The Assyrian power which was mighty in its day was never a monarchy in the sense of having been appointed of God, nor shall its revival take that character in the last days.
The characteristics of this power which overran most of the ancient earth, from Cappadocia, Cilicia, Armenia, as well as Media and Persia on the north and east, down to Palestine, Egypt, and Arabia on the west and south, were plunder, depredation, ravaging, and treasure-seeking, with the purpose of making a name of glory in the earth. This is typical of man unrestrained, wholly following his passions, without the fear of God.
During the 2600 years, more or less, that this military giant has lain in the grave, there have been tremendous changes in national borders, colonization, and civilization. Still, the original Semitic people within the boundaries ascribed to Asshur at the height of his glory remain much the same as when Persia and Media first subdued them.
Great kings have come and gone.
“Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles (Gentiles) as a very little thing. And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor the beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt offering. All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity” (Isa. 40:15-17).
Within the boundaries described were found Susiana, Chaldea, Babylonia, Media, Armenia, Assyria proper, Mesopotamia, parts of Cappadocia and Cilicia, Syria, Phenicia, Palestine, and Idumea. Cyprus and parts of Egypt were for a short time under the dependency of Assyrian kings. The ancient Assyrian was used as a rod over Israel and other nations and shall be so used again.
This is all very significant inasmuch as all of the countries which will remain after the western nations are destroyed shall be gathered as in a net under the last Assyrian, of which the first was a type.