Isaiah 14
THE time is approaching when the Roman Empire, broken into fragments in the beginning of the Christian era, will again appear, with boundaries corresponding to those it possessed in the time of Christ. The city of Rome, Scripture clearly indicates, will be the capital of the revived system of empire, and it is not without interest that we observe today the extensive improvement and enlargement of that city.
But the mighty empire, challenging (as it presently will) the admiration and wonder of those left upon the earth after the Church is gone, meets its doom at the mouth of Him who suffered crucifixion under Pontius Pilate. (For scriptures relating to this subject, see Rev. 13:14; 17:8-14; 19:11-2114And 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. (Revelation 13:14)
8The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. 9And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. 10And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space. 11And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition. 12And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. 13These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. 14These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful. (Revelation 17:8‑14)
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)).
It is in that day, and linked with the destruction of imperial Roman power, that as verse 1 recites, Jehovah will have mercy on Jacob and will yet choose Israel and set them in rest in their own land. Then the peoples (plural) i.e., the Gentile nations will take them and bring them to their place, and the house of Israel shall possess them in the land of Jehovah for servants and for handmaids (verse 2). (See among many related passages Zechariah 8).
The King of Babylon, spoken of in verse 4 and following, is the last head of Gentile dominion, as Nebuchadnezzar was the first. The old enemy of the Jews serves as the type of the final one of whom Daniel 9:26, 2726And 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 9:26‑27) and Revelation 13 and 17 tell so much,
Verses 9 to 14, while applying first to Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar, refer in the fullest way to the coming head of the Roman Empire. This man, to whom Satan will give his power, will surpass all his predecessor rulers in pride and in the service of the devil.
At first, under papal control, this will be thrown off before the Lord destroys him with the breath of His mouth, but in the holy land, at least, he will be the protector of the Anti-christ or Man of Sin, the false prophet, the second “beast” of Revelation 13:1111And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. (Revelation 13:11), and the arch enemy of the believing remnant of the Jews whose experiences fill so much of the Psalms.
Verse 24 introduces again briefly the Assyrian; the ancient Assyrian perished before Babylon’s brief but more exalted splendor, but when these powers are brought into being at the end, Babylon will receive its doom first. Afterward the Assyrian will be broken in God’s land, and will be trodden under foot upon its mountains.
Verse 28 (not 29 as indicated by paragraph mark) takes up Philistia (“whole Palestina” is properly read “Philistia, all of thee” both in verse 28 and verse 31). No doubt the Philistines saw the weakness of Judah after Uzziah, who had warred against them successfully (2 Chronicles 26:6, 76And he went forth and warred against the Philistines, and brake down the wall of Gath, and the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod, and built cities about Ashdod, and among the Philistines. 7And God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians that dwelt in Gur-baal, and the Mehunims. (2 Chronicles 26:6‑7)), and his son Jotham were dead, for Ahaz was notorious for his disregard of God, and suffered greatly from attacks by the kings of Syria and Israel, and also from the Edomites. The Philistines invaded the cities of the lowland, and of the south of Judah, and dwelt there (2 Chronicles 28:1818The 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 28:18)), while Ahaz reigned.
The address to Philistia no doubt looks on to the coming day when nations long since gone in name, at least, will be revived. The Philistines, ancient enemies of the children of Israel, must again appear, with Moab and Syria, for judgment when the Lord comes again.
ML 06/11/1933