Isaiah 11:11-12:6
“And 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. And 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.” (Isaiah 11:11-12)
Since the reestablishment of Israel in 1948, there has been
a massive return of Jews to Israel.
Because of the terrorist threats, and freedom in other countries many
still do not return. The tribulation
period is to be a time of special judgment on Israel much like what was going
on with the Assyrians in Isaiah’s day. When it ends and the Lord sets up his Millennial
kingdom, even survivors from the most welcoming countries around the world will
choose to return to Israel.
“The 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. But 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 11:13-14)
After Solomon’s death, Israel split into two countries, Israel
and Judah. Israel’s capitol was in the
area originally given to the tribe of Ephraim.
The two countries regularly fought for control and there was a great
deal of jealousy between them that continues even to this day. When
the Lord builds his millennial kingdom, they will be united and the old
jealousies forgotten. They will control
the land of the Philistines or as we know them the Palestinians on the west and
the land of the Moabites and Edomites on the eastern side in present day Jordan
and Saudi Arabia, with the Jordanian people (Ammonites) as tributaries,
fulfilling the promise to Abraham in Genesis 15:18. “In the
same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I
given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river
Euphrates.” Israel has never yet had
all that land, and understanding the prophecy explains much of the political
tension in the Middle East today.
“And 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. And 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)
Revelation 16:18-20 tells us there will be a huge earthquake
just before the lord sets up his kingdom that will shake down the
mountains. “And 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. And 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. And
every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.”
When that happens the tongue of Red sea known as the Gulf of
Suez will cease to exist, apparently rising.
The Nile River, which presently splits into two main branches, will
spread oud dividing into seven streams across the delta that can easily be
crossed. Apparently at the same time the
Gulf of Aqaba will deepen, connecting
with the Dead Sea, and the Mount of Olives will split, allowing ships access
from the Red Sea all the way to Jerusalem, according to Zechariah 14:4-5. “And
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. And 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.”
At about the same time the course of the Euphrates River
will change leaving the road open for the eastern nations to attack Jerusalem
according to Revelation 16:12. “And 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.” Once the Antichrist’s army has been
defeated and the Millennial kingdom set up the way will be open for the Jews to
come to Jerusalem.
“And 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. Behold, 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.” (Isaiah 12:1-2)
When that day comes. Israel will praise the Lord for saving
them, recognizing that he has kept his promise to them despite their constant
rebellion throughout the centuries. They
will finally learn to trust him fully, realizing he will keep his promises to
them.
“Therefore with joy
shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. And 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. Sing unto the LORD; for
he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth. Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion:
for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.” (Isaiah 12:3-6)
Throughout her history, the Jews have thought their
salvation was through ritually keeping God’s law. Finally they will understand that as
Ephesians 2:8-9 says, salvation is by trusting God, not through their efforts. “For
by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift
of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” The works are the result of their faith,
not the means of obtaining salvation.
There is nothing they can do to save themselves. As they understand that, they will no longer
complain that what they are doing doesn’t work and will recognize that it is God
who has cared for them all along.
Another excellent post; this passage in Isaiah is definitely a vital one if someone wants to study Revelation thoroughly. Again, it's useful when the geography of the lands are given modern names, so the conflict described (and events to comes) suddenly have startling relevance.
ReplyDeleteBecause we know little of the history or geography, most people have little understanding or these prophecies. when we get the information we begin to realize how much they affect us today.
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