A Tale of Two Sieges
A commonly heard maxim or phrase that usually doesn’t encounter too much resistance is that history repeats itself. If, as Christians, we accept the idea that history is Bible prophecy fulfilled, then it shouldn’t seem strange to consider the thought that prophecy repeats itself at times. Let us understand, of course, that there can be only one fulfilment of the Messianic prophecies, to cite but one contrary example.
With these thoughts in mind, let us consider two examples in Scripture that are similar in some respects but are not to be confused with each other but I would contend that students of the Bible do which is not without consequence.
In Isaiah 29, God speaks of distressing “Ariel” which, according to Strong’s Concordance is a symbolic name for Jerusalem. The balance of the chapter reveals how many nations would be gathered against her but ultimately there would be deliverance.
Micah chapter 4 gives us more details of this same example and the context reveals it has latter day relevance. This chapter references the tribulations of the “daughter of Jerusalem” and the “daughter of Zion” with deliverance and salvation as the ultimate outcome.
But there is another entity against which many nations are gathered as well. In the short book of Obadiah, we find that an ambassador is sent among the “heathen” or among the nations as the Hebrew word could alternatively be translated though either translation seems appropriate. This implies that more than one nation would form an alliance against one particular people and that people is Edom, or the descendants of Jacob’s brother Esau. God says this people would be small and greatly despised. The outcome was to be very different than the one described in Micah 4 for the daughter of Zion.
As to why this was to be so would, perhaps, be a study in itself but the tragedy is, that multitudes of Christians have regarded the latter day example of nations arising in battle against the small and despised nation of Edom as being the fulfillment of many nations being arrayed against the daughter of Zion and Jerusalem. This is latter day deception. As to how and when this will all play out in the manner described in Obadiah remains to be seen. But from the balance of the chapter, it would seem that despite whatever short term success the remnant of Esau enjoys, his enemies would ultimately triumph and Joseph Israel will have to step in and restore order and pick up the pieces.
A commonly heard maxim or phrase that usually doesn’t encounter too much resistance is that history repeats itself. If, as Christians, we accept the idea that history is Bible prophecy fulfilled, then it shouldn’t seem strange to consider the thought that prophecy repeats itself at times. Let us understand, of course, that there can be only one fulfilment of the Messianic prophecies, to cite but one contrary example.
With these thoughts in mind, let us consider two examples in Scripture that are similar in some respects but are not to be confused with each other but I would contend that students of the Bible do which is not without consequence.
In Isaiah 29, God speaks of distressing “Ariel” which, according to Strong’s Concordance is a symbolic name for Jerusalem. The balance of the chapter reveals how many nations would be gathered against her but ultimately there would be deliverance.
Micah chapter 4 gives us more details of this same example and the context reveals it has latter day relevance. This chapter references the tribulations of the “daughter of Jerusalem” and the “daughter of Zion” with deliverance and salvation as the ultimate outcome.
But there is another entity against which many nations are gathered as well. In the short book of Obadiah, we find that an ambassador is sent among the “heathen” or among the nations as the Hebrew word could alternatively be translated though either translation seems appropriate. This implies that more than one nation would form an alliance against one particular people and that people is Edom, or the descendants of Jacob’s brother Esau. God says this people would be small and greatly despised. The outcome was to be very different than the one described in Micah 4 for the daughter of Zion.
As to why this was to be so would, perhaps, be a study in itself but the tragedy is, that multitudes of Christians have regarded the latter day example of nations arising in battle against the small and despised nation of Edom as being the fulfillment of many nations being arrayed against the daughter of Zion and Jerusalem. This is latter day deception. As to how and when this will all play out in the manner described in Obadiah remains to be seen. But from the balance of the chapter, it would seem that despite whatever short term success the remnant of Esau enjoys, his enemies would ultimately triumph and Joseph Israel will have to step in and restore order and pick up the pieces.