And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the Lord? ⁴And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face: ⁵And he spake unto Korah and unto all his company, saying, Even to morrow the Lord will show who are his, and who is holy; and will cause him to come near unto him: even him whom he hath chosen will he cause to come near unto him. ⁶This do; Take you censers, Korah, and all his company; ⁷And put fire therein, and put incense in them before the Lord to morrow: and it shall be that the man whom the Lord doth choose, he shall be holy: ye take too much upon you, ye sons of Levi. ⁸And Moses said unto Korah, Hear, I pray you, ye sons of Levi: ⁹Seemeth it but a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the Lord, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them? ¹⁰And he hath brought thee near to him, and all thy brethren the sons of Levi with thee: and seek ye the priesthood also? ¹¹For which cause both thou and all thy company are gathered together against the Lord: and what is Aaron, that ye murmur against him? ¹²And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab: which said, We will not come up: ¹³Is it a small thing that thou hast brought us up out of a land that floweth with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, except thou make thyself altogether a prince over us? ¹⁴Moreover thou hast not brought us into a land that floweth with milk and honey, or given us inheritance of fields and vineyards: wilt thou put out the eyes of these men? we will not come up. ¹⁵And Moses was very wroth, and said unto the Lord, Respect not thou their offering: I have not taken one ass from them, neither have I hurt one of them. ¹⁶And Moses said unto Korah, Be thou and all thy company before the Lord, thou, and they, and Aaron, to morrow: ¹⁷And take every man his censer, and put incense in them, and bring ye before the Lord every man his censer, two hundred and fifty censers; thou also, and Aaron, each of you his censer. ¹⁸And they took every man his censer, and put fire in them, and laid incense thereon, and stood in the door of the tabernacle of the congregation with Moses and Aaron. ¹⁹And Korah gathered all the congregation against them unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the glory of the Lord appeared unto all the congregation. ²⁰And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, ²¹Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment. ²²And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou be wroth with all the congregation? ²³And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, ²⁴Speak unto the congregation, saying, Get you up from about the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. ²⁵And Moses rose up and went unto Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel followed him. ²⁶And he spake unto the congregation, saying, Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins. ²⁷So they gat up from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side: and Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood in the door of their tents, and their wives, and their sons, and their little children. ²⁸And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the Lord hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of mine own mind. ²⁹If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men; then the Lord hath not sent me. ³⁰But if the Lord make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the Lord. ³¹And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them: ³²And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods. ³³They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation. ³⁴And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them: for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up also. ³⁵And there came out a fire from the Lord, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense. (Numbers 16:1‑35)
¹⁰And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up together with Korah, when that company died, what time the fire devoured two hundred and fifty men: and they became a sign. ¹¹Notwithstanding the children of Korah died not. (Numbers 26:10‑11).)

The Psalm goes on to describe godly Israelites making a journey to their homeland. Who could this be but the ten scattered tribes of Israel, whom we know, will come into the land after the Lord returns? (Matt. 24:29-31²⁹Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: ³⁰And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. ³¹And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. (Matthew 24:29‑31)) It will begin with desires for the Lord springing up in their hearts. As true Israelites they will long for their proper earthly place in “the courts of the Lord.” They will envy the sparrows and swallows who have found a place in Jehovah’s house and desire to be there also (vss. 1-4).

Yearning for God and His dwelling place will lead His elect to begin a journey to their promised land (vss. 5-8). Verse 5 could be better rendered, “Blessed is the man....whose heart is in the highways to Zion” (J. N. Darby Trans.). Compare Isaiah 11:15-16; 19:23; 35:8-10; 49:9-12¹⁵And the Lord shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with his mighty wind shall he shake his hand over the river, and shall smite it in the seven streams, and make men go over dryshod. ¹⁶And there shall be an highway for the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt. (Isaiah 11:15‑16)
²³In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians. (Isaiah 19:23)
⁸And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. ⁹No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there: ¹⁰And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. (Isaiah 35:8‑10)
⁹That thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Show yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places. ¹⁰They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them. ¹¹And I will make all my mountains a way, and my highways shall be exalted. ¹²Behold, these shall come from far: and, lo, these from the north and from the west; and these from the land of Sinim. (Isaiah 49:9‑12). Their pathway to the land of Israel will lead them through “the valley of Baca” (which means “weeping”), which indicates that there will be a work of repentance in their hearts as they return (Jer. 31:9, 18-21⁹They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn. (Jeremiah 31:9)
¹⁸I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the Lord my God. ¹⁹Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth. ²⁰Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant child? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the Lord. ²¹Set thee up waymarks, make thee high heaps: set thine heart toward the highway, even the way which thou wentest: turn again, O virgin of Israel, turn again to these thy cities. (Jeremiah 31:18‑21)). They will go “from company to company” (vs. 7 marginal reading). This refers to the Israelite pilgrims growing larger and larger in numbers as they meet other groups of their brethren in the way, until there will be enormous bands making their way to Zion.

The Psalm closes with their desire to see the Messiah (“Thine Anointed”) whom they acknowledge as their “Sun and Shield” (vss. 9-12).

In Psalm 85, the tribes of Israel are viewed as being brought back from the four winds and situated in their promised land (Matt. 24:31³¹And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. (Matthew 24:31)). At this time, the “Day of Atonement” will be fulfilled; their sins will be forgiven and God’s wrath turned away from them (vss. 1-3).

This Psalm shows that there will be a further restoration in their souls after they have been outwardly delivered and brought back to their land, but before they are at full liberty to enjoy the kingdom blessings. It is something like the “Feast of Trumpets” and the “Day of Atonement” which follows it (Lev. 23:23-32²³And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, ²⁴Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation. ²⁵Ye shall do no servile work therein: but ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord. ²⁶And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, ²⁷Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord. ²⁸And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the Lord your God. ²⁹For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people. ³⁰And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people. ³¹Ye shall do no manner of work: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. ³²It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath. (Leviticus 23:23‑32)). The Feast of Trumpets speaks of Israel being restored to their land (Psa. 84), but the Day of Atonement speaks of the repentant remnant of Israel being restored to the Lord (Psa. 85). The two go together.

In fulfillment of the type of “the Red Heifer” (Num. 19), the returning tribes will come to “the third day” (Num. 19:12¹²He shall purify himself with it on the third day, and on the seventh day he shall be clean: but if he purify not himself the third day, then the seventh day he shall not be clean. (Numbers 19:12)) on their journey back to the land (Jer. 31:9, 18-21⁹They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn. (Jeremiah 31:9)
¹⁸I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the Lord my God. ¹⁹Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth. ²⁰Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant child? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the Lord. ²¹Set thee up waymarks, make thee high heaps: set thine heart toward the highway, even the way which thou wentest: turn again, O virgin of Israel, turn again to these thy cities. (Jeremiah 31:18‑21); Psa. 84:6⁶Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools. (Psalm 84:6)). But when they reach the land and see the Lord, they will come to “the seventh day,” which will be the fulfillment of the Day of Atonement (Num. 19:19-20¹⁹And the clean person shall sprinkle upon the unclean on the third day, and on the seventh day: and on the seventh day he shall purify himself, and wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and shall be clean at even. ²⁰But the man that shall be unclean, and shall not purify himself, that soul shall be cut off from among the congregation, because he hath defiled the sanctuary of the Lord: the water of separation hath not been sprinkled upon him; he is unclean. (Numbers 19:19‑20); Isa. 53; Psa. 85; Zech. 13:6⁶And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends. (Zechariah 13:6); Lev. 23:26-32²⁶And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, ²⁷Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord. ²⁸And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the Lord your God. ²⁹For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people. ³⁰And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people. ³¹Ye shall do no manner of work: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. ³²It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath. (Leviticus 23:26‑32)).

This 85th Psalm shows the exercise of soul among the Israelites that will lead up to their full restoration in the Day of Atonement. Their continuing to ask the Lord to turn away His anger from them shows that at first they will not be sure that His grace is fully toward them. This shows that they are not yet at peace in their souls (vss. 4-7).

Knowing their hearts and seeing their true repentance, the Lord will undertake to put away their fears and doubts. He will point them back to the cross—to the work that He accomplished there in making atonement for them. He will instruct them in the true meaning of the cross where “mercy” and “truth” met together and “righteousness” and “peace” kissed each other (vss. 8-10). Israel (all twelve tribes) will respond with deep relief when they realize the grace and goodness of the Lord. The result will be that their confidence in Him will be firmly established (vss. 12-13).

Psalm 83:18¹⁸That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth. (Psalm 83:18) to Psalm 85:13¹³Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps. (Psalm 85:13) answer to the interval in the summary between points #5 and #6.

Psalm 86 shows that although the remnant of Israel (the ten tribes) have returned to their land (Psalm 84) and have been restored to the Lord (Psalm 85), they will be distressed once more. This will be on account of more enemies surrounding their land. It is the “assemblies of violent men”—the Assyrian19 (the 2nd attack under Gog) (vs. 14). This distress leads them to call on the Lord to preserve them (vss. 1-7).

They express confidence in Him now (being restored) that He will arise in power and put down their enemies who have gathered against them. Their recognition of His power is indicated by their sevenfold use of the name “Lord” (Adonai), which refers to the exercise of the Lord’s all-powerful Lordship in the earth. Previously they had used His name “LORD” (Jehovah) (vss. 8-10). They will recall the marvelous deliverance that He wrought for them by destroying their previous enemies, and now trust that He will do the same to “the assemblies of violent men” who have risen against them (vss. 13-17). The character of these godless hordes is disclosed in that they have not set the Lord before them (vs. 14). Restored Israel will express perfect confidence in the Lord that He will save them from this enormous confederacy (vss. 15-17). This answers to point #6 in the summary.

In Psalm 87, all enemies in the earth are seen as having been put down and Zion (Jerusalem) established as the city of God. The scholars tell us that the historical occasion of the writing of this Psalm was after Jerusalem’s deliverance when the armies of Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, were destroyed (2 Chron. 32:21-23²¹And the Lord sent an angel, which cut off all the mighty men of valor, and the leaders and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he was come into the house of his god, they that came forth of his own bowels slew him there with the sword. ²²Thus the Lord saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all other, and guided them on every side. ²³And many brought gifts unto the Lord to Jerusalem, and presents to Hezekiah king of Judah: so that he was magnified in the sight of all nations from thenceforth. (2 Chronicles 32:21‑23)). If this is correct, the placement of this Psalm is very significant, because Sennacherib is a well-known type of Gog (the 2nd attack of the Assyrian). As this Psalm opens, it assumes Gog’s armies have been judged and Zion’s kingdom glory is now being displayed (vss. 1-3).

The remnant of Israel (the ten tribes particularly) will learn of the various nations who were judged in their land before they returned to it (“Rahab”–Egypt, Isa. 51:9⁹Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the Lord; awake, as in the ancient days, in the generations of old. Art thou not it that hath cut Rahab, and wounded the dragon? (Isaiah 51:9); Psa. 89:10¹⁰Thou hast broken Rahab in pieces, as one that is slain; thou hast scattered thine enemies with thy strong arm. (Psalm 89:10); “Babylon”–the Western powers). They were not in the land when these nations were judged and learn of it after the fact (vs. 4).

As the Millennium begins, the fame of Jehovah’s people will spread throughout the world (Isa. 61:9⁹And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the Lord hath blessed. (Isaiah 61:9); Zeph. 3:3:19). They will be known among men as those who are born of God and connected by grace with Zion (vs. 4). The Lord will also keep a record of everyone from among the nations who are born again. This is indicated by the verse saying, “the peoples.” In the Scriptures, when it says “the peoples” (plural), it is referring to the nations; when it says “the people” (singular), it is Israel (vs. 6).

The Millennium is viewed as having begun by the use of the Lord’s name, “the Most High,” which is His name when He publicly rules over the earth (vs. 5). The closing verse indicates that all earthly joy in that day will have its center and spring in Zion where the Lord is (vs. 7; Ezek. 48:35³⁵It was round about eighteen thousand measures: and the name of the city from that day shall be, The Lord is there. (Ezekiel 48:35)).

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In this appendix we have looked at over 100 chapters of the Bible. There has not been a deviation from the order of events in the summary given at the beginning of the appendix. We are, therefore, supplied with an abundance of Scriptural evidence that confirms the order.

There are more outlines from the prophets and the Psalms that could be included which would also confirm the order of battles in “the indignation.” However, the above outlines, we believe, are sufficient.

1. See J. N. Darby, “Collected Writings,” vol. 5, p. 210; vol. 30, p. 224; “Notes and Comments,” vol. 4, p. 66.

2. See T. B. Baines, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ,” p. 216.

3. It is important to distinguish between religious Babylon and political Babylon. The judgment referred to here is not the judgment of religious Babylon (the great whore). Religious Babylon’s judgment takes place back around the middle of the week, when political Babylon, led by the (personal) Beast, revolts under the religious power (the whore) and destroys it (Rev. 17:16¹⁶And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. (Revelation 17:16)). Revelation 16:17-21¹⁷And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. ¹⁸And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. ¹⁹And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. ²⁰And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. ²¹And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great. (Revelation 16:17‑21) is referring to Babylon’s final judgment in its political order under the leadership of the little horn of Daniel 7 (the personal Beast). As a rule, whenever Babylon as “the whore” is described in the book of Revelation, it refers to the religious side, but when Babylon as a “city” is described, it is the civil or political side. It should be noted that in Revelation 14:8,⁸And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. (Revelation 14:8) “that great city” should not be in the text (see J. N. Darby Translation) because that verse is speaking about religious Babylon.

4. See C.E. Lunden, “Time Chart”, p. 19.

5. See “Bible Treasury,” vol. 16, p. 2.

6. “I have always thought Nebuchadnezzar as conquering to be a type of the Assyrian of the latter day.” J.N. Darby, “Notes and Comments,” vol. 4, p. 90-91.

7. See W. Kelly, “Minor Prophets,” p. 195-196; W. Kelly, “Isaiah,” p. 269; F.A. Tatford, “The Prophet of Edom’s Doom,” p. 26-28, 35; J. N. Darby, “Synopsis of the Books of the Bible” on Obadiah.

8. See J. N. Darby, “Notes and Comments,” vol. 4, p. 14.

9. See J. N. Darby, “Synopsis of The Books of the Bible,” vol. 2, p. 353, Morrish edition.

10. There are three main periods in which the prophets prophesied; the Assyrian period, the Babylonian period, and the Medo-Persian period. The prophets of the Assyrian period are; Isaiah, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Jonah, Micah, and Nahum. They cover the time from the rise of the Assyrian power to its destruction; Nahum giving its fall. The prophets of the Babylonian period are; Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Obadiah, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah. These cover the Babylonian period from its rise to world supremacy to its fall; Daniel giving its actual destruction. The prophets of the Persian period are; Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. They prophesied at the time when the Medes and the Persians were in power.

11. Unfortunately, most writers who have expounded on the Old Testament prophets do not get beyond the historical application and fulfillment. However, these prophecies must have more than just a historic application, otherwise, why would they be included in Scripture? We believe God has recorded these battles in history because they are a foreshadow of coming events. J. N. Darby said, “I cannot doubt that all these prophecies of judgment relate, in a perspective brought nigh by the energy of the Spirit, to the events of the last days which will be the complete fulfillment of the purposes and intentions of God. The judgments which He executed are already partially realized in the conquests of Nebuchadnezzar, but to be fully accomplished by and by in favor of Israel. But I repeat, the mind of the Spirit goes much farther and in certain respect extends to the last days’’ (Synopsis of the Books of the Bible).

12. See J. N. Darby, “Synopsis of the Books of the Bible,” vol. 2, “Obadiah.”

13. See J. N. Darby, “Synopsis of the Books of the Bible”, vol. 2, p. 289 (Morrish edition).

14. See J. N. Darby, “Collected Writings,” vol. 30, p. 196.

15. The first inroads of the Assyrians under Tiglath-Pileser (2 Kings 15:27-29²⁷In the two and fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah Pekah the son of Remaliah began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned twenty years. ²⁸And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin. ²⁹In the days of Pekah king of Israel came Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, and took Ijon, and Abel-beth-maachah, and Janoah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and carried them captive to Assyria. (2 Kings 15:27‑29)), Shalmaneser (2 Kings 17:3-6³Against him came up Shalmaneser king of Assyria; and Hoshea became his servant, and gave him presents. ⁴And the king of Assyria found conspiracy in Hoshea: for he had sent messengers to So king of Egypt, and brought no present to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year: therefore the king of Assyria shut him up, and bound him in prison. ⁵Then the king of Assyria came up throughout all the land, and went up to Samaria, and besieged it three years. ⁶In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away into Assyria, and placed them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes. (2 Kings 17:3‑6)), and Sargon (Isa. 20:1¹In the year that Tartan came unto Ashdod, (when Sargon the king of Assyria sent him,) and fought against Ashdod, and took it; (Isaiah 20:1)) proceeded successfully through the land of Israel into Egypt. It is typical of the first attack of the Assyrian in prophecy—the King of the North and his Arab confederacy (Dan. 11:40-43⁴⁰And 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. ⁴¹He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. ⁴²He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape. ⁴³But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps. (Daniel 11:40‑43)). The later inroads of the Assyrians under Sennacherib were stopped by the angel of Jehovah, and it is typical of Russia and their hordes who will be destroyed by the Lord (Ezek. 38-39).

16. See J. N. Darby, “Notes and Comments,” vol. 4, p. 32, 94. Some, however, feel that Lucifer is typical of the personal Beast, the political leader of the empire, and not Antichrist. This could very well be so; therefore, we will not be dogmatic on this point.

17. J. N. Darby, “Notes and Jottings,” p. 372, “Collected Writings,” vol. 30, P. 209.

18. J. N. Darby, “Notes and Comments,” vol. 3, p. 174. See Also A. C. Gaebelein, “The Book of the Psalms,” p. 317.

19. “The wicked man, I believe to be Antichrist; the violent men, the subsequent enemies of the Jews, the Assyrian.” J. N. Darby, “Notes and Comments,” vol. 3, p. 264. Violent men, is a fitting description of the Assyrians; they were especially known for their violence and cruelty (Jonah 3:8⁸But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands. (Jonah 3:8)).

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Outline Of Prophetic Events: Chronologically Arranged From The Rapture To The Eternal State

• Outline of Prophetic Events, An

• Rapture (The Blessed Hope of the Church), The

• Things Hereafter (in Heaven)

• Things Hereafter (on Earth)

• Indignation (75 Days), The

• Millennium (The 1000 Year Reign of Christ), The

• The Eternal State

• Appendix A — The Indignation

• Appendix B — Indications of the Lord's Coming

• Appendix C

Appendix A — The Indignation

Outline of Prophetic Events: Third Edition [Paperback]