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Isaiah 19:1 - 19:25
We covered with the last Chapter of Isaiah 18 a deeper Message behind that phrase in
Isa.18:1, 'beyond the rivers of Ethiopia'. That it refers to those nations who
would be formed from the 'house of Israel', who were scattered west, making up the Western
Christian Nations of today, should not be a surprise if you've also understood who Ephraim
and Manasseh now are. (If not, then see the Lost Tribes
studies). It sure would be inconsistent with how our Father gave us Truth within His Word
if He left out mention of the greatest superpowers of modern history, i.e. Great Britain
and The United States of America. That Hebrew root of 'shavah' written as 'the
present' in Isaiah 18:7 are God's equalizers. If you've studied with me for long, you
should also realize those 'equalizers' are the remnant of the 'house of Israel' and of the
'house of Judah', and of the Gentile, all who accept Christ Jesus as Savior, waiting on
Him, instead of being 'snared' and 'taken' by false messiah (see Isa.8;
28:13; 42; Mark 13; Luke 21). They will return to Zion together, over that Highway, from
all nations, through that 'great valley' running east and west as written in
Zechariah 14, to be with The LORD. So in more ways than one, God is letting us know that
His 'present' are those of His children which call on His Name, coming into
remembrance as to who they are today, and not only having just 'believed' in His Promise
of Salvation which is required, but also having 'understood' It with their hearts and
minds by The Word of God.
But before that glorious event of our Savior's return to the
Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the bringing of 'the present', we must
first go through a 'little test' by false messiah. This historical Assyrian here in Isaiah
will be the 'type' and role for Lucifer's operations in our near future. This 19th Chapter
continues with these 'burdens', and it is upon the false princes of Egypt this time. And
it's important to realize that our Father doesn't cause a 'burden' upon anyone, no, we
cause it ourselves, by not listening to and following Him in His Word.
We now continue this study in Isaiah, as we ask a Word of Wisdom
from our Father in The Name Jesus Christ, Amen.
Isa 19:1 The
burden of Egypt. "Behold, the LORD rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into
Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at His presence, and the heart of Egypt shall
melt in the midst of it.
This description of
our LORD's return refers to His coming, in final, though historically here, He brought
strife among Egypt at the time. The metaphors within this verse point to our Father "Who
maketh the clouds His chariot..." (see Psalms 104:3; Ps.18:10). For final
prophecy, this event is speaking of our Lord and Savior coming "...with clouds,
and every eye shall see Him"; even those which pierced Him (Rev.1:7). Naturally,
that hasn't happened yet today, so again, much of this 19th Chapter is also future to us.
We are given another parallel to these events here in
Isaiah 19 upon Egypt in Jeremiah 43 and 44. God's Message there was especially to the
leaders of His People in Jerusalem, and how they refused to believe what God spoke to them
through Jeremiah, with Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, bringing a 'seventy years'
captivity upon Judah. The princes of the People didn't care to believe it and instead
listened to false prophets. If you'll recall earlier in this Isaiah study, God links
Lucifer as being in the future role of the historical Assyrian in Isaiah 14.(If you didn't
understand this, go back to those Isaiah 14 studies; it is very
important). The historical role Nebuchadnezzar played in carrying the 'house of Judah' off
to Babylon, is also a blueprint for the future tribulation period soon to come in our near
future, applied spiritually this next time.
So you should get the idea that just as our Father
historically brought the 'house of Israel' (Ten Tribes) into captivity by the Assyrian,
and then using Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to take the 'house of Judah' (Jews) away
captive, it's all a blueprint for how many of both 'houses' of Israel today, will be 'snared',
and 'taken', by worshipping the false messiah and his false 'beast'
system.
Judah in Jerusalem historically relied upon those of Egypt
every time things got a little tough, instead of relying on Jehovah. That attitude was a
carry-over from those doubters which God led out of Egypt through Moses. Is that murmuring
still going on today among God's People? (see Exod.17).
This Chapter 19 will make mention a little later of those
of Israel who lived in Egypt and who were known as the Shepherd Kings. For today, it
points to how Judah in Jerusalem still depends upon help from 'outsiders', instead of
relying upon God instead.
Isa 19:2 And I
will set the Egyptians against the Egyptians: and they shall fight every one against his
brother, and every one against his neighbour; city against city, and kingdom
against kingdom.
Historically, Egypt
went into civil war among twelve princes. That was fulfilled around 670 B.C.1
The events flowed like this: one Psammetichus held rule over Egypt after that civil war,
and then Nebuchadnezzar came upon Egypt to seize it, then the Persians under Cambyses (son
of Cyrus), and finally by Alexander the Great. Alexander then made Alexandria, Egypt the
head capital of his empire.2 And yet, Egypt is still somewhat divided today,
but is slowly coming back into the fold with the other Arab nations.
Isa 19:3 And the
spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst thereof; and I will destroy the counsel thereof:
and they shall seek to the idols, and to the charmers, and to them that have familiar
spirits, and to the wizards.
Parts of Egypt
historically was a major center of false idol worship (Osiris, Isis, etc.). It's important
to remember why God is bringing this punishment upon them (though not all of them);
because of their falling away from Him, just as all these previous 'burden' Chapters here
in Isaiah represent that apostasy away from our Father.
I've heard preached by some, a terrible 'fire and
brimstone' message against old Egypt because of the events between Pharaoh and God through
Moses during the Exodus. Those in Christ should think about Egypt's history again, as to
what God is really intending here. Israel during Solomon's day, and then Jeroboam of the
'house of Israel' held idol calf worship right among the blessings God had just given them
as a nation. Many of Judah had moved to Egypt and were also guilty of idol worship there,
as in Jerusalem also (see Jer.44).
Isa 19:4 And the
Egyptians will I give over into the hand of a cruel lord; and a fierce king
shall rule over them," saith THE Lord, the LORD of hosts.
This phrase "a
cruel lord; and a fierce king" refers to what the Assyrian kings called
themselves, 'lord of the nations'.3 Recalling Isaiah 14:12, God
compares Lucifer in the role of the future Assyrian. That's who this 'fierce king'
of our future will be (also see Daniel 8:23). He is the 'another beast' of
Rev.13, the false messiah.
Isa 19:5 "And
the waters shall fail from the sea, and the river shall be wasted and dried up.
6 And they shall turn the rivers far away; and the brooks of
defence shall be emptied and dried up: the reeds and flags shall wither.
7 The paper reeds by the brooks, by the mouth of the brooks, and every
thing sown by the brooks, shall wither, be driven away, and be no more.
8 The fishers also shall mourn, and all they that cast angle into the
brooks shall lament, and they that spread nets upon the waters shall languish.
9 Moreover they that work in fine flax, and they that weave networks,
shall be confounded.
10 And they shall be broken in the purposes thereof, all that make
sluices and ponds for fish.
The Nile River with
it's periodic flooding was the major resource of Egypt. Any flooding above or below a
certain height, and the people couldn't sow seed for crops. It could also upset the
fishing, even as a lake's changing water levels can adversely influence the fish
population in it. The Aswân Dam built on the Nile may have really aided in this prophecy
being fulfilled today, as it did cause adverse effects on the natural rising and lowering
of the Nile waters (see also Ezek.30).
Isa 19:11 Surely
the princes of Zoan are fools, the counsel of the wise counsellors of Pharaoh is
become brutish: how say ye unto Pharaoh, 'I am the son of the wise, the son of ancient
kings?'
This 'Zoan'
means 'the place of departure' (Strong's no.6814; BDB def.). It was the city
called Tanis by the Greeks, and is now San in Egypt. Zoan
(Tanis) was built seven years after Hebron according to Numbers 13:22, which note
is given within parenthesis in that verse of God's Word. So Hebron and Zoan may have had
one 'founder'. Zoan was the capital of the Shepherd King dynasty of lower Egypt. The Hyksos
were of Hebrew origin, and also gave Zoan the Hebrew name 'Avaris'. These ruled
Egypt for 511 years. And Zoan was the place where God worked His miracles through Moses,
when Israel departed Egypt.
So with that info, this verse of Isaiah 19:11 points to
even those of God's People in Egypt who participated in idol worship, staying ignorant of
Jehovah, The Only One and True GOD. Could it apply still today? I think so, as God said He
will recover His remnant, again, "which shall be left" from Assyria
(lost tribes), and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush,... (see Isa.11:11).
Isa 19:12 Where are
they? where are thy wise men? and let them tell thee now, and let them
know what the LORD of hosts hath purposed upon Egypt.
13 The princes of Zoan are become fools, the princes of Noph are
deceived; they have also seduced Egypt, even they that are the stay of the tribes
thereof.
'Noph' was
the capital of upper Egypt, and also another name for 'Memphis' (Strong's
no.5297;BDB def.). So, especially with verse 13, our Father is talking about two separate
groups of peoples in Egypt, firstly those of Israel which founded Zoan, the Hyksos who
ruled there, and secondly those ancestors of upper Egypt also.
It's important to remember that Egypt has been a place of
protection for God's People historically. Even the mother of our Lord and her husband
Joseph with Baby Jesus would flee to Egypt at God's Command to escape the butchery of king
Herod towards Him. So God isn't going to destroy Egypt, as we'll soon discover later in
this Chapter.
Isa 19:14 The LORD
hath mingled a perverse spirit in the midst thereof: and they have caused Egypt to err in
every work thereof, as a drunken man staggereth in his vomit.
15 Neither shall there be any work for Egypt, which the head or
tail, branch or rush, may do.
16 In that day shall Egypt be like unto women: and it shall be afraid
and fear because of the shaking of the hand of the LORD of hosts, which he shaketh over
it.
The Message here from
our Father is that they were given His Truth originally, but they polluted it, and so
Yehovah 'mingled' a perverse spirit right in the center of them. But yet, we know
based on Isa.11:11 there is still a remnant there who have held to His Word. So this
Message is no different than to Moab, Ephraim, etc., but a little more serious, because
Egypt even had The Bible written in stone with the Great Pyramid. The Truth was, and still
is, right there in front of them.
And oddly enough, that Great Pyramid has been used to push
a lying doctrine of the 'Mystery School' tradition of Satan. That 'Mystery School'
doctrine came from Babylon, and is occultism, and will be the main source of the future
'MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT...' false one-world religion. Anyone who researches enough on
the Great Pyramid will come to discover that the Egyptians did not build it. And no
engineering company in the world today can match it. (I highly recommend a detailed
archaeological work called 'Secrets of The Great Pyramid' by Peter Thompkins to
help discover these Truths.)
Isa 19:17 And the
land of Judah shall be a terror unto Egypt, every one that maketh mention thereof shall be
afraid in himself, because of the counsel of the LORD of hosts, which He hath determined
against it.
Relate this to the
historical Assyrian and Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, coming upon Egypt to cause
destruction. But for our times, in the near future, we know these are but a 'type' for the
future king of revived Babylon, i.e. Satan himself as 'a spurious Messiah'.
Isa 19:18 In
that day shall five cities in the land of Egypt speak the language of Canaan,
and swear to the LORD of hosts; one shall be called, The city of destruction.
This is future... .
Five in Biblical numerics means 'Grace'. So 'five cities in the land of Egypt'
means Egypt will receive God's Grace when Christ's Kingdom on earth is setup. All will
return to the original language which all nations once spoke, before the tower of Babel
event (see Zephaniah 3:9; Gen.11).
This phrase "The city of destruction"
is the proof for this prophetic interpretation. The word for 'destruction' was
altered in the Manuscripts after Jerusalem had been cleansed, and restored to true
worship. This city was Heliopolis, Egypt and had another Israelite Temple. The original
Hebrew Manuscript word was 'cheres' meaning 'the sun', and referred to 'ha-zedek',
meaning 'righteousness'. Couldn't have another Temple in Egypt competing with the
one in Jerusalem, so some scribe evidently dropped the "c" off of 'cheres'
(the sun) and made it read "heres" (destruction). The Hebrew
Massorah of the Old Testament also locks in this meaning of 'righteousness'.4
The proper reading is "The city of Righteousness".
The subject just changed from a punishment by God, to a
time of His future Blessings upon Egypt!
Isa 19:19 In that
day shall there be an altar to the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a
pillar at the border thereof to the LORD.
20 And it shall be for a sign and for a witness unto the LORD of
hosts in the land of Egypt: for they shall cry unto the LORD because of the
oppressors, and He shall send them a Saviour, and a great One,
and He shall deliver them.
Naturally, this verse
has not happened yet with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ's return.
This 'pillar' is the Great Pyramid in Egypt. Will
it be restored to its pristine shape when our Lord comes, or at least when God's Eternal
Kingdom is setup? It would appear so. That Great Pyramid originally had a golden Capstone
for its Apex top. It's been missing for a long time. And the outer walls of the Pyramid
originally had a highly polished smooth surface before Cairo was built (see Peter
Thompkin's Secrets of The Great Pyramid.) Guess Who that missing Capstone
represents? That's right, Jesus Christ, our Cornerstone Which the builders rejected.
Here's a little tidbit from Josephus about Seth and his
sons as builders of two pillars, one of them in Egypt, written in Josephus' work The
Antiquities of The Jews:
Now this Seth, when he was brought up, and
came to those years in which he could discern what was good, became a virtuous man; and as
he was himself of an excellent character, so did he leave children behind him who imitated
his virtues. (69) All these proved to be of good dispositions. They also inhabited the
same country without dissensions, and in a happy condition, without any misfortunes
falling upon them till they died. They also were the inventors of that peculiar sort of
wisdom which is concerned with the heavenly bodies, and their order. (70) And that their
inventions might not be lost before they were sufficiently known, upon Adam's prediction
that the world was to be destroyed at one time by the force of fire, and at another time
by the violence and quantity of water, they made two pillars; the one of brick, the other
of stone: they inscribed their discoveries on them both, (71) that in case the pillar or
brick should be destroyed by the flood, the pillar of stone might remain, and exhibit
those discoveries to mankind; and also inform them that there was another pillar of brick
erected by them. Now this remains in the land of Siriad to this day.5
This 'land of Siriad'
is of those who worshipped the dog star Sirius, i.e. the land of Egypt. The proposed
evidence that the ancient Egyptians built that Pyramid is weak. The only Egyptian
inscription found on or in it has been declared an addition to the structure long 'after'
the Pyramid was built.
Isa 19:21 And the
LORD shall be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know the LORD in that day, and shall
do sacrifice and oblation; yea, they shall vow a vow unto the LORD, and perform it.
22 And the LORD shall smite Egypt: He shall smite and heal it:
and they shall return even to the LORD, and He shall be intreated of them,
and shall heal them.
These last verses have not been
fulfilled yet today. That future 'sacrifice' will be our love to our Father
Yehovah through His Son Jesus Christ.
Isa 19:23 In that
day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria,
and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians
shall serve with the Assyrians.
24 In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with
Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land:
25 Whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, 'Blessed be Egypt
My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel Mine inheritance.'
Make sure you read
that phrase "In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with
Assyria". With Assyria are included those we read about back in Isaiah 18, the
ones beyond the rivers of Ethiopia. That refers to the 'house of Israel', i.e. the lost
ten tribes of Israel who were captive in Assyria. There will come a remnant over that
'Highway' back to Zion, to the Promised Land which God first gave His People as an
inheritance Forever! Naturally God's 1500 mile cube will cover a very large area (see
Rev.20-22; Zech.14).
The role of the Assyrian, and king of Babylon, and all
those other roles Satan plays, will all go into the 'lake of fire'. But God's remnant from
many lands will travel over through that 'great valley' of Zech.14 to be with our Lord
Jesus. This remnant of Egypt and Assyria will be included.
Peace to you in Christ,
Dave Ramey.
Footnotes:
1 Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1997 by Biblesoft.
2 Barnes' Notes,
Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1997 by Biblesoft.
3 The
Companion Bible. (Kregel Publishing, Grand Rapids, MI., 1990), p.954, margin note.
4 The Companion Bible.
(Kregel Publishing, Grand Rapids, MI., 1990), p. 955, margin note.
5 The Antiquities of The
Jews, The Works of Josephus, translated by William Whiston (1667-1752),
(Hendrickson Publishers, Peabody, MA,1987), Book 1/Chapter 3, p.32.
All references to
"Strong's nos." are from Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, PC Study
Bible, Biblesoft, 1993-1996.
All references to
"BDB def." are from Brown-Driver & Briggs Hebrew Lexicon , PC Study
Bible, Biblesoft, 1993-1996.
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