November | 2013 | Paul the Poke

Archive for November, 2013

Isaiah 10:24-25 The Assyrian Antichrist?

Posted in Isaiah, Prophecy with tags Antichrist, Asshur, Assyrian Empire, Genesis 10, Isaiah 10, Israel, jerusalem, Noah, Prophecy, Revelation 19, Shem, The Assyrian, zion on November 24, 2013 by paulthepoke

Isaiah 10:24-25 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD of hosts, “O My people who dwell in Zion, do not fear the Assyrian who strikes you with the rod and lifts up his staff against you, the way Egypt did. For in a very little while My indignation against you will be spent and My anger will be directed to their destruction.”

God is calling out to the citizens of Zion or Jerusalem. Assyria’s treatment of the Jews is similar to the bondage Israel experienced in Egypt. Israel do not sweat it, God is going to take care of this guy and his people. God informs the people of Israel their judgment is almost over. When that has run its course, Assyria will be destroyed.

Another name for the Assyrian is Asshur. The genealogy traces back to Noah and his son Shem. Asshur is the second son of Shem (son of Noah). Genesis 10:22 The sons of Shem were Elam and Asshur and Arpachshad and Lud and Aram. After the flood, Asshur settled in what is modern day Iraq on the Tigris River. His city was located between modern day Baghdad and Mosul. Asshur was the first capital of Assyria (Holman Quicksource Bible Dictionary).

This geographical area has been home to conquering empires throughout history. It was home to the Assyrian Empire. It was home to the Seleucid Empire after the four way split of Alexander the Great’s Grecian Empire. This area was a part of the Eastern leg of the Roman Empire. The eastern leg eventually became the Byzantine Empire. The last empire in this region was the Ottoman until the 19^th Century. (An Alternative View: The Return of Nimrod? Chuck Missler)

Who is the Assyrian? Some would argue he is the Antichrist. The Antichrist is destined to be thrown alive into the Lake of Fire in Revelation 19:20. I would argue the Assyrian is not the Antichrist. His fate is to be discussed in the next post. His destination is not the Lake of Fire. He will not be alive; he is going to die.

Isaiah 10:21-23 Jewish and Gentile Remnants

Posted in Isaiah, Prophecy with tags Abrahamic Covenant, Apostle Paul, Genesis 15, Gentiles, God, Grace, Isaiah 10, Israel, Remnant, Romans 11, Romans 9 on November 17, 2013 by paulthepoke

Isaiah 10:21 A remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God.

God always sets aside a group of core believers that is called the remnant. There are examples of the remnant in both the Old and New Testaments. Two examples include 2 Kings 19:31 and Romans 11:4-5. Notice, it is God who achieves and chooses this remnant. There are many examples noted throughout the Bible of God choosing a remnant. The chosen people in this verse is specific and will come from the line of Jacob, nation Israel.

Gibbowr is the Hebrew for “mighty”. It could also be translated strong or brave. Some scholars think this term is Messianic in nature and hints at the return of Christ or their Davidic King (NET Bible).

Isaiah 10:22 For though your people, O Israel, may be like the sand of the sea, only a remnant within them will return; a destruction is determined, overflowing with righteousness.

The positive is there will be a group of people preserved. The negative is the majority will be judiciously removed. There is a reminder of the promise God made to Abraham imbedded in the verse. The promise to Abraham is noted in Genesis 22:17 …indeed I will greatly bless you, and I will greatly multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your seed shall possess the gate of their enemies. See also Genesis 15:5.

In Romans 9:27 the Apostle Paul quotes Isaiah 10:22. The context of the passages in Romans is Israel will not be cast away. A remnant of Israel will be preserved. God is not through with nation Israel. Paul’s message is directed to Gentiles Romans 11:13 But I am speaking to you who are Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle of Gentiles…

It is also a reminder to the gentiles that God is saving a remnant of gentiles as well. Romans 11:5 In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God’s gracious choice. Gentiles are a grafted branch in the place of a natural broken branch (Israel) of the olive tree, God’s family (Romans 11).

Isaiah 10:23 For a complete destruction, one that is decreed, the Lord GOD of hosts will execute in the midst of the whole land.

In Romans 9:28 the Apostle Paul quotes Isaiah 10:23. Judgment will be thorough and swift.

The verses regarding nation Israel were not prophetically fulfilled during the writing of the Apostle Paul and they have not been fulfilled as of November 2013. God has not finished his work with Israel to date. These difficult events are yet to come. A remnant of Israel will be preserved.

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Silver, Fire, Dross, and the Cross

Posted in Gospel with tags blood of christ, cross, dross, fire, hell, Jesus Christ, lake of fire, Proverbs, Psalms, Revelation, silver on November 11, 2013 by paulthepoke

Dross is an Old English word that means the scum produced when smelting metals. Dross is impure. Dross is removed from precious metals such as silver by the process of smelting with intense heat and fire.

The wickedness and sin are equated with dross in the following verses.

Proverbs 26:23 Like an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross are burning lips and a wicked heart.

Psalm 119:119a, You have removed all the wicked of the earth like dross…

The lake of fire is the eternal destination of people who are not written in the book of life. Their sins have not been paid or taken away. They are impure like dross. Eternal fire and smelting will never remove the impurity of sin from humanity. An eternity of fire and Hell cannot cleanse sin from humanity.

Revelation 20:14-15 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Only the blood of Christ can wash away humanity’s dross and impurities. Christ’s shed blood is more powerful and cleanses better than fire. He is the one who purifies and refines. He removes the scum and the dregs.

1 John 1:7b …and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

Titus 2:14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.

Revelation 1:5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood—

Isaiah 10:17 God and Light

Posted in Isaiah, Prophecy with tags God, Holy One of Israel, Isaiah 10, Israel, John 1:9, light, Light of Israel, Psalm 104, Revelation on November 3, 2013 by paulthepoke

Isaiah 10:17 And the light of Israel will become a fire and his Holy One a flame, and it will burn and devour his thorns and his briars in a single day.

Light of Israel is a term and reference to God. Psalm 104:2 Covering Yourself with light as with a cloak…God is light and a source of light. It is symbolic or purity and holiness. John 1:9 refers to a light of the world who is Jesus. Revelation 21:23 tells us the Lamb of God (Jesus) is the light of the New Jerusalem. And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb.

Holy could also be translated separate or sacred per Strong’s Concordance. The Holy One of Israel is often associated with a coming Jewish Messiah in the Old Testament. Christ is referred to as the Holy One of God by evil spirits in Mark 1:24. Unclean spirits realized who Jesus was. Jesus is stated to be Holy and true in Revelation 3:7.

Again, there are three more references to flames and fire in this verse.

This event will occur in one, single day. ‘echad is the Hebrew word for single. In today’s world of November 2013, are we familiar with weapons that could cause prolific damage and destruction to a region in a single day? A sudden event capable of wiping out vegetation?

Notice the vegetation of the land of the King of Assyria. It is briars and thorns, symbols of sin. His actions result in a literal forest of sin.

Isaiah 10:18-19 And He will destroy the glory of his forest and of his fruitful garden, both soul and body, and it will be as when a sick man wastes away. And the rest of the trees of his forest will be so small in number that a child could write them down.

He, God, the Holy One will be the agent of destruction of the King’s plants. Trees and food sources will be destroyed completely. The Hebrew word for wastes is macac. This verb could also be translated to melt or dissolve. God brings a fire so intense, that in a single day it will melt and dissolve the king’s abundant and prolific garden.

The destruction across the region is so complete, that a young child could count what is left over.