Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Isaiah 10:22


Copyright Ó 2013 J. Neely
Isaiah 10:22ues

22 For though thy people [`am] Israel [Yisra'el] be as the sand [chowl] of the sea, [yam] yet a remnant [sha'ar] of them shall return: [shuwb] the consumption [killayown] decreed [charats] shall overflow [shataph] with righteousness. [tsadaqah] KJV-Interlinear

22 For though your people, O Israel, may be like the sand of the sea, Only a remnant within them will return; A destruction is determined, overflowing with righteousness. NASB

Although this verse identifies a huge population of Jewish people that will be alive during this period of judgments, the point of all of this is not the numbers, not their existence, not even the faithful few that will survive when it is all over.

The principle of these verses, is Gods plan versus mans plan.

There is a parallel component in history that matches this verse in the end days of history.

That parallel tie was back in the time of Jesus.

First, Jesus lived during the dispensation of the Age of Israel.  And as such, He complied with all of the expectations and requirements of the Mosaic Law that were in force during that era. 

This is not the same as the ritual burdens that had been building up for centuries due to the works requirements of the Levitical Priesthood.  Those works programs and mandates were not legitimate and were far from the original intent of the Mosaic Law.

The Mosaic Law taught the righteousness of God, the total depravity of man, the need for a savior, and Gods plan for fulfilling that need, together with the design of the spiritual life through doctrine, learning and faith and so forth.

When Jesus was born into the world and went to the Cross, He fulfilled all of the requirements of the Mosaic Law.  He lived the ten commandments, became the prefect sacrifice and fulfilled that requirement.  Once fulfilled they were no longer pertinent, and were thus abrogated. 

The Cross had occurred and therefore the feasts, the rituals, and so forth were no longer necessary.  Those things were looking forward to the Cross, and taught the necessity of the Messiah.  Once fulfilled, we now look backward in hindsight to Christ and not to ritual.

The Priests and Jews, continued to observe the feasts and sacrifices, and the only way to stop it, was to destroy the temple and Jerusalem and Israel, which was done in 70 A.D.

As the decades and centuries went by, these practices were lost and forgotten, but in Judaism they were replaced with other rituals that too were false and a rejection of the work of Christ in salvation.

Now, in our present day we have another nation called Israel.  It came into being in 1948.  This is not the re-establishment of the Nation of Israel, but has been viewed as such by many and even viewed as a fulfillment of prophecy, which it was not.

Over the course of time, this nation will continue we presume, because the nation of Israel will exist in the Tribulation.  This only stands to reason.

But in the Tribulation, the Temple, which was destroyed way back in 70 A.D., will be rebuilt.  I am sure that you know that there is an Islamic Mosque currently occupying that site.  And of course this raises the question as to when that mosque will be removed as well as how.

But that is not important for this verse.

In the Tribulation, a new Jewish Temple will be constructed and at the mid-point of the Tribulation, at the 3 ½ year mark it will be dedicated but not by Christ, but by the anti-christ.  This is the desolation of abominations, elsewhere mentioned, of the temple, wherein the Bible tells all who witness this event, to get out of town, run to the mountains, go now and do not hesitate even for a minute.  This is when the destruction of Israel will swing into full force and will continue for the remaining 3 ½ years of the Tribulation.

Now, in this verse and the next we will see that this destruction is designed by God and is necessary.

The word for consumption, ‘killayown,’ refers to destruction, a series of destructions, a completion, a destruction series that will continue until it is completed.  It is a pining away which makes it a slow and continual series of events that inevitably lead to total destruction.

Now remember that the Kingdom of God will be formed by Christ upon His return at the Second Advent.  The nation of Israel of prophecy, will not be established by man at mans convenience.  And as such the popularity of the rebuilding of the Temple will demonstrate the rejection of Gods plan in favor of mans plan.  Satan will be behind it of course, but the general population of the Jewish people will support it as their heritage, as their fulfilled destiny.

And therefore Israel will once again be destroyed.

Their huge numbers will be of no consequence.  Only those determined by God, only those who turn to Him through faith in Christ, and are protected through to the Second Advent, will enter into the Kingdom and form the seed population for the millennial reign of Christ, and the new restored nation of Israel.

This destruction is decreed and will overflow with righteousness. This is Gods decision, Gods righteousness, Gods application of justice against an evil nation and world.

Just as when Samaria and Judah were destroyed, and Judea as well, so too will this man-made Israel will be destroyed in the midst of and during the final years and months of the Tribulation.

The nation of Israel was destroyed millennia ago, the temple was abrogated and destroyed centuries ago, and so too, the newest attempt of Satan and man to establish the new Israel, will fail.

The destruction is decreed by God and even though Satan and man will carry out that decree, it is still God who controls history and applies justice appropriately to the fulfillment of Gods plan, not mans.