In our previous study we noted that the last days refer to a time relative to
Israel, but that there will be other nations present as well. The Isaiah/Micah passage referred to the
nations coming to Jerusalem for worship and instruction. Today’s study will reveal some of the nations
that will exist in that time.
·
Jer. 48:47; 49:39: Jeremiah prophesied the
return of the captives of two nations, Moab and Elam, in the latter days.
o First
we ask, “Will these nations will be called by the same name in the latter days?” The territory of Moab is today a part of the kingdom of Jordan. In the Bible Moabites were descendants of Lot
(Gen. 19:36-38) and God gave them a specific territory to occupy (Num.
21:13-15; Deut. 2:9). Elam was a kingdom in the southern part
of the Babylonian empire and ceased to exist after the conquest by Alexander
the Great. It does not play a major role
in Biblical history. And yet, here we
see it is said to have a future. We
cannot say with certainty that these names will reappear but it would not
surprise us. Today in the Middle East
there are a lot of the ancient names that are reappearing as city and regional
names.
o What
is significant is that these prophecies indicate the grace of God extended to
nations and nationalities other than Israel in the latter days. The return of these captives and the
inclusion of these nations among those in the time of Jesus’ earthly reign
indicate there are righteous citizens in those nations and that is the result
of the work of God’s Spirit.
·
Ezek. 38:16: Ezekiel saw it as a time of hostile
nations warring against Israel.
o Ezek.
38-39 record the invasion of Israel, in the latter days, by a confederacy of
nations that seems to revolve around Russian leadership. Ezek. 38:1-9 indicates these nations. Ezekiel portrays this invasion and then some
event that draws the nations to a place in Israel where God pours out His wrath
on them. We believe this is a battle
that immediately precedes Armageddon, the battle that occurs when Christ
returns and makes war against the remaining nations gathered against Him (Rev.
19:17-21). (We published 2 blogs on this
in our blog on Feb.12-13, 2015).
o What
this says concerning the latter days
it that this battle is one of the events involved in that time that results in
the Messianic Kingdom. They are part of
God’s cleansing of Israel in that they wreak havoc among the Chosen Nation,
havoc that results in the turning of the nation to Christ. God then, according to Rev. 12, protects the
saved nation and turns His attention to the judgment of the nations.
What these prophecies together tell us is that
God will not only turn His wrath upon the nations; He will also extend His
grace to the nations for the salvation of many.
We are not surprised; this is His way, extending salvation to those who
will turn to Him. It is His way today!
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