Isaiah 21:17

Copyright Ó 2014 J. Neely

Isaiah 21:17ues

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17 And the residue [sha'ar] of the number [micpar] of archers [qesheth], the mighty men [gibbowr] of the children [ben] of Kedar [Qedar], shall be diminished [ma`at]: for the LORD [Yahovah] God ['elohiym] of Israel [Yisra'el] hath spoken [dabar] it.  KJV-Interlinear

17 and the remainder of the number of bowmen, the mighty men of the sons of Kedar, will be few; for the Lord God of Israel has spoken."  NASB

As we have already seen, the people of Kedar, is a reference to a nomadic people of ambiguous residence, of general character, and a very vague description.  And yet here they consider themselves to have archers, mighty men, and so forth.  This is from their own eyes of course.

An arrogant people always thinks highly of themselves, over-rating themselves.

And what is to become of them?

In that future and final generation, in those final days of history, days meaning the last months or years in the Tribulation, they will be diminished, eradicated, destroyed, gone as though they were never there.

Arrogance over rates itself, believing it is the best of the best, the can’t be without it, the top shelf, the indestructible.

And just as easily as these words were committed to print through Isaiah, so those people will be easily destroyed.

Arrogance has no muscle, no strength, no fighting power, no staying power.  It will drift away in a light breeze, with little effort.

And this is what the word for diminished, means.  They will fade just as the morning fog fades, almost without notice, until it is already gone of course.  And then, they will be no more.

And, so Isaiah ends this chapter, with one final thought.

God has spoken, and therefore it will be.

Nothing in history, nothing in this world, can change what is to come.  Nothing can alter what is to come.  Nothing can stop what is to come.  And the sad thing is, that all of these future events will be brought on by man himself, despite all of these warnings.

History is humanity running toward a cliff.  

And God says you are running toward a cliff, and man keeps running toward the cliff.

And God says there is a cliff ahead, and man keeps running toward the cliff.

And God says that cliff will be your destruction, stop, turn toward me and have a better life, and man keeps running toward the cliff.

And finally at the end of the run, there is the cliff and man sees the cliff and runs right off of it.

And as for your life, there are ample warnings regarding you and your life.

You have an opportunity that nearly everyone in the world ignores.  You have an opportunity to be numbered within the greatest and yet smallest group in all of human history.  The minority of minorities, namely spiritually mature believers in Christ.

After coming into this world as an incomplete infant, your life's process for completion begins with your physical growth, your mental growth, which entails your temporal side of life, and then your spiritual side beginning with salvation, and continuing with your daily growth through a daily study, for learning, understanding, production, and finally wisdom and faith.  Faith being the muscle of your spiritual life.

But faith comes not from blind hope or wishes or fancy religious words, it comes from the substance, the nuts and bolts, the adult food of meat and potatoes of Bible doctrine, learned and assimilated into your soul.

This process builds up a spiritual structure in your soul. That soul structure often times is referred to as your temple, your fortress, your palace.  And then that structure is enhanced and improved with the finishing work of your usage of Bible doctrine which you have learned and know.

Your ultimate completion, will come at the Judgment Seat of Christ, wherein we will find ourselves standing before Christ, after our resurrection, and there receive our evaluation and reward, based on our spiritual growth and production from this life.

Spiritual maturity qualifies for phenomenal reward. 

Little or no growth, which comes with little or no interest, or failure to follow Gods process, means little or no reward.

And since we are talking about eternity, then any reward gained is a huge infinite gain, and any reward lost is a huge infinite loss.

And then finally, all of this will be totally complete when the new universe is created and life continues on forever.

So, there is a lot at stake.

Your eternity is based totally on your attitude toward Bible doctrine.

Disregard it or think little of it or try to do things your own way, and you will end up with nothing, as blessings go.

But, knowing all of this, and looking around at the many examples of the good and bad things in life, then would you rather be a peon in heaven, or a multi-gazillionaire?

Before you were born into this world, you had no say as to your circumstances or the life set before you.

But now, in your spiritual life, you have every opportunity to define, lay legitimate claim to, and take possession of, and greatest and most phenomenal life for yourself for all of eternity.  And, you have Gods promise and guarantee. 

Will you waste that opportunity?

God has spoken with regard to this prophecy and it will come to pass.

God has spoken to us all with regard to our opportunity, or its loss.  What or when will you take it all seriously?

Isaiah 21:16

Copyright Ó 2014 J. Neely

Isaiah 21:16ues

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16 For thus hath the Lord ['Adonay] said ['amar] unto me, Within a year [shaneh (in pl. only),], according to the years [shaneh (in pl. only),] of an hireling [sakiyr], and all the glory [kabowd] of Kedar [Qedar] shall fail [kalah]:  KJV-Interlinear

16 For thus the Lord said to me, "In a year, as a hired man would count it, all the splendor of Kedar will terminate;  NASB

The year being now mentioned is an exact one year.  It is not a figure of speech nor symbolic in any way. But the time of that year was not in the past, but in the future at the end of human history.  Human history is defined as the time when man rules, and will end when Christ returns at the Second Advent and then sets up His own rule in Gods Kingdom here on the earth for that 1000 year period called the Millennium.

The Tribulation is the last seven year period wherein the anti-christ will rule and virtually bring the world to the brink of total destruction.

The Tribulation is seven years in its total duration, and is divided up into two halves, each half lasting three-and-a-half years.  It is in the last half of the Tribulation that most of the worst calamities will occur.

Kedar, was a son of Ishmael.  The Kedites are an ambiguous people who did not have a permanent home, but were nomadic in nature, and lived in the general region of Arabia, always on the move.

And that is what this verse is describing, an undefined and general region, along with a vague description of a people that were comingled with many peoples.

When the middle of the Tribulation occurs, the anti-christ will dedicate a newly constructed temple in Jerusalem.  In that dedication, he will take the seat of God thus becoming the abomination of abominations.  It is at that time that a great assault against the Jewish people will begin.  The Bible warns all who see that event, to get out and to get out now.  The slaughter will be great.  Sooner or later this war will overflow into the latter portion of the Tribulation, and at some point the Armageddon campaign will begin.  At some point, this trouble will reach into the Arabian Desert and all that was there, all of its grandeur, all of its trade, all that is held dearly, will no longer exist in the space of a single year.

The year is a workers paid year, not just a season, but in the space of a twelve month year.

For those who live in that region at that time, and if they should happen upon these words of Isaiah, then they have fair warning to get out, but we already know that they have nowhere to go, so their one and only hope is faith in Christ, such that if they hide well, they just might survive until the Second Advent, otherwise if they are caught up in death as will happen to nearly everyone, then they will at least end up in heaven and an eternal life with God.

Of those of us that are alive now during this Church Age, then our priority is to advance in our spiritual lives, as God has graciously given us time to live now, and to advance now, under circumstances that even the worst of which are pretty good when compared to the Tribulation.

Isaiah 21:15

Copyright Ó 2014 J. Neely

Isaiah 21:15ues

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15 For they fled [nadad] from [paniym] the swords [chereb], from [paniym] the drawn [natash] sword [chereb], and from [paniym] the bent [darak] bow [qesheth], and from [paniym] the grievousness [kobed] of war [milchamah].  KJV-Interlinear

15 For they have fled from the swords, From the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, And from the press of battle.  NASB

The Dedanites were descendants of Ham through Cush, and also of Keturah wife of Abraham, after Sarah’s death.  They are Arabic in nature, and here they are on the run from their own kind.

The Tribulation will see the awful assault on the Jews, but no one is really safe from the hatred of Satan’s anti-christ.

As the battle or aggression, spreads throughout the Middle East, the civilian population will be on the run, sending refugees in all directions, even into the inhospitable desert of Arabia.

Remember from our study in Revelation, fresh water throughout the entire world will be in very short supply, and the desert will offer no relief, even a worse situation than one would have in a more civilized environment.

But these people, Arabic in nature, will be in a desperate way, making even the desert seem safe.

It will not be safe.

Again a reminder, as the following of this Bible study seems to be increasing by many hundreds every day, from what appears on the membership on the Facebook page alone, this study of Isaiah is a study of the prophecies for the end times. Some events have and did occur back in Isaiah’s day, but only as moderate examples of the much harsher events that will occur in the final days of history.

Isaiah is a very large book, dedicated to the subject of condemnation and salvation.  The world has had these prophecies for a very long time, but still refuses to learn, even refusing to take the time to read, let alone study. 

And so, the end will come because humanity, even knowing what is coming, brings it on itself through indifference toward truth.  We of course know the ‘what’ is coming.  We just do not know the when.

When the Rapture occurs, then all of these unfulfilled prophecies will begin to come to pass. The only difference between now and then, is that it is generally believers who read and know, now, of their existence, while unbelievers who will be left behind after the Rapture, will have to learn of them, while living under the most horrible conditions in all of history.  That is, if they learn of them at all.

Isaiah 21:14

Copyright Ó 2014 J. Neely

Isaiah 21:14ues

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14 The inhabitants [yashab] of the land ['erets] of Tema [Teyma'] brought ['athah] water [mayim] to him [qir'ah] that was thirsty [tsame'], they prevented [qadam] with their bread [lechem] him that fled [nadad].  KJV-Interlinear

14 Bring water for the thirsty, O inhabitants of the land of Tema, Meet the fugitive with bread.  NASB

Even in the midst of Arabia, where many refugees will run to get away from the ravages of war during those final years of the Tribulation, there will be some semblance of hospitality.

The refugees will be from all nations, both Jew and Arab and gentile in the mix.  They will all be caught up in the war torn region and will flee to the desert.  A place they see as a place of safety and isolation from the war that will be enveloping the entire region, but is not really a place of safety.

Tema, is the name of a son of Ishmael, and therefore Arabic in nature.

The desert residents will be Arabic in general, but they will be hospitable toward the refugees, regardless of their heritage.  This means that the anti-christ does not have total control over all peoples and how they think.

We have already seen how the economies of the world will be destroyed and forced into a sort of isolation or survival mode.  But even then, there will be help for many who are on the run.

Nevertheless, these verses do not speak to the human kindness that may or may not exist, it speaks to the perceived safety that people run to, but discover that the ravages of war will just follow them.

In other words, in those fateful days of which these several prophecies have been speaking, there will really be nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, no place of safety for anyone, whether they be refugee, or still residing in their homes.

The disasters of that future time, will be enormous, thorough, and beyond imagination.

Isaiah 21:13

Copyright Ó 2014 J. Neely

Isaiah 21:13ues

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13 The burden [massa'] upon Arabia [`Arab]. In the forest [ya`ar] in Arabia [`Arab] shall ye lodge [luwn], O ye travelling companies ['orachah] of Dedanim [Dadaniym].  KJV-Interlinear

13 The oracle about Arabia.  In the thickets of Arabia you must spend the night, O caravans of Dedanites.  NASB

The overall subject of the book of Isaiah is, condemnation and salvation.  Isaiah comes with a very comprehensive description, of prophecies, regarding the final days of history.  And if you have not yet figured out why there will be final days of history, it is because most people, and especially that last couple of generations, are just as negative as possible toward Bible doctrine.

The lack of truth in society will be a catalyst for the self-destruction of the world.  People in effect, bring on their own demise.  And it is all due to an increasing level of indifference toward learning truth.  You might want to re-familiar yourself with the parable of the seed in the weeds, rocks, on the path and so forth. That is where society is heading, and heading there on its own accord.

And hence the third prophecy in this series, will take us to the end of this chapter.

Concerning Arabia, is a play upon words, making it sound like ‘in the evening,’ or as the night approaches.

The place is the wasteland and the remoteness of Arabia.

The caravans of Dedan, are the merchants who leave the normal path and set up camp in the remote out of the way places of the desert.  Presumably to sit out the problems of the world, but they will soon find out that the problems of the world will surround them and consume them.

This is commerce, in the normal sense leaving the normal practices of industry, and eeking out an existence in the harsh wastelands of a failed society and a failed economy.

This is where the economies of the world are going to end up, despite all of the plans and laws and regulations of human governments.  In fact, it will be those very public policies that attempt to control the economics of the world, that will drive the entire world economy into the dust.  And along with that disaster, every human being will suffer as a result.

Isaiah 21:12

Copyright Ó 2014 J. Neely

Isaiah 21:12ues

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12 The watchman [shamar] said ['amar], The morning [boqer] cometh ['athah], and also the night [layil]: if ye will enquire [ba`ah], enquire [ba`ah] ye: return [shuwb], come ['athah].  KJV-Interlinear

12 The watchman says, "Morning comes but also night. If you would inquire, inquire; Come back again."   NASB

And just as quickly as the prophecy against Edom arose in the prior verse, so it ends in this the second of only two verses given to it.  Indifference, disinterest, derision, and even subtle mocking, pretending interest, are met with courtesy, but here is an answer that matches the inquiry.

The question was not genuine, even though the fear was.

The answers have been provided since before Isaiah’s time, and have been written for the many generations following.

Even you and I have this daily study and there is more than enough time for anyone who really desire to know, to learn and know what the Bible has to teach.

But as so often is the case, the interest is not genuine, the questions are no more than an attempt to get someone else to do busy work, and the whole interest bit is no more than pretense or a game of arrogant fools thinking they are fooling or mocking others.

The morning is the dawn of hope, the provision of light or truth, the possibility of safety and blessing.

The night is symbolic of the time of trouble, of affliction, of suffering, of loss, of failure.  Regardless of how ones life goes, it is the end that records the final and permanent score.  And anyone who disregards truth ends up the loser.

And finally Isaiah gives those who really are not interested, the answer.  If you want to know, then inquire, genuinely inquire, make an effort, search as you would for known treasure.  If you knew that there was certain treasure in a certain place, and that it was there for the taking, then you, or most people, would go get it.

But doctrine is not seen as treasure, even though it is the most valuable treasure in existence.  It is mocked, laughed at, ignored.  And when trouble comes along, then the solution that is and always has been there, is given a frivolous look, and then turned away.

This principle is true throughout the ages.  But here is the prophecy of how an entire world will be afraid during those terrible final years in the Tribulation, and yet the obvious and phenomenal destruction that will surround everyone, will still not be enough to get many to repent.  Their fears will be more real than the hope of doctrine.

And the odd things is, everything in this world is false, on which people place their hope, while doctrine is the truth and foundation of life and yet people disregard it.  Kind of like doing nothing but still saying, ‘amen’ anyway, and then continuing to do nothing.

Only the fool looks and sees the treasure, a gift from God, and then walks away.

Isaiah 21:11

Copyright Ó 2014 J. Neely

Isaiah 21:11ues

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11 The burden [massa'] of Dumah [Duwmah]. He calleth [qara'] to me out of Seir [Se`iyr], Watchman [shamar], what of the night [layil]? Watchman [shamar], what of the night [layil]?  KJV-Interlinear

11 The oracle concerning Edom.  One keeps calling to me from Seir,  "Watchman, how far gone is the night?  Watchman, how far gone is the night?"   NASB

Those who ignore this second prophecy, of the second series of prophecies,  will be those who are in terror.  Isaiah will paint a picture of continued darkness, continued misery and suffering, and a very frightened world. 

It begins abruptly.  Not that anything prior ends, and then this series of events begin, but that the world will continue ignoring the more than obvious warnings, and the judgments will not only continue but will intensify.

Dumah, means silence, stillness, the underworld.  This indicates the land of the dead where there is silence, and makes it clear that death is coming.

This is a play on words.  Dumah sounds like Edom with regard to its meaning, and the mention of Seir, confirms that Edom is the source of the question, ‘What of the night?  What of the night?’

This question is from an Edomite and the repeated question indicates his desperation.

Isaiah will answer in the next verse, and that answer is going to be vague.  But then the question itself is being asked by someone who really does not want to know.  They are simply asking for busy work, still pretending interest, but now, more afraid than they are interested in spiritual truth.

With judgment crashing down upon the entire world, a normal person would repent and turn to Christ.  But, stubborn people who cling to their canal beliefs, will cling to their fears, and will reject over and over again, any possible solution.

Spiritual dysfunction, leads to stubbornness, leads to unrealistic and irrational decisions, leads to bad decisions, leads to death.

The night, is the darkness of trouble, the time of misery, the time when one cannot see in the dark, which is the darkness of their soul, and therefore unleashes even more uncertainty and fear, which eventually will spiral out of control into even worse terror.

Isaiah 21:10

Copyright Ó 2014 J. Neely

Isaiah 21:10ues

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10 O my threshing [madushshah], and the corn [ben] of my floor [goren]: that which I have heard [shama`] of the LORD [Yahovah] of hosts [tsaba'], the God ['elohiym] of Israel [Yisra'el], have I declared [nagad] unto you.  KJV-Interlinear

10 O my threshed people, and my afflicted of the threshing floor! What I have heard from the Lord of hosts, The God of Israel, I make known to you.   NASB

Too many people do not take life seriously, do not take the Bible seriously, do not consider the importance of receiving its instruction, and prefer to live within their life of pretense and illusion.  History is a repetition of threshing from generation to generation, sorting out those who are worthy from those who are not. 

A threshed people are those who are repeatedly tossed into the air, letting the wind or breeze blow away the worthless chaff and allowing the good grain to fall to the floor, worthy of being gathered up for productive use.

And so Isaiah reminds us all, that these words were heard by him, directly from God, and he is telling us in no uncertain terms that we need to get our act together, lest we be caught up in the wind and blown away as worthless.

That threshing is not just a simple floating away, but the destruction of a horrible end to our life.

The horrible can be pain and suffering or simply loss of reward, forever.  But in either case, the loss is beyond anything imaginable, and there is no excuse for anyone to lose out on anything, except for their own stubborn indifference or inconsistency in bible study.

The Bible is not an entertainment, but a boot camp training ground for eternity.  There are no roses in boot camp, no sweet drill instructors to take hold of your hand, no chocolates on the pillow to greet your sleep.

If you are worthy, you will stick it out.  If not, you won’t.

And the reality of it is, that Bible study is the least intrusive and the easiest thing in your life, helping you get through life, preparing you for whatever comes. 

For the most part, your ability to deal with problems is going to be related to your consistency or inconsistency in study.  There is no cost, and no effort to read, listen and learn.  God puts it all together inside of your head, if you are consistent.

Isaiah, heard the words and wrote them down.

I merely wrote these same words and put together a study for us all.

The bottom line all comes down to you, and your ability to pay attention, be in fellowship, listen, read, learn and more important, to keep on doing this for your entire life.

The benefit is great, and it is there.  Do you really believe it, or will you be a flash and then gone type of person?  Do you have to be entertained?  Do you have what it takes to ask the tough questions, to be objective, to really, really want to learn, to dig and dig until you know?

Can you stick it out especially when times get tough, when things get boring, when it all seems to have nothing to do with anything?

Isaiah 21:9

Copyright Ó 2014 J. Neely

Isaiah 21:9ues

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9 And, behold, here cometh [bow'] a chariot [rekeb] of men ['iysh], with a couple [tsemed] of horsemen [parash]. And he answered [`anah] and said ['amar], Babylon [Babel] is fallen [naphal], is fallen [naphal]; and all the graven images [paciyl] of her gods ['elohiym] he hath broken [shabar] unto the ground ['erets].  KJV-Interlinear

9 "Now behold, here comes a troop of riders, horsemen in pairs." And one answered and said, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon; And all the images of her gods are shattered on the ground."  NASB

And now Isaiah reports what the watchman says, first of what is going to happen and then second what has happened.  And since these events are future, this makes them certain to occur.  Doctrine has seen it, it will occur, it is recorded, and then since this is written, so it will be done.

God always has the final say.

The horsemen are the advancing army of judgment.

The repetition of the word Babylon, Babylon, makes it clear as to who the guilty is, the inevitability of their failure, the certainty of their guilt, and the reality of the judgment against them.  The broken gods, insures the thoroughness of Gods judgment.

There are no mistakes.  Everyone has ample warning.  No one will have any excuse to claim.  Gods word is final and just.

Babylon is the symbolism of evil in the world, the symbolism of the choices that people have made, do make, and will make in their lives, despite all of the clear warnings from God, through His written word, in which people simply have no interest.

Therefore, the end will come and when it does, too many will wonder, ‘What happened.’

This same principle applies not only to the end of the world, but to the lives of each and every individual who lives in this world.  That includes you.  So, do not be among those who will wonder cluelessly, when it is all said and done.

Isaiah 21:8

Copyright Ó 2014 J. Neely

Isaiah 21:8ues

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8 And he cried [qara'], A lion ['ariy]: My lord ['Adonay], I stand [`amad] continually [tamiyd] upon the watchtower [mitspeh] in the daytime [yowmam], and I am set [natsab] in my ward [mishmereth] whole nights [layil]:  KJV-Interlinear

8 Then the lookout called, "O Lord, I stand continually by day on the watchtower, And I am stationed every night at my guard post.  NASB

Lions are often painted or sculptured onto buildings as symbols of watchmen or lookouts.  They are fierce and foreboding, and even when seemingly asleep, their eyes miss nothing.  Isaiah is the fierce lion watchman.  Bible doctrine is the lion of fierceness and alertness and watching constantly and continually throughout history.

Doctrine is constant, unchanging, and reliable.  It keeps watch by day, and by night.

Bible doctrine keeps the watch in storms, in prosperity, in times of trouble, in times of affluence, in times of positive volition toward truth, and in times of apostasy.

And even when there is nothing to be seen on the horizon, and even when the days turn to months, turn to years, turn to centuries, turn to millennia, Bible doctrine is at its post watching, waiting.

For the prophecy is true and real. 

And when all others fall away because so much time has passed and nothing is fulfilled, when all others have long forgotten what awaits them in the future, when all others have given up and turned to other more enticing philosophies, Bible doctrine remains faithful, obedient, and unwavering at its post.

Who else has such dedication?

Isaiah 21:7

Copyright Ó 2014 J. Neely

Isaiah 21:7ues

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7 And he saw [ra'ah] a chariot [rekeb] with a couple [tsemed] of horsemen [parash], a chariot [rekeb] of asses [chamowr], and a chariot [rekeb] of camels [gamal]; and he hearkened [qashab] diligently [qesheb] with much [rab] heed [qesheb]:  KJV-Interlinear

7 "When he sees riders, horsemen in pairs, A train of donkeys, a train of camels, Let him pay close attention, very close attention."   NASB

No person can look at history, throughout history, simply because no single person can live that long to be able to observe history first hand.

So Isaiah is the eyes of our watchman, using doctrine, given by God.  God is of course here all of the time, from eternity past to eternity future.  His eyes have seen everything.  Gods eyes miss nothing.  And doctrine is our report on that which is seen.

And this is what the watchman will see.  It is future of course, by the foreknowledge of God revealed to us with certainty, that which will occur.

At some appointed time, in the Tribulation, there will be observed movements of armies.  Cavalry, logistical supply convoys, infantry, mobile troops, and so forth.

This is the meaning of the train of donkeys and camels, and horsemen in pairs, all signifying a large army advancing in columns, in formation, complete with supplies and so forth.

Paying close attention, means to observe that which has already been foretold.  To verify, to confirm, to be a first hand witness of history unfolding, showing the destruction of Babylon, which is the world gone anti-God, gone in opposition to God, and is now facing its own destruction.

The armies of God, is the judgment of God, coming with power, and with certainty, in an orderly and consistent and unwavering fashion, toward a conclusion that has already been known for a very long time.

Isaiah 21:6

Copyright Ó 2014 J. Neely

Isaiah 21:6ues

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6 For thus hath the Lord ['Adonay] said ['amar] unto me, Go [yalak], set [`amad] a watchman [tsaphah], let him declare [nagad] what he seeth [ra'ah].  KJV-Interlinear

6 For thus the Lord says to me, "Go, station the lookout, let him report what he sees.  NASB

Lack of doctrine in the soul, produces cowardice.  Doctrine not learned from instruction, means you depend on your own resources.  Bible doctrine in the soul, learned from instruction, produces courage since that doctrine depends on the resources of God, not you.

And now Isaiah is instructed to set or appoint a watchman.  One who will keep a vigilant watch for signs and indications of the things to come.

This watch is not for events that are expected immediately.

Watchman, ‘tsaphah,’ means one who stands alert, and keeps a lookout day and night for as long as it takes.  This is a long term vigil.  This is a permanent position.

The events of this prophecy are not expected in the near future, but in the distant future, relative to Isaiah’s time.

And as we have already studied, this prophecy is set for the final days of history.

But again, do people watch?  With what do they watch?

A spiritually negative world has no frame of reference for watching or for keeping a lookout.

But bible doctrine keeps watch for us.

Jesus Christ controls history.

Jesus Christ is the living person of both God and man, in one person, the unique person in all of existence.

Bible doctrine is the written person of Jesus Christ.  To learn doctrine is to learn Christ. 

To receive doctrine into your soul is to receive Christ in written form, into your soul for a permanent station within you.

Bible doctrine has declared what is to be.  We have but to be aware of it by means of the consistency of our daily study, and more.

Isaiah 21:5

Copyright Ó 2014 J. Neely

Isaiah 21:5ues

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5 Prepare [`arak] the table [shulchan], watch [tsaphah] in the watchtower [tsaphiyth], eat ['akal], drink [shathah]: arise [quwm], ye princes [sar], and anoint [mashach] the shield [magen].   KJV-Interlinear

5 They set the table, they spread out the cloth, they eat, they drink; "Rise up, captains, oil the shields,"   NASB

Jesus Christ controls history.  People disregard history.  Jesus Christ is truth.  People disregard truth.  Jesus Christ wants you to be prepared.  People resist preparation.  Jesus Christ gives commands.  People ignore them.  What then would you expect from a society that is indifferent to life, except for that which entices?

The preparation of the table, is the preparation of a feast, a celebration, a party.  This is done behind fortified walls.  Walls that provide a false sense of security.

Outside the walls, are the threats of the world.  Threats that are obvious, but are ignored.

The command is to set the watch in the watchtower.  While the many are partying, the few, very few, are on watch.

Eat and drink, describes the activity of the party, and the attitude of the masses, even in the midst of the storm.

And so Isaiah leaves his description of the destruction of the city of Babylon, which is symbolic for the entire world, and now describes the attitude of the residents of the city, the world.

The entire world, in the last days, which you recall is the Tribulation, which is that seven year period of unimaginable suffering, will be in a state of indifference. 

The world in the first three-and-a-half years will see destruction and chaos, crime and tyranny that will take literally, the lives of half of the worlds population.  That is a lot of death, a lot of disasters, a lot of services that no longer exist.

And what is everyone doing?  They are not taking it seriously.  They are not on watch, meaning they are not paying attention to God, to Christ, to doctrine, to anything except their own selfish interests.  They party as though there is no danger, no emergency, nothing to be concerned about.

And then what happens? 

Then a sudden call to arms.  Arise, prepare your shields, make ready for a fight or for danger. But what is the danger?  How can you defend against Gods judgment?  How can you correct your own lack of preparation?  How can you do in an instant, that which takes years to prepare?

And you can imagine the outcome.

This prophecy was made a very long time ago.  Do people listen?  Do people pay attention?  Do people actually read their daily studies?  Do people even know what they need to be doing?  Do they care?

In this world there are very few who will take life seriously and actually prepare themselves spiritually. That preparation is so simple.  Just a daily study is all that it takes to get your soul into shape.

This is not a hoarding of water or amo or food or gold.  This is a preparation of the soul.

But, most people in this world, the vast majority, do not see the seriousness of their situation.  They live in the false sense of security of their own false beliefs, their own works, their own do-it-yourself preparation, if even that.  

They do not set up a watch.  Alertness of living in fellowship.

They do to hoard for the hard times.  Spiritual provision from God as a result of doctrine in the soul.

They do not consider the warnings or signs of the times.  The discernment of doctrine in the soul.

Why does the bible constantly call for preparation?  Why does the bible constantly warn against the lack of preparation?  Why does God give humanity so much time? And yet…

So, which are you?

Isaiah 21:4

Copyright Ó 2014 J. Neely

Isaiah 21:4ues

http://www.dailybiblestudy.org

4 My heart [lebab] panted [ta`ah], fearfulness [pallatsuwth] affrighted [ba`ath] me: the night [nesheph] of my pleasure [chesheq] hath he turned [suwm] into fear [charadah] unto me.  KJV-Interlinear

4 My mind reels, horror overwhelms me; The twilight I longed for has been turned for me into trembling.   NASB

Just to correct a little confusion.  You cannot look to one person or group or country and say that they are the Babylon.  Babylon is symbolic in these prophecies, representing the evil of the entire world.  It is not a city or nation, but by the time of the Rapture, it will apply to, and describe, all countries and all peoples in the entire world. 

Satan started evil from the source of his arrogance.  People simply perpetuate it from the source of their indifference toward truth. Both originate from arrogance.  Both are the source of invented religions, philosophies, and belief systems all of which are totally false.

Isaiah continues in his description of the attitude of those who will be caught up in the phenomenal destruction of judgment in those end days of history.

The night of my pleasure, refers to the night life, the time that most look to and anticipate good times, partying, rest and relaxation, contentment in ones latter years or at any time of ones life. It is a false system of peace or accomplishment that in reality does not and never will exist, for those who reject truth.

The panting heart describes one who is staggering as though intoxicated, and so giddy, anxious, confused, disoriented, and frightened.

The plans of their life, their ideals, their possessions, their status, all that they looked forward to, are gone.

Some people are disgusting criminal types, leaches, power mongers.  Some people are, sincere, religious, maybe even church goers, dedicated to the presumed nobility of their beliefs.  But in the end, all who reject God, Christ, truth for whatever reason or motivation, they will all fall into the category of evil.

Evil begins simple such as taking a single bite out of the fruit of a forbidden tree, but all evil regardless of its innocence or magnitude, degenerates into corruption and violence, and eventually to its maximum low which is the end of the world.

Isaiah 21:3

Copyright Ó 2014 J. Neely

Isaiah 21:3ues

http://www.dailybiblestudy.org

3 Therefore are my loins [mothen] filled [male'] with pain [chalchalah]: pangs [tsiyr] have taken hold ['achaz] upon me, as the pangs [tsiyr] of a woman that travaileth [yalad]: I was bowed down [`avah] at the hearing [shama`] of it; I was dismayed [bahal] at the seeing [ra'ah] of it.  KJV-Interlinear

3 For this reason my loins are full of anguish; Pains have seized me like the pains of a woman in labor. I am so bewildered I cannot hear, so terrified I cannot see.  NASB

Babylon represents the state of the entire world when the final days of history finally arrive.  Here is a brief description of the horrors of judgment, far beyond anything that has ever struck humanity in all of human history.

Using a description of a child birth that has gone bad, Isaiah describes a birth that is a normal event, something that has occurred routinely innumerable times throughout history, but now the mother is alone and helpless, with everything that can go wrong, goes wrong.  There is no help, no one to turn to, no assistance, no relief, nothing.

And the pains and anguish never subside.  They only get worse.

Bowed down at the hearing and dismayed at the seeing, describes one who is unable to hear or see, not because it was beyond perception, but because the individual refused to see or hear.  The eyes are darkened, the ears are closed.

The calamity is so great, the prior knowledge of its coming is so overwhelming, that accepting it is refused, believing it is denied.

This is the spiritual state of the world in the very end.  A destination that the current world is heading straight for through indifference.

Evil always increases directly proportional with the magnitude of indifference and apathy.  The magnitude of judgment always matches the magnitude of the evil.  Extreme judgment means extreme evil.  Extreme evil means extreme indifference.  Extreme indifference always matches extreme unwillingness to see or hear truth.

What happens at the end, childbirth, always follows prior knowledge long before its coming, conception and pregnancy.