ISAIAH’S END-TIME TIMELINE
Isaiah’s End-time Timeline Chapters 36-39
FORESHADOWS OF THE BEAST AND FALSE PROPHET / King Sennacherib of Assyria and Rabshakeh
2 Kings 18-20, 2 Chronicles 32, 2 Thessalonians 2:3,4, 9-12
THE NEXT 4 CHAPTERS IN ISAIAH BEFORE US are 36-39 and ARE PRIMARILY HISTORICAL RECORDINGS IN KING HEZEKIAH’S REIGN. After which chapters 40-66 enter into the later prophecies of Isaiah, which we intend to explore shortly.
Isaiah Chapters 36-39 can be seen as an appendix to the first 35 chapters as well as a preface to the 40th chapter. In that after the threatening of chapter 39 of the future destruction of Jerusalem, comes the comforting in the 40th chapter. The last 21 chapters then are written later and are one continual discourse.
Isaiah Chapters 36-39 narratives are also found essentially in 2 Kings 18-20. And there is another account given in 2 Chronicles 32. The topics are: King Sennacherib of Assyria and his invasion of the Land, Rabshakeh his envoy, and their discourses with the people of Jerusalem. Also, King Hezekiah’s illness and the miraculous recovery with events surrounding it, and the supernatural slaughter of Sennacherib’s army by the Angel of the Lord.
Isaiah chapter 36 declares the blasphemous message. (Read.) The comparisons of these historical characters and events no-doubt resemble those of the end times wherein Jesus Christ Returns. Our direct purpose is to understand and show that the prophecies of the Book of Revelation are linked to former utterances, by a few (but sufficient) details. Details which combine, amplify, and place in their exact and final setting, to the end that we might believe, and fearfully order our lives aright.
First then, Sennacherib, the King of Assyria, is the type for that “Great Assyrian” (Isaiah 14:25,26 Revelation 19) that the Lord will tread under His feet upon His Return on the mountains of Israel. As in the type, so will it be in the anti-type. Hezekiah was very concerned about the great power of the King of Assyria and therefore tried to pacify him with tribute. “…three hundred talents of silver, and thirty talents of gold.” Yet in spite of this agreement, Sennacherib “came up against all the fortified cities of Judah, and took them.” This is a clear type for Daniel’s end time character/Beast who betrays Israel. [As seen in Daniel 9:27,11:23,30] He comes up against it, and pillages it. [Daniel 7:25, 8:24, 9:26,27 11:31,41] As the main intent and point of Sennacherib’s invasion was Jerusalem, so it will be of the Great Destroyer of the last days. “…. the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the Temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.” [2 Thessalonians 2:3,4]
In that this is Sennacherib’s intent, he sends Rabshakeh, “…the king of Assyria sent Rabshakeh from Lachish to Jerusalem, unto king Hezekiah, with a great army…” The first Beast sends the 2nd Beast. “And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast.” So it was, so it will be. He is sent in all the power and authority of the Great Assyrian King, with the insulting blasphemous message.
THEN WITHOUT QUESTION, RABSHAKEH IS THE TYPE FOR THE EQUALLY SATANIC INSPIRED 2nd Beast; the END TIME FALSE PROPHET who also ascends out of the bottomless pit. “….Set thou a wicked man over him: (the anti-Christ) and let Satan stand at his right hand.” [Psalms 109:6] It is he who plays a key role, as did Rabshakeh, in bringing all men under the subjection of the first Beast/anti-Christ. “…he spake as a dragon.” That is to say; as cleverly and deceitfully as the Serpent of the Garden.
As he was in Christ’s appointed Apostolic service for 3 ½ years, now resurrected, he will serve satan and the anti-Christ for 3 ½ years. As the anti-Christ is the slain and resurrected living miracle, the son of satan/son of perdition, so the False Prophet works miracles/signs and wonders following in his name, as did the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ name for His Father. In that now the Gospel message is taken throughout the nations, but rejected, they are utterly darkened….and Israel. “God having left him, to try him….” [2nd Chronicles 32:31] Having resisted God’s testimony of His Son’s Resurrection, they all readily receive the Devil’s son resurrected. Revelation Chapter 13 gives us the end time anti-type in the unholy trinity. (Read.)
He/they will have a “mouth speaking great things.” “And he shall speak great words against the Most High.” [Daniel 7:8,25] “He shall speak marvelous things against the God of gods.” [Daniel 11:36] “There was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies….and he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.”
This speaks to the end time darkness of attitude in general that God has given man up unto for their want of love of the truth at the close of the Age of Grace and Mercy. (Keep in mind receiving the Truth from falsehood is not the exercise of the intellect, but the pursuit of the Lord and His truth has more to do with morality and the conscience. Our beliefs or unbeliefs are based on our moral character and not our intellect. Either our alignment, acceptance, or rejection of the truth comes through the Word brought to bear upon the conscience. You can’t mentally ascent to His Word while morally rejecting it/Him. ) This last days’ exclusion of morality has especially given the worldly ones up unto to these Two notorious worldwide characters of the Beast and False Prophet. They are the length, width, and height of the great end time delusion. They are the rod of God’s indignation sent upon the hypocritical World and nation of Israel. [Read Isaiah 10:5-11 with 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12, and Deuteronomy 13:1-5.]
ALL the resemblances in these 4 chapters of Isaiah are intended by the Spirit of God, and are pointing to the last 7 years just before Christ’s Return.
Rabshakeh’s speech and intended captivity of all the Land, and particularly Jerusalem, is but the prophetic harbinger of the reality of its accomplishment by the anti-Christ hosts, that will be seen just before the Return of the Lord. “BEHOLD, the day of the Lord cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth in to captivity and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.” [Zechariah 14:1,2]
Such also were the Words of our Lord with this same time in view. “And they shall be led away captive into all nations, and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles shall be fulfilled.” [Luke 21:24] This trodden down and times of the Gentiles being the culmination of that which started with the first exile, and Nebuchadnezzar. The full intent of the Lord’s Words are exposed to our eyes for understanding in the Book of Revelation in Chapter 11 verse 2. “But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.” This is exactly in accordance with the reign of blasphemous terror afforded over Israel by the anti-Christ/beast. [Revelation 13:5-7]
The resemblances/types now move to Hezekiah’s humility and prayers of deliverance starting in chapter 37. They speak directly to the end time Jews’ humiliation and prayers of deliverance in sincere repentance and sole dependence on God. Hezekiah’s command to receive the blasphemies in silence (Isaiah 37:3) speak to the end time trial in Jacob’s Trouble, of suffering and prayer without retaliation. “Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.” [Revelation 13:10 with Daniel 11:31-37 with Revelation 14:12-15, and also Zechariah 12-14]
In God’s gracious prophetic words here in chapter 38, and in the parallel chapter 10, assures that Sennacherib, the great king of Assyria, in the end, is but the instrument of God. Although (“Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither does his heart think so,” ) His pride is compared to the axe who exalted itself against the one who wielded it. God redirects Sennacherib as he was drawn away from attacking Jerusalem by a rumor that the king of Ethiopia, Tirhakah, was advancing to fight him. [Isaiah 37:7]
AND so it is laid out before us in the type, as we look to Scripture to reveal Scripture, that this speaks also to THE GREAT (resurrected) DESTROYER of the end time. Who has, like Sennacherib, already “entered into and overthrown the land”, at least in peaceful treachery. [Read Daniel 11:23-39] So now the great blasphemies have been voiced. He has broken whatever agreement he has made with Israel and completely subdued them The abomination of desolation has occurred. [2 Thessalonians 2:3,4] He has stood in the holy place, and the False Prophet has then set up the idol in the image of the anti-Christ in the holy place and demands its worship. Thus the two witnesses would have been slain after having prophesied for 3 ½ yrs. [Revelation 11] The Woman remnant has already fled into the desert and has been sustained there. [Revelation 12] And now for 3 ½ years God’s purposes for him; as His ROD of anger and indignation wielded in His hand will be nearing its end. [Revelation 13]
THEN
“And at the time of the end……” [Daniel 11:40-45] Now Daniel gives us the succession of events near the end, right to the end. The unholy trinity, now having taken control over the World and over the nation of Israel, both religiously and economically, are ruling and suppressing, apparently from Babylon. When first the king of the south shall push at him. To which he mobilizes and moves south, again from and through Israel, the glorious land. And overthrowing and passing through many countries including the plundering of Egypt, with intents to move into Libya and Ethiopia.
“But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him, and he shall go forth with great fury to destroy…” Having drawn him and his forces away from Babylon, now the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind. It is just here it is supposed an attack on Babylon is predicted, whereupon the anti-Christ turns from Egypt and moves back towards Babylon when total destruction strikes the City. [Revelation18:10]
It is then at that time he “….shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain….” Where in ultimate defiance, he arrays his hosts against the Lord.
PRAISE THE LORD….the HARVEST has come, the VINTAGE is at hand! [Revelation 14]
Hezekiah’s sentence unto death, and his recovery, speaks here to the Harvest of the faithful righteous somewhere near this point. (In like manner, we are to prepare for death. “…set thine house in order: for thou shalt die…” And yet, recovering on “…the third day….. would go up to the house of the Lord.” What is intimated is the Lord’s going up on the third day, and His faithful going up in the third “day” unto Him. [Hosea 6:2]
“Then the angel of the Lord went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and fourscore and five thousand: and behold when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.” [Isaiah 37:36] This speaks to the event of the Book of Revelation
in that the “…Angel standing in the sun….cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; that ye may eat the flesh of kings….And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against this army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.” [Revelation 19:17-21]
The types of Sennacherib the great Assyrian King and his minister Rabshakeh (as are King Nebuchadnezzar {Isaiah 39} and Belshazzar and their satraps) are finally fully discovered in the destiny of their anti-types, the beast/anti-Christ and the false prophet, as they are the first to experience the 2nd death. And so it is, we see also in this end time event the ambitious failure of the Serpent/satan at the end of this Age as he is chained and cast into the Bottomless Pit. [Revelation 20:1-3 with Isaiah 14:3-27]
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