Isaiah 19 – Fierce King of the Egyptians

     Two days ago I posted a commentary on the revolution that is occurring in Egypt, which can be found here: http://lambslawnewsblog.blogspot.com/2011/02/isaiah-19-egyptian-against-egyptian.html. I have a correction to make regarding something I wrote about the fierce king Isaiah predicted would take over in Egypt.

     Here is what God said through the words of the Prophet Isaiah:

     “I will set Egyptians against Egyptians;

Everyone will fight against his brother,

And everyone against his neighbor,

City against city, kingdom against kingdom.

     The spirit of Egypt will fail in its midst;

I will destroy their counsel,

And they will consult the idols and the charmers,

The mediums and the sorcerers.

     And the Egyptians I will give

Into the hand of a cruel master,

And a fierce king will rule over them,”

Says the Lord, the LORD of hosts.

Isaiah 19:2—4 (NKJV).

     It seemed to me that the phrase fierce king had to be attributable to the Antichrist, whom we know unequivocally from Scripture will be the most evil of all kings throughout history. The Antichrist will actually be indwelt by none other than Satan himself, when God will allow Satan to rule freely over all mankind as a judgment against the Christ-rejecting unbelieving world. See 2 Thessalonians 2:9—12, Revelation 13:4, 8.

     However, I have to say that something didn’t one hundred percent sit right with me about Isaiah’s Egyptian fierce king being the same person as the Antichrist. In fact, I should have pointed out that I wasn’t one hundred percent sure of that point in my comment. Especially because I made a remark that we will know whether Isaiah 19 is indeed coming to pass if we see Egypt fall into the European Union’s (“EU”) control – based on the belief that the EU is that Revived Roman Empire as predicted by the Prophet Daniel and the Apostle John. Egypt will absolutely fall into the EU’s control when the Antichrist comes to power, because he will control the entire world. But that is not necessarily a sign that Isaiah 19 is happening now.

     The real sign that this prophecy has been fulfilled is that after the civil war described by Isaiah, Egypt is controlled by a fierce king who is apparently defeated after going to war with Israel. Following Israel’s victory, a portion of Egypt, five cities according to Isaiah, are then occupied by Israelis. Isaiah described this saying that those cities would speak the language of Canaan, which is Hebrew.

     This is actually the most amazing part of the Isaiah 19 prophecy, because it indicates Egypt’s eventual salvation:

     In that day Egypt will be like women, and will be afraid and fear because of the waving of the hand of the LORD of hosts, which He waves over it. And the land of Judah will be a terror to Egypt; everyone who makes mention of it will be afraid in himself, because of the counsel of the LORD of hosts which He has determined against it.

     In that day five cities in the land of Egypt will speak the language of Canaan and swear by the LORD of hosts; one will be called the City of Destruction.

     In that day there will be an altar to the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the LORD at its border. And it will be for a sign and for a witness to the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt; for they will cry to the LORD because of the oppressors, and He will send them a Savior and a Mighty One, and He will deliver them. Then the LORD will be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians will know the LORD in that day, and will make sacrifice and offering; yes, they will make a vow to the LORD and perform it. And the LORD will strike Egypt, He will strike and heal it; they will return to the LORD, and He will be entreated by them and heal them.

     In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian will come into Egypt and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians will serve with the Assyrians.

     In that day Israel will be one of three with Egypt and Assyria — a blessing in the midst of the land, whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, “Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance.”

Isaiah 19:16—25 (NKJV).

     Interestingly, Isaiah went on to discuss Syria (Assyria) being a friend to Israel along with Egypt. This will certainly occur during the Millennial Kingdom, in which Jesus Christ physically reigns over the earth from Jerusalem. See Revelation 20:4—6, Daniel 2:34, 35, 44. I had believed that this portion of Isaiah 19 was only describing the Millennial Kingdom, and thus the fierce king had to be the Antichrist who would control Egypt just before Jesus returns. However, I think this passage, like most prophecy in Scripture, likely spans over multiple eras.

     I do think this is talking ultimately about the Millennial Kingdom because it clearly is stating that Israel, Egypt and Syria are all populated by people who have received God’s salvation, which means that they have repented from their rebellion against God and put their trust in Jesus Christ alone. This is not merely talking about these countries calling upon the name of the God of Israel, but upon the name of Jesus Christ.

     The Bible clearly declares that salvation is through Jesus Christ alone, “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 (NKJV). Jesus also made it clear when He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 4:16b (NKJV).

     These countries would not experience the kind of blessings discussed in that passage unless they were experiencing true salvation through Jesus Christ alone. Remember, although the nation of Israel still generally claims to believe in God, they have rejected the Messiah, God in the flesh, whose arrival was pointed to all throughout the Jewish Scriptures.

     In fact, God uses these wars that are soon coming against Israel to draw them to repentance and faith in their Messiah, Jesus Christ. Until that happens, they will continue to fall under the judgment they have experienced over the past 2,000 years. Jesus explained this when He lamented over Israel’s disbelief saying:

     O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate; for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!”

Matthew 23:37—39 (NKJV).

     The Prophet Zechariah spoke about Israel’s salvation, the fulfillment of their Yom Kippur holy day, when they cry out in repentance and faith to Jesus Christ, the One whom they pierced:

     And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.

Zechariah 12:10 (NKJV).

     Zechariah’s prophecy is fulfilled sometime during the Great Tribulation. Therefore, Isaiah’s prophecy on the salvation of Egypt, Israel and Syria must find its final fulfillment in the Millennial Kingdom, which follows the Great Tribulation.

     However, in the context of Isaiah 17, which discusses the destruction of Syria two chapters earlier, I believe that the Isaiah 19 occupation of Egyptian land by Israel describes the aftermath of a large scale attack on Israel. I believe that this large scale attack is described in Psalm 83 and Isaiah 17, where Israel is attacked by all of its immediate neighbors.

     That war results in the destruction of those neighbors, thereby allowing Israel to occupy the portion of Egypt described in Isaiah 19. It also sets the stage for Israel to finally rebuild a temple on the Temple Mount where the Muslim Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque currently sit. See Matthew 24:15, Daniel 11:31, 12:11, 2 Thessalonians 2:4.

     Moreover, I believe that the destruction of Damascus as described in Isaiah 17:1, which is a consequence of the Psalm 83 war, is the event that causes the massive attack on Israel described in Ezekiel 38. Those nations are: Russia (Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech & Tubal), Iran (Persia), Turkey (Gomer & Beth-togarmah), Libya (Put) and Sudan (Cush). See Ezekiel 38:1—6.

     Through Ezekiel, God promised to draw these Israel-hating nations into a war in which it will be clear to the world that God is supernaturally protecting Israel:

Thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal. I will turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and lead you out, with all your army, horses, and horsemen, all splendidly clothed, a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords … After many days you will be visited. In the latter years you will come into the land of those brought back from the sword and gathered from many people on the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate; they were brought out of the nations, and now all of them dwell safely. You will ascend, coming like a storm, covering the land like a cloud, you and all your troops and many peoples with you.”

Ezekiel 38:3b, 4, 8, 9 (NKJV).

     All of these countries have in recent years signed military pacts with Syria, vowing to defend Syria if it is ever attacked. Interestingly, Syria does not appear in Ezekiel’s list, which further adds to my belief that the destruction of Syria is the event that causes these nations to attack Israel.

     Therefore, although I believe that the salvation of Egypt described in Isaiah 19 will find its ultimate fulfillment in the Millennial Kingdom, I also believe that the partial occupation of Egypt by Israel occurs after the invasion of Israel’s inner ring of neighbors described in Psalm 83 and Isaiah 17. That victory by Israel then leads to an invasion by Israel’s outer ring of neighbors described in Ezekiel 38 and 39.

     The fierce king that Isaiah described then is likely not the Antichrist, as I previously thought, but rather some ruler who really does not care about the wellbeing of the Egyptians. In fact, the condition of Egypt’s economy described in Isaiah 19 leads me to believe that this fierce king totally exploits everything he can, causing Egypt to fall into absolute ruin. See Isaiah 19:5—15.

     By all accounts it seems that the Muslim Brotherhood is poised to take over in Egypt. This organization is the parent organization of Hamas, the terrorists who control Gaza and have stolen all the financial aid that pours into Gaza, and whose only focus is the destruction of Israel. I think it is very reasonable to say that we can expect nothing different from the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt.

     These are terrifying days for those who do not know Jesus Christ as Savior. However, for the Christian, we should not be afraid. In the middle of delivering one of His most terrifying sermons, the Olivet Discourse, Jesus comforted us that God is in absolute control when He said, “But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately.” Luke 21:9 (NKJV).

     This is why the Apostle Paul urged us, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV). And also why he said, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:7 (NKJV). Christians are not to live in constant fear of our surroundings, because we are to, “Set [our] mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” Colossians 3:2 (NKJV).

     However, the nonbeliever should indeed be terrified by the things that are happening, and those that will happen in the future. The day is coming when God will judge this world with all of His wrath, and the writer of Hebrews earnestly warns us, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Hebrews 10:31 (NKJV).

     These events should cause you to seek salvation through the one and only God. If you have never sought Him through repentance and faith, please do it now. All these things written in the Bible so many centuries ago are certainly coming true, and in such an incredibly detailed fashion. That should cause you to recognize the other things the Bible has to say are true too.

     The single most important thing the Bible teaches us, next to worship God alone, is that we are all destined for eternity in judgment and wrath because of our sins, but because God is so merciful and full of grace, He offers us Himself as the substitute who bore our transgressions on the cross 2,000 years ago. Speaking of this greatest event in all of history, the Apostle Paul wrote:

     For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

Romans 5:6—11 (NKJV).

     If you hear His voice, do as Jesus commanded, “Repent, and believe in the gospel.” Mark 1:15b (NKJV).