Isaiah describes an UNNAMED PEOPLE or NATION in Isaiah 18. Chapter
18 is almost like a riddle, designed to help us discover who that nation might
be:
“Go, swift messengers, to a people tall and smooth-skinned, to a people
feared far and wide, an aggressive nation of strange speech, whose land is
divided by rivers” (Isaiah 18:2 NIV)
or . . . let us consider
the NKJV:
“Go, swift messengers, to a nation tall and smooth of skin, to a people
terrible from their beginning onward, a nation powerful and treading down,
whose land the rivers divide.”
Here we discover that Cush is prepared to settle, as one of the
members of the Southern Confederated nations aligned with Gog, directly with
this mystery nation. Cush will sign some form of peace treaty with mystery
nation.
The Masoretic Text gives even a more detailed
analysis of this mystery nation/people; to wit:
“. . . a nation led along
according to someone else’s will, smooth (or hairless), a people feared from
himself and beyond, a nation that stretched measuring lines and subjugated,
whose land the rivers plundered.” (Isaiah 18:2) (Hebrew Masoretic Text accessed via: Bushell, Michael
S., Bible Works for Windows. Big Fork, Montana: Hermeneutica
Software, 1996.)
Thusly, this unnamed,
mystery nation is known and described as follows:
1. A nation whose will has been
usurped.
This strange and unusual description goes beyond normal bounds of
human description. First,
they are a nation . . . clearly a nation that has caused Cush to be concerned
for its own sovereignty.
She is a nation, who by the
time of this description, has lost her freedoms and are somehow “led along
according to someone else’s will” –we affirm that “will” to be none other than
that of Antichrist; to wit:
“23When these rulers have become as evil as possible, their
power will end, and then a king who is dangerous and cannot be trusted will
appear. 24He will gain strength, but not on
his own, and he will cause terrible destruction. He will wipe
out powerful leaders and God's people as well.” (Daniel 8:23-24)
The sheer force
of his will will lead many astray: “Through his cunning
he shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule; and he shall exalt himself in
his heart. He shall destroy many in their prosperity. He shall even rise
against the Prince of princes” (Daniel 8:25a).
How readily are we reminded of the WILFUL ONE found in Isaiah
14:12-14:
2. A “smooth-skinned” (or clean
shaven) people.
This phrase/word “smooth-skinned” is derived from the Hebrew word “morat” and
connotes “smooth” or “hairless.” Therefore, we can conclude that they
have purposefully removed their facial hair and/or body hair. The history
of a people who has done this is most fascinating. The art of barbering
dates way back; however, in the modern era, it is the USA that laid claim to
the earth’s first schools of Barbering (1893) and to this day prides itself as a nation of the clean
shaven! How odd to describe this mystery nation as CLEAN SHAVEN! Of
course, this custom is highly prized by the US military and is, almost across
the board, REQUIRED BY THE MILITARY.
3. The third “clue” as to this
nation’s identity lies in the phrase: “feared from himself and
beyond.”
Although it appears from
the Hebrew that this nation’s people could be “afraid of its own government,”
it is far more likely that she is a nation feared throughout the world and
obviously, therefore, she is a WORLD POWER of the foremost order! No
doubt, those “within her” are fearful, on the one hand, but on the other hand,
everyone “outside her” is also full of terror at this nation’s leadership and
people.
These verses of Antichrist’s power come to mind:
“A king shall arise, having fierce
features . . . he (i.e., Antichrist) shall destroy fearfully . . . so
they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the
beast, saying, ‘Who is like the beast? Who is able to make
war with him?” (Daniel 8:23, 24; Revelation 13:4).
4. “A nation that stretched
measuring lines and subjugated”
Rarely has there ever in
the history of humankind been an emerging nation state who measured its conquered
lands and then, subjugated its native peoples like that
of this nation! In point of fact, the very art of surveying on a massive
scale was literally founded by this nation! And, what of its subjugated
peoples . . . the tragic
history is unparalleled in the annals of human history!
5. “Whose land the rivers have
plundered”
This phrase comes from the Hebrew word “bazu” and is
singularly found only in this passage of the Bible. However, the word is similar
to that of its noun form: “baz” (to “loot” or “plunder”).
Therefore, the verb “bazu” means “looted” or “plundered.” Apparently, this land which is
divided by rivers is literally FLOODED by these same rivers and that flooding
is extensive!
The legendary dividing of
the USA by its formidable rivers is known throughout the world.
Furthermore, the incessant flooding of those same streams is without
precedence; especially, because of the many cities which line their banks and
are exposed to the ravages of their floods!
DO WE HAVE A VERDICT!
It is the accumulation of
evidence that convinces some scholars that Isaiah’s description of this
end-times’ nation and people, can be none other than these United States of
America. Isaiah did not purposefully name it! Why? Because it
wasn’t even in existence or thought of at the time of Isaiah’s writings—so its
peculiar and convincing description is given.
One nation, and one nation
alone, can command the fear of all the other nations of the globe! This
people’s will is being usurped as we speak. Blindly do they follow their
leadership until all will is subservient to their commander. They are a
militant people whose clean-shaven character fits their military motif.
They are today’s SOLE SUPER POWER. Their land was surveyed and their
native populations were subjugated. Indeed, their rivers may have wrought
massive flooding but by dent of their imaginative will have they overcome their
adversities.
Listen now, listen and see who is this nation:
“All inhabitants of the world and
dwellers on the earth: When HE (this nation) lifts up a
banner on the mountains, you see it; and when HE blows a trumpet you hear it” (Isaiah
18:3).
Now, do you see and hear who HE is?
The transition in Isaiah 17 is now completed. Damascus is
destroyed. Gog and Magog gather together against “him” at the close of
Isaiah 17. But this fearful and terrible nation, and its awesome and
fearsome leader, shall defeat mighty Gog and his allies, Magog.
And, how shall HE defeat his foes who have mounted such a massive
assault against HIM? Daniel 11:40-45 spells out his tactics and
strategies. At this stage, Israel’s foes are vanquished AND “In that time a present will
be brought to the Lord of hosts from a people tall and smooth of skin, and from
a people terrible from their beginning onward, a nation powerful and treading
down, whose land the rivers divide—to the place of the name of the Lord of
hosts, to Mount Zion”(Isaiah 18:7).
This finale, this conclusion of Isaiah 17 through 18 is beyond
comprehension . . . or is it? Imbedded within these mysterious and
strange descriptions is a final depiction which amplifies the Almighty’s
sovereignty over all things earthly and heavenly. Could we be witnessing
the Lord’s USE OF HIS FOE FOR HIS OWN ENDS? Absolutely!
This “nation powerful
and treading down,” this one “which shall be
different from all other kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, treading
it down and breaking it in pieces” (Daniel 7:23) shall yet be used
by the Almighty for His Own designs!
The one who treads down shall one day face the following:
“But the court shall be seated, and
they shall take away his dominion, to consume and destroy it forever. The
kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven,
shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is
an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him” (Daniel 7:26-27).
There is reason and evidence to affirm that the PRESENT given
by this “treading down nation” shall be given to Israel and that it would be
connected to the rebuilding of their THIRD TEMPLE. The “sequence” of
events followed in Ezekiel indicate that this very well could be the case—for
immediately concluding the demise of Gog-Magog is the elaborate account of the
building of the Temple found in Ezekiel Chapters 40 through 43.
Yes, some have concluded, due to its unusual measurements, that it
must be that of the Millennial Temple; however, there is nothing in the
Scripture which would negate the “possibility” that the description borne in
Ezekiel is not the PRESENT given by this mystery nation; and
yet, is not this dreadful one who allows such rebuilding the same one who BREAKS
THE AGREEMENT with Israel in the midst of the 70th Week
of Daniel? Indeed, he is “prince who is to come” (Daniel
9:27).
(1) The USA may be the “Mystery Nation”
spoken of in Isaiah 17 and 18 and is the Babylon, “King of Babylon” of the
Revelation, as well as Daniel, Isaiah and Jeremiah.
(2) “The prince who is to come” in
Daniel 9:27 is the prophesied Antichrist who leads the “Mystery Nation” of
Isaiah 17 and 18 and the one who will “pre-position” his forces near the
“Beautiful Land” (i.e., Israel) and that most likely, ancient Babylon (Iraq) is
the immediate fulfillment of that prophetical phenomenon.
Belo is the latest video of Comet Ison, it is between Mars and our Sun. If Ison survives its close encounter with the Sun we should see it at Thanksgiving.
Belo is the latest video of Comet Ison, it is between Mars and our Sun. If Ison survives its close encounter with the Sun we should see it at Thanksgiving.
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