Season 6, Podcast 71, Isaiah 18:1-8, “Gathering of Israel.”

Season 6, Podcast 71, Isaiah 18:1-8, “Gathering of Israel.”

If we examine Isaiah as one long epic poem, then he is easier to follow. It is the parallelism of Isaiah that ties one chapter to another, for time to Isaiah is fluid. For example, in Chapter 17, Isaiah talks about the scattering of Israel. In Chapter 18, he talks about the gathering of Israel. Those events occur thousands of years apart. 

For example, the twelve tribes of the Kingdom of Israel were united until after Solomon’s death. Because of heavy taxation, the ten tribes of the north split from the two tribes of the south in 930 BC. Approximately 200 year later, in 722 BC, the ten northern tribes are conquered by the Assyrians and scattered throughout the Assyrian empire. Eventually they became known as the Ten Lost Tribes, presumably scattered throughout the world. Judah and Benjamin of the south are conquered by the Babylonians in three stages between 605 BC and 586 BC. Their exile lasted approximately 70 years. Solomon’s temple is burned to the ground and Jerusalem is destroyed. The Jews return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple. It is later renovated by Herod the Great and destroyed again in 70 AD by the Romans at which time the Diaspora begins. The Jews, like their northern neighbors, are scattered throughout the world.

Isaiah prophesies the return of the House of Israel. The gathering will occur just before and during the early part of the Millennium. The Millennium occurs when Christ returns to the earth a Second Time. We are now living in what is often referred to as The Last Days, but the date of the Second Coming of the Messiah is hidden.  Christ said.

Matthew 25:13

Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

However, the Savior does give us a time frame that connects the gathering of Israel with his Second coming. 

Matthew 24:29-31

Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Though no one can calendar the date, Christ makes it clear that there will be many signs of his Coming. He calls us to be prepared. The following is taken from Matthew 24:

Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

It is with that backdrop that we read Isaiah 18. The gospel of Jesus Christ will be taught throughout the earth.