Esau - Past, Present and Future Esau – Past, Present and Future

Study 4 "Edom's destiny - Miniature of all nations" Esau – Past, Present and Future

Elpis Israel pg.322 The great incidents of history which have given rise to successive kingdoms and dominions, from the overturning of the kingdom and throne of God, and of David, His anointed, in Judea, by the Chaldeans, to the present time, are but events predetermined and arranged in the purpose of God, and revealed in the “sure word of prophecy”. Not a kingdom has been established, nor a king dethroned, but it has formed a move, which has contributed to the maturity of the present crisis, which will ultimate in the introduction of the kingdom of God. Esau – Past, Present and Future

Elpis Israel pg. 322 (cont.) It is He to whom all things are subjected; “for he ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men”. This is the reason why men and women with so little wisdom, or rather possessed of so much positive folly and imbecility, are able to rule the nations without “setting on fire the course of nature”. When their wickedness and stupidity become obstacles to His purpose, He removes them out of the way, and introduces other actors upon the stage. In this way, He controls and regulates the world’s affairs; but in every interference He shapes the course of events towards the consummation predetermined from the foundation of the world. Esau – Past, Present and Future

Edom as a nation is no more. The end of Edomites? Prominent in the disaster of AD 70 the Edomites lived up to their national character of divisiveness and brutality to the very last. With the overthrow of the Jewish State, the Edomites pass completely from history. Nothing more is heard of Edomites in history – thus the first part of Obadiah’s prophecy was fulfilled. Edom as a nation is no more. Esau – Past, Present and Future

Edom as a Nation is no more! Today, the ancient territory of Edom lies mostly within Jordan. Petra Esau – Past, Present and Future

The Desolation of Bozrah – Jer. 49:13 “For I have sworn by myself, saith the LORD, that Bozrah shall become a desolation, a reproach, a waste, and a curse; and all the cities thereof shall be perpetual wastes.” Esau – Past, Present and Future

God’s Judgements on Bozrah “I would that the skeptic could stand, as I did, among the ruins of this city, among the rocks, and there could open the sacred book and read the words of the inspired penman, written when this desolate place was one of the greatest cities of the world. I see the scoffer arrested, his cheek pale, his lip quivering, and his heart quaking with fear, as the ancient city cries out to him in a voice loud and powerful as one risen from the dead; though he would not believe Moses and the Prophets, he believes the handwriting of God Himself, in the desolation and eternal ruin around him.” Stephens “Incidents of Travel” Esau – Past, Present and Future

The Mount and House of Esau Obadiah refers to the “mount of Esau” and the “house of Esau” – Are they the same thing? By contrast he speaks of “mount Zion” and the “house of Jacob” and of “Joseph”. A mountain symbolises political and religious power – Dan. 2:35; Zech. 4:7. House refers to a family or community descended from a leader or family head. In Obadiah “mount” refers to the power of Edom’s government and “house” to its subjects or followers. Esau – Past, Present and Future

The Fate of Daniel’s 4th Beast I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame. As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time. Esau – Past, Present and Future

The 4th Beast of Dan. 7 Represents the Gogian confederation with Babylon the Great at its head – Dan. 7:7-8,19 (cp. Dan. 2:37-38). 4th beast is utterly destroyed by Christ representing the complete destruction of Catholicism and its influence over the nations – Dan. 7:11. The rest of the beasts have their dominion taken away but their lives are prolonged for 1000 years – Dan. 7:12. The 4th beast symbolises the power of the flesh in political and religious manifestation – i.e. antitypical Edom. Esau – Past, Present and Future

Edom’s fate – Destiny of nations Edom’s political power was first broken and then its land inherited by others. Surviving Edomites were finally integrated into Israel and ceased to exist as a separate people. So it will be with all nations: Christ will first utterly destroy all political and religious opposition to his rule. During the Millennium surviving nations will be absorbed into Israel – Jer. 30:11; 46:28. Esau – Past, Present and Future

Jer. 30:11 For I am with thee, saith the LORD, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee: but I will correct thee in measure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished. Jer. 46:28 Fear thou not, O Jacob my servant, saith the LORD: for I am with thee; for I will make a full end of all the nations whither I have driven thee: but I will not make a full end of thee, but correct thee in measure; yet will I not leave thee wholly unpunished. Esau – Past, Present and Future

Edom and the Feast of Tabernacles Amos 9:11-15 The tabernacle of David restored (in the House of Prayer for all nations – Isa. 16:5) – see 1 Chron. 15:1; 16:1; Acts 15:13-18 – David set the ark in his own tent in order to involve gentiles in the worship of Yahweh outside of the Law (Acts 7:45-47). The remnant of Edom = all nations (Acts 15:17) absorbed into Israel. A time of abundant harvests celebrated by the feast of tabernacles. Esau – Past, Present and Future

The Tabernacle of David David deliberately installed the Ark in his own ‘tent’ in Zion so that gentiles (especially Philistines) could worship Yahweh without the encumbrances of the Law of Moses – Acts 7:44-46; 15:14-18. The Ark at Kirjath-jearim for 20 years The Tabernacle at Gibeon Kirjath-jearim 2 Sam. 6:17 “…and set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it.” Esau – Past, Present and Future

Edom represents “all nations” Amos 9:11-15 Redemption of Israel Tabernacle of David Possess remnant of Edom and all nations End of Israel’s long captivity Israel to be mightily blessed in the Land of their fathers Acts 15:14-31 Call of the Gentiles Tabernacle of David Residue of men and all the Gentiles End of the Gentile’s long exclusion Inclusion of Gentiles caused much rejoicing for the consolation Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. Esau – Past, Present and Future

A full end of all nations The Feast of Tabernacles set forth God’s intention to ultimately absorb all nations into the nation of Israel: 70 bullocks were offered in the week of the feast – commencing with 13 on day 1 and reducing by 1 each day until 7 were offered on day 7 – Num. 29:12-34. 1 bullock was offered on the 8th day pointing forward to the integration of all nations (70 - Gen. 10) into the nation of Israel beyond the Millennium – Num. 29:35-38; Rev. 21:1. All nations will keep the Feast of Tabernacles in the Millennium – Zech. 14:16 Esau – Past, Present and Future

The Remnant of Edom – Amos 9:12 The Day of Yahweh will witness the restoration of the throne and kingdom of David, with the Lord Jesus reigning thereon (Luke 1:31-33), when the age-old enmity between Jacob and Esau (Jew and Gentile), Israel and Edom (Sons of God and Sons of Flesh) will cease in the former dominating and absorbing the latter. Then will the elder (Esau-Edom) serve the younger (Jacob-Israel) as promised to Rebekah (Gen. 25:23), and the typical history of Edom will have its fulfillment in the subjugation of the nations. Esau – Past, Present and Future

Edom – Miniature of all nations Bro. H.P. Mansfield commenting on Obadiah v.6 “…the punishment of Yahweh was to be complete and absolute, leaving nothing of the nation remaining. This punishment commenced with the humiliation that Nebuchadnezzar brought upon it, it was completed by conversion to Judaism forced upon it by the Maccabees when nationally Edom passed from the pages of history. And in all this, as the prophet showed, there was shown in miniature, the judgements Yahweh had in store for the world at large.” Esau – Past, Present and Future

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Esau – Past, Present and Future