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Isaiah 17:1 - 17:14
This Chapter 17 of Isaiah is going to reveal much concerning our time today and the
one-world 'beast' system of Revelation 13 & 17. This Chapter is a Message to Syria and
Ephraim. Remember that 'Ephraim' is the larger of the Ten Tribes of Israel which went
captive to Assyria, and God's Word uses the titles Ephraim, Samaria, Joseph,
and house of Israel interchangeably to describe the Ten Northern Kingdom Tribes
of Israel. So this Message in this Chapter 17 is to the Western Christian Nations of today
also, as they still have Ephraim as their head (see the Lost
Tribes studies).
We now continue this study in Isaiah, as we ask a Word of
Wisdom from our Father in Christ Yeshu'a Messiah's Name, Amen.
Isa
17:1 The burden of Damascus. "Behold, Damascus is taken away from being
a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap.
This 'burden' to Syria, of which Damascus was its capital, is also where the Ten Tribes
went in captivity to historically. Syria is north of Jerusalem, Moab is towards the east,
and Palestina (Palestine) to the west. Chapter 19 of Isaiah will cover these same burdens
to Egypt, which is to the south of Jerusalem. So God is working His way around to the
nations surrounding Jerusalem, giving us His Message for each direction. This Message
concerning the Assyrian is in the historic sense, and for our future also, as we learned
back in Isaiah 14:12 that Lucifer is 'the Assyrian' of the future false world kingdom upon
earth.
This 'burden' is for the 'house of Israel' also. That
means the Western Christian Nations of today. If you'll remember back in I Kings 12:26
forward, Jeroboam, the first king over the ten tribe 'house of Israel', setup the golden
calf idols, turning the people away from God. This was a major cause of their captivity to
Assyria and further scattering later. So this 'ruinous heap' is caused by false
worship, by both Syria and Ephraim, for they teamed together, forming a pact against
Judah, or the 'house of Judah' in Jerusalem (1 Kings 15; Isaiah 7 with Rezin and Pekah
joining against Judah).
Isa
17:2 The cities of Aroer are forsaken: they shall be for flocks,
which shall lie down, and none shall make them afraid.
This Aroer means 'ruins' in the Hebrew (Strong's no. 6177). And that's
what happened to the Ten Tribes, losing everything which God had blessed them with. Only a
'remnant' was kept in protection.
Isa
17:3 The fortress also shall cease from Ephraim, and the kingdom from
Damascus, and the remnant of Syria: they shall be as the glory of the children of
Israel," saith the LORD of hosts.
This fortress is a symbol of 'protection', and the head of Ephraim's false
protection was Samaria, i.e. the capital of the Northern Ten Tribe Kingdom of Israel. Ephraim
represents the Ten Tribes of Israel split from Jerusalem, and this verse is about the
Assyrian taking them captive (2 Kings 16; 2 Kings 17:6). At the same time, the Assyrian
also took Damascus, and removed those people to Kir (2 Kings 16:9). Relocating a conquered
people to other lands was a favorite tactic of the historical Assyrians. Could that method
used by historical Assyria, of removing whole peoples from their land, point to what the
future Assyrian (Lucifer) does to those who 'fly away' to try and escape the tribulation?
This phrase 'they shall be as the glory of the
children of Israel' applies to this historical event of the split and first captivity
by Assyria, and... also for the same event of our future, but in a spiritual captivity to
the Assyrian (Lucifer) the second time. This second captivity is upon us today, as the New
World Order hosts are really accelerating the final stages. One has to be spiritually
blinded not to see it being fulfilled. Many who are tied-up in the flesh life do not want
to even think of it, nor hear of it. They deny our Father's Truth, as He has warned us in
many Scriptures about the final 'beast' world system.
Isa
17:4 "And in that day it shall come to pass, that the
glory of Jacob shall be made thin, and the fatness of his flesh shall wax lean.
Again, this verse has two timeline fulfillments. Once for the historical captivity of the
ten tribes to Assyria, and also for us today concerning where those ten tribes of Israel
migrated to, i.e. Europe and the Americas. The 'world government' system of ancient
Assyria and Babylon are but a 'type' for the world government kingdom of Revelation 13
& 17. As the Ten Tribes lost their lands and the northern Israelite kingdom as a
People, so likewise will the national sovereignty of all nations come to naught in our
future. The 'beast' kingdom of Rev.13 will be the only sovereign. That 'Jacob' is used
here, it applies to all twelve tribes of Israel, as Jacob was the father of all twelve.
This means Jerusalem, or the 'house of Judah' is also under this 'beast' kingdom.
Don't laugh, as only 41% of those polled voted in favor of
upholding our U.S. Constitution intact (World Net Daily). The previous poll showed 49% of Americans for it. The
World Trade Organization (WTO) must authorize our trade department's actions; our Congress
has been in favor of helping to establish a World Tribunal Court system, though with some
'minor changes' to make it more American sounding; Europe has gone to one currency (Euro),
all markets are now tied globally; and our military forces are controlled by the U.N.
Peacekeeping Force. In my opinion, we are in that 'beast' system now, though the 'ten
kings' of Rev.13 are yet to appear along with that false king diverse from all the others.
Such events in the world we are to watch for, so don't think these events today have
nothing to do with God's Word.
Isa
17:5 And it shall be as when the harvestman gathereth the corn, and reapeth
the ears with his arm; and it shall be as he that gathereth ears in the valley of Rephaim.
This 'valley of Rephaim' was the land of the giants. Rephaim in the Hebrew means 'a
giant' (Strong's no.7497). This 'harvest' is like one trying to get corn out of the
field with giants walking around. Not very safe, so not much produce for those in
captivity.
For today's fulfillment of this, since Satan is to come
into power through peace and prosperity (Dan.8), this thin harvest is for spiritual food.
God said He would bring a famine in the latter days, but not one for bread or water, but a
famine for hearing the words of the LORD (Amos 8).
Isa
17:6 Yet gleaning grapes shall be left in it, as the shaking of an olive
tree, two or three berries in the top of the uppermost bough, four or
five in the outmost fruitful branches thereof," saith the LORD God of Israel.
This fruit which is left, are symbols for God's elect, a remnant who remain steadfast in
Him, seeking our Father's counsel and guidance during these end times, instead of following
false doctrines of men. Remember the 'good fruit' analogy our Savior taught in His Gospel
(Matt.7). These know what things are to come, as God said He declares new things before
they come to pass. "Well where do we find that info?" In His Word (see Isaiah
42:9). The 'fear of the unknown' keeps man in bondage especially. But those who listen to
our Father speak through His Word do not have that fear of the future. This is why Chapter
by Chapter, verse by verse study in God's Word is so important.
(One marker I'd like to bring your attention to is 'saith
the LORD God of Israel'. Since much of this Chapter of Isaiah 17 is
yet future to us, it's important to know that the LORD God of Israel will be His Dominion
and everlasting Kingdom. And I'm not talking about the land we call Israel today in the
middle east, but a future spiritual Israel, with the Gentile believers in Christ included
(see Isaiah 54). Notice our Father didn't say the LORD God of Churches, no, He said 'of
Israel'. The Body of Christ is a 'church' in the 'assembly or gathering' sense, as that's
what the word 'church' means (ekklesia; Strong's no.1577). So the Name of God's
future Kingdom is not going to be the 'Kingdom of the Church (gathering or assembly)'; It
will be the Kingdom of Israel. That's the Real Name of His everlasting Kingdom. If
you want to be part of Christ's everlasting Kingdom, then you must understand this, not as
with any connection to Judaism, but as to God's People in His final Kingdom upon earth.
See Hebrews 8:10-13; Gal.6:16; Luke 22:30; Rom.11:25-29; Rev.7; Rev.21:12; Ezek.44:2).
Isa
17:7 At that day shall a man look to his Maker, and his eyes shall have
respect to the Holy One of Israel.
This day, today, is 'that day' spoken of here. Those sincere with our Father today are
being spiritually fed very well. Didn't our Wonderful Heavenly Father give us this Message
of comfort in this verse, in between the burden Messages, because of His love to those who
stay in Him? You bet He did. He's not angry with His children who worship Him, and listen
to Him instead of man. How would those who never get into a line by line study of The Word
ever discover these well placed Messages from our Father to His true ones?
The meaning of God's Word from His prophets, as Isaiah is
herein one of those, is really opening up to many who are receiving an 'urge' to get down
to true study. In times past, these meanings for us today would have been difficult to
discern. Before the startup of the U.N. organization and its offshoots, much of this
prophecy within this very Chapter would have been difficult. This understanding God is
giving to those who are willing to study to show themselves approved unto Him, and who are
also not afraid to look at world events head-on. They search for Him, and not towards man
and the world, nor worship the things of the world made with hands.
Isa
17:8 And he shall not look to the altars, the work of his hands, neither shall
respect that which his fingers have made, either the groves, or the images.
The Message concerning God's remnant of true followers continues. During the historical
days of Ephraim's captivity to Assyria and Judah's captivity to Babylon, the remnant of
God did not turn to the false idol worship, and the altars on the high places, which the
majority were led into, neither did they worship things of this world made with man's
hands. Nor did they turn to Astarte, the false Babylon goddess worship of that
time. The word 'groves' is a bad translation from the Hebrew. It is 'asherah' in
the Hebrew meaning 'Astarte, a Phoenician goddess; also an image of the same'
(Strong's no. 842). It is another name for Lucifer, i.e. morning star worship. Lucifer was
just mentioned back in Isaiah 14:12.
This Message has a latter time fulfillment for us today
also, with Lucifer himself being today's Astarte as the coming false messiah. All those
worshiping the things of the flesh, made by the flesh, seeking God through false systems,
instead of turning to true worship in Christ, are loaded and ready for the future Astarte
(Lucifer). This is the 'strong delusion' God warned us of in 2 Thess.2.
And many are succumbing to this 'strong delusion' today in
many Church 'systems' of men. "Well I just can't accept that reasoning", some
might say. Then why do so many Christians hold to 'Eshtar' (Easter) as the time for
Christ's resurrection? I don't remember reading from God's Word anywhere about bunny
rabbits and hiding Easter eggs. How many think all they've got to do is go to Church on
Sunday, and the rest of the week is theirs to do whatever? A few verses from God's Word on
Sunday can't impart God's True Word in the mind. Some don't even get that much in their
Church system. I've even heard one Minister say about Eph.6, "Well, we don't really
know what this 'evil day' is." Maybe he had a frog in his pocket or something,
because I can't be part of his "we". Did he mean that because he didn't
know what the 'evil day' was in Eph.6, then surely no one else knew either? It would
appear so, especially by the manner he put the message forth. To add insult to injury in
Biblical illiteracy, this particular Minister was in retirement, and called on to 'part
time' it. Maybe if he had quit listening to the false tradition that The Old Testament is
'dead history', then he could have known what you know through this study in Isaiah. (For
more on the 'evil day' see the study Tongue of Pentecost)
Isa
17:9 In that day shall his strong cities be as a forsaken bough, and an
uppermost branch, which they left because of the children of Israel: and there shall be
desolation.
The 'strong cities' mean fortresses. They feel their defense system is intact, but they're
(those deceived) not prepared for how this attack is coming upon them. The 'abomination of
desolation' which Christ and Daniel spoke of, is going make their fortress desolate,
spiritually.
Most Christians today are looking, and are being taught by
their various Church systems of men, to watch for physical 'desolation', not a spiritual
one. The 'beast' system of Satan's false kingdom is going to be 'diverse' from all the
previous beast systems. He has changed his strategy for this last false kingdom upon
earth. Yet, most are matching this future world kingdom with the physical destructions by
Babylon, Greece, and old Rome. Immense bloodshed, starvation and siege; lock 'em up, whip
'em, and torture 'em types of the Christian Catacombs of old Rome and such. Turn with me
to Daniel 8:23:
Dan
8:23 And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come
to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark
sentences, shall stand up.
This fierce king is Satan himself, a false king, not like our True KING Jesus Christ.
Dan
8:24 And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and
he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practice, and shall destroy
the mighty and the holy People.
The power of this false king is not of his own, but given him by God to work this upon the
earth. Notice he shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. Who are those? The 'mighty'
are those puffed up within themselves, worshiping the things made with their hands and
such. What about the 'holy people' mentioned here? Well, I thought God's People were going
to 'fly away' somewhere before this 'false king' comes to earth, to begin the great
tribulation? What gives? Ain't nobody going anywhere during this tribulation of Satan as a
false king, and those of the 'gleaning grapes' and 'fruitful branches' of God's People
have nothing to worry about during it, for we will 'stand' against the 'fiery darts' of
the devil (Eph.6). So then, who are these 'holy People' which are destroyed along with
'the mighty'? Remember about the five foolish virgins which didn't have spare Oil (God's
Truth) for their lamps? (see Matthew 25).
This false king will 'destroy', but how? Physical torture
and mutilations?
Dan
8:25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in
his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace
shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but
he shall be broken without hand.
The false king 'by peace shall destroy many'. That approach is definitely
'diverse' from all the previous one world kingdoms setup before, such as Babylon, Greece,
and Rome. The majority are already in a state of confusion today, linking Satan's old
empire systems with the signs of Revelation in the physical sense, so that 'peaceful'
destroying is really playing out today. But we are not to be part of it. Stay in God's
Word! And if you go up to one claiming to understand The Word, and they begin with the
interpretation of that old empire system of destroying as Satan's method today, then you
know they are in a state of confusion. Don't listen to them. Listen to our Father and His
Word Jesus Christ.
The phrase 'he shall be broken without hand'
points to Christ's second Advent coming in Glory, when our Savior will destroy Satan's
false kingdom de facto, without any 'hand' from us.
Back to Isaiah 17...
Isa
17:10 Because thou hast forgotten the God of thy salvation, and
hast not been mindful of the Rock of thy strength, therefore shalt thou plant pleasant
plants, and shalt set it with strange slips:
This is why God is allowing this 'desolation' by peace, and even gives Lucifer the power
to destroy in such a way. It happens because God's People have forgotten Him, and for that
matter, even who they are and where True Strength comes from; The Rock of Salvation
Jehovah through His Son Jesus Christ is That Source of all Strength.
And because of this state of utter confusion about
themselves and who their True Father is, what happens instead? They 'plant pleasant
plants' and set it with 'strange slips'. The phrase 'shalt set it'
is 'zara' in the Hebrew meaning 'to sow, figuratively, plant'.
And the word 'strange' is 'zuwr', meaning 'strange,
profane, foreign, to commit adultery'; and 'slips' is the Hebrew word
'zemowrah' meaning 'a twig, vine' (Strong's nos. 2232;
2114; 2156). Hope you caught the words in bold by themselves; i.e. to sow a strange
vine. Who is our True Vine? Jesus Christ, our Righteous Branch. These are destroyed
because they become apostate, turning away from God and His Son, not understanding His
Plan, and they sow pleasantness in a 'false rock', i.e. Satan as a false king messiah.
Spiritual adultery is the deepest level of their confusion, as they accept a false rock
for their salvation instead of our Savior, The True Rock Jesus Christ Yeshu'a Messiah.
"For their rock is not as our Rock, even our
enemies themselves being judges." Deut.32:31.
Isa
17:11 In the day shalt thou make thy plant to grow, and in the
morning shalt thou make thy seed to flourish: but the harvest shall
be a heap in the day of grief and of desperate sorrow.
These deceived worship Astarte (Lucifer), not Christ, and they don't even know
it! They allow Lucifer's little children to set in as their 'pleasant plants', and they
think it's all so beautiful, appearing so religious. Remember what Eve stated about
Satan's tree in The Garden of God? A 'tree' pleasant to the eyes, and one to be desired to
make one wise, was how she saw Satan (tree of knowledge of good and evil)(Gen.3:6). God
said in Ezekiel 28 that He made Lucifer the full pattern of beauty. So don't you think the
plan to destroy by peaceful and beautiful things of the flesh suits him?
This phrase 'and in the morning' is the Hebrew
word 'boqer' meaning 'dawn (as the break of day)' (Strong's no. 1242).
That's another reference to Lucifer as a false 'morning star'. Jesus Christ is The True
Morning Star of Rev.22:16.
Being part of the future one-world religion to be setup by
the Antichrist (Satan) is going to be for 'grief and of desperate sorrow' when The True
Christ Messiah returns afterwards. That's why those of Rev.6 will wish to hide themselves
in the dens and rocks of the mountains, and will also wish for the rocks to fall upon
them, to hide from the face of our Blessed Savior Jesus Christ. Well why would these want
to do so? Because they have forgotten The GOD of thy Salvation! They will worship a 'fake
messiah', the 'instead of Christ' who comes first, prior to Christ Jesus. When they find
out they've messed up, listening to the liars who miss teach
God's Word, preparing them to
'fly away' to who knows where, they will be sore ashamed when Christ Jesus does return to
destroy Satan's false kingdom upon earth. Their guilt will be spiritual harlotry.
Did you ever notice when there's something offered after
being heavily advertised and popular, many just rush down to get it, some even camping out
before the time? They just know everyone is going to be there, so they don't want to be
last in line. This can even apply to a special item on sale which is heavily advertised,
or food stores just prior to a big hurricane weather report. People will flock, and even
fight at times, to get, and to get. As the merchants of the false rock of Tyrus know how
to manipulate people's emotions by intentionally creating market panics. They
practice their 'art' in religious circles today also. So what's the strategy against them?
Know God's Plan and timeline of the future events to happen during these latter days, by
study of His Word. Many are already on the boat of the Tyrus merchants, ready to 'rapture'
when they create their 'panic'. To understand God's Word today is to recognize that
'panic', and not be affected by it, holding to His Truth and faith in Him. Christ gave us
a special Message for our strength in Him during the trials of the great tribulation by
Satan:
Luke 21:17 And ye shall be hated of all men for My
name's sake.
18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish.
19 In your patience possess ye your souls.
Isa 17:12 Woe to the multitude of many
people, which make a noise like the noise of the seas; and
to the rushing of nations, that make a rushing like the rushing
of mighty waters!
This verse is a direct reference to Rev.17 which reveals the meaning of the 'seas' and the
rushing of nations. Rev.17:15 states:
Rev
17:15 And he saith unto me, "The waters which thou sawest, where the
whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.
This is talking about the one-world government, i.e. the last world empire of the Book of
Daniel and Revelation, the 'New World Order', which is diverse from all the previous ones
controlled by Satan. All nations flow unto it, and are encompassed by it. So don't put too
much faith in the present Presidential and Congressional campaign promises about limiting
American power to the U.N. body. According to God's Word, a one-world government system is
in The Plan. The laws already on the books giving American authority to the U.N. would
have to be done away with first anyway. I haven't heard that 'kind' of promise nor action.
Isa
17:13 The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters: but God
shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, and shall be chased as the chaff of the
mountains before the wind, and like a rolling thing before the whirlwind.
Again, these 'waters' are peoples. God is a 'consuming fire' as written
(Heb.12). When the big 'change' comes by Christ's coming as Messiah, to defeat this false
one world kingdom of Satan, people will be as 'chaff' in a fire. That change,
casting off the flesh of this age, will happen in the twinkling of an eye, as Paul taught
in I Cor.15. It happens on the 'last trump', which is when Jesus Christ returns, i.e. the
Seventh Trumpet of Revelation. The words 'wind' and 'whirlwind' are references to the
spiritual state that is to soon come upon the world.
Isa 17:14 And behold at eveningtide
trouble; and before the morning he is not. This is the portion of them
that spoil us, and the lot of them that rob us.
This 'eveningtide' means at 'dusk' ('ereb in the Hebrew;
Strong's no. 6153). This 'he is not' before the morning refers to Lucifer as the
fake morning star being locked in the pit. The word 'trouble' is 'ballahah'
in the Hebrew meaning 'alarm, hence, destruction' (Strong's no. 1091). That's
when the earthquake and the destruction of the 'rudiments', or 'elements' of this
flesh age and world system are destroyed (see 2 Peter 3).
You should know who the 'spoiler' is in the previous
Chapters of Isaiah. It represents Satan and his seed of iniquity, the sons of Cain. The
destruction of that false kingdom when Christ's feet touch down on the Mount of Olives
east of Jerusalem will begin the 'gathering' of God's elect (His sheep) to Him there, and
the start of the casting to the 'outer darkness' of the 'goats'; which are those who
follow and worship Satan as messiah (see Acts 1; Zech.14; Matt.25).
Chapter 18 continues this 'portion' of Isaiah 17:14, the second Advent of Messiah
Jesus Christ to earth, and the gathering to Him beginning His thousand year reign. It is
specific to Ephraim and the ten tribes of Israel, which includes America. It will be
covered next time.
Peace be
with you in Christ Jesus,
Dave Ramey.
Footnotes:
All references to "Strong's nos." are from Strong's Exhaustive
Concordance, PC Study Bible, Biblesoft, 1993-1996.
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