Yesterday I mentioned my ongoing study of Isaiah 11:11-16. Recall that I mentioned that Isaiah 11:11-16 is an important passage to understand because it summarizes events described in a lot of prophecies in the Bible, including much of the Book of Isaiah and potentially chapters like Jeremiah 48-49.
I’ve always wondered about Isaiah 11:11 and 11:12. I’ve wondered whether verse 11:11 describes a different event than verse 11:12 and wondered about the specific timing that these verses will be fulfilled.
- Isa 11:11 And 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, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.
- Isa 11:12 And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.
After making some progress in recent days, I feel confident enough to provide you with my current thinking on these two verses in this blog entry.
Isaiah 11:11 mentions that the “Lord shall set his hand again”. The word “again” implies that the Lord has set His hand before. Many Bible commentators believe that the first time the Lord set His hand to recover the Israelites was when He rescued them from Egypt (as Isaiah 11 was written before the Babylonian captivity). The “second time” the Lord is going to recover the remnant of His people will be during the End Times. The specific time when the Lord is going to set His hand during the End Times is a key question I’ve had.
Isaiah 11:12 mentions that the Lord “shall set up an ensign for the nations” and that the remnant of Israel scattered throughout the world shall be assembled. Isaiah 11:11 mentions specific locations where the remnant of Israel shall return from, so a key question I’ve had is whether Isaiah 11:11 and 11:12 describe the same recovery process/event.
A few days ago I discovered that Isaiah 49:22 mentions that the Lord is going to lift His hand to the Gentiles and set up an ensign in an effort to bring back the remnant of Israel. The nations will respond to the Lord lifting His hand and setting up an ensign (standard) by transporting the remnant of Israel back to their land.
- Isa 49:22 Thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people: and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders.
At this moment I feel that Isaiah 49:22 provides enough information to say Isaiah 11:11-12 describe the same recovery process since the verse mentions that the Lord will use His Hand (Isaiah 11:11) and set up an ensign (Isaiah 11:12). Both actions ultimately lead to the recovery of the remnant of Israel from the nations where they were scattered.
- Isa 49:22 Thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people: and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders.
- Isa 11:11 And 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, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.
- Isa 11:12 And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.
Yesterday I mentioned that I expected the ensign to the nations to be given after the nations are defeated at the Battle of Armageddon. Therefore, my current thinking is that the events of Isaiah 11:11-12 describe the events following the Battle of Armageddon. The defeated Gentiles will react to the ensign (and the Lord’s lifted hand) by transporting the Gentiles back to Israel.
- Isa 66:19 And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles.
- Isa 66:20 And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the LORD out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the LORD, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD.
- Isa 60:1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.
- Isa 60:2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.
- Isa 60:3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.
- Isa 60:4 Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side.
- Isa 60:5 Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee.
- Isa 60:6 The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall shew forth the praises of the LORD.
- Isa 60:7 All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee: they shall come up with acceptance on mine altar, and I will glorify the house of my glory.
- Isa 60:8 Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows?
- Isa 60:9 Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, unto the name of the LORD thy God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because he hath glorified thee.
Like yesterday, what I’ve presented is just preliminary stuff. My thinking on Isaiah 11:11-12 can change if someone finds a way to disprove the theory I’ve laid out or if I find a way to disprove it. Feel free to disprove it if you can.
