Since 2020, God has been highlighting His End-Time storyline that prominently features Israel, and also divinely orchestrated events that involve and surround her. Concurrently, He is also shifting the global Gentile Church’s focus to the Middle East and highlighting Scriptures concerning them.
Together with the emphasis on the Isaiah 42:23 summons (issue #27), God directed our attention to a largely unknown passage of Scripture that reveals His End-Time plan for Middle Eastern nations — Isaiah 19. In April 2020, the Lord sovereignly orchestrated the Global Passover and Last Supper alignment (an online gathering) that saw Arabic and Jewish Messianic believers come together in an unprecedented way (issue #7). It was through knowledge of this gathering that He directed our attention to the prophecy in Isaiah 19 regarding Egypt’s and Assyria’s roles in the End Times.
The time is soon when Isaiah 19 will no longer remain a prophecy, but come to pass into reality!
The Isaiah 19 Vortex
Scripture prophesies that the Middle East will be the focus and epicentre of the End-Time drama that will affect the whole earth. Israel, together with Egypt and the Arab nations will be at the centre of God’s End-Time redemptive plan (Joel 3; Zech. 12 – 14; Isa. 19), and nations worldwide will be drawn into what is unfolding in that region. No one will be able to stay neutral.
This is the Isaiah 19 vortex!
Already, we are seeing a foreshadow of this with the current Israel-Hamas war, where conflict has spread beyond Israel’s immediate borders to the region, and nations around the world have begun taking sides. Within the Body of Christ, we also see this conflict causing a rift and confusion, with believers jumping into the maelstrom of differing and even opposing opinions.
With increasing division among nations and even within the Church caused by the Middle East conflict, it is crucial now, more than ever, for God’s people to gain understanding of His heart and plans not only for Israel (which we addressed in preceding issues), but also for Egypt and the Arab nations. This has to be done through His Word.
Indeed, while God identifies Himself as the “God of Israel” and has chosen her for a specific role, the Bible also has much to say about the nations surrounding her. Furthermore, while most prophecies in Scripture involving Egypt and the Arab nations have already been fulfilled, there are still some that have not.
In fact, many of these yet-to-be-fulfilled prophecies, (e.g., Dan. 11:21–45; Isa. 28:14–18), will be the context for the Isaiah 19 vortex. Other scriptures reveal God’s grand redemptive storyline in the midst of this Isaiah 19 vortex. Isaiah 19:24–25 is one such Scripture.
The Prophecy in Isaiah 19:24–25
While much of Isaiah 19 focuses specifically on the nation of Egypt and the intense shaking she will go through at the End of the Age, the chapter ends on an astounding note:
In that day Israel will be one of three with Egypt and Assyria — a blessing in the midst of the land, whom the Lord of hosts shall bless, saying, “Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance.”
(Isaiah 19:24–25)
Whoa. How can this be?
Throughout the rest of Old Testament Scripture, God only uses “My people” to refer to the nation of Israel. He does not call any other nation “My people” except in this particular verse — for the nation of Egypt! Also, throughout Biblical history, Assyria (consisting of modern-day Iraq, Syria, Kuwait, Lebanon, Jordan, Armenia, northern Saudi Arabia, southeast Turkey, southwest Iran) had been Israel’s enemy and an object of God’s judgement. Yet in this prophecy, we see that she will be carefully fashioned by the Lord for His purposes and blessed together with Israel and Egypt.
Most astoundingly, this Scripture prophesies that “in that day”, all three nations will come together and be “a blessing in the midst of the land”. Eventually, Israel, Egypt and Assyria will be one, leading to blessing for the rest of the earth!
Wow! Could this really be?
Knowing the current situation in the Middle East, what God has ordained for Egypt, Assyria and Israel in Isaiah 19:24–25 would be considered a miracle should it come to pass. But Scripture tells us that it will! More than that, these two verses in Isaiah 19 are the context for the Romans 11:11 call for Gentiles to provoke Israel to jealousy and the manifestation of the fullness of the John 17 Oneness in the earth!
The Unlikeliest Vessels for God’s Mercy
In the previous issue, we elaborated on how God is calling the Gentile Church to provoke Israel to jealousy through moving in signs and wonders and showing her the greater love of Yeshua (Jn. 14:12, 15:13). The main “stage” for this to be manifest is the region of the Middle East, where Egyptian and Arab believers will arise to aid and show mercy to the Jewish people.
It is amidst the Isaiah 19 vortex and Israel’s unprecedented persecution that Egypt and the Arab nations will be used as vessels to show God’s mercy to the Jewish people, through believers in those lands.
This is unfathomable if not for what we see in Scripture.
Jesus Himself prophesied that many Jewish people will flee Judea into the neighbouring nations under Antichrist’s persecution (Matt. 24:16; Ezek. 20:35; Rev. 12:14; Zech. 14:2). At that time, the situation for Israel could not be more dire! It is as though she flees from a lion, only to be met by a bear (Amos. 5:19)!
However, instead of being completely annihilated in the neighbouring nations, the Jewish people will find places of refuge among communities of believers in these hostile nations who will take them in and protect them at the cost of their own lives. Age-old ethnic enemies who have been transformed by the love and glory of Yeshua will lay down their lives for the Jewish people, who will then be provoked to jealousy.
This is God’s redemptive plan for the End of the Age! And it has already been set in motion!
Today, we see revival taking place in the underground church in many Middle Eastern nations, and believers in those lands awakening to their call to prepare themselves to shelter, protect, and show mercy to the Jewish people in their time of greatest need.
In fact, Isaiah 19 provides a detailed prophecy of what God will orchestrate to prepare Egypt specifically for the role He has for her at the End of the Age.
Egypt’s Significance and Role at the End of the Age
In End-Time prophecy, Egypt is the Gentile nation that is most mentioned above all others. However, she not only features prominently in future prophecy but also in Israel’s history.
As a nation, Egypt has been sovereignly used by God in times past to be a vessel to help Israel:
- Genesis 12 — she was a place of refuge for Abraham during a time of famine in Canaan;
- Genesis 46 — she was the “womb” that provided a place for the “gestation” of the nation of Israel before the Lord birthed Israel out of Egypt in Exodus;
- Matthew 2 — she was the place of refuge for Joseph, Mary and Jesus during the time that Herod sought to kill Jesus.
Isaiah 19 reveals that at the End of the Age, God will once again use Egypt mightily for the good of His people Israel.
However, Egypt herself will first go through crises on all fronts — economic, political, environmental, and social as a result of God’s judgement on her (Isa. 19:1–15). Scripture prophesies that she will be oppressed by the Antichrist for a time as he exerts his dominion and power over the region (Dan. 11:40–43; Isa. 19:20).
Yet, this judgement over Egypt is redemptive and meant to prepare her to be a vessel to show God’s mercy to Israel. In God’s sovereignty, He has decreed five realities (through Isaiah 19) for her that will come to pass at the End of the Age:
- Egypt will fear the Lord (v16–17). The people of Egypt will be seized with fear when they see the judgements of God upon their nation. This negative fear will be replaced by the Fear of the Lord which will bring Egypt into alignment with God and His ways and turn many to Yeshua.
- There will be five cities of refuge in Egypt that speak Hebrew and are filled with believers of Yeshua (v18). This means that God will move and send revival in an unusual way to these regions in Egypt.
- There will be a mature prayer movement in Egypt (v19–22). This will bring forth national deliverance unto national salvation resulting in healing for her.
- Egyptian believers will be reconciled with the rest of the Arab believers and God will bring forth healing unto partnership for His Kingdom (v23).
- Egypt will come together with Israel and Assyria (v24–25). God will bring forth supernatural oneness among these three traditionally hostile people groups. Their oneness in Yeshua will result in the glory of the Lord filling the nations, fulfilling the Habakkuk 2:14 promise.
Wow! What a destiny God has for Egypt!
However, more than just for Egypt, God is calling nations — both in the Middle East and across the world — to turn and repent through revealing how He deals with Egypt. He is highlighting her as the prototype for how He will deal with Gentile nations as He sends the End-of-the-Age shakings (Hag. 2:6–7; Matt. 24:3–21). Granted, while some of these promises are specific to Egypt, they reveal the heart of God for nations in the midst of the shakings: to repent so that He can turn and relent from judgement, and leave a blessing behind (Joel 2:14).
As we read and begin to understand about this Isaiah 19 vortex and God’s redemptive plan in the midst of it, some of us may be wondering:
Why all the “drama” in the End Times?
Ultimately, God is bringing restoration. What will play out in the End Times is actually a divine 4000-year family drama! God is “making all things right” and bringing a resolution to what the mistakes and weakness of man four millennia ago have since led to. The end of this work — what we see in Isaiah 19:24–25 — will be a mighty testament to God’s faithfulness and mercy, and to His ability, wisdom and sovereignty.
God’s Faithfulness Despite Man’s Weakness and Faithlessness
The roots of today’s conflict in the Middle East go way beyond the end of the 19th Century into ancient history.
The resentment, bitterness, and hostility that are found between the Jewish, Egyptian and Arab peoples began within Abraham’s family — between Ishmael and Isaac, and Esau and Jacob. Isaac was the promised son, but Ishmael was the firstborn after Abram and Sarai took things into their own hands (Gen. 16). Esau was the firstborn, but Jacob was the chosen son for promises to be passed down to.
In both cases, deep enmity was sown between the two brothers. Because of Isaac, Ishmael was eventually sent away as a young teenager and lost everything: his father, his position as firstborn, and his possessions (Gen. 21). Because of Jacob’s deception, Esau was cheated of his birthright and blessing from Isaac his father (Gen. 25:29 – 26:29).
Through the 4000 years since, the fruit of the root of bitterness and resentment have manifested in the Middle East. Some of Israel’s enemies, such as the Amalekites and the nation of Egypt, are descendants of Ishmael and Esau.
Today, the Jewish people are hated by both Egyptians and Arabs. There is also hostility between the Egyptians and the Arabs, and conflicts within the Arab peoples themselves (which was also prophesied in Genesis 16:12 and 27:40). It would seem to the world that the region is an irreparable mess that is perpetually embroiled in never-ending turmoil and conflict.
Yet, in spite of everything, God has proven faithful to His Word and merciful to all!
As Ishmael and Esau were firstborn, God still honoured their positions as the firstborn (Deut. 21:15–17), even though it would be through Isaac that Abraham’s offspring would be reckoned (Heb. 9:7–8). God promised Abraham and Hagar that He would bless and multiply Ishmael exceedingly and make him a “great nation” (Gen. 17:20, 21:18); Esau would dwell of the “fatness of the earth” and of the “dew of heaven from above” (Gen. 27:39).
Eventually, the descendants of Ishmael and Esau settled across the lands of the Middle East, Arabia and Egypt. They are blessed with lands that are rich in resources. This is in accordance to God’s promises in His Word.
The Ultimate John 17 Oneness
In issue #24, we talked about the John 17 generation that God is raising up, and it is in Isaiah 19:24–25 that we see the manifestation of this generation and the ultimate expression of the John 17 oneness. Surely, there can be no greater miracle than oneness between Egyptians, Arabs and Jewish people! It does not mean that these three nations will lose their individual distinctiveness, but they will be one just as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are One.
Wow!
Lest we be mistaken, this will not be via any human or political means but only through the body and blood of Yeshua. There will have to be a process of intentional repentance, forgiveness, healing and reconciliation between these people groups that will eventually lead to oneness among them.
We can be confident that this is now entirely possible because of Yeshua who has made and shown us the way! These believers will not only corporately carry the glory of the triune God, but also express the greater love, greater works, and the greater oneness unto becoming the greater witness of Yeshua to the world (Jn. 17:21)!
Our Appropriate Response
What about Gentile believers from the rest of the nations? How should we respond?
Certainly, we want to continue to pray for, stand with, and provoke Israel to jealousy. The Romans 11:11 call is for all Gentile believers, even if we are not from the Middle East.
The Lord is also calling us to cultivate and develop understanding regarding the Isaiah 19 vortex, and His heart and plan pertaining to His grand End-Time redemptive storyline. May we align with Him and His narrative regarding the Middle East as we do so!
We should definitely stand in the gap in prayer on behalf of our Egyptian and Arab brothers and sisters-in-Christ! As Asia will play a major role in God’s End-Time prayer movement, it is time for God’s people in this region to take our stand as watchmen for His Kingdom plans and purposes.
Finally, more than just growing in understanding and praying, God is also calling many to arise to speak as His voices to bring clarity in the midst of confusion, truth in the midst of lies, and light in the midst of darkness.
Let us eagerly look forward to the day when the Isaiah 19 oneness of nations in the Middle East will come forth from the Isaiah 19 vortex, that will lead to the glory of God covering the whole earth, as the waters cover the sea!
The Book of Zechariah | Teaching Series
In early 2023, the Lord directed us to revisit the Book of Zechariah in order to understand His End-Time plan for Israel. We invite you to watch and listen to the series, especially sessions 10 to 13.
Introductory Series on Understanding Israel
For an introduction to the topic of Israel, what Scripture says, and how Gentile believers are not to be ignorant about this mystery, watch our Introductory Series on Understanding Israel.