The Prophecy Project:
Session 14
WELCOME… To session number Fourteen of the prophecy project. Last session I went through Isaiah Chapter 10, which I would sub-title “the rod of my anger” The Lord gives Asshur, an order or charge to go to Israel and serve as God’s rod of discipline for, what God calls a hypocritical nation, Israel. We know from other scriptures that God will do a perfect or complete work in Zion before he sets up his kingdom. We also see that Asshur rebels against God’s call, and goes on a campaign of world conquest, he does subdue the earth and also conquers Jerusalem. God actually shows the route that Asshur will use to enter Jerusalem, the roads, towns and villages still exist today and the route can be plotted on a current map of Judea. In the new testament Jesus tells his disciples that those living in Judea at the time of the end, must be prepared to flee Jerusalem when they see armies surrounding the city, and that they must flee quickly and not even go back to roof of their house to get something. For those who know Isaiah 10 in that day, they will know what roads to use to flee to the mountains, or wilderness.
Now let’s look into Isaiah chapter 23: this chapter is called the burden of Tyre. I don’t want to spend too much time developing Tyre’s destruction. but, in my book I do develop it much more. I make a case in the book, for the destruction of Tyre and Sidon to be the result of a tsunami coming from the Mediterranean sea to the west. But, regardless of the source of the destruction it is an end time event which is yet to happen.
In verse 13 there is a statement that speaks into the times that we are living in right now. The statement is sandwiched in between statements and explanations about Tyre and Sidon. This is what it says:
(13) Behold the land of the Chaldeans; this people (nation) was not, till the Assyrian founded it for them that dwell in the wilderness: they set up the towers thereof, they raised up the palaces thereof; and he (the Assyrian) brought it to ruin.
This statement when seen in the light of the days in which we live has relevance. The modern Assyrians have chosen to associate themselves to an extent, to the churches they belong to. They now call themselves “Syriacs” “Chaldeans” and of course “Assyrians”. They are all the same ethnic people. So in our time to refer to Chaldeans is the same as Assyrians. To say that the nation of the Chaldeans “was not” is an incorrect statement in the day of the prophecy, the Assyrians were a nation at that time. But today, since the end of world war I the Assyrians have no nation. Their homeland has been divided between Turkey, Iraq, Syria and Iran.
This scripture indicates that someone called “the Assyrian” will found it for them. The word used “founded” means to establish it, or in this case reestablish it, and we are told that he does it for the Assyrians that are in the wilderness, I believe this refers to the Assyrians who are in Diaspora around the world. He will be instrumental in reviving the Assyrian nationalist desires, and will get credit, at least from God word for making it happen.
It says that they, the Assyrians, that return and rebuild their nation will set up towers, these towers are watch towers, they first set up their defenses. And then they rebuild their cities, palaces.
This Assyrian rebirth will be an amazing event, how can a Christian nation be established in what is currently an Islamic area. The world at large will be astounded to see this development. After all Assyria, as a nation was considered wounded unto death, never to revive, but it will recover.
The sad part of this prophecy is the fact that the same man “the Assyrian” will also be responsible for Assyria’s ruin! His actions and choices will bring Assyria down, very much like Hitler brought Germany to ruin after building it up. We have already seen this demise in Micah chapter 5. Asshurs arrogance and disobedience will come home to roost.
Yet, God will establish Assyria during the millennium, the time of God’s kingdom, as we have seen in earlier sessions.
Now I want to look into Isaiah Chapter 14, We have covered some of this chapter in our study on Babylon, in which we looked a chapter 13 and then continued into chapter 14, and the King of Babylon, Lucifer himself. But now I want to focus on a man who is so closely related to Lucifer that they share many attributes and characteristics. This man has ruled the nations, he is no ordinary leader, his exploits will make the earth to tremble.
Let’s start with verse one:
(1) For the Lord will have mercy on Jacob (Israel), and will yet choose Israel, and set them in their own land:
This scripture clearly places the timing into end times.
(6) He who smote the people in wrath with a continual stroke (he’s relentless), he who ruled the nations in anger, is persecuted, and none hindereth (7) The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet: they break forth into singing. (8) Yea, the fir trees rejoice at thee, and the cedars of Lebanon, saying, since thou art laid down, no feller is come up against us.
(9) Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it has raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations. (10) All they shall speak and say to thee, Art thou become weak as we? art thou become like us? (11) Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee…
(15) Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. (16) They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee saying, is this the man that made the earth to tremble, and did shake the kingdoms; (17) That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof: that opened not the house of his prisoners?
(20) Thou shall not be joined with them in burial, because thou hast destroyed thy land, and slain thy people:
(24) The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand: (25) That I will break the Assyrian in my land, and upon my mountains tread him under foot: then shall his yoke depart from off them, and his burden depart from off their shoulders. (26) This is the purpose that is purposed upon the whole earth: and this is the hand that is stretched out upon all the nations.
The defeat of the Assyrian is caused by the man from Bethlehem who is the peace for Israel, the kingdom of God will be set up upon when Messiah enters Jerusalem and the judgment just covered is complete.
I think I have time to look at Isaiah chapter 30. This chapter is primarily about the Lord’s displeasure with the children of Israel, for not leaning of trusting in him in the time of need, they instead trust others.
(1) Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel. But not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin:
This problem happens to most of us at one time or another, we make a mistake because we didn’t make it point of prayer, and instead of acknowledging the problem and going to God, we start looking to an expert in the field to guide us out of our dilemma, this only compounds our problem, adding sin to sin.
While God must correct or chastise Israel for their mistakes he always blesses his people in the end.
(18) And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you,…for the LORD is a God of Judgment:…(19) For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep no more:
(27) Behold the name of the LORD cometh from far, burning with his anger, and the burden thereof is heavy: his lips are full of indignation, and his tongue as a devouring fire: (28) And his breath as an overflowing stream, shall reach to the midst of the neck, to sift the nations with the sieve of vanity: and there shall be a bridle in the jaws of the people, causing them to err…(31) For through the voice of the LORD shall the Assyrian be beaten down, which smote with the rod.
The vanity and pride of the nations will be revealed and judged by the voice or word of God, also their leader, the Assyrian will be beaten, and Jerusalem shall weep no more.
(33) For Tophet is ordained of old: yea, for the king is it prepared (the Assyrian); he (the Lord) hath made it deep and large: the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the breath of the LORD, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it.
Tophet is the same as Gehenna, which is the valley of Hinnom which was at Jerusalem (outside the walls). A place of continuous fire to dispose of trash and anything unclean. This where Asshur is headed. remember that we were told that he could not stay in the sides of the pit with his people because he had slain them, he is headed for the lake of fire, a place of brimstone.
..Stop here..
I need to close this session at this point, but next session I want to move into Isaiah chapter 31 and Daniel 10. Both chapters speak about a coming king which will be at the end of the age.
Thank you.