Lesson #18

ISAIAH 17 & 18
Lesson #18
THREE ENEMIES OF GOD

• MEMORY VERSE: REV 2:26

• THIS “BURDEN” HAS TO DO WITH TWO NATIONS, SYRIA AND THE NORTHERN KINGDOM. REMEMBER THAT BEFORE THE ADVANCE OF THE ASSYRIAN EMPIRE, THE NORTHERN KINGDOM AND SYRIA HAD MADE AN ALLIANCE TO ATTACK THE SOUTHERN KINGDOM. THEREFORE, GOD WOULD JUDGE THEM AND BRING PUNISHMENT.
• EVEN THOUGH THE NORTHERN KINGDOM OF ISRAEL CONSISTED OF FELLOW JEWS, THEY WERE IN REBELLION AGAINST GOD AND AT TIMES EVEN HOSTILE TO THE SOUTHERN KINGDOM OF JUDAH.
• WE, THEREFORE, SEE THE NORTHERN KINGDOM INCLUDED IN GOD’S JUDGMENT OF THE ENEMIES OF HIS PEOPLE.
• THERE IS A BIBLICAL TRUTH HERE:
• EVEN THOUGH ONE MAY BE A CHRISTIAN, WHEN HE PUTS HIMSELF ON THE SIDE OF SATAN AGAINST GOD’S PEOPLE, HE WILL SUFFER THE SAME PUNISHMENT AS ALL GOD’S ENEMIES. PARTNERS IN CRIME MEANS PARTNERS IN JUDGMENT.
• CAN YOU THINK OF OTHER BIBLICAL EXAMPLES OF THIS PRINCIPLE?

• READ ISA 17:1-14 THE BURDEN OF DAMASCUS, SYRIA AND EPHRAIM, THE NORTHERN KINGDOM
• DAMASCUS, SYRIA (1-2)
• DAMASCUS WAS THE CAPITAL OF SYRIA AND IS SO TODAY. IT COULD VERY WELL BE THE OLDEST CITY IN THE WORLD. IT HAS BEEN DESTROYED AND REBUILT MORE THAN ANY OTHER CITY. ITS LOCATION TELLS US WHY. IT IS ON THE MAIN TRADE ROUTES THAT LINK EUROPE WITH ASIA AND AFRICA. ARMIES IN SEARCH OF LANDS TO CONQUER ALWAYS WENT THROUGH DAMASCUS OVER THE LAND BRIDGE OF ISRAEL.
• IMMEDIATELY WE HAVE A PROBLEM RIGHT HERE IN VERSE 1.
• IF DAMASCUS IS TAKEN AWAY FROM BEING A CITY, WHY DO WE STILL HAVE THE CITY TODAY?
• PERHAPS THE CITY CALLED DAMASCUS TODAY WAS NOT BUILT ON EXACTLY THE SAME SPOT AS THE ORIGINAL CITY. ARCHAEOLOGISTS STILL ARGUE OVER THIS ONE.
• THE FINAL FULFILLMENT OF VERSE 1 WAITS FOR A SECOND FULFILLMENT IN THE TRIBULATION PERIOD.
• AROER IN VERSE 2 IS EITHER A SUBURB OF DAMASCUS OR A CITY BELONGING TO THE NORTHERN KINGDOM ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE JORDAN RIVER DEPENDING ON WHICH COMMENTARY OR WHICH MAP YOU READ.
• EPHRAIM, THE NORTHERN KINGDOM (3-11)
• BOTH THE NORTHERN KINGDOM AND SYRIA WERE OVER-RUN BY THE ARMY OF THE ASSYRIAN KING, TIGLATH PILLASER III IN 732 BC. (2KI 15:29).
• THE ASSYRIAN KING, SHALMANESER, MOVED ALL THE PEOPLE FROM THE NORTHERN KINGDOM TO THE CITY OF BABYLON TEN YEARS LATER IN 722 BC. (2KI 17:6).
• THE DESTRUCTION IS DESCRIBED WITH 7 DESCRIPTIVE METAPHORS (A DESCRIPTIVE WORD PICTURE). CAN YOU FIND ALL SEVEN?
• THE DESTRUCTION IS LIKE THAT OF FORTIFIED CITIES (17:3)
• A DEPARTED GLORY LIKE THE SETTING OF THE SUN (17:4) (1SAM 4:19-22)
• THE WASTING AWAY OF A SICK BODY (17:4)
• THE GLEANING OF A SMALL HARVEST (17:5)
• THE FEW BERRIES LEFT AT THE TOP OF THE TREE REPRESENT THE REMNANT OF FAITHFUL BELIEVERS IN GOD. IN OTHER WORDS, THEY ARE OUT OF REACH. (17:6)
• THE DECAYING OF A GARDEN INTO WASTELAND (17:9-11)
• THE OVERFLOWING OF A GREAT FLOOD (17:12-13)
• THE BLOWING AWAY BY A GREAT WIND OR TORNADO (17:13)
• WHAT DO WE LEARN ABOUT WHO GOD IS IN THIS CHAPTER?
• HE IS THE LORD OF HOSTS (17:3)
• HE IS THE GOD OF ISRAEL (17:6)
• HE IS THE CREATOR (17:7)
• HE IS THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL (17:7)
• HE IS THE GOD OF SALVATION (17:10)
• HE IS THE ROCK OF STRENGTH (17:10)
• HE IS THE GOD WHO REBUKES NATIONS (17:13)
• NOTICE THAT THERE ARE 7 PICTURES OF DESTRUCTION AND 7 PICTURES OF WHO GOD IS…#7 SIGNIFIES COMPLETENESS.

• THE SECOND FULFILLMENT (12-14):
• NOTICE THAT THE DESTRUCTION IS EXPANDED TO INCLUDE “THE MULTITUDE OF MANY PEOPLE.
• THIS IS ONE OF THOSE CHARACTERISTIC SHIFTS IN FOCUS THAT IS COMMON TO PROPHECY.
• BECAUSE OF THE PHRASE “IN THAT DAY” (17:4, 7, 9) IT REFERS TO THE FUTURE FULFILLMENT.
• THE SPECIFIC TIME IS THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON AT THE END OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD WHEN ALL NATIONS GATHER TO BATTLE.
• WE CAN KNOW THAT THIS IS THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON BECAUSE OF VERSE 14. IT SAYS THAT THE EVENING BRINGS TROUBLE (REMEMBER THE DARKNESS OF THE DAY OF THE LORD REFERS TO THE TRIBULATION PERIOD) AND BEFORE THE MORNING (WHICH REFERS TO THE DAYLIGHT OF THE MILLENNIAL KINGDOM), “HE IS NOT”. THE “HE” IS THE ANTI-CHRIST WHO IS DESTROYED AT THE COMING OF CHRIST IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON BEFORE THE MILLENNIUM.
• NOTICE THE REASON FOR THIS BATTLE OF JUDGMENT IN 17:10. FORGETTING GOD WAS THE REASON FOR THE FIRST FULFILLMENT BATTLE AGAINST THE NORTHERN KINGDOM, AND IT WILL BE THE REASON FOR THE SECOND FULFILLMENT IN THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON.
• AT THE END OF VERSE 10 IS A PHRASE THAT NEEDS INTERPRETING:
• “SHALT THOU PLANT PLEASANT PLANTS AND SHALT SET IT WITH STRANGE SLIPS.” =
• THIS IS A REFERENCE TO THE GARDENS OF IDOLATRY THAT THE ISRAELITES PLANTED ON MOUNTAIN TOPS TO THE HEATHEN GODS BROUGHT IN FROM FOREIGN LANDS. THESE WERE PLACES OF WORSHIP. GOD SAYS THESE “GARDENS” REAP A LEAN HARVEST (17:11).
• NOTICE THE REFERENCE TO THE FINAL REPENTANCE OF ISRAEL WHEN THEY WILL TRUST IN THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL, JESUS CHRIST (17:7-8)
• OBVIOUSLY THAT HAS NEVER BEEN FULFILLED. IT WILL OCCUR WHEN THE JEWS SEE CHRIST COME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON.
• APPLICATION:
• THE NORTHERN KINGDOM OF ISRAEL TRUSTED THE WRONG GOD…THEY TRUSTED IDOLS AND FOREIGN GODS (1KI 12:25-33)…
• WE NEED TO REMEMBER WHICH GOD WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE TRUSTING…THE ONE DESCRIBED IN 7 WAYS IN THIS CHAPTER…INSTEAD OF THE GODS OF MONEY, PLEASURE, MILITARY STRENGTH, POLITICAL LEADERS, ETC.

• READ ISA 18:1-7 THE BURDEN OF CUSH (ETHIOPIA)
• THIS IS A CHAPTER THAT HAS BEEN RAVAGED BY MANY DIFFERENT INTERPRETATIONS. I WILL SHOW YOU WHY AND SEE IF WE CAN ARRIVE AT A LEGITIMATE INTERPRETATION.
• WHY MANY INTERPRETATIONS?
• THE SPECIFIC IDENTITY IS HARD TO DETERMINE BECAUSE THERE WERE 2 NATIONS CALLED CUSH…ONE IN AFRICA AND ONE IN ASIA.
• OTHER “BURDENS” REFER TO JUDGMENT ON THE NATION IN QUESTION. HOWEVER, THE PATTERN OF THIS BURDEN IS DIFFERENT. THE PRINCIPAL NATION IS NOT THE ONE BEING JUDGED.
• MANY INTERPRET THIS CHAPTER AS EITHER ENGLAND OR THE UNITED STATES OR BOTH…MORE ON THIS LATER.
• THE FIRST FULFILLMENT

:

• PROBABLY THE CHAPTER REFERS TO THE LAND IN AFRICA RATHER THAN ASIA. AT THE TIME OF ISAIAH’S WRITING, CUSH IN AFRICA HAD A STRONG CONTROL OVER ALL OF EGYPT. ALSO CUSH IN AFRICA HAD POLITICAL RELATIONS WITH JUDAH AND WERE SPECIFICALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE THREAT OF ASSYRIA.
• THE ANCIENT LAND OF CUSH IN AFRICA CONSISTED OF WHAT WE NOW CALL ETHIOPIA, SUDAN, AND SOMALIA.
• THE WORD “WOE” IN VERSE 1 SHOULD READ “AH”. IT IS A WORD OF AMAZEMENT RATHER THAN ONE OF JUDGMENT ON CUSH. IT IS A WORD TO CALL ATTENTION TO WHAT IS BEING SAID. FROM THE CONTEXT OF THE CHAPTER, YOU WILL SEE THAT THE JUDGMENT IS NOT ON CUSH BUT ANOTHER NATION, ASSYRIA.
• ISAIAH CALLS THIS THE LAND OF “SHADOWING” OR “WHIRRING” WINGS. HE CALLS IT THAT BECAUSE IT IS A LAND INFESTED WITH INSECTS THAT BUZZ FILLING THE AIR WITH NOISE.
• A DISK WITH WINGS WAS A SYMBOL OF ETHIOPIAN SOVEREIGNTY.
• THIS IS ALSO A PLAY ON WORDS THAT ALSO REFERS TO THE BUZZING ACTIVITY OF GOVERNMENTAL DIPLOMATS SEEKING POLITICAL ALLIANCES WITH JUDAH DURING AHAZ’S REIGN TO PROTECT THEM FROM ASSYRIA. (18:2)
• IN VERSE 2 ISAIAH IDENTIFIES THE NATION TO WHERE THE ETHIOPIAN AMBASSADORS WERE SENT…ISRAEL, A NATION SCATTERED AND PEELED. HOWEVER, GOD HAS TOLD ISAIAH THAT SUCH ALLIANCES WERE NOT NECESSARY BECAUSE GOD WOULD CAUSE ASSYRIA TO FALL.
• IT IS GOD WHO WILL CALL THE BATTLE OF JUDGMENT (18:3), AND IT IS GOD WHO WILL WAIT UNTIL THE PROPER TIME TO BRING THIS JUDGMENT (“CLEAR HEAT UPON HERBS” –VS. 18:4)
• WHEN THE TIME IS PERFECT (18:5), “HE” SHALL BE CUT OFF.
• THE “HE” IN VERSE 5 REFERS TO THE ASSYRIAN LEADER.
• THE SECOND FULFILLMENT:
• NOTICE THE PHRASE “IN THAT TIME” IN 18:7 WHICH REFERS TO “THE DAY OF THE LORD” = DARKNESS AND LIGHT / JUDGMENT AND BLESSING.
• NOTICE THE REFERENCE TO “ALL THE INHABITANTS OF THE WORLD” IN VERSE 18:3.
• WHEN IS THE SECOND FULFILLMENT?
• REV 14:14-20; 19:17-21
• THE SIMILARITY OF WORDING IN REVELATION TELLS US THAT THE SECOND FULFILLMENT PROBABLY OCCURS DURING AND AT THE END OF THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON.
• THE PRESENT BROUGHT BEFORE THE LORD TO MOUNT ZION (18:7)
• AFTER THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON, IN THE MILLENNIUM, ALL NATIONS WILL BRING TRIBUTE TO CHRIST INCLUDING THE NATION, ETHIOPIA FIRST MENTIONED IN 18:1. (ZEC 14:16)
• IT MAY BE THAT THE PRESENT THEY BRING TO JERUSALEM IS THE ARK OF THE COVENANT CALLED AN “ENSIGN” IN 18:3. THE ETHIOPIANS CLAIM THEY HAVE BEEN HIDING THE ARK FOR CENTURIES WAITING FOR THE RIGHT MOMENT TO RETURN IT TO JERUSALEM. ONCE THE ARK IS RETURN ED TO JERUSALEM, THE JEWS, A PEOPLE SCATTERED AND PEELED, OFFER IT TO CHRIST, THE LORD OF HOSTS. (18:7) ??????
• WHAT ABOUT THE INTERPRETATION OF THE UNITED STATES AND/OR ENGLAND?
• THIS CHAPTER IS OFTEN USED TO REFER TO THE UNITED STATES. WHY DO YOU THINK IT IS CHOSEN TO REFER TO THE UNITED STATES?
• WHY IS THIS A MIS-APPLICATION OF SCRIPTURE?

HOMEWORK
ISAIAH 19 & 20
This is a self-study. Please do not send homework answers to the teacher forcorrection.

• APPLICATION OF ISA 17 & 18
• IN WHAT SPECIFIC AREAS OF YOUR LIFE DO YOU FIND YOURSELF (IN ATTITUDES AND/OR ACTIONS) ALLIED WITH THE WORLD VIEW OF THINGS OR WITH PEOPLE WHO UPHOLD THE WORLD VIEW?
• IN WHAT WAYS DOES GOD WANT YOU TO CHANGE THESE ATTITUDES OR ACTIONS TO UPHOLD THE CHRISTIAN WORLD VIEW?
• PREPARATION FOR ISA 19 &20
• READ ISA 19:1-25 AND ISA 20:1-6
• WHAT IS GOD’S CHIEF TARGET OF CONDEMNATION IN JUDGING EGYPT?
• ALSO READ ROM 1:21-23
• WHAT HUMAN ATTITUDE DO YOU THINK “EGYPT” REPRESENTS IN THE BIBLE? WHY? ALSO READ NUM 11:4-6
• WHEN IS THE SECOND FULFILLMENT OF 19:23-25?
• WHEN IS THE SECOND FULFILLMENT OF 20:4-6?

MEMORY VERSE: 1JOHN 2:15