4/15/10

The Two End Time's Judgments Upon Edom - Part Two

By Bill Salus

Part One covered the first judgment upon Edom illustrating that the Israeli Defense Forces would be the tool used by God to end the Arab – Israeli conflict. In the aftermath of the first judgment Israel seems to expand its sovereignty over modern day Jordan, the West Bank, and Gaza. This would correlate with the prophecies in Jeremiah 49:1-22 and Obadiah 1:19. Israel annexing the territory of Southern Jordan paves the way for the final end time’s faithful Jewish remnant to flee there during the Antichrist genocidal campaign against the Jews.

The Bible foretells a remnant of Jews will come to faith in Christ during the Tribulation period (Hosea 5:15). Additionally the Bible declares at the same time the Antichrist will be attempting a final campaign to destroy the Jewish race. This impetus to destroy the Jews is a major theme in what is often called the Armageddon campaign.

During this campaign, the Antichrist assembles the armies of the world (Armageddonites) to kill the Jews, prevent the return of Christ, and prove that Jehovah, the God of the Jews, is a promise breaker. Scripture points out that the Jewish people are instrumental in provoking the Second Coming of Christ and upholding the covenant making character of Jehovah. Thus, Satan and his seed the Antichrist seek to destroy the Jews during the Tribulation period.

Second Judgment upon Edom

Whereas the Jewish people are instrumental in the execution of the first judgment destined for Edom, the second judgment deals with the Armageddonites rather than the Edomites and is not delivered by the Jewish people, but by the Jewish Messiah, Jesus Christ!

The first judgment on Edom will mainly destroy the Edomites rather than Edom, the territory. However, the second judgment will devastate the land of ancient Edom making it inhospitable for humans and converting it into a habitation for demon possessed wild animals. (Isaiah 34:9-15, Joel 3:9, Malachi 1:3-4 and elsewhere.)

The second judgment upon Edom has nothing to do with terminating the end of the Arab – Israeli conflict and everything to do with preserving the faithful Jewish remnant and destroying the Antichrist and his armies. The I.D.F. victory in the first judgment of Edom will be short lived. Soon afterwards the Antichrist will be masterminding his attempt to destroy the Jews.

Zechariah 13:8 says that the Antichrist will kill two-thirds Israeli Jews in the Tribulation period. Most of the final third flees to Edom, modern day Southern Jordan. They can safely seek refuge there only after Israel annexes Edom in the aftermath of the first judgment. This could not happen presently since Edom today is under Jordanian sovereignty. Part one pointed out that the first judgment upon Edom is a Pre-Trib event; however, the second judgment occurs within the Tribulation period.

Prophecies regarding the second judgment of Edom depict the return of Christ to Edom in order to fight for the survival of the Jewish remnant. Even though this remnant flees to higher safer ground in the mountainous region of Edom, (Southern Jordan), they will remain under imminent threat from the Antichrist.

Who is this who comes from Edom, With dyed garments from Bozrah, This One who is glorious in His apparel, Traveling in the greatness of His strength?—I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save [Messiah Christ].” Why is Your apparel red, And Your garments like one who treads in the winepress? “I have trodden the winepress alone, And from the peoples no one was with Me [Christ alone and not the I.D.F.]. For I have trodden them in My anger, And trampled them in My fury; Their blood is sprinkled upon My garments, And I have stained all My robes. For the day of vengeance is in My heart, And the year of My redeemed has come. I looked, but there was no one to help, And I wondered That there was no one to uphold; Therefore My own arm brought salvation for Me; And My own fury, it sustained Me. I have trodden down the peoples [Antichrist and Armageddonites] in My anger, Made them drunk in My fury, And brought down their strength to the earth.” (Isaiah 63:1-6; NKJV)

Isaiah makes clear that Christ touches down in Edom to protect “My redeemed”, the faithful Jewish remnant. Furthermore Isaiah declares that Christ single handedly destroys the “peoples” assembled against the Jews. Isaiah 34:5 makes a similar prophetic assessment.

For My [Messiah Christ] sword shall be bathed in heaven; Indeed it shall come down on Edom, And on the people [Armageddonites] of My curse, for judgment. (Isaiah 34:5; NKJV)

Summary of Parts One and Two

The first judgment upon Edom is intended to severely impact the Middle East, and leave a lasting impression upon all the inhabitants of the world. It will serve in the future as an echo of God’s past as well as His present foreign policy contained in Genesis 12:3. Obadiah 1:15 declares; “As you [Edomites] have done it shall be done to you”, which appropriately describes the curse-for-curse-in-kind clause of the Abrahamic Covenant. The Edomites and their Psalm 83 cohorts will seek to destroy Israel militarily, but conversely the I.D.F. will prevail.

The first judgment of Edom occurs when “the day of the LORD upon all the nations is near.” (Obad 1:15) It serves as a final worldwide warning that the end of life on earth as it will be understood at that time draws near. It will also be a call to remembrance that God blesses and curses in relationship to the treatment or mistreatment of Abraham and his descendants.

The execution of tremendous fury and vengeance against the Palestinians, leaving none to carry on the lineage of Esau according to Obadiah 1:18, will demonstrate to the world that if God did not spare the descendants of Jacob’s own twin brother Esau, then none seeking to bring future harm to the Jewish people will escape the curse-for-curse-in-kind clause of Genesis 12:3.

In contrast to Jacob, who was promised descendants, a homeland, and a King forever, his twin brother Esau will have none of the above. The first judgment against Edom eliminates all of Esau’s descendants including any would be kings, and the second judgment against Edom leaves Esau’s homeland unsuitable for human habitation. Indeed one will be caused to consider the severity of cursing Israel when they think about the contrasting fates of the twin brothers Jacob and Esau.

For greater detail on the two prophetic judgments pending against Edom, read “Isralestine; the Ancient Blueprints of the Future Middle East“ Chapters called: Whodomites; Who are the Edomites Today, and The Final Palestinian Farewell.

No comments: