Israel Series: Israel, Egypt and Syria in victory and unity

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Israel, Egypt, and Syria in Victory and Unity (Isa. 19)

I. ISRAEL, EGYPT, AND ASSYRIA: A BLESSING IN THE EARTH

A. Daniel prophesied of the turmoil and suffering that Egypt, Syria, Israel will endure at the hands of the Antichrist in the end times (11:40-45). Daniel highlighted the intense military conflicts that will surely result in much loss of life as the Antichrist “overwhelms and then overthrows” these countries (11:40). But that is not the end of the story. The Lord will cause their pain and suffering to work together to fulfill His glorious purpose for these nations (Rom. 8:28).

B. Isaiah tells the end of the story—the Lord will deliver these nations and unite them with Israel to bring forth His special plan for them. Isaiah 19 describes God’s end-time plan for Egypt together with Israel and Assyria (the modern peoples and territories associated with it). The Assyrian Empire lasted about 500 years (1100–600 BC)—it includes parts of modern-day Iraq, Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon, along with parts of the Gulf countries, Saudi Arabia, eastern Turkey, and northern Iran.

24In that day Israel will be one of three with Egypt and Assyria—a blessing in the midst of the land [earth], 25whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, “Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance.”
(Isa. 19:24-25)

C. After Jesus defeats the Antichrist, He will fully restore Israel, Egypt, and Assyria (Dan. 11:45).

These three will be deeply united to the Lord and to one another to bring blessing to the nations. Daniel’s prophecy about the events coming to these nations (Dan. 11:21-45) is connected to Isaiah’s prophecy(Isa. 19:16-25). The two passages must be studied together.

II. THE CONTEXT OF ISAIAH 19 IS CONNECTED TO DANIEL 11

A. Daniel prophesied of military conflicts between Egypt, Syria, and the Antichrist (11:40-45).

The “king of the North” refers to the Syrian king, and the “king of the South” speaks of the Egyptian king (11:5-40). They will attack the Antichrist (11:40). These attacks against the Antichrist may be a preemptive strike before he invades Israel and the nations.

40“At the time of the end the king of the South [Egypt] shall attack him [Antichrist]; and the king of the North [Syria] shall come against him [Antichrist] like a whirlwind, with chariots …with many ships; and he [Antichrist] shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, and pass through. 41He shall enter the Glorious Land[Israel], and many countries shall be overthrown
(Dan. 11:40-41)

1. Syria maybe the leading country in a Northern Confederacy (the king of the North, 11:40)—it will most likely be an Islamic/Arab bloc. They will attack the Antichrist like a whirlwind. Syria will be defeated and/or incorporated into the Antichrist’s kingdom.

2. Egypt may be the leading country in a Southern Confederacy (the king of the South, 11:40, 42)—it will most likely be an Islamic/Arab bloc. They will attack the Antichrist. Egypt will be invaded and conquered for a season by the Antichrist (11:42-43).

B. Egypt will be overthrown and occupied by the Antichrist’s military forces (11:42-43). This will give him control over Egypt’s national finances and natural resources.

42“He [Antichrist] shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape. 43He shall have power over the treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt…” (Dan. 11:42-43)

C. The Antichrist shall invade and occupy the Glorious Land of Israel (11:41, 45). He will plant part of his headquarters around Jerusalem. The “glorious holy mountain” speaks of the temple site in Jerusalem. The two seas are the Mediterranean Sea (in the west) and the Dead Sea (in the east).

45“And he [Antichrist] shall plant the tents of his palace between the seas [Mediterranean Sea and the Dead Sea] and the glorious holy mountain [Jerusalem];ye the shall come to his end, and no one will help him.” (Dan. 11:45)

D. The Antichrist will be defeated (11:45). Jesus will destroy him (7:11-14, 22, 26-27; 9:27; 11:45; 2 Thes. 2:8; Rev. 16:16; 19:20) by the very brightness, or radiance, of His appearance.

8Then the lawless one [Antichrist] will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. (2 Thes. 2:8)

III. INTERPRETING ISAIAH 19

A. When interpreting end-time prophecies, we remember the law of double reference. Prophecies concerning Israel and the nations often have two fulfillments: first, a partial fulfillment in history, and second, a complete fulfillment at the end of the age. We use the literal method of interpretation (grammatical-historical), which understands the Scripture in its most plain sense (i.e., face value). We look for the meaning which the author intended his audience to receive.

B. The two most likely partial fulfillments of Isaiah 19:2-15 are that either Israel or the Philistines sought Egypt’s help in conspiring against Assyria. When Israel’s northern kingdom conspired against Assyria (724–721 BC), Israel’s King Hoshea sent messengers to Egypt’s king to gain support (2 Kgs. 17:4). Isaiah sought to keep Hezekiah out of this conspiracy with Egypt.

C. The Egyptians were defeated by Assyria at Raphia (720 BC). When the Philistines sought Egypt’s help in resisting Assyria (713-711 BC), the Egyptians were of little help. Again, Isaiah urged Hezekiah not to get involved in that conflict. The civil and political strife in Egypt was far greater in 724-720 BC than in 713-711 BC. Sargon never again invaded Egypt after 720 BC, but established economic relationship with Egypt.

IV. TWO PRAYER PRINCIPLES

A. Principle #1: The glory and judgment released in fullness at Jesus’ coming will be released in part now. We pray for the release in part of that which will be released in fullness at His return.

B. Principle #2: Some of the measure of glory or pressure that a geographic area will experience is in the balance of the prayer movement. Various geographic regions of Egypt will receive more or less glory and will experience more or less pressure depending on the amount of prayer offered.

V. DECREE #1 (INDIVIDUAL): RELEASE THE FEAR OF GOD AND POWER (ISA. 19:16-17)

A. We can identify five prophetic decrees in Isaiah 19—each beginning with “in that day” (19:16-17; 18; 19-22; 23; 24-25). I believe these five decrees will be commonly known among the Body of Christ before Jesus returns, as the Church partners in prayer with Jesus in His end-time plans.

B. Unbelievers in Egypt will be gripped with the fear of the Lord in seeing God’s power on the church, and His judgments on the wicked (19:16). Those who refuse the grace of God will also be terrified by hearing the report of the Antichrist’s reign of terror in Judah (19:17).

16In that day Egypt will…be afraid and fear because of the waving of the hand of the LORD of hosts, which He waves over it. 17And 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.
(Isa. 19:16-17)

C. Fear and terror are mentioned four times in Isaiah 19:16-17. This oracle is against those who refuse God’s grace. They will be afraid both of Jesus’ judgments and the Antichrist’s rage.

D. Jesus will wave, or stretch forth, His hand to release power, including signs in the sky and on earth (Lk. 21:25-26; Acts 2:18-19). Jesus stretching forth His hand speaks of His power being manifest through His people, especially in the context of persecution (Acts 4:29-30).

29“Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, 30 by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus…”
(Acts 4:29-30)

E. Jesus will wave His hand to destroy the tongue, or gulf, of Egypt (Gulf of Suez or Aqabah) at the Red Sea and cause the Euphrates River to dry up.

15The Lord will utterly destroy the tongue [gulf] of the Sea of Egypt; with His mighty wind He will shake His fist over the River, and strike it in the seven streams… (Isa. 11:15)

F. The two witnesses will release plagues similar to those released by Moses on Egypt.

5Fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies…6These have power to shut heaven…they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues…10These two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth. (Rev. 11:5-10)

G. The Antichrist’s reign of terror is described as a scourge going through Judah (Isa. 28:14-19).

18When the overflowing scourge [of the Antichrist] passes through, then you will be trampled down by it…19It will be a terror just to understand the report. (Isa. 28:18-19)

H. Jesus will show Himself to Egypt as the Lord of Hosts, the captain of the armies of heaven. Isaiah emphasized this name seven times in this chapter (Isa. 19:4, 12, 16, 17, 18, 20, 25).

I. We pray, “Lord, wave Your hand of power to shake Egypt, so that they cry out for Your salvation. Release the spirit of the fear of the Lord. Stop ungodly leaders who resist You. Release Your hand over the house of prayer, and raise up apostolic and prophetic leadership.”

VI. DECREE #2 (REGIONAL): RELEASE A SPIRIT OF REVIVAL (ISA. 19:18)

A. The spirit of revival will rest in an unusual way on five cities in Egypt before Jesus returns. This will happen to such a degree that these cities will swear to follow Jesus. They will be renowned for their dedication and boldness in the face of Islam and the Antichrist’s oppression (19:20).

18In 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 [lit. City of the Sun]. (Isa. 19:18)

B. As part of end-time Jerusalem is spiritually referred to as Sodom (for her perversion) and Egypt (for her oppression of God’s people), so Israel under the Antichrist’s reign may be referred to as Canaan. He may present the land of Israel under his control as the “new promised land.”

8And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city [Jerusalem] which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. (Rev. 11:8)

C. To speak the “language of Canaan” means they will speak the primary language of the people who live in Canaan (Israel) in the end times. It probably means speaking Hebrew. The official language of Canaan was Arabic for 1400 years. In 1948, the primary language changed to Hebrew. It would not be a noteworthy prophetic event for five cities in Egypt to speak Arabic.

D. Will they speak Hebrew? Why? Does this refer to Jews speaking Hebrew in these five cities (because they gathered to them in such large numbers)? Or will some Egyptians be called by the Holy Spirit to learn Hebrew in preparation for the Jews who will seek refuge in these cities?

E. We pray, “Lord, release a spirit of revival, dedication, and boldness in five cities, and come in power to awaken five regions with an unusual outpouring of the Spirit.”

VII. DECREE #3 (NATIONAL): PRAYER MINISTRY & NATIONAL SALVATION (ISA. 19:19-22)

A. The grace of prayer leading to a great revival and supernatural deliverance from the Antichrist will be released in Egypt before Jesus returns.

19In 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. 20It 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. 21Then the LORD will be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians will know the LORD in that day…yes, they will make a vow to the LORD and perform it. 22The 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. (Isa. 19:19-22)

B. Five stages: Egypt’s national oppression (stage #1) will create the context for a national prayer movement to mature (stage #2). This will lead to a national deliverance (stage #3), then national salvation (stage #4), then national healing of the land and social infrastructures (stage #5).

C. A mighty prayer movement will be raised up that will cry out for God to remove wickedness until the nation repents and is fully healed (19:22). Prayer will release grace that prevents Egypt’s political leaders from joining the Antichrist by yielding to his seductions or threats.

D. The Antichrist will function as an end-time Pharaoh who will oppress God’s people. The end-time saints will cry out for deliverance from oppression as Israel did in Moses’ day.

7“I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry… 8So I have come down to deliver them…9The cry of the children of Israel has come to Me, and I have seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them.” (Ex. 3:7-9)

E. As Israel’s national salvation will come after Jesus returns, so will Egypt’s and other nations.

11Yes, all kings shall fall down before Him; all nations shall serve Him. (Ps. 72:11)

15The nations shall fear the name of the Lord, and all the kings of the earth… (Ps. 102:15)

F. God will strike the wicked infrastructures in Egypt, and will then heal them as the nation prays.

19Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom a desolate wilderness… (Joel 3:19)

G. The prayer movement will continue to entreat the Lord until God fully heals the land.

1“When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, 14if My people…will humble themselves, and pray… then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (2 Chr. 7:13-14)

H. Egypt will build an altar and a pillar as expressions of gratitude. These will be memorials to their national deliverance and salvation (19:19-20).

I. Egypt will follow through on their vows (19:21). The pillar will be a national monument at the border to testify of their devotion to Jesus.

J. We pray, “Lord, release grace on a national prayer movement to contend with prevailing faith for national deliverance, salvation, and healing.”

VIII. DECREE #4 (INTERNATIONAL): RELEASE RECONCILIATION (ISA. 19:23)

A. A highway will facilitate international relationships, cooperation, and communication.

Believers in Egypt will be unified with believers in Assyria—parts of modern-day Iraq, Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon, and parts of the Gulf countries, Saudi Arabia, eastern Turkey, and northern Iran.

B. The modern peoples from the lands of Egypt and Assyria will reconcile in the Lord. Arabs will reconcile with Arabs, and then Arab nations will reconcile with Israel in Christ.

23In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian will come into Egypt and the Egyptian into Assyria. The Egyptians will serve with the Assyrians. (Isa. 19:23)

C. Isaiah often referred to this literal millennial highway (Isa. 11:16; 19:23; 35:8; 49:11; 62:10).

16…a highway for the remnant of His people who will be left from Assyria… (Isa. 11:16)

D. We pray, “Lord, fully unify Egyptian,Syrian and Iraqi believers now as a first fruits.

IX. DECREE #5 (GLOBAL): RELEASE SUPERNATURAL UNITY (ISA. 19:24-25)

A. Arabs will be fully reconciled with Israel, resulting in a blessing in the midst of the “land.”

In Hebrew, the word aretz has two meanings: the whole earth, or the land of Israel in particular. The word for land is often translated “earth,” as in the NIV, NAS, and RSV.

24In that day Israel will be one of three with Egypt and Assyria-- a blessing in the midst of the land [earth], 25 whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, “Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance.” (Isa. 19:24-25)

B. Israel’s two longest-standing enemies will be fully reconciled to Jesus, then to Israel.

15…so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace… (Eph. 2:15)

4The mystery of Christ…6that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs… (Eph. 3:4-6)

C. The sons of Isaac and Ishmael will one day be fully united in Jesus. Thus, the blessing of Abraham will fill the earth and all the families of the earth will be blessed.

3In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. (Gen. 12:3)

D. God’s glory will be poured out, resulting in the supernatural unity of Israel, Egypt, and Assyria (Jn. 17:21-22). Unity comes as their national identity and destiny is understood by revelation (19:24-25). The names once reserved only for Israel will be given to Egypt and Assyria.

E. There seems to be a progression in the Lord’s plan here. It starts with releasing fear on ungodly individuals. Next, five cities in Egypt are visited by the grace of God, releasing a revival spirit. Then the entire nation will worship Jesus. This is followed by deep international relationships among Arab brothers in Christ in Assyria. The blessing from this unity will impact the earth.

F. Nations will relate together based on the identity that God gives them. It is not enough for these nations to know their identity in God. All the nations must know it so that we participate in unity around the Father’s table with a spirit of servanthood and rejoicing, not bitterness and rivalry.

G. It is possible that the geographic area of the garden of Eden is restored in the Millennium,with the territory of these three ancient nations (Isa. 35:1-8; 51:3; Ezek. 34:29; 36:35; 47:6-12).

35They will say, “This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden…” (Ezek. 36:35)

H. The blessing in the garden of Eden will spread to all the nations in the Millennium, until the whole earth is filled with God’s glory.

14For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD… (Hab. 2:14)

6Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit. (Isa. 27:6)

I. We pray, “Lord, unify Arab and Jewish believers as a first-fruits, and cause all to see Your calling on each of these nations and to serve You together with joy.” (Eph. 1:17-18)

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