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 19th 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.