Compiled by WD Kemner February 2025
CHAPTER 18
Woe to the World
Woe to land beyond rivers of Ethiopia.
Isaiah 18:1-2
Woe to the land shadowing with wings, which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia: That sendeth ambassadors by the sea, even in vessels of bulrushes upon the waters, saying, Go, ye swift messengers, to a nation scattered and peeled, to a people terrible from their beginning hitherto; a nation meted out and trodden down, whose land the rivers have spoiled!
Commentators have called the “Ethiopia” in this verse as symbolic for just about every modern day nation. Some have stated it is the nation of Ethiopia. Keeping scripture simple and direct; the passage says “…beyond the rivers of…”.
Ethiopia of current day, was named that after World War 2. The area of “ancient” Ethiopia was south of Egypt and at times went from the Nile River to the Red Sea to the Gulf. Large expanse with many things related to “rivers”.
Anyone on the other side of the Nile in those times would have used boats deployed upon the river to send “Ambassadors” to a nation that has:
· Been scattered
· Been meted out and trodden
· Land that is the best in the world, plush from the spoiling of rivers for centuries.
Descriptive of only one place. Land of “milk and honey”.
Isaiah 18:3a
All ye inhabitants of the world, and dwellers on the earth, see ye,
Isaiah then states: “…all ye inhabitants of the world, and dwellers on the earth”
All the nations around Palestine have been or will be addressed in the chapters of Isaiah.
Now, All of the world is being addressed. Should be easy to understand WHOM Isaiah has this directed at.
THE RAPTURE
Isaiah 18:3b-6
when he lifteth up an ensign on the mountains; and when he bloweth a trumpet, hear ye. For so the LORD said unto me, I will take my rest, and I will consider in my dwelling place like a clear heat upon herbs, and like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest.
For afore the harvest, when the bud is perfect, and the sour grape is ripening in the flower, he shall both cut off the sprigs with pruning hooks, and take away and cut down the branches. They shall be left together unto the fowls of the mountains, and to the beasts of the earth: and the fowls shall summer upon them, and all the beasts of the earth shall winter upon them.
Jesus became that “ensign” when he was lifted up upon the cross.
God is taking a rest (period of time) to consider and look at the harvest that needs to take place.
THEN THE HARVEST!
When the flowers and fruit are ripe he will cut them and TAKE THEM AWAY.
The Branches will be cut down and left as spoils for the beasts of the earth!
RESTORATION OF THE JEWS
Cross Reference: Jews Restored
In that time shall the present be brought unto the LORD of hosts of a people scattered and peeled, and from a people terrible from their beginning hitherto; a nation meted out and trodden under foot, whose land the rivers have spoiled, to the place of the name of the LORD of hosts, the mount Zion.
In the End of Times the land will present the Lord with a “gift”. This gift will be His people coming back to Mount Zion. His people who have been trodden underfoot and scattered over the globe. They will return to a lush and plentiful land that has been spoiled by the rivers and this land will be fruitful with abundance.