1 00:00:03,200 --> 00:00:05,960 Speaker 1: Welcome to Inside the Epicenter weekend edition with New York 2 00:00:05,960 --> 00:00:09,760 Speaker 1: Times bestselling author and Mid East expert Joel Rosenberg. This 3 00:00:09,880 --> 00:00:12,400 Speaker 1: is a radio program of the Joshua Fund, a ministry 4 00:00:12,400 --> 00:00:14,920 Speaker 1: founded by Joel and his wife Lynn that's dedicated to 5 00:00:14,960 --> 00:00:18,400 Speaker 1: blessing Israel and her neighbors in the name of Jesus. 6 00:00:18,920 --> 00:00:21,040 Speaker 1: This is a program where we don't just talk about 7 00:00:21,079 --> 00:00:24,200 Speaker 1: faith and current events. We dive right into the spiritual 8 00:00:24,239 --> 00:00:26,720 Speaker 1: pulse of the Middle East and the God who is 9 00:00:26,760 --> 00:00:30,600 Speaker 1: moving so powerfully in it. Every week we unpack the headlines, 10 00:00:30,640 --> 00:00:33,080 Speaker 1: the prophecies, and the hope of Christ that's rising in 11 00:00:33,120 --> 00:00:37,080 Speaker 1: a region so often misunderstood because what happens in the 12 00:00:37,080 --> 00:00:42,239 Speaker 1: Epicenter doesn't stay there. It's aftershocks ripple across the world. 13 00:00:42,760 --> 00:00:46,479 Speaker 1: Today we're featuring a hope filled and deeply biblical message 14 00:00:46,479 --> 00:00:50,360 Speaker 1: from Joel Rosenberg, recorded at a congregation in Tel Aviv 15 00:00:50,520 --> 00:00:54,440 Speaker 1: on one of the most important but least taught prophetic 16 00:00:54,560 --> 00:00:59,280 Speaker 1: passages in Scripture Isaiah chapter nineteen. Is there any hope 17 00:00:59,280 --> 00:01:04,240 Speaker 1: for Israel and her neighbors Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and 18 00:01:04,280 --> 00:01:08,560 Speaker 1: the Palestinians and the wider Arab world? In the prophetic future. 19 00:01:09,319 --> 00:01:13,040 Speaker 1: What does God's words say about judgment, redemption and a 20 00:01:13,120 --> 00:01:17,120 Speaker 1: coming spiritual awakening in the Middle East? And how should 21 00:01:17,200 --> 00:01:22,679 Speaker 1: followers of Jesus respond in a time of war, brief hostages, fear, 22 00:01:22,920 --> 00:01:27,360 Speaker 1: and uncertainty. Joel reminds us that we serve a prayer, 23 00:01:27,520 --> 00:01:32,559 Speaker 1: hearing and prayer answering God, a wonder working God. Let's 24 00:01:32,640 --> 00:01:36,480 Speaker 1: join Joel Rosenberg in Tel Aviv as he opens Isaiah 25 00:01:36,600 --> 00:01:41,160 Speaker 1: chapter nineteen and asks whether God has a redemptive plan 26 00:01:41,319 --> 00:01:43,600 Speaker 1: for the nations surrounding the epicenter. 27 00:01:47,840 --> 00:01:51,640 Speaker 2: So not every country in the world is mentioned in 28 00:01:51,680 --> 00:01:54,720 Speaker 2: the Bible, although every country in the world, every nation 29 00:01:54,920 --> 00:01:55,680 Speaker 2: is referred to. 30 00:01:57,320 --> 00:01:59,880 Speaker 3: Right, meaning go make disciples of all nations. 31 00:02:00,360 --> 00:02:04,600 Speaker 2: That was Jesus' command, right, the great commission. So praise 32 00:02:04,640 --> 00:02:07,400 Speaker 2: God that the gospel is being preached in nations all 33 00:02:07,440 --> 00:02:11,600 Speaker 2: over the planet. Yours and ours right, and now yours 34 00:02:11,760 --> 00:02:13,840 Speaker 2: is ours or ours is yours, And so I'm so 35 00:02:13,919 --> 00:02:16,280 Speaker 2: glad you're here, and I'm so glad to be here myself. 36 00:02:16,639 --> 00:02:20,200 Speaker 2: But there are some countries that the Lord God Almighty 37 00:02:20,639 --> 00:02:25,680 Speaker 2: gives us special insights about, and of course Israel is 38 00:02:25,760 --> 00:02:27,320 Speaker 2: the center of his plan. 39 00:02:28,360 --> 00:02:29,720 Speaker 3: I call it the epicenter. 40 00:02:30,680 --> 00:02:34,639 Speaker 2: In Ezekiel chapter five, verse five, God says that he 41 00:02:34,800 --> 00:02:39,000 Speaker 2: set Jerusalem at the center of the nations, and all 42 00:02:39,040 --> 00:02:40,560 Speaker 2: the other nations are around it. 43 00:02:41,520 --> 00:02:43,079 Speaker 3: That's interesting because that means that. 44 00:02:43,080 --> 00:02:49,919 Speaker 2: God's from God's perspective, Israel, and specifically the capital of Jerusalem, 45 00:02:50,040 --> 00:02:52,360 Speaker 2: is the center of the way he looks at the world. 46 00:02:53,280 --> 00:02:55,400 Speaker 2: As an American, we tend to think of America as 47 00:02:55,440 --> 00:02:57,080 Speaker 2: the center of the world. 48 00:02:57,320 --> 00:03:02,120 Speaker 3: That Washington is the. 49 00:03:00,320 --> 00:03:02,920 Speaker 2: The most powerful and important capital in the world, and 50 00:03:02,960 --> 00:03:06,120 Speaker 2: everybody else is nice too. But you know, right, you've 51 00:03:06,160 --> 00:03:08,320 Speaker 2: got a new president coming in in the United States. 52 00:03:08,360 --> 00:03:11,120 Speaker 2: He wants to rename the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf 53 00:03:11,160 --> 00:03:14,600 Speaker 2: of America, right, because we're Americans. We want to take 54 00:03:14,680 --> 00:03:17,160 Speaker 2: apparently we now want to take over Canada. So anyway, 55 00:03:17,160 --> 00:03:18,840 Speaker 2: I's a lot going on. I'm not trying to be political. 56 00:03:18,919 --> 00:03:23,079 Speaker 2: I'm just saying American Sea America first. You know, I'm 57 00:03:23,080 --> 00:03:26,760 Speaker 2: sure he was an Indian or Sri Lankan or from Nidera. 58 00:03:26,800 --> 00:03:29,760 Speaker 2: Wherever you're from Korea, you love your country and you 59 00:03:29,800 --> 00:03:34,040 Speaker 2: feel very fond of it. But we know Biblically, God 60 00:03:34,280 --> 00:03:37,520 Speaker 2: loves all the nations. But he has a special, a 61 00:03:37,600 --> 00:03:40,680 Speaker 2: unique love for Israel, and he considers Israel at the 62 00:03:41,040 --> 00:03:45,040 Speaker 2: absolute center of the world. And Jerusalem is the center 63 00:03:45,120 --> 00:03:54,720 Speaker 2: of Israel, and the Temple Mound is the center of Jerusalem. Ironically, however, 64 00:03:56,720 --> 00:03:59,480 Speaker 2: Israel is one of the countries that knows him least. 65 00:04:01,960 --> 00:04:08,600 Speaker 3: And that's very sad. Right, the Gospel started in Israel, right, Shua. 66 00:04:08,360 --> 00:04:13,040 Speaker 2: Was born in Bethlehem, grew up in Nazareth, ministered all 67 00:04:13,200 --> 00:04:13,760 Speaker 2: the galley. 68 00:04:14,240 --> 00:04:16,440 Speaker 3: Actually there was no Tel Aviv at that time. 69 00:04:17,240 --> 00:04:19,400 Speaker 2: But Tel Aviv is mentioned one time in the Bible, 70 00:04:19,440 --> 00:04:22,159 Speaker 2: but it wasn't here, right, It's in Babylon. 71 00:04:22,600 --> 00:04:24,000 Speaker 3: We see it in the Book of Ezekiel. 72 00:04:25,520 --> 00:04:31,200 Speaker 2: But despite the ministry of Yeshua, right, we know from 73 00:04:31,320 --> 00:04:35,480 Speaker 2: John chapter one. So it summarizes his life and ministry, 74 00:04:35,839 --> 00:04:39,880 Speaker 2: which was he the Messiah. And Shua came to his 75 00:04:39,960 --> 00:04:43,440 Speaker 2: own to the Jewish people of Israel, but his own 76 00:04:44,200 --> 00:04:46,440 Speaker 2: the Jewish people of visual received. 77 00:04:46,080 --> 00:04:46,440 Speaker 3: Him, not. 78 00:04:48,240 --> 00:04:50,880 Speaker 2: But to as many who did receive him, all of 79 00:04:50,920 --> 00:04:53,719 Speaker 2: you gentiles from all of the not you're not all gentiles, 80 00:04:53,720 --> 00:04:56,640 Speaker 2: but I'm just saying all from all other nations you 81 00:04:56,720 --> 00:04:59,320 Speaker 2: did receive him. And to you he gave the right 82 00:04:59,440 --> 00:05:03,479 Speaker 2: to become children of God, even to those who believe 83 00:05:03,880 --> 00:05:07,960 Speaker 2: in his name, that the death and resurrection of Jesus 84 00:05:08,120 --> 00:05:12,360 Speaker 2: is our sacrifice. He is our passover Lamb. He is 85 00:05:12,400 --> 00:05:17,280 Speaker 2: our hope now and forever. But our people, my people, 86 00:05:19,240 --> 00:05:21,800 Speaker 2: mostly don't know him. Now more Jews have come to 87 00:05:21,880 --> 00:05:26,799 Speaker 2: faith over the last fifty or sixty years than ever 88 00:05:27,040 --> 00:05:31,279 Speaker 2: in human history. Right now, based on a study that 89 00:05:31,360 --> 00:05:33,680 Speaker 2: was done several years ago, very very interesting, there are 90 00:05:33,720 --> 00:05:37,760 Speaker 2: more than eight almost almost nine hundred thousand Jewish people 91 00:05:38,120 --> 00:05:41,640 Speaker 2: just in the United States alone who believe that Jesus 92 00:05:41,720 --> 00:05:44,920 Speaker 2: is the Messiah. Okay, when I was born in nineteen 93 00:05:44,960 --> 00:05:47,919 Speaker 2: sixty seven, I know that's a long time. I'll do 94 00:05:47,960 --> 00:05:51,400 Speaker 2: the math. Fifty seven years ago. In nineteen sixty seven, 95 00:05:51,600 --> 00:05:54,919 Speaker 2: there were less fewer than two thousand Jewish people on 96 00:05:55,080 --> 00:06:01,120 Speaker 2: planet Earth that believed that Jesus is the Messiah. Today, 97 00:06:01,480 --> 00:06:05,440 Speaker 2: in America alone, there's almost nine hundred thousand. Now, when 98 00:06:05,480 --> 00:06:09,520 Speaker 2: you add the numbers of believers Jewish believers here and 99 00:06:09,600 --> 00:06:12,320 Speaker 2: in Brazil and in Europe and elsewhere around the world, 100 00:06:12,480 --> 00:06:14,680 Speaker 2: we're at about or maybe even a little more than 101 00:06:14,720 --> 00:06:18,279 Speaker 2: a million Jewish people in the world now believe that. 102 00:06:18,360 --> 00:06:23,000 Speaker 3: Issue is the Messiah, that is so exciting, and. 103 00:06:22,960 --> 00:06:26,279 Speaker 2: Even most believers, most Jewish believers don't even know those numbers. 104 00:06:26,480 --> 00:06:27,080 Speaker 3: That's exciting. 105 00:06:27,120 --> 00:06:29,480 Speaker 2: Now, God is not about numbers. But we are heading 106 00:06:29,560 --> 00:06:33,479 Speaker 2: towards where Roman's eleven twenty six, where. 107 00:06:33,320 --> 00:06:39,159 Speaker 3: God says all Israel will be saved. Someday all Regina 108 00:06:39,200 --> 00:06:40,440 Speaker 3: will get saved. 109 00:06:40,640 --> 00:06:42,640 Speaker 2: But the only way people can get saved is if 110 00:06:42,640 --> 00:06:45,279 Speaker 2: they hear the Gospel and they say yes. 111 00:06:46,720 --> 00:06:48,160 Speaker 3: And the good. 112 00:06:47,920 --> 00:06:50,120 Speaker 2: News is that many Jewish people in the United States 113 00:06:50,160 --> 00:06:53,640 Speaker 2: are meeting fellow believers, and they're meeting people who are 114 00:06:53,640 --> 00:06:55,719 Speaker 2: filled with the Holy Spirit and have the love and 115 00:06:55,800 --> 00:07:00,200 Speaker 2: kindness and compassion of Jesus. And Jewish people are being 116 00:07:00,279 --> 00:07:03,840 Speaker 2: drawn to why do you have hope? What do you 117 00:07:03,960 --> 00:07:07,560 Speaker 2: know that I don't know? I want to know this God? 118 00:07:07,760 --> 00:07:10,440 Speaker 2: Or you know the Bible better than me? Most people, 119 00:07:10,480 --> 00:07:13,160 Speaker 2: most Jewish people are saying as they come to faith. 120 00:07:13,440 --> 00:07:16,239 Speaker 2: Now in the world, there's probably fifteen or sixteen million 121 00:07:16,320 --> 00:07:19,560 Speaker 2: Jewish people. So are we at Roman's eleven twenty six? 122 00:07:19,680 --> 00:07:21,000 Speaker 3: Yet we are not? 123 00:07:21,840 --> 00:07:25,280 Speaker 2: Are we moving in a dramatically different direction? We are, 124 00:07:25,600 --> 00:07:29,040 Speaker 2: and that's so encouraging. But most Israelis don't know the Lord. 125 00:07:29,360 --> 00:07:31,360 Speaker 2: They don't know his name, they don't know the story. 126 00:07:31,680 --> 00:07:36,760 Speaker 2: Most Israelis are rejecting, not the Gospel, they're rejecting the 127 00:07:36,840 --> 00:07:42,760 Speaker 2: history of Christianity and Judaism. So we, whether we're Jewish 128 00:07:42,880 --> 00:07:47,720 Speaker 2: or non Jewish, need to be His witnesses in this land. 129 00:07:49,120 --> 00:07:55,160 Speaker 2: The good news is that it's gonna work now. Jewish 130 00:07:55,240 --> 00:07:58,920 Speaker 2: ministry has not worked well for two thousand years, but 131 00:07:59,000 --> 00:07:59,680 Speaker 2: it's gonna work. 132 00:07:59,720 --> 00:08:03,200 Speaker 3: It is working, and that's why we have to have hope, 133 00:08:03,480 --> 00:08:07,200 Speaker 3: and that's why we need to be patient and consistent and. 134 00:08:07,160 --> 00:08:11,720 Speaker 2: Faithful, because we know God is bringing a harvest. He's 135 00:08:11,720 --> 00:08:14,880 Speaker 2: doing it now, and more is coming. So even though 136 00:08:14,920 --> 00:08:19,960 Speaker 2: it's the toughest ministry environment in all of human history, 137 00:08:21,400 --> 00:08:24,440 Speaker 2: all of history, there's not a single person in the 138 00:08:24,440 --> 00:08:27,200 Speaker 2: world it's harder to win to your sure than a 139 00:08:27,280 --> 00:08:32,200 Speaker 2: Jewish person. And yet God's doing it, and he's doing 140 00:08:32,240 --> 00:08:34,840 Speaker 2: it in large numbers, which is telling us we're getting closer. 141 00:08:35,440 --> 00:08:38,440 Speaker 3: We're getting closer to the Lord's return, and we need 142 00:08:38,480 --> 00:08:39,320 Speaker 3: to stay faithful. 143 00:08:40,480 --> 00:08:44,960 Speaker 2: Now in a year of terrible war and terrorism and hostages. 144 00:08:45,920 --> 00:08:50,080 Speaker 2: We are grieving. We are grieving, and we know the Lord. 145 00:08:50,200 --> 00:08:53,120 Speaker 2: We are exhausted and we know the Lord. We are 146 00:08:53,160 --> 00:08:55,440 Speaker 2: in pain, and we know the Lord, we have the 147 00:08:55,440 --> 00:08:58,320 Speaker 2: Holy Spirit in us, and yet we are in so 148 00:08:58,440 --> 00:09:02,200 Speaker 2: much pain because of what a horrific and dark year 149 00:09:02,280 --> 00:09:07,080 Speaker 2: it has been. What about the rest of our neighbors 150 00:09:07,840 --> 00:09:10,440 Speaker 2: as Israelis, who don't know the Lord, don't have the 151 00:09:10,440 --> 00:09:15,000 Speaker 2: Holy Spirit, don't have his hope, don't know his word. 152 00:09:15,040 --> 00:09:19,800 Speaker 2: They are struggling and grieving without hope. It's why we 153 00:09:19,880 --> 00:09:22,199 Speaker 2: need to remember that there is hope. That issue is 154 00:09:22,240 --> 00:09:24,880 Speaker 2: our hope. And we need to be bold, loving kind, 155 00:09:25,240 --> 00:09:32,160 Speaker 2: gentle but bold, bold, loving, kind but bold. We need 156 00:09:32,200 --> 00:09:35,040 Speaker 2: to show the love of Yeshua, and then we need 157 00:09:35,040 --> 00:09:38,000 Speaker 2: to share the love of You Shua. Now there's a 158 00:09:38,080 --> 00:09:40,920 Speaker 2: wonderful prophecy that I want to draw your attention to. 159 00:09:41,480 --> 00:09:47,040 Speaker 2: That's our focus tonight, and that's Isaiah nineteen. You're probably 160 00:09:47,040 --> 00:09:50,199 Speaker 2: familiar with it, but it's always good to look at 161 00:09:50,200 --> 00:09:52,680 Speaker 2: scripture that we may already know. 162 00:09:52,760 --> 00:09:54,920 Speaker 3: Now some of you may not be familiar with it. 163 00:09:54,920 --> 00:09:58,920 Speaker 2: It's a prophecy that starts off focusing on the country 164 00:09:58,960 --> 00:10:04,560 Speaker 2: of Egypt and then brings us back not just to Egypt, 165 00:10:04,559 --> 00:10:06,400 Speaker 2: and actually expands the. 166 00:10:06,320 --> 00:10:09,200 Speaker 3: Aperture of the photo of the camera, as it were. 167 00:10:09,520 --> 00:10:13,120 Speaker 2: It expands our understanding that this is not just about 168 00:10:13,120 --> 00:10:16,480 Speaker 2: what God is going to do in Egypt and among 169 00:10:16,520 --> 00:10:19,360 Speaker 2: the Egyptians, it's also what he's going to do among 170 00:10:20,000 --> 00:10:24,760 Speaker 2: the people of a Syria. We'll talk about what Assyria 171 00:10:24,960 --> 00:10:27,280 Speaker 2: is in modern times, and it's going to talk about 172 00:10:27,320 --> 00:10:31,000 Speaker 2: what God's going to do in Israel's. This is encouraging, 173 00:10:31,840 --> 00:10:34,480 Speaker 2: but there are hard times between here and there, So 174 00:10:34,559 --> 00:10:37,439 Speaker 2: let's take some time and draw out some lessons for 175 00:10:37,600 --> 00:10:41,679 Speaker 2: what's God's plan. What's God's plan for Israel and her neighbors. Now, 176 00:10:41,720 --> 00:10:46,080 Speaker 2: this is not the only prophecy about future things that 177 00:10:46,120 --> 00:10:50,160 Speaker 2: will happen in and around Israel as we go deeper 178 00:10:50,480 --> 00:10:54,200 Speaker 2: into the last days, as we get closer to the 179 00:10:54,240 --> 00:10:58,680 Speaker 2: return of Ishua, when he's going to land on the 180 00:10:58,720 --> 00:11:02,360 Speaker 2: Mount of Olives and split that mountain in two and 181 00:11:02,440 --> 00:11:05,200 Speaker 2: set up There'll already be a third Temple by that point, 182 00:11:05,600 --> 00:11:08,360 Speaker 2: but the anti Christ will destroy it, desecrat it, so. 183 00:11:08,360 --> 00:11:10,720 Speaker 3: He'll destroy Jesus will destroy. 184 00:11:10,720 --> 00:11:13,720 Speaker 2: The third Temple, and he will build Ezekiel's temple the 185 00:11:13,840 --> 00:11:17,199 Speaker 2: fourth Temple, and that's the temple Issua will rang from. 186 00:11:17,240 --> 00:11:20,040 Speaker 2: That's very, very exciting, but between now and then, hard 187 00:11:20,080 --> 00:11:23,280 Speaker 2: things are happening. But we are heading towards some hopeful things, 188 00:11:23,320 --> 00:11:25,920 Speaker 2: and so it's important for us to know these truths. 189 00:11:27,120 --> 00:11:28,200 Speaker 3: In Part I, just one of. 190 00:11:28,200 --> 00:11:33,520 Speaker 2: The things as we are focusing on this topic, you know, 191 00:11:33,920 --> 00:11:39,240 Speaker 2: twenty seven percent of the Bible is prophecy. Twenty seven 192 00:11:39,320 --> 00:11:42,280 Speaker 2: percent of all the verses in the Bible are prophetic. 193 00:11:43,559 --> 00:11:46,719 Speaker 2: Now about half of those verses are prophecies that have 194 00:11:46,760 --> 00:11:51,079 Speaker 2: already come true. They are Old Testament prophecies of wars 195 00:11:51,120 --> 00:11:53,240 Speaker 2: and the rumors of wars and all kinds of things. 196 00:11:53,559 --> 00:11:56,080 Speaker 2: Their prophecies about the coming of the Messiah the first 197 00:11:56,160 --> 00:11:59,760 Speaker 2: time right including Micah five two that the Messiah will 198 00:11:59,800 --> 00:12:05,120 Speaker 2: be I'm and born in Bethlehem, not Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. And 199 00:12:05,160 --> 00:12:06,960 Speaker 2: there was a Bethlehem in the north of Israel at 200 00:12:07,000 --> 00:12:09,800 Speaker 2: that time. But it's not that Bethlin. It's Bethlin et Fratza, 201 00:12:09,920 --> 00:12:15,160 Speaker 2: in the one right outside of. 202 00:12:13,720 --> 00:12:14,959 Speaker 3: The little town of Bedline. 203 00:12:17,559 --> 00:12:20,440 Speaker 1: You're listening to inside the Epicenter Weekend edition with Joel 204 00:12:20,480 --> 00:12:24,320 Speaker 1: and Lynn Rosenberg. Today's message is a powerful reminder that 205 00:12:24,400 --> 00:12:29,120 Speaker 1: Biblical prophecy is not meant to make believers fearful or speculative. 206 00:12:29,840 --> 00:12:32,920 Speaker 1: It is meant to help us understand the heart of God, 207 00:12:33,320 --> 00:12:37,560 Speaker 1: pray according to His purposes, and live as faithful witnesses 208 00:12:37,640 --> 00:12:41,520 Speaker 1: in a broken, engraving world. If this message is stirring 209 00:12:41,559 --> 00:12:43,640 Speaker 1: your heart, there's much more waiting for you and our 210 00:12:43,679 --> 00:12:46,840 Speaker 1: podcast feed. More than three hundred and fifty episodes of 211 00:12:46,880 --> 00:12:53,760 Speaker 1: Inside the Epicenter available on your favorite podcast app covering Israel, prophecy, theology, 212 00:12:53,960 --> 00:12:57,480 Speaker 1: the Arab world, and how to pray wisely in turbulent times. 213 00:12:58,200 --> 00:13:00,319 Speaker 1: To learn more about the Joshua Fund and how Joel 214 00:13:00,360 --> 00:13:04,000 Speaker 1: and Lynn are strengthening believers and offering practical help across 215 00:13:04,040 --> 00:13:08,240 Speaker 1: the regions a Joshua Fund dot Com slash Radio. Now 216 00:13:08,280 --> 00:13:11,360 Speaker 1: back to Joel as it begins walking through Isaiah nineteen 217 00:13:11,880 --> 00:13:15,080 Speaker 1: and explaining both the hard things Scripture says are coming 218 00:13:15,480 --> 00:13:21,600 Speaker 1: and the hope God promises beyond them Verse seventeen. 219 00:13:21,679 --> 00:13:26,800 Speaker 2: The land of Judah, the nation we now know is Israel. Right, 220 00:13:27,000 --> 00:13:32,760 Speaker 2: it will become a terror to Egypt. Everyone to whom 221 00:13:33,440 --> 00:13:35,480 Speaker 2: Judah or Israel is mentioned. 222 00:13:35,280 --> 00:13:37,040 Speaker 3: Will be in dread of it. 223 00:13:37,120 --> 00:13:40,200 Speaker 2: Because the purpose of the Lord of Hosts, the Lord 224 00:13:40,240 --> 00:13:43,320 Speaker 2: of angel armies, which he is purposing against them. Something 225 00:13:43,400 --> 00:13:47,400 Speaker 2: is going to happen where rather than Egypt hating the 226 00:13:47,400 --> 00:13:49,200 Speaker 2: Egyptian people, hating Israel as. 227 00:13:49,120 --> 00:13:52,559 Speaker 3: They have had. They've hated them us for you know, 228 00:13:53,080 --> 00:13:55,640 Speaker 3: four or five thousand years. We have a peace treaty. 229 00:13:55,880 --> 00:13:59,760 Speaker 3: That's good. The government likes us mostly, but the people 230 00:13:59,800 --> 00:14:05,839 Speaker 3: will done. But now rather than being angry or. 231 00:14:05,920 --> 00:14:08,880 Speaker 2: Hostile to Israel, they're going to the Egyptian people will 232 00:14:08,880 --> 00:14:13,000 Speaker 2: be terrified of Israel, the people of Judah, the Jewish people, 233 00:14:14,240 --> 00:14:16,560 Speaker 2: because they'll realize something's going on that where God is 234 00:14:16,720 --> 00:14:19,480 Speaker 2: for Israel and against Egypt. 235 00:14:20,040 --> 00:14:21,200 Speaker 3: Okay, verse eighteen. 236 00:14:21,640 --> 00:14:25,440 Speaker 2: In that day, five cities in the land of Egypt 237 00:14:25,600 --> 00:14:29,880 Speaker 2: will be speaking in the language of Canaan. Now Canaan, 238 00:14:29,960 --> 00:14:32,280 Speaker 2: of course, being the ancient name of the land that 239 00:14:32,600 --> 00:14:34,760 Speaker 2: God brought Abraham, Isaac, Jacob. 240 00:14:34,480 --> 00:14:36,800 Speaker 3: Well Abraham and Sarah to settle. 241 00:14:37,400 --> 00:14:39,200 Speaker 2: Now does that mean they're going to be speaking Hebrew 242 00:14:39,680 --> 00:14:42,320 Speaker 2: or they're going to be speaking some ancient language. I 243 00:14:42,360 --> 00:14:45,960 Speaker 2: can't tell you. But it may be just a poetic 244 00:14:46,040 --> 00:14:47,440 Speaker 2: way of saying that the land. 245 00:14:47,640 --> 00:14:50,760 Speaker 3: That the language the people in the formerly. 246 00:14:50,320 --> 00:14:53,800 Speaker 2: Known as land of Canaan now speak, that would be Hebrew. 247 00:14:54,800 --> 00:14:59,280 Speaker 2: That people will be speaking that language in Egypt. Anyway, 248 00:14:59,800 --> 00:15:02,000 Speaker 2: We're it's not clear. So I'm not going to try 249 00:15:02,000 --> 00:15:04,000 Speaker 2: to make it clear right now, but in that day, 250 00:15:04,120 --> 00:15:08,880 Speaker 2: five cities within Egypt, people are gonna be talking this language. 251 00:15:09,040 --> 00:15:12,480 Speaker 2: And then it says very interestingly, and these people in 252 00:15:12,520 --> 00:15:15,360 Speaker 2: these five cities will be swearing allegiance to the Lord 253 00:15:15,400 --> 00:15:19,720 Speaker 2: of Hosts, and it will be called the city of Destruction, 254 00:15:20,920 --> 00:15:23,440 Speaker 2: or to be precise, it's the city of the Sun. 255 00:15:24,800 --> 00:15:27,320 Speaker 2: This there actually is a city in Egypt called the 256 00:15:27,360 --> 00:15:31,480 Speaker 2: city of the Sun. It's called Heliopolis. They took a 257 00:15:31,520 --> 00:15:36,280 Speaker 2: Greek word. And we actually lived in Egypt for about 258 00:15:36,360 --> 00:15:41,160 Speaker 2: three months about fifteen years ago or so almost twenty 259 00:15:41,200 --> 00:15:45,640 Speaker 2: years ago now actually, and we lived in Heliopolis. We 260 00:15:45,800 --> 00:15:48,040 Speaker 2: picked an apartment or somebody picked it for us, but anyway, 261 00:15:48,080 --> 00:15:49,520 Speaker 2: happened to be next to a pizza hut, so we 262 00:15:49,600 --> 00:15:52,520 Speaker 2: liked that, and the McDonald's and a Basking Robin. 263 00:15:52,600 --> 00:15:55,080 Speaker 3: So the kids really were happy that they would food, 264 00:15:55,080 --> 00:15:58,680 Speaker 3: that they understood what that was. But we lived in Heliopolis. 265 00:15:58,760 --> 00:16:01,720 Speaker 2: That's actually very beautiful section and it was rebuilt in 266 00:16:01,720 --> 00:16:02,400 Speaker 2: the nineteen twenty. 267 00:16:02,440 --> 00:16:04,880 Speaker 3: So it's interesting that we live in a day where. 268 00:16:04,680 --> 00:16:06,680 Speaker 2: Egypt has the city of Haleopolis. 269 00:16:07,160 --> 00:16:08,600 Speaker 3: I don't want to overstate that point. 270 00:16:08,640 --> 00:16:11,760 Speaker 2: But I just think it's interesting because it didn't exist 271 00:16:11,800 --> 00:16:14,040 Speaker 2: for a long time, but it is an ancient name 272 00:16:14,080 --> 00:16:17,280 Speaker 2: of an ancient city within Egypt. Now, so people are 273 00:16:17,280 --> 00:16:20,520 Speaker 2: gonna be swearing on Agians to the Lord of Hosts interwards. 274 00:16:20,640 --> 00:16:21,560 Speaker 3: Something is happening. 275 00:16:21,680 --> 00:16:24,800 Speaker 2: The people of Egypt are converting from the lostness and 276 00:16:24,840 --> 00:16:28,520 Speaker 2: the confusion to faith in the God of Israel, the 277 00:16:28,520 --> 00:16:32,080 Speaker 2: God of the Bible, the faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. 278 00:16:33,040 --> 00:16:33,840 Speaker 3: That's encouraging. 279 00:16:34,120 --> 00:16:39,200 Speaker 2: So we're turning from judgment to redemption Verse nineteen. In 280 00:16:39,360 --> 00:16:42,040 Speaker 2: that day there will be an altar to the Lord 281 00:16:42,560 --> 00:16:45,720 Speaker 2: in the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the 282 00:16:45,720 --> 00:16:49,280 Speaker 2: Lord near the border, probably the border between Israel and Egypt. 283 00:16:49,280 --> 00:16:51,000 Speaker 2: People are gonna be like, we got to focus on 284 00:16:51,040 --> 00:16:52,640 Speaker 2: the Lord. We got to focus on Jesus, We got 285 00:16:52,760 --> 00:16:57,760 Speaker 2: to focus on worshiping him. That's encouraging. Verse twenty. It 286 00:16:57,840 --> 00:17:00,000 Speaker 2: will become a sign and a witness to the Lord 287 00:17:00,080 --> 00:17:07,560 Speaker 2: of Hosts in the land of Egypt. He will become 288 00:17:07,560 --> 00:17:09,560 Speaker 2: a sign and a witness to the Lord of Hosts 289 00:17:09,600 --> 00:17:12,639 Speaker 2: in the land of Egypt. For they will cry to 290 00:17:12,760 --> 00:17:18,439 Speaker 2: the Lord because of oppressors, and he God will send 291 00:17:18,480 --> 00:17:19,960 Speaker 2: them a savior. 292 00:17:21,440 --> 00:17:25,040 Speaker 3: And a champion, and he God will deliver them. 293 00:17:25,240 --> 00:17:29,800 Speaker 2: He this Savior, this champion, Jesus, the King, the Messiah, 294 00:17:30,119 --> 00:17:34,160 Speaker 2: is going to save people in Egypt Verse twenty one. 295 00:17:34,240 --> 00:17:40,639 Speaker 2: Thus the Lord will make himself known to Egypt, and 296 00:17:40,680 --> 00:17:44,720 Speaker 2: the Egyptians will know the Lord in that day. This 297 00:17:44,880 --> 00:17:49,439 Speaker 2: is so powerful. Egypt is the largest country in the 298 00:17:49,480 --> 00:17:52,760 Speaker 2: Arab world. It's the most populous nation. 299 00:17:52,760 --> 00:17:53,600 Speaker 3: In the Arab world. 300 00:17:53,800 --> 00:17:57,440 Speaker 2: Over one hundred million Egyptians, most of whom don't know Jesus. 301 00:17:57,600 --> 00:17:58,560 Speaker 3: There are about. 302 00:17:58,320 --> 00:18:02,880 Speaker 2: Seventeen million that do oh Jesus, either the Coptic Orthodox 303 00:18:02,960 --> 00:18:05,800 Speaker 2: Church or the prostant Evangelical Church. Ord willing, Lynn and 304 00:18:05,840 --> 00:18:08,399 Speaker 2: I will be there in a few weeks, meeting with 305 00:18:08,720 --> 00:18:10,480 Speaker 2: Coptic and Evangelical leaders. 306 00:18:10,760 --> 00:18:11,720 Speaker 3: We love going to Egypt. 307 00:18:11,760 --> 00:18:13,760 Speaker 2: We don't get there that often, but we have loved 308 00:18:13,800 --> 00:18:16,120 Speaker 2: going over the years that we've been invited to meet 309 00:18:16,160 --> 00:18:18,280 Speaker 2: with leaders in Egypt in just a few weeks. One 310 00:18:18,280 --> 00:18:20,480 Speaker 2: of the reasons this passage is on my heart. 311 00:18:21,200 --> 00:18:23,760 Speaker 3: This is really clear language. We wish all of our 312 00:18:23,800 --> 00:18:26,080 Speaker 3: countries had language like this, that. 313 00:18:26,040 --> 00:18:28,960 Speaker 2: It's gonna be hard, there's gonna be judgment, but God's 314 00:18:29,000 --> 00:18:32,840 Speaker 2: gonna do something great. He's gonna reveal himself to our nations. 315 00:18:33,000 --> 00:18:35,240 Speaker 2: This is what God is promising to the people of Egypt. 316 00:18:37,560 --> 00:18:40,680 Speaker 2: Now look at this again. Halfway through twenty one, they 317 00:18:41,280 --> 00:18:44,480 Speaker 2: the Egyptian people will even worship with sacrifice, an offering, 318 00:18:44,800 --> 00:18:46,600 Speaker 2: and they will make a vow to the Lord. 319 00:18:46,400 --> 00:18:48,920 Speaker 3: And they'll do it. They'll perform it. Not just gonna 320 00:18:49,000 --> 00:18:50,040 Speaker 3: have lip service to God. 321 00:18:50,080 --> 00:18:52,440 Speaker 2: They're gonna say, we're gonna serve you, and then they're 322 00:18:52,440 --> 00:18:55,960 Speaker 2: gonna serve the Lord, just as they promised. Verse twenty two. 323 00:18:56,119 --> 00:19:01,440 Speaker 2: It even gets better. The Lord will strike Egypt, striking 324 00:19:02,200 --> 00:19:08,040 Speaker 2: but healing. Yes, judgment is coming. Why won't one because 325 00:19:08,200 --> 00:19:11,440 Speaker 2: people have done things worthy of judgment. But God wants 326 00:19:11,440 --> 00:19:14,400 Speaker 2: to also use that to shake people, to wake them 327 00:19:14,480 --> 00:19:17,240 Speaker 2: up spiritually, get them to realize that they are being 328 00:19:17,320 --> 00:19:20,359 Speaker 2: led in the wrong direction and to repent, to turn 329 00:19:20,520 --> 00:19:23,440 Speaker 2: to beg the actual, one True God and his son, 330 00:19:23,480 --> 00:19:27,040 Speaker 2: the Lord Jesus Christ, to heal them, to save them, 331 00:19:27,119 --> 00:19:31,600 Speaker 2: to redeem them, to forgive them. The Lord will strike Egypt, 332 00:19:32,440 --> 00:19:37,679 Speaker 2: striking but healing, so they will return to the Lord 333 00:19:38,000 --> 00:19:39,919 Speaker 2: and he, the Lord will respond. 334 00:19:39,560 --> 00:19:41,680 Speaker 3: To them and will heal them. That could not be clear. 335 00:19:42,600 --> 00:19:45,160 Speaker 3: This is the Great Salvation of the Egyptian people that's 336 00:19:45,160 --> 00:19:51,480 Speaker 3: coming in that day, Then there will be a highway 337 00:19:52,680 --> 00:19:56,840 Speaker 3: from Egypt to Assyria. Now what is Assyria. Well, in 338 00:19:56,880 --> 00:19:59,560 Speaker 3: the ancient times, in biblical times. 339 00:19:59,320 --> 00:20:03,439 Speaker 2: Assyria was partly the country we call Syria today. Syria 340 00:20:03,480 --> 00:20:08,199 Speaker 2: itself is imploding. Syria itself is filled with spiritual deception 341 00:20:08,320 --> 00:20:10,760 Speaker 2: and confusion, and it brought a judgment on their nation. 342 00:20:11,920 --> 00:20:13,960 Speaker 2: But there are believers there and we need to be 343 00:20:14,000 --> 00:20:18,400 Speaker 2: praying for them. But Assyria back in the day us 344 00:20:18,400 --> 00:20:22,080 Speaker 2: Syria was partly the country we call Syria today, but 345 00:20:22,080 --> 00:20:25,639 Speaker 2: it also included the country we call Lebanon today, also 346 00:20:25,640 --> 00:20:27,960 Speaker 2: in a mess, although trying to. 347 00:20:27,960 --> 00:20:28,760 Speaker 3: Pull themselves out. 348 00:20:29,200 --> 00:20:31,840 Speaker 2: It also includes the country we call the Hashmake Kingdom 349 00:20:31,880 --> 00:20:35,680 Speaker 2: of Jordan. It also includes part of the country. 350 00:20:35,320 --> 00:20:36,800 Speaker 3: We call Iraq. 351 00:20:37,920 --> 00:20:40,159 Speaker 2: So when you think about this, God is going to 352 00:20:40,240 --> 00:20:45,240 Speaker 2: do something where He's gonna link Egypt to Assyria, these 353 00:20:45,280 --> 00:20:48,040 Speaker 2: other Arab countries that surround Israel. 354 00:20:48,080 --> 00:20:49,960 Speaker 3: Why is he going to do this? Well, let's keep going. 355 00:20:50,400 --> 00:20:52,880 Speaker 2: In that day there will be a highway from Egypt 356 00:20:53,280 --> 00:20:58,040 Speaker 2: to Assyria, and the Assyrians will come into Egypt and 357 00:20:58,119 --> 00:21:01,160 Speaker 2: the Egyptians into Assyria, and. 358 00:21:01,119 --> 00:21:03,600 Speaker 3: The Egyptians will worship with the Assyrians. 359 00:21:04,680 --> 00:21:07,120 Speaker 2: What does this tell us, Well, we're talking about countries 360 00:21:07,160 --> 00:21:12,600 Speaker 2: that are high high percentage Muslim. So unless something has 361 00:21:12,640 --> 00:21:14,800 Speaker 2: happened in which everyone leaves is Lam and goes to 362 00:21:14,880 --> 00:21:19,359 Speaker 2: some other false religion, these are people leaving Islam and 363 00:21:19,400 --> 00:21:22,640 Speaker 2: coming to faith in Jesus Christ. Otherwise they wouldn't want 364 00:21:22,680 --> 00:21:25,639 Speaker 2: to worship with the Egyptians, who themselves have come to Christ. 365 00:21:26,400 --> 00:21:27,760 Speaker 3: This is where we're talking. 366 00:21:27,560 --> 00:21:32,240 Speaker 2: About a huge, massive, unprecedented spiritual awakening in all the 367 00:21:32,240 --> 00:21:33,480 Speaker 2: countries surrounding Israel. 368 00:21:34,280 --> 00:21:35,679 Speaker 3: Now, I don't want to overstate it. 369 00:21:36,359 --> 00:21:38,480 Speaker 2: I can't tell you from this text or from any 370 00:21:38,520 --> 00:21:41,880 Speaker 2: other text, that God's going to save every Lebanese. 371 00:21:41,440 --> 00:21:44,200 Speaker 3: Person, or every Syrian, or every. 372 00:21:43,960 --> 00:21:47,840 Speaker 2: Jordanian, or every Palestinian or every Iraqi. 373 00:21:48,640 --> 00:21:50,160 Speaker 3: And I can't tell you that He's going to save 374 00:21:50,280 --> 00:21:51,119 Speaker 3: every Egyptian. 375 00:21:51,840 --> 00:21:55,760 Speaker 2: But we clearly get the sense that many, maybe I would. 376 00:21:56,440 --> 00:21:59,840 Speaker 2: It certainly reads as though most of Egyptians are going 377 00:21:59,920 --> 00:22:01,919 Speaker 2: to come to faith in Jesus those who are alive 378 00:22:01,960 --> 00:22:05,920 Speaker 2: at this period of time, And somehow there's a massive. 379 00:22:05,640 --> 00:22:09,120 Speaker 3: Spiritual wakning that's similar. It might not be as much, 380 00:22:09,160 --> 00:22:09,560 Speaker 3: I don't know. 381 00:22:09,600 --> 00:22:12,159 Speaker 2: We can't say for certain, but there's gonna be a 382 00:22:12,200 --> 00:22:13,520 Speaker 2: massive spiritual awakening. 383 00:22:14,320 --> 00:22:15,639 Speaker 3: I don't call it a revival. 384 00:22:17,000 --> 00:22:20,440 Speaker 2: Why don't I call a revival because to be revived, 385 00:22:20,920 --> 00:22:25,040 Speaker 2: you have to have first been vived, and it was 386 00:22:25,119 --> 00:22:27,520 Speaker 2: if you already know the Lord, but you're sort of drifting, 387 00:22:27,920 --> 00:22:30,520 Speaker 2: or you're not paying attention, you're sort of in rebellion, 388 00:22:30,680 --> 00:22:33,879 Speaker 2: or you're just getting lazy, or you're whatever, then you 389 00:22:33,960 --> 00:22:35,000 Speaker 2: can be revived. 390 00:22:35,200 --> 00:22:38,000 Speaker 3: That revival happens inside the church. 391 00:22:38,920 --> 00:22:41,960 Speaker 2: But people who don't know Jesus, who are outside the 392 00:22:42,040 --> 00:22:45,760 Speaker 2: community of faith, they can't be revived until they're vibed. 393 00:22:47,240 --> 00:22:49,560 Speaker 3: So what we're talking about is a spiritual awakening. They're 394 00:22:49,600 --> 00:22:53,040 Speaker 3: blind to the Gospel truth, and then their eyes. 395 00:22:52,920 --> 00:22:56,400 Speaker 2: Open and then they come to faith and Christ change 396 00:22:56,440 --> 00:22:59,520 Speaker 2: them and the Holy Spirit fills them and they are transformed. 397 00:23:00,160 --> 00:23:02,640 Speaker 3: This is what's going to happen, not just something. 398 00:23:02,440 --> 00:23:07,639 Speaker 2: In Egypt, but throughout this Arab region that surrounds the 399 00:23:07,760 --> 00:23:12,960 Speaker 2: nation of Israel. But wait, there's more. Not only will 400 00:23:13,200 --> 00:23:17,159 Speaker 2: all the Assyrians be worshiping with Egypt, and Egypt with 401 00:23:17,200 --> 00:23:22,000 Speaker 2: Assyrians Verse twenty four. In that day Israel, now we 402 00:23:22,040 --> 00:23:24,240 Speaker 2: have like, oh yes, we remember Israel. Thank you Lord 403 00:23:24,280 --> 00:23:27,760 Speaker 2: for mentioning us Israel will be the third party with 404 00:23:27,920 --> 00:23:32,520 Speaker 2: Egypt and Assyria a blessing in the midst of the earth. 405 00:23:33,320 --> 00:23:35,480 Speaker 2: We know that's going to happen because you want to 406 00:23:35,520 --> 00:23:40,320 Speaker 2: make it so clear that something that's completely not, not savable, 407 00:23:40,400 --> 00:23:45,000 Speaker 2: not redeemable, not resurrectable, you're going to resurrect it, You're 408 00:23:45,000 --> 00:23:46,800 Speaker 2: going to change it, because that's who you are, that's 409 00:23:46,840 --> 00:23:47,360 Speaker 2: what you do. 410 00:23:48,119 --> 00:23:48,679 Speaker 3: We love you. 411 00:23:48,960 --> 00:23:51,040 Speaker 2: I thank you for this congregation. I thank you for 412 00:23:51,080 --> 00:23:53,160 Speaker 2: the redemption you're doing in the hearts of people here. 413 00:23:53,520 --> 00:23:55,760 Speaker 2: I thank you for my brother Tony, his heart of 414 00:23:55,800 --> 00:24:00,439 Speaker 2: service and compassion. Here, may this tribe increase, and we 415 00:24:00,520 --> 00:24:02,760 Speaker 2: thank you. We thank you for your word, and we 416 00:24:02,800 --> 00:24:05,919 Speaker 2: thank you for this time. And we say, strengthen us 417 00:24:05,920 --> 00:24:08,360 Speaker 2: in this new year, to breathe life into us. Give 418 00:24:08,440 --> 00:24:13,000 Speaker 2: us the courage and the strength to be your witnesses, 419 00:24:13,040 --> 00:24:15,959 Speaker 2: your ambassadors to a people that are hurting and broken 420 00:24:16,400 --> 00:24:19,760 Speaker 2: and are grieving without hope. Help us who have hope 421 00:24:20,280 --> 00:24:23,800 Speaker 2: be loving and kind and compassionate and comforting to them. 422 00:24:24,160 --> 00:24:26,439 Speaker 2: Because of what yr Shoe has done in us and 423 00:24:26,480 --> 00:24:28,359 Speaker 2: what you want to do through us. We pray in 424 00:24:28,440 --> 00:24:31,560 Speaker 2: the great and powerful and mighty and loving and holy 425 00:24:31,640 --> 00:24:34,520 Speaker 2: name of is Shua Haamashiah Jesus the Messiah. 426 00:24:39,440 --> 00:24:41,800 Speaker 1: Well, that's our program for this week, but before we go, 427 00:24:41,880 --> 00:24:43,960 Speaker 1: we want to encourage you to check out Joel and 428 00:24:44,040 --> 00:24:47,320 Speaker 1: Lynn's podcast Inside the Epicenter, which is in the top 429 00:24:47,359 --> 00:24:50,520 Speaker 1: one percent of all podcasts in the world. Just search 430 00:24:50,600 --> 00:24:54,280 Speaker 1: for Inside the Epicenter podcast I'm your favorite podcast app 431 00:24:54,359 --> 00:24:59,240 Speaker 1: or visit Joshua Fund dot com slash radio. We've released 432 00:24:59,240 --> 00:25:01,920 Speaker 1: over three hundred fift the episodes, all with the goal 433 00:25:02,040 --> 00:25:07,280 Speaker 1: of helping you learn, pray, give, and go, advancing the 434 00:25:07,359 --> 00:25:09,879 Speaker 1: Kingdom of Christ in the very place where scripture was 435 00:25:09,920 --> 00:25:13,480 Speaker 1: birthed and continues to come to life again. Simply search 436 00:25:13,520 --> 00:25:16,760 Speaker 1: for Inside the Epicenter with Joel c. Rosenberg on your 437 00:25:16,800 --> 00:25:21,280 Speaker 1: favorite podcast app or visit Joshua Fund dot com slash radio. 438 00:25:21,960 --> 00:25:26,600 Speaker 1: That's Joshua Fund dot com slash Radio. Thanks for joining 439 00:25:26,680 --> 00:25:30,040 Speaker 1: us on Inside the Epicenter weekend edition with Joel Rosenberg 440 00:25:30,280 --> 00:25:34,320 Speaker 1: on behalf of the entire Joshua Fund team. We invite 441 00:25:34,320 --> 00:25:36,280 Speaker 1: you to join us again next week as we continue 442 00:25:36,359 --> 00:25:39,760 Speaker 1: to unpack the headlines, the prophecies, and the hope of 443 00:25:39,840 --> 00:25:44,760 Speaker 1: Christ that's rising in the Middle East. Until then, stay watchful, 444 00:25:45,400 --> 00:25:49,520 Speaker 1: stay prayerful, and keep your eyes on the epicenter