Bible Lessons

From: Messages of God's Love: 1933

Narrator: Chris Genthree

Duration: 5min

Isaiah 29

ARIEL, meaning “Lion of God” is a name for Jerusalem, only found in this chapter. It speaks of what Jerusalem should have been, and what for a short time it was, in in measure; the place of brightest glory, of power which God bestowed on David and Solomon. But not now as when David dwelt there!

Yet it is the city God chose, and the Assyrian’s first attack upon it (in chapter 28) is shortly to be followed by the return of Israel’s Messiah, the rejected Christ of God. First, however, Jerusalem must be brought low (verse 4). The enemy must, as a part of God’s dealings with this people, camp against it, lay siege with watch-posts and raise forts against it. Verse 4 must be fulfilled ere God intervenes. The rebels of Israel will be brought to a state of terror, all their resources gone; no help avails (verses 5, 6).

What has the great federation of the west been doing at this time? Has the powerful head of the Roman Empire (which is yet, according to the Scriptures, to be revived) neglected the Jewish kingdom under his authority, since the news must have quickly reached him of the attacks from south and north? What more natural than that all the military power he can muster shall be sent, as rapidly as possible, to the shore of the Holy Land, and sent inland to fight the daring Assyrian, now pursuing the Egyptians, and conquering their land (Dan. 11:42, 43⁴²He 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 11:42‑43))?

Turn to 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), and Zech. 14:3-5; 12: 1-9³Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. 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 14:3‑5), the former giving the destruction of the Roman chief, and the head of the Jewish state (called the false prophet, but evidently the same person as the king and the Antichrist), and the armies of Europe under the command of the Roman emperor; the latter including the destruction of the Assyrian or king of the north whom Daniel 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) shows getting bad news from the north and the east, and returning to Jerusalem to meet an unexpected end.

We may conjecture what news it will be, that will cause the Assyrian (or king of the north, for they are evidently one) to be troubled; if the news from the north is that the Roman arms is ready to meet him near Jerusalem: or that it has been destroyed (at the Lord’s coming), and what the news from the east may be, Scripture does not enlighten us on these points. We are amazed that God should have told so much, in His Word; but it is there for the help of His people, more particularly in that awful day to come.

We would just point out, while on this subject, that the correct reading of 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) is: “And he (the Assyrian) shall plant the tents of his palace between the sea and the mountain of holy beauty, and he shall come to his end, and there shall he none to help him.” It is not in Jerusalem, then, but between the city and the Mediterranean Sea, that he encamps for the last time.

Returning to Isa. 29, verse 5 is better understood if “enemies” (the true meaning) is read instead of “strangers.” Verse 6 and the passages in Zechariah show with what demonstration of divine power the coming of the Lord with His saints will be attended.

In Acts 1, the apostles had asked the risen Lord about His restoring the kingdom to Israel, and He had left them to be witnesses for Him while absent. Then as they gazed steadfastly after Him as He ascended from the Mount of Olives to the scenes of eternal glory, two “men” are seen standing by them in white apparel, who tell them that this same Jesus should in like manner return. From 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) we have the manner of His coming; and from Zech. 14:4⁴And 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. (Zechariah 14:4), the place—the Mount of Olives.

The remainder of chapter 29 is quite plain, and calls for no special comment. Verses 9 to 16 are addressed to those who should give heed to God and His Word; their sins have taken them far from Him; but in verses 18 to 24 is the glad news of a recovery out of all the wretchedness and misery man has brought on himself. Great events that have come before us in considering this chapter are:

(1) The coming of the Lord in judgment, attended by His heavenly hosts;

(2) The destruction of all nations arrayed in battle against Him;