Isaiah 10:31
31 Madmenah [Madmenah] is
removed; [nadad] the inhabitants [yashab] of Gebim [Gebiym] gather
themselves to flee. [`uwz]KJV-Interlinear
31 Madmenah
has fled. The inhabitants of Gebim have sought refuge. NASB
Both of these cities or villages
are nowhere else mentioned, except here.
Their inclusion certainly
places them north of Jerusalem and in line with the advance of the northern
army. Often times in archeology, places are
identified when they are discovered within or near other known places. Ancient texts are often used to help identify
discoveries within an area.
And these villages are as
yet not identified in archeology.
That is probably appropriate
for this study as both references to these villages, removed and flee, indicate
a total abandonment of those locations.
If they were just a
couple of miles to the north of Jerusalem back in Isaiah’s day, then their
locations would most certainly now exist within the boundaries of present day Jerusalem,
which has grown to a pretty large city.
Today its population is over 800,000 and covers about 50 square miles as
opposed to Isaiah’s day when it was much, much smaller.
Using this logic then,
the northern portions of the present day city of Jerusalem will be abandoned as
those people flee to the south and to the more inner portions of the city.
But too, realize that
these events are future with respect to our present day. They could still be a century away, or a
decade away or seven years away from our present day. If the rapture were to occur today then the
final great battle which occurs at the end of the tribulation which is seven
years in length will occur in seven years.
So a rapture today would mean Armageddon in seven years.
A future Jerusalem will be
larger than the present day Jerusalem, we can reasonably assume.
And of course we do not
know when any of these events will occur because we do not know when the
Rapture will occur.
Right now we are
advancing on a calendar with an unknown termination for our dispensation. But, when the Rapture does occur, then the seven
year clock countdown for the Tribulation begins. And it will be those folks who as unbelievers
will enter into the Tribulation, with most likely very little biblical
knowledge if any.
Those who begin to have
concerns about the course of history, will have a crash course of learning
before them. Most people even today,
have little clue as to the content of the Bible, let alone Isaiah.
Very few will figure it
out, while most will not.
