Origins

Isaiah 34:4, 6-7

And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree

Have you ever come across something that you just did not understand? Look with me at this scene here. The text says that host of Heaven has all been dissolved. In fact, it is as the mist itself that never was with but a memory left in its place. I find something extremely disturbing about this scene. Some theological seminary graduates have attributed it to mean the very stars by number of themselves. Now I do not know about you, but I find the Lord always means exactly what he says. As such he can be taken at his Word. Remember how Satan fell from Heaven and a third of the stars fell with him. Perhaps some of you know these more commonly as fallen angels. Yet how is it that we see the Lord here rolling up all his created things. He has taken up the Heavens like the book of the law in the temple that he fulfilled. Is he not the beginning and ending thereof betting made the Word's fulfillment itself. More than that, the text speaks of the time of the end.

See, the fig tree being shaken just as Jacob's trouble is almost up. Both the leaf and the fig came down together. My, it looks as if the very house is about ready to collapse. If I did not already know him, I would find myself fearing greatly indeed. Small wonder then that those of that day will hide themselves under the rocks praying for their covering from the wrath of him who sits on the throne. Despite all this, he is still seated on the throne high and lifted up as in Isaiah 6. He has never changed his position, not even for a minute. Could it be some of you must remember your true position in him. John says of him that he is the vine " you are the branches" and by him all things hold together. What then shall be if that which holds together be removed. As mere leaves and branches grafted into the vine, is it any wonder that such are shaken so. Just as he bore the vine for the church so also, he bears the tree for the figs of his nation. Now you can talk about being a peculiar people all you please.

But when God is in the house and has shaken it, time itself shall be no more. You might wonder how I know. Look now how it was in the beginning. There was no form, a void, and no other created being. From the text, he rolls up his Heavens like the sheet that they are. It matters not whether sun, moon, stars, or any created being. The text makes it abundantly clear; they all shall fall. From the smallest to the greatest and his people along with them. You might not understand it and you might not like it. With God in the house and the nobleman returned, nothing will be the same ever again. I can hear some of you now asking 'how; he created them how can he let these things happen.' Could it be that some of you lack Heaven's point of view. It would be worth that half an hour's silence just to see it. Has it not been the destination though since the very beginning. See it now as mortality putting on immortality remains. Herein is found God's will on earth as much as in Heaven. Is it not changing time for the people of God.

The sword of the Lord is filled with blood, it is made fat with fatness, and with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams: for the Lord hath a sacrifice in Bozrah, and a great slaughter in the land of Idumea. And the unicorns shall come down with them, and the bullocks with the bulls; and their land shall be soaked with blood, and their dust made fat with fatness.

Verse four tells when all these things shall be. Indeed, shall it not be a year of recompense for the controversy of Zion. Verses six and seven note the unicorn mixed in with the sacrifices that once had ceased to be offered as the nation fell, divided and with them the Levites scattered. Note carefully the words of the text: "for the Lord has a sacrifice in Bozrah and slaughter in the land of Idumea." Here the text speaks of the ancient sacrifices under the Mosaic law that were once taken away by time and the weather. But what are these having to do with a place such as Bozrah. According to history, Bozrah was the home of Edom, in plainer terms Esau. Genesis 36:32–33 establishes the claim as the line of early Edomite successors reshaped the land. The Hebrew word for Bozrah refers to the one that keeps sheep. For this cause does Psalm 121:4 refer back to the Lord that keeps Jacob and neither slumbers nor sleeps. It seems the brother's keeper, unwanted though they seem, play an important role in keeping the flock secure. If you saw Jeremiah 49:13 you might be tempted to think what then of all the people. But if only you had heard Jeremiah 49:22, you would have heard a different story. See how often do we think the story is over and we are through. No way that God could ever use you what with all the failures, pride, and dirty little secrets kept locked inside.

Oh, if only you had heard the wings of the Lord spread out over his people and seen the shelter to be found there from things to come. Could it be so often in our lives that the story is far from over, the book is not yet done. Nor has God yet finished his work. Amos 1:12 speaks of the fire to come consuming the people as though built upon the altars of God. My, what an excellent time to go about the city asking the watchmen 'what of the night.' Only then shall some answer 'what of the blood.' Here again in Micah 2:12 is spoken of the promise to bind the people together as sheep in the pasture or in the pens of them that are his. Even so will those lost and left behind find refuge alike in the house of our God. Now we approach the time of the "slaughter in the land of Idumea." I do not know about you but I have often heard of prophecies being fulfilled in their entirety lest the prophet be found false. According to the law the punishment for that was death. But look at this thing with me here if you will for just a moment. The land of Idumea is just another fancier way of saying Edom. For in the land beside the Red Sea sits Edom, what has now become the modern-day West Bank. Do try to contain yourself at seeing the prophecies fulfilled before your very eyes.

Do try to be unlike the official at the city gate who vowed that even though he sees it he still would not believe. A slaughter is nothing to look forward to, whether it be the work of the Lord or not. Then again, Scripture tells how Jacob fell asleep and saw angelic figures ascending and descending as though from a ladder of Heaven.

There in the horns of the rams and unicorns is something to be seen. It is even as one before whom the three were removed. Could it be it shows the figure of the antiChrist although not yet revealed. Not everything has to be shown in full for us to see the heart of God. Here are the many unicorns, once a rare mythological creature abounding in plenty. See how the sacrifices are mixed along with them as in days gone by. For such it was customary to bring bulls and goats to offer up. This was until such time as the Mosaic law was done away with. Despite Christ's sacrifice once for all, it will now do for all the rest. For though we are but dust, the land uninhabited, and left desolate so will the very dust yet praise his name. Who then can stand before the glory; it is very great and fearsome indeed. His work has grown large before the time is appointed. Why should I not praise him so. The Lord is not only in the house, he appears to have quite moved in. From there, the whole earth fills with the glory of God.