Jerusalem

The Beginning of the End

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

The Beginning of the End

Book of Luke Chapter 21

This is one of the chapters in the New Testament that is known as the Olivet Discourse.

The Lord Jesus will teach us:

1) The destruction of the Temple.
2) His return.
3) The end of the world.

The Book of Matthew, Chapters twenty-four and twenty-five, along with the Book of Mark Chapter 13, should also be studied to get a complete picture of what the Lord Jesus is teaching here.

The Lord Jesus begins with the destruction of the Temple.

We should understand that this Temple was intended to be a House of Prayer.

Mat_21:13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.
Mrk_11:17 And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.
Luk_19:46 Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves.

The Temple had been made into a house of commerce and was no longer the house of God, but a house of men.

Only for faith did it have any value, such as that poor widow who had given all she had in faith.

The disciples of the Lord were still blind to the corruption in the House of God at this time.

Much of the Church is blind to the corruption in many houses of God today, which are more entertainment centers than they are Houses of Prayer.

What is wrong with the Houses of God today? Repentance is no longer required, and the Bible is not preached, or it has been changed to reveal a false gospel.

*Luk 21:5 And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said,
Luk 21:6 As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

The Lord Jesus begins to reveal to them what will happen to this Temple that they are so proud of, and some of them may have still been alive to see it happen.

The Lord Jesus describes to them the destruction of Jerusalem and the total destruction of the Temple that took place in 70 AD.

The siege of Jerusalem began in April 70 AD, led by the Roman general Titus, as part of the First Jewish Revolt against Roman rule (66-73 AD).

The city was already weakened by internal strife among various Jewish factions, including the Zealots, which hindered their ability to mount a unified defense against the Roman forces.

After months of intense fighting, the Romans breached the city walls and captured Jerusalem. The climax of the siege occurred in the summer of 70 AD when the Romans set fire to the Second Temple.

Estimates suggest that over a million Jews died during the conflict, with many more enslaved or displaced.

The Romans systematically destroyed much of the city, leaving only a few structures, including parts of the Western Wall, which remains a site of pilgrimage today.

The fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Temple fundamentally altered Jewish religious life and still does today.

The destruction of the Jewish Temple in 70 AD was a significant event that reshaped Jewish history, culture, and religion, with effects that are still felt today.

It is said that Titus did not want the Temple to be destroyed, but he lost control of his armies and Temple was set on fire to melt all the gold that could be captured.

Josephus the historian wrote that, except for Herod’s three great towers and part of the western wall, the whole circuit of the city was so thoroughly levelled and dug up that no one visiting it would believe that it had ever been inhabited.

This is why the Muslim say today that Israel never existed.

The disciples then wanted to know when these things would take place.

*Luk 21:7 And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?
Luk 21:8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.

The Book of Mark tells us that Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked this question.

They also asked if there would be a sign before it happened.

The Jews did love their Temple. We know that King Herod had spent forty-six years making the Temple one of the great wonders of the world.

The government of the Jews had no respect for Jehovah God.

The disciples had already begun to see that the Lord Jesus was not going to sit as King of the Jews at this time, and this thing told of the Lord made this more real to them.

The Lord Jesus told them that this destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple was not one of the signs of the end times.

The Apostles of Jesus Christ would face some terrible times as they taught the first words of Christianity and the beginning of the Church.

In other words, there will come a time of the destruction of Jerusalem and a new rebuilt Temple, which would take place during the time of the Gentiles.

Mat 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
Mat 24:22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.

We get the idea that it would certainly be centuries before the return of Jesus Christ, first to get His Church and Second to reclaim Jerusalem and all the earth.

2Pe 3:2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:
2Pe 3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
2Pe 3:4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
2Pe 3:5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
2Pe 3:6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:

What is the greatest sign mentioned by the Lord Jesus Christ?

The sign of deception!

Mat 24:23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.
Mat 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Mat 24:25 Behold, I have told you before.

The Lord Jesus is dealing with the end of the Temple and the end of the world, the destruction of the Temple and the destruction of the world.

It is sin that causes the judgment of God upon this entire world and not just the sin of the Jews!

Deception is the state of being misled.

As Christians, we recognize that the Church Age will end with the judgment at the return of Jesus Christ.

Because God is Holy, He must judge all that is unholy; otherwise, He would no longer be Holy Himself.

God is judging in this present age as every true Christian has been justified, but this future judgment goes much further than this.

At some point in the past, God judged Lucifer and the fallen angels.

God judged the people of the earth when He sent the flood.

God judged the people at the Tower of Babel, and the different languages began.

God judged the Northern Kingdom of Israel, and then later He judged the Southern Kingdom of Judah.

None of these things were the final judgment.

Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
Heb 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Believers will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ.

Rom 14:10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

Unbelievers will stand before the White Throne Judgment!

Rev 20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Rev 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

At the end of the ages, God will judge Satan and his demons together with the beasts and the false prophet.

Yes, judgment is coming to all God’s created people!

A great deception is already in place today in the Church and in the world.

We believe that after the Rapture of the Church and the Church meets the Lord Jesus in the air, it is at this time or near this time that a covenant of peace will be signed with Israel, and the Temple will be rebuilt, and the priestly duties, along with animal sacrifices, will begin again.

This begins the time of Jacob’s trouble, when Israel has relative peace until they find out that the Antichrist, who is the great deceiver, has no intention of peace, the sacrifices will stop, and the Temple will again be destroyed in what we know of as the Great Tribulation.

Dan 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

Mat_24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

This is the time of Israel, and God has removed the Church just as he promised before this takes place.

Some things should not bother us too much, for the Church will not see this wrath of God as He has promised.
As long as the Church is upon this earth, we are to stay busy spreading the Gospel.

The Lord Jesus says that we will live in a time of unrest, and we are today, and it may get worse before we go home to Heaven.

We have seen this unrest since the Crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ and the beginning of the Church Age.

*Luk 21:9 But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.
Luk 21:10 Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:

What have we seen?

1) We have seen nations fight each other and kingdoms take up arms against each other.
2) We have seen that the earth has been moved by great earthquakes and natural disasters.
3) Heaven has also spoken; terrible things have happened that make great impressions, and great signs in the heavens have already been seen.

The Lord Jesus said that these things are going to happen, but they are not necessarily signs that the end is imminent.

The Lord Jesus Christ was preparing His Apostles for His death and departure and preparing them to carry on without Him.

We already know that these eleven men and the Apostle Paul faced some terrible times in which they were all martyred, but the Apostle John.

The most important thing we can gain from this message of Jesus Christ is that we must not grow weary in waiting for His return.

He was telling us all that we will see and experience so much trouble in our world that our faith might falter, and we must guard against this happening.

Many walk this earth today after their own lusts, not even caring if Christ will return, in fact stating, where is He, where is His promise.

One of the key signs of the return of Jesus Christ is what we see today: 1Jn 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
1Jn 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
1Jn 2:20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.

Many of the doubters come from the Church itself.

We see a falling away from the Church today, but this speaks of those who belong to Satan who have become leaders in many churches and now deny Jesus Christ.

We should know that God is never caught off guard. He is still on the throne and still in charge of His creation.

We should not get caught off guard ourselves. We can expect these things from a corrupt world, so we must not get discouraged.

Joh 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
Joh 14:2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Joh 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Joh 14:4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

We will face challenges that will try to draw us away from God, our Savior.

We must concentrate our trust on New Heaven and the New Earth and not in this world.

We must remember that the Lord Jesus was not preaching a sermon here; He was answering the questions from His Apostles.

Joh 16:31 Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe?
Joh 16:32 Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.
Joh 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

We should also understand that the turmoil we see in our world is not part of the plan of God; He just knows that these things will happen.

It is because of the lust, the greed, and the wickedness in this evil world, which never goes away.

Jas 4:1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
Jas 4:2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
Jas 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
Jas 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

We must not get caught off guard by these things we see every day!

We see how violent our world has become, so we believe that the end is near, and it may be, but it may not be.

We are to remain busy with the work of the Lord!

Jer 51:45 My people, go ye out of the midst of her, and deliver ye every man his soul from the fierce anger of the LORD.
Jer 51:46 And lest your heart faint, and ye fear for the rumour that shall be heard in the land; a rumour shall both come one year, and after that in another year shall come a rumour, and violence in the land, ruler against ruler.

There will most certainly be natural disasters, which may increase and have.

We do live in a cursed world!

*Luk 21:11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.

We can say that since the time of the flood, there have been great earthquakes.

We seem to forget sometimes that when the Lord Jesus first created this earth, all the land was in one great continent.

During and after the flood, this big continent broke apart, and volcanoes and earthquakes began as the tectonic plates began to shift and are still shifting.

Gen_7:11 In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.

Gen_10:25 And unto Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg; for in his days was the earth divided; and his brother’s name was Joktan.

What do we know about earthquakes?

Just on March 30th.

Map data from National Geographic
5.1 magnitude Celebes Sea
3.9 magnitude Road Town, British Virgin Islands
4.9 magnitude, Lakatoro, Malampa, Vanuatu
4.2 magnitude, The Valley, Anguilla
4.1 magnitude, Road Town, British Virgin Islands
4.6 magnitude, Fiji
Another 5.0 magnitude, The Valley, Anguilla
Another 3.9 magnitude, The Valley, Anguilla
Another 3.6 magnitude, Road Town, British Virgin Islands
Another 3.7 magnitude, The Valley, Anguilla

There have been 195 earthquakes in the past 24 hours
1,278 earthquakes in the past 7 days
5,452 earthquakes in the past 30 days
50,842 earthquakes in the past 365 days

Earthquakes are one of the most feared disasters among people.

The historian Josephus made a record of the earthquake that fulfilled the prophecy of the Lord Jesus upon the cross.

Josephus also thought the world was coming to an end on the day Jesus died.

He wrote: There broke out a prodigious storm in the night, with utmost violence, and very strong winds, with the largest shower of rain and continuous lightnings, terrible thundering, and amazing concussions and bellowings of the earth, that was in an earthquake.

He added: These things were a manifest indication that some destruction was coming upon men, when the system of the world was put into this disorder, and anyone would guess that these wonders foretold some grand calamities that were coming.

The Lord Jesus speaks of “great earthquakes” more powerful than what we see daily.

Food is one of the necessities we cannot do without. Jesus said there would be a great famine before Jerusalem falls again.

Rev 6:5 And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.
Rev 6:6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.

The Bible says that those who are slain with the sword are better off than they that die from hunger.

There will be great diseases, and we know disease shows no partiality.

No one can buy their way out of an epidemic of disease.

There will be fearful sights and great signs in the heavens.

We know that the earth can be darkened by the dust of volcanoes, windstorms, and even smoke from huge fires.

Whatever darkens the sun will also affect the moon.

Meteorites fall from the sky, and we have been seeing very large meteorites pass through our solar system lately.

Large enough to destroy our planet.

The earth is primed for all these things to take place, but if we believe that the “Rapture” is the next event on God’s calendar to take place, then there is one more thing that will take place.

*Luk 21:12 But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake.
Luk 21:13 And it shall turn to you for a testimony.
Luk 21:14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:
Luk 21:15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.

This is the sign that concerns the Christian that will happen before God removes His Church.

Right now, there is a Christian murdered every two hours just for following the Lord Jesus Christ, and it is only going to get worse.

For them, following the Lord Jesus Christ has cost them everything!

They are tortured and murdered just for saying “I believe in Jesus Christ”.

This is the reality for Christians who live in the Islamic World.

More than 388 million Christians suffer high levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith.

We had better understand that we will face persecution for claiming our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

We stand for godliness; the world is not godly, nor does the world seek to become godly.

The Muslims claim to serve the God of Abraham, yet they reject the Lord Jesus Christ, so this is an outright lie; they serve the Devil.

All those who live for the world do not think they should have to change; therefore, the message of Jesus Christ is that they will die in their sin.

Repentance is not even taught in many so-called houses of God today because few people left are willing to change their lives.

When this persecution happens, we must be settled in our hearts that we will remain with Christ, and the Holy Spirit will use our own mouths to speak the words of Jesus Christ.

Without a test of our faithfulness, we will never have a testimony!

What will our persecution look like?

Luk 21:16 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.
Luk 21:17 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake.
Luk 21:18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish.
Luk 21:19 In your patience possess ye your souls.

*Luk 21:20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.

Many believe that the destruction of Jerusalem by Rome in 70 AD was the fulfillment of this prophecy.

1.1 million Jews were slaughtered.

97,000 were taken captive and removed from Jerusalem.

Not one Jew was left alive in Jerusalem.

Not one Christian died because they fled Jerusalem before the siege of Jerusalem took place.

Many Jews have used this as an excuse to hate Christians ever since, but our main job is to obey the Word of God and not this world.

The Romans not only destroyed the Temple and Jerusalem, but they also ransacked the entire area around Jerusalem, so that it looked as if no one had ever lived there.

Was this even what the Lord Jesus described?

After the destruction of Jerusalem and the dispersion of the Jews predicted by Jesus in the previous verses, there would come a long period when Jerusalem would be dominated by Gentiles.

But miraculously, in 1948, Israel again became a nation, and in 1967 Jerusalem was captured again by the Jews and is now again one of the mightiest nations on this earth.

As long as the Muslim rule on the Temple Mount, Jerusalem is still trampled by the Gentiles, there remains prophecy to be fulfilled.

Dan 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

As Christians, we believe that this one week is the seven years of tribulation that have not taken place yet and will not until the Rapture of the Church has taken place.

The truth is that no one knows exactly when these things will happen, and the Lord Jesus says to watch and pray.

To watch means to keep up with what is going on in Israel and Jerusalem at all times.

*Luk 21:21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.
Luk 21:22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
Luk 21:23 But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.
Luk 21:24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

No doubt these things took place in the siege of Jerusalem in 70 AD.

Some who Jesus was teaching were alive to see these things happen.

Some of the Apostles and the Christians fled to a place called Pella in the district of Decapolis.

In reality, we are still to be prepared for the coming judgment of the end times because we know they have not taken place yet.

As Christians, we may be actual witnesses to the beginning of these things of the end times.

*Luk 21:25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
Luk 21:26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
Luk 21:27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
Luk 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

We should understand that Jesus describes things that did not happen in the years around 70 AD, so the Lord Jesus is describing a future event.

Revelation Chapters 6, 8-9, 15-18 give us a much clearer picture of what the Lord Jesus is teaching here.

Our universe will be in complete turmoil.

What Size Asteroid Would it take to destroy Earth?

It is believed that no single asteroid can completely and utterly destroy the Earth as a planet. However, an asteroid approximately 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) in diameter or larger could trigger a global catastrophe that renders the planet largely uninhabitable for humans and many other species.

In the last few years, there have been asteroids or comets that have entered our solar system larger than this.

Gravity is another power in the heavens, and gravity in some way must fail before the stars of heaven can fall.

The power above all power is in God, the Holy Trinity, who only can cause such things to fail.

It is at the end of these things that the Lord Jesus will return to this earth.

The Church will already be in Heaven or will be returning with the Lord Jesus, so those who are gathered would be those who were saved during the Great Tribulation, and they would be mostly Jews, who still have God’s covenant.

Rom 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
Rom 11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
Rom 11:27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
Rom 11:28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes.

This is the remnant that is mentioned throughout the Bible.

Isa 10:21 The remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God.

This is a lot to take in, but when we see any of these things begin to take place, then we need to look up, lift our heads high, because we are soon going home.

Remembering that deception is the main culprit affecting the Church, we should be holding our heads up high now and not be deceived.

The Church will be out of here soon.

Amen

Being Obedient to God

/ Bobby Mayfield / 1 Comment

Coming to the House of the Lord
 
Book of Psalms 122 Verses 1-9
 
 Up until October 7, 2023, when Israel’s war began, millions of people traveled to Israel, most of them were Christians.
 
Some few go now but not many.
 
Most Christians are headed to Jerusalem because everyone knows Jerusalem is special.
 
Some people say “It just feels like home” even though they had never been there before.
 
We know that our Messiah walked all over Israel, but He was crucified at Jerusalem.
 
As Christians, we know that our spiritual roots extend to Jerusalem!
 
We will spend a thousand years in Jerusalem serving the Lord, but we will spend eternity in New Jerusalem.
 
The redeemed of all the ages who will walk through those pearly gates of New Jerusalem to bask in the glorious presence of the Lord Jesus Christ.
 
Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
Rev 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Rev 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
 
One day that trumpet will sound, and we will hear and heed the call to worship in God’s true House.
 
Let us listen to these clear instructions to all believers.
 
Psa 122:1 A Song of degrees of David. I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.
 
We know that David rejoiced to go to the house of the Lord!
 
There was no Temple yet in Jerusalem, but David had built a Tabernacle in which the Ark of the Covenant was placed.
 
2Sa_6:17 And they brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it: and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.
 
David was a man after God’s own heart.
 
David loved to be in the presence of God.
 
We know the Lord had chosen to put His name in Jerusalem many years before this.
 
Deu 12:11 Then there shall be a place which the LORD your God shall choose to cause his name to dwell there; thither shall ye bring all that I command you; your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, your tithes, and the heave offering of your hand, and all your choice vows which ye vow unto the LORD:
 
Every Christian should have a great desire to go to the House of God and even go more often because of the things we see today going on in Israel.
 
Israel is God’s timepiece!
 
So, let us see if this phrase could have another meaning.
 
It could be describing to us the restoration of Israel when the Lord returns to restore this Earth as it was in the day of Adam.
 
Amo 9:11 In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old:
Amo 9:12 That they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen, which are called by my name, saith the LORD that doeth this.
 
The phrase “that day” points toward the future.
 
In fact, it is probably referring to the time when the Lord Jesus will restore Israel as it was in the days of King David.
 
This means all the land God gave to Abraham.
 
So let us see which way the Scriptures go.
 
The Israelite men had to go to the Temple three times a year according to the Law of Moses.
 
For believers today, we should be in God’s House every time the doors are open to Praise our Savior!
 
We should know how to act in God’s House!
 
1Ti 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
1Ti 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
 
We should go to God’s House often and know that it is a command of God.
 
Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
 
Those who do not go to God’s House often are sinning against the Word of God!
 
We ought to rejoice when the appointed time comes to go to God’s House.
 
The Jewish feasts were special times, the highlights of the year and they celebrated the opportunity to go to God’s House.
 
I live in the Bible Belt and when I meet people on the street and ask them about Church most of them will claim to be saved, but they do not attend church regularly.
 
Many others go to church, but it seems to be a dreadful duty to them. They just as well stay home!
 
It should be a joyous occasion every time we go and hear what God has to say!
 
We must make being at church to be joyful, but it cannot be that way unless we love the Lord.
 
He is always at church to worship with us and even the Holy Spirit is always there because He lives within us.
 
Heb_13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
 
God has a purpose for everything He does.
 
What was God’s purpose for the founding of Jerusalem?
 
Psa 122:2 Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem.
Psa 122:3 Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together:
Psa 122:4 Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the LORD.
Psa 122:5 For there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David.
 
***The most important reason for going to Jerusalem was the fact that God had chosen Jerusalem as the place where He would establish His name!
 
Deu 12:5 But unto the place which the LORD your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there, even unto his habitation shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come:
Deu 12:6 And thither ye shall bring your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and heave offerings of your hand, and your vows, and your freewill offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and of your flocks:
Deu 12:7 And there ye shall eat before the LORD your God, and ye shall rejoice in all that ye put your hand unto, ye and your households, wherein the LORD thy God hath blessed thee.
 
Psa 87:2 The LORD loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
Psa 87:3 Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah.
 
Heb 12:22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
Heb 12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
Heb 12:24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
 
There should be no doubt that God loves Jerusalem!
 
We can also understand that Jerusalem is a picture of the New Jerusalem, but we will not know the full picture of this until the Lord Jesus sits on the throne of David in Jerusalem.
 
We could also say until the Lord Jesus sits upon the throne of David to rule this world.
 
God will dwell among His people in the New Jerusalem!
 
Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
Rev 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Rev 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
 
***There is a second reason:
 
Jerusalem had strong, closely guarded walls.
 
Jerusalem was a secure city.
 
2Sa 5:9 So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward.
 
Most people felt safe when they were inside the walls of Jerusalem.
 
***There is yet a third reason.
 
The walls of Jerusalem were solid walls.
 
Jerusalem was without a doubt the City of God!
 
Psa 48:8 As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the LORD of hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish it for ever. Selah.
 
This same God Jehovah is the same God today, still full of power and majesty.
 
Psa 48:14 For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.
 
When the gates of the city came into view of God’s children, they knew they were almost home!
 
Israel was a nation of tribes, and they were all essentially one family. Their leaders were each the sons of Jacob who became Israel. They may have forgotten that for a while, but they are bound to remember when it becomes time to choose the world or time to choose God’s family.
 
***There is a fourth reason.
 
As a nation of tribes who had a common ancestor, then they needed a place to gather in the name of God.
 
Each tribe may operate independently but they could come together in unity because they all had the same God!
 
When they gathered together for the feast to give thanks to the Lord they obeyed the testimony of Israel, the laws that God had given to them.
 
Exo 23:14 Three times thou shalt keep a feast unto me in the year.
Exo 23:15 Thou shalt keep the feast of unleavened bread: (thou shalt eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded thee, in the time appointed of the month Abib; for in it thou camest out from Egypt: and none shall appear before me empty:)
Exo 23:16 And the feast of harvest, the firstfruits of thy labours, which thou hast sown in the field: and the feast of ingathering, which is in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labours out of the field.
Exo 23:17 Three times in the year all thy males shall appear before the Lord GOD.
 
There is a great feeling of relief that comes from knowing that you have been obedient to the Almighty Living God.
 
Jerusalem was the appointed worship center where they came in unity.
 
God ordained this physical location on our planet for Israel to gather to worship Him.
 
The world may refuse to acknowledge this, but it does not make it any less true.
 
Anyone, anyone who tries to alter this ordination of God deserves the punishment that God will place on them!
 
***A fifth reason also comes to us.
 
Jerusalem was also Israel’s political center, much like Washington DC is the political center of the United States of America.
 
We could say the United Tribes of Israel, and this is who they are when they are obedient to God!
 
In Jerusalem was the location of the Throne of Judgment.
 
One of the King’s most important duties was to render judgment and execute justice.
 
The thrones of the house of David would extend until it will be the Lord Jesus Christ, King Jesus, who will sit upon that throne in Jerusalem.
 
2Sa 7:13 He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.
 
2Sa 7:16 And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.
2Sa 7:17 According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.
 
The Jerusalem of old is a picture of New Jerusalem to come in many ways.
 
When the Apostle John was on the Isle of Patmos, the Lord Jesus showed him the New Jerusalem.
 
John reported what he saw.
 
Rev 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
 
God’s people will rejoice in New Jerusalem, and all the painful things of this life will have passed away.
 
Rev 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
 
This new city will be full of God’s Glory.
 
Rev 21:10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
Rev 21:11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
 
We will all be secure within the walls of New Jerusalem.
 
Rev 21:12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
Rev 21:13 On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.
Rev 21:14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
 
All God’s people from every nation and every tribe will come together in New Jerusalem.
 
Rev 21:23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
Rev 21:24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.
 
We see that God has a plan and those who are against Him cannot stop it!
 
The greatest privilege after salvation is the privilege to stand in God’s House in New Jerusalem!
 
There will be a gathering of family members who have gone on before us and those who will come after us.
The Word of God will be exalted because we will understand the things that God has done.
We will praise God like never before because we will truly have the mind of Christ.
We will understand that we are safe and secure throughout all eternity.
 
Today, especially because of what we see and what we know, we need to pray earnestly for the peace of Jerusalem.
 
*****Psa 122:6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.
Psa 122:7 Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces.
Psa 122:8 For my brethren and companions’ sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee.
Psa 122:9 Because of the house of the LORD our God I will seek thy good.
 
If you are a Christian, you will love Jerusalem.
If you are a Christian, you will be on the side of Israel.
If you are a Christian, you will pray for the peace of Jerusalem and all of Israel.
 
To the Eastern part of the world, Jerusalem is called the Holy City and it is.
 
The Apostle Matthew used this phrase in Scripture and so did the Apostle John.
 
Mat_4:5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,
 
Rev_21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
 
Nehemiah, Isaiah, and Daniel used this phrase in the Old Testament all speaking of the same Jerusalem.
 
Shalom is living happy, untroubled, with a sense of fulfillment.
 
Shalom and its related words are among the most important theological words in the Old Testament.
 
Jerusalem has not seen peace throughout the Bible.
 
The closest this city of God came to peace was in the time of King David, but Jerusalem will finally see peace in the time of King Jesus.
 
David prayed for peace in Jerusalem asking for peace inside the walls of his city.
 
David was praying that God would bless the leaders of Israel and would protect them from the wickedness of this world.
 
How many of us pray such prayers?
 
David prayed for the peace of Jerusalem for the sake of his family friends and those of all of Israel.
 
We should remember that King David was responsible for the peace of Jerusalem in his day.
 
It is one thing to look out for your own self and that of your family, but it takes a lot more to look out for each individual in an entire city.
 
David next prayed for peace in God’s House.
 
If we consider all denominations to be the Church today, we can certainly see that there is no peace in God’s House.
 
We may brag about the church that we attend, but the truth is many denominations are throwing the Bible away and listening to what the world has to say rather than what God has to say.
 
The Pope the leader of the Catholic Church is one way today and another way tomorrow.
 
The Wesleyans have thrown out the truth of the Gospel.
 
The Methodists have forgotten the methods of truth.
 
The Protestant church has forgotten about those who protested for the truth.
 
The Southern Baptists have left the truth for lies.
 
We could go on and on, but the truth is God’s House is not at peace and the church is no longer holding back the evilness and the wickedness in this world.
 
We know that Israel is at war, so we surely know we need to pray for the peace of Jerusalem and all of Israel as the world turns its back on reality.
 
The fact remains there will be no peace in Jerusalem until the return of Christ!
There will be no peace in the Church until the Lord Jesus returns to separate the wheat from the tares!
There will be no peace in this world until King Jesus speaks with that sword in His mouth and brings an end to the time of Satan!
 
Today the Temple of Jerusalem lies in ruins part of it under the Muslim Dome of the Rock.
 
The Jews have to pray at what is called the Wailing Wall most of them have never been able to even go upon the Temple Mount.
 
Even so-called Christian sects in Jerusalem haggle over shrines and the Arabs and Jews are at each other’s throats.
 
The world refuses to recognize that land belongs to the Jews because God gave it to them and God is going to give it back to them.
 
Those nations that surround God’s people trying to rid this world of them will find that the shoe is on the other foot at the appearance of King Jesus.
 
The fact is that the Arab nations will almost destroy this world just to annihilate all the Jews, but King Jesus will settle this issue forever before this happens.
 
We can be with Him, or we can burn in Hell with all other unbelievers.
 
I choose the Lord!
 
Amen

God And The Nations Of This World

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

God and the Gentile Nations

Isaiah 37

In our last lesson we saw that King Hezekiah of Judah’s greatest threat was the destruction of Jerusalem.

We saw a general over view of these things. In this lesson we will see that everything that happened to evil King Sennacherib were executed and planned buy the Lord.

We may not always understand God’s plan but we can be sure it is only God’s plan that will win the most souls.

It should be clear to us that God’s hand has been in the history of this earth since creation!

God’s eyes are upon all men, those that love Him and those that do not!
God’s ears are open to their counsel and anything they say!
God is well aware of every thought that goes through the mind of every human being on this earth!

At the proper time and at the proper place, God will frustrate all the combinations of evil and bring to pass His purpose in righteousness!

We must clearly understand as Christians, we can never triumph over our spiritual enemies or have victories, without the almighty arm of God.

We already know that Jerusalem and King Hezekiah were under the threat of a ruthless king of Assyria.
Hezekiah has tried everything in his own power to buy peace, which never works!
Nothing can stop a foolish man seeking world domination except the Lord!

All of us should also understand that the children of God are never powerless to resist the evil in this world, as long as they have “faith” in the One True God, Jehovah!

And a special note: Isaiah was God’s scribe for the Book of Isaiah buy he also was God’s scribe for the Books of 1st and 2nd Kings and some of the same information appears in all these books.

When God says things once that should be enough but when God repeats what He says then we certainly need to pay attention!

Let’s begin:

*****Isa 37:14  And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went up unto the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD. 
Isa 37:15  And Hezekiah prayed unto the LORD, saying, 

The truth is, God knows our needs before we even ask but He will certainly delights when we get specific an unfold them with the confidence that He can solve any problem!

Nothing is to hard for God!

Jer 32:17  Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee: 

If God can but just speak things into existence, how can anything be to hard for Him to accomplish.

BUT, Prayers require our “Faith” to be answered!

We should understand the thoughts of King Sennacherib. He was seeking to dominate Egypt and the only obstacle left in his path was Jerusalem. If Jerusalem withstood him it would show his weakness and it would also leave an enemy to his rear as he attacked Egypt.

Military commanders do not like such things as this.

It seems the world we live in today still thinks that the way to control the Jews is to deny them the city Jerusalem. We still live in a foolish world that is determined to go against the Word of God and will certainly fail!

Sennacherib’s ambition not only threatened the Jews but also threatened the whole world.

We see this in Iran who desire to dominate all Muslim countries and then the world.
We see this in North Korea.
I believe this is Russia’s goal and also China’s but I also believe they respect equal or greater power, unlike Iran and certainly unlike North Korea, who has lived in denial so long that that really have no knowledge of this world.

We should clearly understand as Christians, that if we have something that is bothering us and constantly on our mind, then it is important enough to take to the Lord!

We will see the Hezekiah knew that God cared for him as an individual.
We will see that Hezekiah knew that God was his only help.
We will see that if we are identified with God then God will identify with us!

God’s treatment of His children will tell the world that the Lord is faithful, the Lord is loving, and our Lord is very strong!

We should see how one single prayer from one individual can affect the lives of so many people and also the things of this world that go against the will of God!

Jas_5:16  Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much”.

One man’s prayer of “faith” can set a lot of things in motion that are in the will of God! Of course that includes the faithful prayers of dear ladies also. The keys being that prayer must be a prayer of “faith” and that prayer must be in the will of God!

So Hezekiah prayed.

*****Isa 37:16  O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, that dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth: thou hast made heaven and earth.

**We first see that Hezekiah declared God’s greatness. Hezekiah prayed to Jehovah God, the Holy God of Israel, the God who was enthroned between the Cherubim on the Ark of the Testimony in His Shekinah Glory. He alone is the Supreme Creator of this world!

Jesus Christ teaches us all how to pray!

Mat 6:5  And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 
Mat 6:6  But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. 
Mat 6:7  But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. 
Mat 6:8  Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. 
Mat 6:9  After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 

**Hezekiah had also gone to the house of the Lord to make this supplication to the Lord.

We can pray anywhere and at any time when we know the Lord but there is simply something special about praying in the House of God, the place where we also worship Him and Him alone!

**Hezekiah also took the confidence he had in the power of God with him.

If we do not believe the Lord is the answer to our problems and that nothing is out of reach of His right arm, then no prayer will be answered!

In most cases we make our own plan and then ask God to approve our plan and it simply does not work that way. We must pray for God’s plan and then abide by God’s plan! God gives us the knowledge and the examples of what He has already done in His Word and God does not ever change. We should be able to plan our prayers around these things!

**We next see Hezekiah explained in detail the problems he faced and his nation faced.

God does not want some wishy washy prayer at any time but when we have a sincere need, we need to to do our best to explain that need. God already knows, so He wants to see if we really understand what we are asking Him to do.

*****Isa 37:17  Incline thine ear, O LORD, and hear; open thine eyes, O LORD, and see: and hear all the words of Sennacherib, which hath sent to reproach the living God. 
Isa 37:18  Of a truth, LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations, and their countries, 
Isa 37:19  And have cast their gods into the fire: for they were no gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone: therefore they have destroyed them. 

Notice Hezekiah first praises Jehovah, the great “I Am” of the Scriptures, the self-existing God!

Jesus teaches:

Mat 6:10  Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 
Mat 6:11  Give us this day our daily bread. 
Mat 6:12  And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 
Mat 6:13  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. 

Note: Hezekiah next ask to Lord to take into consideration the insults of Sennacherib had said against Him.

We are wrong when we are in a group setting with saved and lost people and someone insults our Lord and we do nothing!

Certainly we should not attack them with our fists but we should inform them that we serve a Holy God who will not stand for such things before we walk away from such things. If we are Christian then we must not be ashamed to be a Christian!

Rom_10:11  For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

I also know that there are circumstances in some foreign lands where this could result in death and the death of the family.

We must use all our means to protect our family and if that means quietly walking away, then God will understand if we are walking away tall and not hanging our heads in submission!

**True prayer must always make reference to the “Glory of our God” and requires all our “Faith”!

It was certainly true that the armies of Sennacherib had laid waste to many nations and had cast their false gods into the fire.

Aren’t you glad we do not worship some idol that we can sit upon a shelf, that needs dusting and someone can take away from you and destroy!

**Even Hezekiah had realized that idols are only the work of men’s own hands!

Psa 115:3  But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased. 
Psa 115:4  Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. 
Psa 115:5  They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not: 
Psa 115:6  They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not: 
Psa 115:7  They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat. 
Psa 115:8  They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them. 

It was also true that many of those nations were much stronger than Judah and they had not been able to stand up to this ruthless king but they also did not know Jehovah God.

We immediately see that our “Faith” does not have to ignore our difficulties!
Our “Faith” must include the fact that nothing is to hard for the Lord to accomplish!

God is able to overcome any and every obstacle in our path if He so chooses!

We must also realize that when our prayer seems to go unanswered in such situations, it is not a lack of God’s power but that problem may fulfill some purpose that the Lord has and we will still remain safe in the arms of God no matter the situation!

1Pe 3:12  For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. 
1Pe 3:13  And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? 

**Before Isaiah closes his prayer he gets down to his greatest request.

*****Isa 37:20  Now therefore, O LORD our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the LORD, even thou only.

Hezekiah had already admitted that his enemy was very powerful but then he adds that the power Sennacherib had over other nations was great and their gods had proved to be nothing but false gods. Sennacherib’s power over their gods proved nothing because they were not gods at all but only idols made of wood and stone and metal.

Hezekiah was calling on the Lord to make this truth apparent to these Assyrians, that they also worshipped false gods and only Judah worshipped the only true God.

**He then prayed “save us from his hand”.

Notice that King Hezekiah did not dictate how and he did not dictate the nature of this salvation!

We must never ask God to submit to our plan!

**AND, What we see is sometimes the most effective prayers are the shortest such as this example of the sinners prayer:

Luk_18:13  And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, “God be merciful to me a sinner”.

It can be as simple as “Lord save me”!

Mat_14:30  But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, “Lord, save me”.

**Hezekiah ends his prayer glorifying God: he said “that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the LORD, even thou only”.

If we are Christians as we say we are, then we must also long for all others to know our God, even our enemies!

We need to long for all this earth to come to know the saving knowledge of the truth!

Luk_11:2  And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.

So how did God answer this prayer? And notice how quickly God answered.

*****Isa 37:21  Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent unto Hezekiah, saying, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Whereas thou hast prayed to me against Sennacherib king of Assyria:

As most all of Judah had denied God’s prophets, God again sent His answer by the Prophet Isaiah.

Note: Isaiah could not have known these things of Hezekiah’s closet prayer if the Lord had not told him!

**Hezekiah had woke up to the fact that he could not save himself, nor could he save Judah by his own strength, it would take the strength of God!

What did God say?

*****Isa 37:22  This is the word which the LORD hath spoken concerning him; The virgin, the daughter of Zion, hath despised thee, and laughed thee to scorn; the daughter of Jerusalem hath shaken her head at thee. 
Isa 37:23  Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed? and against whom hast thou exalted thy voice, and lifted up thine eyes on high? even against the Holy One of Israel. 
Isa 37:24  By thy servants hast thou reproached the Lord, and hast said, By the multitude of my chariots am I come up to the height of the mountains, to the sides of Lebanon; and I will cut down the tall cedars thereof, and the choice fir trees thereof: and I will enter into the height of his border, and the forest of his Carmel.

Jerusalem, the daughter of Zion, like a virgin maiden, who herself was weak and helpless would stand in defiance of these Assyrians.
Sennacherib would not violate the city of Jerusalem in any way!
The people of Jerusalem would laugh at the feeble attempt of this enemy as they fled from the long arm of God!

It is a fact that no enemy had defiled the city of Jerusalem from the time of King David and God was not going to allow it at this time.
The the city of Jerusalem was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar, it would be rebuilt with the money of King Cyrus and it would remain the capitol city of Israel until the Messiah’s First Coming and this could not be changed by some arrogant ruler in a foreign land!

AND, King Sennacherib would be severely punished for lifting up his voice against the Holy One of Israel, Jehovah!

We should know that the Lord will not tolerate insults and rejection for any length of time.

Psa 74:18  Remember this, that the enemy hath reproached, O LORD, and that the foolish people have blasphemed thy name. 

This should remind us of that day during the Great Tribulation when the antichrist claims that he is the Most High God.

2Th 2:3  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 
2Th 2:4  Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

We see that King Sennacherib was in fact a “type” of the antichrist and will also suffer the humiliation of defeat.

What had Sennacherib desired in his heart?

1) That his overwhelming forces would cause Jerusalem to just surrender.
2) He would show that the land of Palestine, with it’s mountainous terrain deserts, was no great obstacle to overcome.
3) He had visioned of stripping the land of Palestine of all it’s resources.
4) He had envisioned a complete domination of the land of Israel.

His desires were that of a monarch but he would see a complete defeat of his mighty army in a way that could only be understood as by the “hand of God”.

And the Lord continues:

*****Isa 37:25  I have digged, and drunk water; and with the sole of my feet have I dried up all the rivers of the besieged places. 
Isa 37:26  Hast thou not heard long ago, how I have done it; and of ancient times, that I have formed it? now have I brought it to pass, that thou shouldest be to lay waste defenced cities into ruinous heaps. 
Isa 37:27  Therefore their inhabitants were of small power, they were dismayed and confounded: they were as the grass of the field, and as the green herb, as the grass on the housetops, and as corn blasted before it be grown up.

Sennacherib had bragged about all the things that he had done and would do.

He said he could dig wells and drink the water of Palestine because no one could stop him.
He had said he had the power to dry up any river in any besieged place, (which means he would destroy all their defenses).

He was saying, no one and nothing on this earth and certainly not some invisible God, had the power to stop him and his mighty army and his false gods.

And now the Lord speaks of his demise.

God then said, you Sennacherib are a fool!

The Lord says:

1) Have you not looked back on history of the Jews from the ancient times and seen what the Lord has already done?

In other words God said do you not know the truth of recorded history, and the truth of creation and the history of Israel?

The leaders of today, refuse to look back on the history of our world, and the same mistakes are made over and over again and it is the people who suffer the most and not those leaders.

And today the world refuses to look back on the history of the Jews and see the mistakes that foreign powers have already made against these Jews.

The truth is:

Gen_12:3  And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

This is the promise that God made to Abraham and we know that this promise would continue to through the family of Isaac and not through Ishmael.

Gen 17:19  And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him. 

God says that there is no excuse for anyone not to realize who is in control of our world!

Rom_1:20  For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

**Sennacherib should have realized that all conquerors are just instruments in God’s hands!

**All that Sennacherib had done he had done as God’s instrument and by God’s permission.

And God will one day use these same Jews for such a purpose in this world:

Jer 51:20  Thou art my battle axe and weapons of war: for with thee will I break in pieces the nations, and with thee will I destroy kingdoms; 
Jer 51:21  And with thee will I break in pieces the horse and his rider; and with thee will I break in pieces the chariot and his rider; 
Jer 51:22  With thee also will I break in pieces man and woman; and with thee will I break in pieces old and young; and with thee will I break in pieces the young man and the maid; 
Jer 51:23  I will also break in pieces with thee the shepherd and his flock; and with thee will I break in pieces the husbandman and his yoke of oxen; and with thee will I break in pieces captains and rulers. 
Jer 51:24  And I will render unto Babylon and to all the inhabitants of Chaldea all their evil that they have done in Zion in your sight, saith the LORD.

We are just as foolish as Sennacherib if we do not believe these things!

The world is much more foolish because they missed the great light that shined when the Messiah came the first time!

Joh 1:1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 
Joh 1:2  The same was in the beginning with God. 
Joh 1:3  All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 
Joh 1:4  In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 
Joh 1:5  And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. 
Joh 1:6  There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 
Joh 1:7  The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. 
Joh 1:8  He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 
Joh 1:9  That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. 
Joh 1:10  He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

God had given the Assyrians power but only by making making the other nations weak, they were as the grass of the field.

In this area of Judah the delicate grass of the spring will whither within a few weeks and becomes yellow and parched and this would be the same for these Assyrians.

We should all realize that there is nothing that the Lord does not know know about us, the saved and the lost!

*****Isa 37:28  But I know thy abode, and thy going out, and thy coming in, and thy rage against me. 
Isa 37:29  Because thy rage against me, and thy tumult, is come up into mine ears, therefore will I put my hook in thy nose, and my bridle in thy lips, and I will turn thee back by the way by which thou camest. 

God knows where we all live and He placed us in that place for a purpose and in actuality, we should stay there unless God calls us to do something else.

God knows our coming out and our going in, which means God knows what we are doing at all times, the saved and the lost.

God knows those who love Him and those who hate Him as Sennacherib did. Sennacherib had a rage against God that he refused to quench.

These are things brought his downfall!

The Assyrians were in the habit of passing hooks or rings through the noses or even the lips of certain prisoners to lead them into the presence of the Assyrian king.

God promised Sennacherib that He would use His own methods to turn him back to the direction from which he had come, much like the bridle is used on a horse.

And again Isaiah turns to Hezekiah.

*****Isa 37:30  And this shall be a sign unto thee, Ye shall eat this year such as groweth of itself; and the second year that which springeth of the same: and in the third year sow ye, and reap, and plant vineyards, and eat the fruit thereof. 
Isa 37:31  And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall again take root downward, and bear fruit upward: 
Isa 37:32  For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and they that escape out of mount Zion: the zeal of the LORD of hosts shall do this. 
Isa 37:33  Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shields, nor cast a bank against it. 
Isa 37:34  By the way that he came, by the same shall he return, and shall not come into this city, saith the LORD. 
Isa 37:35  For I will defend this city to save it for mine own sake, and for my servant David’s sake.

This sign would be a series of events that come together in a period of 2 years.

To me, the Lord has given us a similar sign. The complete Word of God is a sign of a series of events over 7000 years that will end with God’s people in the New Heaven and the New Jerusalem and everything will be new.

Rev_21:5  And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

We see that the regular operations of agriculture would be suspended for this period of 2 years, which means God would provide while the land of Israel recovered from the destruction caused by the invasion of Assyria.

This would give the people of Judah time to repair or rebuild their homes and repair their wells!

The remnant of Israel, which was those left of Judah would take root and blossom and again there would be a growth in population.

Israel has always grown in population through adversity!

Again Judah would be given the opportunity to return to the Lord and they would for a short period of time but they would rebel again as we all know.

But one day in the future all these things would change at the return of the Messiah, when again another remnant would return to the Lord and remain with Him forever!

Isa 9:7  Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. 

As for the armies of Assyria they would never enter the city of Jerusalem. In fact this army would never get close enough to shoot an arrow into the city, nor lay siege to Jerusalem.

Those that plan all these things now should take note, by the way this army came they would return to their homeland, at least those that remained because this to would only be a small remnant, because God wanted these people to explain what happened, which was the God of Israel is just to strong to fight against! They could not explain the unexplainable!

What had the Lord said: For I will defend this city to save it for mine own sake, and for my servant David’s sake.

God will defend His name when he desires but God will fulfill the promises He made to David, at the proper time.

In most cases God would use some human or a group of humans to do the task He has assigned but this would not be the case on this day, God sent an angel and He even had a purpose for sending this angel.

King Sennacherib needed to know who he was dealing with and so must this world we live in!

*****Isa 37:36  Then the angel of the LORD went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses. 

In perfect silence and at night time while this army slept and even with guards posted, 185,000 soldiers met their death at the hand of the Lord.

We see that the “judgment of God” is harsh and without pity! This is an example of Armageddon.

Those that remained were in total shock as they awoke that next morning!

They then broke camp and returned to Assyria and they did this in a hurry leaving behind all the things they had stolen from the people of Judah.

Who is strong enough to to fight against the Lord when one angel can do such a thing, the Lord has an innumerable number of angels but also remember that when the Lord speaks things just happen, without the need of angels.

*****Isa 37:37  So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh. 
Isa 37:38  And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword; and they escaped into the land of Armenia: and Esarhaddon his son reigned in his stead. 

This army remained in Nineveh and they were never a threat to Judah again!

Even King Sennacherib was later assassinated by two of his own sons and was succeeded by a third son Esarhaddon.

The truth is deliverance from sin is the greatest promise of God, if we just acknowledge the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ!
The deliverance from the obstacles that we face on this earth can take place after a fervent prayer of faith!

In fact without a prayer of faith we can have no contact with God.

Heb_11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

With faith, our prayers are the most powerful tool we have in this world!

Jas_5:16  Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

When we call on the Lord for deliverance, God will just deliver us in what may even seem as a miracle or He will give us the power to overcome that obstacle!

King Hezekiah had faith but not always. Like ourselves, his faith centered on if he could see a way to over come obstacles himself.

True faith means that when we can see no way out of our problems but God always knows a way and we can depend on Him!

No matter what confronts us, God promises to deliver those who love Him!

2Ti 4:18  And the Lord “shall” deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

The Lord will never forsake His people!

When the Apostle Paul wrote this wonderful Scripture, he was looking at his death from prison but he knew he could be delivered and he was. Because the Lord will preserve all His children forever in His Heavenly Kingdom.

So give the glory to God!

Psa 23:4  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Questions?

Let’s Pray!