Isaiah 22, verses 15 to 25.
THE rejection of the self-seeking Shebna, and the putting in his place of the worthy Eliakim is a true part of Isaiah’s prophecy, and not a disconnected piece of history without reference to the future. See Revelation 3:7, and it is at once plain that Eliakim, godly man of Hezekiah’s reign (Isaiah 36:3), was used by the Holy Spirit as a “type” of Christ. Shebna, then, is a foreshadowing of the false prophet-king of the Jews, who will be cast alive into the lake of fire at the coming of the Lord to the earth.
The man whom Shebna is intended to bring before the mind is variously characterized in the Scriptures, but always as a leader in evil. Referring to him, the Lord said to the Jews (John 5:43),
“I am come in My Father’s Name, and ye receive Me not; if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.”
In 2 Thessalonians 2:3-10 is the fullest reference to this man of unsurpassed wickedness. He will oppose and exalt himself above all called God or object of worship, showing himself as God. He will in an extraordinary way be energized by Satan, having power to do signs and wonders beyond anything now known, —not for good, of course, but in serving his master who is a murderer and liar from the beginning (John 8:44), by means of falsehood and all deceit of unrighteousness to them that perish.
Revelation 13:11 presents this enemy of God in symbolic language, and chapter 19:20 shows his end. 1 John 2:22 calls him the Antichrist, while warning believers that there are many antichrists in our own time. Zechariah 11 speaks of him as a foolish and worthless shepherd.
Daniel 11:36-39 presents him as “the king,” and we learn from this passage that he will be a Jew, for he will not regard the God of his fathers, or Christ (the desire of Jewish women was to be the mother of the Messiah).
This, then, is the final culmination of the present order of things; the world is not getting better, but worse and worse (2 Timothy 3:13; Acts 20:28-32; 2 Peter 3:3, 4). On the great election day, Barabbas the murderer was chosen, and Jesus was rejected and crucified (Mark 15).
This Jesus hath God raised up and exalted at His right hand according to His Word,
“Sit Thou at My right hand until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool.”
Meanwhile the gospel goes out in a dispensation of grace and forbearance (Acts 2-4, etc.), that whosoever believes in that rejected One, God’s only begotten Son, shall not perish but have everlasting life.
He is coming again to the earth in judgment according to Psalm 2; Matthew 24: 27-51; Jude 14, 15; 1 Corinthians 6:2; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10. He is coming in glory, attended by not only the angels, but by all those raised or changed at His coming for His heavenly people (1 Thess. 4:16, 17).
When He comes in judgment the government shall be upon His shoulder (Isaiah 9:6), and the key of the house of David will be laid upon His shoulder, so He shall open and none shall shut, and He shall shut and none shall open. All power is given unto Him in heaven and in earth (Matthew 28:18).
What a day that will be for this world, when He reigns!
“The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ; and He shall reign forever and forever.” Rev. 11:15.
ML 08/06/1933