Isaiah 19:25

Copyright Ó 2014 J. Neely

Isaiah 19:25ues

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25 Whom the LORD [Yahovah] of hosts [tsaba'] shall bless [barak], saying ['amar], Blessed [barak] be Egypt [Mitsrayim] my people [`am], and Assyria ['Ashshuwr] the work [ma`aseh] of my hands [yad], and Israel [Yisra'el] mine inheritance [nachalah].  KJV-Interlinear

25 whom the Lord of hosts has blessed, saying, "Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance."   NASB

The three nations collectively represent the work and accomplishment of Christ.  All of mans efforts fail, in bringing humanity together, whereas Gods efforts will succeed.

Mans efforts, individually and collectively, result in escalated evil, and will never get any better than that.

Gods efforts result in good, and will only get better and better as time advances into eternity.

‘My people,’ addresses that blessings belong only to Gods people, never to those who reject Christ.

Egypt, identifies that even the greatest opposition toward God, Christ, and truth, can be turned around.

‘Work of my hands,’ addresses Gods work in life and throughout history.  Jesus Christ controls history.

Assyria, identifies that all the plans of man fail, and only Gods plan will succeed.

‘Inheritance,’ addresses the ultimate objective and destiny of Gods plan.

Israel, identifies the whole purpose of human history.  To allow the free will of man, to choose truth and Christ and doctrine, and therefore become a completed part, of the eternal future with God.

Human history will one day fade into oblivion and be forgotten.  All of the priorities and possessions and intents of man that distract them away from their primary purpose, will be lost.

Isaiah 19:24

Copyright Ó 2014 J. Neely

Isaiah 19:24ues

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24 In that day [yowm] shall Israel [Yisra'el] be the third [shaliyshiy] with Egypt [Mitsrayim] and with Assyria ['Ashshuwr], even a blessing [Barakah] in the midst [qereb] of the land ['erets]:  KJV-Interlinear

24 In that day Israel will be the third party with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth,  NASB

These things were written so that they may be read, and taught and learned. But if they are not read, taught or learned, then that alone indicates why humanity will fail.  Which it will.

Since we began this series of oracles back in chapter 13, and will complete this first series in chapter 20, which shows the failures of the world using individual nations as the example of failure, we have seen in this current chapter the utter disintegration of Egypt from within.

The next chapter will deal with the utter failure of man, when placing his hope in man.  The result, total chaos and suffering and death, for the greater part of humanity.

Here, the three nations, Assyria, Egypt and Israel, representative of the entire world, are used to demonstrate that in the very end, all the nations of the world will unite under the rule of Christ.

Isaiah repeats, ‘In that day,’ just to remind us that these things do not apply to any other time in history except in those final days of human history.

Assyria represents the lands to the north.  Egypt represents the lands to the south.  Israel represents the center or focal point of why history is even occurring in the first place, as well as the center of all of history.

God is eternal.  There never was a time when God did not exist.

God has a plan, which is to share all that exists with a family of His choosing by means of them choosing Him.

Assyria and Egypt, in this prophecy and example, represent all of the world in opposition to God, their utter failure due to their opposition, their disintegration from within, meaning the self-destruction of their own souls, and therefore from without, meaning their entire life and future.

If anything is to be learned, it is that when you oppose or ignore God in any way, you and your life will be an utter failure.  That especially includes the refusal to study from instruction and therefore your failure to learn.

Those who pursue their lives on their own will lose out on the greatest life and future, ever.

But those who suffer, are ostracized, rejected, ignored, maligned and so forth, but stick with their daily studies, regardless of the difficulties of life, will eventually enjoy the greatest life possible, and far, far more.

It is difficult to look around and measure the impact of ones bible study.  There just are no methods with which to measure.  Faith is the one and only tool that we have.  And that is because mans works have no part in Gods plan.  All must depend on God and on God alone.  Which is probably the most difficult part of the Christian life.

But regardless of the doubts and ridicule that is sure to always come, the end result is given here in this verse.

All the world will eventually come together, not by means of mans effort, but only by means of Gods effort.  The real question is, on which side of this scenario will you be?

Isaiah 19:23

Copyright Ó 2014 J. Neely

Isaiah 19:23ues

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23 In that day [yowm] shall there be a highway [macillah] out of Egypt [Mitsrayim] to Assyria ['Ashshuwr], and the Assyrian ['Ashshuwr] shall come [bow'] into Egypt [Mitsrayim], and the Egyptian [Mitsrayim] into Assyria ['Ashshuwr], and the Egyptians [Mitsrayim] shall serve [`abad] with the Assyrians ['Ashshuwr].  KJV-Interlinear

23 In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrians will come into Egypt and the Egyptians into Assyria, and the Egyptians will worship with the Assyrians.   NASB

These last three verses describe the union that will unite the three countries, both Assyria to the north and Egypt to the south, of Israel, with Israel.

This is post tribulation recovery and blessing, now that all of the judgments will have been completed, that all evil will have been vanquished, and the remnants of peoples from all three places will then be united under Christ.

Highway, ‘macillah,’ refers to a thoroughfare, but it also refers to open and free communication and integration.

Serve, ‘abad,’ refers to engagement in common activities, and to worship, and is the opposite of the adversarial activity that existed in Isaiah’s day.

Where once Assyria and Egypt were enemies and pretty much anti-God, now, which is at the beginning of the Millennium, they will be united in Christ with one common belief and faith.

Just a quick note.  The final event of the Tribulation will be the Armageddon war.  And the location of that war will be throughout this entire region.  Huge armies and huge piles of bodies and huge destruction beyond imagination, will be the aftermath of that day everywhere, and yet there will be survivors throughout the area who will be believers in Christ.

Isaiah 19:22

Copyright Ó 2014 J. Neely

Isaiah 19:22ues

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22 And the LORD [Yahovah] shall smite [nagaph] Egypt [Mitsrayim]: he shall smite [nagaph] and heal [rapha'] it: and they shall return [shuwb] even to the LORD [Yahovah], and he shall be intreated [`athar] of them, and shall heal [rapha'] them.  KJV-Interlinear

22 And the Lord will strike Egypt, striking but healing; so they will return to the Lord, and He will respond to them and will heal them.  NASB

As described in the opening verses of this chapter, Egypt is going to be hammered with Gods judgment against them because of their rejection of truth and of their inclination for evil.

But during the course of those judgments, there will rise up a remnant of people who will repent to the Lord, and not only repent but will dedicate their lives to Christ, to doctrine, and they will not cower to public or political or peer pressure or intimidation.

And after the judgments have run their course, which is to say, after the Second Advent, then Egypt will be healed.  It will be restored in the Millennium, to a prominence that will be far greater than at any other time in its entire history, even greater than when it was at its peak in the very earliest of ancient times.

After rising to the heights of evil, Egypt will be smashed into virtually nothing, as described in the opening verses.

Then, Christ, will restore it, as He will the entire world, to position that will be greater than ever before, even greater than the Garden of Eden.

The Garden only housed two people, and for a very short time. 

In the Millennium, the entire world will be turned into a garden and eventually billions of people will be living and thriving and prospering, with not so much as a strain on the worlds resources.

After all, Jesus Christ is there great, ‘I Am,’ the eternal provider of eternal resources.

Isaiah 19:21

Copyright Ó 2014 J. Neely

Isaiah 19:21ues

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21 And the LORD [Yahovah] shall be known [yada`] to Egypt [Mitsrayim], and the Egyptians [Mitsrayim] shall know [yada`] the LORD [Yahovah] in that day [yowm], and shall do [`abad] sacrifice [zebach] and oblation [minchah]; yea, they shall vow [nadar] a vow [neder] unto the LORD [Yahovah], and perform [shalam] it.  KJV-Interlinear

21 Thus the Lord will make Himself known to Egypt, and the Egyptians will know the Lord in that day. They will even worship with sacrifice and offering, and will make a vow to the Lord and perform it.  NASB

The significance of Egypt, in the signs and results of those signs will be a direct result of Gods judgment in those final years of history.

It is unfortunate that the judgments will have to be so severe before people make their decision to believe in Christ.  But the Tribulation is a period of extremes, both in Gods judgments as well as in spiritual defiance.

As the resistance toward truth increases, so too, the severity of the judgments will increase, until those who will repent and believe, do so, and those who will not will have had faced the maximum possible pressure, short of death, in order to make the permanency of their defiance obvious to all of creation.

And, in the midst of all the chaos that will exist during those final seven years, and in the midst of the one country that, for all of its history has carried the name that suggests and defines sin and rejection of truth, there will arise a group of people that will turn to Christ.

They who will finally believe, will know, because to them, the obvious will finally be obvious.

Their sacrifices, here refers to the plural and repetitive nature of their interest and study and worship.

Their oblation, ‘minchah,’ refers to non-bloody offerings, their thanks and their prayers.  For back in those distant past days of sacrifices, these were a part of the incense offerings portraying the genuineness of prayer and devotion to God and His plan through the Savior, who is Christ.

To vow a vow, refers to the genuineness and authenticity of their faith in Christ.

And to perform it, indicates that they actually pursue what they believe. Not like many folks who are all talk or pretense, and no authentic faith.

And they will do this during the time of the greatest period of the worst disasters and worst trouble imaginable, throughout the entire world.

How does that speak of those who in our present day, or in similar times past, who have had much easier lives, much more opportunity, far less ordeals in life, and yet have ignored the one obligation to God and to themselves, and have simply ignored their spiritual life.

It is said that great wealth or prosperity or ease of life or complacency, can blind one to the realities of life and mark the way of spiritual failure.

It is also said that great adversity is often times necessary in order for our eyes to open and see our weaknesses and our need for God.  Most live between those extremes. What will it take to kick start the motivation and drive to advance in ones spiritual life?

Isaiah 19:20

Copyright Ó 2014 J. Neely

Isaiah 19:20ues

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20 And it shall be for a sign ['owth] and for a witness [`ed] unto the LORD [Yahovah] of hosts [tsaba'] in the land ['erets] of Egypt [Mitsrayim]: for they shall cry [tsa`aq] unto the LORD [Yahovah] because [paniym] of the oppressors [lachats], and he shall send [shalach] them a saviour [yasha`], and a great one [rab], and he shall deliver [natsal] them.  KJV-Interlinear

20 And it will become a sign and a witness to the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt; for they will cry to the Lord because of oppressors, and He will send them a Savior and a Champion, and He will deliver them.  NASB

Since the time of Ham’s children, after whom Egypt received its name, Egypt has been a sign and symbol of everything that has been anti-God, and anti-truth.  It was a name that was equated with sin.  But in the end days, there will be a transition, although small, of some people who will recognize the signs of their time and they will turn to God through Christ.

Remember that the phrase, ‘end days’ refers to those last seven years of history known as the Tribulation.  End times, is a phrase that refers to our dispensation in its entirety, being the last full dispensation prior to the Tribulation and Millennium.

The Tribulation is the last seven years of the prior dispensation, the Age of Israel, which our dispensation interrupted.

It, is a reference to the, alters and pillars, referred to in the previous verse.  They are memorial symbols of people who have turned to Christ and more than that, they will be actively engaged in their own versions of a bible study, to the extent that they are able to do so.

The alters and pillars portrayed the places of worship, which are continual worship, not just occasional sessions.

Back in the Old Testament, the alters, were used daily while the pillars stood as symbols of places of worship although not used continuously, but places that moved from time to time as people moved or traveled.

So this is a regular and committed study of doctrine, of Christ, and most probably of people who had to move around, if not in their homes but in their places or access to doctrine.

Because of the oppressors, speaks for itself.  When a nation is anti-something, and you are pro-that thing, then you are going to be ostracized or worse.

And the world will be against God and Christ and certainly doctrine.  For in that time, Satan will be exercising extreme control over the world in his effort to stamp out Jews and all manner of Christianity.

But as we have already seen, all the plans of man to accomplish that, will be foiled.  Not only will mans efforts fail, but anything done against Gods people will be turned back against an unbelieving world, thus the worst economic depression ever in history.

Revelation has a more in-depth study of those many anti-christ policies.  Not to mention the many other hardships from storms and other massive problems that will occur.

And as a result, God will send a savior, not a Messiah in this case, for the Messiah has already been here, but a rescuer, a great one, a mighty one who is great and powerful.  And in the Lords case, all powerful.  And this will occur at the Second Advent, after all of these things have taken place.

Isaiah 19:19

Copyright Ó 2014 J. Neely

Isaiah 19:19ues

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19 In that day [yowm] shall there be an altar [mizbeach] to the LORD [Yahovah] in the midst [tavek] of the land ['erets] of Egypt [Mitsrayim], and a pillar [matstsebah] at ['etsel] the border [gabuwl] thereof to the LORD [Yahovah].  KJV-Interlinear

19 In that day there will be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the Lord near its border.  NASB

The question was asked about yesterday’s study, as to whether the five cities were indeed five or just a number referring to the grace of God.  And that answer is, both.  Five always designates some form of Gods grace, but the number five, here, is specific.  If the Bible were to generalize, then the number would also be stated using terms such as, remnant or few.  So there will be five actual cities.

And now for todays study.  The alter is typically used in reference to an object upon which sacrifices were regularly made.  But an alter is also used to designate a place of continual worship, such as in a synagogue, church, temple, a personal residence, or even within ones soul.  Today we can add the internet as the place or mechanism or alter of worship.

Isaiah uses both terms, alter and pillar, within this context, and both relate to places rather than objects.  Taking back to the days of the patriarchs, alters and/or pillars were set up to designate a place of worship.  And as they traveled around, moving from camp site to camp site, a new alter or pillar was set up to designate a place of worship.

Egypt has a history full of pillars upon which various stories of historical events were recorded.  And that is the idea here.  Except the stories here, are the scriptures that are recorded in the souls of people, thus the pillars of continual worship that are set up within the borders of Egypt.  Or, within Egypt, Christians worshiping Christ whether in public or more than likely, in private.

At the borders, refers to non-specific places throughout Egypt, but still within the borders of Egypt.

The Lord refers to Jesus Christ.

So, in that day, as we saw yesterday, designates the time frame of the prophecy. It is not chronological and non-specific, but refers to the general period of time.  And in this prophecy of the end days of history, there are seven years in which these things could and will, occur.

The people involved will likely be scattered throughout this time period.

Isaiah 19:18

Copyright Ó 2014 J. Neely

Isaiah 19:18ues

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18 In that day [yowm] shall five [chamesh] cities [`iyr] in the land ['erets] of Egypt [Mitsrayim] speak [dabar] the language [saphah] of Canaan [Kana`an], and swear [shaba] to the LORD [Yahovah] of hosts [tsaba']; one ['echad] shall be called ['amar], The city [`iyr] of destruction [herec].  KJV-Interlinear

18 In that day five cities in the land of Egypt will be speaking the language of Canaan and swearing allegiance to the Lord of hosts; one will be called the City of Destruction.  NASB

These things are written and disclosed so that you can be aware of the truth, regardless of whether you believe these things or not.  As in this prophecy, most people live phony spiritual lives and do not learn properly, thus the reason for their failure in life. 

One of the least recognized principles of doctrine, is the use of numbers in scripture, which in some cases are precise, and in some cases are symbolic, and then more often are used to portray both.

In that day, ‘yowm,’ refers to the period of time that is in view within our passage or in this case, within the scope of the time of this prophecy. 

The number five, is the number representing power and grace, and in most cases, it is represented as grace through power, which is Gods power.

Canaan was a son of Ham who was one of the three sons of Noah.  Canaan had a brother named Mizraim, also called Egypt.  Each settled in the lands named respectively after them. Canaan occupied the lands called Palestine which is current day Israel.  The two named, were interconnected for many centuries, until the Exodus in Moses day, and were then separated from each other thereafter.  The one continued with its name of Egypt while the other became known as the Land of the Philistines and then subsequently Israel.

The land of Canaan, was occupied by the descendants of Canaan, but was promised to Abraham, a distant son of Shem, son to Noah.  So, somehow the descendants of Ham occupied the lands promised to Shem.  The former, descendants of Ham, were the recipients of the curse when Ham viewed the naked body of Noah.  Recall that the descendants of Ham, namely Canaan, were cursed and that curse was executed when the Israelites crossed the Jordan River, under the leadership of Joshua, and took the land that was rightfully theirs.

The Hebrew name Joshua Messiah, are equivalent to the Greek names Jesus Christ.  Therefore, the leadership of Joshua was symbolic of the Lords leadership and retaking of the land that was rightfully his.

In the early days, the lands of Canaan and Egypt blended as peoples traveled and lived and traded throughout the region.

And so it will be in the latter days, according to this prophecy.

There will be five cities in Egypt, that will reflect the entire region of Canaan, and more than that, the occupants of those cities will learn of, and fear, in the proper sense, Jesus Christ. They will recognize the significance of their time in history, and the prophecies as they will be currently unfolding before their very eyes.

Out of the many hundreds and perhaps thousands of cities, this number will be a small number, reflecting the general apathy and rejection of Christ.

The cities are not named, as they will likely be hidden as to their true beliefs in that future time, and thus protected, to some degree until revealed, but one name is disclosed, but only symbolically.

The city of destruction, ‘herec,’ means demolition, destruction, to break down into pieces.  It also means the city of the sun, typically named after the sun god.

And when combined with the following verses, comes to mean the destruction of false gods, and deliverance by the one true God, Jesus Christ.

So, even within the region commonly known today as anti-Jewish, there will be a remnant of pro-Christian Egyptians.  And this is important as in that future time, there will be huge support for the anti-christ, who is trying his best to obliterate all Jewish and Christian sentiments.

Therefore, under those conditions there will be an open rebellion of sorts, against the anti-christ, in a strong showing of support for Christianity, and particularly the Jewish people. 

That may very well end up in retaliation and their destruction from the anti-christ, but nonetheless, it demonstrates that a small number of people will reject the evils of their day, even in there face of certain retalliation.

Isaiah 19:17

Copyright Ó 2014 J. Neely

Isaiah 19:17ues

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17 And the land ['adamah] of Judah [Yahuwdah] shall be a terror [chaga'] unto Egypt [Mitsrayim], every one that maketh mention [zakar] thereof shall be afraid [pachad] in himself, because [paniym] of the counsel [`etsah] of the LORD [Yahovah] of hosts [tsaba'], which he hath determined [ya`ats] against it.  KJV-Interlinear

17 And the land of Judah will become a terror to Egypt; everyone to whom it is mentioned will be in dread of it, because of the purpose of the Lord of hosts which He is purposing against them.   NASB

This is not referring to the imminent invasion of Judah by Sennacherib or the implications against Egypt, for this verse indicates that it is Judah that is the source of the fear of the Egyptians, not the enemies of Judah.

The word for counsel, ‘etsah,’ means advice, plan, purpose.

Against it, can refer to either Egypt and/or Judah.

And so somewhere along the line, a discussion of Judah, as it existed in Isaiah’s day, or Israel, as it will exist in that final era of history, will enter into the conversation.  Today on the internet we call it trending, or current stories, or topics of discussion.

And so it will be in Egypt.  Not so much in every corner with every person, but there will arise pockets of conversations that will begin to look to Israel.  And the reference to Judah, indicates the object of the conversation is the Jews, not Christians per se.

And, the conversation will include references to God in general, and to Jesus Christ in lesser terms.  For the majority of the people in Egypt will be talking in general terms, while there will be a limited number who will be talking about the prophecies, about Christ, about Gods plan and purpose in all of these terrible events in Egypt and in the world.

When people do not know the specifics of a matter, they have a tendency to exaggerate or distort the details, and even when their details are not correct, the gist of their conversation may be near correct, or correct enough such that they should know that there is much more to the story.

Normal and concerned people would investigate more, while indifferent people are satisfied enough to just participate in the gossip.

In any case, the general population will be close to the answer to all of their problems, but close in not enough.

Pushed to the very brink of human extinction, one would think that people would be extremely serious and concerned about the why’s of their problems and the solutions needed, but being so indifferent toward God and Christ and all things of truth, they will make the wrong decisions again and again, except for a very small number whose eyes will finally open and they will finally get it.  But that is getting ahead of our study a bit.

The correct cause of all of their problems is due to Gods plan, to Gods promises to the Jews, and to Satan’s opposition to it all, in addition to mans indifference and rejection of Gods word.  So they will be close to the answer, but they will not close in enough to God and change toward God and Christ, instead they will turn in the opposite direction and direct their hate toward Israel.  Thus the Armageddon war and their leading and opening role in that war.

Jesus Christ controls history.  He has a plan for all of human history and He has a specific plan for each individual, which means you.

It would be a terrible loss, if you get close to figuring it all out, but turn away and miss out on the greatest opportunity in all of human history.

Isaiah 19:16

Copyright Ó 2014 J. Neely

Isaiah 19:16ues

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16 In that day [yowm] shall Egypt [Mitsrayim] be like unto women ['ishshah]: and it shall be afraid [charad] and fear [pachad] because [paniym] of the shaking [tanuwphah] of the hand [yad] of the LORD [Yahovah] of hosts [tsaba'], which he shaketh [nuwph] over it.  KJV-Interlinear

16 In that day the Egyptians will become like women, and they will tremble and be in dread because of the waving of the hand of the Lord of hosts, which He is going to wave over them.  NASB

This might be viewed as a stereotypical format for distinguishing feminine and masculine qualities, which in our current day of liberal views, seem to be more and more blurred, but regardless of popular opinions or attitudes, there remain several gender attributes that remain feminine or masculine in nature.

And here are traits that remain feminine.  They are timidness, fearfulness, alarmed in terror, and the physical shaking due to discombobulated nerves, or when the nerves are thrown into a state of thorough confusion due to factors that cause fear and confusion and uncertainty and insecurity.

These attributes can affect anyone, either male or female.

It is often said that when females are feminine they are normal. When they are masculine they are, um …, not normal.  When males are masculine they are normal and then they are feminine they are sissy’s.  These comments you might find in school yards or in various social settings.

And since Adam and Eve, stereotyped traits like these have passed down through the generations, and whether you like them or not, they are a true means of describing how people react emotionally in various situations.

And in this verse, the last remaining days, months and years of history will see people fraught with uncertainty and fear to the point of extreme nervous shaking.

This is not a temporary being frightened kind of shaking, but a total loss of self-control because of the incredible uncertainties of ones life and future.

We have already studied Revelation, which gives us only the highlights of the stressful events in those final days of history.  And by days we mean those last seven years of history.

Life will get worse and worse, and the drama and stress will remain and only increase, not just for hours or days or weeks but for years.  And, there will not be any earthly solutions to fix any of the problems.

Life will be bad, as people will be dying like flies, storms will interrupt public services, crime will be reaching unbelievable levels of violence, people will be out of work and starving.  Life will be really bad to the point that it will be almost impossible to describe in words.

If nature were the cause of the problems, then nature always returns to some semblance of a normal cycle and life returns to some semblance of normalcy.

But in those days, it is God who is applying judgment against evil.  And the shaking of the hand, is the symbolism of Gods attitude and resolve and control over the entire situation.

Fear, real fear, will seize control over all people who continue to reject God and Christ.  This is a very real principle of life that applies even today.

Isaiah 19:15

Copyright Ó 2014 J. Neely

Isaiah 19:15ues

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15 Neither shall there be any work [ma`aseh] for Egypt [Mitsrayim], which the head [ro'sh] or tail [zanab], branch [kippah] or rush ['agmown], may do [`asah].  KJV-Interlinear

15 And there will be no work for Egypt Which its head or tail, its palm branch or bulrush, may do.  NASB

This verse is sort of an economic summing up of all of the previous verses.  Jesus Christ controls history.  Not Satan.  Not man.  In various passages the stormy seas paint a picture of mans and Satans attempts at self-control over their own destinies, but the seas always fall back into their assigned places.

And this principle is largely never understood by people in general, and certainly not by the vast majority of world leaders throughout history.  That is why they fail, and certainly why they will never succeed.

And in those fateful and final days of history, Egypt, being the example of this chapter, provides us with a clear picture of the dependence of man on its resources.  Those resources, or the Nile, being that source of prosperity, is removed by the simple act of reduced rain.

Gods role is not considered, and thus mans plans for recovery become many and varied and mostly covering ones own backside.  And they fail one after another.  The economy fails and now people in mass, are out of work.

Both the rich and the poor, the high and the low, the strong and the weak, the notable and the common, everyone across the spectrum of human status or culture or class or cast or however you want to classify humanity, all of them will be out of work. And that common economic disaster will be felt by everyone.

And we have already seen in prior studies, that this will lead to anarchy, over which the anti-christ will seize control and use this region in his greater plan for destroying Israel.

But as we have already seen, even this plan of Satan’s is not really his plan but him falling into the divine plan for the luring in of evil and the eventual destruction of evil by Christ at the Second Advent.  But then that is a bit outside of the study of this verse.

This verse is but a single link in that future prophetic chain of events that will occur.

Isaiah 19:14

Copyright Ó 2014 J. Neely

Isaiah 19:14ues

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14 The LORD [Yahovah] hath mingled [macak] a perverse [`av`eh] spirit [ruwach] in the midst [qereb] thereof: and they have caused Egypt [Mitsrayim] to err [ta`ah] in every work [ma`aseh] thereof, as a drunken [shikkowr] man staggereth [ta`ah] in his vomit [qe'].  KJV-Interlinear

14 The Lord has mixed within her a spirit of distortion; They have led Egypt astray in all that it does, As a drunken man staggers in his vomit.   NASB

The word for mingle, ‘macak,’ means to mix something, such as a drug or alcohol, in to a food or a drink in order to make the food or drink, more intoxicating, more hallucinogenic, more powerful, more commanding in the minds of those who consume it.  And this is what is meant here by the Lord mingling in, a perverse spirit.

The spirit of perverseness is all of the non-truthful ideas and philosophies, and opinions that exist in the world, and generally are promoted by national leaders, celebrities, and certainly the common folks who fall for the false ideas.

Since bible doctrine is the source and foundation of all truth, then the absence of truth yields all perverseness and screwball and weirdness of ideas and false beliefs.

And when people choose to reject truth, then God in His graciousness, allows them to believe whatever they want to believe, even if those ideas are wrong.

This by their own free will, people lead themselves astray.  God never forces anyone in the wrong direction.

This is further described by the drunken person who staggers in their own vomit.  And this is not someone who has had only a couple of drinks, but someone who has been filthy drunk, stinking drunk continually during their life.  They have no clue as to their own nature or situation.  They do not even know that they have pucked and are wallowing in their own vomit.  That is how far away from reality that people can get, when they ignore, are indifferent to, or reject bible doctrine.

Do not study bible doctrine, and you’ll never learn it and eventually you will never realize how far down you have fallen in life.

And as long as you continue in your pretense or indifference or active rejection, God will permit you to keep on falling further and further into the pit of delusion, until your life is very much a sober symbol of a drunk wallowing in his vomit.  Pleasant thought for tonight's dreams, don’t you think?

And, just as a drunk cannot make a decent or sober decision, then so too, the person without doctrine cannot discern or see life as it really is.  They will thus destroy their own life and nation.

But then, all nations that are led by naïve leaders, and supported by naïve citizens, will end up, sooner or later, in absolute ruin.

And this prophecy paints the picture of just how bad it will get during those final years of history, and more important, why.

Isaiah 19:13

Copyright Ó 2014 J. Neely

Isaiah 19:13ues

http://www.dailybiblestudy.org

13 The princes [sar] of Zoan [Tso`an] are become fools [ya'al], the princes [sar] of Noph [Noph] are deceived [nasha']; they have also seduced [ta`ah] Egypt [Mitsrayim], even they that are the stay [pinnah] of the tribes [shebet] thereof.  KJV-Interlinear

13 The princes of Zoan have acted foolishly, The princes of Memphis are deluded; Those who are the cornerstone of her tribes Have led Egypt astray.   NASB

As we have already seen, the cities of Zoan and now mentioned, Noph, were two of the principal cities in the very early days of ancient Egypt.  Today their exact locations are only estimated, with Noph perhaps being the same as Memphis and/or Ghizeh, but that is not the point in this verse.

They were the seat of government and authority and counsel for the entire nation and region, and as such were bound with the responsibility and leadership of its citizens.

These two cities are in ruins.  The leadership of Egypt is identified with ruin.

The repetition of the name of the city of Zoan and the repetition of the reference to the princes as fools, emphasizes the total and complete failure and stupidity with which they lead and counsel.

The reference to the city of Noph adds even more ambiguity to the nature of their leadership.

The stay, means cornerstone, or the foundation upon which Egypt rested and depended.

Thus a nation of fools, was led by a government of fools, who were all fooled by the very foundation of foolish wisdom, which is not wisdom.  This results is total the failure of the nation and the eventual destruction of the nation, not due to natural events, not because of weather, not because of environment, not because of anything except negative attitude toward Christ and doctrine.

Truth is rejected and that is the principle cause of all failure.

Isaiah 19:12

Copyright Ó 2014 J. Neely

Isaiah 19:12ues

http://www.dailybiblestudy.org

12 Where ['ay] are they? where ['ephow] are thy wise [chakam] men? and let them tell [nagad] thee now, and let them know [yada`] what the LORD [Yahovah] of hosts [tsaba'] hath purposed [ya`ats] upon Egypt [Mitsrayim].  KJV-Interlinear

12 Well then, where are your wise men? Please let them tell you, And let them understand what the Lord of hosts Has purposed against Egypt.  NASB

Fools believe with all their heart, that life is an accident or that they create their own life and future by means of their own decisions and brilliance.  Fools do not listen, do not read, do not study, do not consider anything beyond their own beliefs.  Some look to life through who you know, what you can do, how much hustle you put into it, or just a bit of luck, good or bad, from time to time.

And when the, you know what, hits the fan, then where are they?  Where is their wisdom?  Where is their plan?  Where is their solution?  And they have none.  None that work, anyway.

These words were written hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of years ago, by Isaiah, given to him by God, who is Jesus Christ.

These words apply to a time that, even in our current day, is still future.

Jesus Christ controls history.

He looked down through the long tunnel of time and saw everything that could happen and will happen.  You never want to bet against God, because He already knows the outcome of everything.

And even when He discloses to us, what is going to happen, we still cannot change that outcome.

Even when we draw closer and closer to the end of our dispensation, when people are looking more and more to the Rapture, there will still be a huge population that will ignore and reject Christ, and thus remain here on the earth when all believers are removed in a twinkling of an eye.

They, all unbelievers, will remain behind on the earth and will have to live through the absolute worst seven years in all of history.  And most of them will not make it that long.

And even while the worst of the worst of history is unfolding right before their very eyes, the wise, the so called wise will be clueless as to why it is all happening.

Oh, they will come up with some explanation as to weather change or society change or environment change, and therefore the need for more social reform, which means more laws to regulate people, as well as laws to blame certain people.  And it will all fail, even making matters worse for the world.

None will consider God, or any deity, except the anti-christ who will place worship demands on them, which means compliance to the laws that will be passed, or else.

None will consider doctrine.  None will consider the prophecies that have been in writing since forever, so to speak.

And yet, Isaiah states it very clear, ‘Consider Gods plans.’

For God proposes history long before it occurs, and man, that means you, do exactly what God predicts, often times even knowing what is coming.

Ah, but you say, ‘Who me?’

And yet you and everyone, do not comply with Gods mandates, do not follow Gods principles, do not hold dear that which God has placed on your table, as to your responsibilities and obligations, to self, to family, to others, to God.  And knowing all of this, you, and that means we all of us, fail, some more often than others.  And yet we know!

And as to the unbelievers who you would expect to not know any of this, they fail because they reject truth in favor of the lies of life.  They can see the truth, but they are controlled by their own interests in passion, in things, in lusts of every type. They favor the drives of their sin nature which can be both ascetic or lascivious.  They are indifferent.

And because very few consider Gods place in all of this, then that is why the future is going to be what it is going to be, which is to say, just as God states in these prophecies.

Isaiah 19:11

Copyright Ó 2014 J. Neely

Isaiah 19:11ues

http://www.dailybiblestudy.org

11 Surely the princes [sar] of Zoan [Tso`an] are fools ['eviyl], the counsel [`etsah] of the wise [chakam] counsellors [ya`ats] of Pharaoh [Par`oh] is become brutish [ba`ar]: how say ['amar] ye unto Pharaoh [Par`oh], I am the son [ben] of the wise [chakam], the son [ben] of ancient [qedem] kings [melek]?  KJV-Interlinear

11 The princes of Zoan are mere fools; The advice of Pharaoh's wisest advisers has become stupid. How can you men say to Pharaoh,  "I am a son of the wise, a son of ancient kings"?  NASB

Fools and irresponsibility, are the one and only possible results when you do not take the Bible and Christ, serious.  And that is exactly what ignoring or refusing to participate in your daily study, is.  The example can be found in the future of Egypt, which has millennia of history and prosperity potential, but all of that potential is wasted when Christ is ignored and not included in ones life.

The result?  Stupidity.

And as they say, ‘Stupid is as stupid does.’

Zoan, is a city in lower Egypt, which, according to Moses, was built seven years after Hebron, Num. 13:22.  It was located near the northeastern delta region of the Nile, and is the location of many of the plagues brought by God, through Moses, during the time of the exodus, Psa. 78:12.

The princes, refer to the leaders, or government, or those people of notoriety within Egypt.  And the reference to their being fools, applies to their inability to deal with the disasters that will be overwhelming the region.

Fools, ‘eviyl, refers to silliness, condescending attitudes, excessive flattery, obsequious, patronizing.

These are people in roles of leadership, that are supposed to have the wisdom to deal with situations, but they avoid any responsibility, look to others for answers, are patronizing but disloyal, and when something does not work they have someone else to blame.

The wise counselors are brutish, or they are rude, insensitive, opinionated yet avoid responsibility, have many ideas yet expect others to carry out their ideas.  They claim title and position in their arrogance.

And as we will see in the upcoming verses, all of the ideas and advice, will not only not work, but will make matters far worse.