June 23: REUNION
He shall also enter the Glorious Land, and many countries shall be overthrown; but these shall escape from his hand: Edom, Moab, and the prominent people of Ammon. Daniel 11:41
Even though there are spiritual hosts of wickedness in high places (Ephesians 6:12) that seek to undermine God’s holy covenant (detailed in Hebrews 8:8-12 & 10:16-21), who even came together to execute Jesus, the prince of the covenant (Daniel 11:22), our great God never leaves His people uninformed and defenseless.
The king of the North power is pursuing world dominance. In gaining the military and economic back-up power that he lacks, the lamblike principles of religious and civil freedom upon which our nation was built must also be undermined (see Revelation 13:11). Many across the world will be spiritually overthrown when the papacy and the USA unite.* But the second half of today’s verse offers a marvelous encouragement regarding the most important choice of a lifetime. It is the choice left up to every individual regarding eternal safety. Reading of Edom, Moab, and the prominent people of Ammon, we wonder who is being described. Since these tribes no longer exist, these are obviously symbolic references.
The prophet Isaiah comes to our aid. Isaiah 11 begins with the first coming of Christ (vv.1-3), then looks ahead to His second coming (vv.4-5) and even glimpses farther ahead to the earth made new (vv.6-7). Next Isaiah points to our day: the time just before Jesus returns: the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD. And in this knowledge there is safety (vv.8-9). People from all over will gather under the banner of Jesus, and there shall be one flock and one Shepherd (John 10:16).
It is noteworthy that the word escape in our opening verse is translated from the same Hebrew root word for deliver in Daniel 12:1. These who escape will have the same experience of deliverance and rescue as God’s people who are written in the book. So, who are they? Originally, Edom was representative of the children of Esau. Moab and Ammon were the children of Lot by his two daughters. All three of these were at one time directly connected with the line of God’s covenant people – the line of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Abraham was Lot’s uncle. Esau was the twin brother of Jacob. The resulting tribes, called Edom, Moab, and Ammon separated from and became enemies of God’s people. When the Israelites were brought out of Egypt, these three tribes were there to hassle and harass the Israelites. But in today’s verse, God is identifying people who will have an experience of rescue and deliverance when Jesus comes, meaning that they will rejoin – reunite – with the covenant people of God. This will happen by their own good choice. Symbolically, these escapees from the king of the North are those who had earlier been joined to God’s people, but for whatever reason, left and took the role of the enemy. Hear Isaiah’s prophesy continue: The following verses refer to what Daniel called the time of the end (Daniel 11:40; 12:4,9), the day in which we now live:
It shall come to pass in that day that the LORD shall set His hand again the second time To recover the remnant of His people who are left… Edom and Moab; And the people of Ammon shall obey… As it was for Israel In the day when he came up from the land of Egypt. Isaiah 11:11a, 14b, 16b
*The papacy is the sea beast of Revelation 13:1-10, and the USA is the earth beast of vv.11-17. These two are prophesied to unite in a one-world system, headed by the pope (v.18).