{"id":64,"date":"2017-10-16T10:59:49","date_gmt":"2017-10-16T08:59:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/buch.jehovah-shammah.de\/?p=64"},"modified":"2017-10-16T10:59:49","modified_gmt":"2017-10-16T08:59:49","slug":"arab-states-in-prophecy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/buch.jehovah-shammah.de\/index.php\/2017\/10\/16\/arab-states-in-prophecy\/","title":{"rendered":"Arab States in Prophecy"},"content":{"rendered":"
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And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him. And Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand. Then will I slay my brother Jacob.<\/em><\/p>\n

Genesis 27<\/em><\/span>:41<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

With so much news coming out of the Middle East in the last few years, a great deal of attention has been given to the area of prophetic Scriptures. By and large most of the studies in the realm o<\/span>f Bible prophecy as it relates to the Middle East have been primarily concerned with the State of Israel. Virtually little has been said about the Arab states and their future insofar as the Scriptures are concerned.<\/span><\/p>\n

It is clear from the Scriptures that the land commonly referred to as Palestine was given to Jewish people by divine right. It is in every sense of the term \u201cJewish property\u201d and belo<\/span>ngs to Israel. The Scriptures invalidate any Arab claim to the land, and whatever future the Bible deals with concerning the Arab peoples does not include the Land of Israel itself.<\/p>\n

This Messianic Bib<\/span>le study will be covered in four specific sections. First, the root of the conflict will be discussed to understand how it began. Secondly, the continuation of the conflict, from its originators to the present time, wi<\/span>ll be dealt with. Thirdly, the future of the conflict, the future of the Arab states, will be dealt with. The fourth section will discuss the two desolate spots in the Kingdom.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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<\/span><\/span>I. The Root of the Conflict<\/p>\n

The origin of the Jewish people is detailed in Genesis 12:1\u20133<\/a>, while the origin of the Arab peoples is detailed in Genesis 12:10\u201320<\/a>; 16:1\u201314<\/a>; 25:19\u201334<\/a> and 41<\/a>. There are two<\/span> key individuals to be concerned with in dealing with the root of the conflict: Ishmael and Esau.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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A. Ishmael<\/p>\n

The origin of the Arab peoples begins with what can be labeled as \u201cAbraham\u2019s folly\u201d in Genesis 12:10\u201320<\/a>: And there was a famine in the land: <\/em>and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there;<\/em> for the famine was sore in the land. And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that you are a fair woman to look upon: and it will come to pass, when the Egyptians shall se<\/em>e you, that they will say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save you alive. Say, I pray you, you are my sister; that it may be well with me for your sake, and that my soul may live because of you. And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair. And the princes of Pharaoh saw her, and praised her to Pharaoh: and the woman was taken into Pharaoh\u2019s house. And h<\/em>e dealt well with Abram for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he asses, and men servants, and maid servants, and she asses, and camels. And Jehovah plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram\u2019s wife. And Pharaoh called Abram, and said, What is this that you have done unto me? why did you not tell me that she was your wife? why said you, She is my sister, so that I took her to be my wife? now therefore behold your wife, take her, and go your way. And Pharaoh gave men charge concerning him: and they brought him on the way, and his wife, and all that he had.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

God had given a commandment to Abraham to go to a land that he would be shown, and then he was to dwell i<\/span>n this land. But, in verse 10<\/a>, shortly after settling in the land, a famine hit. Abraham\u2019s faith had not yet matured to the point that he knew he could trust God under any circumstances and there was <\/span>a lapse of faith on the part of Abraham that caused him to leave the Land of Promise and go down into Egypt.<\/p>\n

As he entered Egypt, Abraham noted something about Egyptian ethics. Egyptian ethics looked <\/span>down upon the issue of adultery; the Egyptians were very much down on men taking the wife of another. But if Pharaoh saw a woman that he really liked, and this woman happened to be already married, and since he knew it would be against Egyptian ethics to commit adultery and take the wife aw<\/span>ay, his method would then be to kill the husband. Killing the husband makes the woman a widow, and therefore she qualifies for marriage in that sense. It was rather a warped concept of ethics, but that is the way it was in Egypt.<\/span><\/p>\n

Knowing this twist of Egyptian ethics, Abraham knew that he stood to lose his l<\/span>ife and made this bargain with his wife in verses 11\u201313<\/a>. She was his half sister, but that is merely an attempt to try to hide the fact that she was also his wife. So in the course of time, the thing <\/span>he feared the most happened; in verses 14\u201315<\/a>, his wife was taken from him and placed into Pharaoh\u2019s harem.<\/p>\n

When the father is already dead, the brother is looked upon as the official guardian. From wh<\/span>at Abraham said, Pharaoh assumes, of course, that he is only her brother and therefore her official guardian. So, he gives to Abraham the bride price in verse 16<\/a>: And he dealt well with Abram for her <\/em><\/span>sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he asses, and men servants, and maid servants, and she asses, and camels.<\/em><\/p>\n

The thing to note is that among the things that Abraham gained in Egypt was a number of <\/span>maid-servants<\/em>. With the mention of maid servants, there is the origin of the Arab peoples.<\/p>\n

God eventually intervened in verses 17\u201320<\/a>; Sarah was rescued; and the family was forced back into the Land of<\/span> Promise. Although Egypt and the Pharaoh had to give Sarah back to Abraham, nevertheless, Abraham was allowed to keep all the gifts of the bride price. He brought all of these things, including maid-servants, back into the Land of Canaan.<\/span><\/p>\n

It has been pointed out that Abraham received several maid servants, but one in particular, an Egyptian maid servant by the name of Hagar, who will become the ma<\/span>triarch of at least a majority of the Arab states as we have them today.<\/p>\n

The next passage dealing with the root conflict between the Jews and the Arabs is in Genesis 16:1\u20136<\/a>. Whereas 12:10\u201320<\/a> was label<\/span>ed \u201cAbraham\u2019s folly,\u201d this passage can be labeled \u201cSarah\u2019s folly.\u201d<\/p>\n

Genesis 16:1\u20136<\/a> states: Now Sarai, Abram\u2019s wife, bore him no children: and she had a handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. And <\/em><\/span>Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, Jehovah has restrained me from bearing; go in, I pray you, unto my handmaid; it may be that I shall obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai. And Sarai, Abram\u2019s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her handmaid, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land <\/em><\/span>of Canaan, and gave her to Abram her husband to be his wife. And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes. And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon you: I gave my handmaid into your bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: Jehovah judge between me and you. But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, your maid is in your hand; do to her that which is good in your eyes. And Sarai dealt hardly with he<\/em><\/span>r, and she fled from her face.<\/em><\/p>\n

Abraham has often been accused of immorality, but that is not really the problem here. Everything that happened was in accordance with the laws of th<\/span>at day, which said that if a wife was proved to be barren, then she was responsible for providing her husband a handmaid through whom he could produce children so that the line would not die out. Again, the problem was a lack of faith because, in <\/span>Genesis 12<\/a>, God had already promised that Abraham was going to have a son, and that son would come by means of his wife, Sarah. There was no need to reso<\/span>rt to the laws of that day because the promise of God was made sure.<\/p>\n

But ten years had passed since that promise was given. After ten years of waiting and ten years of God\u2019s silence, Sarah felt that t<\/span>he promise would not be fulfilled. Among the handmaids given to Abraham in Genesis 12<\/a> was the Egyptian, Hagar. It is Hagar that is now turned over to Abraham in order that he might have children throu<\/span>gh her. In the course of time, she does conceive. Also in keeping with the customs of that day when barren women were looked down upon, Hagar now resorted to looking down upon Sarah. Few women were mo<\/span>re despised in the ancient world than barren women. But rather than remaining in submission to her mistress Sarah as she should have, Hagar began to show rather clearly that she despised<\/em> Sarah for her<\/span> barrenness. In verse 6<\/a>, Sarah eventually responded in kind and treated Hagar harshly, to the point that Hagar, in a pregnant condition, fled the house of Abraham.<\/p>\n

In her flight, she had an encounter <\/span>with the Angel of the Lord or the angel of Jehovah<\/em> in verses 7\u201314<\/a>. Verse 7<\/a> states: And the angel of Jehovah found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness in the way to Shur.<\/em><\/p>\n

Whenever the expressi<\/span>on the angel of Jehovah or the angel of the Lord is used, in every case, it is the Old Testament appearance of the Second Person of the Trinity: Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah. Never is the angel of Jehovah a common, ordinary<\/span> angel, but He is the Second Person of the Trinity Himself.<\/p>\n

This was who appeared to Hagar and gave certain prophecies regarding the nature of the son she was going to bear in ver<\/span>ses 10\u201312<\/a>: And the angel of Jehovah said unto her, I will greatly multiply your seed, that it shall not be numbered for multitude. And the angel of Jehovah said unto her, Behold, you are with child, a<\/em><\/span>nd shall bear a son; and you shall call his name Ishmael, because Jehovah has heard your affliction. And he shall be as a wild ass among men; his hand shall be against every man, and every man\u2019s hand against him; and he shall dwell over against all his brethren.<\/em><\/p>\n

Four things are stated in verse 12<\/a> about the son that Hagar is going to bear. First, he will be as a wild ass among men. God is not calli<\/span>ng Ishmael any names here as it would be in the way these terms are used today. Rather, He was referring to the nature that Ishmael and his descendants would have. In Abraham\u2019s day there were herds of wild asses that used to roam over the desert just as, at one time, herds of wild horses roamed over th<\/span>e old American West. Ishmael and his descendants are to be characterized as being similar to the wild asses or \u201croamers.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Secondly, his hand shall be against every man<\/em>; he would be characterized as being an aggressor. He would attack those with whom he came in contact.<\/p>\n

Thirdly, the angel states: <\/span>every man\u2019s hand against him<\/em>; just as he brought on aggression, he would bring retaliation upon himself. This principal has certainly been true in the history of Israel since 1948. On various occasion<\/span>s the Arab states have been the aggressors against Israel either by means of military conflict or by means of terrorist action. And as usual, this has always brought on some kind of Israeli response and retaliation. The w<\/span>hole cycle of aggression and retaliation is characterized in the Middle East today, in fulfillment of the prophecy in Genesis 16<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Fourthly, he shall dwell over against all his bre<\/em><\/span>thren<\/em>. The expression to dwell over against<\/em> is a Hebrew idiom meaning, \u201cto dwell in a state of hostility.\u201d He would live side by side with his brother, but he would live in a state of hostility. The A<\/span>rabs were to live side by side with the Jews, but it would be in a state or attitude of hostility.<\/p>\n

With these four statements, the angel of the Lord<\/em> instructed Hagar to return to Abraham\u2019s household a<\/span>nd remain there. In the course of time, she gave birth to Abraham\u2019s firstborn son and, as God commanded, he was named Ishmael<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Also in the process of time, Isaac was born to Sarah. In those days, they<\/span> did not throw birthday parties. Rather, when a son was weaned any time between the ages of three and five, they threw weaning parties; it was considered an occasion for celebration. In keeping with the customs of that day, the weaning party for Isaac and what happened at <\/span>that time is detailed in Genesis 21:8\u20139<\/a>: And the child grew, and was weaned. And Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isa<\/em><\/span>ac was weaned. And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne unto Abraham, mocking.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Rather than enter into the occasion of celebration, Ishmael chose to mock his half brother. It sho<\/span>uld not be assumed, as many of our Bible picture books portray, that this was a little boy mocking a baby. Ishmael at this point was not a little boy. Depending on when the weaning of Isaac took place, he was perhaps as old as nineteen. He was fourteen years old when Isaac was born. Since in those<\/span> days a son was weaned as late as five years old, he could have easily been as old as nineteen when he was mocking baby Isaac. What is seen here is that the animosity Hagar felt for Sarah is now instilled in Ishmael and he began to act with animosity toward Isaac. Because of this incident, Ishmael and his mother Hagar were expelled from the household of Abraham in keeping with God\u2019s command.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

After this expulsion, what happens next is discussed in verse 21<\/a>: And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran. <\/em><\/span>And his mother took him a wife out of the land of Egypt.<\/em><\/p>\n

When Ishmael was old enough to marry, his mother found a wife for him from Egypt, the same place of her origin. It is known from Egyptian recor<\/span>ds of this period that Egyptians were all full haters of anyone of Semitic origin. She would have the same character, so the animosity is assured to continue. Thus, Ishmael became one of the fathers of the Arab nations.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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B. Esau<\/p>\n

The second father of the Arab states is Esau. The beginning of Esau\u2019s hostility is found in Genesis 25:27\u201334<\/a>: And the boys grew. And Esau was a skilful hunter, a man of the field. And Jacob wa<\/em>s a quiet man, dwelling in tents. Now Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison. And Rebekah loved Jacob. And Jacob boiled pottage. And Esau came in from the field, and he was <\/em>faint. And Esa<\/em>u said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray you, with that same red pottage. For I am faint. Therefore was his name called Edom. And Jacob said, Sell me first your birthright. And Esau said, Behold, I am about to die. And wha<\/em>t profit shall the birthright do to me? And Jacob said, Swear to me first. And he swore unto him. And he sold his birthright unto Jacob. And Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentils. And he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way. So Esau despised his birthright.<\/em><\/p>\n

Whereas with Ishmael and Isaac, the two men were half brothers; in the case of Esau and Jacob, they were not only full brothers, they were twin brothers. Nevertheless, Esau was born first. The firstborn received the birthright, which entitled him to inherit the double portion of his father\u2019s inheritance. More importantly, whoever had the birthright would be the one God would use to fulfill His divine program of the Abrahamic Covenant.<\/p>\n

An occasion occurred when the birthright changed hands. Esau\u2019s complaints\u2014that he would die if he did not eat of that particular bowl of soup prepared by Jacob\u2014should not be taken too seriously here. It is known from parallel accounts in Genesis that the family of Isaac had become extremely wealthy. All that would have been necessary was for Esau to go to the very next tent where he would have gotten sufficient food to eat. But he does not want to eat just any old thing; he wants to eat one specific thing, and it happens to be the very thing that Jacob is cooking. So for a bowl of soup, he was more than willing to sell his birthright. Esau\u2019s attitude toward his birthright is seen in the last phrase of verse 34<\/a>: So Esau despised his birthright<\/em>. Esau was the one who had the birthright, but he did not care to be the one God would use to carry out His program. Jacob is characterized as one who did not have the birthright, but wanted very much to be within the center of God\u2019s program. And now the birthright had changed hands.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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In Genesis 27<\/a>, it is time for the<\/span> patriarchal blessing. The nature of the patriarchal blessing is of that whoever receives the blessing, \u201cso it will be done.\u201d However, the one who rightfully receives the patriarchal blessing is the one who has the birth<\/span>right. This is no longer Esau, but Jacob. In this chapter, Jacob has often been accused of stealing the patriarchal blessing from Esau, but that is not the case. Jacob now has the birthright and, therefore, he has the right to the patriarchal blessing. The problem in chapter <\/span>27<\/a> is not that Jacob steals the patriarchal blessing. The problem is again a lapse of faith. All Jacob a<\/span>nd his mother had to do was to trust God to turn the events around so that Jacob would indeed receive the patriarchal blessing. But because of a lapse of faith, they resort to deceiving the father. The sin here does not lie in stealing the patriarchal blessing, that was rightfully Jacob\u2019s, the sin lie<\/span>s in the work of deception. Through this work of deception, Jacob did receive the patriarchal blessing that cannot be changed. Esau might have had a change of mind because he began to realize that, not only were there spiritual blessings involved in <\/span>the birthright, which he did not care for, there<\/span> were physical blessings in the birthright, which he did care for. But now in the course of events, the patriarchal blessing has solidly gone to Jacob and not to Esau; Jacob is to receive both the spiritual and the physical benefits of the Abrahami<\/span>c Covenant.<\/p>\n

The end product is found in Genesis 27:41<\/a>: And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him. And Esau said in h<\/em><\/span>is heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand. Then will I slay my brother Jacob.<\/em><\/p>\n

Not only is there Ishmael\u2019s hatred toward Isaac, but now there is Esau\u2019s hatred toward Jacob. The Arab stat<\/span>es are all descendants of either Esau or Ishmael, but the root of the present day conflict begins right here with these two individuals.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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II. The Continuation of the Conflict<\/p>\n

This section will concern the perpetual hatred of the Arabs against the Jews, which basically covers the span of time since the death of Ishmael and Esau. The hatred and animosities of Ishmael and Esau toward the Jews were instilled in their descendants. There has been a continuous, perpetual hatred of the descendants of Esau and Ishmael against the Jews that is characterized especially by the Ishmaelites, descendants of Ishmael, and the Edomites, descendants of Esau. An example that shows how early the descendants had this animosity is found in Numbers 20:14\u201321<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

By the time this passage takes place, it would appear that the tables were indeed reversed; it would appear that the Arabs had all the blessings and the Jews had all the curses. The descendants<\/span> of Esau had established their nation in the mountains of Mt. Seir; they had king after king and had become a strong and mighty people. But Jacob and his descendants went into Egypt and eventually became slaves of the Egyptians. Now Israel had been rescued and was moving toward her inheritance, the Land of Canaan. The shortest route to their homeland would be to go by way of the land of Edo<\/span>m. Again, the Edomites are the descendants of Esau, the twin brother of Jacob.<\/span><\/p>\n

A request had to be issued, and this is found in Numbers 20:14\u201321<\/a>: And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom, <\/em><\/span>Thus says your brother Israel, You know all the travail that has befallen us: how our fathers went down into Egypt, and we dwelt in Egypt a long time; and the Egyptians dealt ill with us, and our fathers: and when we cried unto Jehovah, he heard our voice, and <\/em><\/span>sent an angel, and brought us forth out of Egypt: and, behold, we are in Kadesh, a city in the uttermost of your border. Let us pass, I pray you, through your land: we will not pass through field or through vineyard, neither will we drink of the water of the wells: we will go along the king\u2019s highway; we will not turn aside to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed your border. And Edom said unto him, You shall not pass through me, lest I come<\/em><\/span> out with the sword against you. And the children of Israel said unto him, We will go up by the highway; and if we <\/em><\/span><\/span>drink of your water, I and my cattle, then will I give the price thereof: let me only, without doing anything else, pass through on my feet. And he said, You shall<\/em><\/span> not pass through. And Edom came out against him with much people, and with a strong hand. Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border: wherefore Israel turned away from him.<\/em><\/p>\n

A simple <\/span>request is made on the basis of the blood relationship between these two nations. When Moses writes his letter, he says: Thus says your brother Israel<\/em>. Although this is a simple request only to pass t<\/span>hrough without doing any damage to the territory, the answer of the Edomites is \u201cno.\u201d Although about four hundred years had passed by this time, the perpetual animosity that had begun with Esau had been instilled in Esau\u2019s descendants against the Jew<\/span>s. To make sure the Jews do not cross their country, the Edomites come out with their army to their border to force the Jews to take a much longer route to their own homeland, even though the Edomites had already settled in theirs.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the Book of Judges, we often read of Ishmaelites, Edomites, and other descendants of these two men inflicting damag<\/span>e upon Israel. Even after Israel settled in her own Land, we find the animosity still there.<\/p>\n

In Psalm 83<\/a>, the psalmist looks over, not just from his own time, but prophetically about the situation in <\/span>the Middle East and tells what he sees in verses 1\u20138<\/a>: O God, keep not your silence: Hold not your peace, and be not still, O God. For, lo, your enemies make a tumult; And they that hate you have lifte<\/em><\/span>d up the head. They take crafty counsel against your people, And consult together against your hidden ones. They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; That the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance. For they have consulted together with one consent; Against you do they make a covenant: The tents of Edom and the Is<\/em><\/span>hmaelites; Moab, and the Hagarenes; Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre: Assyria also is joined with them; They have helped the children of Lot.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

In verses 1\u20133<\/a>, the psalmist describes a united conspiracy against Israel. Th<\/span>ey are a tumultuous and crafty people who unite together against the Jews.<\/p>\n

Their aim is clearly described in verse 4<\/a>; the destruction of Israel. They want to destroy the Nation of Israel so that the w<\/span>orld will not even remember the very name Israel any longer. It is no accident that the various Arab leaders have virtually paraphrased this very verse. In fact, when I was a student at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem just before the Six Day War, I heard Nasser saying on the radio<\/span> that he would drive the Jews into the sea and he would wipe Israel off the map so that it would not be remembered that there was a Nation of Israel in this century. The psalmist begins to describe a group of nations that have conspired and united together for the avowed purpose of destroying Israel to the point, in verse <\/span><\/span>4<\/a>: That the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.<\/em><\/p>\n

In verses 6\u20138<\/a>, the psalmist begins listing these various nations that will come together against Israel. While these are all various a<\/span>ncient names, today they comprise the modern Arab states. For instance, in verse 6<\/a>, Edom<\/em> was in southern Jordan; Ishmael was the father of the Ishmaelites<\/em>, one segment of the Arab world; Moab<\/em> was in c<\/span>entral Jordan; the Hagarenes<\/em> were from Egypt. In verse 7<\/a>, Gebal<\/em> was in Lebanon; Ammon<\/em> was northern Jordan; Amalek<\/em> was in the Sinai Peninsula; Philistia<\/em> was in the Gaza Strip; Tyre<\/em> was in Lebanon. In v<\/span>erse 8<\/a>, Assyria<\/em> comprises all of what is today Iraq and quite a bit of Syria.<\/p>\n

The only time in history when all the nations listed in these verses ever combined themselves together against Israel has <\/span>been since 1948. This was never true in ancient history. This has been especially true since the Six Day War of 1967, when one Arab leader after another clearly stated that the only way of gaining pea<\/span>ce in the Middle East is by the total annihilation of Israel as a nation.<\/p>\n

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Another passage that describes this perpetual hatred is found in Ezekiel 35:1\u20135<\/a>: Moreover the word of Jehovah came unto me, sa<\/em><\/span>ying, Son of man, set your face against mount Seir, and prophesy against it, and say unto it, Thus says the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I am against you, O mount Seir, and I will stretch out my hand against you, and I will make you a desolation and an<\/em><\/span> astonishment. I will lay your cities waste, and you shall be desolate; and you shall know that I am Jehovah. Because you have had a perpetual enmity, and have given over the children of Israel to the power of the sword in the time of their calamity, in the time of the iniquity of the end.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Mount Seir is the long mountain range that overlooks Israel from<\/span> the land of Edom, where the descendants of Esau settled. In verses 1\u20134<\/a>, Ezekiel prophesies of a judgment of God that will result in making Edom a desolation<\/em> because of Edom\u2019s perpetual hatred against<\/span> Israel, even to the point that they were willing to turn Jewish escapees over to the Babylonians, although Edom was also subjugated by Babylon in verse 5<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The small Book of Obadiah, comprised of only<\/span> one chapter, also speaks of this hatred against Israel in Obadiah 10\u201314<\/a>: For the violence done to your brother Jacob, shame shall cover you, and you shall be cut off for ever. In the day that you sto<\/em><\/span>od on the other side, in the day that strangers carried away his substance, and foreigners entered into his gates, and cast lots upon Jerusalem, even you were as one of them. But look not you on the day of your brother in the day of his disaster, and rejoice not over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction; nei<\/em><\/span>ther speak proudly in the day of distress. Enter not into the gate of my people in the day of their calamity; yea, look not you on their affliction in the day of their calamity, neither lay ye hands on their substance in the day of their calamity. And stand you not in the crossway, to cut off those of his that escape; and deliver not up those of his that remain in the day of distress.<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The sins of Edom described in this passage speak of another time preceding the Babylon<\/span>ian destruction when the Edomites committed sins very similar to those they were to commit under Babylon. Once again, the reason for Edom\u2019s actions is their perpetual enmity toward the Jews.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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III. The Future of the Conflict<\/p>\n

In determining the place of the Arab states in the Kingdom, it should be viewed from the background of the Arabs\u2019 perpetual hatred against the Jews. Two principles will be used to determine the future of the individual Arab states: first, the history of their anti Semitism; and secondly, how closely these individual Arab states are related by blood to Israel.<\/p>\n

Ultimately, peace will come between Israel and the various Arab states, but it will come in one of three forms: first, by means of occupation; secondly, by means of destruction; or thirdly, by means of conversion. It is necessary to deal with the various Arab states individually in order to get a clearer picture.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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A. Lebanon<\/p>\n

Peace will come between Israel and Lebanon by means of occupation. This is not so much explicitly stated by Scripture as it is derived from certain facts contained in the Scriptures. Ezekie<\/span>l 47:13\u201348:29<\/a> gives the boundaries of the nation of Israel in the Messianic Kingdom. The tracing of the northern boundary will show that Israel will encompass all of modern day Lebanon. From this fact<\/span>, it can be deduced that, in the Kingdom, Israel will occupy and possess all of Lebanon, and it will be settled by some of the northern Jewish tribes. Lebanon was always part of the Promised Land, but it was the part that Israel never possessed. In the Messianic Kingdom, there will be no nation called Lebanon; it will be part of Millennial Israel. Peace will come between Israel and Le<\/span>banon by means of occupation.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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<\/span><\/span>B. Jordan<\/p>\n

Modern Jordan comprises the ancient countries of Edom, Moab, and Ammon. Since God does not have the same future for each individual segment of Jordan, they will need to be studied separately<\/span>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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1. Edom: Southern Jordan<\/p>\n

It is Edom or southern Jordan, in particular, that the prophets were concerned about. Several passages disclose that peace will come between Israel and southern Jordan by means of destruction. One such passage is Ezekiel 35:6\u20139<\/a>: therefore, as I live, says the Lord Jehovah, I will prepare you unto blood, and blood shall pursue you: since you have not hated blood, therefore <\/em>blood shall pursue you. Thus will I make mount Seir an astonishment and a desolation; and I will cut off from it him that passes through and him that returns. And I will fill its mountains with its slain: in your hills and in your valleys and in all your watercourses shall they fall that are slain with the sword. I will make you a perpetual des<\/em>olation, and your cities shall not be inhabited; and ye shall know that I am Jehovah.<\/em><\/p>\n

In verses 6\u20138<\/a>, the picture is one of massive destruction with blood and dead bodies filling the mountains, hills<\/em>, and valleys<\/em>, resulting in Edom\u2019s becoming a perpetual <\/em>desolation<\/em> in verse 9<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Adding to all this, Jeremiah 49:7\u201313<\/a> states: Of Edom. Thus says Jehovah of hosts: Is wisdom no more in Teman? is counsel perished from the prudent? is their wisdom vanished? Fle<\/em>e ye, turn back, dwell in the depths, O inhabitants of Dedan; for I will bring the calamity of Esau upon him, the time that I shall visit him. If grape gatherers came to you, would they not leave some gleaning grapes? if thieves by night, would they not destroy till they had enough? But I have made Esau bare, I have uncovered his <\/em>secret places, and he shall not be able to hide himself: his seed is destroyed, and his brethren, and his neighbors; and he is not. Leave your fatherless children, I will preserve them alive; and let your widows trust in me. For thus says Jehovah: Behold, they to whom it pertained not to drink of the cup shall assuredly drink; and are you he that shall altogether go unpunished? you shall not go unpunished, but you shall surely drink. For I have sworn by myself, says Jehovah, that Bozrah shall become an astonishment, a reproach<\/em>, a waste, and a curse; and all the cities thereof shall be perpetual wastes.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

In verses 7\u201310<\/a>, the emphasis of Jeremiah is on the totalit<\/span>y of the destruction of the land of Edom so as to leave nothing remaining of the seed of Esau. In verse 11<\/a>, Edom had been given an opportunity to trust in the Lord but failed to respond. So now the cu<\/span>p of iniquity is full. In verse 12<\/a>, Edom must drink of the cup of God\u2019s wrath. In verse 13<\/a>, the result will be that the land of Edom will become nothing but an astonishment, a reproach, a waste, and a<\/em><\/span> curse.<\/em><\/p>\n

To all this, Jeremiah later adds in verses 19\u201320<\/a>: Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the pride of the Jordan against the strong habitation: for I will suddenly make them run away from i<\/em><\/span>t; and whoso is chosen, him will I appoint over it: for who is like me? and who will appoint me a time? and who is the shepherd that will stand before me? Therefore hear ye the counsel of Jehovah, that he has taken against Edom; and his purposes, that he has purposed against the inhabitants of Teman: Surely they shall drag them away, even t<\/em><\/span>he little ones of the flock; surely he shall make their habitation desolate over them.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Once again, there is emphasis on the totality of the destruction, with the addition that this final desolation and destruction of Edom will come by means of a war and an a<\/span>rmed military conflict.<\/p>\n

Obadiah, the smallest book of the Old Testament, centers its entire attention on Edom\u2019s destruction. Verses 5\u20139<\/a> state: If thieves came to you, if robbers by night (how are you <\/em><\/span>cut off!), would they not steal only till they had enough? if grape gatherers came to you, would they not leave some gleaning grapes? How are the things of Esau searched! how are his hidden treasures sought out! All the men of your confederacy have brought <\/em><\/span>you on your way, even to the border: the men that were at peace with you have deceived you, and prevailed against you; they that eat your bread lay a snare under you: there is no understanding in him. Shall I not in that day, says Jehovah, destroy the wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of the mount of Esau? And your mighty men, O Teman, shall be dismayed, to the end that every one may be cut off from the mount of Esau by slaughter.<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

In verses 5\u20136<\/a>, Obadiah also emphasized the totality of the destruction, pointing out their failure<\/span> to be aided either by their friends in verse 7<\/a>, or by their own wisdom or military might in verses 8\u20139<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Later, in verses 17\u201321<\/a>, Obadiah adds: But in mount Zion there shall be those that escape, and i<\/em><\/span>t shall be holy; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions. And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble, and they shall burn among them, and devour them; and there shall not be any <\/em><\/span>remaining to the house of Esau; for Jehovah has spoken it. And they of the South shall possess the mount of Esau, and they of the lowland the Philistines; and they shall possess the field of Ephraim, and the field of Samaria; and Benjamin shall possess Gilead. And the captives of this host of the children of Israel, that are among the Canaanites, shall possess even unto Zarephath; and the captives of Jerusalem, that are in Sepharad, shall possess the ci<\/em><\/span>ties of the South. And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be Jehovah\u2019s.<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

In verse 17<\/a>, the time of Israel\u2019s final restoration will also be the time of Edom\u2019s final destruction. In verse 18<\/a>, Obadiah states rather clearly that this destru<\/span>ction of Edom will come by means of the children of Israel, for the two houses of Israel will be like fire<\/em> while Edom will be like stubble<\/em> that quickly catches fire when exposed to the flame. In verse<\/span>s 19\u201320<\/a>, this destruction will be total, so that nothing will remain of Esau\u2019s descendants, while the descendants of his brother Jacob will own and possess the mountains of Edom. In verse 21<\/a>, it is ou<\/span>t of mount Zion<\/em> that judgment will fall on Edom.<\/p>\n

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The fact that Israel will be used to bring about the final destruction of Edom is further portrayed in Ezekiel 25:12\u201314<\/a>: Thus says the Lord Jehovah: Be<\/em><\/span>cause that Edom has dealt against the house of Judah by taking vengeance, and has greatly offended, and revenged himself upon them; therefore thus says the Lord Jehovah, I will stretch out my hand upon Edom, and will cut off man a<\/em><\/span>nd beast from it; and I will make it desolate from Teman; even unto Dedan shall they fall by the sword. And I will lay my vengeance upon Edom by the hand of my people Israel; and they shall do in Edom according to my anger and according to my wrath; and they shall know my vengeance, says the Lord Jehovah.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

In verse 12<\/a>, after declaring the sins of Edom, that of taking v<\/em><\/span>engeance<\/em> against the people of Israel, in verse 13<\/a>, the prophet states that God will now stretch<\/em> out His hand<\/em> in judgment against Edom in order to destroy everything in it. In verse 14<\/a>, the totality o<\/span>f the destruction by means of the people of Israel in armed military conflict is again pointed out.<\/p>\n

So Edom, present day southern Jordan, is to suffer desolation, and the destruction of all of the des<\/span>cendants of Esau will come by means of the people of Israel. Only by means of total destruction will peace come between Israel and southern Jordan. As with Lebanon, there will not be a nation called Edom in the Messianic Kingdom.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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<\/span><\/span>2. Moab: Central Jordan<\/p>\n

As for Moab, present day central Jordan, it, too, will suffer destruction (Jer. 48:1\u201346<\/a>), but it will not be total. Those who survive will come to repentance and a remnant of M<\/span>oab will return, according to Jeremiah 48:47<\/a>: Yet will I bring back the captivity of Moab in the latter days, <\/em>saith Jehovah. Thus far is the judgment of Moab.<\/em><\/p>\n

Peace will come between Israel and centra<\/span>l Jordan by means of a partial destruction that will lead to the national salvation of Moab. Thus, there will be a saved nation called Moab in the Messianic Kingdom.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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3. Ammon: Northern Jordan<\/p>\n

Concerning Ammon, modern day northern Jordan, it will also suffer a partial destruction and become a possession of Israel, according to Jeremiah 49:1\u20132<\/a>: Of the children of Am<\/em>mon. Thus says Jehovah: Has Israel no sons? has he no heir? why then does Malcam possess Gad, and his people dwell in the cities thereof? Therefore, behold, the days come, says Jehovah, that I will cause an alarm of war t<\/em>o be heard against Rabbah of the children of Ammon; and it shall become a desolate heap, and her daughters shall be burned with fire: then shall Israel possess them that did possess him, says Jehovah.<\/em><\/p>\n

As with Moab, it will not be a total destruction and those who survive will turn to the Lord, for a remnant of Ammon will also be found in the Kingdom according to Jeremiah 49:6<\/a>:But afterward I will bring back the captivity of the children of Ammon, says Jehovah.<\/em><\/p>\n

Thus, peace comes between Israel and northern Jordan by means of a partial destruction, followed by conversion, and there will be a saved nation called Ammon in the Kingdom.<\/p>\n

To summarize, peace will come between Israel and the three parts of Jordan by means of destruction, but not all to the same degree. In the case of Edom or southern Jordan, the destruction will be total, and there will not be a nation of Edom in the Kingdom. The Edomites are descendants of Esau, the twin brother of Jacob, and so Israel and Edom were the closest blood relationship. In the case of Moab or central Jordan and Ammon or northern Jordan, the destruction will be partial. There will be a nation of Moab and a nation of Ammon in the Kingdom, with both subservient to Israel. Both these nations are descendants of Lot, the nephew of Abraham and, thus, more distantly related by blood.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

C. Egypt<\/p>\n

Peace will come between Israel and Egypt initially by means of destruction and later by means of conversion. A comprehensive story of Egypt\u2019s future is given in Isaiah 19:1\u201322<\/a>. In verses 1\u201310<\/a><\/span>, the Prophet Isaiah described Egypt\u2019s punishment because of her sins. Egypt will be characterized by civil war, desolation, and famine. In verses 11\u201315<\/a>, the prophet stated that the root cause of Egyp<\/span>t\u2019s devastation was her leaders, who had led Egypt astray. Under the dictatorships of Farouk, Nasser, and Sadat, Egypt went to war against Israel on four occasions, each resulting in heavy losses for Egypt and wrecking her economy.<\/span><\/p>\n

Out of all this, there developed in Egypt a fear of Israel, as prophesied in Isaiah 19:16\u201317<\/a>: In that day shall the Egyptians be like unto women; and <\/em>they shall tremble<\/em><\/span> and fear because of the shaking of the hand of Jehovah of hosts, which he shakes over them. And the land of Judah shall become a terror unto Egypt; every one to whom mention is made thereof shall be afraid, because of<\/em><\/span> the purpose of Jehovah of hosts, which he purposes against it.<\/em><\/p>\n

Never in ancient history has this been true. Even in the days of Solomon, Egyptian forces passed through the Land of I<\/span>srael freely. Only since 1948, and especially since the Six Day War, have the Egyptian forces evidenced a fear and dread of Israel portrayed in this passage. With Egypt\u2019s having lost four wars against<\/span> Israel with heavy casualties, the fear is deeply rooted. Prophetically, today is still the period of Isaiah 19:16\u201317<\/a>.<\/p>\n

But eventually peace will come between Israel and Egypt. Initially, the peace wil<\/span>l be a political one, when the Hebrew language will be spoken by five Egyptian cities, according to Isaiah 19:18<\/a>: In that day there shall be five cities in the land of Egypt that speak the language of<\/em><\/span> Canaan, and swear to Jehovah of hosts; one shall be called The city of destruction.<\/em><\/p>\n

In Isaiah\u2019s day, the language of Canaan<\/em> was the Hebrew language. Exactly how this prophecy will be fulfilled remain<\/span>s to be seen.<\/p>\n

This, in turn, will slowly give way to Egypt\u2019s conversion, according to Isaiah 19:19\u201322<\/a>: In that day shall there be an altar to Jehovah in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar at<\/em><\/span> the border thereof to Jehovah. And it shall be for a sign and for a witness unto Jehovah of hosts in the land of Egypt; for they shall cry unto Jehovah because of oppressors, and he will send them a saviour, and a defender, and he will deliver them. And Jehovah shall be known to Egypt, and the E<\/em><\/span>gyptians shall know Jehovah in that day; yea, they shall worship with sacrifice and oblation, and shall vow a vow unto Jehovah, and shall perform it. And Jehovah will smite Egypt, smiting and healing; and they shall return unto Jehovah, and he will be entreated of them, and will heal them.<\/em><\/p>\n

In verses 19<\/span>\u201320a<\/a>, an altar<\/em> to the God of Israel will be built as a sign<\/em> and a witness<\/em> of the power of the God of Israel to save the land of Egypt. Egypt will be greatly oppressed by the forces of the Antichrist a<\/span>nd his cohorts (Dan. 11:42\u201343<\/a>), but God will save Egypt from the domination of those oppressors in verse 20b<\/a>. The Egyptians will realize that Allah, the Moslem god, cannot save them, but only Jehovah,<\/span> the God of Israel. This will lead to the national conversion of Egypt. In verse 21<\/a>, Egypt shall know the Lord and will worship the God of Israel with oblation, sacrifice<\/em>, and vow<\/em>. In verse 22<\/a>, the sa<\/span>me God who brought about their destruction will also bring about their regeneration and their healing when they turn in faith to Him.<\/p>\n

In conjunction with the latter days of the Tribulation and the Cam<\/span>paign of Armageddon, there will be a national conversion of Egypt. In this manner, they will take their place in the ranks of the sheep Gentiles (Mat. 25:31\u201346<\/a>). It should be noted that Egypt will be <\/span>one of the nations that will move against the Antichrist, according to Daniel 11:40<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, because of her longstanding hatred of Israel, in the outworking of the cursing principle of the Abrah<\/span>amic Covenant, Egypt will suffer a desolation that will be similar to that of Edom, according to Joel 3:19<\/a>: Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom shall be a desolate wilderness, for the violence done <\/em><\/span>to the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land.<\/em><\/p>\n

The sin of Egypt is the same as that of Edom: mistreatment of the Jews, and so punishment will come. With Edom, it will b<\/span>e a total and permanent desolate wilderness<\/em>. With Egypt, it will be a total, yet temporary desolation<\/em>, but not a wilderness.<\/p>\n

In fact, the desolation of Egypt is to last only for the first forty years <\/span>of the Kingdom, as recorded in Ezekiel 29:1\u201316<\/a>: In the tenth year, in the tenth month, in the twelfth day of the month, the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying, Son of man, set your face against Phar<\/em><\/span>aoh king of Egypt, and prophesy against him, and against all Egypt; speak, and say, Thus says the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I am against you, Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great monster that lies in the midst of his rivers, that has said, My river is mine own, and I have made it for myself. And I will put hooks in your jaws, and I will cause the fish of you<\/em><\/span>r rivers to stick unto your scales; and I will bring you up out of the midst of your rivers, with all the fish of your rivers which stick unto your scales. And I will cast you forth into the wilderness, you and all the fish of your rivers: you shall fall upon the open field; you shall not be brought together, nor gathered; I have given you for food to the beasts of the earth and to the birds of the heavens. And all the inhabitants of Egypt shall know that I am Jehovah, because they have been a staff of reed to the house of Israel. When they took <\/em><\/span>hold of you by your hand, you did break, and did rend all their shoulders; and when they leaned upon you, you broke, and made all their loins to be at a stand. Therefore thus says the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I will bring a sword upon you, and will cut off from you man and beast. And the land of Egypt shall be a desolation and a waste; and they shall know that I am Jehovah. Because he has said, The river is mine, and I have made it; therefore, behold, I am against you, and against your rivers, and I will make the land of Egypt an utter waste and desolation, from the tower of Seveneh even unto the border of Ethiopia. No foot of man shall pass through it, nor foot of beast shall pass through it, neither shall it be inhabited forty years. And I wil<\/em><\/span>l make the land of Egypt a desolation in the midst of the countries that are desolate; and her cities among the cities that are laid waste shall be a desolation forty years; and I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and will disperse them through the countries. For thus says the Lord Jehovah: At the end of forty years will I gather the Egyptians from the peoples whither they were scattered; and I will bring back the captivity of Egypt, and will cause them to return into the land of Pathros, into the land of their birth; and they shall be there a base kingdom. It shall be the base of the kingdoms; neither shall it any more lift itself up above the nations: and I will diminish them, that they shall no more rule over the nations. And it shall be no more the confidence of the house of Israel, bringing iniquity to remembrance, when they turn to look after them: and they shall know that I am the Lord Jehovah.<\/em><\/p>\n

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In verses 1\u20132<\/a>, Ez<\/span>ekiel is commanded to prophesy against Egypt and predict the coming dispersion of the Egyptians from their land in verses 3\u20135<\/a> because of their long history of mistreatment of Israel in verses 6\u20137<\/a>. The<\/span> land of Egypt will suffer a period of total desolation<\/em> in verses 8\u201310<\/a>, which will last forty years<\/em> in verses 11\u201312a<\/a>, and the Egyptians will be scattered all over the world like Israel was before her <\/span>in verse 12b<\/a>. But after the end of the period of forty years<\/em>, the Egyptians will be regathered in verse 13<\/a> and brought back into their land in verse 14<\/a>. Though Egypt will become a kingdom again in ver<\/span>se 15<\/a>, it will never be a powerful one. Nor will Israel ever again be guilty of placing her confidence in Egypt in verse 16<\/a>, but will trust in the Lord their God. As for the lowly kingdom of Egypt, it<\/span> will also be required to observe the Feast of Tabernacles, according to Zechariah 14:16\u201319<\/a>.<\/p>\n

To summarize, peace will come between Israel and Egypt by means of conversion. Only when the Egyptians wors<\/span>hip the same God as Israel, through Jesus the Messiah, will peace finally come. For the first forty years of the Kingdom, the land of Egypt will be desolate and the Egyptians will be dispersed all over the world. But afterwards, the Egyptians will be regathered and become a kingdom once again, albeit a low<\/span>ly one.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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<\/span><\/span>D. Assyria: Northern Iraq<\/p>\n

Ancient Assyria is today comprised of modern northern Iraq, another implacable Arab enemy of modern Israel. But peace will come between Israel and northern Iraq by means of c<\/span>onversion, according to Isaiah 19:23\u201325<\/a>: In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria; and the Egyptians shall wo<\/em><\/span>rship with the Assyrians. In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth; for that Jehovah of hosts has blessed them, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel my inheritance.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Verse 23<\/a> describes an economic unit that will encompass Egypt, Israel<\/em>, and Assyria<\/em>. The famous highway of the ancient world, kno<\/span>wn as the via maris<\/em>, has ceased to function ever since 1948, when Israel became a state. In 1948, Egypt and Syria closed their borders, making the highway<\/em> inoperable. However, in the Kingdom, when pea<\/span>ce will be restored, all borders will be open, and the highway<\/em>, a symbol of economy, will be restored between these middle eastern states. The means by which this will occur is conversion in verses 24<\/span>\u201325<\/a>. Not only will Egypt undergo a conversion experience, so also will the ancient area of Assyria. Assyria will become a blessing in the earth and will receive a blessing from God. The three former e<\/span>nemies will now have a spiritual unity as well as an economic and political one. God declares: Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel my inheritance.<\/em> This spiritual u<\/span>nity will be the basis for the other unities.<\/p>\n

So peace will come between Israel and Assyria, northern Iraq, by means of conversion. When this happens, there will be economic, political, and religious <\/span>unity, because they will all worship the same God.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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E. Kedar and Hazor: Saudi Arabia<\/p>\n

Peace will come between Israel and Saudi Arabia by means of destruction. This is taught in Jeremiah 49:28\u201333<\/a>. This passage describes the total devastation of Saudi Arabia by war until the inhabitants are scattered and dispersed all over the world. As for the land itself, verse 33<\/a> states: And Hazor shall be a dwelling place of jackals, a desolation for ever: no man <\/em>shall dwell there, neither shall any son of man sojourn therein.<\/em><\/p>\n

The land of Saudi Arabia will be a perpetual desolation<\/em> throughout the Kingdom, and the residents will be dispersed everywhere. While Egypt\u2019s desolation and dispersion will last only forty years, for Saudi Arabia, it will last for all of the one thousand years of the Messianic Kingdom. So peace will come between Israel and Saudi Arabia by means of destruction.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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F. Elam: Persia or Iran<\/p>\n

Although Persia or Iran, which is ancient Elam, is not an Arab state, its future will be examined here because they share the same religion, Islam, with the Moslem Arabs.<\/p>\n

Peace will come between Israel and Iran by means of destruction, according to Jeremiah 49:34\u201339<\/a>. In verses 34\u201338<\/a>, Jeremiah described the destruction of Elam, with the inhabitants being completely dispersed all over the world. But then verse 39<\/a> declares: But it shall come to pass in the latter days, that I will bring back the captivity of Elam, says Jehovah.<\/em><\/p>\n

The destruction of Iran will be partial, and the dispersion will be temporary. Eventually the inhabitants will return and resettle Iran. The future of Iran is similar to that of Egypt, but the length of time they will be in dispersion is not revealed.<\/p>\n

So peace will come between Israel and Iran by means of a destruction, dispersion, and then a conversion and a return. There will be a saved nation of Elam, Persia or Iran, in the Kingdom.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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IV. The Two Desolate Spots of the Kingdom<\/p>\n

During the Messianic Kingdom, the entire world will be fruitful and very productive; it will be characterized by beauty. Nevertheless, there will be two desolate spots of burning pitch and burning brimstone throughout the period of the Kingdom: Babylon and Edom. Egypt will be desolate only in the sense of being uninhabited, and that for only forty years. Saudi Arabia will be desolate throughout the Kingdom, but also only in the sense of being uninhabited.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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A. Babylon: Southern Iraq<\/p>\n

The first of these two desolate spots will be the former world capital of the Antichrist: Babylon. Several passages make this point, one of which is Isaiah 13:20\u201322<\/a>: It shall<\/em> never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation: neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither <\/em>shall shepherds make their flocks to lie down there. But wild beast<\/em>s of the desert shall lie there; and their houses shall be full of doleful creatures; and ostriches shall dwell there, and wild goats shall dance there. And wolves shall cry in their castles, and jackals in the pleasant palaces: and her time is near to come, and her <\/em>days shall not be prolonged.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The uninhabitable ruins are described as similar to Sodom and Gomorrah in Jeremiah 50:39\u201340<\/a>: Therefore t<\/em><\/span>he wild beasts of the desert with the wolves shall dwell there, and the ostriches shall dwell therein: and it shall be no more inhabited for ever; neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation. As w<\/em><\/span>hen God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbor cities thereof, says Jehovah, so shall no man dwell there, neither shall any son of man sojourn therein.<\/em><\/p>\n

Later, Jeremiah emphasized the<\/span> totality and completeness of Babylon\u2019s desolation in Jeremiah 51:41\u201343<\/a>: How is Sheshach taken! and the praise of the whole earth seized! how is Babylon become a desolation among the nations! The sea <\/em><\/span>is come up upon Babylon; she is covered with the multitude of waves thereof Her cities are become a desolation, a dry land, and a desert, a land wherein no man dwells, neither does any son of man pass thereby.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Throughout the Kingdom period, no man will even so much as pass by the ruins of Babylon, something that is hardly true today.<\/p>\n

Not only is Babylon to be a desolate waste throughout the Kingdo<\/span>m, it will also be a place of continual burning and smoke, according to Revelation 19:3<\/a>: And a second time they say, Hallelujah. And her smoke goes up for ever and ever.<\/em><\/p>\n

It is obvious that the animal <\/span>inhabitants, as they are known today, mentioned in Isaiah 13:20\u201322<\/a> and Jeremiah 50:39\u201340<\/a>, cannot live in a place of continual burning and so cannot be literal animals. What they actually are is explai<\/span>ned by Revelation 18:1\u20132<\/a>: After these things I saw another angel coming down out of heaven, having great authority; and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried with a mighty voice, saying<\/em><\/span>, Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, and is become a habitation of demons, and a hold of every unclean spirit, and a hold of every unclean and hateful bird.<\/em><\/p>\n

This place of continual burning and smoke<\/span> will be a place of confinement for many demons during the Kingdom period. It is clear from Revelation 9<\/a> and other passages that demons have animal like features, and this is what the animals of the I<\/span>saiah and Jeremiah passages actually represent. In fact, the Hebrew word translated as wild goats<\/em> refers to demons in goat form.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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B. Edom: Southern Jordan<\/p>\n

The second desolate spot in the Kingdom will be Edom. This is pointed out by several prophets, such as Isaiah 34:8\u201315<\/a>: For Jehovah has a day of vengeance, a year of recompense<\/em> for the cause of Zion. And the streams of Edom shall be turned into pitch, and the dust thereof into brimstone, and the land thereof shall become burning pitch. It shall not be quenched night nor day; the smoke thereof shall go up for ever; from generatio<\/em>n to generation it shall lie waste; none shall pass through it for ever and ever. But the pelican and the porcupine shall <\/em>possess it; and the ow<\/em>l and the raven shall dwell therein: and he will stretch over it the line of confusion, and the plummet of emptiness. They shall call the nobles thereof to the kingdom, but none shall be there; and all its princes shall be<\/em> nothing. And thorns shall come up in its palaces, nettles and thistles in the fortresses thereof; and it shall be a habitation of jackals, a court for ostriches. And the wild beasts of the desert shall meet with the wolves, and the wild goat shall cry to his fellow; yea, the night-monster shall settle there, and shall find her a place of rest. There shall the dart snake make her nest, and lay, and hatch, and gather un<\/em>der her shade; yea, there shall the kites be gathered, every one with her mate.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

In verse 8<\/a>, the reason for Edom\u2019s becoming a perpetual desolation is their s<\/span>ins against Israel. Like Babylon, in verses 9\u201310<\/a>, it is to become a place of continual burning and smoke inhabited by various foul birds and animals, and characterized by confusion in verse 11<\/a>. In ver<\/span>se 12<\/a>, it will be totally uninhabited by men and will be habitable only by the animals mentioned in verses 13\u201315<\/a>. Yet these animals, as they are known today, cannot live in a place of burning pitch an<\/span>d burning brimstone. Two clues in this text show that these are not literal birds and animals. Again, the word translated wild goats<\/em> actually means \u201cdemons in goat form.\u201d The word translated night-mon<\/em><\/span>ster<\/em> means \u201cnight demons.\u201d Like Babylon, Edom will be an abode of demons.<\/p>\n

Another prophecy where this is found is Jeremiah 49:17\u201318<\/a>: And Edom shall become an astonishment: every one that passes by it <\/em><\/span>shall be astonished, and shall hiss at all the plagues thereof. As in the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbor cities thereof, says Jehovah, no man shall dwell there, neither any son of man sojourn therein.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

The emphasis is on its totality, for no human will inhabit the land of Edom or even pass through it. Like Babylon, the desolation will be similar to that of Sodom and Gomorrah.<\/p>\n

The <\/span>reason for such massive destruction in Edom is amplified by Ezekiel 35:10\u201315<\/a>: Because you have said, These two nations and these two countries shall be mine, and we will possess it; whereas Jehovah wa<\/em><\/span>s there: therefore as I live says the Lord Jehovah, I will do according to your anger, and according to your envy which you have shown out of your hatred against them; and I will make myself known among them, when I shall judge you. And you shall know that I, Jehovah, have heard all your revilings which you have spoken a<\/em><\/span>gainst the mountains of Israel, saying, They are laid desolate, they are given us to devour. And ye have magnified yourselves against me with your mouth, and have multiplied your words against me: I have heard it. Thus says the Lord Jehovah: When the whole earth rejoices, I will make you desolate. As you did rejoice over the inheritance of the house of Israel, because it was desolate, so will I do unto you: you shall be desolate, O mount Seir, and all Edom, even all of it; and they shall know that I am Jehovah.<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

In verses 10\u201313<\/a>, because of Edom\u2019s glee over the fall of Israel and Judah, the punishment must come. So while the whole earth is beautified and rejoicing, Edom w<\/span>ill be a desolation in verse 14<\/a>. The calamities, which fell on Israel and over which Edom rejoiced, will now fall on Edom in a more severe way in verse 15<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Finally, Joel 3:19<\/a> states: Egypt shall be a <\/em><\/span>desolation, and Edom shall be a desolate wilderness, for the violence done to the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land.<\/em><\/p>\n

Egypt\u2019s desolation will be limited to only for<\/span>ty years. As for Edom, because of her unique violence against Israel, her desolation will be permanent and last throughout the Kingdom.<\/p>\n

Throughout the Millennial Kingdom, while the whole earth is beau<\/span>tified and blossoming as the rose, the two areas of Babylon and Edom will be places of continual burning pitch and burning brimstone. The smoke will rise and be visible for the entire one thousand years. While Satan will be confined in the Abyss, his demons will b<\/span>e confined in Babylon and Edom. These two places will be the abode of demons for the entire Kingdom period.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him. And Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand. Then will I slay my brother Jacob. Genesis 27:41 With so much news coming out of the Middle East in the last few years, a great … <\/p>\n

\u201eArab States in Prophecy\u201c <\/span>weiterlesen<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-64","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-allgemein"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/buch.jehovah-shammah.de\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/buch.jehovah-shammah.de\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/buch.jehovah-shammah.de\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/buch.jehovah-shammah.de\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/buch.jehovah-shammah.de\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=64"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/buch.jehovah-shammah.de\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":65,"href":"http:\/\/buch.jehovah-shammah.de\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64\/revisions\/65"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/buch.jehovah-shammah.de\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=64"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/buch.jehovah-shammah.de\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=64"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/buch.jehovah-shammah.de\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=64"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}