(updated 1/19/2025)
Hello gentle reader,
In case you are wondering, I do know better than to ever attempt to set a date regarding the timing of Bible prophecies. Anyone who does so loses all credibility in my mind. No, the “matter of timing” for this writing is actually the timing of when something isn’t. I developed this teaching in 2015 and have decided to compose it as a writing so that all my thoughts on this are organized and consolidated in one article. I am posting it now but will supplement, edit, and tidy it up over the coming weeks when able. Let’s delve right into a confluence of prophecies regarding Egypt that merge together for an amazing revelation concerning the Lord’s return.
Egypt to suffer immensely according to Isaiah
What follows is a prophecy from the Book of Isaiah concerning Egypt. Although Egypt has been conquered several times and had a wide variety of rulers and occupations by foreign powers, history does not record that even a partial majority of all the events in this prophecy have ever happened successively or within a reasonable span of time. Therefore, one must conclude that the entirety of Isaiah 19 is a prophecy yet to be fulfilled in the future. Interestingly, Isaiah makes clear that the Lord is responsible for Egypt’s punishment and oversees the nation’s suffering and eventual restoration:
♥ An oracle concerning Egypt. Behold, the LORD is riding on a swift cloud and comes to Egypt; and the idols of Egypt will tremble at his presence, and the heart of the Egyptians will melt within them. And I will stir up Egyptians against Egyptians, and they will fight, each against another and each against his neighbor, city against city, kingdom against kingdom; and the spirit of the Egyptians within them will be emptied out, and I will confound their counsel; and they will inquire of the idols and the sorcerers, and the mediums and the necromancers; and I will give over the Egyptians into the hand of a hard master, and a fierce king will rule over them, declares the Lord GOD of hosts.
And the waters of the sea will be dried up, and the river will be dry and parched, and its canals will become foul, and the branches of Egypt’s Nile will diminish and dry up, reeds and rushes will rot away. There will be bare places by the Nile, on the brink of the Nile, and all that is sown by the Nile will be parched, will be driven away, and will be no more. The fishermen will mourn and lament, all who cast a hook in the Nile; and they will languish who spread nets on the water. The workers in combed flax will be in despair, and the weavers of white cotton. Those who are the pillars of the land will be crushed, and all who work for pay will be grieved. (Isaiah 19:1-10 ESV, emphasis mine)
The remainder of this prophecy demonstrates the Lord carefully molding the Egyptians without their destruction so that they come to him and become his “people” when he restores them. Also, verses 23-25 are indirectly suggestive of ‘timing’ which is the subject of this writing.
♥ The princes of Zoan are utterly foolish; the wisest counselors of Pharaoh give stupid counsel. How can you say to Pharaoh, “I am a son of the wise, a son of ancient kings”? Where then are your wise men? Let them tell you that they might know what the LORD of hosts has purposed against Egypt. The princes of Zoan have become fools, and the princes of Memphis are deluded; those who are the cornerstones of her tribes have made Egypt stagger. The LORD has mingled within her a spirit of confusion, and they will make Egypt stagger in all its deeds, as a drunken man staggers in his vomit. And there will be nothing for Egypt that head or tail, palm branch or reed, may do.
In that day the Egyptians will be like women, and tremble with fear before the hand that the LORD of hosts shakes over them. And the land of Judah will become a terror to the Egyptians. Everyone to whom it is mentioned will fear because of the purpose that the LORD of hosts has purposed against them. In that day there will be five cities in the land of Egypt that speak the language of Canaan and swear allegiance to the LORD of hosts. One of these will be called the City of Destruction. (Isaiah 19:11-18 ESV)
♥ In 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. It will be a sign and a witness to the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt. When they cry to the LORD because of oppressors, he will send them a savior and defender, and deliver them. And the LORD will make himself known to the Egyptians, and the Egyptians will know the LORD in that day and worship with sacrifice and offering, and they will make vows to the LORD and perform them. And the LORD will strike Egypt, striking and healing, and they will return to the LORD, and he will listen to their pleas for mercy and heal them. (Isaiah 19:19-22 ESV)
♥ In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and Assyria will come into Egypt, and Egypt into Assyria, and the Egyptians will worship with the Assyrians. In that day Israel will be the third with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth, whom the LORD of hosts has blessed, saying, “Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel my inheritance.” (Isaiah 19:23-25 ESV)
Brief analysis of Isaiah 19
The first 10 verses of Isaiah 19 indicate that the Lord himself is going to cause civil war to break out in Egypt. As the turmoil increases, Egypt’s leaders will seek advice from pagan practitioners to solve their problems. Ultimately, the Lord will set a harsh king ruling over the Egyptians as the solution they likely would not have chosen for themselves. Once war has ceased in the nation, the Egyptians will continue to suffer grievously because the Nile River will diminish to the point that it no longer exists as Egypt’s predominant asset or its most valuable resource.
If you will note the bolded text in those first 10 verses above, it is the verse of Isaiah 19:6. If we look at that verse from some of the more popular versions of the Bible such as the ESV, KJV, NASB, NIV, and the NKJV, then we notice the KJV provides a substantially different translation from the other versions. The KJV text of Isaiah 19:6 refers to a manmade change in the rivers feeding the Nile River rather than a fouling of its waters described in the other Bible versions:
♥ And they shall turn the rivers far away; and the brooks of defence shall be emptied and dried up: the reeds and flags shall wither. (Isaiah 19:6 KJV emphasis mine)
Isn’t that interesting? It is especially interesting if you look at the Blue Nile and White Nile rivers that feed the Nile and note that Ethiopia completed the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam across the Blue Nile in 2023. In times of drought and given a fairly constant water evaporation rate of the broader river formed behind that dam, there are valid concerns that the water levels of the Nile in Egypt could be negatively impacted. While that would not be enough to initiate the fulfillment of this Isaiah prophecy, it is certain to be a contributor that only became possible in 2023. Let’s consider the next section of the Isaiah 19 prophecy.
The Isaiah 19 verses of 11-18 tell of the Lord mocking Egypt as he further explains what he is doing to them. Twice in these same verses, the Lord tells the Egyptians that what he is causing to happen to them will continue. The exact wording used is, “the LORD of hosts has purposed against [the Egyptians].” Finally, in verse 18, the Lord’s work begins to show ‘fruit.’ Five of Egypt’s cities “swear allegiance” to the Lord.
Over the verses of 19-22, we read that the Egyptians will fully come to the Lord and “worship with sacrifice and offering, and they will make vows to the LORD and perform them.” In return, the Lord will show mercy and heal Egypt and the Egyptians.
Careful reading of the Isaiah 19 prophecy does not provide any obvious clues useful for anticipating when these events will occur, only that they will. However, it is of considerable interest that in the last two verses of Isaiah 19, the Lord lumps together Egypt, Israel and Assyria with a blessing (the modern-day identity of Assyria is not considered for this writing). It is hard to imagine that a blessed ‘union’ of these nations resulting from the direct efforts of the Lord would ever be broken apart and certainly not to become enemies of each other. Consequently, if we believe that these events are to take place before the Millennial Reign of Lord Jesus on the Earth (for reasons to be discussed later), then it seems almost impossible that either Egypt or Assyria comes against Jerusalem in the battle at Armageddon.
All nations against Jerusalem?
This will take us briefly off track, but in support of that last sentence, consider these verses from Zechariah:
♥ And on that day I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. (Zechariah 12:9 ESV emphasis mine)
♥ For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city shall be taken and the houses plundered and the women raped. Half of the city shall go out into exile, but the rest of the people shall not be cut off from the city. (Zechariah 14:2 ESV emphasis mine)
♥ Then everyone who survives of all the nations that have come against Jerusalem shall go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Booths. (Zechariah 14:16 ESV emphasis mine)
This author has always heard that all nations will come against Jerusalem for the battle at Armageddon. Is that what’s really going to occur? Are all nations going to come against Jerusalem or could it be only the nations that are against Jerusalem? Dear reader, do you see and understand the difference? Based on the Isaiah 19 prophecy, it doesn’t seem possible that either Egypt or Assyria would be against Jerusalem at that final battle. This author can’t prove that, but it is something to carefully ponder. Let’s get back on track.
Quick summary of Isaiah 19
What do we know so far about Egypt according to Isaiah? At some point in the future, there is going to be civil war in Egypt and a “fierce king” will emerge to rule over it. During this same time period or following it, the Nile River is going to severely dry-up causing great hardship on all who are in any way dependent on the Nile for food, employment, transportation, etc. Clearly, the economy of Egypt will be in utter shambles if the Nile will no longer serve its purpose as a large river. Life will become very difficult for any Egyptians who remain in Egypt, at least until the Lord heals and restores Egypt. The Ezekiel prophecy we look at next provides additional confirmation of the hardship the Egyptians will experience.
Egypt’s utter waste & desolation according to Ezekiel
Now we focus our attention to the 29th chapter of Ezekiel. It, too, concerns Egypt. We need to note something before discussing this chapter. Ezekiel 29:17-21 refers to events that have already taken place in the past and likely have no additional future fulfillment. Conversely, this author believes Ezekiel 29:1-16 is a future prophecy that is directly connected to the Isaiah 19 prophesy that was just discussed. Let’s read the Ezekiel prophecy:
♥ In the tenth year, in the tenth month, on the twelfth day of the month, the word of the LORD came to me:
“Son of man, set your face against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy against him and against all Egypt; speak, and say, Thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, I am against you, Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great dragon that lies in the midst of his streams, that says, ‘My Nile is my own; I made it for myself.’
I will put hooks in your jaws, and make the fish of your streams stick to your scales; and I will draw you up out of the midst of your streams, with all the fish of your streams that stick to your scales. And I will cast you out into the wilderness, you and all the fish of your streams; you shall fall on the open field, and not be brought together or gathered. To the beasts of the earth and to the birds of the heavens I give you as food. (Ezekiel 29:1-5 ESV)
♥ Then all the inhabitants of Egypt shall know that I am the LORD. “Because you have been a staff of reed to the house of Israel, when they grasped you with the hand, you broke and tore all their shoulders; and when they leaned on you, you broke and made all their loins to shake. (Ezekiel 29:6-7 ESV)
♥ Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will bring a sword upon you, and will cut off from you man and beast, and the land of Egypt shall be a desolation and a waste. Then they will know that I am the LORD. “Because you said, ‘The Nile is mine, and I made it,’ therefore, behold, I am against you and against your streams, and I will make the land of Egypt an utter waste and desolation, from Migdol to Syene, as far as the border of Cush.
No foot of man shall pass through it, and no foot of beast shall pass through it; it shall be uninhabited forty years. And I will make the land of Egypt a desolation in the midst of desolated countries, and her cities shall be a desolation forty years among cities that are laid waste. I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and disperse them through the countries.
“For thus says the Lord GOD: At the end of forty years I will gather the Egyptians from the peoples among whom they were scattered, and I will restore the fortunes of Egypt and bring them back to the land of Pathros [upper Egypt], the land of their origin, and there they shall be a lowly kingdom. It shall be the most lowly of the kingdoms, and never again exalt itself above the nations. And I will make them so small that they will never again rule over the nations.
And it shall never again be the reliance of the house of Israel, recalling their iniquity, when they turn to them for aid. Then they will know that I am the Lord GOD.” (Ezekiel 29:8-16 ESV emphasis & [comments] mine)
Like the Isaiah 19 prophecy, Ezekiel says that the Lord will cause war in Egypt resulting in tremendous destruction. The Lord will also be against Egypt’s waterways which he will affect by apparently drying them up.
Unlike Isaiah 19, the Ezekiel prophecy describes a more thorough punishment that brings a new depth of isolation and desolation to Egypt not found in Isaiah’s prophecy. The extensive devastation to the country results in Egypt becoming just so much worthless land incapable of supporting life. So complete is the Lord’s ruining of Egypt that its inhabitants depart, leaving it continuously devoid of both human and animal life. Only after a period of 40-years will the Lord reverse this situation. The Lord will bring the Egyptians back to their homeland and restore them. However, the Lord will keep Egypt among the lowest of nations from that point forward.
A future fulfillment of Ezekiel 29:1-16
Let’s consider some key elements of this prophecy so we can answer an obvious question. How do we know that this prophecy has a future fulfillment?
- As a rough estimate, the House of Israel (which consisted of the northern ten tribes of the divided kingdom) was removed to the Assyrian Empire 135-years before this prophecy was written. Why is this important? In verse 29:16, Ezekiel writes that the House of Israel will never rely on Egypt again. Since the House of Israel has not existed as a nation from about 720 B.C. to the current date of 2024 A.D., this prophecy can make no sense unless it is meant for the future after other prophetic events have occurred. One of those future events will be the House of Israel being restored and/or being revealed. Therefore, the House of Israel would necessarily have to be in place (in the future) before it could even be possible for it to decide not to rely on Egypt. Note: most of Ezekiel’s prophecies concern the House of Israel and of those, most are undoubtedly for the future (see Prepare to Meet Your God, O Israel | T.W. for an excellent explanation of this and the reasoning behind it).
- Without doubt, bad events have befallen Egypt in the past. However, never has war so torn the land and drought devastated its waterways that it has ever been described in recorded history as “a desolation and a waste”. Furthermore, this future desolation will be so vast that it will apparently affect neighboring countries to the point that the Egyptians experience a diaspora of their own. Egypt’s inhabitants will, at some point in the future, leave their homes and be dispersed potentially thru-out the world. Since these calamities never happened during Ezekiel’s lifetime and history does not record them happening since his long past death, they remain to be fulfilled in the future.
- Near the end of that Ezekiel prophecy, the Lord says he will restore Egypt, but that it will be “…the most lowly of the kingdoms…[and] so small that they will never again rule over the nations.” For at least many decades to this present time in 2024 A.D., Egypt has maintained a sizeable military and a more than sufficient economy to the point that it is far from being “lowly” or “small”. Therefore, Egypt’s permanent diminishment also remains to be fulfilled in the future.
Egypt’s 40-year dispersion
A key element to Ezekiel’s prophecy is that the Egyptians are going to be displaced out of their homeland for a period of not less than 40-years as a punishment. Additionally, it is important to note that everything that is going to happen to the Egyptians, is all purposely due to the Lord. It will be the Lord God who passes the sentence against the Egyptians and causes all the calamities that follow. When the Egyptians are out of their country for 40-years, their cities that are wasted and desolate will remain that way for those same 40-years. At the end of the 40-years, it will be the Lord who also returns the Egyptians to their land and restores the country. However, the Lord will keep Egypt in a state of relative impoverishment compared to other nations as a reminder of its past treatment of Israel.
Ezekiel 29:1-16 is not fulfilled in the Millennium
How can we be sure that the Ezekiel 29:1-16 prophecy won’t be taking place during the Lord’s Millennial rule on Earth? Surprisingly, some have tried to make this claim. Let’s see if we can quickly dispense with this notion. Consider these two verses from that Ezekiel passage:
♥ Then all the inhabitants of Egypt Shall know that I am the LORD, Because they have been a staff of reed to the house of Israel. (Ezekiel 29:6 NKJV emphasis mine)
♥ No longer shall it be the confidence of the house of Israel, but will remind them of their iniquity when they turned to follow them. Then they shall know that I am the Lord GOD. (Ezekiel 29:16 NKJV emphasis mine)
In the Millennium, neither Egypt, Israel, or any other nation will need reminding that Jesus is Lord since he will be King over the Earth. As Earth’s King, we don’t read in the Bible where Jesus is taking revenge on peoples and nations for their disobedience prior to the Millennial period. This means no part of Egypt’s punishment from Ezekiel 29:1-16 will occur in the Millennium. The Millennium will be a time for a fresh start under the rule of Lord Jesus and his delegates. One of those delegates will be ruling Egypt, not a “Pharaoh” as king of Egypt. It is likely to be a strict rule, but fair and following the Law in the Holy Bible. That strictness will mean a firm hand in ruling, but it won’t mean the war of “Behold, I will bring a sword upon you” as this excerpt from Ezekiel 29:8 indicates. It is expected that the Millennium will be a relatively peaceful time as made clear by these verses:
♥ He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. (Isaiah 2:4 NIV)
♥ He will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. (Micah 4:3 NIV)
For these reasons, neither will the Isaiah 19 prophecy take place in the Millennium since we don’t expect there to be war in the Millennial period. Even at the end of those 1,000-years when Satan is released, God consumes the deceived with fire before war occurs (Rev. 20:7-9). Therefore, both the Isaiah 19 and Ezekiel 29:1-16 prophecies will take place before the Lord’s Millennial Kingdom is established on Earth.
Quick summary of Ezekiel 29:1-16
According to Ezekiel, the Lord will cause war in Egypt and he decimates its waterways so that the country becomes essentially worthless and uninhabitable. It will remain that way for a timespan of 40-years until the Lord reverses Egypt’s misfortune, but only enough so that it exists as the poorest of countries.
Clearly, the Isaiah 19 and Ezekiel 29:1-16 prophecies are related and most likely predict an overlapping time-period of events in the future. However, we currently know little else about these prophecies and cannot predict when their fulfillment takes place other than they will be before the establishment of the Lord’s Millennial Kingdom. There is a greater significance to the Isaiah and Ezekiel prophecies just discussed which will be brought to light in the Conclusion. For now, let’s look at Zechariah’s input regarding the ‘timing’ of the Lord’s return.
The Lord’s return according to Zechariah
The Book of Zechariah is rich with prophecy even if we are not sure of what some (or a lot) of it means. Let’s focus our attention to the last chapter of that book, Zechariah 14, where he recorded prophecy concerning events around our Lord’s future return to Jerusalem. Note that the “feast of tabernacles” in this passage is also known as the Feast of Booths and the Feast of Ingathering:
♥ 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 into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.
And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee.
And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark: But it shall be one day which shall be known to the LORD, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light. And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be. (Zechariah 14:1-8 KJV)
♥ And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one. All the land shall be turned as a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem: and it shall be lifted up, and inhabited in her place, from Benjamin’s gate unto the place of the first gate, unto the corner gate, and from the tower of Hananeel unto the king’s winepresses. And men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited. (Zechariah 14:9-11 KJV)
♥ And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth. (Zechariah 14:12 KJV emphasis mine)
♥ And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult from the LORD shall be among them; and they shall lay hold every one on the hand of his neighbour, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbour. And Judah also shall fight at Jerusalem; and the wealth of all the heathen round about shall be gathered together, gold, and silver, and apparel, in great abundance.
And so shall be the plague of the horse, of the mule, of the camel, and of the ass, and of all the beasts that shall be in these tents, as this plague. (Zechariah 14:13-15 KJV emphasis mine)
♥ And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. (Zechariah 14:16 KJV)
♥ And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain. (Zechariah 14:17 KJV)
♥ And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the LORD will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles. (Zechariah 14:18 KJV emphasis mine)
♥ This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles. (Zechariah 14:19 KJV)
♥ In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD; and the pots in the LORD’S house shall be like the bowls before the altar. Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the LORD of hosts: and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seethe therein: and in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the LORD of hosts. (Zechariah 14:20-21 KJV)
Brief analysis of Zechariah 14
[The author will be expanding analysis of Zechariah 14 in the near future]
While the entire 14th chapter of Zechariah is interesting and worthy of study, for the purposes of this writing, only verses 16-19 are necessary to examine with the following exception. Note that in verses 12, 15, and 18 there is a reference to “the plague” and all the plague mentions are bolded. This “plague” is pointed out to note that humankind possesses a weapon technology that produces a near similar effect to the plague. It is called a neutron bomb and, in the right conditions, can disintegrate a person’s flesh and organs before their remaining bones can strike the ground. The particular verse describing the effect of the plague is Zechariah 14:12. Now, let’s take a look at the Feast of Tabernacles. Its importance can’t be overlooked since it is the one feast the Lord requires all nations to perform, who will come against Jerusalem.
The Feast of Tabernacles during the Millennium
A quick reading of Zechariah 14:16 should be sufficient to conclude that the Millennial Kingdom of Lord Jesus will have been established and proceeding with the business of the kingdom by that point in time. The details of clean-up, deciding who oversees what, plans for the rebuilding of infrastructure, and a thousand other tasks are all encompassed in the phrase, “And it shall come to pass….” As made clear in that verse, all the enemy nations that will come against Jerusalem (presumably at the battle at Armageddon) will be required to make the annual trip to Jerusalem to worship King Jesus and perform the Feast of Tabernacles which is described in the Book of Deuteronomy:
♥ You shall observe the Feast of Tabernacles seven days, when you have gathered from your threshing floor and from your winepress. And you shall rejoice in your feast, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant and the Levite, the stranger and the fatherless and the widow, who are within your gates. Seven days you shall keep a sacred feast to the LORD your God in the place which the LORD chooses, because the LORD your God will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, so that you surely rejoice. (Deuteronomy 16:13-15 NKJV)
Author’s comment on worship and keeping the Feast
This author suspects that the Lord’s requirement of a nation’s annual worship and keeping of the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem will be conducted by consolidated family groups representing their respective nation. This “family groups” concept is based on the phrase “families of the earth” in Zechariah 14:17 KJV. Additionally, it is also suspected that the worship and feast-keeping go hand-in-hand with each other during a single travel period to Jerusalem rather than being separate travel periods to Jerusalem. Why? The difficulty, time, and expense of moving large numbers of people from all over the world would make the consolidated family groups and single travel periods necessary, especially as population levels rapidly grow over the 1,000-years of the Millennium. For these reasons, it is strongly suspected that referring to either event of annual worship or the Feast of Tabernacles in the Zechariah passage is a reference to both events together. Ultimately, it is all about worshipping the Lord.
Refusing to worship the Lord or keep his Feast
It seems surprising, but Zechariah 14:17 indicates there will be nations that refuse to go to Jerusalem and worship Lord Jesus and, per the above Author’s comment, do not participate in the Feast of Tabernacles. That is unfortunate since the Bible does not indicate that the worship and Feast are optional; they are mandated by the Lord. (If you are curious about who the people are that will populate the countries of the world in the Millennium, then there is a brief discussion about them here – The Last Moment of Accountability.)
What will be the Lord’s reaction to these disobedient nations? We know that our Lord is loving, kind, and given to extending mercy. However, we are also told information about the firmness with which the rule of Law will be applied in the Millennium. To be clear, that is the Lord’s rule and the Lord’s Law. To those whom the Lord delegates authority to, they will not be bribed for favor and they certainly will not be lax in their duties as indicated here:
♥ And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. (Revelation 2:26-27 KJV emphasis mine)
If the Lord’s delegates need a reminder of the firm hand they are expected to apply, they can model directly from the Lord who will be demonstrating little to no flexibility in his rule according to the following verses:
♥ “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.” I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” (Psalms 2:6-9 ESV emphasis mine)
♥ And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. (Revelation 12:5 KJV)
♥ From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. (Revelation 19:15 NASB emphasis mine)
The “rod of iron” punishment
So, what is the punishment for disobeying the Lord in regards to Zechariah 14:16? According to Zechariah 14:17, the nation who dishonors the Lord by failing to go to Jerusalem and worship him is to suffer by not having rain on their nation. Apparently, that disobedient nation will begin to experience an intense drought. Obviously, the effects of a drought take time to be felt. If the timespan between rainfalls normally varies from days to possibly months, then the sudden ceasing of rain cycles might not be noticed for weeks or, quite possibly, months.
Since the Bible does not specify the time period from the Lord’s ceasing of rain until the next stage of punishment by the Lord, this author will carefully exert his liberty using logic and reason to define that period. Before doing so, understand that this author always tries to interpret the Bible as literally as possible, but finds it necessary to make a small assumption about the duration of this time period that is not stated in the Bible. Should the author be wrong about this time period, it matters not. It turns out that the time period between the Lord’s two distinct punishments for disobedience to Zechariah 14:16 has no bearing on the conclusion to this writing. That’s right; regardless of what that time period is, it has ZERO consequence to the final conclusion of this writing.
Let’s put this together. If a nation’s representative family groups fail to appear in Jerusalem for annual worship of the Lord, then neither can they be there to honor the Feast of Tabernacles as explained previously in the Author’s comment above. That nation will begin to experience a persistent drought. Based on Zechariah 14:18, if that same nation’s family groups also fail to appear in Jerusalem the following year for annual worship and observance of the Feast of Tabernacles, then the Lord’s punishment becomes drastically worse. The Lord will further punish that nation that stubbornly continues with its impudence towards him by smiting it with “the plague”. Again, the Bible does not say the time period is a year, but that seems to be the most logical and reasonable duration.
The plague
The plague that the Lord will release upon a disrespectful nation was compared earlier to a neutron bomb. It is unlikely that the Lord will use a human device of destruction for punishment or to persuade other nations to be obedient. That plague could be an advanced biological ‘tool’ developed by the Lord, capable of ultrafast consuming of flesh for expedient removal of ‘dissidents.’ Since the Bible states “their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet”, it is thought that the victim’s bones will remain after the plague is done. That would certainly be a powerful visual statement for other nations that might consider not worshipping the Lord in the manner he requires. Hopefully, there is no doubt about the Lord’s resolve to rule with a “rod of iron.”
The example of Egypt
As an example of what the disobedient nation can expect for not worshipping the Lord in the prescribed manner, Zechariah 14:18-19 describes the punishment applied specifically to Egypt if it were that nation. It is not coincidence that Egypt is the center of focus in understanding the ‘timing’ of the Lord’s return. The importance of Egypt’s role in this regard is something like a hidden treasure in the Bible. Let’s continue by considering this author’s contrived, future sequence of events that culminates in Egypt’s punishment by the Lord. (Note: while this scenario is possible, it seems unlikely since the Egyptians are to be the Lord’s “people” according to Isaiah 19:25):
The farmers of Egypt have harvested their crops for the year and there is plenty of grain, but noticeably less than the previous year. The surrounding nations have some of their largest crop yields ever that year which infuriates the Egyptian farmers. After discussions among Egypt’s consolidated family groups, they overwhelmingly decide to protest by not going up to Jerusalem for annual ‘services’. The Lord’s delegate who rules over Egypt (himself a former martyr of the Lord and returned to life in the first resurrection) demands the family groups go up to Jerusalem and worship or he will reduce their water allocations on top of a possible drought caused by the Lord for their disobedience. They continue to refuse and decide they will tough it out, doubting that the Lord has that kind of control over the weather.
Of course, Egypt’s family groups doubted wrong. From the day they decided not to go up to Jerusalem for annual worship and keeping of the Feast of Tabernacles, no rain fell anywhere in Egypt for a year. The consequence for Egypt’s farmers was the lowest yield harvest they had ever known. They should have learned their lesson and sent the family groups with all haste to Jerusalem for the next annual worship/feast period, but they were furious at what they endured and the ridicule they suffered from the other nations. They decided no one could force them to do anything against their will. They would show the Lord and the other nations just how stubborn they could be.
Shortly after the Egyptian family groups failed a 2nd year to appear in Jerusalem for their annual worship and participation in the Feast of Tabernacles, an emergency broadcast went out all over the world. The news media organizations were aghast by images coming out of Egypt. From homes, businesses, and population centers all over that country were images of piles of bones where living humans had been only a few hours prior. It was estimated that tens of thousands of the Egyptian population had perished in a single minute leaving only bones as witness to where they last stood. Ouch.
Conclusion (the Lord’s return)
Gentle reader, how are we at the conclusion already when everything seems to be written about Egypt? Isn’t this writing supposed to be about the return of Lord Jesus? It absolutely is. It took the author many years to see what is about to be revealed and without a doubt, it was the Holy Spirit that provided the guidance.
Consider these questions:
- Where do the Egyptians have to be in order to go up to Jerusalem to worship and keep the Feast of Tabernacles? (Egypt)
- How long does Ezekiel tell us the Egyptians will be out of their land? (40-years)
- Are the Egyptians out of their land, yet? (No)
- Is the Lord going to bring war on Egypt during the Millennium? (No! The Isaiah & Ezekiel prophecies are before the Millennium.)
- Why does Zechariah specifically use Egypt as an example? (To tell us the Egyptians are in their land in the Millennium.)
- What must be true before the Millennium begins? (The Egyptians must be in their land.)
- Can the Millennium begin after the Egyptians have been out of their land for only 20-years? (No, still 20-years left.)
- What must be true before the Millennium begins? (The 40-years are completed and the Egyptians must be in their land!)
- Will the Lord return and establish his kingdom in the next year? in 5yrs? in 10yrs? in 20yrs? in 30yrs? (No to all!!!)
My dear gentle reader, the return of King Jesus is not likely for at least 40 or 50-years or longer. I truly hope that by the 9th question above, this assessment makes sense. If not, then slowly go over those questions again and carefully think about the answers. Give extra attention to the 5th-8th questions. Only when Question #3 can be answered “yes” is it feasible to consider a countdown to the Lord’s return and establishing of his Millennial Reign on Earth. But that can only provide an approximate minimum time ‘guide’ at best.
There seems to be a lot of pastors, biblical presenters, and entire churches that are making a lot of ‘noise’ about imminent ‘end-times’ destruction coming on the world. Due to this, a lot of folks are making future decisions, right now, believing they are imminently about to be ‘raptured’ away from our troubled planet. What will they do if, in a few or many years from now, they are *still* here and the world continues? At some point, many of these believers who are weaker in their faith may fall away from the faith thinking it was all false. The Earth didn’t perish; everyone didn’t die in a fireball; and Jesus never whisked them away. On top of all that, imagine if advancements in health, life expectancy, prosperity, safety, and technology all dramatically improve for most of the Earth’s population in the coming years. Those who leave Christianity might say that all the hoopla about end-times was utterly false and that none of it is true. Of course, they will be wrong. Unfortunately, it might be very difficult to convince them otherwise.
Cheers, the return of the King is absolutely assured to occur at some point in the future. Since we can’t be sure when that is, it may be necessary to have patience until death. Regardless, the duty of a Christian is to live as obedient to the Lord as possible and be a light unto the world for as long as able.
Let’s brighten this ending up! Have you seen the movie Passengers? It stars Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence. It is a PG-13 movie in a few parts, but this author mostly considers it a hidden Christian movie of sorts. It seems, from the Christian perspective, to be filled with incidents of divine providence. If you like Sci-Fi, then consider watching it and see if you agree. It has a feel-good ending and is this author’s favorite non-Christian movie! 😊
The Humbled Teacher
DAC