The People Who Sat In Darkness

 Matt. 4:16. Isaiah 9:1-2. "The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned." The Savior first appeared in this territory. This was the land of Zebulun and Naphtali. The land of Galilee. Western Galilee is part of the Gaza strip today.

These ancient peoples were the first to fall and stumble into darkness. They would be the first to receive the wonderful light of the Messiah. Isaiah 9:1-2. Jesus' ministry was first established in Galilee. The first words of His public ministry were to repent (change your mind for the better, heartily amend your ways, with abhorrence of your past sins). The kingdom of God is at hand. Matt. 4:17. These words are a crucial imperative for today!

Jesus says in Luke 13:3 that if we will not repent then we will perish and be lost for of all of eternity. We will continue to exist but be eternally separated from Him. He also said not to fear those who kill the body and then have nothing more that they can do. Fear and respect Him Who after killing has power to hurl into hell! Luke 12:4-5.

The Day of the Lord is fast approaching. A time of pouring out of God’s wrath upon transgressors and sinners. A Day of reckoning. The good news is that believers won’t have to experience this terrible time on earth. Believers are not appointed to experience God’s wrath. 1 Thessalonians 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ. How do we escape the day of the Lord (7 year tribulation period)? Repent and trust in Jesus!

A Remnant Shall Return

 Shear-jashub was Isaiah's first son. The name means a remnant shall return. Isaiah 7:3. He was given as a sign of deliverance to Judah. Maher-shalal-hash-baz was his second son. The name means [Judah's foes will be destroyed]. Isaiah 8:1. Both sons were given as signs to Judah. They pictured deliverance from Judah's impending peril at the time. The names also look forward to Israel's deliverance during the great tribulation period and the destruction of her enemies.

Abomination of Desolation

Hosea 6;1 and 2. Come, and let us return to the Lord; For He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us up.  After two days He will revive us; On the third day He will raise us up, That we may live in His sight. This verse shows Israel turning and trusting in Jesus. About the middle of the tribulation period the antichrist will reveal himself which is the abomination of desolation. The Jews will realize that they have been duped by the false Christ or antichrist. They are instructed to flee. Matt. 24:15, 16.

A remnant Israel will turn and trust in Jesus during this time. They will be supernaturally protected during this terrible time that will come upon the earth. The time of Jacob's trouble. Rev. 12:6,14,15,16. Shear-jashup points to this remnant.

Israel's Enemies Thwarted

Maher-shalal-hash-baz points not only to the chastisement of unbelieving Israel but also to the defeat and destruction of her enemies when she repents and trusts in her savior. It references not only Judah's impending peril at the time but looks future to her deliverance during the tribulation period. Rev. 12:15,16. Rev. 20:1-3.

The good news is that believers won't have to experience this terrible time on earth. This will be a time of pouring out of God’s wrath upon transgressors and sinners. Believers are not appointed to experience God’s wrath. 1 Thessalonians 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ. How do we escape the day of the Lord (7 year tribulation period)? Repent and trust in Jesus!

Your men shall fall by the sword

Isaiah 3:25, 26 is describing the Day of the Lord. Your men shall fall by the sword and your mighty men in battle. This is a terrible 7 year period of God's wrath that will be visited upon the earth. Matt. 24:21 says For then there will be great tribulation. Such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time. No, nor ever shall be. Rev. chapters 4-20 describe the terrors of this 7 year time period.

As we move into Isaiah chapter 4 we see the starting of the millennium or one thousand year rule and reign of Christ on the earth.

Cloud of smoke

Verse 5 describes the cloud of smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night protecting the remnant Israel during that time. Reminiscent of the pillar of cloud that stood over the tabernacle in the wilderness of old.

In fact, the seventh major feast of the Jewish calendar depicts these events. The feast of booths or tabernacles looks back to when the Lord delivered the Israelites from the bondage of Egypt. He supernaturally cared for them in the wilderness during that time. The feast also looks forward to the one thousand year millennium when He will again protect His chosen remnant with cloud by day and a flaming fire by night!

Watch!

Believers won't experience this terrible time of tribulation on the earth. But we have to watch! Matt. 24:42 Watch for you do not know what kind of a day your Lord is coming. Matt. 24:44 You also must be ready. The son of man is coming at an hour you do not expect Him!

If we are ready when He comes we will enter into the 7 year marriage feast and escape the terrors of the tribulation period. Matt. 25:10 The bridegroom came and those who were prepared went in with him to the marriage feast. And the door was shut.

Priests of God and Christ

We will return with Christ at the end of the tribulation period to rule and reign on earth for one thousand years. Rev. 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection (marriage feast). On such the second death hath no power. But they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

In conclusion the good news is that as believers we don’t have to experience this terrible time on earth which is fast approaching. This will be a time of pouring out of God’s wrath upon transgressors and sinners. Believers are not appointed to experience God’s wrath. 1 Thessalonians 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ. How do we escape the day of the Lord (7 year tribulation period)? Repent and trust in Jesus!

Hide in the rocks

Isaiah 2:10-12 Describes the Day of the Lord or 7 year tribulation period. Go into the rocks. Hide in the ground. Hide from the fearful presence of the LORD and the splendor of his majesty!

11 The eyes of the arrogant will be humbled and human pride brought low. The LORD alone will be exalted in that day.

12 The LORD Almighty has a day in store for all the proud and lofty. All that is exalted (and they will be humbled),

Hide in the caves and rocks

Rev. 6:15-17 also pictures this event. 15 And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains,

16 and said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!

17 For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?"

Jesus says that this time on the earth will be like no other time in the past. There will be no time like it in the future. Matt. 24:21

How do we escape this event?

Jesus also says to pray that we would be counted worthy to stand before the Son of man so that in fact we would not have to suffer these things that will come to pass on the earth. Luke 21:36

Certainly we don’t have to experience this terrible time on earth which is fast approaching. This will be a time of pouring out of God’s wrath upon transgressors and sinners. Where as Believers are not appointed to experience God’s wrath. 1 Thessalonians 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ. How do we escape the day of the Lord (7 year tribulation period)? To conclude, we must Repent and trust in Jesus!